Martha Stewart Sweepstakes

I just want to let everyone know that Martha Stewart is having an awesome sweepstakes! She has such an amazing wedding line, and now you can enter to win tickets to a taping of her show! They are calling it the Martha and Macy’s VIP sweepstakes. Seven grand-prize winners will receive:

-A VIP trip to New York City for four to attend a live taping of The Martha Stewart Show
-Four tickets to the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
-Thanksgiving dinner for four at a premier New York City restaurant
-$1000 shopping spree at Macy’s
-Round-trip airfare to New York City
-Double occupancy hotel accommodations for 3 days/4 nights and ground transportation to/from the airport

Sounds like a great way to spend Thanksgiving to me! Hurry and enter because the opportunity ends on September 30th! Only a couple of days to go! Go onto www.marthastewart.com to enter the sweepstakes, and also watch Martha Stewart’s Today Show to see Jessica and Cody’s Martha Stewart wedding on October 5th – a great tool for inspiration and ideas for your own wedding straight from the best!

Extraordinary Wedding Cakes

Today I ran across the ultimate in culinary creativity. Confetti Cakes, a bakery in New York has an amazing selection of wedding cakes and specialty cakes. The wedding cakes are gorgeous and come in an array of colors, designs and flavors. The specialty cakes are unreal – in shapes and sizes that will blow you away! These are perfect for any unique groom’s cake, or maybe for bachelorette and bachelor parties.

The cakes are designed by chef, Elisa Strauss who has a background in both culinary arts and design. She is truly amazing! If you don’t live in New York, or plan on getting married elsewhere (like Oahu,) don’t fret: If for nothing else, these cakes are a perfect source of inspiration and ideas for weddings and themes. Of course, if you see something you absolutely love, print it out for another talented baker to recreate.

Take a look at a few of these marvelous edible masterpieces, and then go to www.confetticakes.com to view the rest of them:

Beautiful Wedding Cakes



And Adorable Specialty Cakes

Take an island cruise for your Hawaiian honeymoon.

Imagine this: Your beautiful beach wedding on Oahu with family and friends goes off without a hitch. After the ceremony, you retreat to a Waikiki beach hotel for a marvelously elegant reception for with your guests. You dine on gourmet cuisine, drink mai tais, dance the night away with those who love you, and spend a couple of memorable days in Oahu’s warm Hawaiian sun.

Sounds great, huh? The only discrepancy with destination weddings is what to do about your honeymoon. Do you consider the wedding itself to be your big trip together? Should there be time for the two of you to ditch your guests and be alone? Try this for a romantic, convenient and cost-effective solution: Take a cruise! You already committed to pay for the airfare to the islands, why not see them all in one vacation? Spend a few quality days with your wedding guests, and then board a ship with your one and only for a Hawaiian honeymoon ocean cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers 7-day Hawaiian cruises on the signature, Pride of Hawaii ship from $599.00 per person to depart and return in Honolulu. They port in the four major Hawaiian islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii (the big island). They also offer 10 and 12 day cruises with a multitude of amenities.

For a longer voyage, Princess cruise lines offers Polynesian trips to Hawaii and Tahiti. Consider an 11 day cruise trough Polynesia with ports in Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii (the big island), Christmas Island, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Papeete. This is only an example of over 50 cruise options offered in the 2007-2007 season.

When visiting the islands, cruises are an extremely cost-effective way to see as much as possible. Trying to travel from island to island by plane can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating. There are millions of things to see in the Polynesian Pacific, and most of us don’t have a few months to take off and travel from island to island. Also consider that meals, entertainment, room and room and board are included in the price of your cruise, and there is plenty to do while at sea. Take a look at your ship’s amenity list before choosing your trip, and make sure it has what you are looking for.

Bon Voyage, Hawaiian love birds!

Disney Bridal Couture

Every bride dreams about being a princess on her wedding day. Bring that dream to life with this fantastic new alternative to real-life royalty. Disney has a new bridal couture line by designer, Kirstie Kelly. Each line is inspired by one of your favorite Disney princesses! Choose from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Jasmine, Ariel or Belle, and browse through all of the choices from each princess.

Disney has such a wonderful appeal to all ages, perfect for every little girl who dreamed about slipping on her own princess creation someday. Each one of these dresses has the perfect touch of royalty, and shines with elegance. Go to www.disdeybridal.com to view the collections and find a boutique near you!

