Love Notes

Beach Essentials

Summer is upon us and we've beachcombed the shelves to find the perfect essentials for a day at the shore. If you're planning your holiday trip you will want to look breezily chic without breaking a sweat. Easy, right? Letarte Swimwear offers the ultimate glam bikinis that put function just as high as style. We trust designer Lisa Letarte Cabrinha, a former pro windsurfer, who puts her wears to the test at her home in Maui. Since you will be covered from the sun, apply Fresh's High Noon Freshface Glow, a sheer easy-to-blend liquid bronzer packed with powerful antioxidants. Just one shade fits all skin tones so it’s impossible to go wrong. Don a classic two-tone straw hat; forever 21 has a cute selection. Glamorous, big shades are a necessity. The Skyla shades by Oliver Peoples are pictured above. Their luxury eyewear features Ivory Shell with Spice Brown Gradient in a flattering upswept shape. Was there life before the Havaiana sandal hit the marketplace? The Chico Flip Flop is fun and exotic. Visit Free People for a great assortment of flats. xo Shaunna

Reception Entertainment : Hula

Hula is a captivating dance, famously said to be the heartbeat of Hawai‘i, as it speaks the language of the heart. As a visitor to the islands, you will leave changed forever once you begin to comprehend the depth of the Hawaiian culture. The modern day wedding gives the ancient Hawaiian hula a contemporary stage upon which to perform. Those of you that have watched the graceful and swift movements of the hula know how thrilling the performance is— a true cause for celebration.

In the days leading up to your wedding in Hawaii, a loose itinerary for your guests will give them a chance to intermingle and get a feel for the islands. Brides are always looking for a special way to spend the day with their maids, beyond spa treatments and sun-bathing! We love the idea of getting your girlfriends together for a hula lesson. Sarah Chang, owner of Wanna Hula in Honolulu offers individual and group lessons, performances, and audience participation lessons, always entertaining!

For the bold ones, consider the Ku‘uipo (sweetheart) package, in which Sarah will teach you to dance the hula at your wedding to surprise your husband and thank your loved ones! Otherwise the ladies in the bridal party can enjoy a day of dancing under the sun for your eyes only. xo Shaunna

 

A Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Planning a wedding away may seem intimidating at first glance, especially for those of us who are more than a little concerned with the details. Allow us to introduce Tammy Perkins, author of The Best of Hawaii Wedding Book, and quite possibly your new best friend! Based on the island of Maui, Tammy heads the coordination firm, First Class Weddings, and has literally planned hundreds of beautiful events in Hawaii. When she was approached by a publisher to share her expertise and advice, she graciously agreed. The book is loaded with inside tips and a local perspective that is invaluable when planning from afar, with commentary on all things Hawaii including reception sites, caterers, photographers and travel accommodations. This little book will give you the confidence to make good decisions about one of the most important days of your lives. In fact, once you have read it you may just decide that Tammy is the perfect one to manage this momentous occasion personally.

Maui No Ka Oi: The Best!

The results are in and Maui is once again named the "golden child" of idyllic retreats. Having had the privilege of living here for 18 years, it doesn't surprise me. There is so much more to the island of Maui than the amazing white beaches and tropical allure—it is the people and their culture that make this place truly unforgettable. I could go on, but I will save that for another day!

Today is a day of congratulations to all the people who have made it possible for the prestigious media accolades. Each year Condé Nast Traveler publishes its "Gold List - World's Best Places To Stay" and the new list recently appeared in the January 2008 issue. Not surprisingly, Four Seasons Resorts Hawai`i claimed the top four spots in Hawai`i in this year's list. Led by Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, which was named the top-scoring property in the United States, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka`upulehu, Four Seasons Resort Lana`i, The Lodge at Koele and Four Seasons Resort Lana`i at Manele Bay followed as Hawai`i's top resorts (check out the new White Issue for our stunning feature on the Lana`i properties).

Maui also took the lead in Orbitz’s "Top 10 List of U.S. Winter Beach Destinations" (based on bookings from 2005-2008):

1. Maui, Hawaii (but, of course!)
2. Daytona Beach, Fla. (hmmm?)
3. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (another great selection!)
4. Key West, Fla.(beautiful and there is the Hemingway draw)
5. San Diego, Calif. (nice!)
6. Charleston, S.C.
7. Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Fla.
8. Sarasota, Fla.
9. Santa Monica, Calif.
10. Fort Myers, Fla.

