Oahu Weddings in Hawaii

Shortbread Cookie Favors by the Honolulu Cookie Company

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:21:00 +0000

Are you having trouble deciding what to put in those adorable favor boxes you love? For brides coming to Hawaii to tie the knot, a little taste of the islands seems appropriate, and if the standard chocolate-covered macadamia nuts seems a little too cliche, I have a sweet idea for you!

The Honolulu Cookie Company is Hawaii's specialist in shortbread cookies. They are sold all over the islands and have become a very popular gift for locals and tourists alike. These little sensations come individually wrapped and ready to place in your favor box or bag. The website lists the exact size in inches so that you can make sure your packaging is appropriate, and here is the best part: These cookies can be ordered for as little as 45 cents each!

They come in a variety of flavors from chocolate macadamia (yes, they are actually dipped in chocolate) to lilikoi mango. They come in your choice of pineapple or heart shapes. Take a look:

Try putting them in lauhala favor boxes like the ones pictured below. They can be found at Creations By You, Hawaii's own wedding favor shop. They provided all of the supplies necessary to create these Hawaiian Honu boxes (ribbon, raffia and wooden honu).

A Beautiful Beach Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:01:00 +0000

The following is a beautiful beach wedding that I'd like to share with you. Feast your eyes on this happy couple, and check our portfolio page soon for even more pictures.

Hannah and John were married on a July afternoon at Waialae Beach Park. Their decor was bright and classy with calla lilies, cymbidium orchids and roses adorning their bamboo arbor. We used natural finish chivari chairs with Ivory satin cushions and sashes. It was a windy day to say the least, and we had a little scare with the rising tide, but the beach was beautiful as usual, and this couple's glow was enough to rival the sun. Take a look:

Real Weddings Update 7/26/08

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:42:00 +0000

Aloha!

Today I have some wonderful new weddings to share with you. The busy summer months leave little time to blog, so today, I have a few highlights to share:

Scott and Shannon were married on a gorgeous day in Moli'i Gardens at Kualoa Ranch. They had a small ceremony by the lake with a reception to follow on the upper lawn. It was a classy, intimate affair and it was sure a lot of fun! Enjoy these pictures and stay tuned for more summer weddings...

For more pictures of this wedding, go to our Portfolio Page

Real Weddings Update: A beautiful wedding at Waialae Beach Park

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:16:00 +0000

Last week we had the pleasure of doing a beach ceremony for a beautiful couple from Ontario, Canada. We set up on a great day at Waialae Beach Park with a bamboo arch and bright yellow florals by Gulick Flowers and Oahu Wedding. This couple really made the wedding special. They were so obviously in love and enjoying every minute of their special day together. It truly was heartwarming. Their family and friends were just as enthusiastic, which made for a wonderful ceremony and excellent pictures by Kai-Photo. Thank you to Reverend Rodney Shim for a beautiful ceremony. Enjoy the pictures below:

Upcoming Wedding Inspiration Board

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:52:00 +0000

This is an inspiration board that I put together for a current bride. She is having an outdoor wedding at Lanikuhonua, and is looking for an elegant and fun palette of brown, pink and gold. She provided the center picture for ideas on linen, and I needed to play around a bit with pinks in flowers and other accessories. This is just a start in designing her theme, but I happen to like it and thought I would share it with all of you. Enjoy!

The Martha Stewart Weddings Collector's Edition

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 25 May 2008 10:58:00 +0000

I am so excited about today's post I just can't contain myself. If you haven't had a chance to pick up the Martha Stewart Weddings Collector's Edition magazine, you need to make it a priority. It is just packed full with great ideas and beautiful pictures for all aspects of your weddings. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few pictures so that you can all share in my excitement!

This chocolate cake is both fun and wonderfully chic. The molding chocolate is designed to resemble ladyfingers. I think a monogram cake topper would "top it off" quite nicely.

This next service is just too cute to miss: Post your wedding invitations with romance with postage from Lovely, Kentucky or Kissimmee, Florida. You can send your invites to the postmaster in any of these sweetly named cities, and they will stamp your envelopes with their cities for an oh-so-cute touch. Martha includes directions to accomplish this in the magazine.

These little favors are multi-taskers. They serve as place cards and favor boxes. They come with the tops unfolded so that you can take them to your calligrapher or personalize them yourself, and then fill them with a sweet treat for your guests to take home.

I saved my favorite idea for last. These adorable hors d'oeurvres are perfect for a summer reception. These "mini American favorites" were made by New York caterer, Peter Callahan. Mini grilled cheese and club sandwiches, hamburgers and lobster rolls are a few examples of such a charming catering creation.

