Staying on Time on Your Wedding Day

One of the greatest tips that we can give, to help you stay on time on your wedding day is to have a wedding timeline! Your timeline will serve as your guide to staying on time as it was created to ensure that you will accomplish everything you hope to at your wedding. If you have a coordinator they will create this timeline for you, and next to your marriage certificate it will be the second most important document at your wedding! So whether you are creating your own timeline or your coordinator has made one for you, the following are a few tips and things to consider to help you stay on time on your wedding day!

If you could use the assistance of a well experienced wedding planner to create your timeline for you, but don’t need the day of help, check out our timeline creation service!

Travel Time 

Photography: Aria Studios

Planning a wedding that will require transportation to the venue or venues? The duration it will take you to get from one location to another may be greater than you think. Depending on what you’re wearing, how many people you’re traveling with, and of course where you’re coming from, your drive could be longer than what google maps says! And as Honolulu has unfortunately been often ranked as one of the cities with the worst traffic in the country, planning realistically for your travel time is really important to staying on time on your wedding day! Our biggest recommendation to avoid this altogether is to stay overnight near or at (if your venue is a hotel) your wedding venue! This will incredibly reduce your travel time and will remove the thought of sitting in possible traffic from the list of things to have to think about on your wedding day. 

Putting on the Dress  

Photography: Embr Photo

Though putting on your wedding dress may sound like something that can be done in minutes, the speed at which you are able to put your dress on greatly depends on the type of dress! For instance dresses that have a corset or an intricate button detailing will most likely require more time than a zipper or slip on dress. Additionally you also want to take into consideration the time it will take to use the restroom prior to putting on your dress, as well as any undergarments that may need to be put on as well. As these things can quickly add time to putting on the dress, we always allot for brides to have at least 30 minutes (more if you have a corset) to put on their dress so that they can take their time when getting their gown on! 


Speed of Your Photographer 

Communication with all of your vendors is important but especially with your coordinator and photographer! The timing of your day is greatly dependent on the speed your photographer captures your requested photos. Though your coordination team will most likely be there to assist the photographer with staying with the wedding day timeline. Chatting with your photographer prior to your wedding about the amount and type of photos you want will help them know the speed that they will have to move in order to achieve your goals, which will greatly help you stay on time on your wedding day! 

Delegate Tasks 

One way for a wedding day to go behind schedule is if tasks are not accomplished or if items are forgotten. When we check in with a Bride on the morning of their wedding we always make sure to confirm that they have all of the supplies and items they stated they were going to bring for the ceremony and reception. We also make sure that they have all of the wedding stationery, jewelry, and other items that they would like to be photographed with them as well prior to the arrival of the photographer. As forgetting one of these items or a task that needed to be done at a certain time (such as ordering lunch from room service prior to getting dressed) can affect your ability to stick to your timeline, we recommend delegating tasks to your wedding party, or a few friends and family members. So that instead of having to take care of everything yourself, you can check in with the person/people who are helping you. With the help of others, this will hopefully reduce the chance of something being forgotten and falling behind schedule.  

Photography: Derek Wong Photography

Add Buffer Time

Finally one of the best ways to help you stay on time on your wedding day is to add buffer time to your timeline. When creating a timeline you want to adopt the mindset of “hope for the best, and expect the worst”. By thinking in terms of timing what the worst case scenario could be, this will help you create a timeline that is prepared for the worst but also planned to go perfectly smoothly should nothing go wrong. Some of the main areas to add extra time too are when getting ready, if you’ll be driving from one location to another, and the time before your ceremony as you want to be able to relax a bit before it’s time to say “I Do!”. 

We hope these tips help you stay on time on your wedding day! :)


XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

CONGRATULATIONS NICOLE & CHAD! <3

2022 WEDDING HIGHLIGHT | PHOTOS BY DEREK WONG PHOTOGRAPHY

Earlier this year, in the month of May, we had the honor of coordinating the beautiful wedding of Nicole & Chad! This lovely couple tied the knot at the stunning Kahala Resort, located on the east side of the island of O’ahu. With a gorgeous outdoor ceremony on the Plumeria Grove and a “sparkling” reception in the Maile Ballroom, Nicole & Chad’s wedding was filled with smiles, happy tears, and lots of laughter!

The day started in the bride’s suite as Nicole and her bridal party began getting ready for the big day! A few hours later the photographer arrived to begin capturing “getting ready” photos, as well as detailed shots of the wedding jewelry, stationery, dress, and etc. During this time the flowers for the wedding party also arrived, allowing the gorgeous bouquet filled with white florals and greenery to be included in the photography of the wedding details! 

Tip: If you’d like specific wedding items as well as your florals to be photographed, we highly recommend communicating this to your coordinator so that they can ensure that the timing of the arrival of the photographer and florist will give you enough time to capture all the photos that you want!

A few more hours later, the Bride, Groom, and their wedding parties were fully dressed and ready for the couple’s first look! Nicole and Chad saw each other for the first time that day on a popular first look spot at the Kahala hotel, the stunning lobby staircase that has a backdrop of greenery and orchids. It was a truly beautiful moment! <3 

Following the touching first look and wedding party photos it was finally time for the ceremony! The bride made her way down the aisle to an acoustic version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” then Nicole and Chad exchanged their vows and sealed the deal with a kiss! The couple exited the aisle to IZ’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” while their guests celebrated their marriage by showering the newlyweds with flower petals!

And as there are always amazing vendors working behind the scenes to help us deliver a fantastic wedding to each of our couples, though they may not all be pictured, we want to thank all of the people who have helped to put on this wonderful wedding!

***THANK YOU TO THESE AMAZING VENDORS***

VENUE: KAHALA RESORT

FLORIST: FLORIST GRAND

HAIR & MAKEUP: CJ SIPEKA

VIDEOGRAPHER: Yee Films

PHOTOGRAPHER: DEREK WONG PHOTOGRAPHY

Officiant: Reverend Michael Nelson

linen: Elegance with Grace

DECOR: ALOHA ARTISANS

Ceremony musician: kika inc

DJ: HAWAII EVENTS UNLIMITED

MC: blane kaneshiro

Congratulations once again to Nicole & Chad! We are so happy to have been a part of your special day and wish you both a long and beautiful marriage!

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

Things to Consider When Hiring a Wedding Photographer

Though most photographers have websites and social media accounts that show off their photography portfolio, we understand that it can still be nerve wracking to select this vendor as you aren’t able to know EXACTLY what the photos of your wedding will look like! That’s why we wanted to share a few things we recommend considering when hiring your wedding photographer! 

As we wanted to focus on things to consider that specifically apply to photographers please note that along with the list below we highly recommend that you also consider your photographer’s cost and how it will impact your budget. 

Photography Style

The first thing to consider when selecting your wedding photographer is their style of photography! Photographers are artists, they have a certain vision when capturing photos but also when editing them and like many other artists they have a distinct style that can be seen throughout their work. To determine if you like a photographer’s style we highly recommend looking through photos they’ve taken of past weddings to see if their photo technique and editing methods match what you hope to see for your wedding photos! 

Vibe Check

Though you definitely want a photographer who has a photography style that you like, you also want a photographer whose vibe and personality is one that matches yours. This is often overlooked but knowing what you want from your photographer in terms of their level of energy and direction will greatly affect the kind of photos you will get and especially how you feel on your big day. Your wedding photographer is one of the few vendors that will be right there with you for practically every moment of your wedding. They will be there to capture the intimate moments of your vow exchange to the fun toasts and games at your reception. If possible, we highly recommend chatting with your prospective photographer or looking at reviews that mention not just their ability to take photos but their personality especially, so that you can get a feel for the kind of person they are and how they will vibe with you! 

Packages/Items Promised 

Many photographers offer packages such as engagement sessions, or albums that may come at a discounted price. An engagement session is also a great way for you to get a feel of your photographer’s style and vibe, and can serve almost as a test run. So that by your wedding day you’ll not only have a better relationship with your photographer but you may know the exact kind of photos and poses that you’d want to do after getting to go through it at an engagement session. For items promised these are the items that photographers sometimes state they will provide in their contract such as “at least 200 photos'' or “1 month turnaround”. Though you won’t know exactly what your photos will look like, you'll at least be able to know things such as how many photos you should receive and when you receive them. Taking these items into consideration will help you manage your expectations and know what your photographer will deliver to you.

