FINISHING TOUCH

We've moved!

2010-01-17T18:29:00.000-10:00

We've moved! Visit our brand new blog at www.finishingtouchhawaii.com/hawaii-wedding-planning-blog

Click here to be directed to our new site, don't forget to update your browser's bookmark and subscribe for blog entry updates! See you there :)

Finishing Touch on FB

2010-01-04T17:30:00.000-10:00

Suggested by a former client and friend (a social network marketing pro), Finishing Touch is finally on Facebook. Become a fan to view wedding photos, videos and other related links. What we love most about the Facebook fan page is the "Review" tab. We love positive reviews and are asking all former brides to become a fan and review away :) Hope to see you on FB and Happy New Year!

Celebrate LOVE

2009-12-19T22:04:00.000-10:00

One of my brides is flying out photographer Jose Villa next year for her wedding. After being introduced to Jose's work, I have been obsessed with his blog. When I saw his most recent post about his photo shoot with a couple who's been married for 65 years, I just had to email him for permission to repost these images on my blog. Images like these warm my heart, and this is why I love what I do! I often remind my brides in the midst of all the wedding planning madness, don't forget to take time to plan out your marriage too. As beautiful as any wedding can get, flowers will die, candles will melt... but your marriage is the only thing from your wedding that will truly last forever. Let's celebrate LOVE, shall we? All images by Jose Villa.

iheart Bib Necklace

2009-12-14T17:25:00.000-10:00

Bib necklaces are all the rage in fashion right now, and I love them! I have always loved using big dramatic pieces in event design, so why not wear big dramatic accessory on your wedding day? Pairing an elegant bib necklace with a simple wedding dress is a total do! If you are still shopping for a wedding dress, consider getting a simple (and inexpensive) dress and splurge on a great bib necklace. Your bib necklace will give you an embellished neckline and makes you look like a million bucks on your wedding day!

One beautiful and stylish bride!

Glass pearl ribbon bib necklace by Oscar De La Renta.

Short white silk faille wedding dress from Oscar De La Renta Spring 2010 Collection.

So Long, InStyle Weddings

2009-12-07T22:23:00.000-10:00

If you haven't heard, Time Inc. has decided to close InStyle Weddings magazine, and its final issue will hit newsstands on Christmas Day. The closing of InStyle Weddings followed just a month after the closing announcement of both Modern Bride and Elegant Bride. I find it sad and hard to believe that so many wedding magazines are closing because the wedding industry is still growing as a whole despite of the economic downturn; but on the other hand, I have to agree that there are also many great wedding websites available such as Style Me Pretty, 100 Layer Cake...etc., which its make very convenient for modern-day brides to use and to help style their weddings. Wedding planning and styling have come a long way, I can't even imagine what my job would entail without email, blogs and websites? InStyle Weddings, you will be missed, especially your annual celebrity weddings issue!

Steal the look of President Obama's first State Dinner

2009-12-01T18:03:00.005-10:00

I was surfing all over the web the day after President Obama hosted his first state dinner, looking for images of the decor. I was eager to learn about the linens, flowers, lighting and design details and be inspired because a party at the White House has got to be super fabulous, right? Besides all stories I read about alleged party crashers, the decor did not disappoint. It excites me to learn that this is one of the few state dinners hosted outdoors, underneath a tent. About 75% of our events are hosted outdoors so I know there will be tons of ideas for me to steal from this beautiful White House party.

A beautiful tented dinner event on the South Lawn of the White House. Guest count for this event = 350.

A clear top tent adorned with upright chandeliers reflects a romantic glow, creating a dreamy and whimsical feel.

A closer look at the dramatic overhang. When designing a wedding or any space, try to include big dramatic pieces (i.e: giant chandelier, fabric with bold patterns.. etc.). This will give you the biggest bang for your buck in terms of overall event aesthetics.

I love the choice of this Apple Green linen. I think it's so fresh and young, a total representation of who the Obamas are. Matching chair pads are a must when you are using a colored linen. Your chair pad shams should always match the linen used on the table.

This state dinner is in honor of the Indian Prime Minister. I love the touches of gold used throughout the place setting - so appropriate for this first class event!

Another example of what big dramatic pieces can add to a space. These large fall colored arrangement is so big that they almost feel like a "tree". What a great way to bring in the outdoors!

Highlight Video from Junko & Oscar's wedding

2009-11-20T19:31:00.000-10:00

Josh Fair of Fisheye Studio sent us this sweet highlight video from Junko and Oscar's wedding. Isn't this video the cutest? Loving all the footage captured on the North Shore! Thank you for doing such a great job capturing the essence of Junko and Oscar's wedding Josh!

oscar + junko // a two day adventure from Fisheye Studio on Vimeo.

don't TRASH THE DRESS

2009-11-18T21:47:00.002-10:00

To be honest, I still don't know how I feel about the popular "Trash The Dress" day after photo shoot. I must say that some of the TTD photos I've seen are pretty unique, but a wedding dress is probably the prettiest dress a girl will ever purchase in her life time, and I know many of my brides paid well over $5000 for their wedding dress. Why trash it so easily? And that is why I am so excited when I came across this website called "Don't Trash The Dress", a new project started by the amazing Michelle Scotti of I Do Believe Photography. Here's how it works...

This is about making a special trade...

A fabulous, non-trashing bridal photo session by I Do Believe Photography in exchange for the donation of your wedding dress to Brides Against Breast Cancer.

What You Receive: 1-2 hour photo session at the Oahu location(s) of your choice. Your print ready digital images on DVD with unlimited personal reproduction license. A password protected online photo gallery.

What You Give in Return: I Do Believe Photography will collect your wedding dress at the conclusion of the photo session. It will then be donated to Brides Against Breast Cancer, giving your dress a new life as a bride’s “dream gown” while the proceeds from the sale of this treasured possession help grant wishes and memory making events for women and men who are losing their battle with breast cancer.

This fabulous offer will be available from October 1, 2009 until October 31, 2010. Contact I Do Believe Photography for a booking!

It humbles me to see such talented individuals giving back to their community. Thank you Michelle for being a true trend setter in the wedding industry. May you be blessed for many years to come!

Tis the Season for Website Update

2009-11-09T20:31:00.000-10:00

I love this time of year, a slower wedding season which means time to actually work on our marketing. I am happy to announce our website has been updated. We've added new weddings to our portfolio, new testimonials from our friends, colleagues and past clients, new bios for Tristin and I, and new articles have been added to our "Press" section of those published weddings and design editorials. I hope you will enjoy looking through all the beautiful details of the new weddings that have been added.

Speaking of this season, there are only 3 weddings left in 2009 :( I still can't believe this year is almost over. This has been an amazing year in spite of the economic downturn. I wake up every morning feeling so grateful to be able to do what I love and am passionate about and to have the opportunity to call my clients friends. So please don't forget to slow down this season (even if you are planning a wedding) and count your blessings! xoxo ~ Sandra

Junko & Oscar

2009-10-30T13:43:00.001-10:00

I was recently asked by Pacific Weddings to be a guest blogger on their blog Love Notes, and I am re-posting the blog here, along with a really sweet email from Junko after the wedding :) This wedding has so many beautiful details, so I promise there will be a "Part Two" to this blog when more images from the wedding become available, stay tuned!

I have been anticipating Junko and Oscarʼs wedding for quite some time, because I knew it would be one of our most beautiful weddings in 2009. Junko ﬁrst contacted me back in late 2008, and I felt an instant connection with her. We both love fashion and bold, dramatic patterns, and we’re big fans of the t.v. show The Hills. I have to admit, I love working with brides who crave a beautiful wedding—from her gown and hair accessories to her table linens and flowers—everything had to be absolutely chic. The bride compiled meticulous inspiration boards to plan the day. This can be a great tool to give your vendors, particularly when you’re planning a destination wedding. Junko was unafraid to use a beautiful espresso brown and white ﬂoral silhouette linen to give her table that “wow” factor. A Capri blue table runner and matching napkins balanced the patterned table linen. Pink dahlias, English garden roses, hydrangea and ranunculus adorned the tables, with seven crystal chandeliers overhead casting a soft, romantic glow at night. Guests enjoyed an action station menu featuring fresh local seafood. After a few champagne and sake toasts, the night ended with a surprise salsa performance by the newlyweds, who met at a New York salsa dance class 7 years ago!

