How to Start Planning for Your Wedding in Hawaii

Congratulations you're engaged!! Now the wedding planning begins! You may be asking yourself “okay, what’s next?” or “how do I even start?” That's where we come in! As we know many new fiances’ may have questions on what comes next for them we put together a few of our tips on how to start planning your wedding in Hawaii!

Meet With a Hawaii Wedding Coordinator 

First things first, hire a local wedding coordinator to assist you with planning all of the details for your big day! Your coordinator will be able to answer any wedding planning questions you have, suggest venue & vendor options, and be the person that will help you to have a stress free planning experience! 

If you’re thinking about planning your wedding on your own, or maybe you only require a bit of help with creating your timeline; consider checking out our blog sharing tips to creating your very own wedding planning timeline as well as our Timeline Creation service. 

Inquire with Venues and Select a Date 

You may have already decided that you want to get married in Hawaii, but now you have to decide where and when! The islands offer a variety of gorgeous venues both for intimate and grand weddings so we highly recommend knowing what you’re looking for in your venue and checking out various locations before selecting “the one”. When it comes to choosing the date of your wedding there are many factors that come into place. As Hawaii is a popular destination for weddings, knowing the busy season, as well as the major events happening in the islands, could help you pick a date that saves money for you and any of your guests traveling to the Aloha state.  

Photography: Embr Photo | Florist: Flower Girls Hawaii | Venue: Hyatt Regency

Create a Budget

Creating your wedding budget is definitely something that you can do prior to the steps we previously mentioned, IF you have a set budget that you would like your venue and vendors to fit in to. However, if you’re not yet sure what you want your wedding budget to be, we recommend consulting with various venues and vendors to receive a custom quote to help you create your ideal wedding budget.  

Though wedding budgeting may not be the most glamorous topic, it definitely is an important one, as your budget can affect many of your wedding decisions. That’s why we highly recommend creating your budget as early in the wedding planning process as possible. Below are a few blogs we created to help you with your wedding budget! 

Determine Your Guest List 

Now that you know the WHERE and WHEN of your wedding it’s time to determine the WHO or in this case many “whos” that you will be inviting to your special day! Creating your guest list can be difficult and if you’re planning your Hawaii wedding to be an intimate gathering it can be even tricker deciding who you’d like to be there to celebrate the big day with you.

Send Out Save the Dates/Invitations

If you’re having a destination wedding or are inviting a large number of guests that will need to travel to the islands for your big day you’ll want to send out your save the dates and invitations early in advance to ensure that your guests have lots of time to plan to attend your wedding!

Photography: Michele C Photo | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

Book Local Vendors

You’ve booked your coordinator and venue, and now it’s time to hire the rest of your vendors! Both your coordinator and venue can also be great resources to recommend vendors to you that have worked at your wedding location before, are in your price range, and would be able to deliver you the wedding of your dreams! Vendors that we often see at weddings include Hair & Makeup Artists, Photographers, Videographers, Florists, a Linen/Decor Team, Entertainment/MC, and an Officiant of course!

Wedding License 

Done within 30 days of your wedding day, one of the last but most important things to do before your wedding is getting your marriage license! For couples getting married in Hawaii we created a blog sharing the step by step process of how to get this important document. 

After you get your marriage license, you should be all set to get legally married! We hope this list helps you with planning your wedding in Hawaii. And if you’re looking for more blogs to give you wedding ideas for your Hawaii wedding, we have a few sharing traditions, florals, and favors related to Hawaii you can include on your wedding day! 


XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

5 Wedding Trends That Will Be Popular in 2023

Happy First Monday of 2023! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season with their family and friends! From creating detailed timelines to celebrating each of our wonderful couples on their special day, we are so excited for all that’s to come in this new year! For any couples looking for ideas for their 2023 wedding we put together a list of a few of the trends that we’ve been seeing in recent weddings and believe will be popular in 2023! 

Photography: Derek Wong Photography | Florist: Always Flowers 808

Vibrant Colors

Especially in Hawaii many of the vibrant colors that we typically see, include the use of tropical plants and flowers! If you’re not too sure if you want vibrant colors in your bouquet or wedding party attire, consider including the vibrant colors in other areas of your wedding such as the centerpieces or decor! 

