Christiaan Phelger Photography

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Christiaan Phelger Photography

I had the opportunity to work with Lexi & Christiaan Phelger http://www.christiaanphleger.com, that's 2 aa's! What a wonderful team they are. They are so artistic and excel in black and white photography. They are both so mellow and completely down to earth which I love in a photographer. Here are some shots from the most beautiful couple at Lanikuhonua, www.lanikuhonua.org. The fabulous Picket Fence in Kailua, Hawaii did a beautiful job on the flowers. This bride knew flowers better than I did!

Hawaii & California Weddings

I've been in California for 3 weeks now meeting up with my Los Angeles brides who are doing a destination wedding Hawaii. Could this be my new niche???? Hmmm, sounds delish! I love California & Hawaii and now I get the best of both worlds.

I've also booked a few weddings in California, Malibu and Pasadena which is very exciting!

Calamigos Ranch is one of my couples choice locations...get this! I exchange business cards with Erin Bagaason who is one of the Event Coordinators at the ranch and we find out we have 2 mutual friends in Hawaii! Gotta love facebook:-).

Happy Anniversary!

Hey Melissa,

How are you!!!! Hope all is well in beautiful Hawaii!! I can't wait to go back soon I hope!!

So, today is Josh and my 3 year wedding anniversary and I just keep thinking about what a perfect and special day I was so lucky to have!!! It was truly a dream wedding and when I go back and look at the pictures I still have to pinch myself that it all really happened and it was actually my wedding!! I really have you to thank for making my wedding day one of the most amazing days of my life. Our family and friends all still talk about it whenever we get together and we just feel so blessed to have such special memories!!

Thank you so much Meliss for all of you hard work! I am so lucky to have had you as a wedding planner and to have you as a friend!

Sorry for the cheesy note but I can't help but think of you on this special day!!

Lots of love,
Sarika

Lanikuhona Where Heaven Meets The Earth

This place is magical and now holds a new meaning to me. My neice Aurora Rose Lanikuhonua (and let me tell you she is heaven!). This wedding was so much fun. The brides mother & I had a great time planning it. This color was hard to match but we did it! Instead of favors we rented snifters & dropped a gerbera daisy in each glass and placed it at each setting. The splash of color transformed the simple table.

Mimosa Yellow the color is back!

Photos by the fabulous & lovely Debbie Freidrich! www.debbiefriedrich.com

Mimosa Color Cake, Bamboo Arch & Bridesmaids Bouquets out of the bright yellow rose.

Amanda Righetti and Jordan Alan Wedding

A simply elegant & intimate wedding on the North Shore of Oahu. Amazing & talented photographer Stefanie Riedel of www.absolutleyloved.net.

Table Names

I think it's fun to name the tables instead of the boring numbers. Why not have fun with it and label it with photos, places you've been to together, ski slopes, beaches, islands, vacation spots, honeymoon ideas, the list is endless. It keeps your guests roaming from table to table when they are photos. Here's a very simple one, the surf spots they enjoy. They couple DIY, a cup, a stick, some ivy.

My new AD for Pacific Weddings Magazine

Corporate Crisis

There's no room on the stage for the awards show! Oh no, what to do...

Sweet talk the sound company to put their thinking caps on...in the meantime:

1. Order a satellite stage from hotel/venue
2. Call spot operators in and have them hit the "new stage" with a wash
3. Make friends with the gardener/housekeeper and ask him to decorate with existing plants.
4. Use palms for a quick make shift backdrop
5. Act like it's all in the plan
6. Pray that you have favor with the sound company and they move their stuff & make it work.
7. Cancel all your favors because the sound company IS OUR HERO!

Have a great show, get promoted and tour with them for the next 2 years!

Giving Back!

In this slow season I've decide to work like I'm getting paid! Considering my gifts and talents of planning & organizing I've planned a community day.

I partnered up with Habitat For Humanity www.honoluluhabitat.org, sent out an evite, facebook invitation, email invitation, twitter invite and now blog (all FREE tools) and invited all my friends. As of now we have 50 people signed up, food donated, sound system, rentals and smiling volunteers. It feels good and it was soo easy since I did what I do best - PLAN!

Next month, I've partnered with my local church, Hope Chapel Kailua (www.myspace.com/hopechapelkailua) and Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) and joined OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. We collect shoe boxes, wrap them, fill them with gifts & goodies, raise $7 (yes, $7) and send to a child in need. Stay tuned, I'll post pictures.

Rebekah and Jared's Wedding Video Mid Pac Hawaii

http://averyjweddings.com/cinematic/01.html

Cake Cutting

My sister just got married and since both parents are still married we surprised them and displayed their cake cutting photos at the cake table. It was great seeing "old school" pictures of our parents cutting their cake...my have times changed. She married a fireman and I guess they have this thing where they destroy the wedding cake (hence the hole in the cake). The guests loved it! It made the cake table a very interactive piece of display.

Last weekend I assisted my friend Nichole Shinn who is a fabulous wedding planner. Her bride & grooms parents were both celebrating their 45 th wedding anniversary. The bride surprised both sets of parents with their own tiered wedding cake and called them up to "cut the cake". It was a very special moment!

Shocking Father & Daugher Dance & Fun Britney Spears Toast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYFZGMaDH6s

What to do with all those flowers?

