4 Ways to Design Your Wedding Save the Dates & Invitations

Wedding stationery is a wonderful way for you to share important information with your guests, that is also thoughtfully designed to reflect the theme of your big day! As there are many different options to create your wedding stationary we wanted to highlight four of these choices to help you decide which way works best for you! Though there are many items in wedding stationery (menus, programs, name cards, etc.) for this post we are specifically going to focus on creating Save the Dates & Invitations. However, you may be able to use some of these options for the other areas of your wedding that will require stationery! Before we get into the different options of designing your Save the Dates & Invitations let’s go through the purpose of each one and what makes them different!

Save the Dates 

When are they sent?

• Ideally, the sooner the better to give guests time to plan travel arrangements

What information do they share?  

• Names of the people tying the knot (you & your other half!)

• The date of the big day

• The location of the wedding (if you’re not sure of the venue yet, include at least the name of the city)

• Wedding registry or website

What’s their purpose?

• To notify their guests asap that there will be a wedding! These notices are especially helpful for couples who are having destination weddings, as this may require their guests to take time off, and to plan flight and accommodations for their big day. 

Invitations

When are they sent?

• Ideally, we recommend invitations to be sent out 3-4 months before the date of the wedding.

What information do they share?

• All of the information mentioned previously on the save the date

• The time of the wedding 

• The address of the venue

• They can be sent with an RSVP card, however many couples are opting to have guests RSVP by their website or phone

What’s their purpose?

• To formally invite guests to the wedding and provide them with all of the information needed to attend. Most importantly for the couple is to have their guests RSVP so they can confirm what their actual guest count will be. 

Though they are different, these two stationary items have one important thing in common and that is that they’re generally both sent to the same people! This means that prior to sending out your save the dates you want to have determined all of the names on your guest list. With your guest list set, now it’s time to create your wedding stationery!

Below are just four ways that you can design your save the dates & invitations! 

One: DIY Digitally!

Creating your own digital save the dates and invitations are great for couples who have a specific vision of what they want on their wedding stationery. This option allows you to have creative freedom and would make it very convenient to share your save the dates & invitations digitally through text, email, facebook, instagram, whatsapp, and etc.! For creating digital save the dates & invitations couples can use applications such as Canva and even Microsoft Powerpoint. 

Two: Get Crafty!

For a bride & groom who want to create their own wedding stationery by hand, DIY save the dates & invitations add a special personal touch! Creating the stationary together can be a fun way to bond as fiances’ but as they can take a lot of time and effort we recommend this option for couples who have the flexibility to add 1-2 months to completing this task and have less than 100 guests. You can find the items and tools to create your own wedding stationery from places such as Ben Franklin Crafts, Amazon, and many local craft stores!

Three: Select a Template!

With so many websites to choose from, you can select a template that perfectly represents you and your other half! These save the date and invitation templates can be slightly customized by changing all of the information and sometimes the color of the theme. Selecting a template as well as placing an order for their stationery is something that couples could most likely do in a day, making this an excellent option for couples who need their stationery done quickly. A few websites that you can use to order your own wedding stationery are Shutterfly, Minted, Costco Photo Center, and Zazzle! 

Four: Purchase!

For the couple that wants to have the DIY feel to their wedding stationery without doing the Y part of DIY, purchasing save the dates & invitations that are handcrafted by others is an option that would achieve the best of both worlds! Finding a local calligraphy artist or ordering through Etsy are fantastic options to get the handmade feel without spending too much of your time or efforts creating it, and also supports small businesses! 

These are just 4 ways to design your save the dates & invitations to fit the theme of your wedding and to be completed in your ideal timeframe. We hope these options help you in creating your ideal wedding stationery!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

3 Ways to Stay in Control of Your Wedding Budget

Photography: Shaneika Aguilar | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

As wedding coordinators our goal is to be able to offer every couple a peace of mind through planning and organization! We know that for many couples to have their wedding day truly be the best day of their lives, this day needs to stay within a certain budget! So knowing how important budgeting is to our couples we’ve created a few videos dedicated to sharing advice all about wedding budgeting! This blog will cover our tips on how to stay in control of your wedding budget but as the information in this blog will build off of the advice we shared in our two previous blogs and videos, we highly recommend you check them out first! 

1. Top 5 Decisions That Will Affect Your Budget

2. How to Create Your Ideal Wedding Budget in 3 Steps

Now that you know the decisions that will affect your wedding budget as well as how to create your ideal wedding budget we can focus in on how you can stay in control of your budget!

One: Look at vendor pricing prior to booking the vendor

Photography: Michele C Photo | Florist: Always Flowers 808

As vendors will make up a large portion of your budget it’s important to review the prices of your desired vendors prior to signing a contract. This will ensure that your budget is not increasing based off of the prices of the vendors but that the prices of the vendors will fit into your budget. For the vendors that post their pricing on their website, you can see if their pricing will fit into the pricing that you allotted when creating your budget. However, if your desired vendor does not post their pricing we recommend that you create a list of the items/services you’re hoping to receive from the vendor and inquire with them to see if it’s possible to get a quote that works with your budget.  

For example, if you’d like to see if a florist is within your budget create a list with your desired florals (ie. Bridal bouquet, 2 bouquets, 3 boutonnieres, 5 centerpieces, 1 arch arrangement, etc.) and let them know what your budget is, then see if they can work within it. We recommend giving an amount that’s less than your maximum budget so that if you love something you’ll be able to have some wiggle room to include it rather than have it exceed your maximum budget. If they can provide it great, schedule a consultation! But if not, it's okay! Keep looking, there are a lot of really great options for vendors within the Hawaii wedding community and we’d also be happy to assist with you finding a vendor! 

Two: Secure your vendors in order of priority 

After creating your wedding budget you should now have a list of vendors in order of your highest priority to lowest. With this order begin looking for your vendors and securing them one by one down the list so that if shifts in your budget are necessary they will shift to the highest priority so that your overall budget won't increase but the allotments for the various vendors or items will change. By having your vendors prioritized you will ensure that you’re allocating the money to your next priority and not spending time and money on an area that is not high on your priority list. 

Photography: EMBR Photo | Venue: Kahala Hotel | Florist: Su-V Expressions | Officiant: James Chun

For example, if photography is your highest priority and you found a vendor that you really want to be your photographer but they are $100 over your allocated budget, you can make the decision to take the $100 out of a different category that you may not be as high of a priority and this will allow you to stay within your overall budget yet get the vendor you want! Shifting your money by vendor priority will allow you to stay within your budget yet still put attention towards the area of your wedding you are most invested in. 

Three: Establish budget and spending boundaries 

We’ve mentioned it in a few of our previous blogs but only spending gifted money when you receive it is so important to helping you stay in control of your budget! By spending money that you didn’t yet receive from a family member or friend who said that they would lend it to you, you’re risking using money that you currently don’t physically have and if that family member or friend is no longer able to pay for that cost you would have spent an additional amount of money on something you were originally not planning to have to allocate funds towards. Another way to stay in control of your budget is by setting the boundary of who will be able to dictate what will be included in your wedding. If your parents ask for additional guests to be included or for a specific vendor to be at the wedding will you adjust your budget to include it? If there’s a chance that other people will have the ability to affect your budget we highly recommend that you chat with them prior to creating your wedding planning budget but to also continue to have an open conversation with them so you’re able to stay in control of your budget!

We hope these tips will help you with staying in control of your wedding budget so that you will be able to have a wedding planning process as peaceful and stress-free as possible!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

5 Important Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

Guest Blog by Diana Moore from Hawaii Vista Weddings

Whether you're planning a small intimate wedding or a large one, it's always good to have a wedding planner to help you enjoy your wedding and keep it as stress free as possible. Here are 5 important reasons you should hire a wedding planner.

When we first opened up, I didn’t realize the importance of having a wedding planner. Couples who were trying to stay on a budget and keep their wedding to the minimal discount by not having a wedding planner were stunned and overwhelmed on their wedding day. As a venue owner, we tried to help as much as we could but it was never enough. Flowers weren’t delivered, catering came late or sat cold, photographers showed up on the wrong date, guests stood around wondering what to do next, and the list goes on.  Couples forget that this is not like hosting a party where you will be out helping and catering to your guests. Usually, the couple is sequestered from guests and taking pictures until the start of the ceremony, leaving guests to figure things out on their own. As much as your Mom or sister say they want to help, most of the time, they really would like to  just show up and enjoy your day with you.