"Sandra, I really want to take this opportunity to thank you for everything you've done for us to make our wedding so fabulous and so perfect! I don't know what I would have done without all your help. Oscar and I feel so blessed to have you as our coordinator. I know you've done and seen so many fabulous weddings in the past but to us, this was absolutely the best wedding we could have ever imagined to have! I just can't tell you enough how much we LOVED everything from the beginning to the end. Although I had a certain vision in my head of how our wedding was going to look like, what I saw that day was nothing close to what I had ever imagined. It was above and beyond our expectation!!! One word to describe... FABULOUS! Thank you for being the person we could really trust, and knowing that you had our best interests to make this wedding come true definitely put us at ease. Sandra, we just can't thank you enough for all the things you've done for us for the last year and a half! Last but not least, please send my warm Mahalo to your assistant Tristin. She was so sweet and easy going just like you! She really calmed me down when I was walking down to Lanikuhonua from Ihilani. She told me she's also getting married next year! I will be looking forward to hearing all about it because I know it will be fabulous! Tell her I said Congratulations! I'm sorry my email got so long again, but I just needed to tell you how much we appreciated all your help with our wedding!" ~ Junko & Oscar

A Jason Magbanua Production

2009-10-23T14:26:00.001-10:00

What an honor and delight to have the opportunity to work with world renowned wedding cinematographer Jason Magbanua! For those of you who still think wedding video is cheesy, wait until you see this Same Day Edit done by Jason. This SDE is so captivating and inspiring, unlike anything I've ever seen before. After you see this video, you will agree with me that the best moments in a wedding are those unrehearsed and most candid moments. Thank you to my couple Grace and Laurent for flying Jason out from the Philippines to capture their beautiful and definitely FUN wedding at St. Augustine Church and Lanikuhonua. Professional photos from this wedding taken by the talented Frank Amodo to come soon!

Grace and Laurent from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Hawaii Bride and Groom Fall Winter 09 issue

2009-10-21T22:22:00.001-10:00

The new Hawaii Bride and Groom magazine is now available at your local bookstore. My favorite piece in this issue is the feature on "Pretty Hair Pieces". All the featured hair pieces are available for purchase here on Oahu. My favorite piece is from Christine Gardner's line Attached - the jewel encrusted hippie style headband. I always envy girls with long wavy hair who can rock these headbands :) This headband hand crafted by Christine is the perfect accessory for a barefoot beach wedding - a style that feels relaxed and refined at the same time. Did I mention you can now read the magazine entirely free online? Click here.

Headband by Christine Gardner

Model: Clea Saldania-Rountree

Photo: Stefanie & Ana Riedel

Something Blue for your wedding?

2009-10-06T21:13:00.000-10:00

I attended The Bridal Salon in Los Angeles last month and was introduced to the perfect signature cocktail for a wedding - I call this cocktail "Something Blue". (Warning: the drink is super delicious and dangerous at the same time. Who knew HPNOTIQ has a 17% Alc./Vol.?!)

Make this the ultimate BLUE experience for your guests:

Serve "Something Blue" on a blue lit up bar

1 part HPNOTIQ + 1 part Champagne, and voila!

Aloha Seattle!

2009-10-01T21:02:00.000-10:00

I usually don't do this on my blog (because I think it's super cheesy), but I do want to give a shout out to my old assistant / on-site coordinator Rebecca Bradley. Rebecca worked with Finishing Touch for about 3 years (from Winter 2005 to Summer of 2008) and have since then moved back to her hometown of Seattle. Have you ever met someone you just know that he/she was born to do something? That's how felt when I first met Rebecca. I knew from the very beginning that she will make a great wedding planner, and I am so happy and proud to announce that she had started her own wedding design and coordination business, New Creations Wedding Design & Coordination. Her website is still a work in progress, but I am sure it will be fully fabulous very soon. If you are reading this from Seattle or knows someone who is getting married there, call Rebecca. Tell her you read about her business here and send her my aloha... she will LOVE it!

Jessica & Michael

2009-09-04T14:23:00.000-10:00

Jessica and Michael's wedding was held at the beautiful, newly-renovated Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Better known as the "Pink Palace", the Royal had gotten a face lift earlier this year and no details were left out during the design and renovation process. Every single piece of furniture was carefully selected; from the rustic chandelier to the abstract paintings on the wall, everything was so tastefully put together. I was in love with the dramatic Hawaiian print wallpaper the moment I saw it inside Jess' bridal suite. The hotel has the perfect balance in vintage and contemporary design. Visionari did an amazing job capturing all the great architectural details of the hotel and of course, all the emotions of Jess and Michael's wedding day. Congratulations to the Chongs! I had so much fun planning and designing your wedding, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day! To view a slideshow of all of their wedding images, click here.

Don't you just LOVE the wallpaper?

Design details of the wedding

Check out the amazing architectural details of the hotel!

Elegant B & W Affair at the Ko'olau Country Club

2009-08-26T18:56:00.000-10:00

If you follow my blog, you may notice alot of my weddings take place at private estates; so I am often thrilled when I get the rare opportunity to work inside a ballroom. Working indoors provides a more controlled environment so we can go crazy on the candles and play with the height of the centerpieces. Plus, who doesn't love a good air-conditioned ballroom when it's almost 95 degree outside, right? :) Rachel and Nick of Blue Nalu Photography was so gracious with helping us photograph the details of this wedding Yvonne and I did at the Ko'olau Country Club Glass Ballroom. Half of this ballroom is surrounded by glass windows (hence the name!), allowing the guests to enjoy the majestic view of the Ko'olau mountains. We also experimented with lighting for this event. Due to the amount of glass windows in the ballroom, I had no idea how the lighting will look at night, but they actually looked pretty amazing. Lighting is a fantastic way to dress up your event and to give it that "wow" factor. Thank you to Serena and Denny for allowing us to be a part of your wedding! Photos by Blue Nalu Photography (amazing husband and wife team, nicest and the most genuine couple you will ever meet!), floral and lighting by Yvonne Design, linens by Les Saisons.

Overall ballroom set up

Table top design 1: White Phalaenopsis orchids and Hydrangeas arranged on white satin linen with black ribbon applique

Spider mums always make a dramatic statement as napkin embellishment

Table top design 2: Submerged white Phalaenopsis orchid in glass orbs arranged on tuxedo black satin linen

More beautiful details on the head table

This is NOT a professional photo. I want to see how the lighting will look on my point & shoot camera at night, not bad, huh? :)

New Spotlight Bride

2009-08-04T15:05:00.000-10:00

I am in the midst of a very busy wedding-filled August, but I thought I would mention that I finally updated the "Spotlight Bride" section on my website. I know, I know... this is the one section that rarely gets updated, so sorry! This time we are featuring our beautiful bride Miki who got married last October. Visit our website, click on "Spotlight Bride" on our home page, and begin to read about Miki's thoughts and tips from a bride's perspective. I hope you will enjoy this "bride-to-bride" moment as much as I do!

Perfect Pre-Wedding Pampering: Luxz

2009-07-15T10:51:00.000-10:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to get pampered by Roxanne at Luxz. Luxz is a private, boutique style studio that specializes in the most innovative non surgical professional skin care procedures. I was able to experience the DiamondSkin Microdermabrasion and Intraceutical Oxygen Treatment. I was amazed by how smooth my skin feels, and my face literally glows after the treatment - talk about instant results!

Alot of brides often consider getting a traditional facial before the wedding. This is something I usually do not encourage because we all react to chemicals differently, and the last thing you want is to have an allergic reaction to your facial. However, Luxz using all natural "ingredients" and their procedures are hypoallergenic; hence, making it the perfect pampering activity before the wedding! Oh, did I mention she offers mobile services too?!

