We are listed on the "Best Wedding Blogs" site!

I am very excited to announce that this blog has made it to the Best Wedding Blogs under the National Wedding Blogs section! I feel honored to be listed amongst the talented wedding professionals in all of the Northern California region as well as the National region.

Thanks so much for the add, Stacie!

Unique Lanterns

Photo Credit: Matt Alvarado

The other day, I had a "play date" with my floral designer friend Della, and my wonderful linen buddy Debbie. We got together for the first time to do a few linen/floral mock ups for my upcoming brides. We had such a blast!

Debbie showed us some very unique lanterns from India in assorted colors, and I thought they would look really nice for any outdoor reception. If you are interested in these lanterns and speciality linens, please visit Events by Evonne, LLC or send us an email.

Haiku Lani Estate

Haiku Lani Estate sits on the slopes of Mount Haleakala overlooking the dramatic coastal view of Maui’s north shore. Panoramic views of rolling pineapple fields, with a backdrop of the West Maui mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

As your guests descend the gracefully curving stairs to the pool terrace, they are greeted with stunning views of turquoise water flowing from the infinity pool. Surrounded by 3,500 square feet of Turkish travertine, a flowering vine covered arbor and a resort style cabana sit at opposing ends of the oversized pool. This Hawaiian paradise is casual luxury at its finest.

This gorgeous estate is an exclusive and romantic venue for your event of up to 75 people. If you are interested in having your special day at the Haiku Lani Estate and creating an exquisite event that will be forever treasured by all those who attend, please visit Events by Evonne, LLC or send us an email.

Inspiration #1

Photo Credit: Jessica Claire

When I have some down time from wedding planning, you will either find me sitting on the couch reading wedding magazines or at my desk looking through all these amazing wedding-related websites. I am constantly getting inspired by all the talented florists, photographers, event designers from all over the country.

Apart from those who are here in Hawai`i, one of my many favorite wedding photographers is Jessica Claire, who is based out of Southern California. What I like about Jessica is her work (obviously), her personality, her sense of style and how she likes to keep everything real and use Photoshop to a minimum. I have been enjoying her photographs and her blog for a little while now, and she just never ceases to amaze me every time!

Thanks, Jess... for giving me my daily dose of inspiration!

Karen and Sanjay's Hindu Wedding (3/6 and 3/7)

Karen's beautiful bridal mehndi tattoo

Karen's sari

Offerings

The happy couple

The happy couple walked around the fire

Photo Credit: Darryl Chan

My friend Karen and her new hubby Sanjay had 2 more wedding receptions back in their home town of Singapore after their official wedding in Bali on March 1st. They had a Hindu ceremony on March 6th at the Swiss Club residence where she had her bridal mehndi tattoo done and the main day of the celebration includes different rituals and customs.

For a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony, here are the various steps:

BAARAT (WEDDING PROCESSION)

The groom arrives for the wedding along with his family and friends in a procession. They are received by the bride's family and friends.

COMMENCEMENT OF MARRIAGE

The priest normally commences the marriage under the mandap (canopy) that is specially decorated for the ceremony. The priest invokes blessings of God for the couple to be married.

The bride offers yogurt and honey to the groom as a token of purity and sweetness. The bride greets the groom by placing a garland around his neck and the groom reciprocates. Both are congratulated by guests. The priest invokes the memory and blessings of forefathers of the bride and the groom for this auspicious occasion.

KANYA DANAM (GIVING AWAY OF THE DAUGHTER)

The bride accepts her change of status from an unmarried woman to a wife by spreading turmeric powder on her hands.

Kanya Danam is performed by the father (or uncle of guardian) of the bride in presence of a large gathering that is invited to witness the wedding.

The father pours out a libation of sacred water symbolizing the giving away of the daughter to the bride groom. The groom recites Vedic hymns to Kama, the God of love, for pure love and blessings. As a condition for offering his daughter for marriage, the father of the bride requests a promise from the groom for assisting the bride in realizing the three ends : dharma, artha, and kama. The groom makes the promise by repeating three times that he will not fail the bride in realizing dharma, artha and kama.

VIVAAHA (WEDDING)

The bride and the groom face each other, and the priest ties their garments (the bride's sari to the groom's shirt) in a knot, symbolizing the sacred union.

The bride and the groom garland each other and exchange the rings.

Next the nuptial fire, symbolizing the divine witness, and the sanctifier of the sacrament, is installed and worshipped.

Both the bride and the groom grasp their hands together and pray to God for His blessings. Samagree, consisting of crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar, rice, ghee (clarified butter), and twigs is offered into the sacred fire to seek God's blessings for the couple.