1. Keeping your wedding as stress free as possible

 The most important reason to hire a wedding planner is to keep your wedding as stress free as possible. Wedding planners have a lot of experience in wedding planning. They know the ins and outs of coordinating your special day and  have a vast bank of resources to call on .They'll know what to expect and what to avoid and they can give you unbiased and constructive feedback. First off, make a list of what you want before you start calling wedding planners. That way, your wedding planner will be able to help you better if you know the basics of what you need.Your wedding planner will be on top of everything  so the planning process will be less stressful and you'll have more time to celebrate your marriage. You can leave the  stressful details to your wedding planner so you can take care of the things only you can control. Like being on time, and getting yourselves ready. Or what you can’t control. Like checking on the weather  and making  final rain call decisions.You have to remember that your marriage is unique, and so are wedding planners.  So you should hire a planner who will create an individualized experience for you.

2. Hiring a wedding planner can help you keep on a budget

If you're a DIY bride, you're going to have to deal with the hassle and confusion of finding the perfect vendors for your special day. A wedding planner is in constant contact with other vendors and suppliers, which means that they are aware of special discounts and sales. These savings are passed on to their clients. Sometimes, they  have connections with vendors, so they can recommend the best options. That's invaluable information for a bride and groom. Vendors will sometimes give wedding planners a discount since they are being referred to for many weddings. This partnership is beneficial to everyone. Please watch the video below to help you with your budget.

3. Hiring a wedding planner will save you time

A wedding planner's knowledge of vendors can save you time. They already know who are “good” vendors and who are not.  For example, it can be quite overwhelming to google wedding photographers. It can take you hours and hours to research every photographer. There are so many ,and going with the cheapest  or most expensive is not always the best  decision. There may be a florist, cake, or hair and make up artist that you saw and love on instagram. However, you don’t know if they are professional and will be there for you on your wedding day. Referrals are usually great from friends or family but they may not be the right fit for you. For example, their videographer likes dark and dreamy but you want light and airy. Or their hair and make up does a dramatic look but you prefer a more natural look. A planner is a knowledgeable expert in what to expect at a wedding and can recommend a vendor with whom you'll be satisfied. She or he will talk to you about what your vision is and find the right vendor for you. A wedding planner will handle all of these things on your behalf and ensure a smooth event. 

4. Hiring a wedding planner is like having a best friend there for you

A Perfect Day Hawaii

A wedding planner is like having  your best friend on the day of your wedding. He/she has been with you from the start and probably has gotten to know you pretty well. Save the relationships with your friends and family to  just talk about the exciting parts of your wedding. Asking your friends and family to help you find venues or vendors can be overwhelming for them. It can cause a lot of stress for them which can strain a relationship. Wedding planners will help you choose the right flowers, hair and makeup, a photographer with your style of choice, an officiant that is right for you, a videographer with your vision, a cake ,and so much more. Your wedding planner is who will help you to do things like picking up your flowers and having them ready for you in the bridal suite. They will order the food and pick it up for you so it is ready and waiting for you. If you're unsure about where to buy a certain item, your planner can assist you.  They may not know everything you need, but a good one will definitely try to help. Asking your friends and family to pick everything up and set it up for you can be a nightmare. The last thing you want while you are getting your hair and make up done is a bunch of calls from friends asking you about everything and telling you what’s going wrong.Of course all wedding planners have different duties that they do or don’t do so don’t hesitate to ask.

5. Hiring a wedding planner helps you to enjoy your day

Your wedding day is an important day for you and your partner. You should be able to relax and enjoy the day. The wedding planner will handle all of the details of your wedding and will make sure everything runs smoothly. Moreover, she or he will keep you organized. You will be able to enjoy your special day to the fullest knowing that everything is taken care of. The day will be memorable, and a successful wedding will be remembered for the rest of your life.

Hiring a wedding planner can help you plan a dream wedding without stressing.  From beginning to end, you will have someone there for you to  keep costs down, find vendors that are right for you, save you a lot of stress and time and be your friend.  There will always be things that don’t work out. Even with a wedding planner. However, having one will greatly reduce them for this very important day!

Do Wedding Planners Save You Money?

You’ve asked, so we want to answer! We believe that a Wedding Planner can, BUT it will depend highly on your priorities, who you hire, and what you consider as “saving money”. Let us explain!

PC: Visionari Photography

YOUR PRIORITIES

If saving money is your #1 priority, you CAN save a lot of money, but you might not get quality. Is that okay with you? If so, make sure to let your planner know! The reason you may not get quality is because discounting rates (under “normal”/non-Covid circumstances) isn’t usually something quality vendors need to do. That being said, there are a number of companies that may still be GREAT but offer discounted rates for couples who hire preferred Planners because we make their jobs easier. If your number one priority is to save money (and your Planner is aware of it), they will recommend a vendor who will give a discount over another who may cost the same (or less) just because you want to see a discount.

WHO YOU HIRE

Which Planner you hire can also make a difference in the amount of savings you may receive. Often Planners who have been around longer may have more “connections” or have built more relationships that would benefit their clients. This is another example of the value “experience” can offer clients in our industry!

PC: Mike Pham Photography

CREATIVE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY

We strongly believe one the best ways to creatively save our clients money is by creating and executing an efficient and realistic wedding day timeline. Since you pay your photographer and videographer likely by the hour, by making the best use of your time on your wedding day, we save our clients hundreds if not thousands of dollars not waiting around or misusing their time. By saving money this way, you can still get the quality vendor and save money! This is not to say that the “right” vendor for you may also offer a discount, but rather than solely basing your decision on getting a “discount”, we like this option!

INSIDER TIP

WE offer discounts to our clients based on what venue you choose to have your wedding at! We do this because if you choose to get married at a venue we work at frequently, we have great relationships with all of their staff which makes our job easier! Feel free to ask us which venues this applies to!

Happy Planning!

CONGRATULATIONS CAITLIN & CHRIS <3

Photography: VIVIDfotos

In early June of 2021 Caitlin & Chris tied the knot at the gorgeous Four Seasons Resort in Ko’Olina located on the West side of the island of Oahu. As the sun set on their wedding day we couldn’t help but be reminded of the journey they took to get to this day and were so thrilled they could finally celebrate their big day! Their wedding was originally scheduled to be at the end of June 2020 but as we all know how 2020 went, after changing their wedding date to March 2021 and then May 2021 they were finally able to walk down the aisle in June 2021!

Photography: VIVIDfotos

Though their wedding was in the afternoon on that Friday morning we were with them at 9:30am to start their day! The hair & makeup artists from Faith & Beauty began working their magic on Caitlin & her bridesmaids.

During this time we like to double check that the Bride has everything that is needed for the detailed photos, such as invitations, jewelry, shoes, and especially the rings. We also check and begin to move down any items that should be at the reception area. These items are typically the welcome sign, card box, registration table items, and favors. The favors for their wedding were SO CUTE as they were cookie versions of Catlin & Chris’s corgi, Cheddar!

While the bridal party got ready, the flowers from Flower Girls and the photographers & videographers from VIVIDfotos also arrived. The bridal suite was now bustling with excitement as the wedding was now just hours away! At 12:30pm Caitlin was all dressed and looked stunning in her beautiful gown holding her cascading bouquet of stunning large white orchids. And now it was time for the first look! 

There’s just something magical about the first time a bride & groom see each other! Caitlin & Chris also took this time to read personal letters to each other and took a few photos on the stunning staircase in the lobby of the resort. 

More photos were captured at the lawn area with the bridal party and with Chedder of course! Then it was the moment they’ve been waiting for, time to get married!

Photography: VIVIDfotos

Caitlin & Chris had a lovely ceremony full of laughs, tears, and smiles and then finally AFTER A YEAR LATER from what they originally planned, they were pronounced husband and wife!