Another interesting fact: Roxanne is personally trained by Samantha MarQuard of Intraceuticals who has worked with Michele Peck, Madonna’s personal facialist. Madonna, who we all know has amazing skin and does not look her age at all :)

New Issue of Pacific Weddings on Newsstands

2009-07-08T16:27:00.000-10:00

The much anticipated Summer/Fall issue of the always-stylish Pacific Weddings is on newsstands now. The beautiful wedding images of our couple Miki and Joel grace the pages of this issue. This issue is full of creative and timeless ideas to make your wedding fabulous! I especially love the editorial feature on "Peonies". Go pick up your copy today! I heart PW :)

Miki & Joel

"To Hawaii With Love"

A seaside soiree on the shores of Oahu

Beautiful Outdoor Soiree

2009-07-02T16:06:00.001-10:00

One of the many special things about Hawaii is its beautiful weather all year round. Alot of brides ask me if there's a time they should avoid getting married in Hawaii due to rain, and my answer is often "no", besides Winter months are a little riskier than Spring and Summer months. We coordinate weddings all year round, and a majority of them take place outdoors. We do get tropical passing showers, but they are usually harmless rain that will pass in 5 to 10 minutes. We are also able to tell from the forecast when there's going to be a downpour, and that's when your wedding planner will come in and introduce her rain plan :) Since Summer is in full swing, I thought these ideas about tents, and the many possibilities of how to make them your own would be appropriate. Tents have come a long way... there are so much we can do these days to make your outdoor reception fabulous, elegant and refined! Say bye-bye to backyard weddings, hello to beautiful outdoor soiree!

BELOW (Christina & Brian): Custom canopies are really making waves these past few years. We don't call them "custom" for no reason. They can be built in different sizes or shapes, any stained wood color and any fabric / color of your choice. They are a bit pricier than the other tent options mentioned in this blog, but they are worth every penny!
BELOW (Miki & Joel): To create a simple and understated beach chic ambiance, go with natural color bamboo and white sheer fabric canopies. *General disclaimer: custom canopies provide great sun coverage, but definitely not rain :)

BELOW (Erin & Mat): Solid top tent is probably the least expensive tent available for rent. They provide great sun and rain coverage. This photo shows a solid top tent lined with a white tent liner completed with uplighting. Tent liner is a great way to hide the metal poles that are visible from underneath the tent, and they also make your event look 110% more elegant!

BELOW (Jennifer & Michael): Gobo projection can be used in many different ways at an event, the most common we've seen is on the dance floor. Projecting a pattern on the outside of a solid top tent is another way to dress up that plain white vinyl sheet :)

BELOW (Christina & Steve): Clear top tent is another beautiful option for outdoor weddings. They do not provide very good sun coverage, but the fact that your guests can look up and see the stars at night is well worth it. We did a light swagging of white fabric under this tent. The fabric really helped to create a softer look for the reception.

BELOW: Another photo showcasing what fabric can do to soften up the look of a metal framed tent.

BELOW (Miki & Joel): Hanging dramatic light fixtures under your tent is also a great way to make a stunning statement.

BELOW (Miki & Joel): These Capiz shells chandeliers emit a nice glow at night.

BELOW (Renee & Adam): Looking for an affordable way to dress up your tent? Try hanging paper lanterns sporadically throughout your tent. These lanterns are affordable, and they come in any colors you can imagine.

BELOW (Amy & Jeff): If you want to create a more contemporary look, try grouping your lanterns and hang them over each individual guest table - sort of like hanging your lanterns in the shape of a bunch of grapes. This group of lanterns will feel like a custom chandelier piece you will see hanging over a dining table at someone's home!

BELOW: I also love the use of market umbrellas to provide coverage for an outdoor reception. The simplicity of this set up feels rustic, intimate, charming and simply lovely - everything a wedding should be all about.

Lorelei & Michael

2009-06-18T15:57:00.000-10:00

Here's a little history of how we got connected with Lorelei and Michael: FT had the honor of coordinating Tiana and Warren's wedding in 2005. Tiana referred her friend from college Simmy to us, who got married to Pono in 2007. Simmy then referred her high school friend Lorelei to us, who married Michael in April 2009; and the story doesn't here. Since then, Lorelei had referred her friends Annette and Jovan to us... who are getting married this coming July. It's pure joy and honor to work with brides who are referred to us by former brides because these new brides already know they can expect nothing less than perfection from us as they have already seen us "in action", and they are well aware of our expectation for each event; they also feel more like "friends" to us rather than clients. Not to mention, it's always fun to see our former brides at weddings with the newest pint sized members of their family.

Lorelei and Michael chose a beautiful theme for their wedding - Tuscany. Michael is Italian, and Lorelei had always dreamt of a wedding that is all about family, friends and good food. She wanted to create an ambiance that feels warm, inviting and a bit "vintage-chic" at the same time. There's absolutely no better location to set the tone for this event other than the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa. Lorelei and Michael got married on the oceanfront Lagoon Lawn, in front of a curtain of naturally hung strands of roses, suspended from two seaside trees. Their reception was held inside the classically designed Ocean ballroom. The elegant damask wallpaper hung inside the ballroom and the crushed damask linens we brought in were in perfect harmony. I also adore the sweetheart table filled with pillar candles, floating roses and Phalaenopsis and Camilia leaves accents. It's lucky I live Hawaii, but it was a definitely treat to be taken away to Tuscany for an evening.

Breathtaking images by Shawn Starr / Amazing floral artistry by Yvonne Design

Intricate embroidery on Lorelei's dress

Our groom Michael modeling the flowers

A whimsical and romantic backdrop for the ceremony

Just married!

Details of the reception set up (lighting does wonders!)

I can't resist not posting this photo!

Michael making sure all the details are perfect and flawless before the doors open. Love it!

Onto the details...

Love this photo! A stolen kiss at the reception.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, who are enjoying their honeymoon in Italy as we speak :)

Introducing.... the new Pacific Wedding Guide

2009-06-09T14:11:00.000-10:00

Introducing Pacific Wedding Guide, the newly launched and beautifully designed wedding planning resource website. Finishing Touch is thrilled and honored to be listed on the website among an elite group of vendors hand-picked by founder, Tara Mahealani DePonte. PWG offers up-to-date planning resource for making your Hawaii and New Zealand wedding into a reality. The best part about PWG is Tara's daily (oh, did I mention daily?) update on her blog. I love getting my daily dose of island wedding inspirations from Tara's blog; and the links on her blog to the best wedding design blogs out there (such as Style Me Pretty, Snippet & Ink, 100 Layer Cake... etc.) make it super convenient to navigate and get even more daily doses of wedding inspirations. So yes, you can easily spend a few hours a day on her blog alone just indulging in wedding beauty :) Thank you Tara for creating such a beautiful and tasteful website - way to rock the industry and raise the bar!

Christina & Brian Part 2

2009-06-03T10:57:00.000-10:00

It's been a while since my last blog entry. May was a very busy month, so hopefully I will get the chance to update my blog more frequently this month. I received Christina and Brian's wedding images from Visionari this weekend. I loved the Same Day Edit video done by Studio Red, so I was super excited to see the package from Visionari in my mail box. Ryan and Lisa of Visionari did a beautiful job capturing all the love, beauty and details of this wedding. The bold colors our lovely bride Christina had chosen looked absolutely stunning. I am a sucker for bold colors and crazy patterns (especially damask and paisley!), so I am especially thrilled when Christina decided to to use dramatic colors such as eggplant purple, magenta pink and chartreuse green for her wedding. Thank you to Yvonne Design for creating such beautiful flowers, canopies and lighting. I apologize in advance because there are so many details to this wedding I want to include in my blog, the photos may take a while to load. (Just a fun fact about this wedding: I started working with Christina the beginning of February, and her wedding was the first week of May! Pulling off a wedding with an enormous amount of details in such short time frame is definitely possible when quality, reputable, and extremely talented vendors are on board. Kudos to Visionari, Studio Red, Yvonne Design, Cater To Me, Catering Connection, Troy Michael Entertainment, Les Saisons, Cake Works and Blue Cheese photo booth for making this wedding a success!)