Photography: Embr Photo

how to find a wedding photographer? 

One way to find your wedding photographer or even many of your other vendors is to check with your venue! Many venues have a preferred vendor list. These vendors are ones that the venue trusts and often works with. The benefit with a photographer who is recommended by the venue is that the photographer is comfortable with the venue. They know where the best photo spots are, where there’s great lighting, and if you hire other vendors on the preferred vendor list they most likely have worked together before. And vendors that work well together are a great way to ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly! Along with your venue asking your other vendors for recommendations, especially your wedding coordinator, is a great resource as well. Of course last but not least, we can’t forget to mention visiting social media and review sites such as Yelp, Google, and The Knot! 

We hope this helps you in finding your perfect wedding photographer! :)

If you’re still in search of your dream wedding coordinator check out a similar blog we have sharing things to consider when hiring a wedding coordinator! 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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

What's the Difference Between an Open Bar, Partially Open Bar, and Cash Bar?

When it comes to weddings, the idea of a reception with a bar for guests to order alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages from is usually what comes to mind when thinking about what your celebration will look like after your ceremony! As we know that the type of bar service at your wedding may not be something you envision when dreaming of your cocktail hour/reception, we wanted to share the differences between three popular bar options and the things you should consider when selecting the type of bar you want at your wedding!  

Open Bar

Also known as a hosted bar, this option basically means that the cost of all of the drinks served by the bar, will be paid for by the hosts (aka the newlywed couple!). With an open bar, your guests will not be paying any money for the drinks that they order. With this option there are typically two ways that it’s priced. 

Cost by Consumption: With this pricing method, the cost of the bill will be calculated at the end of the night, as it will be the sum of all of the drinks ordered. The couple won’t know how much they will be paying till after the wedding reception has ended. 

Cost by Package: Depending on your venue, they may offer a package pricing option, where you can pay an upfront amount for the bar at your event. This is typically calculated based on the number of guests that will be attending, and because you’ll be paying for this amount prior to the wedding you’ll be able to factor this cost into your budget. 

Photography: Embr Photo

If you want to have an open bar to treat all of your guests but also want to be mindful of how much you’re spending, think of the people on your guest list and try to estimate how much you think they will drink at your wedding. If you believe that the MAJORITY of your guests will drink a lot of alcohol, then the pricing package option may work best for you. However if you have a FEW guests that you may think will drink a lot then the pricing by consumption may work better. It’s best to decide this after you have an idea of who will be attending your wedding as your guests may be a big factor in determining which pricing package will work best for your budget. If you need tips on creating your wedding guest list check out our blog HERE! 

Tip: Consider where your guests are coming from to attend your wedding, if the majority of your guests are staying at the hotel where your wedding is taking place there’s a higher likelihood that they may order more drinks than if the majority of your guests are commuting to your wedding. 

Partially Open Bar

As the name goes this option is the halfway choice if you’re stuck between having an open bar or a cash bar. For this option couples can typically work with their venue to set a limit on when the bar will go from drinks being paid by them to drinks being paid by their guests. This limit can be based on a set time, such as from 5pm-8pm the bar is hosted and then from 8pm-10pm guests have to pay for their drinks. Or the limit can be by price, the couple can agree that once their bar tab goes past a certain amount of money, such as $2,000, then the guests will have to begin paying for their drinks. This option can work well for couples who want to have an open bar but have many guests who are driving or guests who are prone to indulge too much. This can be a way to help decrease the chance that these guests will consume an excess amount of alcohol. 

Cash Bar

As it doesn’t have “open” in the name, this bar option is not a free-for-all for the guests and is the one where they have to pay for any and all of their drinks. This bar type is best for couples who know that the majority of their guests will not be drinking but still want to have the option of alcohol for any of their guests who may want to purchase drinks. Additionally, if the couple wants to comp a specific number of drinks or the drinks of certain people, such as the wedding party, the venue may have an option to purchase a set amount of beverages and receive a drink ticket in return. Then at the wedding reception those who receive a drink ticket at the registration table can redeem their free beverage at the bar. 

Photography: Seeking Films

No matter what you choose, though you want your guests to have fun, remember that it’s YOUR wedding day and every one there wants to make sure you have the best day of your lives! So whether they are able to drink for free or have to drop some cash that won’t change how happy they are to celebrate the two of you!! 


XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

What to BUY and What to DIY for Your Wedding

In this day and age with Google and YouTube at our fingertips, it seems to be so easy to learn how to do something ourselves! This has been apparent especially in the world of weddings, where we’ve been seeing more and more couples choosing to DIY their decor, stationery, favors, and etc! As we know many couples have a wedding budget to stick to, including DIY items into your wedding day may be able to save you money. However there are a few things that depending on the couple’s ability and timeframe that they have prior to their wedding, it may be better for them to purchase the items.

If you’re not sure whether you want to BUY or DIY some things for your special day, a great place to start is to ask yourself whether you rather spend your money or your time on that particular wedding item! 

Pros of BUYing

  • Peace of mind that a credible professional has made the item

  • Ability to purchase and store the item well in advance to your wedding day 

  • Save yourself time, time that you can spend in other areas rather than working on your wedding

What to BUY

  • Items that will be heavily photographed

  • Items that would cost less than the supplies and labor it would take to DIY them

  • Items that you want the skill of a professional

TIP: As some DIY items may actually be more expensive than purchasing them, we recommend breaking down the cost of the supplies as well as the time it’ll take for you to make the item and compare it to the cost if you were to buy it. As the better deal may actually be purchasing the item.  

Photography: Caitlin Alohilani Photography | Hair & Makeup: Face Art Beauty

As the skills of every couple and the family & friends helping them to DIY items will differ, the points above are our general recommendations. One particular area that we see many Brides consider DIY-ing but we recommend for them to BUY, is their Hair & Makeup services. Especially if photography/videography for your wedding is a high priority to you, unless you are a professional/highly skilled in this area we don’t recommend brides to do this themselves as the type of Hair & Makeup done to best show up nicely on film may be different that what you are used to putting on. So for this wedding area we can’t “conceal” our opinion and highly recommend considering BUYing your Hair & Makeup services!

Pros of DIY-ing

  • Create your wedding item exactly to how you want it to look 

  • Adds an extra special personal touch to your wedding day

  • Save yourself money, money that can go into different areas of your wedding budget

What to DIY

  • Items that can be made WAY in advance to your wedding day

  • Items that you/someone helping you is specialized in doing

  • Items that won’t be the main focus on photos (Flower Girl’s Basket, Ring Bearer’s Pillow, Paper Cones for Flower Petals)

For a couple with lots of time to work on DIY-ing items for their wedding, this can be a great way to bond and do something together as finances! As the weeks and days leading up to the wedding can be the most stressful, we recommend for couples who choose to go down the DIY road, to try to complete their projects way in advance so that they don't have to worry about them right before the wedding. So if you want to DIY your own favors, consider choosing items that are non-perishable or have a long shelf life so that you can put together these favors weeks before the big day! 

Consider RENTing! 

Though we’ve been talking about what to BUY and what to DIY for your wedding we also want you to consider the idea of RENTing some of your wedding items! This option is a “goldilocks choice” as we like to call it because it’s the perfect choice between of BUYing and DIY-ing! Renting saves you both money and time as you are not purchasing the item to keep as well as not having to make it yourself too.  

If you’re looking for a cost friendly option for your florals consider renting silk florals! We are happy to introduce our new company Borrowed Blooms Hawaii! Borrowed Blooms provides beautiful, quality florals available to be rented for your special day! As we are local to Hawaii you won’t have to worry about high shipping fees and be able to borrow the flowers and keep all of the memories! <3

Things to Consider When Hiring a Wedding Coordinator

Similar to finding love, finding your wedding vendors can take some dating. Sometimes you can find “the one” during your first date (aka your initial consultation) and sometimes it takes a few conversations and advice from married friends to know if they are the right one for you! Though most wedding vendors, such as hair & makeup artists, florists, photographers/videographers, entertainment, etc. have photos & videos of their service that will help you select the vendor that will bring your wedding vision to life, wedding coordinators are a little different. Unfortunately there’s not exactly a photo/video that can encompass all that the company does to plan and execute your wedding day. So knowing that selecting a wedding coordinator is no easy task, we wanted to share a few things to consider when hiring a coordinator for your wedding!  

