Hawaii Weddings

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Neutral clean whites and ivory + baby blues

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The overall design of the couple’s wedding was a harmonious blend of classic elegance, modern sophistication, and a touch of chic garden party charm. Kara and Jade envisioned a setting that felt intimate yet refined, with thoughtfully curated details that embraced timeless beauty. Their inspiration came from the idea of a modern European garden party, where every element was as inviting as it was stylish.

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The couple’s story began over eight years ago, initially bonding over a shared love of basketball. While they first crossed paths on the court, it wasn’t until mutual friends formally introduced them that their connection truly blossomed. The proposal itself was heartfelt and understated, happening just before the world changed with COVID-19. Despite the timing, it felt like the perfect moment for Kara and Jade to embark on this next chapter together.

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Grace Loves Lace, shoes Prada

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Breaking tradition, the couple chose not to have a wedding party. Instead, they invited all of their guests to participate in their vision by dressing in soft baby blue and varying complementary shades. This choice was inspired by serene tones that Kara and Jade carried throughout their wedding day to create a cohesive and tranquil aesthetic.[/field]
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Their venue, Café Julia, provided a delectable buffet that catered to a variety of tastes. Guests enjoyed dishes such as Caesar salad, Tuscan chicken, grilled steak, and crusted aloha tofu. For dessert, the couple served comforting bread pudding and chocolate-dipped strawberries. As the night unfolded, Kara and Jade treated everyone to late-night sliders and fries for a fun and casual touch. For signature drinks, they showcased their personalities: Jade’s was a refreshing tequila with ginger ale, while Kara’s was a crisp Tito’s with sparkling water and lime.

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The florals, designed by the incredibly talented @belledejour_floral, brought the couple’s garden vision to life. They featured an array of lush garden blooms primarily in white, with subtle pops of blue woven throughout the arrangements. Whimsical and branching foliages added texture and movement, creating a Tuscan garden-inspired atmosphere that felt both romantic and enchanting.

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The couple’s heart-shaped wedding cake was a playful and vintage-inspired element. Adorned with the heartfelt phrase “In Every Lifetime,” it added a whimsical and deeply personal touch to their celebration, perfectly complementing the romantic and nostalgic theme of their day.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]Music was a deeply personal element of the couple’s day. Walking down the aisle to “Make You Feel My Love” and “Sweetest Devotion,” performed live by the Spaulding Quartet, was a moment that felt truly magical and meaningful.[/field]
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The officiant was a cherished part of the couple’s lives: their longtime basketball coach and dear friend from Guam. Having someone who knows them so well and has been a part of their journey officiate the ceremony added an unparalleled sense of warmth and connection to their day.

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]A live painter added an artistic and unique touch to the couple’s ceremony. As Kara and Jade walked down the aisle, the painter began capturing the moment on canvas. While partially completed during the wedding, the painting was later refined over several days to create a stunning masterpiece. This beautiful artwork was then sent to the couple, serving as a timeless keepsake of their special day.[/field]
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Photography: Theel Wedding Productions | Cinematography: Lei Aloha Socials | Event Planning: All The Deets | Floral Design: Belle De Jour | Wedding Dress: Grace Loves Lace | Invitations: Paige Tuzee Designs | Wedding Venue: Cafe Julia Hawaii | Accomodations: Laylow Waikiki | Beauty: Reveal Hair and Make Up

[section title=”The Planning”]
[field title=”Wedding Colors”]We chose to create a gorgeous, cohesive color design, avoiding too much contrast
with a gentle transition from color to color, creating a full sensory experience for our couple and their guests. Tones of mauve, pale blue, and muted evergreen served as the base with tufts of ivory and cream spread throughout. [/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

The couple wanted a whimsical yet tastefully elegant affair with subtle nods to the magic of Walt Disney’s classics.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]From the Bride: “I was in the middle of a zoom meeting. Jack was out to pick up breakfast. Suddenly, our Homepod started to play Bruno Mars’s “Marry You” and Jack opened the door with a large bunch of red roses. In front of my colleague, who was virtually in the meeting, he presented the ring and proposed on his knee.”[/field]
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The dress is designed by a individual designer called Naama. It was a custom princess gown with a detachable skirt which the Bride removed following the ceremony for the dinner reception.

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The Groom’s Suit was by BALANI Custom Suits.

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Stir Beverage hosted classic cocktails and signature beverages immediately following the ceremony throughout dinner service. The menu was classically elegant and hosted nods to the Hawaiian culture.

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For florals, we adored the idea of marrying an organic and romantic bouquet in hues of pink, creams and whites. We utilized Dogwood florals, white O’Hara Garden Roses, Pink Eskimos, Orchids, Luneria, Daisies and other delicate florals. From Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design: “Because the couple wanted to incorporate tasteful touches of Walt Disney in their Wedding, we chose to host custom, extra-large silk flowers down the ceremony aisle and at the alter as a subtle nod to Alice in Wonderland. The couple was absolutely thrilled; it was so rewarding!”

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The traditional two-tier Wedding Cake rested on a bed of Wedding Blooms and was crowned with luneria and roses. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]From the Bride: “First dance!! Love the food as well! I especially love the Chinese song played during the reception called 好想好想. I loved Moon’s welcome speech and our dads’ toast speech and my grandparents’ video!!”[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The couple chose to host some Chinese Traditions on their Wedding Day with respect to their cultures. They hosted a Chinese Door Game (putting the Groom to the test!) prior to getting ready for their Chinese Tea Ceremony with each of their parents. [/field]
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Photography: Melia Lucida | Cinematography: Backstory Wedding Films | Event Design: Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design | Event Planning: Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design | Floral Design: Designs by Hemingway | Ceremony Venue: Lanikuhonua | Catering: Stir Beverage | Catering: Chef Elmer Guzman's Island Cuisine | Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy | DJ: KCK Entertainment | Rentals: Aloha Artisans | Rentals: Accel Rentals | Rentals: Hawaii Fine Linens | Travel Planning: Luxury Travel by Britta Heath

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The color palette included soft pastel hues, such as blush pink, baby blue, mint green, along with pops of gold.

