Josiah and Shige Wedding - Kathy Ireland Esate - Beachfront

They heard about me through Yu & Terry, a couple I had the honor and pleasure of planning their wedding a couple years ago.  Josiah and Shige decided on Hawaii because it was their special place.  I met with them in Los Angeles to begin the initial planning.  Josiah is an animator and Shige is a nail artist.  They are so adorable.  They both light up when they are around each other.  I absolutely fell in love with her Japanese friends and family who spoke little or no English.  Their smiles, laughs and hugs showed me that we all liked each other.  It poured down rain at 12 pm noon.  I had to rip off all linens and napkins from the table.  I had to dry off 55 chairs and tables BUT I knew that was just our Hawaiian blessing.  I prayed and believed it wouldn't shower again.  The groom called worried about the rain (he didn't know it poured until he reads this) but I told him it was going to be a gorgeous evening.  The trade winds had stopped so the evening was magical.  All the candles stayed lit and the city lights glowed in the distance.  Josiah was so nervous about his vows but they turned out perfectly!

My favorite:  The maid of honor was a genius when she passed out an English version of her toast in Japanese to the Bride & Groom.  

Here's a trailer courtesy of Hoo Films.

Fabulous photos by Adam A Palmer

Venue -  Kathy Ireland Weddings Beachfront

RENTALS

Pacific Party Rentals

Sheryl pacificpartyrentals@gmail.com

46-149 Malina Place  Kaneohe, HI 96744
(808) 236-3738

CATERER

Keneke’s Catering

Keith - kenekes@hawaii.rr.com

41-857 Kalanianaole Highway  Waimanalo, HI 96795
(808) 259-9800

ENTERTAINMENT

Art Kalahiki artkala50@gmail.com

(808) 258-7555

WEDDING PLANNER & FLORAL

Let’s Do This

Melissa Veenstra – melissaldt@gmail.com

P.O. Box 1856 Kailua HI 96734

(808) 227 9821

TRANSPORTATION

VIP Transportation

Aloha Cummings auntiealoha@viptrans.com

443 Kalewa Street  Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 836-0317

CAKE

Paradise Pastries          

Bethany - info@paradisepastries.com

1507 South King Street  Honolulu, HI 96826

(808) 949-3931

Olowalu Plantation Wedding on Maui

It was an instant connection for me to this bride and groom from California.  It wasn't just our mutual love for Santa Barbara, Hawaii and The Coffee Bean.  We had a theme, it was 4 sisters.  The bride and I both grew up in a family with four sisters.  The catering company, Four Sisters, found and chosen by the bride seemed to fit perfectly.  They were all signs of the perfect wedding day.  We were blessed with beautiful weather, sunset and lighting.   The bride carried a loose rose that was placed on the seat where her father would have sat.   Her grandpa walked her down the aisle wearing her father's hat on his back symbolic of him being there as he escorted her down the aisle in spirit (see below for photo).  It was a poignant moment in the ceremony followed by the flower girl who dropped dimes instead of rose petals to honor her late father & sister who passed away 6 years ago.  I think I cried about 4 times throughout the evening.  What a beautiful evening with a beautiful group of people. The bride and groom are so nice to each other.  You can feel the love and respect they have for one another.  And that my friend I hear is the secret ingredient to a healthy marriage.

Switching gears just a minute to our planning process...

We continued to have more in common as the planning process continued.  Her sister was pregnant and due the same time my sister was pregnant and due. They both were leaving it as a surprise and (I think secretly hoping for a boy BUT surprise!!!, we both were blessed with beautiful nieces to add to the girl pack).  We also both had a sister getting married months after our own weddings. Needless to say it was one of those weddings I was very proud and blessed to be a part of.  They will always have a place in my heart and I will forever get goose bumps every time I pick up a dime.

And now for the vendor awards...

Olowalu Plantation was our backdrop and canvas for this May wedding.  I truly enjoyed working here.  The rules and regulations were no fine print!  They were easy to work with and totally flexible with requests.  Dmitri Photography gifted us with the amazingly beautiful photographs.  Accompanied by video from brother Andre of All Time Media Maui.  This team duo went above and beyond any video/photographer team I've ever done business with.  Four Sisters Kitchen provided a great staff including bartenders, servers, bussers, set up crew and break down crew.  The Sister's were truly a divine appointment.  Della of Dellables delivered flawless coral movie star roses in a glass vase, arch and leis.  She too is one of the most generous florists I know.  She always gives more than you ask for.  This woman has a passion for weddings and it shows in her floral design.  She knew what would work on these tables and knew what our budget was.  She made it happen and boy did it pop!

Guests stayed at the Westin Maui and were bussed over to Olowalu for a safe and fun evening.  They (as LMAFO would put it) "party rocked" the house thanks to dj/mc KC Campell of VOX Dj's.

Tent by Maui Rents and all other rentals provided by my favorite Island Rents who again went above and beyond making our wedding an on-time one! Strike A Pose managed our photo booth which is always a hit!  Cakes by Joann baked the cake with my favorite cake topper EVER (groom with Laker's garb & bride holding her favorite Coffee Bean) Hair by Misha & Makeup by Jessica Waite.

Thank you TEAM MAUI for welcoming me and treating me like a star.

Secret Island and Hale Molii Kualoa Ranch Wedding

This bride taught me a lot!  First off she introduced me to Pinterest, thank you MJ!!!  Second she was the first bride to put her self on a monthly payment plan so that everything was paid off by the time the wedding came around.  I was very very proud!!!  She did it!

She hand made a lot of her details thanks to her friends, 3 sisters and parents.  Thank you signs, JM signs, Guestbook, Signs for Cards, a photo montage near photo booth and more.

Baby's breath was the most used flower on this wedding.  I did the same for mine 2 months prior using Star Creations. It's the timeless white flower.

Secret Island, a fabulous place to have your nuptials!  All guests are wowed by the boat ride across the fish pond to the secret beach.  It's completely private and all yours for a price. Kahu Silva performed a Hawaiian ceremony including the blessing of the rings.

Hale Molii the newest site at Kualoa Ranch and home to Last Resort plus other television shows and movies held the cocktail hour and dinner reception.

Keneke's Catering served up a delicious buffet with a full roast pig on buffet.

Photo Booth by Photo Ops Hawaii

Rentals by Accel Party Rentals

DJ by Showtime Dj's Teley Brandon (totally worth the extra cost!)

Polynesian Show by Art Kalahiki

Tent by Hawaii Tents and Events

All other Rentals by Accel Party Rentals