Wedding Planning Tip: rehearsing with your shoes

Here's a quick and easy planning tip for preparing for your big day; bring your wedding day shoes to your rehearsal and wear them throughout the rehearsal.  That way, you will feel accustomed to taking those steps down the aisle (and back) in whatever surface is at your ceremony site.  Sometimes, church and chapel floors can be slippery, so a dry run in your shoes will help to identify any potential slips before they happen on the big day.  For outdoor ceremonies, bring clear cello tape to wrap your heel in, thereby preventing it from getting soiled in the grass, dirt, sand, etc..

Photo by Amodo Photo

Now here's a secret that we'll just keep between us.  If worried about slipping or tripping or discomfort from wearing heels that say "ooh-la-la" when your feet are really saying "ooh-my-poor-toes," get a second pair of comfortable shoes of the same height as your main shoes to wear down the aisle.  No one really sees the bride's shoes during the ceremony so you can wear the comfortable pair for the ceremony and then pull a switcheroo on the shoes after.  Note:  you may want to skip this if your ceremony involves kneeling, as your shoes will certainly show, here.

Photo by Visionari

Happy Planning!
Mona
neu events
formerly Weddings by Grace and Mona

Wedding planning tip: cake timing

Towering square tiered cake featuring black and white checks for a racing themed wedding, designed by Rick of cakelava.  Rick was truly ahead of his time, as he was designing ombre hued cakes before ombre even became a wedding trend!  Photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography.

Here's a simple piece of advice related to your wedding cake, particularly if planning your wedding on your own.

Chocolate ribbons stream down the sides of this four-tiered wedding cake designed by the Halekulani.  Photo by Visionari.

Ask your cake baker or designer about the number of hours that the cake can be left out of refrigeration.

Yet another stunning creation by Rick Reichart of cakelava.  This towering cake combines a modern and whimsical look, with varying shapes and heights.  Photo by Sieber Studio.

Make sure then that the time between having your cake delivered and the time of your cake cutting and serving is less than the maximum number of hours that the cake can be unrefrigerated.

Another fabulous cake!  This show-stopping cake was created by Cake Works for a wedding we planned at the Sheraton Waikiki.  Photo by Eclat Photography.

Note that in Hawaii, particularly with outdoor weddings, we have some particularly warm and sunny days, and the length of time for a cake to be left outdoors thus shortens.

Pretty in Pink - cascading fresh flowers in shades of pink adorn this simply elegant cake.  Photo by Dave Miyamoto and Company.

The last thing anyone wants to see is a beautiful wedding cake that starts to slide, collapse, or melt so again, be sure to consult your cake provider to ensure that your cake looks its best throughout its time on display.

cakelava designed this one of a kind cake for our couple, Deb and Keola, who chose shades of purple and yellow for their wedding.  Photo by AmodoPhoto.

Happy Planning!
Mona
neu events
(formerly Weddings by Grace and Mona)

I'll Have a Cone, Please! (petal cones for your flower shower)

What could be more romantic than rose petals fluttering over you as you recess down the aisle or exit the church?  It certainly makes for a picture-perfect moment, and enhances the sentiments of joy and celebration.  Without a doubt, the flower shower serves as the perfect ending to a heartfelt and momentous wedding ceremony.

Photo by Visonari at the Halekulani Hau Terrace in Waikiki.

However, what the photos do not reveal is the logistics behind the creation of that picture-perfect moment.  Particularly for outdoor ceremonies, when the flower shower takes places immediately after the kiss and announcement of the newlyweds, how do the guests get the petals for tossing?  Do they hold a handful of petals throughout the entire ceremony until that moment that the couple passes?

Photo by L'amour Photography

We suggest providing guests with a cone or receptacle for the petals.  While purely functional, they can be made to coordinate with the colors and style of the wedding, and we like it best when they tie in with the "day-of" wedding stationery!  Often times, local stationers will string a ribbon through the cone, so that the guests may easily take one, or so that they can be hung from the ceremony chair.  

Photo by Visionari.

Here are a few examples of some custom designed cones.  Perhaps they will provide you with inspiration for cones of your own!

Happy Planning!

Mona

neu events

(formerly known as "Weddings by Grace and Mona")

Cones by Emi Emi Ink.  Photo by Visionari.

Cones by Something Blue.  Photo by L'amour Photography.

Cones by Emi Ink.  Photo by Kai Photo.

Petal cones by Emi Ink.  Photo by Eclat Photography.