Personalized Items

We’ve been seeing more and more couples add their initials, soon to be married last name, and even their wedding hashtag on various attire and decor on their wedding day! This is a trend that we believe will continue as websites known for specializing in personalized items such as Etsy seem to only be growing with sellers and products!

Photography: Isle Media | Aria Studios | Christie Pham Photography

Intimate Weddings

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many couples had to alter their guest size of their weddings, leading to many having private ceremonies and intimate receptions. With that we’ve been seeing and believe will continue to see couples opt for smaller weddings than what we’ve experienced prior to the pandemic. 

Photography: Michele C Photo | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

Candid & Fun Photos

Say cheese and strike a funny pose! We’ve been seeing more candid shots captured of couples and photos that include their pets too! This is a fun trend that displays the couples’ personality as well as their furry best friend! 

Photography: Bianca Photography | Embr Photo

Where to Find the Trends

Both a trend and tip on where to find trends, we’ve seen a trend of couples finding ideas for their weddings from social media sites. So if you’re looking for more 2023 wedding trends consider jumping on the trend of finding more ideas on social media sites such as Tik Tok, Pinterest, and Instagram.

We believe that these trends will be popular in 2023 and hope it helps you when planning your wedding this year!


XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

CONGRATULATIONS BROOKE & MARC!

2022 WEDDING HIGHLIGHT | PHOTOS BY DEREK WONG PHOTOGRAPHY

For our final wedding highlight of 2022, we’d like to reminisce on the sweet wedding of Brooke & Marc that took place earlier this year at the end of July. These two said their “I Do’s” at the gorgeous Kahala Resort, located on the east side of the island of O’ahu.

The couple had a lovely outdoor ceremony on the Plumeria Grove and a beautiful reception in the Maile Ballroom. Brooke & Marc’s wedding incorporated sweet white and blush florals with accents of blue and silver. It was a truly beautiful wedding filled with personal touches, intimate moments, and lots of LOVE!

Brooke wasn’t the only one wearing a white dress as a special member of the wedding party was also stealing the show, their sweet dog! As pets are such a big part of our lives, it’s no wonder we want them to be there in one of the biggest moments of our lives!

TIP: If you’re thinking of including your special friend on your big day, make sure you assign someone to be responsible for taking care of your pet and let your coordinator know as well!

Five minutes before the ceremony began our staff took their places for the processional. The wedding party began walking down the aisle to the tune of “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran played by the musicians and then everyone rose for the entrance of the Bride and her father. As she began walking down the aisle, smiles and tears could be seen in the faces of the guests as they were about to witness the beautiful union of Brooke & Marc!

Following the ceremony, everyone made their way to the Maile Ballroom for the reception. As the newlyweds both work in the medical field they turned their cake cutting ceremony into a medical procedure! The couple both wore medical gowns and had the cake cutting table set up like an operating room. It was a fun way to add a personal touch to their wedding day and made for such memorable photos! Another personal touch the couple had at their reception was a performance by the groom. Marc showed off his musical talents by playing a song on the guitar for his bride and all of their guests! 

TIP: Thinking about doing a musical performance at your wedding? Make sure to let your coordinator and your Band/DJ know in advance so that they can ensure that this goes smoothly!

At every wedding there is a team of talented vendors working behind the scenes to bring the wedding dreams of each couple to life! Though they may not all be pictured, we want to thank all of the incredible individuals who have helped us with the wedding of Brooke & Marc!

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

VENUE: KAHALA RESORT

FLORIST: FLORIST GRAND

FLORIST: CREATIVE CONCEPTS BY JEFF

HAIR & MAKEUP: whik’d hair & makeup Hawaii

VIDEOGRAPHER: YEE FILMS

PHOTOGRAPHER: DEREK WONG PHOTOGRAPHY

OFFICIANT: REVEREND MICHAEL NELSON

CENTERPIECES: happy koi nursery

LINEN: THE WEDDING LINEN COMPANY

CEREMONY MUSICIAN: KIKA INC

band: island kings band

MC: Jesse Maeda

PHOTO BOOTH: PARTY PIX HAWAII

To see more of Brooke & Marc’s sweet ceremony and fun reception check out this amazing video created by the team from Yee Films!

Congratulations to Brooke & Marc! We are so grateful to have been a small part of your wedding day and continue to wish you a marriage full of laughter and love!