We had some leftover florals from the wedding so per the bride's request I picked them up from The Picket Fence (floral company in Kailua, HI) & I took beautiful roses and fragrant lei to the Birthing Center at Castle Medical Center.

The bride & groom took my advice and being a longtime resident of their hometown they chose vendors locally to keep their money in their neighborhood and hopefully stimulate their economy.

Being that the hospital was 5 mins away, I dropped off the flowers to the receptionist and asked her to please give them to a new mother that may not have any flowers. She lit up and began telling everyone around her what I was doing. I'm not gonna lie, it felt great and I can't wait to do it again.

Canceled Wedding

I've heard it has happened and it finally happened to me.

Someone called off the wedding 3 days before they were to walk down the aisle. My heart sank, my stomach turned and my jaw dropped! Is this some kind of sick joke? I wish.

After 2 days of calling vendors and relaying the sad news we were able to recover some monies. ONLY because I LOVE my vendors and apparently after this fiasco, they love me.

The caterers quickly called their food distributors to stop their orders and were able to cancel a few. Some were already ordered and paid for so we donated the food to a local church. Hopefully the couple will ask their tax person if they can write it off as a donation.

The florist took the flowers that had already arrived and sold them at the local Farmer's market. We recovered partial funds. The rest of the florals were donated to a local hospital that will hopefully brighten someones day.

The minister, limo driver, babysitters, lighting company & generators generously gave them their full refund.

The photographer, hair & makeup artists both said they did not need to receive the balance due.

I wish I could do more to help ease the pain financially and am happy to say that we are returning 20%.

The rental company also gave back over 20%.

None of these vendors needed to return the funds, the date was booked, contract signed and event date staffed. But because they are so kind & generous and passionately love what they do they all pulled together and generously gave back.

Some vendors weren't able to give any back, some gave the full refund while others gave partial. We were able to recover over 50% of their final balances due the week of the wedding.

This doesn't repair the ones that are left broken hearted. I say, it's cheaper than a divorce (mentally, physically, financially & emotionally), however that doesn't heal the hurting...not yet any way.

Black Eyed Peas

I freelance as a production manager for live and corporate shows with Hawaii Stage & Lighting. This weekend the Black Eyed Peas performed. It was a small show on Kaneohe Marine Base so they didn't need me to manage production.

I did however get to enjoy the show. It was FABULOUS! I heart Fergie. I think we'd be BF's 4 ever, if she only knew!

The rooftop was huge! The lighting & special effects including the 20+ mins firework show was over the top! www.hslr.com for all lighting, generators, staging, draping, carpet, you name it, they got it!

Grace Ormonde Publishing - Let's Do This!

http://www.weddingstylemagazine.com/featured/wed-s47.aspx

Our wedding was featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding magazine.

If anyone thinks these two should not be united in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOFesVt3QLY&feature=player_embedded

Unbelievable

I knew it was coming, I knew that it would happen but today? I'm online on my Southwest flight from El Paso to LAX! So I decide to blog!

I'm heading to LA to meet with a client and book her vendors.

My favorites: www.averyproductions.com

Melissa Laudise 808 227 9821

Published!

It's been awhile...I want, desire & need to be published again, it's so good for my ego!

http://www.instyleweddings.com/weddings/gallery/0,,20164214_20377351,00.html

My Favorite Photographer On Oahu Goes To....

I know, I know, I shouldn't let my secret out!!! I have 2 photographers that I heart!

My favorite male photographer goes to...

Stephen Ludwig-

I adore him, he is so easy to work with. He is so flexible and quiet. I cannot stand a loud photographer. I don't want to hear or see him while someone is getting married. This is Stephen. You don't even realize he is there. He moves quietly. I had a bride freak out once, saying "I don't think our photographer took any pictures of the ceremony, I never saw him". I reassured her that he was there and to just wait for the fabulous photos. And she did, she was so extremely happy with him she has passed his name on to a whole bunch of her friends.

On the other hand, he is so creative in his shots and his pricing is out of this world! I have NEVER had a complaint. He is the only photographer that I would recommend for my sister's wedding! You MUST check him out.

www.ludwighawaii.com

My favorite female photographer goes to...

Stefanie Riedel

We have this amazing luck together...every time we work together we get published! You want someone to put photography first at your wedding, do you want someone to fight for the best shots and fabulous looks!!! This is your gal. Her amazing talent is seen in every shot! You will not be disappointed.

www.absolutelyloved.net

Vegetarian's Delight - the true meaning of going green.

Recently we worked on an event with the most gorgeous green centerpieces. Artichokes & Egglants!!! Don't you just love that green!!! Now that's going green! I will have to give credit where credit is do but I don't have the info on me.

www.ldt.bz

Photographer: ? Hired by BMC
Designer: John Rent

www.ldt.bz
(808) 227 9821
Wedding & Event Planners

Ok try this video out, hilarious:-)

Wedding Planning in Hawaii

I've decided to start a blog, let's see how this goes!

I'm a wedding planner on Oahu, Hawaii. One of my favorite things we did this year was hiring a little person (aka midget, but not PC) to interrupt the wedding ceremony & declare his love for his bride. It was hilarious:-).

I will upload a photo or video when I get a hang of this thing.

Melissa