Signature Cocktails

Photo Credit: Element Studios

Photo Credit: John Henry Photography

There is nothing better than to create your own signature cocktail. Most of my clients create theirs based on the color of their wedding/event and they all have a special name for them. I like how they all look so colorful, and they definitely complement the rest of the decor.

How about an "Asis Bliss" (photo #1 above) or a "Rubiotini" (photo #2)?

MTV Casting for "True Life: I'm Having a Destination Wedding"!

I received an email on June 11th from Destination I Do magazine, promoting the MTV hit show "True Life". Here is the info:

MTV is casting for the hit show "True Life"
Only this time, the subject is destination weddings!

The producers from MTV have enlisted Destination I Do Magazine's help for casting an upcoming episode of "True Life: I'm having a destination wedding".

Whether you're getting married in a tropical area such as the Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawai`i or if you've decided to celebrate in Europe, Asia, Africa or even a domestic seaside location we want to hear from you. Make your wedding even more extraordinary by having MTV document your journey.

If you appear to be between the ages of 18-28, are having a destination wedding in either July or August of this year and have a special story to share, email us and you may be selected to be on the show.

Send your name, wedding location and date, phone number and a photo of you and your betrothed to info@destinationidomag.com for consideration.

For all of my summer brides, please let me know if you get selected on the show! Good luck!

Wedding Gift Guide Etiquette

These questions have been asked by my wedding couples quite often, and my hubby happened to find this article when he was reading the Wall Street Journal/Smart Money online, and thought it would be a good topic to share with all of you on my blog. Thanks, honey! =)

The Wedding Gift Etiquette Guide by Lisa Scherzer

1. How much should I spend on a gift?

The amount you should spend on a gift is one of those gray areas that vary based on the wedding location, your age and your budget. A typical amount, says Betsy Goldberg, features editor at Modern Bride magazine, is $75. If you bring a date, expect to give a present worth double that. Don't be afraid to ask other attendees what they plan to spend to get a better sense of what people within your social circle are giving, she says.

Though the gift amount is somewhat arbitrary, Summer Krecke, deputy editor of WeddingChannel.com, offers a few guidelines based on the guest's relationship to the bride or groom: If it's your co-worker's wedding, you should spend $75 to $100; a relative or friend, $100-$125; and if it's your close friend or close relative, anywhere from $100 to $150 or more is acceptable.

2. What if I can't afford the $120 five-speed blender because I have four other weddings this month?

Most brides and grooms don't want you to go broke as a result of their wedding. Therefore, guests should always consider their budget constraints. If you've been invited to five weddings that take place within three months of one another, you'll need to take into account expenses for all those events (not just the gifts, but any required travel and lodging, as well). At destination weddings, for example, most couples understand that the $500 you shelled out to attend their Bahamas beach wedding doesn't leave you much to spend on a big-ticket gift. "They appreciate that people go so far to be with them for their wedding," says Goldberg.

Also, keep in mind that your gift obligations don't start and end with the wedding. Factor in the surrounding celebrations, like the bridal shower, the bachelor/bachelorette party and engagement party. Once you tally it all up, you'll probably feel like you need a second job to afford your loved ones' nuptials, making it all the more important you don't break the bank on one gift.

3. Should the amount I give depend on the price per dinner plate or how posh the venue is?

Quite simply, no. "Never think about it in those terms," says Martha Woodham, author of "The Bride Did What?! Etiquette for the Wedding Impaired." Instead, think about it this way: You're not expected to pay for your meal at a friend's dinner party, so why should you be expected to pay for a night of dinner and dancing at a wedding? A gift is separate from the party itself and should not be considered "the admission price to the wedding," says Woodham.

4. If I can't make it to the wedding, do I still give a gift?

Yes. Ideally, says Woodham, guests give gifts to help the couple commemorate the occasion and start their new life together — and that should be the case whether a guest partakes in the wedding festivities or not. "If you care about the couple, you send a gift — not just because you were invited to the wedding," she says.

5. Is it always best to get a gift from the registry?

The great thing about wedding registries — and the reason why they're such a big business — is there's little risk involved. Brides and grooms tell you what they want, so you don't spend an afternoon shopping for the perfect espresso machine only to find out later that neither of them drinks coffee. With a registry item, "you know when they get it, they'll be happy and excited about it," says Woodham.