PAANIGRAHANA OR HASTA MILAP (HOLDING THE HAND)

The groom stands facing west and the bride sits in front of him facing east.

He seizes her hand and recites Vedic hymns for happiness, long life, and a lifelong relationship.

When the groom takes the bride's hand he says :

"O Sarasvati, gracious one, rich in off spring, you whom we hymm first of all the Gods, may you prosper this marriage." "I seize your hand."

LAYA (LAJA) HOMA: THE OBLATION OF PARCHED GRAIN

Here the bride offers sacrifice of food (poured into her hands by her brother or someone acting in her brother's behalf) to the Gods for their blessings.

"This grain I spill. May it bring to me well-being and unite you to me. May Agni hear us."

He then causes the bride to spill the grain into the fire, saying:

"This woman scattering grain into the fire, prays: Blessings on my husband. May my relatives be prosperous. 'Svaha!' "

AGNI PARINAYA: THE CIRCUMAMBULATION OF THE FIRE

The groom holds the bride by the hand and both walk three times around the nuptial fire.

Both offer oblations and recite appropriate Vedic hymns to Gods for prosperity, good fortune, and conjugal fidelity.

They touch each others heart and pray for union of their hearts and minds.

While walking around the groom repeats:

"First now they bring to you in bridal procession this Surya, guiding her steps in circular motion. Return her now, O Agni, to her husband as rightful wife, with hope of children to come."

Then the entire rite is repeated twice more, beginning with the rite of the fried grain.

At the fourth round she pours into the re all the fried grain from the mouth of the winnowing basket saying: "To Bhaga svaha!"

ASMAAROHANA OR SHILAROHANA (MOUNTING THE STONE)

At the end of each round of nuptial fire, both the bride and the groom step on a stone and offer a prayer for their mutual love to be firm and steadfast like the stone.

The groom says the words while the bride stands up:

"Come, beautiful one."

And lets her put the tip of the right foot on the stone, saying:

"Come, step on the stone; be strong like a stone. Resist the enemies; overcome those who attack you."

SAPTAPADI (SEVEN STEPS)

This is the most important rite of the entire ceremony. Here the bride and the groom take seven steps together around the nuptial fire (Agni) and make the following seven promises to each other :

As per the Vedic rituals, the groom sings the following :

With God as our guide, let us take :

the first step to nourish each other
the second step to grow together in strength
the third step to preserve our wealth
the fourth step to share our joys and sorrows
the fifth step to care for our children
the sixth step to be together forever
the seventh step to remain lifelong friends,
the perfect halves to make a perfect whole.

After the seventh step he makes her remain where she is and says:

"With seven steps we become friends. Let me reach your friendship. Let me not be severed from your friendship. Let your friendship not be severed from me."

The Spatapadi ceremony ceremony concludes with a prayer that the union is indissoluble. At the end of this ceremony, the groom and bride become husband and wife. In some communities such as Gujarati, instead of seven, only four steps, signifying Artha, Dharma, Kama and Moksha are taken.

HRADAYASHPARSHA: TOUCHING THE HEART

The groom then comes over bride's right shoulder touches her heart saying:

"I hold your heart in serving fellowship, your mind follows my mind. In my word you rejoice with all your heart. You are joined to me by the Lord of all creatures."

MANGAL SUTRA DHARANA

The Mangal suthra Dharana is the tying of the thread containing the marks of the Vishnu or Shiva in the neck of the bride by the groom.

SUHAAG

The groom places sindhoor (red powder) on the bride's hair symbolizing her as a married woman.

AASHIRVAAD

The groom's parents bless the couple and offer cloth or flower to the bride (now their daugher-in-law), symbolizing her joining of the groom's family. All those assembled shower flowers on the couple and bless them completing the marriage.

"Centerpiece of the Week"

I really like this week's centerpiece because of the beautiful pink parasols. They are pretty AND functional, especially for a day time outdoor reception. It adds so much to the space as well as colors to the decor.

What a wonderful idea!

Why I love my job!

I met Anna and Elan almost 8 months ago when they first moved to Mau`i and were planning a wedding at the Pua Le'a (Haiku Mill). One day, Anna emailed me and asked if I could help her with her wedding planning. And when we met, we totally hit it off and I knew right there and then that we would be good friends.

Both Anna and Elan were so easy to work with during the entire planning process. Anna was just as laid back as can be (which is perfect for the Mau`i lifestyle), and we had such a blast just trying to put all the last minute wedding preparations together. It was a lot of fun!