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

Things to Consider When Hiring a Friend as a Wedding Vendor

Hi there reader! We hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and are excited for the New Year! Whether this is the 1st blog of ours that you’re reading or this is the 52nd one (as we’ve posted a blog every Monday of 2022) we wanted to thank all of you for reading and supporting us  throughout this year! 

For our last blog of 2022, we will be sharing some things to consider when hiring a friend as a wedding vendor! As many couples look to create their dream wedding on a dream budget, one of the various ways we’ve seen couples try to save money is by hiring their friends as their wedding vendors. As melding a friendship and working relationship can be tricky, we wanted to share some things to consider when hiring a friend. 

Are they a professional? 

Hair & Makeup: CJ Siepka | Photograhy: Dulce Photo

Is your friend a professional in the field that you are asking them to be a vendor for or are they a friend who is talented in the field but has no previous experience of doing the task? We see this often with friends who are amazing at hair and makeup or photography. They may have a lot of different hair and makeup tools as well as photography gear but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll know how to provide these services at the level that a professional may be able to. As hair and makeup techniques differ to ensure that they’ll be captured on camera while still looking natural in person, and photography and editing ability can be different based on the lighting and location of the venue, these are factors that could differentiate a talented friend from a professional friend. 

What are your expectations? 

Taking into consideration the experience and skill level of your friend is also important to managing your expectations. Of course you expect your friend to do their very best for you on your special day but if this is their first time performing this task it’s important to have reasonable expectations going into your wedding day. Not only should you consider your expectations on the level of their service but also on their compensation. As figuring out what the appropriate amount of money to give to your friend can be difficult, it’s important to have a set expectation on how much you plan to pay them and to communicate this with your friend, as well as inquire on their own expectation on their compensation to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

Pros & Cons

Quick list of pros & cons to consider when hiring a friend as a wedding vendor 

Cons

  • If communication is not clear and expectations are not met, this could affect your friendship 

  • Depending on the service they provide, your friend may not be able to enjoy your wedding as they will be working the event 

Pros

  • You’ll be able to save some money on the service your friend is providing 

  • You’ll already have an established trusted relationship with your “frendor”


Overall, hiring a friend as a wedding vendor could work out amazingly and could also be a point of stress on your wedding day. That’s why we highly recommend considering all of the above and communicating clearly with your friend to ensure that you both have a wonderful experience working together. 


XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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

Popular Floral Pieces Found at Hawaii Weddings

It’s no question that florals can add a lot of beauty and life to any wedding day! And as there are SOOO many different types of flowers and areas throughout your wedding day that they can be found, check out our following list sharing a few of the most popular floral pieces that you can have at your Hawaii wedding!

Florist: SU-V Expressions | Photography: Embr Photo | Venue: Kahala Resort

At the Ceremony

Florist: Borrowed Blooms | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings | Photography: Bianca Photography

Arbor

Although arbors come in all types and sizes, florals can make any archway look even more wonderful! If you're looking to add flowers to your ceremony altar, two popular options are utilizing multiple arrangements to decorate your arbor or a full arrangement covering the entire arbor in florals! Either one will make a beautiful backdrop to say “I Do!”

Alongside the Aisle 

Another area we often see flowers displayed at the ceremony is alongside the aisle. Two popular options are attaching the florals to the chairs that line the aisle or placing an arrangement of florals at the base of each chair that line the aisle. Both options not only look great but can be cost effective as well as you can reuse these arrangements to be the centerpieces on your guest tables at your reception!  

With the Wedding Party 

Boutonniere

Attached to the lapel of the groom and groomsmen’s suits can often be found a gorgeous boutonniere! Boutonnieres are often made utilizing a similar flower or color scheme to the bride’s bouquet, so that the look of all of the florals throughout the wedding party is seamless!  **Tip: Anyone planning to wear a boutonniere should be wearing a coat or jacket. Boutonnieres don’t work on shirts!

Lei

As weddings in Hawai’i often showcase the culture of the islands, it is very popular to see leis adorned on the couple, wedding party, and even on guests at the wedding. If the groom and groomsmen are not wearing the type of attire that a boutonniere can be attached to, having them wear a lei is one alternative option to still having them wear a floral piece on the big day! Leis are also popular with the bride as well, as we often see brides wear a lei around their neck and/or a lei on their head, known as a Haku or Lei Po’o. 

