Love Notes: The Pacific Weddings Blog

An Engaging Event

We just heard from Morgan Childs at Modern Living Hawaii about a wedding event coming up on Oahu this weekend. She says, "Join us this June 20th and 21st for an exclusive bridal showcase at The Wedding Ring Shop. This event is free for brides to attend and we want to invite you to be a part of An Engaging Event. Please RSVP to 808.945.7766 or nicole@weddingringshop.com to receive your gift bag and are entered to win our Tacori bridal jewelry sweepstakes valued at $1,000. We look forward to seeing you there!"

Guest Blogger: Harmony Walton+Bridal Bar Atlanta

I don’t typically blog about myself, my business, or my personal life, but today allow me the exception as I’m so excited to share the news that The Bridal Bar has just opened the doors to the third store in the group!  Bridal Bar Atlanta is a long awaited project finally complete, packaged and officially up and running. This store and talented group of event professionals is led by the caring hands of a wonderful woman, Rebecca Hansmann, and her creative team.  Brides in the South now have the resources of the best of the best, all under one roof.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, The Bridal Bar gives couples the opportunity to preview, explore, and learn about companies, vendors, locations, and products and services for the big day.  The trip to the store is completely complimentary and we serve up champagne, complimentary bridal magazines, swag, and one-on-one meetings with our experts. The goal is not only to pair brides with the right people for their wedding but to make each one of our guests a bit of an expert themselves by the time they leave.  If you’re in Atlanta, San Diego, or Los Angeles, stop by and say hello!

And for those Southern belles getting ready to walk down the aisle, take a peek at what the Bridal Bar Atlanta looks like from the inside out. [Photography by David Murray Weddings]

Tamara Catz Sample Sale!

Our favorite Maui designer and her eponoymous boutique, Tamara Catz, is having a sample sale tomorrow, June 5! Tamara has expanded her bridal collection to include bridesmaids gowns and accessories. Swing by the shop on Baldwin Avenue in Paia between 9AM and 6PM to score items tagged at below wholesale prices! See you there. xo Shaunna

Tamara Catz Bridal Valentine's Day Sale

Tamara Catz is marking 25% off select wedding gowns starting Friday, February 13, through Sunday, February 15. Check out her eclectic mix of bohemian and modern collections as well as new bridesmaid dresses, sale jewelry, shoes, and more. Chocolate and tea will be served to all! Tamaracatz.com, 83 Hana Highway, Paia

The designer with her family on Maui

Meet Tanna Dang of The Wedding Café

 

Tanna Dang of The Wedding Café is a busy little lady. On top of running the resource center for the brides at Ward Warehouse alongside her husband and hosting exclusive bridal events, she can now add author to her resume. In Wedding Belles: Ideas & Inspiration from Island Brides, Tanna guides soon-to-be brides through the planning process with real-life tales from those that have happily (and successfully) traversed the aisle. Tanna says, "I love weddings! This book is inspired by all of the crazy, silly, romantic, heartfelt and precious stories our brides share with us day in and day out at The Wedding Café." 

For those of you in the area this weekend, the annual Hawaii Bridal Expo will be taking place at Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on January 16th through the 18th. Tanna will be holding a book signing throughout the weekend. Each book purchase at the event comes with a swag bag of special offers from Hawaii wedding vendors. Tickets are $8.00 at the door; directions.

[Expo schedule: Friday: 5:30PM- 10PM, Saturday: 10:30AM- 5PM, Sunday: 10:30AM- 4PM]

Don't miss out on the book signings and free vendor offerings! Tanna will sign books at the following locations and dates. Each book purchase at these events comes with a swag bag of special offers from Hawaii wedding vendors.

 

Monday, January 26, 6PM - 8PM
Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana
(808) 949-7307

Saturday, February 7, noon - 1PM
Borders, Waikele
(808) 676-6699

Saturday, February 7, 3PM - 4PM
Borders, Ward Centre
(808) 591-8995

Saturday, February 14, 1PM - 2PM
Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall
(808) 737-3323

Saturday, February 21, noon - 1PM
Borders, Windward Mall
(808) 235-8803

Designer to Watch: Saja Wedding

It's not unusual for bridal designers to segue into women's wear. Both Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier have successfully crossed over with well-received Fall and Spring Collections, all the while maintaining their coveted bridal designer credentials. Saja designer Yoo Lee has moved in the opposite trajectory, first making a name for herself in contemporary women's fashion and recently launching her bridal collection, Saja Wedding. Yoo initially caught the attention of the fashion world as the chosen designer of 350 competing labels to grace the Henri Bendel New York window display, a high-profile position. Her collections are marked by a soft femininity paired with a modern sensibility that is fitting considering New York City is the designer's muse. You'll find Saja's flagship store along "boutique row" on Elizabeth Street in one of NYC's most charming and fashion-forward neighborhoods, Nolita.