Bouquet with feather and crystal accent

Our lovely bride - Christina

Ceremony set up

Details of the ceremony set up

I love the idea that Christina asked her nephew to be her "Flower Boy". Instead of carrying a basket, he tossed petals from the Brian's Marine Corp hat. Isn't that the cutest idea? Way to make your wedding personal!

Manzanita Wishing Tree filled with well wishes from the guests

Guests' dining canopies in green, sweetheart canopy in purple.

Orchid and crystal strands suspended from the inside of the canopies

A closer look at the dining canopies and table scape details

One of my favorite moments from this wedding must be when Brian spontaneously twirl Christina around a few times after their newlyweds' entrance. It was a sweet and unforgettable moment.

The canopies looked even more stunning at night

Christina and Brian hamming it up inside the Blue Cheese photo booth

Can't tell you it's a great party without a photo to prove it :)

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Park!

Jennifer and Michael's Wedding Cake featured on MSN.com

2009-06-02T11:05:00.000-10:00

I got a call from my husband this morning informing me that Jennifer and Micheal's wedding cake is currently being featured on the home page of MSN.com. Kudos to to Cake Lava for creating this one-of-a-kind wedding cake! To see more photos from Jennifer and Michael's wedding at Lanikuhonua, click on this image below. Photos by Chrissy Lambert.

Christina & Brian

2009-05-13T11:07:00.000-10:00

Christina and Brian had a gorgeous wedding at Lanikuhonua this past weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect for the beautiful couple. Christian and Brian have got to be the kindest and most gracious couple I've ever worked with. Their wedding was filled with lots of bold colors and intricate details. This is my first attempt to post a video on my blog, so I hope it works :). This video is a "Same Day Edit" done by Studio Red, which was later shown at the reception. Isn't it amazing what these guys can do in 3 hours?! I can't wait to share the professional photos on my blog when they are ready. The dining canopies looked simply stunning at night!

Brian + Christina :: SDE from Studio Red on Vimeo.

Hot Off the Press

2009-04-15T14:32:00.000-10:00

The much anticipated Hawaii Bride and Groom Spring Summer 2009 issue is here! Finishing Touch is honored to be a part of their "Eco Chic" editorial feature. Along with Spinning WEB, Les Saisons, Yvonne Design, Vignette, Accel Party Rentals, Lanikai Pot and Plant and Emi Ink, we created a table top design that is natural, raw, organic, environmental-friendly and refined all at the same time. The magazine just keeps on getting better and better, kudos to Julie and Gavin who work so hard to make sure each issue is nothing less than fantastic! Go pick up your copy today! This issue is also available to be read entirely online on the Hawaii Bride and Groom website. All images are taken by Marcia Campbell.

Capiz shell chandeliers created a nice frame for the table

A closer look at all the beautiful details!

Leslie & Greg

2009-04-09T16:57:00.001-10:00

Leslie and Greg got married at the Westin Moana Surfrider in December 2008. They are both originally from the South but are currently living in Hawaii. When I met Leslie and Greg for the first time, their genuine personalities captured me right away. They were true Southerners who are known for their hospitality and generosity. When it came to selecting a color and ambiance for their wedding, there was no question that Buttery Yellow was perfect choice. There's a certain kind of "sweetness" the color Yellow possesses: it's so soft, romantic and down right "country". I usually don't get to design alot of "country style" wedding, but since this is actually Leslie's personal style, I was excited to have this opportunity to do so. Leslie and Greg were married in the new Lani Kai room at the Moana, underneath a soft ivory canopy completed with hanging candles and flowers. For their reception, the guest tables were draped in a floor length buttery yellow linen with a garden patch-work style overlay. The pretty table linen was topped off with a lush and low garden style arrangement filled with English Garden Roses, Tulips, Peonies, Hydrangeas, Dusty Miller and other vintage style foliage. For a traditional country-styled wedding, ivory chair covers are a must! Naomi Lee of Les Saisons helped me tie these cute little "rosebuds" with coordinating sashes on the back of each chair - this small accent truly completed the look we were trying to achieve. Cake Lava created a beautiful and delicious 4-tiered wedding cake for the newlyweds. Thank you to Nicole Lomas of Peony Floral who did an amazing job with the flowers. This wedding was Nicole's last wedding in Hawaii, she moved to San Diego in January. Nicole is probably one of the most talented and knowledgeable florists I've worked with; so watch out San Diego, she will be definitely be making some waves out there in the Southern California wedding industry. All images are taken by the talented Frank Amodo.

Leslie - the beautiful Southern gal

Ceremony set up

A closer look of the canopy

Reception set up

Low and lush garden style arrangement

Each setting was embellished by a mini bouquet of hand-picked wild flowers

Gorgeous cake!

Frank's signature shot taken at a "secret" spot in Waikiki

I can't tell you where it is.... but it's right next to the Police Station :)

Erica and Paul part 2

2009-03-26T20:40:00.000-10:00

A few months ago I blogged about Erica and Paul's beautiful wedding on 8.8.08 at The Kahala Resort and Spa. I recently received the final CD filled with stunning images from their photographer Frank Amodo, so I decided to post a "part 2" about this wedding. Erica's wedding was full of rich texture, bold colors and intricate details. I especially love the use of Dahlias in her wedding. Dahlia is a very hearty flower that usually lasts all day, and they come in such fun shades of colors such as lipstick red, bumble bee yellow, super hot pink and rich plum purple. They always add that "dramatic flair" to any event. Kudos to Floral Inspirations who did an amazing job with the flowers and Frank for capturing these images.

Exquisite handmade invitation by Emi Ink

Bold and dramatic bouquet created by Fong

Just married!

Ballroom transformation - done in 1.5 hour!

8.8.08 was a really busy day at the hotel as we can all imagine, but all vendors worked as a team to create Erica's dream reception in lightening speed!

Romantic canopy creates a soft coverage for the sweetheart table

Stunning head table set up

Favors were artfully arranged under an arch made of Curly Willows and hanging Orchids

Congratulations to the Harpers!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-03-17T22:08:00.000-10:00

March 20 - Celebrating 4 years of wedded bliss!

My Seven Buck Chuck

2009-03-14T10:28:00.000-10:00

While I patiently wait for Trader Joes to arrive in Hawaii, I have found a great cheap bottle of wine to replace TJ's famous "Two Buck Chuck".

Sending your hubby to the store to get wine is usually not a good idea, because you just never know what you may end up getting. But since I was busy preparing dinner, I had to count on Marvin to pick up a "decent" bottle of wine. I gave him 2 very simple instructions: 1) Get a bottle of Shiraz or Cabernet, 2) Keep the price point to under $15 per bottle.

Marvin came back with the $6.99 Yellow Tail Shiraz-Cabernet blend. To my surprise, it was actually really good. I would say the bottle tasted like something you can get at Tamura's for $20 - $25 a bottle. A wine expert once told me that a bottle of wine is good wine as long as it tastes good to you personally. I couldn't have agreed more. Who would have thought my beer-drinking, poke-eating hubby would find my new "Seven Buck Chuck"?

For brides who are having an off-premise wedding (such as Lanikuhonua, Loulu Palm Estate, HSAM....etc.), consider serving the Yellow Tail Shiraz-Cabernet as your red wine option. Your guests will probably never know it costs only $6.99 a bottle!

Your Wedding Day Spring 2009 Editorial Feature

2009-03-06T16:34:00.001-10:00

Yvonne Design, Cake Lava, Emi Ink, Les Saisons, BLU foto and myself were thrilled when Thea Lignos, editor in chief of Your Wedding Day magazine called and invited us to be a part of her magazine's Spring 2009 editorial feature. Your Wedding Day magazine is truly a leader in introducing new wedding designs and trends, so we are all so honored to be a part of their first Hawaii photo shoot. The overall design we tried to create for this shoot is definitely unusual. This table is inspired by the very talented Kelly Wearstler, an interior designer known for her eclectic style. Personally, I have yet to be asked by a bride to create a wedding that feels "eclectic"; but after seeing these beautiful images, I hope they will inspire brides-to-be to think outside of the box to go wild, go eclectic! To see more images and the full editorial article, pick up your copy at Barns and Nobles today. All images are taken by BLU foto.