Since registry gifts veer toward the impersonal, Goldberg suggests including a note with the gift to make it less so. If you buy a couple that loves to entertain a cheese board, include a note that says something along the lines of: "We love coming over for your parties and thought this would be useful to you," says Goldberg. One bit of advice when buying from the registry: Shop early to make sure you have various price points to choose from.

6. Is it in poor taste to hand an envelope containing a check to the bride or groom during the reception?

Generally, a gift of cash or a check is acceptable — and, for the most part, welcomed. "I don't know of any bride or groom turning down a check," says Krecke. Most couples will put either the best man or a parent in charge of receiving and holding onto checks at the wedding.

What is inappropriate, however, is bringing a gift to the wedding — especially if it's a cumbersome 10-pound rice cooker. Many couples don't get married in their hometowns, so you make it more difficult for them to haul the gifts home post-wedding. Instead, send the gift directly to the couple's home address or to one of their parents several weeks before the wedding, says Krecke.

7. I can send them a gift later, right?

While it's fine to celebrate the special day with the couple and send a gift later — don't wait until well after the bride's written all her thank-you notes. Some people think "you can wait up to a year to give a gift," says Krecke. "We generally say anything more than six months is poor etiquette."

Hmmm... yummy cakes!

Besides flowers, linens and decor, my other favorite part of wedding planning is choosing a cake with my clients. Who doesn't like cake, right? Well, some of my brides prefer the miniature cakes and cupcakes, but some do prefer the traditional tiered cakes and no one does them better than Anne Heap of Pink Cake Box in Denville, NJ.

Her cakes are colorful, creative and most of the time they look so good that you don't want to touch them! These are only a few of them that I chose from her website... she has more fun ones on there, so check them out! You might get some inspirations for your own cake!

Featured Wedding - Rhonda and Jeff

It was a gorgeous day today at Kapalua with a slight breeze and plenty of sunshine. Rhonda and Jeff both looked amazing on their special day, and they were so happy and in love. The ceremony was at The Plantation House Restaurant lawn, overlooking the beautiful Kapalua Bay, and the reception was at the restaurant (a buyout).

Rhonda picked the most beautiful colors for her wedding - turquoise blue, apple green and espresso brown. We had brown linens with blue chair sashes, green and blue fabric swags for the stairs railing, green and blue silk napkins, brown ottomans with blue and green pillows... The combination was unbelievable.

CAKES: Maui Wedding Cakes. FLORALS: Dellables. LINENS: Pacific Events Group, Inc. PHOTOS: Element Studios.

Guests enjoyed their pupus (appetizers) and a blue Signature cocktail, while a Hawaiian duo serenaded them. The dinner reception included an 8 course wine-pairing menu. That was the most extensive menu I have ever seen of all the weddings I have planned on the islands. To top it off, each guest got their own individual wedding cake.

Congratulations, Rhonda and Jeff! All the best to you both, and hope to see you again when we go back to the bay area to visit!

Here are their non-professional pictures and their professional pictures.

Inspiration #4

There are a few event designers that I admire, and one of them is the legendary Preston Bailey (I will feature my other favorites soon)! His talent and sense of style combine with his exuberance makes him one of the world's most sought-after designer.

I love the way he uses different colors and textures for his designs and brings everything together. He can transform any "raw, ordinary spaces" into any client's fantasies.

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

Got shoes?

Photo Credit: Critsey Rowe Photography

Photo Credit: Amanda Pryde

Photo Credit: Dulce by Visionari

I have blogged about bridal sneakers and flip flops in an earlier post, but lately, I have been noticing the different types of shoes that my brides are wearing. You know, it's not all about the dress! Most of the wedding shoes I have seen are the traditional white or ivory heels... some with beautiful rhinestones, but some that are actually in different colors.

Brides are getting so creative these days... and even grooms don't wear the traditional dress shoes anymore. The Converse seems to be quite popular in this day and age. For me, it's all about comfort! So what shoes are you going to wear?

P.S. Thanks Critsey, Amanda and Ryan for the lovely photos!

