Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Wishpot

I am very delighted that Wishpot contacted me and asked me to guest blog on their site as well as to become one of their wedding experts.

Check out their wonderful wedding blog and hopefully you will see a post of mine on there soon!

Thanks so much, Christine ("gift girl") for inviting me!



Monday, September 29, 2008

Outdoor weddings

At the moment, I am working on a few items as well as the floral decor with all of my 2009 brides. I thought this would be a good place and time for me to share what works and what doesn't here on the islands.

1) Tall centerpieces such as the one below will work in a ballroom wedding, but not outdoors when we have to deal with the wind factor:


2) Low centerpieces will be perfect for both indoor and outdoor receptions, but tealight candles will only work under a tent or indoor:


3) Floating candles such as this one might work outdoor if the flame is completely inside the vase:

Photo Credit: Designs by Hemingway

4) Large hurricane vases ALWAYS work for outdoor events, as well as indoors but tables, chairs, lounge furnitures...etc. are not allowed on the public beaches in Hawai`i:

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Messina

5) Menus and single flowers should be tucked into each napkin for all outdoor receptions:


6) Place cards / escort cards such as these one will work better at indoor receptions. For outdoor events, it's best to place them below the napkin (please see photo #5 above):


7) Stilettos such as this pair of blue Manolo Blahniks that was worn by Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex and the City" will be tough to walk in at any outdoor lawn weddings:


8) Most brides usually change into their bridal flip-flops after the ceremony:

Photo Credit: Visionari

9) Petals on the table only work for indoor events:




Sunday, September 28, 2008

Thank you for your birthday wishes!

I had a wonderful birthday weekend full of great food and great friends... Thank you for all of your birthday wishes.

CLICK HERE for pictures of the delicious food! =)




Birthday dinner with wonderful friends at Flatbread, Paia

Birthday lunch with hubby at Umalu, Hyatt Regency Mau`i

Birthday dinner with hubby at DUO, Four Seasons Mau`i

Hanging out at Big Beach with hubby and Michael Buble on my iPhone!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Kahana Estate

This afternoon, I did a site tour of a private estate in Kahana for a possible wedding location. They happened to be setting up for a wedding, so it was perfect timing. It can hold up to 100 guests for both ceremony and reception. It has a gorgeous view as you can see from the photos, and it also has a small, beach area for beach photos afterward.

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







Photo Credit: Events by Evonne

Thursday, September 25, 2008

50 years - what has changed?

I just received "Dialogue" the bi-monthly magazine issued by the Association of Bridal Consultants (in which I am a member of). Inside, there is an article comparing weddings from 50 years ago with today. Here are some of the statistics:

1958 Wedding


NUMBER OF WEDDINGS:
1958 - 1.5 million
2008 - 2.4 million

ANNUAL BRIDE'S INCOME:
1958 - $1,572
2008 - $30,719

GOWN COST:
1958 - $135
2008 - $1,317

BRIDE'S LIFE EXPECTANCY:
1958 - 65
2008 - 78

BRIDE'S AGE:
1958 - 20
2008 - 26

ANNUAL GROOM'S INCOME:
1958 - $2,396
2008 - $34,167

TUXEDO RENTAL:
1958 - $5.50
2008 - $69.95

GROOM'S LIFE EXPECTANCY:
1958 - 57
2008 - 70

GROOM'S AGE:
1958 - 22
2008 - 28

POSTAGE:
1958 - $0.03
2008 - $0.42

SLICE OF CAKE:
1958 - $0.35
2008 - $4.52

GALLON OF GAS:
1958 - $0.30
2008 - $3.80

HONEYMOON COST:
1958 - $237
2008 - $3.680

PROJECTED DIVORCE RATE:
1958 - 33%
2008 - 50%

PROJECTED NUMBER OF CHILDREN:
1958 - 3.6
2008 - 2.1

In addition to the statistics, there were some other interesting notes:
  • In 1958, Winston and Clementine CHurchill celebrated their 50th anniversary; in 2008, it was Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
  • The most popular 1958 honeymoon destination was Niagara Falls; 50 years later, it is Hawai`i
  • IN 1958, the couple was likely to get away in a Chevy Impala convertible, costing $2,700; this year, it is a Toyota Camry, costing $18,570
  • The most trendy gift in 1958 was a $12.95 Corning Ware casserole; the 2008 gift of choice is a $399 Nintendo Wii game console
  • FIfty years ago, the hottest music was the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and Danny and the Juniors' "At the Hop". This year, it's Alicia Key's' "No One" and Madonna/Justin Timberlake's "4 Minutes"
Pretty interesting, huh?



Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sneak Peek of Lesley & Kristopher's wedding

Here is a sneak peek of Lesley and Kristopher's wedding today at the Saint Theresa's Catholic Church and the Five Palms Beach Grill. More photos to come, so stay tuned!






Photo Credit: Events by Evonne

Monday, September 22, 2008

Please don't drink and drive!

As a planner, I want everyone to have a great time at the wedding... but I also need to ensure that everyone is safe as well. If you or your guests are planning to have more than one or two drinks during the entire evening, please either have a few designated drivers in the party, or as a host/hostess of the wedding, provide shuttle transportation for your guests. That way, we can be sure that everyone will have a good time without endangering their lives or other people's.

DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated), depending on which state you are from, is a very serious offense even here in paradise, and especially when you are an out-of-state driver. This is a good website to familiarize yourself with the Hawai`i DUI laws. We don't want anyone to get into trouble, so please be safe!


Saturday, September 20, 2008

Sneak Peek of Ivy & Howard's wedding

Here is a sneak peek of Ivy and Howard's wedding today at the Olowalu Plantation House. More photos to come, so stay tuned!

P.S. Hopefully the pupus and sushi photos are not making you TOO hungry! =) Yes, they had a sushi bar and it was a huge hit!





Photo Credit: Events by Evonne

Friday, September 19, 2008

Cakes, cupcakes, pastries and dessert bar...

If you have been following this blog, you know that I have posted about cakes and cupcakes before as I am a HUGE dessert fan! Lately, I have read about cupcakes and desserts on several blogs (including one of my favorites - Elizabeth Anne Designs) websites and wedding magazines. I thought I would post about them again since 2 of my upcoming weddings will feature a dessert bar and cupcakes. Lena and Kate, hopefully these photos will give you some inspiration for yours.

These photos are from the amazing Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica... just a few blocks from Third Street Promenade:



This photo is from one of my favorite LA photographers - Next Exit Photography:


And these photos were taken from my recent family cruise:



Hmmm... YUM-O!



Thursday, September 18, 2008

Featured Wedding - Angela and Jeff

Another great wedding at the Pua Le'a Estate - Haiku Mill on Saturday, September 13th. Angela and Jeff are such a fun and easygoing couple. They live on O`ahu and I started planning the wedding with them since December 2007. Angela flew over here to Mau`i a few times to check out the location and to meet with vendors. I even met her sister and her mom once. We always had a great time when she was out here. They are such wonderful people.

Angela fell in love with the Haiku Mill after she saw pictures of it on this blog. She loves that vintage/antique look... When she told me that her favorite clothing store was Anthoropogie, I know she wanted a shabby-chic event!





FLORALS: Country Bouquets. LIGHTING & LINENS: Pacific Events Group, Inc. PHOTOS: Tad Craig Photography. RENTALS: Pacific Isle Rentals. TENT: Maui Rents.

106 guests gathered together on this beautiful, sunny day in Haiku and witnessed the union of this fun-loving couple. Pupus were served during the cocktail hour with Deep Fried Wontons with Creamy Curried Chicken, Mango-Macadamia Nut Brie in a Puff Pastry and Mini Caprese on Herbed Crostini. And the 4 course dinner included: Vegetable Terrine with Saffron served with Seared Ahi with a Chile-Shoyu Sauce, Mixed Greens with Hearts of Palm, Artichokes, Fresh Basil and Goat Cheese with Balsamic Dressing, Chilled Island Gazpacho and Stuffed Chicken Breast with Herbs and a Shallot-Champagne Cream with Parmesan Herb Couscous.

For dessert, they had a Butter Wedding Cake with Lilikoi Filling and Buttercream Frosting, and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Starfruit. Later in the evening, they also provided a Nacho station with different kinds of chips and dips. It was fun!

Congratulations, Angela and Jeff! All the best to you both, and hope to see you again when we head out to O`ahu!



Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Weddings in Paradise

Whenever people ask me where I live and I tell them Hawai`i, they always say that I am so lucky to be living in "paradise". But quite honestly, after returning from my Mediterranean trip, I have to say there are also paradise on the other side of the world.

One of my favorites on the island of Capri in Italy is the Grand Hotel Quisisana. This boutique resort, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, sits right in the town center of Capri and is surrounded by all of the high-end designer stores. It was originally built in 1845 and it offers spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel embodies refined luxury, and with its exceptional service and amenities, it makes a perfect wedding and honeymoon spot!



My other favorite is the Mystique in Santorini, Greece. It opened its doors in May 2007 and it's located on Oia's most famous cliffs with views of the Aegean Sea and the Caldera. Weddings can be held at their wedding pavilion which overlooks the ocean, or at the nearby blue-dome Chapel.



Both of these locations are absolutely breathtaking. If you are interested in tying the knot there, please contact Events by Evonne.