Images of the table top design

Wedding cake by Cake Lava

Menu and escort card by Emi Ink

Want Pearly Whites?

2009-03-03T20:31:00.000-10:00

I know I know, it's been too long since I've last blogged. I hope this won't become a habit :( This is usually not our peak season with alot of on going weddings, but we've been busy designing and planning upcoming weddings this summer, fall and early 2010. Can you believe it's already March? 2010 will come sooner before we all know it!

OK, I have to admit that I am a sucker for "products". I love experimenting with hair products, cosmetics and of course, teeth whitening products. I have heard from a few brides that some teeth whitening strips are just a waste of money. Not only do they not whiten your teeth, they are often overpriced and will cause extreme sensitivity on your teeth that it's almost unbearable. If you are a bride looking for a fast, effective and inexpensive way to whiten your teeth before the big day, I highly suggest trying Crest White Strips Premium. You apply the strips every night for about 15 minutes (yes, only 15 minutes!), and you still start noticing results in about a week. For better results, I suggest also brushing your teeth with Crest Vivid White toothpaste. I've personally tried it, and the combination of both products make your teeth look fantastic. Costco sells them in a combo pack for about $35. A bargain price for a beautiful bridal smile!

Strips + Toothpaste = Pearly Whites for the Big Day!

Wedding Trends for 2009

2009-02-05T15:35:00.000-10:00

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 :)

Miki & Joel

2009-02-03T17:07:00.000-10:00

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

Lindsay & Kris

2009-01-27T09:32:00.001-10:00

Lindsay and Kris got married in December 2008 at a fabulous private home in Portlock. One of the many reasons I love what I do is that my relationship and interaction with my clients often allow them to impact and influence me personally in unexpected ways. Lindsay and Kris are walking examples of what unconditional love, warmth, graciousness and generosity are all about. They are absolutely the sweetest couple I've ever met; they both have their hearts in the right places, have tremendous amount of respect and support for each other, are super well prepared for marriage; and most importantly, their mutual love for God is just consistently glowing through their hearts and souls.

One example of why Lindsay is just super cool to with work: Lindsay's original colors for her wedding were turquoise and yellow, but when her bridesmaids' dresses came in, they were in a completely wrong shade! Our florist, Avery with Green Honolulu suggested going with more neutral shades (black, white, and tan) at this crunch time because they are easier to work with. Lindsay accepted the sudden change in color scheme with joy and excitement even though this all happened only 3 weeks prior to her wedding! Her bridesmaids ended up wearing these really cute black cocktail dresses from White House Black Market, and they carried colorful bouquets in hues of pinks, greens, oranges, and yellows. Since Lindsay's wedding was in December, there's always a risk of pouring rain. The week before her wedding, it rained all the way up until late Thursday, and we were 90% sure we had to go with plan B. But miraculously, the sky cleared up on Friday, and we didn't even need to set up a tent for the wedding at all. This all shows how great things always happen to those who love God! All images are taken by Shawn Starr.

Getting ready for the big day!

Leslie Fair did an amazing job with Lindsay's hair and makeup.

Lindsay looking beautiful before she walks down the aisle.

Ceremony

Beautiful tablescape created by Avery of Green Honolulu. Fun and vibrant flowers were set on classic and neutral tones of blacks, whites and tans.

China Walls in Portlock make such dramatic backdrop for photos!

Beautifully decorated candy buffet is always a bit hit.

Day after shoot aka "trash the dress" photo session is always fun!

Click here to view more images from Lindsay and Kris' wedding day! There are just way too many beautiful images to include on my tiny little blog :)

Congratulations to Tristin! Part 2

2009-01-26T11:04:00.001-10:00

As promised, here's a photo of Tristin with her ring. I am so excited for her to embark on this journey of being a bride and later a wife. Congratulations again Tristin!

Christina & Steve

2009-01-23T20:27:00.001-10:00

Here are more images from Christina and Steve's wedding at Loulu Palm Estate. All images by Stefanie Riedel. Flowers, lighting and drapery by Yvonne Design. Congratulations to the Barkers!

Christina looking gorgeous in her bridal suite just moments before the ceremony

A traditional Greek ceremony was held at the St. Constantine and Helen's Greek Orthodox Church

Congratulations to the Barkers!

Reception table design - all white with a slight hint of green and brown

The two different shades of white between the linen and white rose makes a stunning contrast!

The couple's first dance to "At Last"

Breaking of the plates is a Greek tradition during dancing. It was such a great party!

Christina & Steve's wedding at Loulu Palm Estate

2009-01-14T10:42:00.001-10:00

Congratulations to Christina and Steve who just got married this month at Loulu Palm Estate. Loulu Palm Estate is a new venue on the North Shore that can accommodate up to 500 guests. It's a beautiful estate that sits right on the edge of the water, and it offers everything you can ever imagine for a wedding in Hawaii. I definitely look forward to coordinating more events at this location. Here are just two initial photos emailed to me by our photographer Stefanie Riedel. More photos to come!

Christina wore a Claire Pettibone dress with these killer D&G shoes. Wasn't she gorgeous? The colors of her wedding are mainly white with hints of green and brown. The ambiance was a modern tropical flair.

Beautiful cake by Cake Lava

Congratulations to Tristin!

2009-01-12T15:00:00.001-10:00

Congratulations to my assistant Tristin, who got engaged over the holidays! I am so excited for her and cannot wait to see how her BIG day unfolds. I am sure it's going to be fabulous! Photo of "the rock" to come :)

New Wedding Galleries

2008-12-31T15:04:00.001-10:00

Finally! Our website has been updated. What a way to finish off 2008! New weddings are now featured in our portfolio. Happy New Year everyone!

A Gingerbread tent

2008-12-26T13:40:00.000-10:00

Every year the crew at Accel Party Rentals will personally deliver a Christmas gift to clients' door steps and this year is no exception. Scott and the guys at Accel are the sweetest! This year they sent us a fabulous gingerbread tent! My husband and I spent Christmas morning putting this "tent" together and had so much fun with it. Our favorite part of the tent has to be the Rosemary branch we trimmed from our yard, which is used as the Christmas tree in front of the tent (going along the theme of "everything edible"). We just emailed this photo to Scott, hopefully our tent will be good enough to win their Gingerbread tent competition. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with friends and families and found time to reflect on the true meaning of this season! Mele Kalikimaka!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-09T09:21:00.000-10:00

My favorite time of the year! I wish I can leave my Christmas decorations up all year long :)

Talking about Transforming a Room

2008-11-21T19:26:00.000-10:00

I love experimenting with lighting. I think lighting is capable of making any event looks like a million bucks. They say a picture paints a thousand words. Check out these before and after photos! These photos are from Sunny and Grayson's Masquerade themed wedding at the Pali Golf Course (hence the feather decor). They didn't have an over the top budget, but the investment we put into lighting really paid off. This is probably one of the most dramatic banquet room transformations Finishing Touch has done. We are very satisfied with the end result. Custom lighting by Yvonne Design, flowers by Floral Inspirations, images by Shawn Starr.

I will be featuring Sunny and Grayson's wedding in my website portfolio along with a few other new weddings from this year. The new portfolio should be up on my website by mid December.

Before

After

More Pictures from Reiko and Jason's Wedding

2008-11-19T21:32:00.000-10:00

I just got an email from Reiko with a link to their wedding slideshow. I had a smile on my face watching how their wedding day unfold once again. Reiko and Jason are the sweetest, and just absolutely perfect for each other. All pictures are taken by Visionari.

Back from Vacation

2008-11-17T17:08:00.000-10:00

Wow, it's been a month since my last blog entry. Marvin and I are back from our much needed vacation. We spent a little over 3 weeks seeing Hong Kong, Beijing China and Phuket Thailand. All three places are so different, but I have to say that Beijing is probably my favorite. It's so historic and seeing the growth China has had in the past few years is fascinating. Here are just a few photos from our vacation (out of the thousand we took!). I am happy to be home and shocked to see all the Christmas decorations are up .... I can't believe it's the end of November already and Christmas it's just right around the corner. I love Christmas!