Expectations

In life we often realize we had certain expectations about something or someone, after those expectations are not met. Similarly, when hiring a wedding coordinator you may not be actively aware of the expectations you have of your coordinator until those expectations are not met (and we don’t want that to happen!). At the same time your wedding coordinator may not know that you have certain expectations of the kind of service you expect to receive from them. So to avoid any unmet expectations, we highly recommend that couples consider the type of service they expect from their coordinator and to vocalize them during their initial consultation. Managing your expectations and sharing them with your coordinator will ensure that you will get the wedding that you hoped for because both you and your coordinator are on the same page!  

Communication 

In every relationship whether it’s romantic or in this case a working relationship, communication is key! In your initial consultation with your coordinator, consider asking about their communication policy. While some coordinators allow their couples to contact them 24/7 by text, email, and phone, others allow their couples to only contact them during business hours no more than 1 month prior to their wedding. As every company has a different response time and communication policy it’s important to chat with your prospective coordinators on this so you know what kind of level of communication you can expect from them. 

Reputation 

As a wedding coordinator is one of those services that you only really want to use once in your life, it’s hard to know what you want in one when you’ve never had to hire one before.  When you haven’t done something before the best way to find out more about it is to of course ask someone who has! Asking for advice from friends/family members who have hired a wedding coordinator before, especially if the coordinator they hired is one you’re considering, can be really helpful in getting an inside scoop on the company’s service! Along with word of mouth, reading reviews on the company and even checking out their website to learn more about their history and services can help you get an idea of what it’s like working with them before you say “i do” to their contract!

Cost 

Last but definitely not least, is the cost of the wedding coordinator. We know that so many couples are planning their wedding on a budget and sometimes it’s hard to validate the cost of such an intangible service. When meeting with various wedding coordinators, don't be afraid to ask for a quote or an estimate of what they will charge you for their services. And at the same time evaluate if the service they are providing at the cost that they’re asking best fits your needs and your budget. At the end of the day whether you hire them or not, wedding coordinators want to help couples have the wedding of their dreams. So if you do have a strict budget let your prospective coordinator know, they may be able to help you find a service or company that’s in your budget! 

A cost friendly service that we offer is the creation of a detailed timeline for your wedding day. This service is perfect for the couple that just want the peace of mind that the schedule of their wedding day has been created and approved by a professional coordinator.

To learn more about this service click HERE! 

Additional Wedding Coordinator Resources

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

CONGRATULATIONS JANAL & DEVIN! <3

2022 WEDDING HIGHLIGHT | PHOTOS BY: Aria Studios

Earlier this year, Janal & Devin tied the knot with a ceremony at the Christ United Methodist Church and celebrated the happy occasion with a reception at the Halekulani Hotel! With two locations, two sweet parent dances, and two fun wedding games this wedding was truly "TOO" cute!




The wedding day started bright and early for Janal and her bridesmaids with a knock on the door from our APD team at 6:45am! When assisting with the “getting ready” portion of the wedding day, we always meet the Bride at her hotel room to double check that she has every piece of her attire, the items that she wants to be photographed, supplies for the reception, and really anything and everything she needs for the big day! 

The next few hours went by quickly as the couple, the bridesmaids, and the groomsmen were all busy getting dressed, posing for photographs, and opening wedding party gifts! 

If you want to give your wedding party gifts to thank them for everything they’ve done for you, but you’re not sure what to get them, check out our blog sharing ideas on wedding party gifts HERE!

At noon it was time to get ready to go to the church for Janal & Devin to get married! As the wedding party and all of their guests made their way to the ceremony venue, the vendors at the church were working hard to decorate the site while the halekulani staff began setting up the ballroom. Then at 2pm on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in April the ceremony began and Janal & Devin were pronounced husband & wife!

Following their sweet ceremony the couple took photos with their family and friends at the church then headed back to the hotel to continue to take so many gorgeous wedding photos around the Halekulani property. Then at 5pm the ballroom doors opened and it was time for the wedding reception!

Janal & Devin’s wedding reception was the perfect balance of super sweet holding back your tears moments and incredibly fun can’t stop laughing moments! One of the sweetest moments of the reception was the father/daughter and mother/son dances, and one of the moments that had all of the guests laughing and smiling was the couple playing the shoe-lywed game! It was a truly wonderful night to celebrate the marriage of this happy couple! 

Need help planning your reception program? For ideas on what to do during your reception click HERE and for specific game ideas to play at your reception click HERE!

As a wedding with two locations involves a lot of moving pieces, the teamwork of a great group of vendors is extra important! We’d like to thank all of the wonderful people we were able to work with to make Janal & Devin’s dream wedding a reality!

***THANK YOU TO THESE AMAZING VENDORS***

HAIR & MAKEUP: CJ Siepka

FLORIST: Creative Concepts by Jeff

PHOTOGRAPhy/Videography: Aria Studios

Ceremony VENUE: Christ United Methodist Church

Reception VENUE: Halekulani Hotel

Transportation: Top Limousine Service

DJ/Photo booth: Hawaii Events Unlimited

DECOR: THE WEDDING LINEN COMPANY

MC: Nolan hong

To see more of Janal & Devin’s sweet ceremony, check out this amazing same day edit video created by the team from Aria Studios!

We are sooo happy to have been able to help this lovely couple have the wedding day of their dreams! Congratulations to Janal & Devin, we wish you a long and happy marriage!

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

The Do’s and Don'ts of Being in a Wedding Party

If you have the honor of being in a wedding party that usually means that someone very close to you is getting married and wants YOU to be by their side to support them on the big day! Though “party” may be in the name, being a bridesmaid or a groomsman is not just fun and games, it’s a very important role that can truly affect how the couple feels through their wedding planning process but ESPECIALLY on their wedding day! If this is your first time being in a wedding party or you just want to be the BEST wedding party member you can be, check out a few of our recommended Do’s and Don’ts of Being in a Wedding Party! 

DO: Support the Bride/Groom through any stressful emotions they have on their wedding day as well as the days leading up to it! 

DON'T: Let the Bride/Groom’s emotions affect your emotions. 

As we all know, stress can lead us to do and say things that we may not really mean. It may cause us to cry, to make things up in our mind as being worse than they really are, and can all in all truly affect our relationship with ourselves and others. Though wedding stress may not affect every bride or groom. If you notice that your friend is affected by the stress of the wedding, support them by being there to listen and help in any way they need. It’s also important to do your best to not let their emotions affect you and cause you to also become stressed, as you want to be a strong pillar for your friend through this and not be another cause of stress for them. 


DO: Help the Bride/Groom always look and feel their best!

DON'T: Point out things that you think are a problem especially if they can’t be fixed. 

 Be there to hold the bouquet, adjust the train & veil, to check that the boutonniere is pinned correctly, that they’re feeling hydrated, and of course happy! If you think something doesn’t look right, unless the Bride/Groom says something first, don’t point it out to them just for the sake of pointing it out. For instance, if you think that the ties that the groomsmen are wearing doesn’t match the shade of blue that the bridesmaids are wearing, don’t mention it to the Bride/Groom as this could just cause the couple to feel unhappy about something they never noticed and especially something that can’t be fixed. If the couple points out something that bothers them and it’s too late to be fixed, be there to reassure and remind them that regardless of the issue it’s still going to be a wonderful day because they’re marrying their best friend!

Tip: If the couple has a wedding planner/coordinator there on the day of the wedding, notify them on the "downlow" first so the couple isn't made aware/unnecessarily upset and the coordinator may be able to fix the issue!

DO: Prepare for the wedding and always be ready!

DON'T: Complain or bring attention to yourself. 


Prior to the day of the wedding, make sure that you have all of the components of your attire, from your earrings to your shoes. The last thing that you would want is to cause the couple’s wedding timeline to get delayed due to a missing wardrobe item, so with preparing for the wedding you’ll be helping to make sure that you’ll be ready right on schedule! For many couples, their wedding day is a long awaited time in their lives that they’ve possibly gone through a lot of stress and other obstacles to get to. With that in mind, for the days leading up to and of course on the wedding day, be extra mindful of the conversations you’re having with your friend who’s getting married. Try not to complain about what’s happening in your life or bring attention to other events that may be happening. This time is dedicated to your friend, so do your best to keep the attention on them and be there to fully support them as they would do the same for you!