Following the ceremony the couple had their grand entrance, first dance, father daughter dance, cut their wedding cake (announced and entertained by Bliss DJ’s) and they thanked all of their guests for being there. All of this while their guests were treated to a beautifully designed and executed reception by the top notch team of The Wedding Linen Company & Flowergirls.

As dinner began for their guests, Caitlin & Chris were able to slip away to take stunning sunset photos! Designed with Aloha provided the sign that said LOVE and wow we just LOVE how those photos of the newlyweds came out! 

The rest of the night was filled with heartfelt speeches by members of their bridal party, a few games, and a mighty banzai toast wishing the couple a thousand years of good health & happiness.

We are so happy that Caitlin & Chris were finally able to get the beautiful wedding day they deserve! We wish them a long and happy marriage! BANZAI! 

Videography: VIVIDfotos

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

• A Perfect Day Hawaii, Wedding Planner, Hawaii Wedding Planner, Hawaii Weddings www.APerfectDayHawaii.com 

How to Create Your Ideal Wedding Budget in 3 Steps

Venue: Kahala Resort | Photography: Bianca Photography

Since we were young, many of us have dreamed of what our ideal wedding will look like and feel like! We think about the attire we are going to wear, the food we are going to eat, and of course picture our perfect person dancing the night away with us! One thing we don’t typically dream about is how much everything is going to cost! Though it may not be the most glamorous thing to think about, if you are having a wedding that is on a budget it is very important to create that budget before you begin booking vendors and buying items for your big day. Before creating your budget you’ll want to check out our video and blog post covering the top 5 decisions that will affect your wedding budget! 

Now that you know what decisions will affect your total wedding costs you are ready to create your custom budget! As we want every couple to have their dream wedding without having to live in debt during their marriage, we are sharing how you can create your ideal wedding budget in three steps!

Some things to consider before creating your budget

• If you start hiring vendors or buying items before you determine your budget, you will be allowing the vendors and your purchases to dictate the amount of money you will be spending on your wedding. By creating your budget prior to booking vendors and making purchases you will remain as the one in control of your wedding costs.

• Always communicate with each other! As monetary issues are known to be a major stressor in many marriages, ensuring that you’re both transparent about the wedding expenses and communicate openly about the costs will hopefully decrease the chance of an argument pertaining to your wedding budget.

• Select a dollar amount that’s comfortable to you so that you won’t have to spend the days leading up to your wedding eating only instant ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No one attending your wedding would want you to struggle in order for you to get them a fancy favor, so make sure you decide on a budget amount that is for you and not what you think it should be for others.

• Gratuities for your vendors can add up so we highly recommend including this amount in your overall budget so that you don’t get stuck in a position where tipping a vendor affects another area of your budget OR you’re not able to provide the gratuity that you want to give.

Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings | Photography: Michele C Photo | Florals: Always Flowers 808

• Having a section that’s 10% of your budget dedicated to “incidentals” will allow you with a cushion to take care of costs that arise or ones that you may not think of. An example of this type of expense is postage for your Save the Dates, Invitations, and RSVP cards. Having an area dedicated to these often overlooked costs will add some much needed wiggle room to your budget.

• Your headcount will play one of the biggest factors in your wedding as typically when the number of your guests increase so does the number on your budget! Prior to creating your budget it’ll be very helpful to know the maximum size of your guest count.

• Only plan off of funds that you actually have. We’ve seen many instances where family/friends will tell the bride & groom that they’ll pay for something but later no longer be able to pay for it. As these couples now need to decide if the vendor/item is something that they have to remove from their wedding or if they’ll have to expand their budget to cover the cost, ensuring that you’re only allocating the money that you have will help you to avoid this stressful situation. One way to organize these funds is by creating an account that holds the money strictly dedicated for your wedding so you can clearly see the dollar amount that you shouldn’t exceed. 

Photography: Kai Photo

Alright, now with all of the above in mind it’s time to create your ideal wedding budget! So grab that paper and pencil OR your laptop and open that excel sheet, as we get into creating this budget!

Step One: List all of the various vendors and items you will need to hire or purchase for your wedding

For now, don’t focus on putting this list in a specific order yet, the current focus is to just list everything that you will need to allocate money towards.

If you’re not sure where to start, below is a list of the most commonly hired vendors, but of course don’t feel limited to just these vendors!

List of Commonly Hired Vendors 

• Favors

• Beauty

• Caterer

• Attire

• Transportation

• Photo Booth

• Decor

• Rentals

• Invitations

• Officiant

• Ceremony Venue

• Reception Venue

• Photographer

• Videographer

• Florist

• Ceremony Music

• Reception Music

• DJ

• MC

• Wedding Cake

Step Two: Prioritize your list so the vendors and items are listed in order of most important to least important

Now that you’ve got your list it’s time to organize it! If you need tips on prioritizing these items check out our blog post on creating your wedding priorities list. If you and your other half are not able to agree on the vendor or item that should be the number one priority on your list, determine which one is the highest priority for each of you and keep in mind that a good portion of the budget will go to these two areas.

Step Three: Break apart your budget to assign a dollar amount to each vendor or item

Regardless of what type of vendor or item is at the top of your list, it’s important to make sure that the preceding vendor or item must have more money allocated than the next. The dollar amount that you choose to assign should be the maximum amount that you feel comfortable spending on that specific vendor or item.

With each vendor or item now having an amount attached to it, you should be able to see an estimated total of what your wedding may cost!

 We hope that these three steps helped you create your ideal wedding budget! But we’re not done talking about budgets yet! Stay tuned for a future blog post that will show you how to use this information to stay in control of your budget at all times!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

3 Reasons Why Hiring a Wedding Videographer Should Be a Top Priority

Guest blog by Agalia Films

Hiring a wedding videographer is an essential part of your big day, so it's important to make sure you find the right one. The wedding day is an emotional time, so it's important to make sure that you capture it on film. It's impossible to capture every moment, including the tears of your mother-in-law as she says "I do" - but a wedding videographer will have them all. You'll have the entire day captured, and it will give you a more complete picture than you would otherwise have.

Kauai Outdoor Wedding Captured by Videographer Amber

Regardless of your budget, a video will provide the best possible documentation of your special day. Wedding videographers have different styles, so you'll want to select one that suits your taste and budget. Most wedding videographers will offer both types of films, but you should make sure that the one you hire offers a mix of both. For example, if you'd prefer your video to feature only the most memorable moments, you can choose a package that includes a teaser film. You can even ask the videographer to add it on to your package.

If you're unsure of how much budget you're comfortable spending, you can always hire someone who works with your budget. While it's true that the longer a wedding video is, the more money you'll have to spend, the more quality you'll get in return. You should be able to tell which videographer's work you like from their portfolio before making a final decision.

You'll never regret your decision. Whether you're looking for a trailer-length film or an extended wedding film, there's no better time to select your ideal video. After all, a beautiful photograph will last a lifetime and a great video will forever be a treasured keepsake. But what about the audio? Do you want your wedding video to be an ode to your special day? A video is a timeless piece of art and should be as special as the photos.

Haiku Gardens Wedding

Another reason to hire a wedding videographer is because they will be able to record your wedding. They'll be able to capture every moment of your day, including the vows and the speeches. In this way, they'll preserve your memories and give you a better chance to look back on your memories in the years to come. If you're planning an elopement, you'll want to choose a wedding videographer who has a license to legally fly drones.

While you should always do your homework before hiring a wedding videographer, you should also be prepared for any eventualities that may arise. You should look at their online portfolio to get an idea of their style and artistic vision. It's also important to know the features and inclusions you'd like to have in the film. If you're looking for a highlight reel, it's worth hiring a cinematographer who offers this option.

Besides the quality of the footage, hiring a wedding videographer can help you capture the emotions of your big day. A wedding video can capture moments you'd miss if you're not paying close attention. This is especially important for couples who plan to have a ceremony without any technology, so they'll want to avoid having their guests take their smartphones out of the room during the ceremony.