So what can you expect from Saja Wedding? Soft, ethereal fabrics, minimal embellishments and simple, elegant silhouettes, at an extremely affordable price point. Saja Wedding is having their first ever Bridal Trunk Show at the New York City Flagship boutique on January 27th. You can inquire about styles and fittings at Saja's boutique by email (sajanyc@sajainc.com), phone (212-226-7570) or visit them at 250 Elizabeth Street North.

 

Look out for her fresh, flirty take on bridesmaids dresses, too!

A White Wedding (tv) Season

With the increase in weddings every year, it is tricky to nail down a single hot month for your nuptials. Every season presents its set of assets and challenges in the planning process from flower availability to weather-appropriate attire. I know that many of you are now planning winter weddings-- seemingly dressed in white to match the outdoors. Apparently, The Style Network is joining you this season with their Winter Wedding Wonderland lineup of shows airing in December! A full two weeks of all-things-wedding kicks off Saturday, December 6, and features three brand new specials and new installments of Style's "Whose Wedding is it Anyway". So, what are we looking forward to, you ask?

"Fat Free Fiancés" (Saturday, December 6 @ 9:00PM) because we love a good fitness competition! Style will take a couple on a 90-day fat burning mission to lose weight before they walk down the aisle. The weight lose team actually takes over their homes to create a no-excuses environment! If the couple meets their weight loss goals, they will win incredible personalized rewards for their own wedding day...

"The Art of Cakes 2: A Martha Stewart Wedding Special" (Tuesday, December 16 @ 9:00PM) because creating a cake that perfectly expresses your sense of style can be a challenge-- a fun one at best! And we love Miss Sylvia Weinstock. The experts at Martha Stewart Weddings show Style viewers the latest trends in cake design, including a cake modeled after a bride's own wedding dress, to a floral masterpiece and even a Moroccan fantasy Lantern cake.  Famous cake designers such as Sylvia Weinstock and Ron Ben Israel will also be featured.

"Gorgeous and Green: A Martha Stewart Wedding" (Saturday, December 20 @ 9:00 PM) because "green" is the new black. Style will follow Martha's assistant who is getting married in Nashville, Tennessee and set out to make her gorgeous wedding as green as possible. Darcy Miller takes the lead as planner and helps the happy couple prepare for the big day incorporating green elements such as using delicious organic items from the garden for their dinner ingredients, to finding unique and beautiful ways to decorate for the reception with recycled and natural products.

Happy planning, ladies!

Get Married on Lifetime

I just met the lovely Harmony Walton of Bridal Bar and Getmarried.com. We sat down to chat about the latest fashion trends, exotic wedding locations and destination wedding tips in front of the camera for a segment on getmarried.com (to air in January '09). Check out their extensive coverage of the bridal market here. Thanks, Harmony, it was fun!

do I look nervous?!

Kahala Resort's Wedding Event, Honolulu

Mark your calendars, Oahu brides… We just received word of the upcoming Kahala Wedding Showcase, and you're invited! The luxurious resort hosts this annual event, and next month they can't wait to show off their newly renovated ballrooms and guest rooms. You'll also have a chance to meet their exclusive Partnered Companies and Romance Specialists (every girl's dream assistant when it comes to her wedding!). Kahala has always been on our list of Hot Spots as one of the most exclusive wedding venues, offering a stunning beachfront setting and world class service. This is one event you won't want to miss—you will have a chance to win some fabulous prizes including an entire wedding package!

Friday, October 24, 2008,  5:30pm - 9:30pm
Ballrooms, Ceremony Sites and Guest Rooms

To register for The Kahala Wedding Showcase, call 808.739.8715 or fill out the online form.

Just a few details on the event:

At The Kahala Hotel & Resort Bridal Showcase, couples can tour different ceremony and reception sites located throughout the property and meet hotel vendors and staff for valuable insight into every essential element of organizing a dream wedding. The Kahala's catering department will assist with availability and scheduling for the wedding day. Attend and enter into a drawing to win valuable prizes, such as a complimentary Marquise wedding ceremony package (valued at $4200), a two-night stay in a partial ocean room, and restaurant and spa gift certificates. WHEN: Friday, October 24, 2008 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Individual wedding sites will feature complete ceremony set up with floral arrangements, chairs, and aisles; banquet set-ups; pastry chef station and vendors that are key to the overall success of a dream wedding such as photographers, musicians, videographers, ministers, wedding planners, and hair/make-up artists.

Philip Rickard Honolulu's Opening Party

Philip Rickard Honolulu is synonymous with fine jewelry in Hawai‘i. As one of the leading craftsmen of gold heirloom pieces in the islands for over 25 years, Rickard has remained true to his original designs fit for royalty. The wedding collections are elegant and understated. Philip Rickard Honolulu will open another outpost in Ala Moana this week with a party to kick things off. The grand opening celebration begins at 4:30PM tomorrow with a Hawaiian blessing and live music to follow!