Popular Songs for Every Moment of Your Wedding

When we think of wedding music, we often think of only songs for the ceremony processional or the first dance. The lyrics “Here comes the bride…” and the melody of the Bridal Chours immediately pops in our head and it seems like that’s the only song we can think of! But as Spotify and Apple Music has shown us there are literally THOUSANDS of songs out there and as of 2022 there are truly so many wonderful timeless songs as well as newly released music that you can choose from! And thankfully there are more places than just the wedding processional or the first dance that you can choose songs for at your wedding! Music is not only great for filling any possible awkward silences or quiet moments in your wedding day, but can greatly influence the ambiance, and mood of your guests! 

So on that NOTE, Keep on reading to see all of the different moments that music can be played at your wedding as well as to hear some of the most popular songs that are trending at weddings in 2022! 

Background Music

Like the name goes, background music is typically played when people are gathering, moving, or eating as it provides a background to the “down times'' during the day. Specific moments in the day where you can choose songs to play as your background music include: the time prior or after the ceremony (also known as prelude/postlude music), at cocktail hour, and during the meal service. As background music is played for a duration of time, rather than selecting specific songs, couples often select a specific genre as their background music!

Romantic Oldies

Jazz

Soft Pop

Hawaiian Contemporary

Processional & Recessional 

The processional song is played when walking down the aisle. Most couples choose to have two songs for their processional, the first will be played for the groom, officiant, and wedding party, while the second is played for the entrance of the Bride. However the recessional song is typically just one song for the entire wedding party to walk back down the aisle to. Popular choices for songs to be played during the processional are of the classical music genre,  Disney, and instrumental versions of pop songs. While many popular songs for the recessional are pop songs from the 2000s! 

Processional 

Canon in D (Pachelbel’s Canon) - Johann Pachelbel

Clair De Lune - Debussy

Tale As Old As Time - Beauty and the Beast

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Recessional 

Best Day of My Life - American Authors

This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole

Forever - Chris Brown 

Marry You - Bruno Mars

TIP: Typically, the entire song is not played so if there’s a specific part that you would like to be played, definitely make sure to let your planner know so that they can ensure that the musician knows when to start and stop your song! 

Ceremony Musicians: Manoa Strings | Photography: Aria Studios

Grand Entrance 

All the guests are seated and now it’s time to announce the newlyweds!! We highly recommend selecting an upbeat song that will get all of your guests on their feet and one that goes well with lots of cheering and “chee hoos”!

Celebration - Kool & The Gang

Bring “em out” - T.I. 

We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris 


First Dance + Parent Dances + Last Dance

For these sweet dances slow songs with lyrics expressing gratitude, happiness, and love are popular choices that result in several teary eyed guests. However, these dances can not only be sweet and touching but also fun and entertaining choreographed to upbeat songs that could be a fun surprise for your guests! 

First Dance

Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

You are the Reason - Calum Scott

Parent Dances

Isn’t She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion 

Last Dance

At Last - Etta James

Last Dance - Donna Summer

(I’ve had) the Time of my Life - Dirty Dancing

Cake Cutting + Bouquet & Garter Toss

For these fun wedding traditions typically done during the reception, couples often choose songs with lyrics that relate to the activity! 

Cake Cutting

Cake by the Ocean - DNCE

Sugar - Maroon 5 

Bouquet Toss

Single Ladies (Put a Ring On it) - Beyonce 

Dear Future Husband - Meghan Trainor 

Garter Toss

Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard

Who Let the Dogs Out - Baha Men

Open Dancing

Similar to background music, rather than specific songs, couples often select a type of music or genre that they would like to be played. However there are some songs that are “dance floor classics” that will most definitely get your guests up from their seats and grooving on the dance floor! 

Cupid Shuffle - Cupid 

Cha-Cha Slide - Mr C The Slide Man 

Wobble - V.I.C 


Bonus Music Moment

If you and your significant other are musically inclined, singing your thank yous may be a fun way to end the night and just one more moment in your wedding where you can add music too! 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

5 Tips to Having a Stress Free Wedding Day

A Perfect Day was created with the vision of being able to offer every couple peace of mind through planning and organization. We believe in planning ahead and being prepared, so that we can help all couples have not only a stress free planning process but most importantly a stress free wedding day! So that instead of worrying about the time vendors will arrive, who’s going where, and who’s doing what, our couples can just focus on what they're there to do, get married!!

Below are 5 tips to help you have a wonderful, memorable wedding day without the stress!  

Kahala Hotel

Photography: Bianca Photography

Tip #1: Give yourself plenty of time

Rushing to get ready to go from one place to another is not something that’s fun to do, especially on your wedding day! Stress often happens when we feel like we don’t have enough time to do something or that we’re running behind schedule. That’s why we recommend to anyone creating their own timeline to set the times that you think “at most” something will take so that if the activity does utilize the maximum amount of time your schedule won’t be affected and you don’t have to stress about being in a rush. 

Bonus tip: One area we especially recommend giving yourself extra time in, is when you’re getting dressed! We always give our Brides and Grooms 30 minutes to get dressed to accommodate them using the restroom, or in case there are any wardrobe malfunctions. 

Tip #2: Keep your planner in the loop

Whether you have a planner, day-of-coordinator, or a friend helping you with all of the details of your wedding, it’s important to always keep them in the loop ESPECIALLY if you make any changes! As their responsibility is to ensure that all of your vendors are aware of the timeline so that your wedding runs smoothly they need to know of any surprises, changes, or requests that you have. 

For example, say it’s the day of the wedding and you see that you're ahead of schedule so you tell your DJ that you want your grand entrance to begin 10 minutes earlier than what’s on the timeline. Though it’s great that you let your DJ know, as they’ll be playing your grand entrance song, it’s vital to tell your planner as well so that they can let the photographer/videographer know that they have to get in position to capture your grand entrance earlier, as well as let the banquet staff know so they are prepared to begin serving your guests earlier (while making sure the food will be ready), and letting the MC know to be on stand-by. When one thing changes in the program there are often many moving parts that are also affected, so instead of having to tell all of your vendors about a change, keep your planner in the loop so that they can coordinate all of this for you!

Tip #3: Review your timeline… A LOT

Next to your wedding certificate, your timeline will be one of the most important documents at your wedding! This is the guide that all of your vendors will be following, that’s why we create this with you at least 4 months prior to your wedding and are frequently updating it so that it’s always accurate and up to date. We highly recommend reviewing your timeline often, especially when it’s a few days before your wedding so that you know that everything that is on the timeline is what you want. This will ensure that you won’t be unpleasantly surprised or confused by anything on the day of the event. 

Tip #4: Assign a “worry warrior” 

If there’s something that you know you are going to worry about on your wedding day, assign someone you trust, your coordinator or possibly a member of your wedding party to be your “worry warrior”. They will be the person that will focus on taking care of this stressor so that you don’t have to worry about it! For example, if you’re worried about having something in your teeth in all of the photos, ask your bridesmaid/groomsmen to carry floss or a toothpick with them and to look at your teeth every so often so that if there is something, they can help you take care of it. This will help you stress less about it because you’ll know that someone’s got your back! Or in this case got your teeth! 

Tip #5: Enjoy every moment!

Our final tip is to just enjoy every moment of your wedding day! This is a day that so many of our couples have dreamed of for so long, and some of them even had to have it postponed many times. That’s why we prepare so much, so that on the wedding day our couples don’t have to stress and can just smile, be present, and enjoy the day they've waited so long for! So on your wedding day take a deep breath, let go of the stress, and just have fun!! You did all of the planning, budgeting, and hard work. Now it’s time to relax and celebrate!!! :)

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

What to do During Your Wedding Reception?

When we think of a wedding, we often think of two parts! The ceremony, where tears are shed as the couple is pronounced legally married! And the reception, where we clink our glasses and celebrate the newlyweds! Though ceremonies are typically pretty quick, receptions usually go on for hours, and with all of that time comes with so much that can be done. The following are a few ideas for things that you can do during your wedding reception!

