danielle and chris
The biggest compliment you can get from a former client is when they refer you to their family. This couple came to me through a lovely client who hired me early on in my career and is now a fellow wedding vendor I work with frequently. The groom, a Canadian cousin of my former client, wanted to plan a destination wedding in Hawaii and he knew he was going to need some help.
I was pleasantly surprised when they hired me immediately after our consultation. With just 6 months to plan everything, they wanted to get started right away. From the beginning I was presented with the creative challenge of infusing the bride’s passion for incorporating cultural education into the overall theme of the celebration. As an advocate for indigenous cultures around the world, she wanted to make sure all her guests traveling to Hawaii had an opportunity to learn about Hawaiian culture and traditions while attending the wedding. Together we identified several parts of the wedding where it would make sense and still maintain the feeling of a wedding. Aside from the cultural inclusively, the couple wanted to make sure there was amazing food and drinks and a classy timeless aesthetic.
On the wedding day, all throughout set up, it rained. The poor bride kept looking out the window to check on the weather while my team and I tried to keep everything protected from the elements. Even as the guests arrived, it was raining … but to our compete surprise, the rain stopped and the sun emerged just minutes before the ceremony began! From there, everything was smooth sailing.
The ceremony beautifully incorporated several Hawaiian traditions including an oli, the blowing of a conch shell, a Hawaiian blessing and a lei exchange. During the cocktail hour guests enjoyed watching live Hawaiian music and hula dancers and learned how to make traditional Hawaiian Haku (flower crowns). A dear friend of the bride’s created a custom seating chart featuring important Hawaiian Gods and Goddesses to help carry through the educational theme. To spice up the grand entrance, the guests created a tunnel of sparklers for the newlyweds to run through as they entered the tent for the reception. Once the guests sat for dinner, family style platters of local farm to table cuisine were served. The guest tables were adored with lush leafy tropical arrangements created by another cousin of the groom’s. After dinner, the bride and groom’s children gave sweet and funny speeches that primed everyone for the dancing portion of the evening. Overall, the fusion of all their inspiration was a huge success!
Photo credit: June Cochran Photography