Corsage and Wristlet

For the mothers and grandmothers of the couple, other than leis, two popular floral options often worn by these ladies are a corsage or a wristlet. Note that for corsages, as most of them are pin-on, it’s important to consider the outfit that your mother or grandmother will be wearing to ensure that the corsage can be pinned on AND can remain on comfortably! 

Bouquet

Finally of course one of the MOST popular floral items we see at weddings is a bouquet! Often held by the bride and her bridesmaids, bouquets come in all different shapes, styles, and sizes making them an area of your wedding where you can really showcase your personality! 

We hope this list of a few of the most popular floral pieces found at weddings in Hawaii will help you with planning your florals on your special day! 


XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

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

7 Money Saving Tips for Planning Your Wedding in Hawaii

As the holiday season is a fun and festive time, for many of us it is also a more expensive time as the costs of gifts and food for holiday parties can add up! And on top of that, having to plan a wedding at the same time can be an EVEN MORE stressful task especially for determining your wedding budget. To hopefully help you still enjoy the holiday season while planning your ideal day we are sharing 7 money saving tips for planning your wedding in Hawaii! 

Photography: Shaneika Aguilar | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

  1. Select a Day in the Off Peak Season

    As Hawaii is a very popular travel destination especially in the summer and fall, selecting a wedding date outside of the months of May - October could save you money on the venue and especially on any travel costs. So rather than a day in June, consider a day in the very early or later half of the year to avoid the busy wedding summer season.

     

  2. Utilize a Wedding Website

    Rather than continuously sending out multiple stationery items or having to provide stamps to your guests for their RSVP cards, by having a wedding website you can direct your guests to RSVP and check your website for additional information. This will save you costs on mailing and printing fees which can definitely add up if ordering stationery items to be shipped to Hawaii. 

  3. Order Items in Advance

    Speaking of ordering items, as Hawaii is not part of the contiguous United States, having items shipped to the islands can get expensive. In order to reduce the amount of money you’ll have to spend on shipping fees make sure to order items early so that you won’t have to pay for rush fees or overnight shipping! 

  4. Shop the Sales

    Whether it’s attire, decor, or vendor services keeping your eyes and ears open to sales, coupons, or even giveaways on social media can help you get the item/service that you want at the price that you want! 

  5. Consider New Vendors

    Though it can be seen as a risk, if you’re willing to give new vendors a chance to work at your wedding they are typically more affordable as they are new to the industry and don’t have as many years of experience as other vendors do. 

  6. Opt for Silk Florals

    A topic we’re slightly biased on as our sister company, Borrowed Blooms offers beautiful silk/faux florals that can be rented at a very affordable price for weddings in Hawaii! And as florals are often one of the most expensive areas of a wedding, opting for flowers that are not only faux but are also rented rather than bought can save you a lot of money! 

  7. Go With Something Borrowed

    One of the best ways to avoid spending money is to BORROW! For instance, using jewelry from your mother or soon to be mother-in-law rather than buying new accessories is not only a way to save money but is also a very sweet way to include your current and new family into your wedding day as well! 

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

Decor Ideas for Your Holiday Wedding

Tis the season to be jolly and to get married!! For any couples who are planning to have their wedding during the holiday season and are looking for some inspiration for festive decor that will incorporate the holidays in a subtle and sweet way; the following are a few ideas that will hopefully help you plan your very merry and special day! 

Flowers & Greenery

Selecting florals that are often associated with the holiday season is one way to add a touch of the holidays to your event. For greenery, you can opt for Pine, Rosemary, and Spruce that not only look festive but smell like the holidays too! And for florals you can include popular seasonal flowers such as Poinsettias and Gardenias! Additionally, if the holiday greenery and flowers are not the exact floral types you’re looking for, you could select a color theme that’s related to the holidays and select greenery and florals that can be found in those colors instead! 

Photo From: The Knot

Photo From: BRIDES

Linens

Holiday color palettes are often seen to include various shades of red, white, gold, green, and even blue sometimes for couples who want to create the feeling of a chilly winter in Hawaii! Having a color theme inspired by the holiday season can be greatly showcased by your linens! Especially if you imagine having A LOT of linen throughout your reception venue, such as pipe and drape, uplighting, tablecloths, chair covers, napkins, and etc! Linens that are associated with the colors of the festive season can turn your wedding reception into a winter wonderland! 

