Wedding Style Tip #4: Coordinating colors for your wedding

Photo by Love Story Weddings

How do you ensure that the cake maker, the invitation designer/stationer, the linen provider, lighting company, floral designer, candy buffet company, and favor maker all share a common understanding of the overall design plan of your wedding? Working with a professional wedding planner is one sure way to mobilize all of these moving parts in a cohesive manner. We always suggest to our couples that they visit their local hardware store and pull complimentary paint swatches - multiples of the each of the colors that they would like to see represented in their wedding, and distribute a set of those colors to each of the parties involved with design. Likewise, you could ask the stationer for swatches of the exact cardstock to be used, or the linen rental company for fabric swatches and distribute those. Having a color reference keeps everyone on the same page. After all, in "wedding-speak," when it comes to colors, it is not just "orange," but it could be "pumpkin," "tangerine," "honeydew melon," or even "salmon," and we're not talking about food, either. LOL

Featured Wedding #6: Holly and Paul

Holly and Paul knew they wanted something intimate and special with only 50 of their closest friends and family attending from as far away as New York. Booking our Complete Consultation and Coordination Service 8 months prior to their wedding date, we jumped in with all our might to pull together all their wishes.

A color scheme of blues and greens with accents of yellow was brought together with cattleya, blue hydrangea, white phalenopsis orchids, yellow rananculus, yellow cymbidium orchids and yellow plumeria. Even a seemingly minor detail such as a brightly colored Thai orchid sitting on the lip of each goblet adds pizazz and color to complete the tabletop decor. The overall look: colorful, festive, and tropical - perfect for an elegant outdoor wedding in Hawai'i.

Holly's romantic, cattleya and yellow calla lily bouquet was characterized by vintage charm, and a locket dangled sweetly from her bouquet as a tribute to a lost loved one.

The venue for the quiet outdoor affair was Moli’I Gardens at Kualoa Ranch where guests would be able to see the famous façade used in the movie “50 First Dates” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Holly and Paul are avid baseball fans and wanted to incorporate their love for the sport into their wedding cake. Rick Reichart of cakelava, used their idea when putting together the 3-tier amazing piece of art which included the cornflower blue and green color choices of their florals.

Rick designed two figures to look like Holly and Paul sitting by the bottom of the cake.

Manoa Strings played wedding music for the ceremony and kept guests entertained throughout the cocktail hour.

All florals designed by Wendy Balidoy of Spinning Web

All photography courtesy of Kris Labang Photography

Catering provided by Indigo

Linen provided by Naomi Lee, Les Saison

Emcee, Teley Brandon, ShowTime DJ’s and Grand Finale Events

Entertainment for ceremony provided by Manoa Strings Quartet
Cake designed by Rick and Sasha Reichart, cakelava

Tips and Advice: fresh flowers for the bride's hair

photo by Kris Labang Photography

Nothing says "wedding in Hawai'i" like fresh flowers adorning the bride's hair. While beautiful blooms make a pretty statement, consider the following when preparing for the big day:

• flower type - consult with the floral designer when choosing what kind(s) of flower to wear in your hair. Certain flowers may be more delicate or fragile, and may not be conducive to wearing in your hair for several hours.
• flower prep - ask your hair and make-up artist if having the blooms wired and taped is preferred. The floral designer can wire the flowers and tape them, making them sturdier and less likely to break off, but in some instances, this may make it more difficult to secure the blossom to your hair. Your hair and make-up artist would be able to indicate what will work best with your do, given the type of flower(s).
• back-ups - Guests always want to greet and hug the bride, so often times, hair flowers become subject to jostling, bumping, and bruising. Request extra hair flowers from your floral designer and have your on-site wedding coordinator or bridesmaid switch out the "old" blossoms for fresh ones.
• tiaras, veils, AND hair flowers, oh my! - For those who want it all, you can "have your cake, and eat it, too!" Donning a tiara, headband, or other ornate hair accessories and hair flowers at the same time looks busy, and the two adornments compete with each other for attention. Instead of wearing both at the same time, enjoy two looks in the same day. Start with the one look with the veil for the ceremony and switch looks for the reception for a fresh look.

photos by Eclat Photography

• delivery time - Often times, floral designers will deliver bridal party flowers in time for picture taking. However, by the time these flowers arrive, the hair and make-up artist, who would be best at inserting the hair flowers, may have already left. Make specific arrangements to either have the flowers delivered before the hair and make-up artist leaves, or to pick up the hair flowers from the floral designer early, so that the flowers are ready for the hair and make-up artist.
  

