Mahalo!

As we bid farewell to 2008, I would like to take a moment to thank all of you loyal readers for your continued support throughout the past year. It has been an amazing year since I branched out on my own in Fall 2007, and I couldn't have accomplished this much without all of you!

I would also like to thank all of the wonderful wedding industry professionals out there from the mainland to even all the way from Europe and Asia, who emailed me about your wonderful products and services. I am very blessed to be working with a lot of talented individuals, and I look forward to continue to collaborate with all of you in 2009 and beyond! Keep up the great work and Hau`oli Makahiki Hou!

Rain and Wedding = a BIG no, no!

I am all geared up for the New Year's Eve "Black and White" wedding tomorrow, but the weather hasn't been cooperating in the past few weeks. For the 3-1/2 years that I have lived on Mau`i, I have never seen this much rain all within a month. I am hoping that the Rain Goddess will be kind to us tomorrow and decide to take a break for just one day. It will be an absolutely amazing wedding and I can't wait to see how everything comes together. It's going to be a lot of fun! Please... rain, rain, go away! :(

Photo Credit: Jessica Claire

Photo Credit: Blue Orchid Designs

Photo Credit: Estilo Weddings

Signature Cocktails - Ruby Red

If your wedding color is red or with red accent, this is YOUR month! I'd like to share with you some yummy "red" cocktail recipes:

RED MARGARITA
Fruity, delicately tangy drink for the evening
1 oz. tequila
1 tbsp. grenadine
2 tsp. raspberry flavored liqueur
2 tsp. lemon juice
Garnish with an orange peel twist

MONTE ROSA
Light aperitif
1/2 oz. vodka
2 tsp. triplesec
2 tsp. Campari
2 tsp. orange juice

VODKA CRANBERRY
Social cocktail hour drink
1/2 oz. vodka
Fill with cranberry juice

RED SLIP - NON ALCOHOLIC
Sweet fruity event drink
1-1/2 oz. of strawberry syrup
1-1/2 oz. grapefruit juice
Bitter grapefruit juice for topping off
Garnish with a strawberry or lime

My best Christmas gift(s)...

OK, besides the Canon EOS Rebel XSi Digital SLR camera that I got almost 2 weeks ago (and which I used to take this photo), the next best Christmas gift is probably the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of the Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine!

Events by Evonne Hawaii Online Listing

I didn't expect to see the magazine in my mailbox as the Spring/Summer issue usually hits the newsstands the first week of January, but as a Platinum List® member we get our complimentary issues a week earlier! YAY! Needless to say, I am all curled up with a cup of hot chocolate (yes, it's a little nippy here on Mau`i) and the magazine in my hand, enjoying every page of pure fabulousness!

Please be sure to check out my listings on page 196 for Hawai`i and page 200 for Northern California! :) As always, thank you all for your support!

Mele Kalikimaka...

... me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy holidays from our family to yours, and all the best in 2009!

xoxo,
Evonne, Darren, Stanley and Sheldon

Left to right: Stanley (Blue Mackerel Tabby Longhair Scottish Fold)
and Sheldon (Blue Tabby & White Longhair Scottish Fold)

"Wedding Chic"

I have been eagerly waiting for this book for quite some time now, and it's FINALLY here! If you haven't done so already, you need to head to your nearest bookstore or Amazon.com and pick up a copy of "Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration" by the one and only Colin Cowie. It might just be your best Christmas present this year!

You will find tons of amazing ideas on the traditional wedding elements such as flowers and cakes, but there is a section in the book that's dedicated to ceremony decor for beaches, gardens...etc. for those who are having a destination wedding. It's a MUST READ!

With the holidays coming up in just a few days, what else is better than to curl up by a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate in your hand and reading this wonderful book by Colin? Or if you live in the tropics like I do, you can curl up on your beach blanket! :)

Cute lil' petit fours

For those of you who know me well, you know how much I love sweets, chocolates and dragonflies (and green cymbidium orchids too)! Now if you put 3 of those 4 together... VOILA, you get these yummilicious petit fours by Dragonfly Cakes in Sausalito, Calfornia.