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Nora and Jackson’s French-inspired garden wedding in Hawaii featured a mix of elegant and rustic elements. The overall design was romantic, with a touch of whimsy and charm. The venue was adorned with lush greenery, palm trees, blooming flowers and vintage-inspired details. Aloha means “the presence of breath” or the essence of existence, love, peace, mutual understanding, and respect. Nora and Jackson felt this beautiful, profound word portrays the pillars of their relationship. They immediately fell under its spell after visiting the island back in 2015. As a haven for Asian food and multicultural delights, they felt it was the place to gather all their loved ones and immortalize their love. And on their 7th anniversary – October 16th, 2022, Nora and Jackson translated their vision into reality at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. Nora and Jackson’s entire wedding was a beautiful fusion of different elements. The aesthetic was inspired by French gardens and enveloped by glorious tropical greenery and palm trees. The ceremony aisle was adorned with lavish floral artistry in the form of a double arch that beautifully framed their love and devotion. It exuded a timelessly elegant feel while channeling an airy, romantic look. The blush palette enriched with a rare color of plumeria was enough to touch the hearts of everyone present and be forever etched in their memory. The reception perfectly embodied the ethereal garden floral delight with a French touch, with long tablescapes. The opulent chandeliers whose poles were wrapped with fresh rainforest leaves. The guests were welcomed with a vintage gold welcome mirror while fresh flowers caressed everyone’s senses. But what made this exquisite French garden affair was the customized high-end favors by Jo Malone, which were an ode to classic elegance. Beautifully placed on ivory lace medallion linens and refined tableware, and surrounded by blush-colored flowers, this combination quenched everyone’s thirst for pure aesthetics. To elevate the guest experience and achieve a natural garden feel, as a finesse, there were pink butterfly place cards for the seating chart. The butterflies were placed around the champagne glasses – fluttered with the breeze’s help. Finally, the chandelier’s luminous beauty allowed the fête to unfold into the evening hours. Then, the guests were treated to Tahitian and fire knife dance performances, adding a Hawaiian atmosphere to the wedding celebration. It was truly splendid entertainment for Nora and Jackson’s loved ones, who came from all around the world to celebrate their love. Despite their challenges, Nora and Jackson’s iconic day was curated to perfection.

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The Vera Wang Fernanda Gown is a classic French tulle strapless soft A-line gown. It is a statement piece that embodies an elegant ball gown with a modern twist in the neckline. The dress is made from layers of ivory tulle, which gives it a soft, ethereal feel. The dress features a unique blend of classic and modern elements, resulting in a sophisticated and whimsical design. What a princess dress in the fairytale!

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The bride waned to have a mix of dresses for her bridesmaids. She chose a range of color tones in a similar hue to make sure her bridesmaids could stand out individually but still keep things cohesive. She picked beautiful satin dresses from Jenny Yoo and the colors were: sage, latte, quartz, whipped apricot, gold and petal.

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The wedding had 11 types of passed canapes during the cocktail hour with catering by Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina:

Prawn cocktail with pickled mango, crab meat and avocado tart, spicy Ahi in sesame miso cone, coconut and fish of the day ceviche, seared tuna with edamame pureé and furikake on baguette, beef tartar with quail egg and brioche, mini lobster puff with tarragon and preserved Lemon scallion profiterole, duck spring rolls with Hoisin dipping sauce, mini crab cakes with tomato chutney 10. spiced braised beef short ribs with furikake blinis, Kalua pork and sweet potato croquette

Dinner was offered in 3 courses:

Appetizers – Arugula and Endive Salad with Prosciutto

Entrees – Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Salmon/Roasted Filet Mignon/Kabocha Squash Gnocchi

Dessert – Key Lime Bar

Wines served tableside: prosecco, Sangiovese and Chardonnay Cocktail Selection: Wheatley Vodka, Havana Club Rum, Old Lahaina Dark Rum, Bulleit Rye, Jim Beam Bourbon, Johnnie Walker Black Scotch, Bombay Dry Gin, Mi Campo Tequila

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From the sprawling arches to the overflowing centerpieces, this wedding is a true garden of dreams, where lush blooms and delicate petals come together to create a stunning display of nature’s beauty. The beauty of summertime (still in Hawaii) has been captured in this lavish this wedding floral design, where every detail is an ode to the season’s renewal and growth. For Nora and Jackson’s wedding, we have more than 20 types of flowers including: Anthurium, Clematis, Delphinium, Tulip, Garden Rose, Spray Rose, David Austin Rose, Hydrangea, Lisianthus, Lily, Parrot Tulip, Ranunculus, Snapdragon, Sweet Pea, Butterfly Ranunculus, Plumeria, Gypsohila, Stock, Allium Neopolitanum and Astrantia.

Even though they couldn’t have locally sourced flowers because Hawaii has only tropical ones – and the climate doesn’t allow for roses and other cool climate plants to thrive – they managed to get them. This was done with the help of the New York floral vendor – Floraland Weddings & Events, who ordered them from NY, Japan, the Netherlands, and other European countries. With the stunning natural beauty of Hawaii, this French-style garden wedding was a truly unforgettable event, filled with sophistication, beauty, and romance!

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[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The three-tiered fine art cake inspired by French garden style, was decorated by all fresh flowers. It was placed in front of the double arch. The delicious vanilla cake had strawberry fillings inside. [/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The Harp Quartet played the following music pieces during the wedding ceremony:

Jesu joy of Man’s Desiring — Groom’s Entrance
Ode To Joy — Processional Wedding Party
Canon in D — Processional Bride
La Vie En Rose — Unity Ceremony – Sand Ceremony
Sheep May Sefely Graze — Recessional

Dance music: DJ played Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” for Nora and Jackson’s first dance and Carrie Underwoo’s “Mama’s Song” for mother daughter dance.