Grand Entrance

“Ladies and gentlemen, please make some noise for the newlyweds!!” The first thing that you can do at your wedding reception is make a grand entrance! This is a fun way to start the party off and get to see the smiling faces of your guests as you enter the ballroom. 

Toasts/Speeches

Often done at the beginning of the reception program prior to dinner AND/OR after dinner and before dancing, we often see toasts and speeches done by the couple, their relatives, and the wedding party! One of the most popular toasts, often seen at local Japanese weddings is the Banzai Toast! If you want to learn all about the Banzai toast, what it is and how it is done, check out our blog & video HERE.

Traditions 

Often seen at weddings are your typical wedding traditions, however pretty unique to Hawai’i weddings are the many different cultural traditions done during the receptions. 

The Bouquet and Garter Toss

  • One of your classic wedding traditions. This activity is a fun way to share some of the good luck the couple has, with any of their guests who are looking to find their own significant other. 

The Cake Cutting Ceremony

  • Another classic wedding tradition, typically done after dinner as it's also a delicious dessert for all of your guests! 

cultural traditions

  • As we mentioned earlier, we often see the display of so many different Cultural Traditions at Hawai’i Wedding receptions. Some of these popular traditions are the Chinese Lion Dance, and a Hula performance. As there are also cultural traditions that can happen all throughout your wedding day, check out our blog sharing more of these wonderful traditions HERE!

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

Activities 

The following activities can be done throughout various moments of your reception, and are ones that involve your guests a bit more!

Table Photos

  • Want a photo with every single one of your guests? If you’re having a buffet served meal, as the tables get called up to go to the buffet, the guests can make a stop at the dance floor to take a photo with you and your new spouse! 

Games 

  • There are SOOO many different games out there that can be played at your wedding reception! For details of specific games and when to play them during your reception, check out our blog HERE sharing some of the most Popular Wedding Games to Play at Your Reception. 

Same-Day Edit/Slideshow

  • A popular option many videographers offer is a same day edit, where they quickly edit together all of the footage they took from your wedding day so far and create a short video for you and all of your guests to watch. Another option we often see is couples creating a slideshow filled with photos of their childhood to adulthood and of their relationship, showing a truly beautiful story of how their two separate lives led them to come together to be one! 

Photo Booth 

  • With a photo booth your guests will be able to take one or multiple photos that they can keep as a memory of your wedding! Some photo booth packages even offer a photobook so that you can have a copy of every photo that was taken and can look back at a gallery of silly pictures of your family and friends! 

Photography: Embr Photo

Dancing 

Last but not least, we have dancing of course!! There are many different types of dances that you can do during your reception, below are four of the most popular ones! 

First Dance

  • Your first dance as a married couple! Typically done at the beginning of the reception program right after the grand entrance OR done at the end of the reception program right before opening the dance floor to everyone! 

Parent Dances 

  • These very sweet and eye watering dances are done with the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son of the married couple. They’re often done separately with two different songs, or together with the same song. 

Open Dancing

  • The time for everyone to follow the directions of the Cupid Shuffle! Most couples choose to have open dancing in the last 1-2 hours of the night after they’ve done all that they wanted to do in their reception program. 

Last Dance

  • As the name goes, this is the last dance of the night! Couples typically choose an upbeat song to close the night off dancing with all of their guests, or lately have seen to be selecting a sweet love song ballad to dance to in the empty ballroom as their guests wait outside for their grand exit! 

Though receptions are typically a few hours, depending on how much you want to do and the specific time that each activity takes, you may not be able to do it all. However, we highly recommend creating a list of the activities that you want to do in order of priority. Then you can discuss them with your coordinator as soon as possible so that they can help you create your dream reception program that’s also realistic and doable!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

7 Hawaii Wedding Favor Ideas

As your wedding guests are taking the time out of their busy schedules to fly in, drive in, or even boat in (for any folks coming by cruise line!) favors are the perfect way to give thanks for them being there to celebrate you! And though any type of favor will be a sweet memento of your special day, for a wedding in the beautiful islands of Hawai’i you definitely don’t want your guests to miss out on favors that are made locally and highlight the culture of Hawai’i. 

So whether you’re a local couple with only guests born and raised in Hawai’i, or a couple having the destination wedding of their dreams in the islands, having wedding favors that show off Hawai’i FLAVORS is a wonderful way to say “Mahalo” to all of your guests! 

These are just 7 ideas for favors that you could have at your Hawai’i wedding! 

Cookies

Specifically cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company! Easily recognized by its pineapple shaped cookies and containers, the Honolulu Cookie Company has a large assortment of cookies that couples can order in individual or family size tins as their wedding favors! Though the delicious shortbread cookies may be devoured by your guests before the night is over, as the pineapple themed packaging is something that they can keep, this favor is the perfect combo of a truly delicious yet reusable Hawai’i themed treat!

Photography: Bianca Photography

Macadamia Nuts

Did you know that most of the world’s cultivated macadamia nuts are grown right here in Hawai’i? Isn’t that just NUTS! And located on the Big Island, the Mauna Loa company produces not just your typical buttery macadamia nut but also has a wide variety of flavors from Hawaiian Sea Salt to even chocolate covered macadamia nuts! These favors make for the perfect snack, especially for out of town guests who have a long flight back home.

Chocolates

You can’t go wrong with chocolates, especially chocolates from Big Island Candies! Though they make cookies and other baked goods as well, this local company’s chocolate creations truly represent the sentiment that love is SWEET!

kona Coffee

Give your guests coffee that they can’t just order at Starbucks! 100% Kona Coffee shows off the unique coffee flavor of Hawaii and can be found in many Hawai’i grocery stores. The Hawaii Coffee Company is one of the local businesses that brew this delicious blend. Guests can take home individual bags of coffee grounds and will be able to wake up with a nice cup of joe after a long night of celebrating and dancing!

Soap

A favor that can be used for many days after your wedding day is soap! There are quite a few different kinds of soaps made locally in Hawaii. Kope Soap is a company that reuses coffee grounds by turning them into artisan soap bars! As everyone seems to be focused on doing a better job at washing their hands, this is a great favor that smells wonderful while also fighting germs!

Candles

Speaking of smelling wonderful, candles that are locally poured in Hawai’i with the scents of the islands is a favor that will be a great reminder to your guests of your special day while also filling their home up with the local aromas of Hawai’i. Jules + Gem Hawaii are one of the companies that make these sweet smelling candles, with scents such as Puakenikeni (jasmine, neroli and gardenia) and Guava Nectar (guava, mango, citrus). 

Hawaii Related

If you’re not certain on the local item that you want as your favor, but do know that you want a favor that includes Hawai’i, our final idea is checking out websites such as Etsy to see all the ways that you can customize an item to include accents of Hawai’i. That way though the item may not be local to the islands, it would still be related to the location of your wedding!

We hope these 7 favor ideas help you with finding the perfect favor for your Hawai’i wedding! 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

CONGRATULATIONS CHERIE & CHAD! <3

2022 Wedding Highlight | Photos by Derek Wong Photography

Earlier this year we had the wonderful opportunity of helping Cherie & Chad tie the knot at the beautiful Kahala Resort! Located on the east side of the island of O’ahu, the Kahala Resort was the perfect venue for these two. They were able to have the best of both worlds, with a sweet outdoor ceremony at the Plumeria Grove and a lively indoor reception at the Waialae Ballroom.

Resorts are a great venue choice as couples are typically able to stay in a room at the hotel, prior to their wedding day. This makes it very convenient and stress free for the couples to get ready at the venue on the morning of their big day!

Speaking of getting ready, having your wedding party help you get ready not only creates really wonderful photos but is a sweet way for them to show you how much they love and support you on your big day! Cherie & Chad’s bridesmaids and groomsmen were all smiles as they helped them with their finishing touches before it was time for the first look! 

On the staircase in the lobby to the backdrop of greenergy and orchid flowers, Cherie & Chad had their first look! Eyes were watering as everyone could see how much love these two have for each other!

Following the first look, the couple took photos together, and with their wedding party before making their way to the ceremony site. Guests arrived and got seated as the prelude music began. Then at 5:00pm the ceremony started, and in the beautiful state of Hawaii Cherie & Chad were pronounced husband and wife! 

As every wedding takes the teamwork of many hardworking vendors we wanted to thank all of the individuals who helped to make this wedding happen!