I would add the islands of Kaua'i and O'ahu, as both have incredible white sand beaches and offer much more romantic surroundings than any of the Florida locations mentioned. We've visited many of the top spots for destination weddings, so please post your questions and we'll get back to you! Aloha~

[The image pictured above is The Lodge at Koele by Christiaan Phleger]

Uncommon Thread

We have all heard stories of the disastrous bridesmaid dress... enter NY stylist, Beth Blake. When she was faced with her first fashion dilemma and unable to find a suitable bridesmaid's dress for her sister's wedding, Beth and her friend Sophie did what any enterprising fashionata would do—they designed their own beautiful frocks for the occasion, and THREAD was born.

Beth knows a thing or two about design. She was a fashion editor at Vogue for three years prior to her work as a freelance stylist for Vanity Fair and INSTYLE. Working with designers like Versace, Narciso Rodriguez and Ralph Lauren certainly had a positive career influence. So, your bridesmaids will be forever grateful should you select a dress from the THREAD collection. We are particularly fond of Sarah—the striped chiffon ruching at the waist will flatter any figure, and the design is perfect for a destination wedding. The Scarlett bridal gown should also be added to your list of possibilities for a wedding away. And by the way, where do we find that adorable shirt the bicyclist is wearing?
Image by THREAD

Traveling Light, part II

Shaunna offered a quick addition to my last post on finding the perfect carry-on for your wedding trip. I agree that Elle magazine's recent list of first-class accessories bears repeating. For the traditionalist, they suggest the LV monogram cruiser bag--we love the boxy shape. For the collector, nothing but Gucci will do. Their white canvas duffel with the classic G logo in navy blue is our choice for a sporty girl with great taste. Shaunna's favorite is a (sassy red!) patent leather Marc by Marc Jacobs suitcase that you won't miss on the conveyor—but then again, who wants to part with something so precious? Checking this bag would be a (fashion) crime.

Traveling Light

A destination wedding is the perfect excuse to indulge in at least one new piece of adorable luggage. Check out Anthropologie's Here a Crab, There a Crab Weekend Wheelie. If you are headed to a seaside setting, it's the perfect carry-on. While you're at it, take a look at their online Travel Guide Book for tips on what to pack for tropical chic style on your honeymoon. If nothing else, you'll be temporarily transported to an exotic local like Costa Rica or Santorini.

Bon Voyage!

Hot Spots: A Destination Wedding in Fiji

According to recent studies, the destination wedding trend has grown over 400% in the past ten years. If you are considering tying the knot in a faraway place, we have the lowdown on all the hot spots in the Pacific, and one of my favorite destinations is the gorgeous Royal Davui in Fiji. This exclusive island retreat offers complete seclusion and arguably the most romantic honeymoon accommodations in the world. Did I mention the huge Jacuzzi spa? With the simple press of a button your roof opens to reveal a canopy of countless stars in the Fijian skies …sigh.

If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to disconnect from a hectic world. Your Vale (vah-le is the Fijian word for home), or villa, is just one of 16 nestled into the tropical cliffs—the resort is literally without neighbors on the tiny island. A mesmerizing view of the reef and lagoon from your private terrace is captivating. Spend the day lazing in your private plunge pool, there is one in each and every Vale.

I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the cuisine. The chefs at the Royal Davui prepare the most delicious fare you may experience in Fiji. Matched with an exceptional wine list, the meals— like everything else at the Royal Davui—are a perfect blend of traditional Fijian culture with modern luxury.

If you opted for a destination wedding or are in the planning stages now, please share your ideas or questions--we'd love your feedback!

Pacific Weddings™ on Your iPhone

While you may have considered Pacific WEDDINGS the coolest wedding magazine on the planet, we will soon reach a whole new level of "hip". Life just got even better for those of you who refused to live another day without the iPhone (we're only human, right?!). Coming soon, you can peruse the latest issue of Pacific WEDDINGS in the heavenly realm of your iPhone. It's super easy--no scary downloads--an iPhone portal gives you "One-Click" access to the magazine, where you can browse through all the pages as thumbnails, check out the table of contents, search for whatever you like, and share pages (Send to a Friend) by tapping lightly on your iPhone keypad. Where would we be without Apple... and Pacific WEDDINGS!?