Vegetable Bouquet

Photos by Kris Labang Photography

I had first heard of bouquets with vegetables in them, years ago, when I initially started planning weddings. Wendy Balidoy of Spinning WEB Florist, mentioned that she had previously made bouquets of vegetables or fruit for some of her prom clients. I knew that bouquets could be made of material other than flowers...I had just never seen one with my own eyes.

Then along come Rachel and Darren, the most fun-loving and self proclaimed "cheesey" couple around. Their wedding will always remain a fond one for me, with so many laugh-out-loud moments on their wedding day. Rachel and Darren put their florist, actually, My Florist (yes, that's their name, "My Florist") to the test by opting for a bouquet with vegetables.

The result was pure perfection - a combination of feminity, mixed with, well, cauliflower! As Rachel and Darren put it, all that was missing was the ranch dressing! And then of course, the good humoured, knee-slapping jokes ensued, "whoever said that brides don't get to eat on their wedding day?" or "it's a bouquet and a snack in one!" Perhaps this will inspire you, too, to consider a veggie bouquet for your special occasion. (Note, dressing not included.)

Thumb print guest "book"

I love the thumb print trees featured on Etsy, where each of the guests leave a stamped impression of their thumb print on the branches of a tree. The thumb prints resemble leaves on the tree and the finished product is then a tree full of "leaves" representing all the attendees of a wedding. Some couples now opt for this in lieu of a traditional guest book.

Here's a cool twist: at Rachel and Darren's wedding two weeks ago, they asked guests to leave a thumb print representing the petals of flowers that then formed a lei. Darren's sister-in-law, a graphic designer, came up with this one-of-a-kind poster design for them, befitting of their destination wedding here in Hawaii. What kind of new twist will you do for your wedding? The possibilities are endless!

Photos by Kris Labang Photography

The Spa at Trump Unveils Wedding Packages to Pamper and Please

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Bridgette DeVore, Spa Director of The Spa at Trump, and received a personal tour of the spa facilities. Located at 223 Saratoga Road, Waikiki, (on the island of O'ahu) the spa is a beautifully appointed space which "speaks" tranquility and relaxation the moment you step foot through the front door.

What's more, they just unveiled their complete line of wedding services. Included in the Wedding Packages spa menu, are a "Day of Perfection" package which includes a facial, waxing, and mani/pedi; a "Prince Charming Package" complete with a set of services for men; and two honeymoon packages which, naturally, come with a couples massage, bath therapy, and more.

As part of the preparation for the wedding day, I love the ability to buy out a spa for a private spa day, which makes perfect sense for brides and her maids, moms, or even grooms and guys who want a bit of pampering before the big day. This also makes for a special treat or gift from the bride to her bridesmaids, and a great opportunity for the bridesmaids to bond, particularly if their only shared connection is the bride. The Spa at Trump's Bachelorette and Bridal Shower Party option entitles groups of 4-5 guests to enjoy the entire spa all to themselves, and each guest chooses from an array of services which include a "Trump Results Facial," "Kalo Coconut Wrap," "Hawaiian Sugar Scrub," or one of four different 60-minute massages. Now imagine this private affair with champagne and light fare on top of it all! Heavenly!!!

For more information/reservations, contact (877) 683-7401 or locally, (808) 683-7466.

Tuxedo Rentals for Weddings in Hawaii

Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company

For many of our destination weddings, couples frequently wonder if it makes more sense for the groom and groomsmen to rent tuxedos or suits in their home area, where they can get fitted and try on the items there. However, bringing the men's formal wear here means having to rent the garments for several days, additional luggage, and the possible need for pressing once the items are brought here. Instead, I always suggest renting here in Hawaii, where the gentlemen can not only avoid some of the difficulties associated with bringing the rental items here, but where they can affordably and simply get tuxedos for their special occasion. To facilitate the process, obtain everyone's measurements ahead of time and submit them to the tux shop to ensure that the appropriate sizes are reserved, and once on island, go in for a proper fitting.

Tips and Advice: back up boutonniere

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company

For some reason, boutonnieres, particularly those on grooms, never seem to make it through a whole wedding day. One more than one occasion, I've had to "rig" a boutonniere to fix it, or to "MacGyver" a new one in a pinch. After several hardy hugs and chummy chest bumps, the delicate petals that once formed a full blossom somehow wind up anywhere but on the boutonniere. The end result: a beautifully wrapped stem, and a partial flower, if you're lucky.

If planning for a wedding, the pre-emptive measure is an easy one: order a second boutonniere. The floral designer can create a replica of the first boutonniere, or can design an entirely different look, while still incorporating the flower(s) of the wedding. When the first one starts to appear a bit shabby, simply swap the worn one for the fresh new one. Always keep your best lapel forward!

The Truth About "Local Flowers"

anthurium, torch ginger, and cymbidium orchid bouquet - photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography

Upon meeting with couples who are just embarking on the planning of their wedding, I often hear that they wish to use "local flowers" for their wedding, drawing on the beauty of the flowers supposedly in abundance here in Hawaii. Such flowers not only represent the location of their wedding, but they also support local growers and give their wedding an island feel.

mixed arrangement with green cymbidium orchids and yellow mokara orchids - photo by Absolutely Loved

Then, upon viewing their inspiration photos, I realize that they often times really mean that they would like tropical flowers, but little do they and many others realize, that the so-desired and exotic tropical flowers, especially those viewed in photos found in magazines and on-line, are often times flown in to Hawai'i. Sure, beautiful tropicals such as torch ginger, monsterra leaves, and bird of paradise adorn the landscaping of resorts and homes, but many of the prized cymbidium and mokara orchids travel thousands of miles to get here and eventually find their way into a bouquet or centerpiece.

monsterra leaf on pew - photo by Taka of La Vie

Even roses, which are grown locally, are in fact, less popular for weddings than those grown in South America, as the imported versions tend to have a higher petal count and are often times larger and hardier...

As for the more delicate flowers grown in Hawai'i, such as plumeria and hibiscus, their fragile composition makes it difficult to incorporate into weddings. They easily brown and/or wilt. A good substitute, if wanting these blooms, is to consider deco clay versions, hand-made, and amazingly life-like.

deco clay hibiscus blossom on favor box with fresh mokara orchids on the napkin

I urge couples to consider flowers that they really want for their wedding as opposed to only looking at locally grown flowers. Chances are, the flowers they are desiring will need to be imported to our islands. For those who truly do want to stick to locally grown flowers, this is certainly a possibility, but understand that there are limitations as to what is available. Having a realistic understanding of locally grown flowers and tropical flowers will help to better define and inform your choices for your wedding. Happy planning!

Grooming for the Groom

Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company

As standard practice, brides schedule manicures into their wedding preparation regimen. Grooms, however, seldom give thought to their own nails as it relates to their wedding. Little do they realize that wedding day photos often include close-up shots of the groom's hand...holding the bride's hand, exchanging rings, and signing the marriage license.

To put your best foot (er, hand) forward, I suggest that all grooms invest in a manicure for themselves a day or two prior to their wedding. We all want to see pampered fingertips in photos, with clean and evenly trimmed nails, pushed back cuticles, and no hangnails! Even the most macho of grooms can appreciate the pampering treatment of the hand massage that comes with the experience, so gentlemen, mark your calendars, and be sure to treat yourselves to a pre-wedding mani, too!