Out of Town Welcome Bags

99.9% of my couples provide the out of town (aka OOT) welcome bags for their guests during their wedding week here in Hawai`i. You can pretty much put whatever you want in the bag, but these are a few of the items that my brides put together:

• bottled water (sometimes with their monogram on them);
• Hawaiian snacks (macadamia nuts or taro chips);
• sunblock;
• chapstick;
  
• beach towel;
• flip flops;
  
• visor or baseball cap;
• sun umbrella;
  
• a map, a guide book and pamphlets of the island that they are getting married on;
• an itinerary of the wedding week;
• a handwritten thank you note
  

Since all the guests are staying at different resorts and condos, the best time and place to deliver them is during your welcome dinner when you can personally hand the bag to the guest and thank them for coming from so far away. If you are not having any pre-wedding celebration, then check with the individual resorts to see if they will be able to deliver the bags to the guests upon their arrival.

Welcome bags are really a nice gesture and I am sure all of your guests will appreciate all the time and hard work you put into them.

Lounge

Photo Credit: Mindy Weiss

The lounge area is getting more and more popular these days. More than 50% of the weddings that I plan have the lounge with ottomans, couches and pillows. They are so fun to have and guests do love to "lounge" around with their favorite drinks and just hang out with one another. If it fits into your budget, I highly recommend having it.

Technorati

Thanks, Critsey, for introducing me to the world of Technorati! It's just full of information on there from different bloggers. Here is my profile, go check it out!

Back from Kaua`i

This was where we stayed

The view from our Ocean Suite

Ceremony setup of a wedding

Reception setup of a wedding

Beautiful greenery

Our anniversary trip to Kaua`i was everything we have dreamed of and more. It was even better than our honeymoon 3 years ago! Here are some of the highlights:

• If you go to Kaua`i, you HAVE to stay at the Grand Hyatt Kaua`i Resort and Spa in Poipu. It's just heavenly. They have beautiful grounds and the service is impeccable. Since my hubby works for the Hyatt Regency here on Mau`i and he knows the Managers on Kaua`i very well, they upgraded us to the Ocean Suite with the Grand Club Lounge privileges (free breakfast, snacks, cocktails, desserts...etc.), and we got wine, champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries and other snacks in our suite too! =)
  
• Be sure to visit one of the spas on the island. I had a 50-minute treatment at the Anara Spa and I was all rejuvenated by the time I walked out. The one I had was "Anara" - a personalized massage that allows your therapist to intuitively address imbalances in your body, mind and spirit, inducing deep relaxation and a profound sense of lokahi (harmony). I think it was a mixture of lomi lomi, aromatherapy and the sports massages. Getting a spa treatment is one of the best things you can do to your body, mind and soul!
• We did most of the activities the last time we were there (kayaking, hiking, ATV, sight-seeing), so this trip was more a relaxing one. We drove up to the North Shore one day and visited 2 beautiful waterfalls. Then the next day we headed to the West to try this Shrimp Station right by the Waimea Canyon. I had the Coconut Shrimp and my hubby had the Shrimp Tacos. They were soooo good! My hubby was ecstatic when they asked him if he was a kama'aina (local), and the owner gave us 2 FREE drinks. He said: "That's great, I look like a local now!" As for me, people still think I am from Honolulu! I guess I have that "city girl" look! =)
  
• We were able to meet up with one of my college friends and her hubby for dinner at the Beach House Restaurant. They flew out from Illinois and they were also celebrating their wedding anniversary. I was actually one of their bridesmaids! It was so nice to catch up with them after all these years!
• They were setting up for a wedding at the resort, and of course being the planner that I am, I sprang into "work mode" and HAD to snap a few shots of the decor. It was a beautiful setting and it didn't need much floral and linen decor.
• We spent the last day hanging out at the lovely pool from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm before catching our flight at 4:20 pm. I was able to catch up with my reading which I haven't been able to do in the last few months! The book I am trying to finish is "Saving Fish From Drowning" by Amy Tan.
  
• And just like any vacation, it's never long enough! =)
  

My 3rd Wedding Anniversary!

Photo Credit: Sanford Barr

My hubby and I are celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary on Monday, June 2nd. We will be going off-island tonight for a much needed 3-day/3-night mini vacation. I won't have my laptop with me, and the cell phone signal at the resort is pretty much non-existent. Maybe that's what I need, some R&R, so I can get totally recharged before all the summer weddings are here. Whew...