Sand Ceremony

photo by Jim Creed Photography

While certainly no longer a novelty, the sand ceremony is relatively new to wedding "traditions," and may very well deserve to become a long standing one.  In many senses, the sand ceremony resembles the unity candle custom, where the simultaneous lighting of a central candle by the couple each using a separate candle, symbolizes the joining of two separate individuals and their families.  With the sand ceremony, the beauty of the mixing of two separate vessels of sand is that once the sand has been mixed, it is inextricably mixed forever and can never be separated, just as the couple's two lives and families will be.

photo by Kris Labang Photography

photo by Kris Labang Photography

The sand ceremony works exceptionally well in lieu of the unity candles when it comes to outdoor wedding ceremonies.  Particularly here in Hawaii, where our balmy weather entices many couples to celebrate their union in the open-air, the unity candle can be tricky to execute, where even a subtle gust of wind could blow out the candle (and what would the symbolism be behind that?!).  For couples wishing to incorporate the unity candle into their outdoor wedding ceremonies, I usually suggest the sand ceremony instead, which is impervious to the elements.

Photo by Chrissy Lambert Photography

The mixed sand also makes a beautiful keepsake following the ceremony.  Some couples will even get the vessel engraved with their names and wedding date.  A slew of beautiful sand ceremony kits are available on-line and even picture frames that can be filled with sand serve as a beautiful alternative to a glass container.

 

photo by L'amour Photo

photo by L'amour Photo

photo by L'amour Photo

If planning your own wedding, consider how you'd like to personalize your ceremony.  The sand ceremony might be a wonderful way to do so, but be sure to consult with your officiant first.  Happy planning!

Mona

Weddings by Grace and Mona

neu events

Brand new for weddings on Oahu: mini donuts made fresh on-site!

Pop Pop Donuts with a yuzu (Japanese citrus) glaze

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Jerron, a nice, budding, entrepreneur who is nuts about donuts.  His business, Pop Pop Donuts, draws crowds from a one block radius when they smell his delicious mini donuts being made fresh and piping hot.  Jerron's mini delicacies can most often be found at "Eat the Street" in Kaka'ako, Honolulu, and is planning on a couple of tantalizing sweet-meets-savory donuts for the next "Eat the Street" food truck event on Friday, April 26, for this month's theme featuring bacon.

The really exciting part of Pop Pop Donuts is that they are now available for weddings and events on Oahu!  As a wedding planner, I always look for new and innovative options for our couples, and this one was too good to keep a secret!  After trying one (and then another half-dozen after that!) I could easily imagine these tasty treats for a fun, cocktail hour snack, as dessert following dinner, or even as a late-night munchie-food!

Espresso Sugar Pop Pop Donuts

And with the range of gourmet flavors available, even the most discerning foodies might find it difficult to stop at just one silver-dollar sized confection.  Imagine savoring an espresso sugar, yuzu glazed, or azuki topped mini donut.  Blissful!

Powdered Pop Pop Donuts with an azuki drizzle

To add to the novelty of just enjoying mini donuts at an event as special as a wedding, the machine itself attracts a number of curious on-lookers.  Kids and adults alike stand by to admire the machine in all its glory, making beautifully perfect donuts with efficiency and precision, one after another.  I, myself, found it fascinating to watch a video of the donut machine pop out numerous donuts - such a clever invention!

Popped Hot!

To learn more about having mini donuts at your wedding or event, contact Jerron at (917) 446-5317.

Toasting at the Tables

Photo by Visionari.

Being located in the middle of the Pacific, we have the opportunity to plan and coordinate weddings for many couples of Chinese descent.  One of the beautiful Chinese wedding traditions we find to be popular is the one of the bride and groom toasting at each table.  During dinner, they visit each table, toasting their guests and expressing their thanks.  The guests at the same time, toast the bride and groom, sharing their good wishes for the couple.

From a wedding planning perspective, it certainly makes for a wonderful opportunity for the newlyweds to spend a little time with each of their guests.  It also means taking into account the logistical implications of this tradition.  If planning to toast your tables, communicate this to the caterer ahead of time, so that a server can be prepared to replenish your glasses as needed.  Also, if not wanting to consume too much alcohol during the process, consider toasting with a sparkling cider or other non-alcoholic beverage.

Even if not Chinese, there is no reason why you couldn't consider adopting this tradition for your own wedding.  What a fantastic, interactive way to engage guests and show your appreciation of them on your wedding day!  Cheers!

Mona
neu events

Weddings by Grace and Mona

Island Favorites for Your Wedding Menu

Clockwise from top:  ahi poke, edamame, and tako poke. served during the cocktail hour.  Photo by Kai Photo.

We find that both kama'aina (local residents) and malihini (visitors) alike often request island favorites for their wedding menu.  This often translates to fresh, local ingredients, blending the many flavors found here in the islands.  Favorites include a variety of raw items, such as poke (pronounced "POH-kay") or seasoned edamame (soy beans), malasadas (deep fried Portuguese doughnuts), shave ice, or even mochi ice cream.  These items represent the best of Hawaii's cuisine, which has evolved from the many ethnic groups found here (not to be confused with Hawaiian food).  Work with your caterer or hotel to select a menu that truly represents the kind of cuisine you wish to share with your guests, and most are happy to let you in on the finest in island fare that their chefs can create.

'Ahi Limu Poke and Spicy 'Ahi Poke in wonton spoons.  Photo by L'amour Photography.