Nick and Jessie were so fun to plan with for their destination wedding at Paradise Cove Luau. We provided them with our interview so we could get to know them well and suggest fun ideas for their ceremony and cake reception. Since their proposal took place at a restaurant at the top of a contemporary hotel at Disney with a Disney cake, Disney was incorporated into their wedding with some music selections, the bride's wedding dress hanger, and their guest book.
Nick and Jessie had family and friends traveling to Hawaii from China and Canada. While they selected Hawaii as wedding destination for its nice gardens/beach/ocean background with palm trees and nice weather, they selected Oahu because of the international flight convenience. Since the couple had never been to Hawaii before, they hired me to plan their wedding. They realized they had no basic knowledge about the area and needed someone with experience in putting the different pieces together to make a coherent wedding celebration.They truly appreciated my timely communication, attention to detail, my patience with them, and expertise.
This wedding was ALL about the flowers and decor. The Wedding Style was to be casual, romantic and soft (I think we nailed it!). The couple wanted to remember how beautiful their wedding was, so I knew the importance of aesthetics and perfect execution of the set up. Since Paradise Cove has a very strict time limit, we booked the site for additional time so we could set up everything according to plan. The couple provided inspiration photos and we worked out a design with the florist. Decor (elegant, non-traditional) included the following:
-Chuppah (not large or heavy looking) with white fabric and flowers
-a petal path
- gold chiavari chairs decorated with fabric and flowers
-wooden welcome sign and easel
-farm table for the cake display and service
-farm table for guest book and flower arrangement
-Flowers to be colors ivory, light green, gold, pastels They even requested "A gentle breeze with the smell of the ocean in the air." Thank goodness that happened!!
The couple requested that the officiant be an older male who is willing to do a non-religious ceremony and dress in the island fashion. We knew Kahu Bruce Ah Leong would be perfect for their memorable ceremony. The ceremony needed to be nonreligious, traditional, and Hawaiian style with an intimate and lightheared tone. There were tears of joy and chuckles during the ceremony. Kahu Bruce was perfect!
When the couple said they wanted an ukulele musician to perform for the wedding ceremony and cake reception, we KNEW it had to be Henry Makua, who was kind of enough to learn their very specific song selections, including “Kiss the Girl” from the Little Mermaid.
Since the cake reception was brief, beverages included an infused water station that I created, a champagne toast (champagne must be purchased through Paradise Cove) and a gorgeous cake provided by CakeWorks Hawaii.
Photography was very important to Jessie and Nick, and I knew their quirky contemporary style would require someone talented and special. We hired photographer Erin Paris for five hours and she captured every moment of their event perfectly. They truly enjoyed their photo session with her, from getting ready photos to the post ceremony fun portrait session. We arranged a pre-wedding meeting between them so they would feel comfortable with each other on the wedding day.
The Blooming Pot created the most beautiful floral arrangements for the bridal party and the ceremony decor. Joann also created the arrangements for the cake reception, including decorating the wedding cake that CakeWorks Hawaii provided. Event Accents provided the rentals.
Doesn't the bride look beautiful in the photos? That is because along with her natural beauty, Dorys Foltin of Maleana Cosmetics worked her magic and the bride's hair and makeup lasted for HOURS in the July heat and humidity.
Paradise Cove, a breathtaking oceanfront venue on West Oahu, requires that events stay within a strict timeline, so we communicated these details to all vendors to work as a team to make this wedding celebration the best experience for the couple and their guests. A fun and fabulous time was had by all!
WEDDING DAY TIMELINE:
9:15am Stylists check in for beauty services to room # _____
9:30am Beauty Services begin n room #_____ for MoB, MoH and Bride
11:30am Photos begin at Royal Hawaiian Hotel 1:00pm Vendors can unload inventory and set up Chuppah with white
fabric and flowers, 3 farm wood tables, 16 gold chiavari
chairs, décor, cake, fruit infused water station, toast, etc. at
“The Point” Paradise Cove 2:00pm Oahu Party Bus picks up wedding party at the Royal
Hawaiian Center, Kalakaua Avenue 3:00pm Guest arrival, Ukulele (Henry Makua) begins 3:10pm Prelude any kind of nice Hawaiian music on the ukulele
Parents to be seated by escort
3:15pm Ceremony begins
Hawaiian Non-Denominational | Ceremony Program
Opening Ancient Hawaiian Blessing Chant
Mele Ho’okipa or Aloha Chant
Wedding Processional
Processional and Bridal Entrance: ukulele instrumental Kiss the Girl, but just
the first part up until the chorus (should just repeat for about a minute until
we are all standing in place)
-The Groom (Nick) and Best Man (Matt Seybert) will stand at the chuppah at
the start of the ceremony
MoH will walk down the aisle and stand in place
MoB (Lan Ma) will escort the bride
Officiant Bride Groom Maid of Honor Best Man
Welcome Message
NOT Honoring Parents with Leis
Na Hulu Mamo or Na Mea Ho’ohanohano
Minister’s Address to Couple
The Meaning of ALOHA
(Optional Personal Sentiments)
Invocation
Hawaiian Prayer
Marriage Vows (couple writing own vows)
The Blessing and Exchange of Rings
Lei Weaving and Lei Exchange
Ancient Hawaiian Lei Chant
The Pronouncement
Benediction
The Kiss
The Introduction of Couple
The Recessional - Recessional: ukulele instrumental Kiss the Girl, but just the
chorus part (should just repeat for about a minute until we have all walked out
3:30pm Ceremony concludes- The Signing of Certificates
3:35pm Cake cutting – TBD Disney music or something else
3:40pm “Tea Ceremony”
3:50pm Champagne toast
After the toast, the Event Accents company MUST begin taking down the
chuppah in order to have all of their items down and out by 4:30pm.
We will move everyone to the cake table. 3:55pm Photos during cake and champagne
Vendors strike and clean up ceremony area so we can be out on time
Couple's music requests for Henry:
Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis)
Chako No Kaigan Monoga Tari (Southern All Stars)
Dream a Little Dream of Me (Michael Būble)
Fly Me To The Moon (Frank Sinatra)
Island in the Sun (Weezer)
It Had To Be You (Michael Buble)
L.O.V .E. (Nat King Cole)
Lucky (Jason Mraz)
Marry You (Bruno Mars)
Quando Quando (Michael Būble)
Sea of Love (Honeydrippers)
Sunday Morning (Maroon 5)
How far I'll go (Moana)
Bare Necessities
The way you look Tonight (Michael Buble)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
All of me (John Legend)
Stand by Me (Ben E King)
Count on me (Bruno Mars) The way I am (Ingrid Michaelson)
Thinking out Loud (Ed Sheeran)
Beyond The Sea (Harry Connick Jr)
Can See Clearly Now The Rain Is Gone (Jimmy Cliff)
4:20pm Henry Makua concludes
Tables are empty and removed Chairs are removed
4:30pm Everyone departs on Party Bus for the Moana Surfrider
6:00pm Dinner Reception at the Beachhouse at Moana Surfrider Hotel, 2365
Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815