I will have a full report of our trip when I return on Tuesday, June 3rd. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Sarafina and Paul's Scouting Trip

Photo Credit: Honua Kai Lani

I had a great time today showing the Sugarman Estate to Sarafina and Paul from Southern California. They are such a sweet couple and I can't wait to work on the decor with Sarafina. There is this specific tent that she loves and it will look absolutely amazing under the stars at this location. We will be talking about flowers and linens tomorrow. YAY!

Featured Wedding - Beth and Alex

CHAIRS: Pacific Isle Rentals. FLORALS: Dellables. LINENS: Pacific Event Group, Inc. PHOTOS: John Henry Photography and Events by Evonne, LLC. LIGHTING: AV Services.

It was an absolute beautiful day today and everything was perfect... from the weather to the flowers to the matching linens to the wedding favors... Beth chose cymbidium green, lavender and ivory as her colors. I love all the open leis that were hanging from the ceremony chuppah, and the cute little lahala wedding favor boxes went so well with the green linens.

Guests had a choice of Filet Mignon, Island Fish or Chicken, with the 3-tier wedding cake as dessert. However, the bride and groom loved the bread pudding at the Seawatch and we ordered 2 just for them! Everyone had such a blast and they were on the dance floor for most of the evening.

Congratulations, Beth and Alex! Wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness!

Here are the rest of their non-professional pictures and professional pictures!

"Centerpiece & Place Setting of the Week"

Photo Credit: Wildflower Linen

The deep purple with rhinestones chair covers create an elegant look, and the sheer silver overlay on top of the rich purple linen set a romantic tone to the overall decor. The lovely glass centerpieces in 3 different heights are filled with purple, pink and lavender hue which complement the place setting very well.... absolutely gorgeous!

"A Wedding to Remember"

When my dad sent me an email earlier today with a subject of "A Wedding to Remember", I thought it would be some platinum wedding somewhere in New York, or Paris. But instead it was photos and description of this lovely Chinese couple taking wedding photos right outside of this church on the day of the Sichuan earthquake. Who would have known?!?!

Please see my translation below...

"5月12日，我陪朋友去彭州白鹿書院教堂拍攝外景婚紗，下午兩點開始拍攝，剛剛拍攝了幾張甜蜜的照片之後，劫難降臨。"

"On May 12th, I accompanied my friends to the hundred-year-old church at White-Deer College to take some outdoor wedding photos. A few minutes after they started the photo session at 2:00 pm, disaster struck."

"大量的石塊從教堂上面飛落，大地開始搖晃，這時候我們才意識到是地震發生了！因為已經無路可逃，所有人抱頭撲倒在空地上。"

"Debris from the church were falling and the ground started shaking. At that point, we just realized that it was an earthquake. Since there was nowhere to go, we braced ourselves and laid on the ground!"

"這座竣工整整百年的教堂頃刻之間化為了一片廢墟……"

"The church that had stood there for over a hundred years now became a pile of rubble in just a few minutes..."

"我們互相攙扶著環顧四周，幾乎不敢相信眼前的一切……"

"After the quake, we helped each other up and looked around our surroundings. We couldn't believe what we saw..."

This was a "before" and "after" shot of the 100-year-old church!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Having lived in "Earthquake Country" (both Northern and Southern California) myself for the past 18 years, I know what it's like when the big one hits. It's something you can never predict and you just have to be prepared for it.

Official figures state that 60,560 people are confirmed dead, including 55,239 in Sichuan province; 352,290 are injured and 26,221 missing. The earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless. My thoughts and prayers are with those victims and their families.

Oh... my love for letterpress! =)

Photo Credit: Dauphine Press

Those of you who know me well know that I have been obsessed with letterpress invitations and stationery products for quite some time now. They are expensive to print, but yet they also look so elegant with the thick, heavy cardstock and the deep impression of the text and images. Just running my fingers through them gives me goosebumps! =)

If you are interested in them, you can check out the following stationers who offer letterpress printing:

• A Day in May
• Bella Figura
• Black Pearl Press
• Carrot & Stick Press
• Cheree Berry
• Delphine
• Egg Press
• Elizabeth Hubbell Studio
• Elum
• Ephemera Letterpress
• Good on Paper Design
• Hammerpress
• Ilee
• Louella Press
• Lucky Paperie
• Marsville Press
• Moontree Arts
• Mr. Boddington
• Oblation Papers
• Oslo Press
• Palindrome Press
• Papercup Design
• Paper Monkey Press
• Parklife Press
• Peculiar Pair Press
• Sesame Letterpress
• Smudge Ink
• Speak’s Letterpress
• Wiley Valentine

Here is a cool video of the 2 co-founders of Hello Lucky on their company as well as the letterpress technique and process...