Performance: Local Hawaii Tahitian and fire knife dance in front of “ALOHA” sign
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This wedding has various personalized items including: pink butterfly place cards for the seating chart, gold wooden place names, personalized “NJ” monogrammed dinner napkins and a custom portrait guestbook. The guest favors – Jo Malone body cream and colognes were pre-ordered and shipped to Hawaii, together with 5 huge chandeliers. All the fresh flowers were also shipped from New York City, Japan, Netherlands and other European countries.

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Photography: C & C Photography | Cinematography: Likefilm Studio | Event Planning: Manna Sun Events, Inc. | Floral Design: Floraland Weddings and Events | Wedding Dress: Vera Wang | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea | Entertainment: Hawaii Hula Company | DJ: Aloha Event DJ | Groom's Attire: Armani | Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea | Dance Lesson: Jacqueline Keating | Engagement Ring Designer: De Beers | Weddings Rings: Harry Winston

If you’re craving something bright and beautiful, have we got the inspiration for you. Say goodbye to the winter blues, and take a trip with us to the coast of O’ahu. Nature’s beauty, a Samuelle Couture Dress, and imaginative details by Designs By Hemingway come together to make a destination wedding dream come true. The bold hues and beach vibes are all lovingly captured by Amy Mulder Photography. Take a trip to Hawaii in the full gallery for all the pretty.

From Amy Mulder Photography… It may have been the dead of winter with freezing cold temperatures on the mainland, but O’ahu was bringing the heat when our team of amazing vendors teamed up for this inspirational shoot. Then the search for the perfect dress to show all of the glorious movement on the lava rock of Hawaii began.

As soon as I saw Samuelle Couture’s line, I knew I had found THE dress! Debbie from Designs by Hemingway made an incredible floral installation and floral headpiece that was a dream to shoot. It was all tied together with the beautiful creations from Emma at Inkberry Calligraphy.

LouLu Palm Estate hosted our table shoot on the beach. My heart just was so so full seeing all of the colors, textures, and amazing creations come to life in the most beautiful of ways.

Photography: Amy Mulder Photography | Floral Design: Designs by Hemingway | Stationary: inkberry | Reception Venue: Loulu Palm Estate | Hair + Make up: Reveal Hair + Make up | Bridal Salon: SPINA | Dress Designer: Samuelle | Rentals: Signature Boutique Event Rentals | Rentals: Hemingway Fine Art Studio | film lab: Richard Photo Lab

Not only did this fete draw me in with it’s to-die-for Hawaii backdrop and that ridiculously beautiful dress, but each and every one of the captures by Trynh Photography (assisted by Lucy Munoz), held my attention for not seconds, but minutes. I suppose that’s the gorgeous result of the chemistry between the Bride, Jenny Soi (who also happens to be a photographer!) and Trynh who became the best of friends after connecting through their industry on social media. Toss in a layer of blooms from Designs by Hemingway and you’ve got all the ingredients for wedding inspiration that is sure to have you clicking ‘pin it’ from the start.

From the Bride… The Gown: Besides my new husband and my family being at the wedding, my gown was my favorite thing. I knew I wanted a gown that was feminine and unique, yet timeless at the same time. I specifically requested a gown that has dimensional details and a illusion neckline that wasn’t “too sexy” for mom. This Idan Cohen Dress was the third wedding dress I tried on at Kinsley James Walnut Creek and instantly knew it was the one because it made me feel so confident and graceful. I hope to save this gown for my future daughter or daughter in law if I am so fortunate to have kids. If not, it will go to one of my niece!

How we met: We met in highschool and fell in love in our early 20’s after reconnecting. We both knew we had a little crush on each other in high school but it wasn’t until we became good friends as adults that we realized how much happiness we brought to each others lives. It just made sense.

Wedding Style: Our wedding was an intimate tropical formal affair inspired by our love for family and island life. We kept our design elements very minimalist but with a lot of intention behind every detail. One of my favorite decor elements was being able to dedicate our table names by naming it after my husband’s late-mother favorite orchid flowers. Our flowers were arranged ikebana style into vessels handmade by my dear sister, Brenda Soi just for the occasion. I also love the color grey-blue and that sweet in between gradient of beautiful calming colors my husband and I will never be tired of admiring.

How you planned your wedding: Being a destination wedding, we made just one trip to our venue in Oahu before we knew we wanted to book it. It was the perfect location for my entire family and bridal party to stay at and enjoy an entire weekend of festivities. Being a creative, it was natural for me to want to design and curate the vendors to perfectly carry out my vision of a timeless wedding.

From Trynh Photography… I met Jenny Soi two years ago though our social network, and she said “I’m a photographer too, we should be best friends”, and that we now are. I’ve come to know both Jenny & Viet while living in the SF Bay Area briefly. I’ve watched the whole wedding planning process unfold, but of course Jenny made it look so effortless and stress free (thanks to being a wedding photographer), she knew exactly her vision and all the little delicate details that tells the story of their lives not their wedding day. Though she made it seem easy, it was not easy to plan a destination wedding when you can’t just drive there to check something. You definitely have to rely on all the creatives to help pull all of this together. On the day before Jenny planned a cute pool party for her bridesmaids and guests. The wedding day was beautiful, especially the bride. Even with all the designing and planning, no one wishes to have rain on their wedding. The team set up all the tables outside in the beautiful courtyard surrounded by lush green palm trees and tropical plants, however, the rain came pouring down and all was moved inside a tent. The rest of the night they celebrated, danced under that tent with the live musicians and the sound of rain.

