Paia Garden

This is a beautiful ocean side property. It has a spacious lawn area with direct beach access overlooking the north shore and a portable stage which is perfect for wedding ceremonies, receptions, luaus, family reunions, company parties or any type of event.

Paia Garden is the perfect location for those who want an outdoor event right by the waterfront.

If you are interested in booking this location for your wedding or event, please visit Events by Evonne, LLC or send me an email.

"Centerpiece of the Week"

There is just something about flowers that are submerged in a glass cylinder. It's very simple yet very elegant. If you have a few of them with different heights, it gives a lot of dimension to the table. You can choose to have all the same type of flowers or different ones with the same color, just like the photo above. Some couples like to add a floating candle on top, but a few votives on the table will give that dramatic feel.

Beautiful Makena Estate

The Sugarman Estate (Honua Kai Lani) is my favorite private estate on South Maui. It's a 3-acre oceanfront property in Makena, with the main house and a large lawn and gazebo for weddings up to 150 guests. There is so much you can do in terms of the wedding decor and flowers. It's an absolutely breathtaking property. So far I have one wedding scheduled there in August and another one in September and I can't wait. I just did a site visit there a few days ago and Ted, the caretaker, was really nice. I'd love to book this estate more often.

If you are interested in booking this location for your wedding or event, please visit Events by Evonne, LLC or send me an email.

Christine and Peter's Wedding

Photo Credit: Michelle Warren Photography

Congratulations, Christine and Peter! Christine and I were in the same MBA program together back in San Francisco. She met Peter 3 years ago at a party, but the funny thing was their mutual friends set them up 2 months after their meeting, and they have been inseparable since then.

They got married on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at Avila Beach in Central California. Their wedding looks like one of those that you see in the Martha Stewart wedding magazines. The lovely orange and green made a great accent to all the clean and crisp white linens and chair covers. Don't you just love the "Sweet Treats"?

"Centerpiece of the Week"

If you plan to have a long table at your reception, it's best if your centerpieces are of different heights. That way, it will give more depth to the table and your guests across from each other will be able to enjoy their conversations much better without the centerpieces obstructing their view.

You can also add more colors to the decor by wrapping the vases in your wedding colors, and/or choosing table linen and napkin colors that will complement your wedding colors.

Angela's Scouting Trip

Photo Credit: Richard Pecjak

Today, I had such a great time with Angela, my bride from O`ahu. She flew in to Mau`i just for the day to check out the Pua Le'a Estate (Haiku Mill) and we also had 4 photographer's meetings. I picked her up at the airport at 10:00 am and we had meetings back-to-back till 7:00 pm when I dropped her back off at the airport. Jeff, her fiance, had to work and couldn't make it out.

Whew... it was a long day but also a very productive day. She loves the Haiku Mill and it would be a perfect place for her 130-person wedding. This is the 3rd Haiku Mill wedding that I have booked in the last 2 months! More and more people are finding out about this "hidden gem"! It really is a magical place.

Angela will probably be back on Mau`i again next month to check out the other vendors. That's the beauty of planning a "semi-local" wedding where you can come visit and have meetings as often as you want.

Local weddings vs. Destination weddings

Since I moved to Mau`i 2-1/2 years ago, most of the weddings I have done here on the islands were smaller destination weddings. But after Events by Evonne, LLC was opened for business, I have actually booked a few local weddings for 2008 ranging from 130 guests at the Pua Le'a (Haiku Mill) again, to 200 guests at the Honua Kai Lani (Sugarman Estate).

Wow, and I thought my own 100-person island wedding was big... but these are even bigger! It's going to be so much fun and I can't wait to see how the local crowds party compared to those on the mainland, specifically those in San Francisco where I was from.

Congrats, J & T!

You must be wondering why I have a belly shot on my blog. Well, I just found out that one of my previous clients has just given birth to their first son.

As a wedding/event planner, it's music to my ears... that my clients are happily married and creating a beautiful family between them! I am really happy and excited for J and T, and would like to say congratulations. All the best to you both!

"Centerpiece of the Week"

Lately, all of my brides have been thinking about their centerpieces... so I have decided to start a "Centerpiece of the Week" post to give all of you some suggestions. Every week, I will try to post different ideas and hopefully they will inspire you.

This week I have selected a centerpiece with green cymbidiums (my favorite) of course! It's simple yet elegant with all of the beautiful votive candles. Candles can add a lot of romantic ambiance to your table setting! Votives and tealights are the most popular.

Where heaven meets the earth...

Photo Credit: Reve Photography

What an appropriate description for this amazing place on the west side of O`ahu - Lanikuhonua. I was there for a site visit 3 months ago and was completely taken by the beauty of the location. It was totally breathtaking and I was, shall we say, mesmerized!?!

Of the two phases that you can rent out, I definitely like Phase II as it seems to be slightly bigger. There is so much you can do with the space... the possibilities are endless! I can't wait to do a Lanikuhonua wedding next. Maybe I should have my own vow renewal there in a few years!

If you are interested in booking this location for your wedding or event, please visit Events by Evonne, LLC or send me an email.

College Reunion in the UK!

I spent 3 semesters in London during my sophomore year in college, and in July/August 2008 they are going to have their inaugural overseas celebration reunion there. I am very excited to work with one of the organizers to do some of the planning from activities to meals and lodging.

It seems like a lot of my classmates will be able to make the trip and it will be a great opportunity to catch up with them and to meet their spouses and children. I am also thrilled that I am able to do some planning outside of the U.S. Perhaps someday, I can even expand my company to doing weddings in Italy... which is one of my favorite countries in the world!