While hiring a wedding photographer is important, a wedding videographer will capture the day's emotions with added depth. You may have your vows written out and preserved on paper, but what about the toasts and speeches from your best man or maid of honor? What about that impromptu speech your father-in-law decided to give about how blessed he felt that his son chose you as his bride? Wedding videographers capture those memories and can preserve not only the emotions but every single word.

Recommendations

Defining and Comparing Place Cards and Escort Cards. Which is best for you?

Let’s define place cards first. Place cards are wonderful for small weddings because it is a simple way to let guests know exactly which seat/chair you want them to sit at. A place card literally shows your guests which chair you want them to sit on. By placing their name onto some sort of material (ie: card stock, plastic, acrylic, agate, etc.) and then set up at their place setting, your guest will find their name and sit at that seat.

The most common material for a place card is card stock.

Escort cards can be just as creative as place cards, but since it’s intention is to guide guests to their correct table, they should be arranged at a convenient place for guests to pick up as they enter your reception area. Most commonly, you will find these set up at the welcome/registration table.

The only time that either place cards or escort cards are required are if you are serving a plated menu where guests were given a choice of entree. The cards will need to end up on the table and visible to servers to see and determine each guest’s selection. If you opted for escort cards, your MC can easily request all guests to place their card onto their table in front of them.

If you are planning to print a menu for each of your guests, you can even combine both the menu and place card to be efficient :-).

While both place cards and escort cards have guests names on them, the escort card literally helps to escort your guests to the table you have a seat reserved for them at. In order for this to serve it’s purpose the guest’s name AND table number must be listed on each escort card.

To help guests find their escort card as quickly as possible, we recommend that cards are set up in alphabetical order (by last name). If you opt to group the cards by tables, your guests will need to look through all cards with the hopes of coming across their name as soon as possible.

As part of your planning responsibilities, you will need to create a key/code so servers can easily know what to serve each guest. Common keys/codes are colors, stickers, and icons. NOTE: place cards can also be useful at weddings with sensitive family dynamics where careful consideration of placement and seating can help everyone to feel comfortable.

We hope you have found this helpful. If you would like us to discuss a specific topic, please reach out to us and let us know!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

4 Ideas to Creating the Perfect Wedding Hashtag

A social media hashtag made specifically for you and your significant other is a fun way to share with your guests how they can tag you in photos from your wedding! With a hashtag you’ll be able to see all of the photos and videos taken at your wedding in one place! This will make it so convenient for you and your other half to relive the day by looking through all of the moments captured by your guests!

If you’re wondering if a wedding hashtag is necessary for you, it’s important to consider your guests and the type of ceremony you’ll be having. If you’re planning to have an “unplugged'' ceremony where guests will be asked to withhold from using their phones or you took a look at your guest list and noticed that most of your guests are not avid social media users then a wedding hashtag may not be the most useful for your event. However if you want to encourage your guests to use their phones to take photos and know that most of your guests will be able to utilize the hashtag then having a wedding/couple specific hashtag will work great for you! 

Now that you decided to have a wedding hashtag it’s time to get to the fun part! Creating a hashtag specific to you and your partner can be difficult, but don’t worry we got you covered! Below are 4 ideas to help you create your perfect wedding hashtag! 

Add Alliteration 

An ideal hashtag is one that is easy to remember and type. Alliteration makes for typically very catchy and memorable wedding hashtags! An easy way to find words that start with the letter of your newly married last name or first names is by searching “Weddings words that start with the letter…” or choosing a word that you like such as “Love” and finding synonyms for this word that begin with your desired letter! 

#FinallyFungs #BecomingBradys #MarissaMarriesMike #AlwaysAlveraz #NakamuraNewlyweds

Make it Rhyme 

Another way to make your wedding hashtag fun and catchy is to have it rhyme! There are websites such as Rhymezone that when you type in a word you want to rhyme with, it will generate numerous suggestions! If you’re having a difficult time finding words that rhyme with a specific word such as a last name, take the sound of the last syllable of the word that you want to rhyme with and find a word that’s similar and use that to input into the rhyme generator! For example, if you’re trying to find words that rhyme with “Robinson” instead of inputting the entire name into the rhyme generator try “son” or “run”. The system will most likely be able to find a lot more words that rhyme with the one syllable word! Once you find the word that you want to rhyme with, you can add words to make up for the rest of the syllables in your desired word to get a rhyming hashtag! #FoundTheOneInRobinson

#GalvezForevz #ChuIn2022 #ScottTieTheKnot

Tell a Story

Contrary to popular belief, a wedding hashtag doesn’t need to include names or the year of the wedding! They can reference an inside joke, your favorite movie, or be linked to a story about the two of you. Hashtags like these can also be a great ice breaker for your guests to mingle with one another. If you’re highschool sweethearts the hashtag #PromDateToSoulmate might be perfect to symbolize how your relationship started and how long you’ve been together! Or if your favorite TV show to watch together is Star Trek the hashtag #WedLongAndProsper may be the perfect way to represent your shared interest in the sci-fi show! 

PHOTO BY ASHLEY PAIGE PHOTOGRAPHY

Use Word Play 

Looking for a hashtag that’s punny? Word play is the way to go! It sometimes can be difficult thinking of ways to word play your desired words into a hashtag. If you have a family member or friend who is witty or creative they may be able to help you in this area! But one way to start is by listing the words that you want included in your hashtag. After you have your list try to spend a few minutes on each word brainstorming words that sound/are spelt similarly. Now with your paper full of words you can think of some iconic wedding/love related phrases to try to input them into or see if you can combine any of your desired words together into a wordplay phrase! 

#ForeverYoungs #HappilyEverArthur #MiaHitTheJackpot #YouMakiMeSoHappy #TwoWongsMakeARight 

Now that you’ve got your wedding hashtag you may be wondering where in your wedding is the best place to display your hashtag! Below are some of the areas that we’ve seen wedding hashtags, feel free to have your hashtag displayed on just one, a few, or maybe even all! 

• Welcome Sign 

• Social Media Sign

• Favor Tags

• Wedding Website 

• Save the Dates & Invitations 

• Photo Wall

Creating your wedding hashtag is one of the fun and FREE things that you can do for your wedding day! We hope that these tips helped you think of your perfect wedding hashtag, but if you’re still struggling to find it there are also a lot of wedding hashtag generators that can be used to give you some inspiration. Have fun hashtagging! 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

Top 5 Decisions That Will Affect Your Budget

Our goal as wedding coordinators is to be able to offer every couple a peace of mind through planning and organization! We noticed that one of the main stressors of the wedding planning process is a couple’s budget. Knowing how important budgeting is to our couples we’ve created a few videos all about wedding budgeting! For each video we will be creating a blog going into more detail on the topic! So stay tuned for that! :) But for today, we will be sharing the top 5 decisions that WILL affect your budget!

Decision #1: Your Wedding Date

Believe it or not the day you choose to get married can affect your wedding budget! The venue, vendors, and materials that you may want for your big day depends on when in the year you’re planning to get married, as it could be more expensive than usual. So if you're flexible with your wedding date and don’t have a preference on a certain month or day, we recommend selecting a date that is not on the more expensive side. Wondering what dates may be more expensive than others? What to consider when selecting your wedding date? Check out our blog HERE to learn more!  

Decision #2: The Time of Day of your Wedding

Not only can your wedding date affect your wedding budget but so can the time of day! The time of day is a big factor, especially when it comes to your wedding reception! Though we often see receptions happen in the evening, there are money saving advantages with an afternoon wedding. Many venues offer lower rates for a lunch event versus a dinner event. However when booking a lunch reservation you typically don’t have as much time as a dinner reservation. Also though a lunch reception is a little nicer on the wallet than a dinner, one thing to note is that the lighting may not be the ideal for projections and candles. So if you want to have a slideshow or same day video edit projected for your guests to see, keep in mind that the afternoon lighting may not be the best for this kind of presentation. 

Decision #3: The Size of Your Guest List

When determining your guest count it’s important to remember, more people = more money! With that in mind the amount of guests you choose to invite will play a big factor to your budget. Since this decision can really affect your budget it’s important to work with anyone that may have the ability to invite folks to your wedding (such as your parents or anyone funding the wedding). Having these conversations will help to ensure that your guest count doesn’t increase unexpectedly. 

Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

Photography: Michele C Photo

Decision #4: Your Wedding Venue

Oftentimes when selecting a wedding venue it’s typical for only the food cost that couples take into consideration. However, depending on the type of venue you select there may be more than just food costs to consider. Whether it’s an estate, ranch, hotel, resort, or country club there can be additional costs that come with a venue. Since there are so many different factors to consider when choosing your venue, we actually created a whole other video about it. Feel free to check out the video HERE if you’re interested in learning more about the additional costs that can come with a venue. 

Decision #5: The Size of Your Wedding Party

Though it may not be common everywhere, in Hawaii we often see couples paying for practically everything that has to do with their wedding party. 

Some of these things are: 

• Attire, including alterations

• Hair & Makeup

• Transportation

• Flowers such as bouquets & boutonnieres

• And sometimes even accommodations for them and their plus ones

Regardless of whether you choose to pay for one or all of the items above for your wedding party, it will be a cost to your budget. Consider even the number of Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Flower Girls, Ring Bearers, and etc. you would like can really affect your budget as well. 

All in all your wedding date, time of your wedding,  guest count, wedding venue, and size of your wedding party are the top 5 decisions that we feel will affect your budget. In order to create your wedding budget it’s important to keep these decisions top of mind. Looking to learn more about budget planning for your wedding? Check out our various YouTube videos on budgeting and stay tuned for further blogs! 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

CONGRATULATIONS CANDACE & CLINT <3 (3 wedding dates and they did it!)

After having to postpone their wedding multiple times due to the Covid-19, Candace & Clint were finally able to tie the knot in late July at the beautiful Hyatt Regency located in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Though their ceremony began at 5pm, the bridal party started to get glammed up for the big day at 8:30am! It may sound early, but this start time allowed for the bride & her bridesmaids to relax and take their time when getting their hair and makeup done. Cheryl and her wonderful team from Cherbu Makeup & Hair had the entire bridal party dolled up and ready for photos by noon! 

The timing worked perfectly as the amazing photographers Ryan & Morgan from Embr Photo & Cinema arrived to capture “getting ready” shots as well as photos of the wedding details. The pictures of the jewelry, rings, flowers from Flower Girls Hawaii, shoes, and invitations look as if they were taken in a photography studio! It’s hard to believe that these wedding detail photos were all taken in the bridal suite!

Of course photos of the groom and his groomsmen getting ready were also captured and before leaving the hotel suites, both Candace and Clint gave their wedding party gifts to thank them for being a part of their wedding day! 

As everyone was now ready for photos it was time to capture a very special moment, the FIRST LOOK! 

The first look moment was so sweet as you could truly see the love between the bride and groom! Then the entire wedding party headed to La Pietra to take photos prior to the ceremony.  *We LOVE it when our photographers are able to suggest picture taking venues to our couples to match their style and get them the pictures they’ll always look back at fondly!

Following these fun photos the wedding party made their way back to the Hyatt and freshened up for the ceremony! At 5:00pm the altar was decorated beautifully, the guests were seated, and the processional began! The DJ from Dynamic Sounds Hawaii played “Hundred More Years” by Francesca Battistelli and accompanied by her father the bride walked down the aisle. 

Candace and Clint exchanged their vows, tears were shed, and in front of many of their loved ones and with their dog Izzie by their side, they were pronounced Husband & Wife! 

With the ceremony done it was time for the reception! Some of our favorite moments of the night were:

• Watching the bubbles float around the newlyweds as they shared their first dance.

• Hearing the touching wedding toasts delievered by close family & friends.

• The sweet father daughter dance to “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.

• Candace and Clint cutting and of course tasting their wedding cake together. 

• All the fun photobooth props provided by Photo Ops Hawaii.

• Seeing everyone enjoy the smores at the late night snack station.

But of course our favorite part of the entire day was seeing everyone smiling, laughing, and celebrating the marriage of Candace & Clint!

Wishing our newlyweds a lifetime of love and joy!

Videography: Supreme Wedding Films

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

• A Perfect Day Hawaii, Wedding Planner, Hawaii Wedding Planner, Hawaii Weddings www.APerfectDayHawaii.com 
  

WHY Hire a Professional Wedding Planner?

I honestly think anyone CAN do what we do, it's just that without experience, you may not know what to look for, what questions to ask, have the best resources to troubleshoot (ie: vendor/friends we can call on for help), know how to troubleshoot (with as many options and years of past experience as we professionals have), & know how to prevent many things from even happening.  Below are some examples:

• Guest list: We ask couples to use OUR template because the guest list needs to be sorted into various versions.  Anyone can do that but would they have known ahead of time TO do it?  Or even WHY to do it?  Many problems could happen and having a copy of the guest list (in various versions) would fix it.

• We ALSO MUST provide the registration table with the printed guest list to check-in guests.  There were just TOOOO many times in the past where couples sent their guest list and wanted to personally print out a copy for their registration table only to find out on the wedding day that the lists don't match because of last minute changes we weren’t updated on, their parents made a change (and didn't know to tell me), or that they forgot to update on the list they printed for their helpers.  Since we setup according to the list we have, if the counts don't match and that creates havoc during check-in :-(.

• I've also had people who don't count their guests correctly (no seats for infants/children) or seat 15+ to one table and don't notice it until we bring it up.

• We have also had a number of couples who told me they wanted FEWER chairs than expected guests because they wanted guests to be "forced" to mingle.  Of course, that's a BAD idea because guests feel like they are not wanted to stay, feel uncomfortable, and even more so don’t budge due to fear of not having a place to come back to and sit at.

• Even though music is provided to the person who will be responsible, we still ask for the specific song titles and artist "just in case" the music person doesn't follow through, doesn't bring it, can't get it, their equipment doesn't work, etc.  Anyone can ask for the songs and artists BUT will they know TO do it, who SHOULD have that data, and WHY we ask for it?

• We also make sure simple things like making sure the wedding party has something to eat for lunch, that there is time for them to eat it, and exactly who they plan to feed (ie: just in case a friend "stops by" to congratulate them or say "hi" and they mistakenly eat the Bridesmaid's portion).

• Many couples still think they "need" a traditional guest book (for names and addresses) but since most tell me they don't like long lines of guests trying to "check in", I explain how there is NO reason to have a traditional guest book because they should already have everyone's names and addresses from sending them invitations...and how when I print and provide the guest list (via our template) to the registration table helpers, it will easily track all cards & gifts (even if you can't read the signature of the guest on the card). 

On the day OF the wedding...let's say Uncle XXXX can't be found to give his speech, will your helper know and be able to notify everyone (ie: photo, video, MC, DJ, Banquet captain, etc.) who needs to be aware of the change and what will happen until Uncle returns OR will the MC be left hanging...and take a "break" until Uncle returns (which will cue many guests to leave before the program resumes).

• On the day OF the wedding...if picture taking is running late or Grandma isn't present, will your helper know how to troubleshoot?  For example, we always ask WAY in advanced that our couples rank (1 thru 5) what's most important so we will know how to troubleshoot for you (staying on time, taking all formal pictures, spending time with guests, as much open dancing as possible, or doing every activity listed in the formal program)

• Often what I see is that the couple may plan to have parents and siblings responsible for tasks at the exact same time they will be needed elsewhere for hair and makeup, picture taking, etc..  It really boils down to us learning throughout the years what works, what doesn't, how to make the day flow and execute as smoothly as possible, while allowing the wedding party and family to enjoy as much of the wedding day as possible. 

Vendor payments due ON the wedding day.  We always offer to pay vendors for our clients ON the wedding day so they won't need to worry about it.  When we confirm ALL details with each vendor, we also confirm the amount due and how they will take their payment.  Then ON the wedding day, we normally pay the vendor when the contract is completed.  If for any reason it is NOT completed,  we don't pay them BUT because we confirm EVERY detail, try to make each vendor’s job is as easy as possible, and have been so good at troubleshooting (vendors tend to fulfill their contracts),  in over 18 years, we've only not paid 2 vendors and both times they knew they weren't getting paid, so they weren't upset, and both times the couples never knew the vendor didn't fulfill their contracts until we returned the payments and told them to contact the vendor after the wedding day to discuss what happened and how much they should be paid. Individually, each of these things are minor but they are examples of the many details we know through experience to plan for to ensure our couples enjoy their entire wedding day!