Personalized Wedding Stationery

We love adding extra personal touches to every aspect of your wedding. Check out the charming custom-made stationery, stickers and other accessories by www.blissweddingmarket.com for really great stuff! They were recently featured in In Style Weddings magazine, and they sure do have style!

We especially love the “Concert Ticket” idea. Use them as invites to a less formal part of your wedding like the bachelorette party or engagement party, or as an addition to your invitation. We find the idea especially relevant for destination weddings like an Oahu Beach Wedding - send your family a "ticket" to your wedding in Paradise! Either way, they are absolutely adorable and creative.

Blissweddingmarket.com also offers classy accessories like wedding seals, Bridal Hang Tags, customized labels for favors, and much more. It really is the little things that make such a difference in an outstanding affair.

Bridesmaid Ettiquette

Getting married comes with all kinds of choices; even the fun of planning your wedding brings serious decisions and responsibility. Choosing your bridesmaids should be an exciting thing for you brides-to-be; the last thing you want is to offend people that you love, or include someone for the wrong reasons.

First of all, remember that this is your day and you choose who is involved. Don’t choose friends out of obligation – who do you want to be there with you every step of the way? Who can you depend on to go on the shopping trips, help you with the flower arrangements and ultimately be there for moral support? Here are a few tips to on bridesmaid etiquette to help you throughout the process:

1. If you have a long enough engagement, give yourself time to enjoy the prospect of your marriage without including anyone else. Spend time with your fiancé and make big decisions like the date, locations and theme of your wedding before asking your bridesmaids. Traditionally, a six month notice is proper, if possible.

2. Choose bridesmaids and groomsmen together – obviously the number of each should match, but also consider your partner’s thoughts on who you are including. Make a list and decide together before you tell anyone else. If you have a large number of friends and family to choose from, don't loose sight of your overall vision for the day (Do you really want 10 people standing on either side of you?). The general consensus is not to exceed 6 couples in your bridal party. Of course, that can be played with.

3. After you choose, ask your bridesmaids individually. Take them out to a favorite lunch spot, dinner date, or shopping trip and give them a token of appreciation or friendship (be creative – make something or write a note). Also keep in mind that you are ASKING them, not telling them. This is an investment in time, money and energy for everyone involved and if one of your bridal party is not happy about being there, it can really cast a shadow on the feeling of the day.

4. Give your maid of honor (and best man) a sense of responsibility. Give her an idea of what she will be responsible to set the president right away. She needs to have an idea of what you expect from her and what kind of involvement she should count on. This way, you won’t end up with a dead beat or an overly involved right-hand-woman.

5. After everyone is informed, try having some sort of get together with the entire bridal party, or just the bridesmaids. You want to be able to work as a team and keep your “players” informed. Make them feel wanted and honored to be a part of your special day – have a catered lunch, informal drink night at your place, or evening at a park to relax together.

6. Be conscious of your friends’ budgets. It is expected that the bridesmaids pay for their own dresses, hair and make-up. However, if you absolutely have your heart set on those Vera Wang gowns, you might want to consider paying for a portion of the dress. Your bridesmaids probably didn’t agree to the task with the intent of spending $400 on a dress.

7. Keep them informed throughout your planning process. A website is a great way to do this, and also a fun way to plan your wedding as a couple. Send your bridesmaids written reminders and fun updates to keep everyone just as excited as you are.

8. It is customary to give your bridesmaids gifts as a thank-you for their help and devotion to you. The gifts don’t have to be over-the-top expensive, but they should be elegant and meaningful. Try pearl necklaces to wear on the wedding day, or personalized jewelry boxes. These gifts are the best if they strike a personal note. Remind them of the good times in your past and thank them for helping with your future.

Whatever you do, always remember that your bridesmaids are there to help you. If this is a painful process, there is definitely something wrong. Choose friends and family that you care about and want to have around, and have fun!

Beach Catering Menu

As mentioned in a previous post, Oahu Wedding’s Catering for Two service is an intimate solution to the traditional wedding reception. Enjoy personal service for your first meal together - directly on the beach. The atmosphere is not the only novelty to expect with this meal; you will be dining on gourmet island cuisine, prepared just for you by Oahu Wedding’s experienced, creative caterers.