Mahalo to Agnes at the Martha Stewart Corporate Communications office for all of the awesome pictures!

Real Weddings Update

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:38:00 +0000

Today I would like to share Jennifer and Leon's beach wedding. The set-up was simple and clean and the couple was happy and beautiful. The wedding was held at Waialae Beach Park on May 11, 2008. Thank you to Kai-Photo for the beautiful pictures (as usual) :-).

Lee and Faith Majors Vow Renewal

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:22:00 +0000

Today I have something exciting to share! We had the pleasure of planning an intimate vow renewal ceremony for Lee Majors, ad his beautiful wife, Faith. The couple have been married for 13 years! The ceremony was held at Waialae Beach Park, and they shared a private ceremony for just the two of them. We are honored to have worked with them, and the pictures are just beautiful. Recently, The Insider did a segment on the event. Take a look at the beautiful photography by Kai-Photo, and visit the link below to watch the footage from the Insider!

http://www.kai-photo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/leemajors.mov

Real Weddings Update

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:16:00 +0000

Today I have a quaint wedding to share with you. Laura and Chris were married by Reverend Rodney Shim at Waialae Beach Park on March 9, 2008. Take a look:

(click on photo to enlarge)

Photography by Kai-Photo

Cocktail Favor Boxes

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:23:00 +0000

Wedding Favors are meant to be a Thank You gift for your guests who spent time, money and energy in celebrating your wedding day. This is especially true for destination weddings where your guests travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles away from home to come to come to your event. I say ditch the Jordan Almonds and go for something a little more thoughtful when it comes to favors.

In the case of Hawaiian destination weddings, I like to use something that will introduce your guests to the islands. The example below is a Hawaiian Cocktail in a box - everything you need to make a Blue Hawaii. The packaging is Hawaiian Lauhala, a woven basket-like material that comes in all sizes of boxes and bags. Also notice the personalized tags from www.myweddinglabels.com. Favors like these are fun to create and much more fun for your guests to receive.

DIY Save-the-Date cards

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:04:00 +0000

Today, I have an adorable DIY to share - created by a bride and groom who will be getting married here on Oahu at Moli'i Gardens in September.

Melissa and Danny live in San Jose, CA and they will have many out-of-town guests traveling to Hawaii to come to their wedding. Instead of sending traditional save-the-date cards, they sent luggage tags to their guests for a practical and trendy alternative.

How did they do it? This is how:

- Found a nice picture and lightened it a bit so the black text would stand out
- Downloaded fonts from www.1001freefonts.com
- Finalized the layout (front and back)
- Chose ribbon
- Ordered the color print + laminate job + cuts from a local print shop (San Jose Blue)
- Cut the rounded corners themselves with a corner cut punch and punched the corner holes
- Measured and cut all the ribbons in advance

These save-the-dates are extremely versatile and cost-effective! Any picture, any mood can be created. All you need is a whole punch, a computer, and some creativity.

Wedding Cakes from Cakes by Rose

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:45:00 +0000

Continuing with the bridal show fun, today I just have to share with you the wedding cake that could possibly be the best cake I have ever eaten. I had the pleasure of working next to the very talented Rose, from Cakes By Rose at the San Jose Bridal Extravaganza. I think I ate about five of her delicious little samples last Sunday. The cakes are beautiful on the outside, and they absolutely melt in your mouth with a variety of unique flavors and ingredients that aren’t typical of wedding bakers.

Cakes By Rose is based out of Menlo Park, CA and serves the entire San Francisco Bay Area. She does incredible design with fondant icing including extravagant and whimsical cakes in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Flavors include: Lemony Blackberry, Almondine, Hazelnut Crunch, Hawaiian Carrot, Strawberry Dream, and more. Just read the descriptions of these flavors and your mouth will be watering, trust me.

These are only a few of her lovely cakes, so browse the Cakes by Rose website and prepare to be impressed (and hungry).

Pictures by Rose Graboski, Cakes By Rose

Marizette Paperie Invitation Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:46:00 +0000

As promised, I will be featuring a few awesome wedding vendors from the Northern California region this week.

First, I absolutely fell in love with the stationery from Marizette Paperie Invitation Boutique in San Jose, CA. These invitations are a perfect mix of class and charm. They are made with fine exotic papers and embellished with an array of accessories. Each invitation is designed specifically for the couple for a perfectly personalized stationery set. These few pictures are only a glimpse of the variety that Marizette offers.

These invitations are absolutely beautiful and unique. They start at $5.00 each and can reach $25.00 each based on the complexity of design and the price of materials.