Photography: Trynh Photography | Event Planning: NT Events | Florist: Designs by Hemingway | Wedding Dress: Kinsley James Couture Bridal | Cake: A Cake Life | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Catering: Ke Nui Kitchen | Hair & Makeup: Blush Makeup & Hair | Caligraphy: Dawn Naomi Calligraphy | Estate: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Invitation: Acétate La Boite | Music: Island King Musicians | Party Rentals: Pacific Party Rental | Photography - Assistance: Lucy Munoz

When half your guests are on one side of the world, and the other half are on the other, what do you do? Meet in the middle! This couple did that literally when choosing to celebrate their nuptials in Hawaii, but also figuratively when creating their ceremony. Instead of adhering to wedding traditions, they each picked one to represent their heritage (a Japanese sake ceremony for the Bride and breaking the glass for the Groom). Absolutely Loved was there to capture the meaningful day – complete with must-see florals by Passion Roots and planned by Engaging Moments – and it’s all waiting for you right here.

From the Bride… I had just transferred to the New York office for work and didn’t know too many people. I met Daren at a few work events and thought he was cute, but nothing came of it besides work-type conversation. That all changed when a mutual coworker, career mentor, and now our best friend hosted a weekend gathering that we were both invited to. That’s where we were able to talk outside of the work setting and really hit it off. The sparks started to fly immediately, and the rest is history. I should also mention that the coworker that hosted that gathering agreed to officiate our wedding, introducing us and then making it forever five years later!

Daren and I live in New York City, but since all my family and some of my friends live in Japan, we thought Hawaii was the perfect happy middle (and who doesn’t want to get married in Hawaii?). I also spent several summers in Hawaii as a young girl as my grandparents owned a second home in Honolulu, and I have very fond memories of this time. When we decided to get married in Hawaii, I remember as a little girl coming to the Kahala hotel and being in awe of its beauty. I checked out their website and talked to the very helpful wedding team, and I knew this was the perfect place for us!

Our goal for the wedding was to have a fun time with our close friends and family. We did not care to tick all the boxes of a traditional wedding and only incorporated traditions we enjoyed. We wanted to incorporate our different backgrounds, so we worked in both a Japanese sake ceremony and the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass. We also wanted to embrace the destination, so we had gorgeous white leis and personalized sunglasses for each guest. We had minimal decor with pale pink flowers to not take away from the ocean back drop and conveniently a double rainbow showed up during cocktail hour to decorate the skies!

I wanted something simple and less formal for my bridal look to match the scenery. I seriously think I saw thousands of dresses online (the selection is endless!) When I realized the ones I liked had a common theme – I really liked dresses with laces and ruching. I was able to find the perfect dress with ruching in the front and lace in the back which was simple but also unique. I thank Kleinfelds for helping me find the Romona Keveza dress that I always dreamed of!

For Daren, we wanted something a little more fun and less formal. His work suits are more traditional greys and dark blues, so he used the opportunity to wear a suit with a little more character and pop. The light blue felt right in terms of matching the venue and ocean backdrop while the pink tie was the added pizazz he thought was the perfect finishing touch. I certainly didn’t complain because it matched the flowers! He got the suit and shirt custom made from Sebastien Grey in NYC, and they did an amazing job!

My husband – who cannot speak a word of Japanese – decided that he wanted to deliver a speech to my parents…in Japanese. I remember that I nervously watched him stumble through his speech in a language he was not familiar with in an attempt to connect with my parents. which made me very emotional. I know that my parents felt it too, as my mom’s eyes flooded with tears. This moment meant so much to me on so many levels, and the emotion I felt is something I will never forget.

My advice for Brides-to-be: Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy the moment!

Photography: Absolutely Loved Photography | Event Planning: Engaging Moments | Floral Design: Passion Roots | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Hair + Makeup: Alison Hayashi | Venue: The Kahala Hotel Resort

Glamour is at very single turn in this destination wedding captured by Aria Studios. From the bride’s perfect red lip to the all white florals by Su-V Expressions and the tropical elegance of Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel, it all makes for a wedding day as stunning as they come. Go from seaside portraits to a ballroom dressed to the nines with the full celebration right here.

From the Bride…Growing up in two completely different parts of the United States, I’m a local girl born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and Tom, a southern boy from Jackson, Mississippi we some how found our way to each other in the middle of one of the busiest cities, Los Angeles. Our love story began with short glances and interactions at work in the hospital. Tom is a surgery resident physician while I am medical surgical nurse at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. We would occasionally talk about plan of care about the patients we would be caring for and purposely start to religiously show up for our monthly unit MD/RN collaboration meetings just to get more of a glimpse and interaction with each other. Not quite like Grey’s Anatomy but the real and genuine love that grew between us was extraordinary because we found our person in each other.

When we were planning our wedding it was a no brainer that Honolulu was the place to be but where exactly?! Since both of us lived in Los Angeles we were grateful that my parents were able to help us look at different venue options that were available for our date. When they came across the Royal Hawaiian it was just perfect and came full circle when Tom told me it was the first hotel he stayed at when he first came to Hawaii couple months before we met and for it to be the place where we celebrate our love, there was no other place than the Royal. The lush greenery against the historic pink reminded him of places back in the south and with having Waikiki beach and Diamond Head as our back drop we had the best of both worlds at our finger tips. Our ceremony was held in a chapel that was near and dear to my heart. Growing up Catholic, I wanted a traditional Church wedding ceremony and as a daughter/alumni of Sacred Hearts Academy I knew St. Margaret Mary Chapel was the perfect intimate setting. Lina from Lina B flowers decorated the church with a simple green garland to add to the charming character of the Chapel.