Happy planning from all of us at A Perfect Day!

5 Things to Consider When Having Your Wedding On Valentines Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! We love that there is an entire day dedicated to celebrating the most powerful gift of all, to love and be loved! As it’s already such a LOVE-ly day, it’s no wonder why some couples decide to exchange their vows on February 14th!! If you and your other half are considering having your wedding on Valentine’s Day here are 5 things we recommend that you consider! 

1. There’s a High Chance You’ll Never Forget Your Wedding Date

When tying the knot on a holiday you are also tying your wedding date to a day that for most, is already memorized. Not only will you think about your wedding date when you know Valentine’s day is coming up, but you’ll also be reminded of it! When grocery shopping at the end of January you’ll see all of the red balloons, cute hallmark cards, and roses, reminding you to jump on amazon and order an anniversary gift! Not to mention that most calendars whether they’re physical or digital typically have Valentine’s Day noted. With all of the reminders out there about this day of love, the only thing you’ll have to remember is that you got married on Valentine’s Day! 

2. Whether you Like it or Not, you Have a Wedding Theme

When you think of Valentine’s Day what comes to mind? Do you think of a dozen red long stemmed roses? Chocolates from Sees Candies wrapped in a bow? Or hearts, everywhere and anywhere? If these items come to mind, there’s a high chance that your guests are thinking of these aspects as well, especially when they find out they’ve been invited to a wedding on Valentine’s Day. With that note, there is a certain theme or at least expectation of a Valentine’s Day related theme being set upon your wedding date. 

• The Pros? You can incorporate the holiday into  your wedding such as having your photobooth pictures be printed out with the quote “A life-long valentine” or “My forever funny valentine”. 

• The Cons? The plethora of hearts and all things Valentine’s Day could come off to some as tacky or cringy. But of course it’s your day so all that matters is you, your significant other and the love you share for each other!

3. The Availability of Your Vendors 

Other than your valentine, another “V” person, that is VERY important to consider,  are your vendors! Though you may not think so, vendors and venues get very busy around February 14th. Photographers are busy capturing couples at photoshoots, florists are swamped  with deliveries, hair and make-up artists are busy beautifying, and venues are booked up with couples making it their own special day or surprising their other half with a proposal. 

TIP: Make sure you book and reach out to your desired vendor 10-12 months in advance so that there’s a higher chance that the vendor has not booked an event for that day yet. 

4. Costs may be More Expensive Than Usual 

Weddings are typically known to be one of the more expensive events a person will pay for in their lifetime, but if you’re considering a wedding on Valentine’s Day we highly recommend evaluating your budget to be able to accommodate for costs possibly greater than you expected. The following are two items that we often see get more expensive near and especially on Valentine’s Day!

• Flowers

  • Though you may not be getting roses, flowers generally increase in cost on this day as it’s not only a holiday but Valentine's Day for many flower shops is the busiest day of their year! 

• Hotels

  • If you’re planning to have your wedding in a hotel and want to pay for you and possibly your bridal party or a few guests to stay in the hotel as well, note that the room rates may have risen since you last checked. Not only are prices higher but there may also be less rooms available. 

However there may be some Valentine’s Day deals such as sales on jewelry, chocolates, and clothing that could save you some money when shopping! 

5. Your Guests may Have Plans

As Valentine’s Day is celebrated by many, your guests may already have plans for that special day. Some may choose to spend it watching the 2010 star studded movie Valentine’s Day or going out to Nobu for their annual dinner date. As your guests may have yearly traditions or plans to spend the day with only their loved one, a few people may not choose to spend the occasion at a wedding. However, knowing that many of your guests may be making plans, sending out your save the dates as early as possible would allow your guests time to consider planning their personal Valentine’s Day celebrations on another date so that they can attend your wedding!

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful occasion to celebrate with the one you love and it’s a lovely idea to get married on this day as well! We truly want every couple to have their perfect, dream day come to life. We hope that those of you who choose to get married on February 14th consider all of the points we mentioned above. Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our readers! <3 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

Chinese Tea Ceremony

PC: Mike Pham Photography

We have done so many Chinese Tea Ceremonies over the years and the one thing we can say for certain is that although there are many similarities, there are also many differences on how each family does it. We LOVE the symbolism of this tradition and the respect given to the elders of both families that this tradition exemplifies. Of course, it’s also a lot of fun to see the Wedding Party having fun and just how much the Groom is willing to pay for the Bridesmaids permission to marry the Bride! In this post, we will be sharing some of the common similarities but please know that things are always customized to each couple, their families, as well as the time and space available. We hope this helps with your planning!

Mike Pham Photography

One of the first things that commonly happens is the Groom & his Groomsmen make their way to way the Bridesmaids and ultimately the Bride is. The often com baring gifts and with a healthy sum of money to “bribe” the Bridesmaids to letting the Groom pass them and eventually to his prize (the Bride).

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

If the gifts that are brought meet the expectations and approval of the Bridesmaids, the Groom and his Groomsmen are allowed to pass the threshold…but usually not much further. We have seen gifts like the Bride’s favorite beverage, jewelry, and of course the very popular…CASH! TIP to any future Grooms…be prepared to bring MULTIPLE gifts ;-).

Are you wondering why the Groom & his party are allowed just over the threshold…but not much further? This is where the fun comes in…at least for the Bridesmaids! The Bridesmaids now put the Groom and his Groomsmen through a number of activities and tests to see just

PC: Mike Pham Photography

how dedicated they are to supporting the Groom and helping him to earn the Bridesmaids approval to marry the Bride! The Bridesmaids are very creative and these activities often involve physical activities (ie: push ups, sit ups, etc.) and eating something (ie: wasabi, lemon, jalapenos, etc.)

PC: Mike Pham Photography

Any guesses what one of the biggest benefits of getting married now is? Technology! Often times, we can now have a Bridesmaid Facetime with the Bride (who is hiding in another room) so that the Bride can see what the Groom and the Groomsmen are doing and just how much he’s willing to do to prove his love and determination to marry her! Before cell phones, the Bride would miss out on all of this.

TIP: Wedding days without a Tea ceremony are long already so consider doing the Tea ceremony 1 day prior or just plan to have a portable phone charger handy as outlets aren’t always handy when you are out and about :-)

PC: Mike Pham Photography

After all of that hard work, the Groom is permitted to pass and FINALLY see his Bride! When the groom “works for it”, it does seem like he has “won” the right to not just see the Bride but to have the approval of her closest family and friends to marry her! Grooms are often VERY proud to have won their approval!

PC: Visionari

As with most wedding days, while 1 thing is happening, many other things are too. While the Groom is winning the right to see and marry the Bride, often the space where the actual tea ceremony will take place is being decorated very carefully and with a LOT of meaning and love by family. As you may already know, red and gold are very important in the Chinese culture so decorations for the tea ceremony are most commonly use red & gold.

PC: Mike Pham Photography

Okay…so let’s get started with the actual ceremony. WHO do you serve? Anyone older than the couple who are relatives. The order typically begins with the Grooms parents, then the Grandparents, oldest Aunts & Uncles, then working down by age. Note that although traditionally,

PC: Mike Pham Photography

the Bride’s family would have been served tea in the morning (at the Bride’s house) and the Groom’s family would be served after the Western ceremony, most families now opt to serve both families at the same location before the Western ceremony. This really helps to make the wedding day a lot more efficient (if that is your goal).

PC: Aria Studios

Once the tea is offered and consumed, the family members give the Bride and Groom gifts which are often monetary in a lai see (lucky red envelope) or gold jewelry. Tip: the Bride typically would continue to wear all jewelry received until the entire tea ceremony is completed. It is not uncommon for the Bride to end up

PC: Visionari

wearing multiple bracelets and necklaces by the end. TIP: If both sides of the family are not familiar with this ceremony, it is not just considerate but crucial to educate the unfamiliar family members of what to expect and what will be happening. Although it may not be in their culture, they will want to respectful and at the very least have the opportunity to be prepared.

