Thursday, February 5, 2009

Wedding Trends for 2009

I was surfing The Knot today and found an article on new wedding trends for 2009. Click here to view the full article. I have to be honest that I am not a blind follower of "trends", but I seem to agree with The Knot 100% this time! I love, love, love all 10 trends they've presented, especially the following four:

1. Rustic homespun details - I love coordinating events at unusual locations, the older the building, the more character it has! There's also something about serving your signature cocktail in glasses your grandmother has in her cabinet, it just makes the entire event so much more down to earth, relatable and comfortable for your guests.

2. Patterns that pop - OK, I am a sucker for old world design. I love damask, paisley, floral fern and toile designs. I am so happy to hear patterns are in, gotta love that dramatic flair!

3. Two tiered wedding cakes - Back in the days, a five tiered wedding cake is always the center of attention at the wedding, but time has changed! I am excited to see these dainty cute little two tiered wedding cakes making a come back. Nothing is cuter than a small cake nicely presented on an ornate cake stand.

4. Chandeliers and creative lighting - I always tell my brides to "think big". When a guest walk into a room, their eyes always get drawn to big decorative items such as light fixtures and table linens, not your favors and tableware! Spending money on creative lighting or investing in a beautiful chandelier to create a focal point in your room will be the best money you can spend to create a dramatic look for your event.

Oh, how I love beautiful weddings :)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Miki & Joel

I have been dying to blog about Miki and Joel's wedding because their wedding was definitely one of the most beautiful weddings I have seen at Lanikuhonua. Miki and Joel were a really fun and down to earth couple to work with. They had a very nice theme for their wedding, modern chic Caribbean beach, which was carried through from the ceremony to the reception. Miki wore a wedding dress by Jin Wang and looked stunning and so comfortable in it. Her cute little shell sandals were also perfect for her beach ceremony. Miki’s did an amazing job making sure no wedding details were left out. Form the burlap wrapped invitation and the use of driftwood in her ceremony décor, to the giant capiz shell chandeliers hung below her tent and the succulent embellishments on her table top, all the wedding details were absolutely perfect! Miki and Joel’s wedding felt so comfortable and earthy, but chic and refined at the same time. I also had the honor of working with Ray of Apertura Photography (based in Southern California). For Lanikuhonua, a super popular location on Oahu, Ray was able to capture the essence of this location like I've never seen it before. It's so refreshing to see the beauty of Hawaii through the eyes of mainland photographers. It reminds me again of how lucky I get to work in such a beautiful state. Yvonne did an amazing job with the flowers (she always does!); they truly exude the clean and modern beach feel Miki was trying to create. Congratulations to the Kuwaharas!


Portrait of Miki before the ceremony

Beach ceremony set up

A closer look of the aisle decor made out of driftwood, corals, succulents and fresh tropical flowers

Miki walking down the aisle with her father

Just Married!

Reception design
The giant capiz shell chandeliers make a stunning statement

A closer look of the table top design
Succulents always help to create an organic feel, and they will root again by simply soaking them in water. What a nice "green" idea to incorporate into your wedding!
Lounges were placed around the dance floor
Who doesn't love a good Mojito?
A perfect signature cocktail for a tropical wedding
Stunning images taken by Ray
Ever wonder what shoes to wear for an oudoor event? Go Flats!
Shell sandals for the bride, Chucks for the groom
Beautiful lighting provided by Yvonne Design
First Dance
Miki and Joel in the Blue Cheese photo booth