Planning the wedding from Los Angeles felt a little overwhelming even with family back in Hawaii to help, we still had no idea where to start after we got our venue. Everything just fell into place when we found our amazing wedding planner that is now our dear friend Karisa from Say I Do By Karisa! She is definitely the definition of a boss lady! With our first meeting in Hawaii back in August we told her our vision of a clean, chic, elegant and romantic wedding at the Royal, she helped guide us in making our dream wedding come to life! Her vendor recommendations were spot on because they were truly the best! Every trip we made to Hawaii, Karisa had set up appointments with our vendors and continuously emailed, called, and texted us with updates when we were back in LA. If you are planning a destination wedding in Honolulu, Say I Do By Karisa and her team is the first phone call you should make cause she will make your wedding dreams become a reality!

A Cake Life made our wonderful guava chiffon and carrot cake with buttercream frosting! The cake meeting and tasting was truly an experience because Kristen was so sweet and she sketched our cake design at the meeting! Aria studios were our videographer and photographer and Jonas and Holly were our main contacts throughout our whole experience and even after the wedding! They truly listened to our vision of how Tom and I wanted our wedding day to be captured and we are truly grateful on how amazing everything turned out! The floral goddess, Sue from Su-V Expressions is so talented. We wanted more of a greenery wedding with white accented flowers even though the idea seemed simple she made the floral decor so elegant! The sweetheart table was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and one of my favorite highlights of our wedding decor. The cascading greenery and the pillar candles reflecting against the light coming from Waikiki beach just set the tone for romance.

Little details were just as important. The draping from Les Saison transformed the ballroom into a white canvas and the glass panels that surrounded the ballroom were exposed so our guests could look out and see the night sky of Waikiki beach. I took calligraphy classes from one of my favorite calligraphers Courtney from PoppyJackShop. I hand calligraphy all the escort cards that were in a shape of a marble leaf tile to go with our greenery theme. HappilyEverEtched from Buena Park, California made our amazing Laser etched photo booth back drop and Nestor and Joey Hipolito from One Day Signs from Mililani, Hawaii created a beautiful mirror calligraphy signage to add a personal touch.

Tahiti Rey sang songs to the important dances I’ll ever remember. DJ Anit, a dear friend, brought the reception to life. All that mattered was all the love we were surrounded with that came from our friends and family who travelled all over the world to be with us on our special day. Our wedding day was everything we could have imagined and more!

Photography: Aria Studios | Cinematography: Aria Studios | Coordination: Say I Do by Karisa | Florals: Su-V Expressions | Wedding Dress: Watters | Cake: A Cake Life | Ceremony Venue: St Margaret Mary Chapel at Sacred Hearts Academy School | Reception Venue: Royal Hawaiian Hotel | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Rings: Bay Diamond Importers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Calligraphy: Happily Ever Etched | Calligraphy: Poppyjack Shop | Calligraphy : OneDaySigns | DJ: DJ Anit | Groom's Attire: Indochino | Bridal Robe: BHLDN | Ceremony Flowers: Lina B | Draping & Linens & Gold Flatware: Les Saisons | Film processing : Indie Film Lab | Hair Pin: Twigs & Honey | Linens & Chairs : The Wedding Linen Company | Photobooth: Photo Ops Hawaii | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Veil : Pronovias | Wedding Dress Salon: Mon Amie Bridal Salon | Wedding Singer: Tahiti Rey | Whit Dance Floor : Accel Rentals

When I was pulling together this feature, I was torn on what to focus on. Because the images themselves are so utterly beautiful. The backdrop and the photos from Artiese Studios…breathtaking. The bride and her handsome groom…stunning. The Gossamer gown, the florals from Passion Roots, the everything. But then I read the sage advice that accompanied the piece (featured below) and thought that perhaps the real beauty was tucked into the story. Then I decided to just let you soak up all of the gorgeous and decide for yourself what you love the most. Click here for even more.

From the Bride…My words of advice…for the wedding day, I’d say to make the celebration as personal as possible. At our wedding, we had our favorite pizza and played all our favorite songs and danced with our favorite people. Don’t worry about everything being “perfect” because if you’re surrounded by all the people and things you love, then it will be perfect. Bonus tip speaking as a photographer, plan your schedule/location around the light (no high noon ceremonies in the desert, please!)

For marriage, it’s cliche but making time for each other is *so* important! Date nights at least once a month, and don’t forget to kiss every single day! You might thing it sounds simple, but things get lost in the chaos! Everything in life can get so busy that you forget to really cherish each other, and it’s so important to take a moment to step out of everything together and just enjoy being in each other’s company once in a while.

Photography: ARTIESE Studios | Floral Design: Passion Roots | Dress: Gossamer | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab

This might just be the most perfect tropical wedding. It’s got everything a girl could want — a sensational bride and her handsome hubby, a seaside celebration compete with dazzling Passion Roots florals, and even the seriously talented Christine Clark behind the lens snapping up every moment of perfection. One look at this beauty in THE VAULT and you’ll dream of shores awash with romance!

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From Christine Clark…One of my favorite parts about weddings is when you can see the groom is clearly giddy over the sight of his bride. Tyna, a self professed tomboy, was anything but tomboy on the day of her wedding. Radiant in her lace dress, with just the softest hint of blush, she glowed with graceful loveliness, and it was plain to see that Darren was over the moon. Their connection was palpable and beautiful. These two brought some old world charm to this corner of Hawaii with their elegant styling and flowing florals. And the hot, Hawaiian sun could not hold a candle to the warmth they brought to their day and to each other.

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See even more beach weddings in THE VAULT! 

Photography: Christine Clark | Cinematography: Aria Studios | Event Planning: L-4-Love | Floral Design: Passion Roots | Cake: Tiers Of Joy | Hair and Makeup: Face Art Beauty | Venue: Royal Hawaiian Hotel | Film Processing: Goodman Film Lab | Linen Rentals & Decor: Les Saisons

Filled with coral peonies and cascading amaranth, sprinkled with gilded sequins and touches of glam (hello, sparkling hair brooch!), and nestled amongst the tropical cliffs of gorgeous Honolulu, these intimate nuptials, captured by Kylie Martin and Schyne Design, are bursting with prettiness. Take a peek below, then check out the full gallery for more!

