Real Weddings- Chad and Nicole's Engagement

It’s with much excitement that I present Chad and Nicole’s engagement photo session.

They are beautiful individuals both inside and out and the love that they have for each other is so evident in each of these gorgeous photos.

I'll have more highlights from this amazing couple’s engagement party and the big event...their wedding! Check back over the next few weeks for scrumptious details about their special season of life.

love.joy.laughter

Wedding Café Workshop-Beauty Tips

The Wedding Café kicked off their winter/spring workshop series last week with a dazzling line-up of wedding hair and make-up pros. Here are a few helpful tips from the experts.

Christine from Flaunt touted the benefits of airbrush makeup for picture perfect foundation coverage not to mention tattoo and tan line cover-up as well. She added that a deeper and brighter lip color can easily take a daytime look into an evening look.

Serena from Dorys Foltin shared the importance of a touch-up kit for your big day. Don’t forget to pack it with blotting papers, lip gloss, q-tips and hair pins.

Tania the namesake of Beauty by Tania shared that she can tell when a bride has treated herself to a facial by the natural glow that radiates from her skin.

Niki from Naturally You gave the three essentials of beautiful skin: Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer.

Other awesome pros suggested bringing in photos of hair and make-up styles that appeal to you, along with a picture of your wedding dress.

Tanna of the Wedding Café shared a funny and personal story testifying to the importance of a trial hair and make-up session. You’ll have to stop by the Wedding Café and ask her for the details, but I'm sure after everyone in the room heard her story,they were all convinced that a trial run is a must!

Check here for a line-up of Wedding Café workshops that you won’t want to miss!

love.joy.laughter

Committed Love

I was recently at a stop light on a busy street and a lovely senior couple caught my eye. The rain was beginning to fall and she pulled the hood of her jacket tightly over her head as he braved the drops. He took her hand and led her slowly across the street just making it to the center median before the light turned green again. They would have to wait to cross the rest of the street safely. There’s something deeply sweet about a couple who has lived through their vows, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, and who hold each other's hands in a tender and caring way. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, here’s my tribute to committed love.
Here's to PDA the old fashion way!

love.joy.laughter

Sassy Shoes

I think I’m like a lot of girls when I say I LOVE shoes. It’s not that I’m obsessed with them or even that I own that many pairs but there’s something mysterious about a girl and her shoes and the bond we have. So deep, I know….
So while my mind is on shoes I’d like to give all brides my two thumbs up when it comes to selecting fabulous shoes for their wedding day. While white, ivory and silver are the traditional colors of footwear for brides, there isn’t a rule that says you are limited to a monochromatic theme. Show a little of your personality by jazzing up your footwear on your big day. If high heels aren’t your thing and you prefer to look into your grooms eyes and not down at his handsome head of hair, or if the thought of high heels makes you grimace with anticipatory discomfort, I’ll have low healed, fabulous shoes to share in the near future. Check out these bright and bold pairs from Zappos. They’re fun and affordable and they offer free shipping to boot. No pun intended!


More to drool over from Bluefly.


Oh so unexpected!

Go Color! Go Bold! Go For It!

love.joy.laughter

Hawaii Bridal Expo Exposed

This weekend the Hawaii Bridal Expo was held at the Neil Blaisdell Center. It was like opening up a wedding magazine and walking through the pages. I was told I looked like a kid in a candy shop and that’s how I’m sure everyone else felt. The sheer amount of talented vendors represented was overwhelming as my eyes darted from one beautiful booth to the next trying to take it all in. Photographers and videographers shared their images of wedded bliss while bakers and florists displayed creations of splendor and pure creativity. There were several booths that offered unique ways to enhance your celebration from photo booth fun to lounge rental decor. Gorgeous wedding gowns were modeled throughout the event and food samples were plentiful. Don't forget, as a wedding planner one of my jobs is to help you find vendors that will meet your specific needs. The expo will give you a chance to get a glimpse of the people that will help make your special day uniquely yours.


If you didn’t get a chance to attend the Hawaii Bridal Expo don’t fret, another great show will return this summer. It’s a great place for brides and grooms to grab their MOB(Mother of the Bride) and BF’s and to pow-wow over all of the options they have when it comes to their special day.

Cake tasting-Delicious! Floral Displays-Breathtaking! The Experience-Priceless!

love.joy.laughter

Thaw Out in Hawaii-A perfect winter wedding destination

I realize that much of the continental USA is wrapped up in parkas and tucked into Uggs which might make them feel a little frosty towards my entry about slippers-and I'm not talking about the warm fuzzy ones-think flip-flops. On one of today’s news broadcasts, mid-westerners were testing the effectiveness of a frozen banana (it had been outside for 5 minutes) in hammering a nail into a piece of wood, and it did the job. My point? I live in Hawaii, where bananas do not freeze when placed outdoors, parkas?...What’s that?...and where slippers (flip-flops) are year round foot attire. Which is why, Hawaii is the perfect place to have a winter wedding or a spring, summer or fall wedding for that matter. More on that subject below but first a little tease.

Here are a few facts about this beautiful state that I am so blessed to live in.

Average Daytime Temperature in Summer is 85 degrees F. (29.4 C)
Average Daytime Temperature in Winter is 78 degrees F. (25.6 C)
That’s right we have two seasons.
Average Water Temperature 74 degrees F. (23.3 C)

Thaw out and chill out in Hawaii.

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Slip On Comfort

High heals make legs look long and lean but after a couple of hours they make arches ache. Keep your guests mingling and grooving on the dance floor by offering them a chance to slip out or their Manolos and slip into comfy slippers-as they are called in Hawaii-aka “Flip-Flops".

Old Navy carries so many colors that you’re likely to find a pair or two that match the colors of your wedding decor.

For a little bling add a rhinestone, found at most craft stores, to the strap of the slipper using a glue gun. So easy, so chic, so fun!

Go a step further and add adorable ribbon flowers to both straps. So sweet!

Tie the slippers together with raffia or a ribbon in your color scheme and place them in a basket at your reception or party sign-in table or at the corner of the dance floor. Your guests and their tootsies will thank you!

love.joy.laughter

Sensational Shells and Starfish

This past weekend I headed to SoHa in Ward Center to check out their wonderful selection of baskets, one of my favorite organizational tools, and I discovered that they are moving and everything in the store is 30% off. Before I could get to the baskets I discovered these amazing shell displays.

How stunning would this look as a centerpiece! Use a different variety of shells at each table and mix up the vase heights for added interest. For an extra "wow" group three vases of varying heights at each table and fill them up as they did.

I love starfish, especially the sugar variety little guy on top. Add one to each guests place setting for an extra fun surprise.

love.joy.laughter