Photo Credit: Dragonfly Cakes

When my hubby and I used to live in San Francisco, we would drive up to Sausalito on some weekends to grab a nice brunch and walk around the cute little town. And just a few days ago, he had the opportunity to try a piece of the lemon flavor.

He emailed me right away and said: "Honey, have you heard of Dragonfly Cakes? We received a box of these petit fours at the office today. It was really good, you'll like it... also good gift idea for brides."

Well, thanks, honey! I will like it if I get to try one, so did you save me a piece? His answer was: "Oh... let me see if there is any left!" :)

Note: My hubby did save me a piece (it was chocolate) and it was sooooo good. It was soft and not very sweet - just perfect!

Engagement Session - Liz and Nelson

Liz and Nelson are getting married in September 2009, but they were out here on Mau`i for their scouting trip this past November. I had such a great time hanging out with them and taking them to all the vendor meetings. On their last day here, Liz had a hair/makeup trial and they decided to do an engagement session with the photographer of their choice - Amity Mason.

It's an excellent idea to do an engagement shoot while you are on your scouting trip for your destination wedding (and even if you are getting married locally). That way, you can have a trial of your hair and makeup, and also get to know your photographer before the big day. I highly recommend it!

Here are some of those amazing photos from Liz and Nelson's session. I can only imagine what their wedding photos will be like... can't wait till their "NYC/Sex and the City" style wedding is here. I know it will be absolutely fabulous!

Photo Credit: Amity Mason

Cute ring bearer photos on Style Me Pretty

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Style Me Pretty, asking all of us Little Black Book members to submit photos of the cute little ring bearers from our weddings. I submitted the following and they posted them on their blog today! You can read the post HERE!

This first ring bearer photo was actually from my very own wedding at the Moana Surfrider on O`ahu on June 2, 2005. Our ring bearer, Langston, was my hubby's nephew. He was 4 at the time and he did so well walking down the aisle all by himself. As we were lining up, I remember him asking his mom why the flower girl was crying! Needless to say, the flower girl didn't walk down the aisle as planned (but she was totally fine during the rehearsal). That's how children are, they can be unpredictable and we just have to go with the flow! :)

Photo Credit: Sanford Barr

This 2nd ring bearer photo was from my September 13, 2008 wedding at the Haiku Mill. Evan was the nephew of my beautiful bride, Angela. His brother Caleb also walked down the aisle with him. I love this photo because as sharp as Evan looked in his tux, his little tie was all crooked and his shirt wasn't even tucked in anymore right after the ceremony! :p How cute was that?!

Photo Credit: Tad Craig

Featured Wedding - Eri and Aris

Eri and Aris are such a sweet couple. I met them the first time when I flew over to O`ahu for their scouting trip on Valentine's Day, and Eri's parents flew in from Japan as well. It was fun spending time with them, checking out different locations and meeting with vendors.

After the scouting trip, the rest of the planning was all done via email as Eri spent most of that time in Japan, but everything went very well on the day of, and it was exactly how they envisioned their wedding to be.


CATERING: D'lish Catering. FLORALS & LINENS: Yvonne Floral. PHOTOS: Visionari. RENTALS & LIGHTING: A'A Party Rentals.

Eri and Aris had their wedding at Lanikuhonoua, which is one of my favorite locations on O`ahu! Eri chose lime green, coral and yellow for their decor colors to complement all of her bridesmaid's dresses. The colors were just perfect, even for a November wedding. In fact, a lot of my 2009 brides have asked me about those colors for their wedding next year! It was such a gorgeous day with absolutely no wind and rain. - practically a planner's dream! We couldn't have asked for better weather, and Eri looked stunning in this wedding gown that she selected with her mom.