 

From Kylie Martin…Erin and Warren curated a beautiful, intimate ceremony in the hills of Hawaii surrounded by their closes friends and family. When Erin initially reached out to me she described the feeling she desired for her wedding day. I am always moved by brides that focus on the emotion and experience conveyed throughout their day over the “look.” Erin explained that she wanted her day to feel intimate and relaxed but have an elegant touch. Elegant it was. By choosing classic elements this wedding evoked a timeless grace. Soft shades of pink and ivory, champagne and an intimate gathering of guests were the perfect setting for Erin and Warren. Not only did they provide gorgeous details but they focused on the most important portion of their day, which was joining their lives together and celebrating with loved ones. Their joy and love was contagious and it was an honor to document. In staying true to the feelings they wanted to evoke on their day they were able to create a wedding that reflected themselves as a couple and a gorgeous palette of inspiration for future brides and grooms planning their weddings.

Photography: Kylie Martin Photography | Coordination: Blake Entertainment Hawaii | Floral Design: Blake Entertainment Hawaii | Wedding Dress: Casablanca | Reception Venue: Halekulani | Hair and Makeup: Leslie Fair | Film Lab: PhotoVision Prints | Photography - Assistance: Schyne Design | Ring box: The Mrs Box | Wedding Ring: Cartier

Whenever I’m staring at a wedding for the first time, I look at the people. At their faces. At the joy or the excitement or the nerves. And this bride had me completely at hello. She’s literally glowing and as you might have guessed, her wedding – with images from Ashley Goodwin and a delightful film from Pan + Tilt – most definitely followed suit… colors that won’t let you look away, details that feel they were meant to be and a sense of style that permeates every last corner. And there is so much more right here.

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From Ashley Goodwin Photography … An Italian boy + a beautiful surfer girl from Kauai fuse their energetic and lively romance into a romantic and fun event at the perfect “old world Italy” location, overlooking a Waikiki sunset. The perfect blend of classic Europe mixed with the relaxed vibe of the islands, down to the prosciutto wrapped melons and local hawaiian cuisine. Add in some champagne sprays and you’ve got one hell of a good time!

Photography: Ashley Goodwin Photography | Cinematography: Pan + Tilt | Coordination: Gourmet Events Hawaii | Floral Design: Creative Concepts By Jeff | Wedding Dress: Vows Bridal | Cake: A Baked Romance | Reception Venue: La Pietra | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Forever 21 | Hair + Makeup: Designs By Janet Suzanne | Hotel: Moana Surfrider | Desserts: La Gelataria | Photo Booth: Photo Ops Hawaii | Pizza: Pizza Party Hawaii | Rentals: Pacific Party Rental

I would have never imagined glamour and an industrial style getting along, but after soaking up this shoot by Mikkel Paige, Moana Events and Burnett’s Boards, I’m pretty sure they’re a match made in heaven. Complimenting each other’s style, shown perfectly with this stationery suite by Bliss & Bone, these two aesthetics together just became a new favorite of mine. See why I’m so obsessed right here.

From Burnett’s Boards… For this wedding inspiration shoot, Mikkel Paige Photography, Moana Events, and Burnett’s Boards teamed up in Honolulu to conceptualize a decidedly atypical Hawaiian bridal design – one of industrial glamour with a heavy dose of uniquely utilitarian styling details. Shot in a un-occupied warehouse in the business district of Honolulu, Hawaii, the design was inspired by the barren space and exposed elements.

The table was constructed using flooring tiles, flipped on their reverse side to add texture to the tabletop and mimic the formal marble wedding invitations by Bliss & Bone. Black Louis ghost chairs wrapped in copper wire add a dark and glamorous tone, while stately pillar candles in vintage gold candleholders add a romantic bent with hand-calligraphied French love poems written on them. Each place setting was set with antique gold flatware, a formal black linen napkin and a beautiful calligraphy love poem garnished with a single blossom.

The industrial copper wire elements were carried throughout the shoot on the gold-dipped long-stem bouquet and again on the modern white cake. Florist Grand used a beautifully dramatic ‘pearl’ concept to create floral spheres spilling across the table from an over-sized gold urn.

Gold-leaf was applied by hand to a dramatic floor-length black tulle veil and added the ultimate gilded touch to model Meaghan’s glamorous hair and makeup and Oscar-worthy gold gown.

Photography: Mikkel Paige | Floral Design : Florist Grand | Dress: Rent The Runway | Cake: Cake Works | Invitations : Bliss & Bone | Hair & Makeup : Whikd Hawaii | Calligraphy: Hawaii Calligraphy | Venue: Ward Village Warehouse | Chairs: Curate Decor Design | Event Styling, Coordination, & Design: Moana Belle Events | Model: Moana Belle Events | Shoot Concept: Burnett's Boards | Tabletop Decor: Pier 1 | Veil: Burnett's Boards | Wholesale Flowers: Fifty Flowers

Ever wondered what destination Hawaii looks like with a good dose of glamour – the kind of glamourous details you’d find in a vintage inspired affair reminiscent of Downton Abbey? We’re talking old world charm meets tropical locale crafted by a team of talented vendors including design by Orchestrated Stylized Shoots, planning by Moana Events, beautiful florals by Passion Roots and lots of scrumptious images by Ashley Goodwin. See it all here.

 

 

This shoot was inspired by Downton Abbey glam meets lush vintage tropics. It’s a stunning alternative to traditional beach weddings and Hawai’ian orchids.
We incorporated a soft palette of warm whites, creamy yellows, emerald green and dusty pink with touches of glamour, lace and pineapple motifs bringing Old World Hawai’i alive at the ethereal Hawai’i State Art Museum.