PC: Visionari

The tea ceremony might be over but the fun isn’t! Often times, we do the tea ceremony in the morning before the Western ceremony so by the time the tea ceremony ends, it’s just about lunch time. Many couples feed their guests a traditional Chinese meal (often dim sum) and include sweets.

PC: Visionari

Before we conclude this post, we just wanted to share what a common setup for a tea ceremony looks like. The family who are being served would normally sit on the chairs and the Bride and Groom traditionally would kneel on the floor (typically on pillows to save their knees) to be able to bow (forehead touching the floor) to show respect with each tea service.

Video by Visionari

We hope this post was helpful. The most important thing to remember is that most families have slight variations of what was described and that is completely okay! The meaning is to show respect and joining the two families so just enjoy your big day and know that everyone who is attending is there because they love you!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!!!

The 7 Steps to Creating a Wedding Priorities List

At the start of your wedding planning process it’s important to determine your priorities! What are the top things you and your other half care to see, do, and feel on your wedding day? Do you envision floral centerpieces on twenty tables? Or a 4 piece string quartet playing an instrumental version of  “You are the Reason” as you or your partner walks down the aisle? Knowing your vision is crucial to being able to start creating your wedding priorities list! If you’re not sure how to find your vision check out our past blog sharing how to create a vision board!

However, if you both know your vision for the big day then you’re ready to create your wedding priorities list!  

What is a Wedding Priorities List?

This list can have many names but overall it is the document that states all of the aspects of your wedding in order of how much you and your significant other want it to be included.

Some items that are typically on wedding priorities lists are specific vendors such as photographers, videographers, and officiants, as well as wedding staples like a first dance, cake cutting, or bouquet toss!

WHY Make A Wedding Priorities List?

It will help you and your partner organize all of the areas of your wedding day to ensure that your money and energy are going to the aspects of your wedding that you care about most.  Though you may have discussed the things that you want and do not want on your big day, putting these thoughts on paper and discussing them as a team will make certain that your priorities are aligned so that all decisions will be made on the same page. This list will also be crucial in helping you determine and then stick to your wedding budget. 

How to Create your Wedding Priorities List in 7 Steps

You can make this list on a piece of paper or in the notes section of your phone, whichever works best for the both of you!

Photography: Michele C Photo | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings | Florals: Always Flowers 808 Weddings | Hair & Makeup: CJ Siepka

Step 1: Start with jotting down a list of the 10-15 most important aspects of your wedding day! 

• Such as the food, entertainment, favors, stationary, and venue!

• Really take this time to discuss with your other half all of the things you each  would like to have or do on your big day! 

• If you’re not sure of the type of activities or vendors you may want to do or have, think about how you want to feel! For example, you’re not sure if you really want a make-up artist but you know that you want to look your absolute best when you get married. Consider what that absolute best feeling would look like and think if that is something that can be done with or without a make-up artist.

• Going through this thinking process will help you connect the emotions you know you want to have on your wedding day with the vendors or activities that will be able to make you feel the way you want to feel! 

Step 2: Now that you have your list, begin re-ordering it so that the item at the top is the one you both would really really like to have or do and the second one is the next one you would like to include and so forth till your list of 10-15 items is in order of desirability. 

Step 3: Take your list and divide it into two categories. The Must Haves and The Nice to Haves.

• The Must Haves: Like the name these are the aspects that you know you NEED or REALLY WANT to have at or to have happen at your wedding.  These items would typically be at the top of your list. 

• The Nice to Haves: The items that fall under this category are those that if you could have it in your wedding you would like to have it, but if you couldn’t have it then you’ll still be happy without it. These items would typically be towards the middle or bottom of your list. If you determined that all 10-15 items are Must Haves and you don’t have any Nice to Haves that’s totally fine too!

Photography: Michele C Photo | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

Step 4: Really evaluate each item of your The Must Haves and The Nice to Haves lists and think about if you would or would not go over your budget for them to happen.

• The Must Haves: These items are typically the ones that you would be willing to spend a little more than you originally planned to, because you MUST HAVE it in your wedding! As we often see on “Say Yes to the Dress” for many brides an item that falls in this category is having the perfect gown! Though they may have a budget, since their dream dress is in the Must Haves category they often will go over their budget to have this item. 

• The Nice to Haves: Items in this category are those that will often happen or not happen due to your budget. For instance if you go a little over your budget to put more money towards an item on your Must Have list know that it may affect the chance that you will be able to do or have an aspect on your Nice to Have list. 

Step 5: Now that you’ve got your list with The Must Haves and The Nice to Haves, we’re going to make a separate list titled The I Could Live With-outs.

• These 5-10 items would be those that you would prefer to not have on your big day. For instance having more than 100 people at your wedding, doing a first look, the garter toss, etc. 

• Just as it’s important to know what you want on your wedding day, identifying what you would prefer not to have is crucial as it will help you stay aligned with your vision and ensure that your priorities are not changed due to outside factors. More on this in the next step!

Step 6: Similar to Step 4, we are going to evaluate each  item in your The I Could Live Withouts list. Except instead of thinking how your budget may bend for these items, think of the reasons that may actually influence you to have or do them on your wedding day. 

• Using our earlier example, if your list states that you would prefer not to have more than 100 people on your wedding day, but someone important in your life really wants there to be more than 100 people and is willing to give you the funds to support more guests would you then adjust your guest count? 

• By determining if the item is something that you would include under certain circumstances or if it’s one that regardless of the circumstance you would still not include, it will help you from being influenced by your family and friends.

Step 7: Discuss the list with your other half and make sure that you’re in agreement, if so congrats you have your wedding priorities list! This list will always be there to remind you of your Must Haves, Nice to Haves, and I Could Live With-outs as well as all of the factors that could influence the priorities of these wedding aspects.  In future blog posts, we will teach you how to use this list to guarantee you CAN stay in your budget!

Now that you’ve got your wedding priorities list we hope it will help streamline and organize your entire wedding planning process!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

6 Important Factors to Picking Your Perfect Wedding Date

You got engaged! Congratulations! Now that you’ve said YES to one big question it’s time to think about how you’ll answer the next BIG question…When’s the date?! It’s one of the first things that come to mind when you get engaged, and the people you love will want to know! And they’ll want to know ASAP! Picking your wedding date is a big decision that will influence many factors in the planning of your wedding!

The wedding date will determine the timeline and speed of your overall planning process. Not to mention in these times of COVID mandates constantly changing, the timing of your wedding may even affect your desired guest count. Though it may seem like figuring out your budget is the biggest factor to think about, picking your wedding date actually can influence your budget, your available options, and ease of planning! There is no right or wrong way of picking your wedding date but to help you and your partner out, we will be covering 6 important factors to picking your wedding date! 

Factor #1 Travel

Nothing like a wedding to get everyone together! A destination wedding or a wedding back home in the Islands is always a treat! It’s important to keep in mind the price of flying. Depending on the season, traveling can be more costly and stressful. Note that if you plan to have your guests travel, remember to consider the airline prices as a factor that may affect your guests’ decision in attending. In addition to the cost of traveling, it’s important to consider that your guests are given ample time to request leave to travel. 

Factor #2 The Day of the Week

Photography: Michele C Photo Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

Once said by a Mean Girl, “On Wednesdays, we wear Pink”. The day of the week is another important factor in picking your wedding date. Weekends are often the day of choice as it usually is a day that everyone is available and off from work. However, prices can be higher for those Saturday and Sunday dates. Many venues also have a different definition of the weekend than just Saturday and Sunday, some venues may follow a Monday through Thursday weekday and a Friday-Sunday Weekend schedule. Like weekend bookings, choosing the time of day is important to think about as well when picking a wedding date! Choosing to do a lunch versus dinner reception can determine the price, guest count, and desired time to spend with your guest. A lunch reception may be cheaper, but will typically only be about 3 hours, versus a dinner reception that allows for more time with guest and formal program events, as they usually are from 5-11pm. 