***THANK YOU TO THESE AMAZING VENDORS***

VENUE: Kahala resort

FLORIST: florist grand

HAIR & MAKEUP: face art beauty

PHOTOGRAPHEr: Derek Wong Photography

lion dance: gee yung sports association

VIDEOGRAPHER: dream FX media

DECOR: aloha artisans

DJ/MC: dj neekz

To see a bit more of Cherie & Chad’s beautiful wedding, check out this wonderful clip created by the team from Dream FX Media!

Congratulations again to Cherie & Chad! We are wishing you a wonderful marriage filled with lots of love and laughter!

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

Who's job IS it? Getting to know your Wedding Vendors and their roles.

There are a lot of people that will be an essential part of your big day to make your dream become a reality. To name a few, there is a Catering Sales Manager, Banquet Captain, Wedding Designer, and Wedding Coordinator. What role does each person play? Here is a brief description of their specialties and how they’re an important contribution to your special day.

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Catering Sales Manager
The title of Catering Sales Manager may differ for each venue. Most commonly, their primary role is to assist you with securing the venue, along with the floor plan, food, and beverages should you decide to order from the venue. Sometimes the Catering Sales Manager will be confused as a Wedding Coordinator. Please keep in mind that the Catering Sales Manager specializes in the venue, available amenities, and their menu options. Unlike a Wedding Coordinator, they won’t be able to assist you with reminding your bridal party of all pertinent call times and “don’t forgets” on the wedding day.

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Banquet Captain
Now let’s introduce the Banquet Captain! Their role is to execute what was agreed upon in your Catering Contract/BEO (Banquet Event Order). They are responsible for overseeing the execution of all details arranged with the Catering Sale Manager/banquet operations. Therefore, if you have any concerns about the venue on your big day, it should be communicated with your Banquet Captain.  After spending the amount of time, whether it’s days, weeks, or months, communicating with your Catering Sales Manager about your selections, pricing, and details, there is a high possibility that your Catering Sales Manager will be present on your wedding day for a limited amount of time (if at all). Rest assured; this is when your Banquet Captain steps in! The Catering Sales Manager and the Banquet Captain work closely together in communicating the specifications for your big day. Your BEO (Banquet Event Order/Private Party Agreement/Wedding Detail Report) is one of their most essential tools of communication, which is why it is so important to make sure it’s accurate and delivered to your Catering Sales Manager by the deadline.  NOTE:  If you hire A Perfect Day, we will work VERY closely with your Catering Manager AND Banquet Captain on your behalf.

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Wedding Designer
Behind door number three, we have your Wedding Designer! Your Wedding Designer specializes in collaborating every element in a way that will bring each couple’s wedding ideas to life; creating the perfect ambiance for your special day. They have skills in décor, lighting, layout, texture, and color design. From table linens, napkins, chair types and shapes, flowers, walls, to spotlights that pulsate to the music, your Wedding Designer will be able to provide insight and design to keep your wedding aesthetically constant with your invitations and thank you notes. Your Wedding Planner, Florist, and/or even Decor/Rental Company could be your “Wedding Designer” or you may consider hiring someone who’s sole responsibility and role is to design your wedding.

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TIP: Some vendors (including A Perfect Day) might even give you their design input for FREE!

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Wedding Coordinator (AKA: Wedding Planner)                                                                            Finally, we are pleased to present… your Wedding Coordinator! This is the person that gathers all your details together (from Catering Manager, Banquet Captain, Designer, Photographer, etc.), organizes, and manages all aspects of the wedding to ensure that things run smoothly on your big day. Essentially, their role is to alleviate the stress from the Bride & Groom so the couple can enjoy their wedding! From having a copy of your speech handy, making sure you have the lucky envelope (li-cee) ready for the Chinese Lion Dance performers, to keeping track of your photographer, your Wedding Coordinator will know each person’s role and make sure each of them plays their part so you won’t have to run around in your extravagant wedding heels. Above all, their main concern is the happiness of the Bride & Groom!

Your Wedding Coordinator is also a great resource for everything wedding related! Coordinators may offer excellent consulting services to point you in the right direction, such as advice on which photographer fits your budget. However, it is entirely up to the couple to decide how involved or not involved they want the coordinator to be in the planning process. This is how your coordinator determines a price quote for their services. The price may vary, depending on the coordinator and the services they provide.

~Happy Planning!

Popular Wedding Games to Play at Your Reception

Next to getting married to the love of your life, the second best part of weddings is that sooo many people that you love are all together in one place! It’s an amazing opportunity to not only remicinse on all of the fun times that you’ve had together, but to create another incredibly fun time together celebrating your big day! One way to do this is through some wedding themed games! :)

Though there are so many wedding game ideas out there, the following are just a few that can be played at three different moments at your reception.

games to play at the Registration Table

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

Games at the registration table area allow guests to have something that they can do as they are waiting to check in, or for the reception doors to open. As the newlyweds are typically taking photos at this time, the results of the games are something that the couple can look forward to seeing following the wedding!  These activities range from sweet letters to the newlyweds that they will definitely cherish, to votes by the guests on who’s snack or drink choice is better resulting in the winner earning some bragging points! 

TIP: Having an activity for your guests to do during this time also assists with the flow of traffic entering the reception area.

Examples of games to play at the Registration Table

  • Who Has Better Taste? | The couple will have their favorite snack or cocktail drink on display for guests to vote for the one that they like best. The voting can be done by encouraging the guests to consume the snack/drink of their choice so that at the end of the night the couple can see which of them has the better taste based off of the item that’s been eaten or ordered the most by their guests!  

  • The Secret to a Happy Marriage | Guests who would like to bestow their knowledge to the new couple can provide their greatest marriage advice on pieces of paper that they can drop into a safe box or envelope so that the couple can refer to the words of wisdom throughout their marriage. 

  • One Year Anniversary Cards | Guests can wish the couple a happy anniversary and leave sweet messages to the couple that they can look forward to reading in one year, on their first wedding anniversary.

games to play at The Table

Games at the table are typically ones that can be done as an individual or as a group with the other guests sitting on the table These usually are more mental than physical as they can be done while guests are sitting at their table, enjoying their meal or during any down times throughout the reception!

Examples of games to play at the Table

  • Couple Trivia | On a piece of paper or google form, guests can show off their knowledge by answering fun trivia questions about each newlywed, their love story, and etc. 

  • Newlywed Crossword | A puzzle that can be worked on throughout the duration of the reception, guests can work individually or together to solve the wedding themed crossword puzzle. The questions can be related to general wedding terms or words related specifically to the couple.  As this puzzle may be a little more difficult for any guests that are kids, a word search can be given to them instead! 

  • Centerpiece Giveaway | As the name goes the winner of this game will walk away with the centerpiece! We’ve seen so much creativity with this activity but one of our favorites is directing the guests to listen to a story read by the MC and whenever they hear the words “left” or “right”, they need to pass the centerpiece (or designated item) in that direction and when the story ends the person holding the item is the winner who gets to take the centerpiece home! Creating a story that uses the words “left” or “right” quite a bit and repeatedly, tends to make for lots of laughs by the guests and especially by the couple as they get to watch their family and friends juggle around the centerpiece! 

Games to play on the dance floor

Photography: Aria Studios

The type of games that can be played on the dance floor are great for involving guests both actively and passively as those who are a bit more outgoing can volunteer to participate in the games while others who are more comfortable watching, can still be entertained by the games from their seat. Note that as these games typically involve the use of the dance floor and a portion of the reception time, the inclusion of them will reduce the amount of open dancing time.

Examples of games to play on the dance floor

  • Shoe-lywed | The couple sits or stands back to back and has their shoe in one hand and their significant other’s shoe in the other hand. The MC will ask questions such as “Who made the first move?” or “Who’s funnier?” and the couple will raise the shoe of the person who best matches the statement! Guests can watch and react as they see the newlyweds raise their shoes. There’s typically a lot of laughter when the raised shoes are opposites!

  • Gimmie Gimmie | The MC will ask for guests to “gimme gimme” a specific item, typically something that can be found in a wallet, and the guests can run these items up to the dance floor. The person who is able to provide the most requested items the quickest, wins! 