Photography: Ashley Goodwin Photography | Event Coordination: Moana Belle Events | Floral Design: Passion Roots | Cake: A Cake Life | Stationary: Peter Loves Jane | Makeup: Hope Stanley | Hair: Star Allison | Grooms Attire: Celebrity Tuxedos | Venue: Hawaii State Art Museum | Wedding Venue: Hawaii State Art Museum | Bridal Gown: Chaviano Couture | Bridal Veil & Bridesmaid Necklace: Danani Handmade | Concept Design: Orchestrated Stylized Shoots | Location + Publication Partner: Burnett's Boards | Models: Burnett's Boards | Rentals: Accel Rentals | Topiaries: Curate Decor Design

I’ve seen my fair share of cute engagements, but this one might very well take the cake. It’s what happens when two Honolulu cuties hit up the local carnival with Kate Spade-inspired looks from head to toe and Ashley Goodwin by their side. The gallery is one crazy adorable capture after another and to top it all off? This week’s lucky winners are waiting down below!

From Ashley Goodwin Photography… A bright, fun + dreamy Kate Spade inspired Engagement Session at the Punahou Carnival in Hawai’i–full of local tradition and nostalgia for the groom-to-be who attended Punahou School. The energetic and colorful location was chosen by the couple as a reflection of their relationship (Hawai’i spirit) as Lauren says Kawika “makes her feel like a kid again”.

Photography: Ashley Goodwin Photography | Dress: Forever 21 | Concept + Styling: L-4-Love | Fairgrounds: Punahou Carnival

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS

An Anne Sportun necklace from The Clay Pot
$100 gift certificate towards Minted for three
Honeymoon Funds from Traveler’s Joy
A free print sample from Whimsical Prints!

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This week’s DISCOUNTS…

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For our California brides… Discounts from Evangeline Photography.

For our Southeast brides… Enter to win a an engagement session from Kimberly Meserve Photography 

For our Tri-State brides… Discounts from NY Smile Specialists PLUS don’t miss the Brooklyn Wedding Expo this weekend!

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And WINNERS…

The simple phrase “destination wedding” conjures up all kinds of crazy gorgeous images, from barefoot brides to glistening ocean waves.  And what better place to make all of those dreamy visions come to life than Hawaii, a state that hosts its fair share of stunning soirees?  Especially when you’re this darling bride and your siblings have joint backyards overlooking the ocean, just outside of Waikiki.  That’s more than the ideal location for a wedding that is not only personal, but chock-full of week-long pretty planned to perfection by Nichole Weddings & Events and captured beautifully by Christie Pham Photography.  See it all in the full gallery.

Need more?  Check out this amazing film from Kai Media… it’s a must-see.

From the Bride… With a year and half to plan our wedding, we had plenty of time to figure out what was most important to us – giving our friends and family not only a great party, but a memorable vacation! My siblings live next door to each other just outside of Waikiki, and it has become a tradition to get married in the yard between their houses overlooking the ocean. We knew we couldn’t find a better place to tie the knot. 140 of our friends and family flew from all over the globe to join us for a week of fun in the Honolulu sun. We planned rainforest hikes, beach days, a welcome BBQ with a shave ice truck, a Victorian tea bridal shower, a park day for the guys, a costumed catamaran sail, rehearsal dinner, and, of course, the wedding.   

We wanted our wedding to have a lot of Hawaiian culture and most of all, feel very personal, so we added a lot of little touches throughout the day. We wrote our own vows and had our friend perform our marriage ceremony. Our programs were fans that included a poem I wrote for Matt. My talented Maid of Honor made the maps for our invitations and hand-wrote the place cards in calligraphy.  Our dear friend married us, writing a touching and hilarious ceremony that also included a conch blower, beautiful Hawaiian blessing by the kapuna I’ve known for most of my life, and readings from Calvin and Hobbes, E.E. Cummings, and Plato’s Symposium.

Matt’s group of guy friends has been tight since elementary school, so he decided to make all 12 of them groomsmen!  To carry the vacation feel throughout the wedding, we gave out multi-colored sunglasses and leather luggage tags, had people sign a vintage world map as our guestbook, and put out custom-made mad libs on each table for them to fill out. We secretly learned a formal foxtrot and triple step swing for our first dance, and then, I surprised Matt with a hula my bridesmaid had choreographed.   As I work in travel event planning, I knew how important selecting the right vendors would be, so I chose the exceptional wedding planner my niece had introduced me to the year before. Nichole was incredible – helping me choose an amazing assortment of vendors, always there to answer questions or listen to ideas. For the décor, I worked with Nichole and the incredibly talented Flowergirls Hawaii ladies to create a modern-Hawaiian feel with simple flowers to complement the outdoor setting.

One my favorite things about Hawaii is the food, so we made sure to give our guests a chance to sample all our favorites, including sushi and pupus during cocktail hour and malasadas (a form of Portuguese doughnuts) for dessert! For the catering, I was lucky enough to have the help of my family’s long-time friend, Nurhan, to find a great vendor who really listened to our specific menu requests.

Mahalo nui loa to my vendors – Christie, for providing incredible photographs for both our engagement and our wedding. Kai Media, for the absolutely stunning video short that makes everyone cry whenever they watch it. Dorys Foltin  of Maleana Cosmetics for making me into a bride. Rumbletones, for keeping the dance floor hopping and learning our favorite songs. My Maid of Honor, for everything. Nichole and Nurhan, the dynamic duo. And of course, our parents.We could not have had a wedding that was more “us” in any way!

