Love Notes: The Pacific Weddings Blog

Guest Blog: Hawaii Wedding Designer Sandra Williams

Today we welcome one of our Preferred Vendors, Hawaii event designer Sandra Williams of Finishing Touch. Sandra has exquisite taste and a unique sense of style, so we are thrilled to add her to our group of contributors. (Photos by Frank Amodo)

I have been anticipating Junko and Oscarʼs wedding for quite some time, because I knew it would be one of our most beautiful weddings in 2009. Junko first contacted me back in late 2008, and I felt an instant connection with her. We both love fashion and bold, dramatic patterns, and we’re big fans of the t.v. show The Hills. I have to admit, I love working with brides who crave a beautiful wedding—from her gown and hair  accessories to her table linens and flowers—everything had to be absolutely chic. The bride compiled meticulous inspiration boards to plan the day. This can be a great tool to give your vendors, particularly when you’re planning a destination wedding. 

 

Junko was unafraid to use a beautiful espresso brown and white floral silhouette linen to give her table that “wow” factor. A Capri blue table runner and matching napkins balanced the patterned table linen. Pink  dahlias, English garden roses, hydrangea and ranunculus adorned the tables, with seven crystal  chandeliers overhead casting a soft, romantic glow at night.

Guests enjoyed an action station menu featuring fresh local seafood. After a few champagne and sake toasts, the night ended with a surprise salsa performance by the newlyweds, who met at a New York salsa dance class 7 years ago!

Wedding Design & Coordination: Sandra Williams, Finishing Touch
Images: Frank Amodo
Floral: Yvonne Design
Wedding Cake: Cake Lava

Claire Pettibone's 2010 Cherry Blossom Collection

Get ready to channel your inner geisha girl with Claire Pettibone's delicate bridal collection for 2010—the airy fabrics and feather-light details are perfect for a destination wedding. Here is Claire's release:
Taking the exalted Japanese flower, Cherry Blossom, as her muse, designer Claire Pettibone recently unveiled her 2010 couture bridal collection on the runway at Buddakan NYC. In a soft and effervescent palette of snow white, metallic silver and gold with accents of pale pink and Empire Red, “Cherry Blossom 2010” is a luminous vision of purity and exotic innocence.

I love the ultra-feminine details and flirty accents. This collection is inventive and refreshingly unique! And I think the China girl bangs have inspired me to cut my hair.  xo —robyn

Planning Your Hawaii Wedding & Activities

 

If you are planning a destination wedding in Hawaii or you are a local girl considering a wedding away on outer island, you will undoubtedly want to treat your guests to the unique offerings of your destination. I was researching a story in the lush setting of Hanalei, Kauai when I stumbled upon the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau video series, Stories of Hawaii. Take some time out and watch these wonderful portrayals. Not only will they give you a glimpse into the lives of our islanders, but they will also heighten your excitement and anticipation of your Hawaii wedding! Send the links to your family and friends so they can share in the activities that may be part of the itinerary. And don't forget your sweetie--here is our list of Hawaii's Top Ten Honeymoon Adventures for the Groom. xo~robyn

Hawaii-Style Food Stations for Your Wedding

Wedding food stations are so of the moment right now, especially with bona fide foodies who consider the menu to be of utmost importance for the big day. If you are planning a destination wedding in Hawaii, your  menu can include all the delicacies of the Islands, from fresh fish to locally grown vegetables. Today I am posting a few links to some of my favorite stories we've produced with Hawaii's top chefs and caterers. Be forewarned, these images are guaranteed to make you hungry!

We love working with Honolulu chef, Michelle Nakaya, the creative force behind Ginniberries, a top catering company in Hawaii. Not only is Michelle fun to be around, but she can also whip up seriously tasty food! The key at these photo shoots is to work quickly so you can eat the "subjects" after:) I love this cheerful summer cocktail table Michelle created for a previous issue of Pacific Weddings. 

The photos above by Visionari were captured for a story called The Art of the Pupu, featuring Maui's premier chefs: Cameron Lewark, Chef de Cuisine of Spago at the Four Seasons Resort Maui, Bev Gannon of Haliimaile General Store,  award-winning chef James McDonald of Pacific'O, and husband/wife team Carol and Mark O’Leary of O'Leary's Catering. We ate quite well on this particular day!

 

Russell and Karolyn Stokes, owners of Kauai Cuisine, prepared a scrumptious menu for our story Serve Chilled, A Hawaii Reception. A variety of colorful dishes looked magnificent stacked atop large blocks of ice carved by Aloha Ice Sculpting.The image above by Visionari was taken at the shoot  prior to the big meltdown. Keep in mind, ice tends to go quickly on a hot Hawaiian day!

We recently shot a cool series of fun summer libations and after dinner drinks, but you'll have to wait for the Winter 2010 edition of Pacific Weddings to enjoy! In the meantime, if you are still longing for delicious wedding reception ideas, visit the PW website. Bon appetit, or as the local boys say, "Let's grind!" 
xo ~robyn

The New Pacific Weddings Movie Room

Grab your popcorn and spend a little time in our all new Movie Room at the Pacific Weddings website! Still in the beginning stages, the Movie Room will soon become the hub for all things wedding: the most romantic honeymoon spots, fabulous destination wedding sites, live film of couples tying the knot, and a fun look behind-the-scenes of Pacific Weddings' photo shoots. We also introduce Our Crowd, a special group of individuals on The List of Preferred Wedding Vendors. These are the people we trust to help you create the wedding of your dreams in Hawaii, California and the Pacific. If you would like to submit a video for consideration in the Movie Room, email us a link to your clip along with the location of the wedding to mywedding@pacificweddings.com. See you at the movies!  xo ~robyn

(photo by Visionari)