If you live in the San Jose area, or just appreciate the beauty of these little works of art, check out the Marizette Paperie website and browse through their collection!

Here's a taste of what you will find:

Invitations and designs by Marizette Paperie Invitation Boutique

Northern California Bridal Shows

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:47:00 +0000

Sandra and I have spent the last week in Northern California with Oahu Wedding. We participated in the Bridal Extravaganza in San Jose, CA and the Bridal and Party Faire in San Ramon, CA. We displayed pictures taken by Josh Johnson as well as venue pictures of Anela Gardens in Honolulu, and tropical flower arrangements.

It was a great experience and I was extremely impressed with all the great ideas of other vendors in the area. I will have a few great Bay Area vendors to showcase in the next few days! Check up tomorrow for great ideas from the California wedding market!

Josh Johnson Wedding Photography

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:27:00 +0000

Recently, we have been doing some major renovations on our website. I will have a lot more to let you in on when we begin uploading the new stuff, but for now, I want to talk about our brilliant photographer, Josh Johnson. In the midst of all the online and advertizing work, we have had to put together photographs and organize files of stuff that we have had for a while and hadn't put to use.

I recently made a few collages for the website and other things from Josh's pictures. I just want to take today to showcase the wonderful work shown here by Josh. He is such a brilliant artist. He catches the tiniest, yet most perfect glances and moments between couples, and the color in each shot is just amazing. Take a look at some of these photos from Josh's beautiful portfolio:

Bottom right picture by Anela Gardens

Northern California Bridal Show

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:20:00 +0000

For all of our readers in Northern California, I have some exciting news! Oahu Wedding's planners will be represented at the Bridal Extravaganza bridal show in San Jose,CA this coming weekend on January 20, 2008 at the Fairmont Hotel and Resort!

Come and view photos and videos, discuss local Hawaiian vendors, and most importantly start planning your destination wedding on Oahu! Visit www.bestbridalshow.com for more information regarding their shows, and of course, give us a call (808 225-2830)or send an email with any questions about beach, garden and resort weddings here in Hawaii.

Inspired by a Rose - A Winter Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:25:00 +0000

Today I am inspired by a rose. There is something about the classic simplicity of a blooming red rose that never fails to impress me. Even the simplest arrangement can liven up a room with elegant charm. One such arrangement was given to me today by a very special someone, and I am reminded of the potential of these little beauties.

No matter what the location, roses are the perfect pair for a classy, chic wedding. Embrace the winter season and give in to these rich, bold colors! Here is my answer to this dreamy inspiration:

Top left: Red Ballgown from the Snow White Maidens collection by Kirstie Kelly's Disney Bridal Top Middle: "Simple Love" stationery set - A Touch of Elegance Top Right: Photo and Floral arrangements by JNS Floral Design Middle Left: Cocktail bridesmaid gown by Vera Wang Corner Left: Votive Candles by Target Stores Bottom Left: Individual raspberry desserts by Taste Catering Bottom Middle: Pearl Accented Wedding Cake by Paradise Pastries Bakery Bottom Right: Bridal Gown by Vera Wang Collection, Vera Wang

Designer Gowns by Amy Kuschell

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:12:00 +0000

This week, I would like to mention a few great new designers that are too hot to miss, and perfect for weddings in Hawaii. Today, we begin with gowns.

San Francisco designer, Amy Kuschell took her inspiration from designing her own wedding gown. After working as a designer for companies in New York and San Francisco, she and her husband started their own partnership.

These dresses are elegant and classy, with a modern charm that stands out in the competitive fashion industry. AND… prices on these beautiful gowns start at $1500.00! If you are looking for a chic, stylish and affordable dress for a casual beach ceremony or a formal resort affair, take a look at the Amy Kuschell bridal collection to find a perfect match.

"Alexandria" gown and sketch

"Cookie" gown and sketch - "Cookie" was recently recognized by Martha Stewart as one of this season's best dresses.

"Rachel" gown and sketch

"Scarlett" gown and sketch

An Island Fall Color Palette

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:00:00 +0000

Today I am in the mood for fall. The only drawback to my mood is that here in Hawaii fall weather is pretty much identical to summer weather. I shouldn’t complain – it is a beautiful 85 degrees outside, but I need to find a way to fit a little autumn into my day. So: how about a fun fall color palette?

Since so many couples come to Hawaii for island-themed weddings, I decided to incorporate both themes. A little bit of green and brown, and a little island flair is the theme for the day. I tried to tone down the colors and get away from those bright pink and purple orchids for a while, and go for warm neutrals.