As soon as their wedding was over, Anna and I were already making lunch and shopping plans with one another. Elan later found out that I am a HUGE Apple fan (not the fruit, but the computer), so we became instant "Mac Buddies"! Now I have someone to exchange notes with on the latest and greatest Apple products and cool widgets. Yippppeeee! And finally, they also got to meet my hubby - who was in hiding during the whole 6 weeks of their wedding planning. Yes guys, he REALLY exists... I did not make him up! =)

Every now and then, we would hang out with Anna and Elan. Just last Friday, we had dinner together in Haiku and then we went back to their place and watched "No Country for Old Men" in high-def! It was great...

I can honestly say that I absolutely love what I do! I get to meet so many amazing people, whether they are my clients or vendors or business partners. I truly value and appreciate the connection and the friendship that's developed and created during the planning of each event. I am the luckiest gal in the world!

Lena and Noel's Scouting Trip

My October couple from the San Francisco Bay Area, Lena and Noel, were here on their scouting trip. What a darling couple, who is so unique and love to think out of the box! We went to see a few locations, met with photographers, florists, musicians, had food tastings...etc. Now they have a lot of decisions to make, but they have narrowed down their venue to the Sugarman Estate. It's going to be a beautiful and intimate celebration, and I look forward to seeing their vision come to life in about 6-1/2 months.

"Centerpiece of the Week"

Lately, I have been seeing a lot of phalaenopsis orchids being used as centerpieces. Since they come in pure white, they match pretty much any colors you desire. In this photo, they are paired up with the moss green color, giving it an organic and clean look. And when they are in clusters, they have that elegant feel to it.

Karen and Sanjay's Bali Wedding (3/1/08)

Beautiful stage set atop the infinity pool, but because of the rain, the ceremony was moved to the gazebo

Lovely decor for the reception, but again due to the rain,
the dinner was moved to the covered living room area

Traditional Balinese dancers at the beginning of the ceremony

My hubby and I and the lovely couple!

What a cute cake!

This has to be the "Wedding of the Year" although the 4 days that we were in Bali, it rained almost the entire day on the day of the wedding! The ceremony was originally going to be on the stage that they built right on the infinity pool, and the reception was going to be outdoor on the lawn right by the cliff. But the rain didn't lighten up and they had to move everything under the gazebo.

Nonetheless, it was a beautiful wedding and it did not put a damper on anyone whatsoever. We were just all excited to be sharing this very special occasion with the lovely couple and their families. A lot of the guests were from the U.S., U.K., Holland, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

Congratulations, Karen and Sanjay! All the best to you both!

Karen and Sanjay's Sangeet (2/29/08)

Getting the Mehndi Tattoo

The finished product!

Very cool shoes

My hubby and I with the happy couple in our "ethnic outfit"!

Our 2nd wedding related event was the Sangeet the night before the wedding. It was held at the Villa Bayuh Sabbha where Karen and Sanjay's wedding would be. Karen rented it for 3 nights. The Sangeet is an Indian wedding celebration where people come dressed in ethnic attire, and it gives an opportunity to sing songs, eat, drink and dance the night away.

The villa was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! It was humongous! I wish we have a similar villa here on Mau`i. There was an infinity pool, a couple gazebos, a nice lobby area, living room, dining area, several guest rooms and the main room... Pictures just don't do justice, you really have to see it in person to know what I mean!

The catered buffet dinner was excellent. It was a mixture of Indian and Chinese cuisines, both are my favorites! Everyone had such a great time getting to know each other, and all the ladies got their mehndi tattoos while the guys sat around and drank. They played really cool Indian music and at one point, I felt like I was in the movie "Monsoon Wedding"! It was nice to have a fun party the night before the wedding. Both Karen and Sanjay looked relaxed.

Karen and Sanjay's Pre-Wedding Drinks (2/28/08)

Ku De Ta in Seminyak

Lovely sunset

I am finally back from Asia. 4 countries in 16 days... Wow, what a trip!

My friend's destination wedding in Bali was absolutely beautiful. The first day my husband and I were there, they had the pre-wedding drinks and dinner at this lovely bar and restaurant in Seminyak called Ku De Ta. It was an unbelievable place to watch the sunset although it was a pretty cloudy day. We all had a great time and it was nice to meet everyone who was going to be at the wedding.

Off to Bali for my friend's wedding

My college friend, Karen, is finally tying the knot and of course I wouldn't miss it for the world. Not to mention that her fiance is Indian and I have always wanted to attend an Indian wedding. This would be a wonderful opportunity to see how weddings are done on the other side of the world. The lovely wedding will be held at the Villa Bayu Sabbah in Bali, Indonesia, and the night before they are going to have a huge Sangeet party.

Watch for my update and photos when I return on March 10. Have a great 2 weeks everyone!