The Perfect Wedding Dress

When it comes to selecting a wedding dress a girl has to dream big, so what better place to seek inspiration than the fashion runways? And with all the buzz preceding this month's bridal market in NYC, I am unusually preoccupied with the latest looks. Here are a few stunning gowns from the catwalk that will take your groom's breath away. I particularly love the short dresses and fabulous details of Elie Saab's designs. Do you have a favorite?  xo~Robyn

(images via style.com)

For the Groom: Destination Wedding Style

Since the groom's attire is sometimes a bit overlooked in the destination wedding plans, I am dedicating a follow-up post with more stylish alternatives to the standard white shirt and khaki pants. And don't forget your little ring bearer--he should also look back with fond memories of the wedding day. Below, Jake is wearing a white shirt and tie by Ralph Lauren dressed up by a beautiful Hawaiian lei. The dimples complete the ensemble, don't you think?

 

Enter J. Crew for classic good looks that will stand the test of time--who wants to look back on their wedding photos and say, "What was I thinking?!". Here are a few light weight selections that you can personalize with a fabulous custom shirt from a haberdashery like Thomas Pink for true elegance.
(photo above by Chrissy Lambert, below courtesy of J. Crew)

J. Crew recently debuted its men's guide by Max Blagg, What a Man Should Know, featuring 50 essential principles (or minor refinements) for the way men live--a hip gift for your groomsmen.

Cassandra Dieterle Designs a Stylish Hawaii Wedding

Today we welcome a guest contributor and talented wedding designer, Cassandra Dieterle, who has been a Pacific Weddings® preferred vendor for many years. Cassandra will be sharing the details of a destination wedding she designed for Bernice Chao and Davison Avery of New York City.

From Cassandra: It came as no surprise that Bernice and Davison were urban New Yorkers. When I first spoke with them and asked them to tell me a few things they loved, they shared their affinity for night life, multi-cultural foods, bright colors, traveling, and--of course--each other. The self-described "city people" wanted to plan a sophisticated beach wedding, and with various family members traveling from around the world, Hawaii was a great central location.

Bernice and Davison were completely at ease with relinquishing control of the overall design to our team at Honolulu Wedding Consultants. To help them decide on a color palette for the event, I directed them individually to the local paint store to select two colors. Ironically, they both returned with red and a blue swatches and this prompted their unique choice of a deep red, rich azure and turquoise blue wedding theme. Unlike many destination brides, Bernice didn't want an overt tropical style for the wedding, so we incorporated a few subtle hints of island ambiance with mini pineapples in the centerpieces and waves of colored sand to decorate the oceanfront setting.

The two were married on May 11, 2009 in a simply elegant ceremony at the Loulu Palm Estate on Oahu's North Shore. Honolulu Wedding Consultants prepared the beautiful flowers for the ceremony and reception, and guests dined al fresco in a clear-top tent at the ocean's edge. Modern lounge furnishings and colorful table linens added to the lighthearted feeling of the wedding, and in the end our NYC couple felt completely at home in the Islands. Aloha,  --Cassie

Cassandra Dieterle is also an accomplished Hawaii wedding photographer. To view her portfolio visit her website and blog.

Destination Wedding Style for the Groom

Here at Pacific Weddings® we edit literally hundreds of photos every week, and I have noticed an emergent trend among destination wedding grooms: khaki pants and a white shirt (Tommy Bahama is the top choice) are quickly becoming the uniform of choice. Here are some fabulous alternatives to give your groom stylish panache (via style.com). Nothing says casual island elegance more than linen. Avoid billowy, pleated linen suits and opt for a slim, modern cut like the one below. The tie will give you an opportunity to "tie in" your wedding color.

Skip the leather flip-flops and go for a lightweight lace-up shoe paired with a summer canvas belt. The off-white Louis Vuitton is my favorite--love the fine stitching--and the grey bucks are fab, too.

Pulling off a white suit is tricky, but according to style.com the key is to "keep it as relaxed and fun as the summer wedding you’re wearing it to is supposed to be." Good advice! Love the loafers sans socks and colorful pocket square that plays off the belt--so chic.

This pale blue  and white whipcord suit (also available in black and white) projects a sophisticated air and an unbelievably low price tag. It bears the subtle seersucker look without the stereotypical Ivy League vibe.

Photos by Ben Watts

A Hawaii Wedding at Palms Cliff House Inn

I am happy to start off a very busy week with a beautiful wedding on Hawaii's Big Island in the peaceful surroundings of The Palms Cliff House Inn. The sleepy town of Hilo, Hawaii is often overlooked by travel writers, but it remains one of my favorite destinations in the Islands. It is here that you will discover the "Old Hawaii" of friendly smiles and a genuine appreciation among residents that you've chosen this idyllic spot for your wedding. Tucked above staggering ocean cliffs, The Palms Cliff House embodies this welcoming aloha spirit that Jeannine Ishi and Thomas Gomez desired for their destination wedding.

The couple escaped with their closest family and friends to exchange vows overlooking the majestic Hamakua coastline. The wonderful thing about Palms Cliff House is that you and your family members can literally take all the rooms on the property (eight total and all with fabulous ocean views!) and relax together in the days preceding the wedding. Isn't the view amazing? Maybe I should skip work this week and hop on a plane to Hilo!

The secluded location and warm hospitality of proprietors, John and Michele Gamble, make Palms Cliff House a magical getaway. Michele will even help you plan the details of your Hawaii wedding. For this event she and Jeannine took a cue from the natural beauty of the Islands, using a palette of sunset orange, tropical green and contrasting black lava bridesmaid dresses with tangerine sashes—an unusual combination that works well with the location. (Photos by Mark Nomura, Honolulu, Hawaii)