Centerpieces and Favors

As typically on every guest table there is one centerpiece and favor for each guest, instead of going with something that can be seen at any time of the year as your wedding is during the holiday season you have the opportunity to have a centerpiece or favor that is specific to the holidays! For instance a centerpiece made of the holiday florals we previously mentioned, or even a mini Christmas tree! As for favors, these items could be personalized ornaments, candycanes, or sweet treats wrapped as presents. Your centerpieces and favors could be a fun DIY activity for you and your Fiance to do or of course could be something you could find from amazing homemade shops on Etsy! 

Photo From: Tulle & Chantilly

Photo From: MyWedding

Whether you choose to incorporate one or ALL of the decor ideas into your holiday wedding we hope that you’ll enjoy celebrating your special day during one of the most wonderful times of the year! :)


XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

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

Things to Consider When Hiring a Wedding Videographer

Though unfortunately everyday can’t be your wedding day, with a wedding video you can at least relive this amazing day through a beautifully edited film capturing one of the most special occasions of your lives! It's something that you can share with family and friends as well as look back on every anniversary! (or even everyday!) Knowing how important this video is we wanted to share a few things to consider when hiring a wedding videographer!  

Today we will be focusing on factors to consider that specifically apply to videographers, so along with the list below we highly recommend that you also consider the cost of your videographer and how it will impact your budget as videography can be one of the larger costs of your wedding day.  

Photography: Aria Studios

Videography Style 

You definitely want to select a videographer that creates the videos of the style that you want! When I get my haircut I often find photos of the cut and color I want but instead of looking on Pinterest for random photos I try to find photos posted from my hair stylist so that they can see that I not only like their work but want them to give me exactly what they gave another client!

Photography: Embr Photo

So the same thing can be done with videos! If you’re noticing that on your Instagram feed you are really enjoying watching videos and reels from one specific videographer whose style is exactly want you want, when chatting with them you can share the things you liked from the videos they’ve made in the past so that they know exactly what to give you.

Now in order to do this, you have to know what you want! Do you want a video with a lot of incredibly cinematic moments set against music? OR do you want a video with a more organic feel that captures speeches, and features voice over audio rather than music? Knowing what you want will not only help you find the right videographer for you but it will ensure that you wind up happy with the end result!

Equipment/Product/Turaround Time

With knowing what kind of style you want your video to be it’s important to also know the kind of shots, product, and turn around time you want to receive your video. Not all videographers use the same equipment, produce the same type of films, and edit videos in the same amount of time, so it’s important to consider these factors when selecting your videographer. 

Photography: Michele C Photo | Venue: Hawaii Vista Weddings

For instance equipment, if you know for sure that you want a drone shot overlooking your wedding ceremony (granted your venue allows drones) it’s important to look for videographers that are licensed drone pilots that have experience in capturing these shots. You don’t want to assume that just because they're a videographer they’ll have a drone because if they don’t, you’re going to end up being disappointed on your wedding day and it’d unfortunately be too late to change anything. 

With the product, videographers offer many different products and services, such as a highlight video, a full length film, a same day edit, raw footage, etc. and they can be all different durations from videos that are 3 minutes to ones that are 15 minutes. Knowing what you want will again help you in selecting videographers that will be able to deliver the exact product that you want. 

Finally with the turnaround time, as some videographers can edit their films and share them with you in a month, some can take 3 months or 6 months, some even longer. Knowing the turnaround time that you want in receiving your wedding video and the turnaround time that your wedding videographer promises will help you to select the videographer that will not only be able to create the video in the style that you want it, with the equipment you want, and give you the product you want, but do it all in the time that you want! 

Videography: Agalia Films

HOW TO FIND A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER? 

Besides word of mouth from family & friends, many vendors including videographers can be found by asking your venue! Most venues, especially hotel venues, have a preferred vendor list. And as you guessed it, this list is made up of vendors that the venue trusts and often works with. Selecting a videographer who is recommended by your venue is not only great because the venue has a relationship with them, but it means that the videographer is comfortable with capturing footage at your venue. They know where they can and can’t fly their drones (and if they’re even allowed to!), as well as where there’s great scenery and lighting.