Factor #3 Long Weekends

Considering beyond the day of the week, it is important to think about long weekends. Though 3-day weekends allow everyone that extra day of rest, that means there is a higher chance that more couples will be available to get married and reserve a venue, which can lead to competing for florists, make-up artists, and other vendors. Long weekends also come with higher traffic overall as many people will be out and about. 

Factor #4 Holidays

We LOVE holidays, and the idea of getting married on a major holiday such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Christmas is so much fun, but also comes with many factors to think about! 

• These special holidays may cause prices to increase on supplies and/or the venue

• Many places may be closed on that day or your desired vendors may choose to not book a wedding that day. Especially individuals who are not a company, but perform a service, such as an Officiant. 

• If issues arise on that day,  it may be difficult to get in touch with your vendors for last minute fixes.

• Many folks travel during the holidays and due to that, they may already have trips planned for those special days. Did you know that Thanksgiving is known to be the busiest day to travel in the whole year? 

• It’s important to not only think about the holi-DAY but the days around that holiday as the festivities may extend for more than just that day. 

Factor #5 Local Celebrations

Like the holidays, celebrating your wedding on or near local celebrations can lead to restricted availability and literal traffic to your wedding. In Hawaii, we often celebrate local holidays through parades, block parties, and concerts that can result in road closures. This may cause vendors such as videographers and photographers to arrive late or even miss your wedding! In addition to celebrations and holidays, another thing to consider is seasons like Prom and Graduation, when large venues are being booked and flowers are in high demand. Seasons that follow the school year also means personal schedules are affected such as teachers and even accountants during tax season, which may influence your guest attendance. 

To stay updated with any local holidays, road closures, or just events that may affect your special day, subscribe to our newsletter! We got you covered!

Factor #6 Special numerical dates 

Dates hold special value, they come around every year (except for you, Feb. 29) and due to that they will annually remind us of the special event that happened on that day! With that, many couples look for creative number sequences to get married on, so these special numerical dates can get booked quickly!  

• 01.02.03 ← Getting married is as easy as 1,2,3

• 07.07.07 ← As 7 is a lucky number in American culture

• 08.08.08 ← As 8 is a lucky number in many Asian cultures

• 02.22.22 ← Happening this year!!

• 12.31.23 ← A cool numerical date & on New Year’s Eve

We hope that these 6 factors will help you when picking your wedding date but always remember that any day you choose to marry the love of your life will truly be the perfect wedding date! :) 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

What is a Wedding Vision Board and 3 Reasons They’re fun to Create

Every wedding begins with a vision! A great way to explore and organize your ideas is with a Vision Board. A Vision Board allows you to not only display all of your ideas, dreams, and wishes, but also serves as an amazing way to manifest your goals. Your vision board will keep your dream alive while also showing others exactly what you’re looking for!  

ZOLA

When you think of your wedding day the first thing you think of probably isn’t budgeting or timelines, but instead the ambiance and vibe of your big day! The style of your wedding can greatly influence the energy and feel of your big day, from your decor to flowers! Your choice of venue, guest count, and even the vendors play a big role in this vision! Manifesting your dreams into reality begins with a purpose, so why do you need a vision board?

• They Keep you Organized

  • As you may know, there is so MUCH wedding content out there! You can get wedding ideas from TV Shows, Movies, Vlogs, Social Media, Books, YouTube, and so many other mediums that it’s really easy to be overwhelmed with all things weddings. Vision boards are a great way to organize all your thoughts and help you focus on the details that you really want!

• They help you Establish a Voice

  • When planning a wedding many of your family and friends may want to get involved. They may start providing advice, ideas, and their own opinions for what you should and shouldn’t do. Having a vision board that captures what you truly want will be your guide through the opinions of others and allow you to have something that you can constantly circle back to and ensure that you are only including what you truly want!

THE EVERYGIRL

What to put on your Wedding Vision Board

• Color Palettes

• Bride and Bridal Party Fashion

• Save the Dates & Invitations Designs

• Florals

• Decor Items

• Fabrics such as Drapery and Linens

• Cocktails and Catering

• Wedding Cakes and Desserts

• Favors

3 Reasons They’re Fun to Create

1. They Show you What you Really Want

• Your wedding vision board will be a collection of all of your favorite things! While creating the board you can let your wedding dreams flow. Then after it’s all done you’ll be able to look back at it and it’ll be your happy place during the process of planning for the big day!   

2. It’s a Creative Outlet for you to Display your Ideas

• Making a list of your wedding ideas is one way to organize your vision but creating a board with photos or words that inspire you, will allow you to have a creative way to show off all of your ideas! Take clippings, fabrics, and anything that fits the vision of your wedding! Everyone’s vision is different, so make your board a reflection of you and your partner! 

3. It’s Planning with Pictures!

• Your vision board is something that you can look at everyday that will not only get you excited for the day you marry the love of your life but it will be your constant reminder of what could be! You can even make it an activity with you and your partner, wedding party, and family! You’ll be planning your wedding and making a memory! 

TIP: Once you make a wedding decision, hold off on searching for those items. This will prevent you from changing your mind and keep you focused on your vision in that area that has been achieved!

PINTEREST

Where to Create Vision Boards

For a digital board the following site are great resources!

• Pinterest: Filled with tons of photos and links to various websites you can use inspiration that you find on this site to add to your board or you can “pin” items to a digital board that you can scroll through!

• Canva: Select the size of canvas you want to use and then start adding to it! Search google, pinterst, instagram and select the photos that inspire you and include them on your blank board. 

THE KNOT

Opting for a physical board? 

• Check out your local craft store for materials to create the board.

• Fabric can be found at local thrift stores.

• Cut out photos from your favorite Bridal Magazines.

• Add invitations from past weddings.

• Use color swatches.

• Print photos.

Creating a wedding vision board organizes your dreams and is a fun way to visualize what your big day will look and feel like! :)

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

When should you start planning your wedding? How do you plan a wedding in a year?

PC: Joseph Esser Photography

PC: Kai Photo

These are great questions and depending on each couples situation, availability, budget, and resources, the answer may vary. This being said, we have worked with couples to plan their weddings (from scratch) with 2 years time and a few with just 1 month’s time to get it all done. Although neither may be ideal to you (as too much time can make it too stressful for some as it allows more opportunity to consider more options and change your minds) and having too little time can create stress to make quick decisions. Of course, the opposite could be said where having more time can give you the opportunity to take things slowly and having less time can ensure you don’t stress over every decision. This is why there is no “right” or “wrong” time to start your planning and the answer will vary depending to who you are as a couple. Let us know if you’d like a custom plan.

PC: Kai Photo

When we work with our couples, the plan to action will always be customized to their unique priorities, budget, availability, & style but if hiring a professional isn’t possible for you, there are some overall concepts we would recommend.

PC: Kai Photo

1. Discuss and determine a budget (that you both are comfortable with spending)

2. Create your actual guest list. Since your guest list will directly determine how to stay in your budget, it is important to work with facts and not just an estimated guest list.

3. Determine which type of vendors you plan to hire (create a list)

4. Brainstorm other items you want to have at your wedding (ie: “Welcome” sign, escort cards, card box, Ring Bearer’s pillow, etc.)

5. Research, interview, and begin securing your vendors. If possible, we recommend that you secure all vendors by 4 months prior

6. 4 Months - 1 Month prior, you will want to finalize all details, wedding day timeline, and purchase any supplies you plan to use

7. 1 Month prior, confirm all details with all vendors, receive RSVPs, assign guests to tables, and attend parties (bachelorette, bachelor, bridal shower, etc.)

PC: Visionari

As you may have noticed, our strategy is simplified just to not overwhelm anyone, but if you follow the sequence above, you will have a much better chance of enjoying the planning process! IF you have the right team behind you, any amount of time you have to plan can be enjoyable! If you follow us on Instagram, we will be announcing a wedding planning video series to guide you through your planning with a lot more guidance!

Happy Planning!

XOXO A Perfect Day

How to: Create Your Wedding Budget

Did you hear our 2nd video in our budget series which teaches couples how to create their wedding budget launched earlier this month? If you’d like to watch the video, feel free to click the image below.

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

PC: Joseph Esser Photography