The Bridal Expo: July 23-25

This weekend, anyone planning a wedding, in the wedding industry, or even remotely interested in weddings and events ought to check out the 21st Annual Hawai'i Bridal Expo on O'ahu at the Blaisdell Center. The show, which takes place in January and July each year, features some of Hawai'i's newest and most experienced vendors as well as great venues and options for weddings.

It also offers a chance to see some of the latest styles in bridal apparel with a "roving fashion show" - models donning beautiful gowns and stylish tuxedos through the expo's aisles.

Even if not presently on the island of O'ahu, a flight over may be well worth the investment of time and money, given the opportunity to meet so many exhibitors all in a day. As a professional wedding planner, it is imperative that I remain informed of what vendors currently offer, so I make it a point to visit the expo and I also attend it with clients to introduce them to different ideas and options for their wedding.

Download a coupon for $1 off the regular $9 admission. Expo hours:

Friday, July 23, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Saturday, July 24, 10:30am - 5:00pm
Sunday, July 25, 10:30am - 4:00pm

Also worth special note, for couples in need of wedding photography services, Liquid Light Images is offering two major specials for the expo. The first is a complimentary engagement session for any package over 6 hours (valued at $399). The second, in addition to the engagement session, for any full day package, is a complimentary 6x8 engagement book (valued at $699, $399 engagement, $300 engagement book).

Other vendors may be offering specials as well. Be sure to pay them a visit!

Engagement photos: Nancy and Lance

I have the great fortune and privilege of planning weddings for couples who sometimes touch my heart at its very core and make me feel so thankful to have what I consider to be the best job in the world. Nancy and Lance are one such couple. Their thoughtfulness and generosity make me feel like I am the one who is being taken care of, when it is really my responsibility to be looking after them.

Their recent engagement photos shot at the Hilton Hawaiian Village by George Wang of Eclat Photography capture some of their personalities, and definitely, their fun side!

I absolutely love this photo of Nancy - a portrait of style and grace.We are just a few weeks out before Nancy and Lance finally tie the knot. It will definitely be a stunning wedding and the guests are in for a treat! Looking forward to it!

To Nancy and Lance ~ I wish you lots of love and a lifetime of happiness!

Twist: experience it now!

Some of the most spectacular panoramic views from the heart of Waikiki has got to be those from Twist, formerly the Hanohano Room, at the top of the Sheraton Waikiki. It's a great place to take out of town guests to for cocktails or dinner, especially if able to get there before the sun sets. At night, the pretty city lights and stars paint the canvas that is floor to ceiling windows, showing off everything to the east, including Diamond Head, and everything to the west.

On top of just beautiful views, the restaurant and lounge offer delectable dishes. I recently had the pleasure of sampling just about everything on the menu, and found there to be something for everyone. Scrumptious lobster bisque, alae salt and rosemary grilled beef, and key lime mousse comprised some of the dishes making it to the top of my favorite list. If wanting to treat special guests to a wonderful rehearsal dinner, or if bringing the parents together for a meal before the wedding day, this site is perfect!

That said, Twist is slated to enjoy its last day in business on September 30, 2010 before the space is transformed into a club lounge for the hotel. Hurry now to enjoy all that Twist has to offer before it is too late!

Fourth of July

It's the Fourth of July! Happy Independence Day! Time to pause and remember the historical significance of this holiday...time for barbecues...and time for weddings?

July happens to be a fantastic month for weddings in Hawai'i. With longer days (= more time for outdoor, day-lit photos), great chances for ideal weather, and vacation time for guests with kids, July weddings are naturally desirable.

The Fourth of July holiday also makes the perfect time for fireworks! Choosing a July 4th wedding date naturally means evening skies aglow with spectacular fireworks displays - for free - if the location affords a view. Brides and grooms wanting sparklers for their weddings may also purchase them at this time, as their availability is limited to the period leading up to Independence Day and New Year's. (Sparklers may not be shipped in to Hawai'i, so be sure to plan ahead.)

One thing to bear in mind: weddings on holidays such as Independence Day will almost certainly mean increased costs. Check with your vendors and venue regarding higher holiday rates or labor fees for choosing a holiday.

Photo by Kris Labang Photography