Additionally, if you hire other vendors on the preferred vendor list they most likely have worked together before which would be a great plus to ensuring that your wedding day will run smoothly! Along with your venue you can definitely ask your other vendors for recommendations, especially your wedding coordinator, as they would have an idea of your budget and your priorities and can be able to recommend someone that would be the perfect match for you! And of course, we can’t forget to mention visiting social media and review sites such as Yelp, Google, and The Knot to read recommendations from previous couples! 

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

If you’re still in search of the following vendors as well, check out our similar blogs on a few other wedding vendors: 

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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

CONGRATULATIONS MARISA & KYLE! <3

2022 WEDDING HIGHLIGHT | PHOTOS BY Kpix photography

Today we are remincising on the gorgeous romantic and elegant themed wedding of Marisa & Kyle! This lovely couple celebrated their special day at the Halekulani Resort surrounded by blush florals, ivory decor, and of course their family & friends!

Together for 10 years, these two highschool sweethearts are truly best friends and we are so happy to have been able to help them have the wonderful wedding day they deserved! Speaking of best friends, we love the fun photos they took with their wedding party!

If there’s certain poses you’d like for your photographer to capture of you and your other half or with your wedding party, definitely have them in mind so that on your wedding day you can strike those poses and get the photos that you want!

There were truly so many wonderful moments of this wedding day! Some of the sweetest moments include the First Look, Kyle’s reaction was everything! And the exchange of their personal vows were so beautifully written and delivered. We definitely felt our eyes tearing up when seeing both moments ;’) 

Jumping from sweet to fun, this cute couple sent all of their guests home with succulents as favors! Plants are a fun favor idea as they are something your guests can take home with them and add to their garden! And personally, we think this is one favor that doesn’t succ! :P  

We are so grateful to be able to be a part of helping Marisa & Kyle have a beautiful wedding day and want to also thank all of the wonderful vendors who made this event possible!

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

HAIR & MAKEUP: Lynn Yee Makeup

FLORIST: ALWAYS FLOWERS 808

PHOTOGRAPHY: Kpix photography

VIDEOGRAPHY: ARIA STUDIOS

OFFICIANT: REVEREND MICHAEL NELSON

VENUE: HALEKULANI HOTEL

DJ: the DJ hawaii

DECOR: THE WEDDING LINEN COMPANY

LION DANCE: wah ngai lion dance association

If you want to see more of this sweet couple’s wedding day, check out this wonderful video created by the team from Aria Studios!

Congratulations again to Marisa & Kyle! We hope you both are enjoying married life and are wishing you many years of love and happiness!

XOXOXO

(A Perfect Day)

7 Items Typically Found at a Wedding Ceremony

For these past two weeks we shared some of the most popular items that we often see at a wedding RECEPTION, so we thought that it would only be fair that this week we would share some of the items typically found at a wedding CEREMONY! 

If you haven’t yet, and would like to learn more about what we often see at a wedding RECEPTION, check out our Part 1 & Part 2 blogs below! 

Please note these are just items that we often see and by no means are required at your wedding, well perhaps except for your marriage license as you definitely want to have so that you can get LEGALLY married! However, other than that important document the following items will hopefully just help to give you some ideas of things you can include in your wedding ceremony if you’d like! 

Not sure how to get your marriage license in Hawaii? Check out our blog sharing Instructions and Tips to get Your Hawaii Marriage License!  

Photography: Embr Photo | Venue: Hyatt Regency Waikiki

For the Couple

1) Marriage License

If you are not yet married and will be getting legally married at your wedding make sure to have your marriage license with you so that your officiant can utilize the information on the document to confirm that they’ve officiated your ceremony legally. Note that as this document has a lot of important personal information on it, it’s not typically used for photos. If you would like to have a photo with a “marriage certificate” you are more than welcome to bring with you a decorative one, that though it may not be an actual legal document, can be used for photos!

2) Personal Vows 

For couples who plan to exchange personally written vows it’s important to make sure to have this note with you on your person! As many dresses don’t often come with pockets, if you are unable to hold your own vows, we recommend asking one of your wedding party members or close friends, to hold on to this for you. Though it’s completely up to you on what you want to use to read your vows, we typically see couples use books specifically designed for vows, or smaller pieces of paper as they tend to appear nicer in photographs than phones or a full size sheet of paper. 