Hong Kong - best shopping and best food!

The Great Wall

No, we did not have any bugs kabob

Beijing, China

Phuket, Thailand - Phuket has better sand, but Hawaii has better water :)

Reiko and Jason

2008-10-14T13:20:00.000-10:00

A follow up on my recent blog "Surprise for the Bride", here are some professional photos by Visionari taken at Reiko and Jason's wedding at the Ihilani. My staff and I had a BLAST at their wedding, and Reiko and Jason were truly a joy to work with. They reminded me again of why I love what I do so much and what "work hard and play hard" is all about.

On another unrelated note: many of my brides and vendors already know that I will be on vacation from Oct 21 - Nov 12. Marvin and I are going to Hong Kong, Beijing and Phuket for 3 weeks and will not have access to email and voicemail while I am gone. I will be sure to post pictures of our trip after we come back; most importantly, I look forward to coming back to Hawaii feeling refreshed to service all my brides.

Another thing to look forward to: I will be adding new wedding portfolios to our website after I return. There are so many beautiful and memorable weddings in 2008, I cannot wait to share them! Last but not least, congratulations to all my October couples who got married this month:

Sunny and Grayson

Essence and Nurry

Brenna and Jonathan
Miki and Joel, who are getting married this Friday!

OK... here are the photos of Reiko and Jason's wedding :)

Elegant bouquets by Yvonne Design

Perfect backdrop for the perfect couple!

Reiko and Jason inside the ballroom before doors opening

Details of the table set up. Love the "off-set" chair sash on the chair covers!

Overall set up of the ocean ballroom at the Ihilani

A professional photo of the fireworks. Much better than my camera phone :)

Theresa & Robert

2008-09-29T20:18:00.000-10:00

Theresa and Robert got married on July 7 this year at St. Augustine church in Waikiki, and their reception was held at the Hale Koa Waikiki ballroom. Although it seems like all my weddings are always at Lanikuhonua (honestly, I have so many brides asking me why do I do so many weddings there? Because it's simply beautiful!), but I actually really enjoy working at hotel ballrooms as well to mix things up :) There are so much you can do inside a ballroom, for example: dramatic lighting, ridiculously tall centerpieces, real candles that won't get blown out... etc, without having to worry about our worst enemies: wind and rain! Theresa was so easy to work with (let alone she is also drop dead gorgeous). She trusted her vendors 100% and just kind of allow us to design the entire event based on the 3 photos (well, maybe 4 the most!) she had in her big wedding binder. Michelle of Flower Girls did an awesome job creating the luxurious, elegant and romantic feel Theresa wanted for her reception. Theresa's wedding color was actually turquoise, but the ballroom looked AMAZING with a wash of all white decor. Her something blue (actually "something turquoise") was the beautiful cake made by Cake Lava. The Hale Koa ballrom was truly transformed for this event, from the beautiful custom linen to the hand crafted sweetheart table canopy adorned with a shabby chic style chandelier, no details were left out. Even the wait staff who works at the hotel told us that they didn't even recognize the ballroom! Thank you to Theresa and Robert for being such amazing clients to work with! Blessings to you both! Images by Chrissy Lambert.

Ceremony at St. Augustine Church

Overall view of the ballroom's transformation

Close up of the table top design

White phalaenopsis orchid always makes an elegant napkin embellishment

The happy couple underneath their romantic canopy adorned by a shabby chic style crystal chandelier

Stunning turquoise cake by Cake Lava

Surprise for the Bride

2008-09-22T21:45:00.000-10:00

I had the opportunity to work with a super fun couple this weekend, Jason and Reiko; and I think we've pulled off the biggest surprise of all surprises! Jason and I have been working closely together for about a month prior to the wedding to surprise his new wife, Reiko and all of his 180 out of town guests with a spectacular fireworks show. It was required by the Ko Olina association that we inform all of the resort residents and hotel guests of the show, so they don't get scared by the loud noise. It was quite challenging to make sure no guests, especially Reiko, receive any notice about the show. With that many guests, you know someone will spill the beans, somehow! All week, I was really looking forward to seeing Reiko's reaction to this amazing (and expensive) surprise. After Jason gave his speech, we fired off the fireworks, and Reiko was completely in shock, and of course, in tears! Jason and Reiko were so much fun to work with; and their guests kept the dance floor busy all night. Let's just say that they danced so hard the dance floor moved about 3 - 4 feet away from its original position. I had no idea that's even possible! Professional pictures to come... when they are available :) But for now, here's a fantastic "camera phone photo" of the fireworks.

Mazal Tov!

Jennifer and Michael

2008-09-16T20:55:00.000-10:00

Here are some professional pictures taken by Chrissy Lambert at Jennifer and Michael's wedding at Lani Phase 2 (yes, another BEAUTIFUL wedding at Lani. A sunset that never disappoints!). Jennifer is a yoga instructor, and Michael is a therapeutic massage therapist. They own a business together in San Francisco that focuses on health and healing - how cool is that! Jennifer is definitely one of my favorite brides to work with. Her presence is so calming, soothing and just simply lovely! Jennifer and Michael's ceremony is probably the most personal and spiritual I've witnessed, I love it! It reminds me again what marriage is all about. After all, flowers will die, candles will melt.... but your marriage is one thing from your wedding that truly last forever. Yvonne had an amazing job with the lighting and flowers. They truly exudes beauty and serenity, with a touch of Indian inspiration. Jennifer's Indian-inspired cake made by Cake Lava also stole the show. It was so colorful and of course, so ono (delicious) at the same time. Congratulations to the Lanes!

Ceremony on the beach

Table top design

Love the Tuberose spiral chandelier!

The table top design looks so different at night with the help of some custom lighting. It looks amazing!

The happy couple! Gotta love Jennifer's "feet embellishment" :)

Indian-inspired wedding cake

Operation Baseboard

2008-09-08T11:08:00.001-10:00

Marvin and I installed our wood flooring a year ago; but since then, we just couldn't find time to finish up the baseboards. We finally had a free weekend (I mean no weddings on Fri, Sat AND Sun!), so we know it's time to put on our home improvement hats and get these baseboards finished. Thank you to Juggo (Marvin's step dad) who stayed all day to help us cut and install these baseboards. We thought he was going to just let us borrow his nail gun, but he ended up doing 99% of the work! I am so happy with how they turned out. Our hard work has truly paid off, especially with all that back-bending, caulking I had to do :)

888

2008-08-21T16:59:00.000-10:00

Erica and Paul is our lucky couple this year who got married on August 8, 2008. It's hard to believe Erica and I have been working on this wedding for 2 years! As you can see, everything turned out beautifully and flawlessly at their wedding at The Kahala. The beautiful floral arrangements and canopy were created by Fong of Floral Inspirations. Photography by Frank Amodo. The funny thing is, I worked with Fong and Frank last year on 777; and of course, this year on 888. Who knows, we may be working together again next year on 999 just to keep the tradition going :) Congratulations to the Harpers!

Lucky I live Hawaii

2008-08-14T17:12:00.000-10:00

Presidential candidate Barack Obama is in town this week. Our "local boy" is back home for a vacation. It's so amazing to see someone with such celebrity stature to come home and still be able hang out at the beach like us regular folks, with minimal security too. Being from California myself, Hawaii's laid back mentality and the locals' genuine spirit have captured my heart from the moment I stepped foot on the island. Seeing Mr. Obama being able to enjoy his vacation here, remains me once again on how lucky I live Hawaii! Pictures taken from the Honolulu Advertiser.