Hello! Lucky from bliss productions on Vimeo.

Dining Canopies

Photo Credit: Michael Andrews

For those of my brides who are not doing the tent, these dining canopies are usually what they have in mind. I have to say... they are absolutely beautiful and dreamy-looking; however, I will only recommend them if the wedding is going to be (1) on the sunny side of the island, and (2) during our dry season, which is April through October. These canopies are definitely not waterproof!

There is so much you can do with these canopies - you can have colored fabrics to match your decor; you can add leis and crystals hanging from the top of the bamboo; you can have floral arrangements on each pole; you can hang cute little lanterns or fairy twinkle lights under each canopy... Again, the possibilities are endless. If you can dream it, we can probably do it! =)

Dessert Buffet... YUM!

Photo Credit: Dessert Comes First

Photo Credit: ME! (I took this from my friend's wedding in Bali)

For those of you who are not crazy about the traditional wedding cake (which is more for a photo opp than anything), a great alternative is the Dessert Buffet - or a chocolate buffet like the first photo above. That way you can give your guests choices on what kind of dessert they want since not everyone likes cakes, plus everyone will have a chance to get up and mingle over scrumptious desserts!

A few of my brides are actually doing the dessert buffet. Hmmm... that is dangerous! I better stay away from the buffet table! =)

Photo Booth

The latest trend in wedding reception is the photo booth. It creates a lot of entertainment and energy for the guests during the reception and it's just plain fun. You can have a photo contest, or use them as wedding favors or create a nice guest book at the end of the evening. Honestly, even the most camera shy person would love the photo booth.

From the Red Cheese Photo Booth in San Francisco, to the Blue Cheese Photo Booth on Oahu... you can possibly find a booth rental near your wedding location. Have fun and say CHEESE! =)

"Centerpiece & Place Setting of the Week"

Photo Credit: Colin Cowie

This week I have selected photos from Colin Cowie's niece's wedding. Usually, if there is a choice between white/off-white linens and colored linens, most brides would go for colored linens, hands down. But having vibrant colors of florals, table runners and napkins set on top of off-white linens with ivory chivari chair cushions can create a fine balance and nice contrast as well... absolutely stunning.

Eco Friendly Weddings

Here at Events by Evonne, we are very conscious about our environment and we hope that every wedding and events that we put together, we are being earth friendly. Here are some ideas that couples can adopt to make a difference:

1. Hold the ceremony and the reception at the same site to minimize driving. Or provide group transportation and encourage carpooling.
2. Plan your menu around local, organic and seasonal products.
3. Provide pitchers of water versus bottled water.
4. Donate leftover food to a shelter or food bank.
5. Choose a resort that gives you the option of not changing the sheets and towels daily.
6. Send electronic Save-the-Date cards.
7. If you'd prefer printed invites, opt for recyclable or handmade papers and use vegetable- or soy-based inks.
8. Use response postcards to eliminate an envelope.
9. Request that guests RSVP electronically.
10. Request e-contracts from your vendors.
11. Use a wedding website or blog to share event details, such as the itinerary, rehearsal dinner details and registry information as opposed to invitation inserts.
12. Make sure you use resources from your location. Anything you have to fly in is not really green. Local organic products are our best bet.
13. Take advantage of seasonal, indigenous plant life in decorations and bouquets.
14. Use natural materials, such as palm leaves, in lieu of ribbons and other synthetic materials.
15. Donate leftover flowers or centerpieces to churches or hospitals.
16. Take advantage of the beauty of the great outdoors and utilize it as much as you can as part of your decor.
17. Among the most popular green wedding favors are seeds, tree seedlings and other plantable products.
18. Send your guests off with a locally-produced treat such as chocolates.
19. Thank your bridal party with personalized reusable totes.
20. Make a donation to a nonprofit organization in honor of your guests. You can also register with many of these organizations in lieu of the traditional gift registry.
21. For your honeymoon, opt for ecotourism, travel that respects - and even benefits - the locals. Trips can range from relaxing to adventurous, and what better way to start you new adventure together?
    

Source: Destination I do