  • Wedding Guest Bingo | A great way to have your guests mingle, this game encourages guests to talk to one another to see if they can achieve “Bingo” or “Blackout” by getting their bingo sheet signed off by other guests. Instead of numbers in each square, there are statements such as “Has traveled to Europe”, “Speaks another language”, or “Is left handed” so guests have to introduce themselves and chat with each other to find someone who matches each statement so that they can be the first to shout “BINGO!” 

 Wedding Games > Dating Games amirite!!

Want more wedding game ideas? Check out these articles! 

So if you’re looking for a way to have your wedding guests more involved, to create fun memories with them, and to stir up some friendly competition; consider playing games during your reception!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

Tour of Hawaii Vista Weddings

Looking for a one-of-a-kind venue that’s all inclusive, has numerous photo opportunities, and is quiet & private for your intimate wedding? If so, then keep reading on, as we highlight the perfect venue for you. Hawaii Vista Weddings!

Nestled in the Pearl City mountains, when entering this gorgeous estate you and your guests are immediately transported to a serene valley. As it is a private site, you won’t have to worry about any photobombers or strangers being a part of your special day. Making this location a truly intimate setting to say “I Do” to your best friend!

Photography: Michele C Photo

Hawaii Vista Weddings has many different packages that you can choose from, designed to alleviate any stress with planning your wedding and especially on your wedding day! Though the various packages have different items/services included with them, all of them will have the following ready and set up for you.

  • A decorated arbor

  • Tables

  • Chairs (decorated aisle chairs and reserved signed seats)

  • Bridal Suite

  • Linens

  • Water Station

Also included in the Hawaii Vista Wedding packages, is us! Our A Perfect Day team will be assisting you with the coordination of your wedding leading up to the big day. We will also be on site on the day of your wedding to make sure that everything goes smoothly!

Not only do the Hawaii Vista Wedding packages include all of the above, they also have options for a reception and photoshoot at the venue! They even have partnered with Via Gelato to have the option of a Gelato Cart at your wedding so that you can serve a sweet treat to all of your guests on such a sweet day!

Below are a few photos from the many photo opportunities that can be found all around the venue! Such as the tree-top platform, a cliff side platform, a bamboo forest, and gardens to help commemorate your special day.

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

Not only is the venue an amazing place to get married but the person you work with is amazing too! Diana Moore is the wonderful owner of Hawaii Vista Weddings, who is dedicated to helping every one or her couple’s have the wedding day of their dreams! We LOVE working with Diana and are so grateful to be the planning & coordination team for Hawaii Vista Weddings!

Photography: Bianca Photography

As we can only share so much through photos and descriptions, we highly recommend checking out the video below as it takes you on a virtual tour of the Hawaii Vista Weddings venue!

Videography: Agalia Films

For more information on this wonderful venue and to contact Diana to book her for your intimate wedding, visit the Hawaii Vista Weddings website by clicking HERE!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

8 Cultural Traditions Seen at Hawaii Weddings

We are so lucky to live in a place with such a diverse population! This diversity is often seen when attending weddings in Hawaii as many times couples will integrate their culture into the celebration! Though there are truly SOOO many different cultural traditions that we often see at Hawaii weddings, the following are just 8 of the most common traditions that we’ve seen. We love that couples choose to celebrate their heritage, or the Hawaiian culture, on their special day and we hope that weddings will continue to be a way for different families and cultures to be joined together by love!

Photography: Michele Coelho Photography

Lei Exchange

One of the most iconic symbols of the Aloha spirit is a lei. In Hawaiian culture, leis represent love, celebration, and of course Aloha! As we often see, leis are adorned on those we are celebrating. At weddings we not only tend to see leis worn by the couple but also on those that we are so incredibly grateful for, such as our close family & friends, even visitors who fly to the islands to celebrate the special day! Whether you choose to include a lei exchange in your ceremony or simply lei your loved ones on the big day, leis are a beautiful way to incorporate and honor Hawaiian culture into your wedding! 

Want to include leis in your wedding but are not sure which style of flowers you should give to your family and friends? Have a chat with your florist to see which flowers will be in season at the time and what style they recommend for each person/group that you would like to lei

Origami Cranes

Photography: Rebecca Keizer Studios

A Japanese-American cultural tradition that we often see at local Hawaii weddings, is a display of origami cranes! Specifically 1,001 cranes made using origami paper, typically gold! The tradition stems from Japanese culture, in which the cranes represent longevity and good luck. Believed to live for 1,000 years the cranes can also be arranged and displayed as a larger picture (i.e arranged in the last name, an animal, heart, etc.). Traditionally, the bride will fold 1,000 cranes and the groom will fold 1! But I’m sure that’s something about this custom, that’s okay to change ;)



Photography: Anela Benavides | Officiant: Grant Gomes | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

Blowing of the Pū

The Hawaiian conch shell, also known as the Pū, can often be heard at the start and end of a wedding ceremony. In Hawaiian culture the call of the Pū is believed to summon all four elements (air, fire, water, and earth). It’s commonly blown at weddings to invite the elements to be witnesses of the union, Pū-tting out the loving energy for the happy couple.

Tea Ceremony 

Though there are many Asian cultures that include a Tea Ceremony in their wedding, the Tea Ceremony we are specially highlighting is the Chinese Tea Ceremony. This tradition gathers family members of both sides and allows the couple to serve their relatives tea as they receive wishes of good fortune, and gifts from their families. This bringing together of families shows that the bonds of marriage stem beyond two people, but is a marriage of families. The ceremony most typically is held prior to the western ceremony and is a way to bring both culture, family, and happiness to this special occasion. 


Interested in learning more about the Chinese Tea Ceremony? Check out our blog sharing details on the traditional ceremony HERE!

Photography: Visionari

Hula

Photography: Seeking Films

Dating back to ancient Hawaiian times, the Hula is not only a way of dancing but it was seen as a way to tell history and stories. This Hawaiian dance is often performed at weddings by the bride to the groom or by hired dancers, during the reception program. Having a Hula performance at your wedding is a truly beautiful way to show your love and to honor the Hawaiian culture.

Money Dance

Similar to the Tea Ceremony, many cultures have a Money Dance tradition tied to their heritage.  Though the Money Dance may be performed a little differently in each culture, the performance generally involves the couple dancing with or for their guests as their guests shower them with money. This custom is a way for the couple to feel the love and support they have from their family and friends as they begin their new lives together!

Photography: Aria Studios

Banzai Toast

Photography: VIVIDfotos

If you’re at a local wedding there’s a likely chance that you’ll hear someone hear someone ask you to raise your glass and shout "BANZAI!" three times! This chant that can often be heard at local Japanese weddings, is known as the Banzai toast! The cheer is typically conducted by a speaker yelling Banzai and the guests repeating it three times, each time getting louder and louder! As the term is believed to mean 10,000 years of life, the toast is often conducted twice in order to wish both the newlyweds and their guests 10,000 years of life! So the next time you're at a wedding and hear this toast make sure you shout back with a great "BANZAI!"

Want to see the Banzai toast in action? Check out our blog sharing a video of this toast and details on how you can do it at your wedding HERE!

Lion Dance

In Chinese culture, the performance of the Lion Dance symbolizes happiness and good fortune! It’s often performed at local weddings as it is a way to bless the couple and wish them a long and happy marriage! Not only will the Chinese Lion scare away evil spirits from getting to the newlyweds, but they will also definitely entertain all of your guests! So if you’re going to be attending a Hawaii wedding soon, make sure to bring a few extra dollars so that just in case a lion dance is performed you can feed the lion! TIP: Either have dollar bills to give your guests to feed the lion OR let them know in advance they may want to bring cash if they want to participate in this specific tradition :-) !

Photography: Derek Wong Photography

Though these 8 cultural traditions are ones that we see most often at weddings, if there’s a custom that you want to include in your special day, we definitely recommend letting your coordinator know as soon as possible so that they can help you create a ceremony or reception timeline that will perfectly showcase your cultural tradition. 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

CONGRATULATIONS STEPHANIE & DANIEL! <3

WOW time sure flies by! We can’t believe that it’s already been a little more than 4 years since this lovely couple tied the knot in July of 2018! As they recently celebrated their 4 year wedding anniversary, we thought it’d be the perfect time to congratulate them as well as reminisce on their beautiful wedding at the Halekulani Hotel!