Lighting

2008-08-02T09:06:00.000-10:00

I love playing with lighting. I think lighting can totally help bring out the ambiance of an event by 110%. I've been trying to capture some good "before" and "after" photos to show my brides what lighting can do to enhance an overall look of an event. But guess what? Lighting is EXTREMELY difficult to capture on regular people's point and shoot cameras - so much props professional photographers for always being able to capture lighting like it's a piece of cake. Here are a few "decent" non-professional photos that I took last night at a Lanikuhonua wedding. Yvonne Designs did all the flowers, lounge set up and lighting - they turned out amazing! Check out the before and after photos!

Before: 30x30 tent with standard lantern lighting

After: Same 30x30 tent with ivory tent liner, leg drapes, spot lighting on all the guests tables. What a difference! The same sized tent feels much warmer and imitate with custom lighting.

More photos of the set up

Custom gobo designs projected onto dance floor and band tent

Got Sweets?

2008-07-22T16:45:00.000-10:00

Michelle of Flowergirls and I collaborated on a table top design for the fall winter issue of Hawaii Bride and Groom magazine. The overall theme of the editorial feature is "What is your Fantasy Wedding?". The ambiance Michelle and I tried to create is a fun, young, fresh and simply SWEET fantasy. Here are a few non-professional pictures of our table top design. Other fantasy designs were created by SUV Expressions, Designs by Hemingway and Yvonne Design. Be sure to pick up a copy of the magazine on newsstands this October to see all these other amazing fantasy designs.

Got Sweets?

Princess and Vu

2008-07-21T09:07:00.000-10:00

Slideshow of photos from Princess and Vu's wedding. Their ceremony was held at the Ocean Crystal Chapel at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, reception in the Coral ballrooms at the Hilton. Photos by Dulce. Congratulations Princess and Vu!

Pacific Weddings Summer Fall 08 issue

2008-07-17T20:59:00.000-10:00

It's on newstands now! Erin and Mat's wedding is featured in the issue, their pictures turned out beautifually! Go get your today copy today :)

A Little Wedding Fun

2008-07-08T16:39:00.000-10:00

Ever wonder what your vendors do when they are all alone, setting up inside the ballroom? We sit underneath the bride and groom "special" canopy and pretend we are the VIPs! Thanks to Sasha at Cake Lava who captured this photo of Michelle of Flower Girls and myself getting all cozy under the romantic canopy. Just fyi, the canopy is not finished in this photo. I just want to make that clear because I will not allow this kind of imperfection appears at a wedding. Hehe... We added white branches with hanging crystals to cover up the bamboo sidings and a sheer crystal overlay to the sweetheart table after the photo is taken. More photos of this wedding (Theresa & Robert) to come!

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-06T21:54:00.000-10:00

Happy 4th of July! I had a wedding on the 4th and another one wedding tomorrow, unfortunately I didn't get a chance to go to the beach, bbq and enjoy the holiday in true American fashion. The wedding on the 4th was held at a private oceanfront home in the Kahala area, and I was able to catch some pretty nice fireworks, so working on the 4th of July is all good after all. :)

As we celebrate the freedom and independence of our country, I want to end my blog today with a thought that is very inspiring to me. A wise man once told me "yet it is important to pick up your rights, it is far more important to know when to lay down your rights for something far more significant." Food for thought.

Want Big Lashes?

2008-06-30T19:33:00.000-10:00

Here's one of my best finds for this summer season - Covergirl Lash Blast.
I've personally tried many brands and types of mascara, and I find the drug store "cheap" mascara to be the best. I have been using the pink and green Maybelline mascara for years but my new favorite this season is the Covergirl Lash Blast (as advertised on America's Next Top Model). This mascara comes with a really large brush and will give your lashes much volume and illuminates your eyes like no other. I use the waterproof one because it never smears under my eye (giving me that "black eye look") even when I am running around at a wedding, under the hot and humid Hawaiian sun.

Rebecca's Going Away

2008-06-19T20:34:00.001-10:00

My assistant of 2.5 years Rebecca moved back to Seattle two weeks ago. I am extremely sad to see her go. She is probably the best assistant anyone could ask for - so friendly, positive, professional and is able to put up with me for that long :) She is going to be missed by me and many other vendors in the industry who so enjoyed working with her. She always makes every wedding so fabulous and stress free for the bride, she is simply the best! Before Rebecca left, I invited a few wedding vendors to a small going away party I planned at my house. Thank you to Table 17 for making fresh crepes for everyone. They were delicious! Here are a few pictures from Rebecca's going away party. Rebecca - you will be missed!

Rebecca, her mom Johanna and her sister Christina

Me, Rebecca and our intern Courtney

Fong from Floral Inspirations, Naomi from Les Saisons, Rebecca, Me, James from Crane Media and his wife Amel

Rebecca opening her gift - framed pictures of herself at variuos weddings. Memories!

Hotel Wedding Packages

2008-06-08T19:24:00.000-10:00

This is probably one of the most common questions I get from clients who are planning a hotel wedding, "Do I need to purchase a hotel wedding package?"

Hawaii is a top destination wedding location, and many hotels have put together pre-set packages that help destination couples to plan their weddings very easily from afar. These wedding packages usually sell for a set fee (for example: $6000) and with this price, it comes with a licensed minster, a bouquet, a maile lei for the groom, a certain amount of photos taken at your ceremony, and an intimate dinner for 2 at a restaurant after the ceremony.

I always tell my clients that these packages are wonderful if they are planning on having a small intimate wedding (10 guests or less) and are not particular about the over all design of their wedding and options for vendor selections. These wedding packages are great if clients want to just come to Hawaii, get married and not having a whole lot of design details to worry about.

However, if you are planning on hiring a wedding planner to assist you with the planning, event design and selection of vendors, I usually tell my clients that there's absolutely no need for them to spend all that money on a "pre-set" hotel wedding package. I encourage my clients to book the hotel ceremony location at an ala carte price (for example: an hourly rate). This price will lock in their ideal hotel ceremony location without the pre-packaged minister, bouquet, maile lei and standard photography that comes with it. Your wedding planner will assist you with recommending the right vendors based on your budget, personality and event style. In other words, your wedding planner is your go to person for creating a customized wedding package that will work for you, only you! In this case, you will be able to get involved in creating the perfect look for your wedding and maybe save some money as well.

Style Me Pretty

2008-06-04T21:11:00.000-10:00

Finishing Touch is honored to be invited to be a part of Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book of vendors. I love this site - Abby Larson is just so tasteful, chic and stylish. As a coordinator, I have to agree that there are way too many wedding resource websites out there. Many of these websites are filled with not-so-great-looking clip art graphics, boring content or pictures from the 80's. Style Me Pretty is such a breath of fresh air. This site is dedicated to feature beautiful and stylish event design, and it definitely provides me with a healthy daily dose of inspirations.

Erna and Stu

2008-06-03T15:39:00.000-10:00

Gorgeous looking couple + intricate details + beautiful weather = another amazing wedding at Lanikuhonua. Congratulations to Erna and Stu! These wedding images and engagement photos are captured by Shawn Starr. My favorite part of the wedding must have to be watching Erna and Stu danced. They were such pros! They can totally win "Dancing With the Stars". :)

Music

2008-05-12T17:23:00.000-10:00

Music is finally up on my website, I love it! I feel that music completes the mood I am trying to create for the site. Check it www.finishingtouchhawaii.com

Alice and Reagan

2008-05-07T15:51:00.000-10:00

One of many reasons I love being a wedding planner is the opportunity to meet amazing people whom I would have never met if they were not getting married; and this is so true about Alice and Reagan. Alice and Reagan are probably the smartest people I've ever met. Alice was the youngest member of her graduating class at Harvard, and she was working on Wall Street when she was only a teenager. The best part is, she grew up in South Africa and speaks 5 different languages! Reagan is also a a Harvard graduate who spent many years living in Africa engaging in personal ministry and professional work. If anyone ask me whether I believe in such a thing called "Soul Mate", I surely do after meeting Alice and Reagan. I truly believe that God brought them together with BIG plans in mind. Alice and Reagan are so both so successful judged by worldly standard, but their goals and passion are living lives worthy of their callings - a character I truly admire. Alice and Reagan's wedding took place on Molokai - the most remote island amongst all Hawaiian Islands. Why Molokai? In the 1800s, every leprous men, women and children were left on Kalaupapa - a tiny penisula on Molokai. Father Damien was one of the first people to arrive the island to help and care for the leprous community. Alice and Reagan chose to wed on Molokai to honor Father Damien's work, his passion and selflessness. They had a intimate ceremony at Kalaiakamanu Hou church and a beautiful reception at the Lodge at Molokai Ranch. Thank you to all the vendors who flew out from Oahu to give Alice and Reagan such a beautiful and memorable day to cherish for a life time. Here are a few images taken by Visionari.