Also, I am proud to say that everything on this board can be found or made locally!

Top Left: 2 layer wedding cake topped with dendrobium orchids from Paradise Pastries bakery in Laie, Oahu; Top Right: Homemade coconut lemonade – recipe available on the food network ; Middle Left: Fall 2007 Bridal Collection Gown from Casablanca Bridal; Middle Right: “Alana” from Emi Ink’s Island-Inspired invitation designs; Bottom Left: Moli’i Gardens wedding coordination from Oahu Wedding; Bottom Right: Hand-tied orchid and rose bouquet from Watanabe Floral

A Sweet Treat from Shari's Berries

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:46:00 +0000

Last month, I did a post on Wedding Accessories. I mentioned a wonderful wedding treat from Shari’s Berries that day and since then, I have had the pleasure of sampling them myself!

The friendly staff at Shari’s Berries was nice enough to send a sample to Sandra and I at Oahu Wedding. I was impressed in more ways than one: Not only were they adorable and delicious, but the packaging was beautiful and very well-thought-out. When the berries are shipped, they come with an ice pack for freshness, and lots of padding so that they don’t loose their delicate design. Eating those berries was a mini-event for us and now we can truly attest to how mouth-watering they are!

Check out their website for other themed berries! There is still time to send Fall Berries for Thanksgiving gifts (or maybe for a treat for yourself ;-). I can’t wait to see what they will come up with for Christmas!

Wedding Stationery in Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:00:00 +0000

As promised, today I have a couple of very different, yet equally great Stationery designers and distributers. I am always more than thrilled to showcase vendors that operate locally in Hawaii. It is admittedly harder to find wedding vendors here in Hawaii in comparison to other major cities like San Francisco and New York, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist! Enjoy these pictures and take a look at their websites for even more great ideas for invitations, place cards, thank you notes and all the accessories you need.

Emi Ink by Stacey Emi Shiroma is an adorable line of hand-made (yes, really hand-made) invitations with intricate details and fantastic designs. They are sorted by influence (ie. Asian Inspired, Island Inspired, etc.) She has a ready-made line to choose from, but I think the greatest beauty of Emi’s work is that they are so highly personable. She does custom work based upon the ideas that you will find on her website, and it is just adorable. Rhinestones, paper cut-outs and whimsical fonts are everywhere and these invitations are truly unique. I had the treat of looking at an entire display from the Emi Ink collection, and I just couldn’t get enough of it. Seriously, browse around this website – it’s wonderful!

Another plus is that because everything is hand-made, invitations are sold individually. So, if you are having a more intimate wedding and just don’t need to buy 100 invitations at a time, here is your solution! Each item on the Emi Ink website is priced for individual sale (something that you very rarely see in the stationery world) and since we commonly deal with couples who have smaller-scale guests lists, Emi Ink is a great find – both visually and practically!

"Kathryn" from the "Romantic" Collection and "Posh" from the "Contemporary" Collection

"Daisy" from the "Whimsical" Collection and "Alana" from the "Island-Inspired" Collection

"Keiko" from the "Asian-Inspired" Collection and "Cherish" from the "Contemporary" Collection

Our other featured company today is A Touch of Elegance, a Carlson Craft Company with a studio here in Honolulu! They print many of their designs here, and bring in what seems like endless amounts of other stationery from the mainland and elsewhere. Their website is extremely user-friendly and you can personalize and order your invitations directly from the website! There is a wide price range, starting from under $100.00 for 100 invitations to over $500.00 for 100 invitations, and there is no guessing here – the prices are listed for purchase and there are multiple images of each product.

The variety that A Touch of Elegance provides is unlike anything I have seen locally. These are quality materials and beautiful designs which are easily accessible and affordable.

"Purple Romance," "Silhouette," and "Simple Love"

"Cucumbers and Melons," "Elegant Edge" and "Gathered Together"

"Maple Breeze" and "Red Velvet"

The World Class Wedding Expo in Honolulu

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:31:00 +0000

The past few days were eventful ones for the wedding industry here in Honolulu. The World Class Wedding Expo was at the Hawaii Convention Center showcasing Hawaii’s greatest wedding vendors for brides and grooms to view products and interact with the businesses that will be making their wedding day possible.

As a general note, wedding expos are a great way to find local vendors in your area. Companies from the surrounding areas come and set up booths with samples and information about their services. It’s like making all of your first consultations in one day! OK, so maybe it isn’t that easy, but the point is: Wedding Expos are a great way to find established, talented companies that will cater to your needs.