Where most weddings typically have two main parts to the entire event: the ceremony, and the reception. Stephanie & Daniel had three main parts as they also held a tea ceremony prior to their wedding ceremony!

Interested in including a Chinese Tea Ceremony at your wedding? Check out our blog sharing all the details of this beautiful cultural ceremony HERE!

As there were three parts to this wedding, there were also three outfit changes! We love that Stephanie had a different pair of heels that perfectly matched the dress she wore for each event! We don’t know about you, but we can’t (jimmy) CHOO-se which pair we like the most!

Following their tea ceremony, Stephanie & Daniel got ready to exchange their vows in front of their family and friends! Then at 4:00pm the ceremony began at the Halekulani Courtyard and all eyes were on the bride & groom as they said “I Do!”

As it truly takes the combined effort of numerous vendors working together to execute the wedding of every couple’s dreams. We’d like to thank the wonderful companies we were able to work with to put on this wedding!

***Thank you to these amazing vendors***

Venue: Halekulani Hotel

Hair & Makeup: CJ Sipeka

Tea Ceremony Furniture & Flowers: Current Affairs

Ceremony Musicians: Manoa Strings

Florist: Su-V Expressions

Decor: The Wedding Linen Company

Band: Nueva Vida

Photographer/Videographer: Aria Studios

Officiant: Kahu Kordell Kekoa

DJ/MC: Dynamic Sounds hI 

Photo Booth: Party Pix Hawaii

To see more of Stephanie & Daniel’s wedding day, and all of the mentioned vendors in action! Check out the beautiful video created by the team from Aria Studios!

We are soooo happy to have been able to help these two celebrate their love with a beautiful wedding! We congratulate them on their recent wedding anniversary and wish them many more years of a wonderful marriage!

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

Are you wondering: What does a Wedding Planner typically cost? Or How do Wedding Planners determine their fee?

If you’ve spent any time researching the cost of a Wedding Planner, you know first hand that the cost ranges very widely and can be anywhere from $100-$20,000+. For that reason, we want to explain the 3 various ways Wedding Planners typically determine their fee.

HOURLY

Some Wedding Planners may charge an “hourly” rate for their services which means you will be paying them similarly to how you would an attorney. Depending on how many hours they put in work for your wedding would determine your cost. The “hourly” tracking could begin from work done before the wedding day (ie: creating a timeline, confirming with vendors, etc.) and continue to the number of hours they work on your actual wedding day. NOTE: ***This can be a little challenging on a strict budget as you may not be fully aware of all of the work (hours) needed to get everything you want done when you are first looking for a Wedding Planner.

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FLAT RATE

The 3rd way Wedding Planners charge is by simply quoting a “flat rate” based on the work they anticipate. While this method may be the hardest for a Wedding Planner to accurately get compensated, A Perfect Day uses this method because it allows our clients to be able to work within their budget while not worrying that by choosing a vendor that costs more or needing our help for a few more hours will break their budget. After being in business for over 18 years, we have come up with a formula that allows us to determine how much time and work will be needed prior to the wedding day along with how many staff and for how many hours of coverage will be needed on your wedding day.

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PERCENTAGE

Another way Wedding Planners charge their clients is by charging a percentage of their client’s expenses. This method is most commonly seen when Wedding Planners are hired for “Full Coordination”. As an example, if your Wedding Planner hired a photographer for your wedding and they photographer’s contract was for $6,000, if the Wedding Planner charges a 10% fee, you would owe your Wedding Planner $600.

 
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***NOTE: Some Wedding Planners may use a combination of any of the 3 methods above.

HAPPY PLANNING! XOXO

How to Narrow Down Your Wedding Guest List

GUEST BLOG BY HAWAII VISTA WEDDINGS

The guest list is probably the most daunting task of your wedding. Even if you have an unlimited budget or resources, chances are you still aren’t going to be able to please everyone. The first thing to remember is, this is YOUR wedding as a couple. Ultimately whoever will be there will affect you and your everlasting memory of this day. So before you say “I do,” be sure to say “I can” invite whomever I want!

Choose Your Wedding Venue

Book your dream wedding venue first to make sure it is the one that is right for you. Don’t let your list dictate where you have to get married. If your wedding venue is capped at 20, 50, or even 100, this will help you to make the cuts. Sometimes you are able to use the excuse for the limited amount of guests that the venue allows. Even if your venue allows large weddings, you may still want a small intimate one. If this is the case, cap yourselves at a set number. Similar to an elopement or a microwedding, guests need to understand that this is only for the very closest of friends and family.

children As wedding guests

Some couples simply can't imagine the wedding without children, while other couples just don't want them. Those on a budget may not want to worry about providing child-friendly food, or keeping kids entertained. For these couples, removing children from the wedding guest list is the best way to maintain the integrity of the wedding. Keeping the list of wedding guests children-free is both an easy way to keep the guest list small and to keep the budget low. Many people ask, “do children count as a guest?” The answer is “yes they do”. In fact, their energetic spirit can be a huge focal point of the wedding. Even though they may be smaller than the rest, their presence is large. Be sure to make it clear on your invitation or website so everyone knows that they are not being singled out. You can offer a daycare service as a polite alternative. Especially if there are a lot of guests with kids and most of their grandparents (who are their usual babysitters) may be attending the wedding too. If you are considering eliminating children from your wedding guest list, remember that your choice is a personal one so people should understand this.

Make categories into tiers

Looking at a long list of people and deciding who to cut can be overwhelming. Try putting your guests into categories. Closest friends, acquaintances, closest family members, extended family, kids, co workers, family friends and so on. Put theses categories from most important to least important and start cutting people from the bottom. Some people fit into two categories so you may want to put them in the higher category since they are important enough to be in two of them.You may want to hold off sending invites to your co workers if you may be changing jobs. It could be awkward having your old boss and co-workers come to your wedding. Send your invitations in waves with the highest tier first. As you get RSVP’s you can then go to the next tier. If your 3rd cousin and their 4 children are not invited, they may be more understanding when they find out that your other 3rd cousin and new boyfriend are not invited. As human beings, we compare and notice these things and it’s understandable to not want to feel singled out.

One Year Rule

If you haven’t talked to a friend in over a year, you should consider not inviting them. Also, if you don’t foresee yourself being friends with these people in 5 years, that can be a factor. The pandemic has put a highlighter on who our true friends really are. Who are the people you just couldn’t go without talking to or seeing for more than a year?Who are the people that uplifted and supported you both as a couple? Do you ever think about how they are doing and have the urge to text or call? If the answer is “no” then you may want to cross them off the list. Wedding invites do not need to be reciprocal. Just because your co-worker invited you to their 400 person wedding, does not mean that you need to invite them to your intimate micro wedding of 20 people. Family members can be a bit tricky. You and your brother may have gotten into a falling out and have not talked for over a year. This does not mean that you shouldn’t invite him. This may be what brings you two together instead of farther apart. So be selective when using this rule.

Make sure you are the one making the list

Parents have great intentions and even though you are an adult, they may feel the need to help and take over. The problem is that they may not feel the same people who are important to you are the same to them. It can be a bit tricky if they are helping you pay for it. So set boundaries from the start before they start inviting all of their friends to your wedding. Keep the list to yourselves and tell everyone the list will be announced soon. Try not to ask for suggestions or thoughts that may influence you. You know yourselves the best and this will transfer to how you feel on your wedding day. All the adorning eyes on you should be from everyone who truly loves you and you them.

Having Vendors Double As Guests

In some cases, it is nice to have one of your friends or family members double as a vendor. For example, if your sister is a brilliant pianist or singer, she may play at the wedding. Just make sure it is only for a short period of time like the walk down the aisle so she can enjoy the rest of your wedding. Unless you need live music at your wedding, having a playlist on bluetooth speakers works just as well. It is recommended however to hire a professional officiant, photographer or videographer. These are all important vendors that you don’t want just anyone doing. If you ask your cousin who is an amateur photographer to take pics with his new camera, you may be sourly disappointed. Just tell him you don’t want him to work on your wedding day.

No one said wedding planning is easy and turning people away is not fun. You’ll always want a wedding planner to help you with the heavy lifting. However, when it comes to planning the list, you are the only ones who truly know in your heart who means the most to you.

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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