Lesley's Scouting Trip

It was very nice meeting with Lesley, her mom and her friend Linda today. They are such wonderful people. I can't wait to see them again in September when they are back for the wedding. Her ceremony is going to be at the Saint Theresa Church and the reception will be at the Five Palms Beach Grill.

We spent the morning checking out a few locations and the rest of the afternoon meeting with all the photographers. Next Monday, she will be meeting with all the florists and Tuesday is the food tasting day. I am definitely keeping her very busy while she is here. Hopefully when she gets home, she will have a better idea of which vendors she'd like to hire for her wedding.

"Centerpiece of the Week"

I just helped my friend Beth with a wedding at the Seawatch Restaurant this past weekend, and they had some lovely centerpieces. It worked really well because the vases were tall enough that guests could talk, plus the vases were clear and only a few orchids were submerged. Then they had some smaller and lower arrangements that added more color to the table. It was absolutely stunning.

Monique Lhuillier China Collection

My favorite wedding gown designer, Monique Lhuillier, has launched a new collection of fine china, stemware, flatware and crystal giftware with one of my favorite English bone china companies, Royal Doulton.

Now, THAT'S a match made in heaven, I'd say! I am not surprised if Monique is going to follow Vera's footstep and start designing lingerie, fragrances, home decor and even mattresses!

Thank you, Nicole & Kristen!

My 2 wonderful, talented friends - Nicole and Kristen made some complimentary notecards for Events by Evonne, LLC. Nicole got the orchid stencil and did her own embossing with my company colors, and Kristen used my company logo and the chartreuse color for her letterpress plates. They all look so lovely that I don't want to use them and just keep them to myself! =)

Kristen has her own stationery business in Washington State - Crybaby Ink and her website should be done very soon!

Thanks so much, Nicole and Kristen! I am so blessed to have friends like you gals. You are the "bestest"! Love you both! =)

Eri and Aris' Scouting Trip on O`ahu

It was so nice meeting with Eri and Aris today. Their wedding is going to be on O`ahu in November 2008. I took an early morning flight out to Honolulu today and spent the entire day with them meeting with vendors and checking out some of the sites. They are such sweethearts and we had so much fun together. Eri and I both have the same taste in terms of flowers and wedding gowns (we picked the same designer)! We are going to have a great time planning the wedding together.

They really like Lanikuhonua and hopefully it will be available on their wedding date. As for photographers, they are definitely going with one of my favorites, Visionari. They are also planning to have a Polynesian show with a few hula dancers and one fire dancer right after their sit-down dinner. It will be such a fun wedding... can't wait to see everything coming together for them.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Valentine's Day!

Ahhh... Linens & Flowers!

Photo Credit: Wildflower Linen

Lately, I am having a blast working with my brides on their linens and flowers. Even if you only have a handful of tables, they add so much color and depth to the table top, and can totally transform your entire event.

My favorite "mainland" linen companies are:

Wildflower Linen
BBJ Linen
Resource One

And here are the different types of linens and fabrics:

BENGALINE
- A fabric with a crosswire rib made from textile fibers (as rayon, nylon, cotton or wool) often in combination.

BICHON
- A fabric with a crinkled silk feel to it.

BROCADE
- A heavy, exquisite jacquard type fabric with an all-over raised pattern or floral design.

DAMASK
- A glass jacquard fabric, usually made from linen, cotten, rayon, silk, or blends. The patterns are flat and reversible.

DUPIONI SILK (my favorite)
- An elegant fabric woven with slubbed yarns, medium weight with a crisp, scrunchy hand, a beautiful luster and uneven texture.

LAMOUR
- A smooth, matte-satin fabric.

ORGANZA
- A crisp, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count commonly made of silk, rayon, nylon, or polyester.

SATIN
- A smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back.

TAFFETA
- A lustrous, medium weight, plain weave fabric with a slight ribbed appearance in the filling (crosswise) direcction.

"Centerpiece of the Week"

This is a very creative way of utilizing the Chinese lanterns as centerpieces for your reception. Normally you see them being strung on trees for an outdoor wedding, but you can definitely use them indoors as well.

Here you can see that each individual lantern is being supported by this one pole in the center of the centerpiece. It totally transforms the entire ballroom, giving it a very dramatic feel if you have them on every other table. It also adds a lot of colors to the space.

Maui Bridal Fair

For those of you who will be on Mau`i doing a scouting trip during the weekend of March 22 and 23, you should stop by the Maui Bridal Fair. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2008
Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Place: Maui Tropical Plantation

For more information, please click here.

For directions to the Maui Tropical Plantation, please click here.