Photography: Bianca Photography | Venue: Kahala Resort | Officiant: Reverend Michael Nelson

3) Ceremony Related

As typically all ceremonies include the exchange of rings, ensuring that a member of your wedding party (usually the Best Man) or a close friend has both wedding bands with them prior to the ceremony is vital! Along with the ring exchange we have also seen many other religious and cultural traditions performed at wedding ceremonies. These traditions often require specific items such as leis, candles, wine & bread, and etc.  If there’s a specific tradition that you would like to include in your wedding ceremony, definitely let your coordinator know as soon as possible so that they can make sure you have all of the necessary items for your ceremony! 

Did you know that on our timelines, we have a specific area dedicated to listing all of the items that you will be bringing to your wedding ceremony? This is so that we can double check that you have everything you need so that your ceremony will go perfectly! (oh and we do this for your reception too!) 

If you have the day of help, but just need assistance with creating your wedding timeline, check out our Timeline Creation service! 

For the Guests

Photography: Mike Pham Photography

4) Weather Related

A completely optional but thoughtful item that we often see at wedding ceremonies are things for the guests to use to help them feel more comfortable as they watch your ceremony. As Hawaii’s weather tends to be on the warmer side with the occasional light showers we’ve seen that for outdoor weddings especially, couples will provide their guests with fans or umbrellas (usually transparent) that if needed, they can use at their ceremony. 

5) Grand Exit

Though they can be provided to all of your guests, we often see items for your grand wedding exit placed at the seats of the guests sitting in the aisle chairs. Some of the most popular items include bubbles and cones filled with flower petals! 

At the Venue 

6) The Arbor

Though most hotel wedding venues will have an arbor that you can utilize on your wedding day this is an item that we often see couples choose to rent from decor rental companies as well. Arbors that we typically see are gazebos, wooden arches, and large floral arrangements.

7) Florals

Speaking of floral arrangements, that leads us to the final item on our list that we often see at a wedding ceremony and that is flowers and greenery! Not just in the hands of the bridesmaids and on the suits of the groomsmen but alongside the aisle, on the arbor, and sometimes sprinkled down the path of the aisle we see florals! A timeless symbol of growth, love, and beauty, flowers are one way to decorate a ceremony that celebrates a romance in full “bloom” :)

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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

Popular Items Found at a Wedding Reception Part 2

Last week we went over 5 items that we often see at a wedding reception, specifically at the registration table! In today’s part 2 of this blog topic, we are going to cover 8 more popular items seen at many wedding receptions and WHERE in a reception they’re often found! If you haven’t read part 1 yet, definitely check it out HERE! Also, as mentioned in the part 1 of this blog topic, this list is focusing only on tangible items therefore it does not include any performances, traditions, or vendors.

At the Table

Photography: Embr Photo

6. Table Numbers 

Visible for your guests and the hotel staff to see, table numbers and their stands is one of the few items on this list that can be provided by the hotel venue! However, couples are definitely still able to create their own table number to use at their reception.  Along with table numbers, this couple also named each table after a different travel destination to fit their travel themed wedding!

Photography: Embr Photo

7. Centerpieces

One of the first items often envisioned when thinking about what your guests' tables will look like, are the centerpieces! They can truly be anything you want it to be, however one of the most common centerpiece ideas we see that is not only beautiful but also saves you money, is using the aisle flower arrangements from your ceremony as your centerpieces!

Photography: VIVIDfotos

8. Place Cards

Not to get confused with escort cards (as mentioned in part 1), place cards are not found at the registration table but at the guests table! Specifically at their seat, as the purpose of the place card is to tell the guest where exactly on the table they will be seating. Additionally, as they are found at each guest's seat, for plated meals they can often be seen with not just the guest’s name but with an icon to show what kind of meal the staff should serve the guest.

To learn more about the difference between an escort card and a place card check out our blog that focuses specifically on that topic HERE!

Photography: Derek Wong Photography

9. Menus

A decorative stationary item that shows your guests all of the delicious food they’ll be enjoying that evening, menus are a great way to get your guests excited about dinner and can be found at both buffet and plated meal weddings. Additionally, as we can see, the purpose of a menus can also be combined with the purpose of a place card by including the guest’s name and their dinner selection on it.