Listed below is a sample menu to give you an idea of what to expect for the dinner that will start your lives together:

All dinners come with a sample of poi and lomi lomi salmon served with the bread

Starters (choose from):

-taro rolls served with sweet honey butter
-sourdough baguette served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil dip
-fresh garlic bread

Salad (choose from):

-Manoa romaine mix salad with kiwi lemon dressing
- Spicy salad with grapefruit dressing
-spinach salad with lime dressing
-avocado spaghetti squash salad

Entrée (choose from):

-New York steak served with herb roasted potatoes and fresh pineapple
- Lemon pepper chicken breast served with brown rice pilaf and steamed vegetables
-Gingered honey-mustard salmon fillet served with steamed rice and seasoned broccoli
-Local eggplant rotalini served with farfalle and marinara sauce and fresh island tomatoes

We also have a Hawaiian Specialty menu filled with Polynesian novelties and colorful flavor. Specific menus on that to come later… or if you can’t wait, send an e-mail to an Oahu Wedding planner and ask for further information.

Martha Stewart name cards

Lately, we’ve been talking about personalization for your wedding. There is proof all over the place that you can add your own flavor to your wedding, while keeping it stylish, classy and even traditional. Today we would like to share an adorable idea from none other than the great Martha Stewart.

Traditional name cards are a formal way of seating your guests. Why not spice them up and turn them into a social activity? These fabulous little buttons not only tell your guests where to go, they also introduce your guests to one another! The black checker board is perfect for a classic, chic wedding, but of course can be personalized to any color palette or theme. Find a local calligraphist, or if you are feeling creative, do it yourself! There are plenty of calligraphy guides out there for the artist at heart.

Take a look at Martha’s fun and practical reception accessories:

Hawaiian Wedding Cakes in the Sun

The wedding cake is a universal symbol of marriage. It represents a celebration; the first celebration of a new joined life for two people who love one another. Of course, your wedding cake will be stylish, beautiful and absolutely delicious! Unfortunately, these delectable creations are a little fussy when mixed with the beaches of Oahu and the warm Hawaiian sun. All of those butter cream flowers and custom designs will melt right off into the heat of the day if you are not careful. What a disaster and waste that would be…

There are plenty of precautions to avoid messy situations even with the elements causing a threat to your beautiful dessert – here is a list of warnings to keep in mind when picking out your perfect wedding cake:

1. There are three common types of frosting offered by most bakeries for wedding cakes: butter cream, French butter cream, and fondant. For a cake that has to withstand the outdoors, fondant is the only way to go; the texture is slightly harder and more chewy, but the flavor is still there. If you really prefer the taste of butter cream, ask the baker to add a layer of butter cream underneath the top layer of fondant. Fondant is also great for designing your cake; it appears smooth and is perfect for custom patterns, flowers and color.

2. We strongly advise against tiers. The extra set-up and risk involved is somewhat silly for a beach wedding. There are many very trendy stacked cakes that are popular right now. This adds stability and is still beautiful.

3. Make sure that you have an appropriate set-up for your cake. Sand can be very unstable; find a stable place to position the table before you place the cake on top. If you can’t find a steady place in the sand, play it safe and move onto the beach.

4. Always have something to shade the cake from the sun. Bring a decorative tent, an archway, or an umbrella. Even with fondant frosting, an hour in the direct sunlight can do major damage to a wedding cake.
The moral of the story is that you can have a beautiful cake with a beautiful set-up that will withstand nature’s elements without a hitch. Of course, Oahu Wedding’s planners will provide all of this for you. The bride and groom should never have to worry about a melty cake on their big day, but stranger things have happened.

Take a look at a few gorgeous examples of fondant cakes by local bakeries:






Cakes by The Cake Garden

Trendy Bridesmaid dresses perfect for Hawaii!

The Wedding industry is just as much a part of fashion culture as any other. Weddings are a multi-billion dollar business annually, and most top designers release an entire bridal line separate from other new releases each season. That being said, just like any other part of fashion, the world of weddings sees new trends coming and going with each season. That is precisely what makes this business so much fun! Now throw in the warm Hawaiian sun and a few tropical blooms and we’ve got ourselves the event of a lifetime… so say Oahu Wedding’s eager planners.