8 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

2008-05-04T17:41:00.001-10:00

I came across a great article written by Claudia Lutman of Claudia Lutman Events on Eight Reasons to Consider Hiring a Wedding Planner. If you are a bride who is contemplating about hiring a pro or not, this article brings an important message that I feel all brides should know about. One of my favorite quotes from Colin Cowie (Oprah's event planner) says, "Your wedding is going to have glitches and is not going to be perfect, but it is important for you to know that the vendors you've hired are professional and well-knowledged enough to take care of these glitches for you." I cannot agree with him more. Hiring a wedding planner will help you bring your wedding to as close to perfection as you can imagine.

Selita and Ryan

2008-04-29T22:06:00.000-10:00

Here are a few images taken by Shawn Starr at Selita and Ryan's wedding. Selita's dress is the cutest! Congratulations again to the Tolentinos!

Inspirations

2008-04-25T20:18:00.000-10:00

Just like any woman, I am a huge Oprah fan. My DVR is flooded with Oprah shows, and I just can't seem to get enough of Oprah, her passion and inspirations.

Last night I watched the episode of Maria Shriver talking about her new book "Just Who You Will Be?". Although I have yet to read the book, but I am already very inspired by her and her story.

Maria, aka the First Lady of CA, touched on a few things she wrote about in the book, but one thing she spoke about really touched my heart. She mentioned that in today's society, we are often so busy with work, achieving recognizable accolades and life in general, that we've forgotten how to simply "Be". I am sure we've all felt the way when every aspects of life is pulling you in different directions and everyone seems to need your attention in urgent moment, but I am a true believer that it is important to take a few moments each day to be STILL. Being still makes me feel refreshed, grateful and renewed, and these, I believe, are ingredients for great work and balanced life.

Erin and Mat

2008-04-17T18:27:00.000-10:00

Erin and Mat got married at Lanikuhonua on Feb 15, 2008. I had the amazing opportunity to work with photographer Stephen Karlisch from beautiful Texas. Check out these amazing images! Erin and Mat met at the University of Hawaii, and Hawaii is the obvious choice for them to wed as it is such a special place for them. Erin is a retail buyer in the fashion industry, so having a fashion forward and FUN wedding is a must for her! Mat McBriar, "the famous Australian punter", all UH fans know him as, is currently the punter for the Dallas Cowboys. His 75 yard punt is the second longest punt in Cowboy's history - how cool is that! It was another beautiful, memorable and super fun party at Lani. Congratulations McBriars! I will be cheering on the Cowboys again this season. Hope to see you guys back on the island soon. Pro Bowl 2009, maybe? :)

Erin and Mat are such troopers. They decided to adopt a symbol for their wedding - a Roogle, a blended creature between an American Eagle and an Australian Kangaroo. We had a Roogle ice sculpture luge made for the Passion Cosmo Martini they served at the bar. It was hilarious.

Guest for A Day

2008-04-11T15:43:00.000-10:00

Selita and Ryan are personal friends from college who got married this week at Lanikuhonua. I was so fortunate to be able to coordinate their wedding and enjoy myself at the same time, as a guest, at the wedding. It feels surreal attending a wedding at Lanikuhonua as a guest, but it gave me a rare opportunity to really appreciate the surroundings and beauty of Hawaii. It rained all day the day before the wedding, and it was overcast the morning of the wedding. I was so excited to see the sun peeking out right around noon, and everything was just perfect from that point on! I am especially grateful and proud of my two staff at Finishing Touch (Rebecca & Courtney). They finalized the wedding themselves and ran the show entirely on their own on the day of the wedding. The event started on time, set up was done exceptionally and everything was just perfect! It was exactly what Selita and Ryan have envisioned. Thanks again Rebecca and Courtney for allowing me to be "guest for a day"! I truly believe that a great team of personable and professional coordinators is key to a successful and stress-free event - and Rebecca and Courtney examplify just that! Here are a few non-professional pictures from the wedding. Oh - and a few more of Rebecca and Courtney in the Blue Cheese photo booth.

My husband Marvin and I at the reception

With the bride and groom. Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Tolentino!

Rebecca and Courtney goofing off, as always :)

Amy and Jeff

2008-04-06T16:06:00.000-10:00

Amy and Jeff had a beautiful wedding at Lanikuhonua on March 16, 2008. Here are a few amazing images taken by Frank Amodo. Amy and Jeff wanted something modern and "unwedding" like, so we've created something a bit more "urban and modern" by using straight lines and metro colors such as gray/platinum and steel blue with splashes of fuchsia and chartreuse to really make the flowers pop. It was another beautiful wedding at Lani! Congratulations to Amy and Jeff!

Grace Ormonde Wedding Style photo shoot

2008-04-01T23:57:00.000-10:00

It was such an honor to meet Grace Ormonde in person and be able to create a table top design for her to feature in the magazine. FT partnered with Floral Inspirations and Les Saisons in creating this design. Our creative direction was "Pure Romance" with a color scheme of whites, touches of blue and some greens. The wind was a bit strong yesterday at the Halekulani, so we had to make a few last minute changes to our original design for the overall structure to withstand the wind. It was a long day of work, but I think the photos will turn out amazing. Hopefully the design will make it into the magazine!

Non professional pictures of the table

With Grace Ormonde at the reception after the photo shoot. I know this is a horrible picture, but this is what I look like after a long day of work, battling with wind. Please excuse my messy hair :)

Website Update - Part II

2008-03-31T08:25:00.000-10:00

OK, I lied. My new website isn't up yet :) However, it will be launched this week. I promise!

There are still a few things my designer is working on, but 99% of the site is completed. We will be adding music and videos later, which will complete the overall feel and look of the new layout.

I am still trying to get the hang of blogging. I know it's been 3 weeks since my last entry, but I think we all know how it feels to have so much to do with so little time.

On a personal note, I really enjoy reading books about leadership and business. I am currently reading "Talent is Never Enough" by John Maxwell - a Christian writer / motivational speaker who is famous for his leadership books. Here's one quote he quoted (not by him) in the book that caught my attention:

"There are many things that will catch my eye, but there are only a few that catch my heart. It is those I consider to pursue." - Tim Redmond

Isn't this the key to quality craft made with heart?

Grace Ormonde's FIRST Hawaii photo shoot

2008-03-07T23:23:00.000-10:00

Finishing Touch is so thrilled and honored when Grace Ormonde invites us to be a part of their first Hawaii photo shoot. Grace Ormonde is truly the trend setter for today's wedding design. Weddings and editorials featured in the magazine are always so fashion forward, unique and simply beautiful. I have always been a huge fan of the magazine, and I am very excited to be a part of this table top design photo shoot. I will be spending this upcoming week to brainstorm design ideas and hope to come up with something that will truly represent Hawaii and its beauty. I will be sure to post pictures from our shoot on April 1st; the magazine issue should launch this fall/winter 2008 nationwide.

New Website - Launched!

2008-02-28T19:43:00.000-10:00

One of my goals this year is to ravamp our coordination serivce to more design-driven. After months of collaborating with Nurry Kwan of Nurdy Design, my new site has finally launched. The new site is crisp, fresh, fun to read, and of course, with lots of new weddings added to the portfolio page. Our 2008 brides are so amazingly stylish and not afraid to try new things - their pictures will definitely add some unique flavors to our portfolio, so be sure to visit the website and blog frequently as I will try my best to add new event photos as often as I can.

Thank you again for being a supporter of Finishing Touch! I am excited to start blogging (finally) and keeping you updated on new ideas and new adventures.