10. Favors

A sweet way to thank your guests for taking the time out of their busy schedules to celebrate your big day, favors are a popular item couples give as a token of appreciation to their guests. They can come in all shapes and forms, as plants, coasters, candy, etc. but no matter what you select your guests will appreciate them as they are so honored to be able to celebrate with you on this special day! 



Decor

Photography: Bianca Photography

11. Photo Wall

A photo wall can be used as a background for your sweetheart table OR as background for a fun photo opp for guests to take pictures with at your wedding! Photo walls come in all shapes and sizes and make for a gorgeous decor piece at your wedding reception! If you’re looking for an affordable floral wall that will last the entire night and look beautiful in photos, we suggest renting a floral wall for your wedding, from our sister company borrowed blooms! To learn more about the rental process check out the borrowed blooms website HERE!

12. Linen

Last but not least, is linen! A beautiful decor piece you can see and touch, linen can elevate your reception space to give you the look and feel of a wedding with elegance and grace. They can be found all throughout the ballroom on the guests tables as table covers, napkins, and seat covers, as well as around the ballroom as pipe and draping!

We hope Part 1 and Part 2 of our blogs sharing popular items found at a wedding reception help to give you some ideas for registration table, guest table, and decor items that you can include at your wedding reception!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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

Popular Items Found at a Wedding Reception Part 1

Whether your very own wedding is the first wedding you will ever be attending or it’s the 10+ wedding you will be going to, knowing what items to have at your wedding reception can be a difficult thing to determine as there are SOOO many different items that can be included! Now it’s definitely up to you on what you want to have at your wedding reception as there are really no required items. Well except for one item IF you’re having a plated meal, but more on that later!

So as we know it can be overwhelming to look at a long list of various items to have at your reception. We wanted to narrow it down to just 12 items that we often see at a wedding reception. This is part 1 with 5 items and we’ll be covering the remaining 8 items in part 2! Please note that this list doesn’t include any performances, traditions, or vendors and is focusing only on tangible items! However if you’re looking for additional tips and things to consider when planning your wedding reception check out our blogs below: 

For ideas on what to include at your wedding reception check out our list of 12 popular items often seen at wedding receptions and where they’re typically found!  

At the Registration Table

1. Welcome Sign

A decor item that typically stands right next to the registration table and the ballroom doors, this sign typically states the names of the couple and the date of the wedding. The welcome sign is typically the size of a poster board and rests on an easel so that it can easily be located by guests. They are also a great photo opp for guests and are often seen to be decorated with florals! We often first see the welcome sign at the ceremony site and then at the reception site following the ceremony.

2. Guest Book

Though the guest book is still used for guests to write their names and addresses in, as many couples have wedding websites where guests can input this information when they RSVP, we are now seeing more non-traditional guest books! Instead of them being used to document contact information, they are now being used to record sweet messages of luck and best wishes for the couple! A few couples are even ditching the book part of “guest book” and opting for a more creative way to display messages from their guests!

3. Card Box

As mentioned above, with more couples having wedding websites many of them also have an online registry. This allows guests to purchase gifts as well as give money to the couple  through the site. With that though you may not NEED a card box, it may be a good thing to have for any of your guests that may want to give a card in person. 

Photography: Embr Photo

4. Seating Chart

Similar to the size of a welcome sign, the seating chart lists the guests' names by their table. The purpose of this chart is to help them see who they are sitting with (note: if you want this chart to show guests what table they will be sitting at the chart would list names in alpha order by last name). Seating charts also come in handy in showing everyone where they sit so that if any of your guests are looking for another guest they can refer to the seating chart rather than having to ask you or your registration table helpers where that person is sitting.

Photography: Seeking Films

5. Escort Cards

Typically laid out so that guests can find their own card, the purpose of the escort card is to literally escort the guests to their correct table! We’ve seen so many unique ways to design escort cards but one thing they should always have is the guest’s name and their table number. IF you’re having a plated meal, either your escort card or your place card (we’ll be going over place cards in part 2!) will need to have some kind of marker to let the banquet staff know the type of meal that guest should be served.

If you’re curious to know the difference between an escort card and a place card check out our blog that focuses specifically on that topic HERE!

In Part 2 we’ll be focusing on items found not at the registration table but at the guest’s tables as well as a few decor items! Stay tuned to see the remaining items in our list!

XOXOXO

Happy Planning!

(A Perfect Day)

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

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!

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