A crucial element to all of those beautiful wedding albums is the bridesmaid dresses. These colorful necessities aren’t meant to be the center of attention, however when mistakenly chosen can cause an unsightly mark on the bride’s perfect vision. A rising trend in bridesmaid dresses is the knee-length dress. They are perfect in many different settings - modern chic, classy casual, summer celebration, or Hawaiian luau! With a flattering cut and the right accessories, these shorter dresses will take the cake (and show off the bride’s gown)!

During a trip to California, one of our Planners ran across a beautiful little boutique in San Francisco called Bella Bridesmaid. This classy, friendly shop is a dream come true for a bride trying to find the perfect apparel for those closest to her. They carry designer dresses like Vera Wang, Simple Silhouettes and Jenny Yoo at decent prices and provide great service in a stylish environment. Don’t worry ladies, Bella Bridesmaid now has boutiques all over the United States, and plenty of those trendy little knee-length dresses! Check out their website to find the boutique closest to you.

Modern chic flowers with a Hawaiian flair

Flowers are an extremely important element, mood-setter and decorative tool for your wedding and reception. We would like to keep all of you brides and grooms-to-be updated on the newest trends in wedding design and fashion.

This season, many couples are going for a sort of free-form, naturally pretty look where floral contribution is concerned. The beauty of the flowers will usually speak for themselves – so rather than overly shaping them into awkward patterns and forms, why not let their natural beauty and shape form to the theme of your wedding day?

Where tropical flowers are concerned, these unique blooms will make their very own statement. If you envision a classy, pastel-based event, there is no need for overkill on bright oranges, reds and yellows to give a tropical feel. Just because you are in Hawaii doesn’t mean that you have to ditch your elegant, imaginative ideas!

These examples from local Hawaiian florists are perfect illustrations of modern chic wedding style with an island flair:



Top Left and Center: Flowers by Watanabe Floral
Bottom Left, Center and Right Coloumn: Flowers by JNS Floral

Personalization tips: Wedding beverages

Any good wedding planner will tell you that the only fool-proof way to make your wedding unique is to personalize it! Put a little of your heart and soul into it and make it a representation of who you are – as individuals and as a couple. Oahu Wedding’s planners search constantly for the little things that will make an event special; things that brides, grooms and guests will remember and love.

We are noticing a new trend in personalizing these events – through food and drinks! A meal is obviously necessary for any reception, whether it be a fully served multiple course meal, or fun hors d'oeuvre and finger food. Why not weave this necessary activity (and expense) into the theme of your wedding? We have come up with a couple of ideas to make your culinary experience fun and save a little money while doing it!

Today we will discuss beverages. The expense of an open bar for your guests can be quite overwhelming when hosting an event such as a wedding – especially when your guest list is large. To avoid this, try providing a certain amount of alcohol at each table (maybe a bottle of wine and champagne service). Then, incorporate a special mixed drink of your choice to be served as well – choose one of your favorite drinks, or maybe one that has a story behind it (like the drink that the bride ordered on your first date, or the bride or groom’s absolute favorite drink). Don’t forget to post the significance on the wall near the display, or maybe on a small note attached to each drink.

Another great idea is to choose a drink that matches your color palette. For example, Cosmopolitans might be an awesome display of color for a wedding using deep red and pink hues. Mai tais will be an adorable addition to a Hawaiian wedding or one with a neutral palette of browns and greens. Create a decorative setting for the display of your drinks – everything is a part of the décor!

TIP: While you are being creative with cocktails, don’t neglect children and non-drinkers! Include a specialty non-alcoholic drink in the same display (try lemonade with fresh mint, or Shirley temples with cherries on top).

Choosing one drink to share will deplete your costs drastically, and also give you a way to incorporate one more element into your theme. If your guests don’t particularly care for your drink of choice, they can always indulge in something a little more standard, like beer or wine.

Here are a few examples of charming implementations of beverages in these inspiration boards from Abby Jean’s inspiration board contest!


Bright colored cocktails are an edgy accompaniment to a modern wedding - especially one in a tropical setting!


The stir sticks make all the difference in these flirty little lemonades by Soiree. This is a perfect example of personalization!


These beverages go hand in hand with this bright-colored palette.