The highlight of this wedding was the entertainment toward the end of the reception with the hula dancers and the fire knife dancer. It was a surprise for the guests and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Congratulations, Eri and Aris! All the best to both of you and hope to see you again here in Hawai`i or back in Northern Cal!

Thi Make Up Studio Grand Opening Event

Taylor Pham is one of my favorite makeup artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she is the owner of Thi Cosmetics. For all the brides-to-be, please mark your calendar for this wonderful event - the Grand Opening and Holiday Shopping Soiree of Thi Makeup Studio in downtown Palo Alto. Please see below postcard for details.

Report from the "Bride Wars" premiere for Entertainment Tonight!

"Bride Wars" starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway will premiere on January 9th, 2009. Entertainment Tonight is teaming up with Kate and The Knot.com for an unbelievable treat for one lucky, engaged bride-to-be!

They are sending an engaged bride-to-be to the film's New York premiere, with the chance to interview Kate and Anne on the red carpet!

Here is a sneak peek:

On the red carpet, you'll get to interview Bride Wars stars Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway while schmoozing with other A-list celebs. After the premiere, they'll whisk you off to the exclusive after-party at Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue! To enter, email them at contestant@theknot.com with the following info:

• Your full name
• City and state (and city and state where you're getting married if it's different)
• Phone number
• Photo of yourself
• Share your "bride war" story with them. Have you had a bridezilla moment? Or has there been a time when one of your friends or family members gave you -- let's just say "unsolicited" -- advice?
  

They'll announce the winner the week of December 26!

For rules and regulations, please click HERE!

One more wedding in 2008!

Just when I thought my wedding season has ended for 2008, I just took on another one today for New Year's Eve! Yes, 20 days from today! My good friend Debbie of Pacific Event Group mentioned to me that this bride really needed a coordinator to help her on the day of, and since we both work very well together at all of my events, she thought it would be great if I could take on this last minute wedding.

About 6 months ago, I stopped offering my day of wedding as well as partial planning and coordination services. I prefer to plan the entire wedding from start to finish. That way I know exactly and have more control as to what's going on throughout the planning process. It's always hard to jump in the last minute to try and figure out how the day is going to pan out. But the bride, Jaime, seems like a sweetheart and I just couldn't possibly say no when she said she'd love to have me there to help her.

Photo Credit: Jessica Claire

Photo Credit: Project Wedding

I am hoping to get more information from Jaime in the next few days, so that I can start compiling my 10-page+ detailed wedding day timeline and the complete vendors' list for her! According to Debbie and Nicole (the floral designer), the decor is going to be black and white. I have always wanted to do a black and white wedding, and I can't wait to see how this beautiful wedding turns out! :)

San Francisco Vendors/Bloggers GTG!

Even though I was only in San Francisco for 2-1/2 days, I had the privilege of meeting my fellow wedding colleagues and friends - Jewel Savadelis of Savadelis Films, Viola Sutanto of Chewing the Cud Weddings and Stacie Tamaki of The Flirty Guide. We had such a wonderful time at Hotel Sofitel, catching up over a few drinks... If the bar wasn't closing, we probably could have talked all night!

One of the many reasons that I love what I do is because I am constantly surrounded by talented professionals in the wedding industry, and I am so blessed to be able to collaborate with them and call them as friends. These 3 ladies are truly inspirational, and I have to say that they are all on the top of their field. I know that we are going to be friends for a long, long time.

From left to right - Jewel, Viola, Evonne and Stacie!

Besides being talented, Jewel, Viola and Stacie are all super sweet too... they are like sisters I never had! Look at all the goodies I received from them:

A bottle of dessert wine (my favorite)

Stationery samples - did I mention they are letterpress? :)

Desk accessory/cake topper - in my company colors
(green and brown)!

Much mahalo, ladies! I can't wait to see you all again the next time I am in town - which is May 2009! It's going to be a blast I am sure, and hopefully it won't be as cold! Brrrrrr... :)