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Wedding Photography: Christie Pham | Wedding Cinematography: Kai Media | Wedding Venue: Bride’s family home in Diamond Head, Honolulu, Hawaii | Event Planning: Nichole Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Flowergirls Hawaii | Catering: Catering Connection + Kats Sushi | Catering Coordination: Nurhan Enustan | Cocktail Music: Puamana | Band: Rumbletones | Wedding Stationery: Lauren Aczon (Maid of Honor) | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseu via Anna Be Bridal | Bridesmaid Attire: J.Crew | Groom’s Attire: Banana Republic | Wedding Rings: the groom +  Mark Hadley from Hadley’s House of Diamonds | Hair + Makeup: Maleana Cosmetics

Oh, Hawaii.  I love you.  Your perfect temps, your clear blue skies, your breathtaking scenery… it all makes for such a stunning backdrop for THE big day.  Not to mention the cute as can be couples that seem to flock to your gorgeous locale.  They have a way of always, ALWAYS delivering the pretty – and this beautiful Bayer Estate affair?  Well, it’s a prime example with its sweet vintage vibe, vibrant pink blooms from Flowergirls and amazing images from Anna Kim Photography.  See them all in the full gallery.

From Anna Kim Photography… Joy and Daryle were married at the Bayer Estate on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. From the bride’s birdcage veil to the homemade jam they gave away as favors, their rustic event was full of vintage flair.

From the Bride… Our wedding day was beautiful. One of the most memorable things I can think of overall is the beautiful weather we had that day. Not too hot, not raining, and just the right amount of sun and trade winds that we couldn’t have chosen a more perfect day to be married. We wanted our wedding to feel whimsical, intimate, and romantic and every detail displayed this from the flowers to the table design and down to our cake toppers. We chose to get married on Oahu because I was born and raised there. Daryle loves Hawaii, too and we have made many memories on Oahu. We couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else.

Wedding Photography: Anna Kim Photography / Wedding Venue: Bayer Estate in Honolulu, Hawaii / Wedding Coordination: Finishing Touch Hawaii / Floral Design: Flowergirls / Caterer: Poke Stop / Wedding Cake + Macaroons: Cake Works Hawaii / Cupcakes: Cake Couture / Linen Rental: Les Saison + La Tavola / Photobooth: BlueCheese Photobooth / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Makeup: Faith & Beauty

I am thoroughly convinced that the entire state of Hawaii possesses some kind of magical wedding power.  One that turns each and every soiree into the most amazing wedding you’ve ever seen.  Or maybe it’s just that the scenery is always breathtaking, the couples are always stunning and the vendors are always delivering the pretty.  And in the case of this gorgeous Oahu wedding captured beautifully by Beloved Photo Boutique, it’s all of the above, plus a floral hair wreath from Flowergirls.  And, well.  You know how we feel about those.  Click here for so much more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

And a breathtaking film from Isle Media to send you off into the weekend…

From Beloved Photo Boutique… I photographed Reiko and Yoshiyuki’s wedding on the island of Oahu at the end of June 2012. The couple is from Japan, and Yoshiyuki, the groom, is an esteemed fashion photographer there. Reiko is a fashion designer. Sugako Johnson from Bliss Bridal was the wedding coordinator for our clients. The couple lives in Tokyo, but Reiko and Yoshiyuki often travel to LA. When Reiko saw the dress at a secondhand store they happened to stop by, she instantly thought it was the perfect dress for their wedding venue, Bayer Estate and bought it. The dress had no tag, so brand name is unknown. Their wedding colors were white and green with accents of lavender. Country, natural and simple was the theme they wanted to achieve.

Wedding Photography: Beloved Photo Boutique / Wedding Venue: The Bayer Estate in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii / Event Planning: Sugako Johnson of Bliss Bridal / Floral Design: Michelle Maeda of Flowergirls / Officiant: Kahu Bruce Ah Leong / Wedding Cinematography: Isle Media / Catering: EAT Honolulu / Bakery: Cakeworks / Specialty Linen + Lounge Rentals: Designs by Hemingway / Accommodations: Kahala Hotel & Resort / Wedding Dress: Vintage / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Groom’s Shirt: J.Crew / Groom’s Pants: Ralph Lauren / Groom’s Shoes: Yuketen

It’s always a welcome day trip when we have a fabulous Hawaiian wedding on the blog, and let me just say, Hawaii brides and grooms are REALLY upping the style ante. Like this Honolulu soiree, weddings from the Islands are coming our way filled with beautiful flowers, blushing brides, and the most amazing beach scenes only Hawaii could bring. Seasons of Life really created something spectacular for What a Day! Photography to capture – a GORGEOUS wedding, perfectly complimenting the sweet couple. Click here for more!

Click here to see the whole soiree in the gallery!

From Seasons of Life … Stephanie and Darren’s journey to the alter started with a fairytale beginning. On a trip from New York to Korea to visit her family, Stephanie and her mother visited a historical palace. What she didn’t know was that Darren secretly flew to Korea and was waiting at the palace to surprise Stephanie with an engagement ring. As if Darren didn’t already earn a zillion romantic bonus points for his trans-continental trek, he also arranged for a photographer to capture the surprise proposal.

Darren grew up in Hawaii but he and Stephanie currently live in New York. They decided an island location would be perfect for their vintage-meets-tropical destination wedding. After choosing a beautiful oceanfront estate for their venue we began working on ways to incorporate vintage and romantic decor along with cultural touches. Their ceremony arbor was decorated with white flowers with strands of crystals and pearls. Guest tables had clusters of mason jar centerpieces, and pictures of the couple at different stages of life added a personal touch to each table. Honoring Stephanie’s Korean culture, a traditional tea ceremony was held during their cocktail hour. To pay respect to Darren’s Japanese heritage, 1001 cranes were hung for good luck. Favors consisted of a Japanese and Korean manju, a sweet bean filled cake.

Their catered dinner featured food stations including local island favorites and a special treat at the end of the night of fresh Portuguese fried doughnuts covered in sugar.

Photographer: What a Day! Photography / Design and Coordination: Seasons of Life Events / Venue: Oceanfront Oasis / Flowers: Easley Designs / Catering: Catering Connection / Linens: Les Saison / Hair and Makeup: Leslie Fair