Music and entertainment tips for your Oahu beach wedding

Music is a very important element for your wedding day. From the soft ballad playing as your guests enter the ceremony to the rhythmic beat of your reception party, the music cannot help but set the mood for you special day.

Today, we have provided a step-by-step check-list to choosing your wedding entertainment. Of course, no one can give you a fool-proof “How-To” guide on finding the best of everything, because of the unique nature of each event. We offer our direction to help you along as you make these important decisions.

Entertainment Check-list:

1. Decide on a budget for entertainment purposes: Make sure that you realize this number will account for musicians, DJs, set-up fees, and all equipment rentals that may be necessary during the ceremony and reception.
2. Make a general list of songs that you would like to hear at your ceremony. Do you want music during the ceremony? If so, choose no more than three songs to be sung or played throughout your ceremony. Any more, and your guests will loose interest. If you do not have a list of particular songs, simply decide on a theme, or type of music that you prefer and any professional musician will be more than happy to provide you with suggestions.
3. Based on the songs or style that you choose for the ceremony, decide on what type of musician(s) you will need at your ceremony; would you like a harpist, flutist, pianist or guitarist? Would you like vocal music as well as instrumental? Is there a certain song that must be sung by a male or female? Take all of these things into consideration and make decisions one-by-one to avoid being overwhelmed.
TIP: For an outdoor wedding, take the elements into consideration. A guitarist or ukulele is a good choice for a beach wedding because they will be easily heard and are convenient to transport.
4. When choosing musicians, make sure that they are professional. Look for a website, or take note of their experience with previous clients. You need someone you can count on. You need someone who will not only provide you with beautiful music, but also will show up on time, act and dress appropriately, and play everything you ask them to play. This may sound easier than it looks. You may want to look into the advice of a wedding planner or consultant like Oahu Wedding to recommend and arrange musicians.
5. Once the plans are made for your ceremony, start thinking about the music at your reception. In the words of an Oahu Wedding bride, “We have been to many weddings with bad music at the reception. This can totally ruin a beautiful night.” As mentioned before, music will set the mood for your party. Think about the desired theme for you reception and work from there. Would you like smooth jazz music for your guests to float around a dance floor throughout the night? Do you want upbeat, party music like rock-n-roll or funk? Are you looking for a modern Hawaiian band to play reggae and island music? Again, make up a general song list and decide on a theme. Without this foundation, choosing a band, DJ or musician will be extremely difficult.
6. Based on your theme, Choose a musician, band or DJ that fits into your vision for a perfect night. Consider the pros and cons of live music versus recorded music (DJ): Live music can be highly interactive and fun. It is personal and exciting to see actual musicians entertaining your guests. However, only a DJ will provide you with songs that sound just like your favorite recordings.
7. After you have chosen your musicians for your ceremony and reception, make sure that you keep in close contact with them throughout the planning process. Have at least one appointment with them to discuss what you would like to include and make sure that you have final song-lists at least one month before the wedding. Make sure that you have signed contracts to guarantee service the way YOU want it. Your entertainers should be responsible for what they agree to beforehand.
8. Last but not least, as with any other vendor, CONFIRM!!! Every company makes mistakes; do not let your wedding day become one of them. Call to confirm service one month and one week before the date. Also send any changes in itinerary or songs in writing so that there is documentation of every plan.


Have fun in choosing your musicians! They will be there to enhance your day and provide a service that will create wonderful memories for you and your guests.

Colin Cowie and Flowers

After reading more into Colin Cowie and his amazing talents in decorating and coordination, we are especially impressed by his use of flowers. Every wedding starts with a color scheme or pallet. From there, Colin incorporates varieties of flower arrangements in every aspect of the wedding. Take a look at a few examples of these simple, yet unique bouquets, arrangements, and other uses for nature’s little beauties:



Colin worked closely with his own family to create this beautiful fuchsia and saffron wedding for his nice, Leigh-Ann. The bright-colored theme here is exciting, and still threads the fine line of class.



Here is something fun! provide flowers petals for your guests to toss on your way out of the ceremony! They are much more colorful and romantic than rice!



Use flower arches for more than just the ceremony. Colin uses them to showcase this beautiful cake with accents of fresh roses.






Similar, yet different; the variations in size and hue make a huge statement in avoidance of redundancy. There is so much flavor on this table! It all comes from the same product.