These shows are not only great for business, but are always a learning experience for me. I am always hunting for local companies with great products and services, and walking through a bridal show is sort of like Disneyland for a Wedding Blogger like myself. I have tons of new ideas and recommendations for you all!

Keep reading tomorrow for a couple of awesome stationery artists/companies here on Oahu, and watch for Bridal Shows in your area!

A Gorgeous Garden Wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:56:00 +0000

Oahu Wedding is now offering a One-Day coordination service for couples who would like to be very involved in the planning process, but don’t want to worry on the special day. This is a great way to relieve tension from the bride, groom and family members. An Oahu Wedding planner is yours to confirm with your vendors and to assist and take responsibility for the events throughout the ceremony and reception.

While planning the event “from A to Z” is the best way to create a relationship and truly work with the bride and groom, these One-Day endeavors are a great learning experience for even the most experienced wedding planners. Some couples really do have great ideas, and darling accessories that we can all use for inspiration.

The following are pictures from one of our most recent weddings. Josh and Tracy had a traditional Jewish ceremony in a resort garden setting. It was truly a mix of classic customs and island flair.

Flowers by: Always Flowers, LLC
Cake by: Cakes By Abbi, Abigail Langlas
Look closely at the picture on the bottom left. Those are wooden geckos and slippers made by the bride and bridesmaids. This is what I mean when talk about creativity! They are adorable!

Lastly, I just could not leave out these favors! I did a post a couple of months ago about cookie favors and here is a perfect example. These match the color scheme for the day and the Hawaiian theme of the wedding as a whole.

An excellent Calligrapher

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:32:00 +0000

Hiring a calligrapher is an excellent way to add a touch of elegance to your affair. Stationery is used in a variety of ways to personalize your wedding. Invitations, save-the-date cards, table numbers, seating cards, Menus, programs, personalized favors, and many more unique implications of paper goods can really add details that make a huge difference in the look and feel of your ceremony and reception.

Today I would like to share an example of beautiful work from an artist based out of San Francisco. Tracy Joe of Tracy Joe Calligraphy does absolutely beautiful and original work from her home studio in the East San Francisco Bay Area. Her website showcases samples from previous projects and events (it is always smart to request a sample before hiring your calligrapher) and they are wonderful! She has a perfect mix of traditional beauty and modern appeal, and the art of calligraphy is just so unique in itself - her work really speaks for itself.

Here are a few of her beautiful samples:

Hilton's Mandara Spa Waikiki

noreply@blogger.com (OahuWedding) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 08:49:00 +0000

Recently, I was privileged to a personal tour of the largest, and definitely one of the most beautiful spas in Waikiki. I wanted to post an informational blog about great spas and salons for brides and bridal parties. I made a few appointments and after seeing and experiencing the facilities at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Mandara Spa, I decided that this one deserves special recognition.

Mandara Spa is not a trademark of the Hilton, but a renowned spa and salon with location all over the world. They offer signature products and treatments only found at Mandara, and because of their size, they really do have unmatchable facilities. With every treatment, guests receive a day pass to the spas facilities, including an indoor jacuzzi, private outdoor pool, fitness center, dry and wet sauna, and lounge area. You can also purchase a day of relaxation in these facilities without purchasing a treatment for $20 (guests of the Hilton Hawaiian Village) or $24 (non-guests).

Mandara is a full-service salon and spa with services ranging from a simple manicure to a full Spa “Day of Perfect Bliss.” Their facilities include 25 massage rooms and the only triple massage room in Honolulu which is great for bridal parties, or maybe mother, daughter and grandma! You will receive professional treatment by one of Mandara’s certified massage therapists, and also have the opportunity to purchase the products that your therapists use at the boutique in the main lobby of the Spa. They carry Mandara’s signature brands, Elemis and LaTherapie. There is a soothing product for everything, girls!

This spa is also great for the men in the bridal party. Whether the plan is to relax with the guys (try the Men’s Spa Escape), or treat a special someone to a treat a special someone to a day of serenity and romance (try Exploration in Chocolate), they’ve got what you’re looking for.

This spa is particularly great for bridal parties because of the large facilities. There is plenty of room for your entire bridal party, family members and anyone else who wants to enjoy the pampering before the big event. You can choose to relax and be treated separately or together. Also, for you local brides and grooms, Mandara Spa offers 20% Kamaaina and military discounts with proof of ID.

Enjoy these pictures (the lighting with or without the flash doesn’t really do the rooms justice, but you can still get an idea of the beautiful ambiance) and consider Mandara Spa for the most important Spa day of your lives!