MY PLANNING BIO!!! Had a scare! When I converted from theknot to thenest my bio dissapeared. But thanks to inamura I was able to recover the html by using this link: "http://community.theknot.com/cs/ks/user/pageedit.aspx?m=1&username=LilSwtAzyn" If it happens to you just insert your user name at the end and delete mine!
FINALLY....Loved looking at other planning bios so I thought I would try to build my own so others can look too!!! Never though I would have one so if you see your picture and would like credit then message me on the hawaii board!! Otherwise... Take it as a GREAT BIG compliment that I loved your idea so much.... BIG HUGS!!! <3Tya
ABOUT US... We met at school at Oregon State University. FI is from kaneohe, HI and thus the reason we are getting married in Hawaii. I am originally from portland and thus we decided to move back to my hometown and start a life here (hawaii is way too expensive)!! I'm still in school but will be graduating June 2009 so our projected wedding will be in Aug. 2009!!
The FURBABY TITUS
The ENGAGEMENT.. Our first date was during the summer and we drove out to the coast and built and bonfire and just talked for hours!!! On our 4th anniversary we went to dinner at the melting pot (yum) and then drove out to the beach again to build a bonfire and lie under the stars (there were millions).. He asked me to get up and take a walk but I refused because it was cold and I wanted to stay under the blanket. He made me get up anyways and as I was getting up he got down on one knee and proposed!!! SOOOO ROMANTICAL!
The BLING BLING RING.. Ring is from SHANE CO!...FI picked it out all by himself... he learned all about the diamond C's and went three different times to pick out the perfect diamond himself. I highly recommend the shane company. If you ever want to upgrade your ring you can always trade it in for the same price paid as long as the new ring is more expensive! But I think I will always keep my diamond since FI went through so much work picking it out.
********************************************************************* THE PLANNING PHOTOS AND INFO (A work in progress... please check back.. I'll finish it... PROMISE)
This will be our wedding place. Originally lani was my 1st choice but FMIL thought it was too far away from town and it was to hot to have an outdoor ceremony for guests and the poor groom in the suit! Especially in Aug. We sat there at 4pm and it was SUPER hot!
pros: Customer service is the best I've ever experienced. You feel like a queen or king with lots of maids and butlers The wedding reception dinner is one of the most comparable in prices.. actually it has the cheapest buffet we've seen! And it helps that the food is delicious! They don't nickel and dime you.. whatever they have (projector, gazebo, microphone, chairs, linens, video resources) they give you free. If you have a reception there they give you so much free stuff... just meeting at $6000 food minimum you get free cake, OCEAN SUITE!, champagne, ceremony site, etc! amazing You can stay there till 12am in the morning and parking for all your guest is free!!!
cons: Your ceremony will be in the courtyard which is not completely private. Some ppl will be in the background walking to their rooms. Generally all the guests are really respectful. They do have a private terrace you can get married at also called the Hau Terrace but you have to pay extra. In the ended I wanted a completely private place which is why we went with Grants uncle's place. I also wanted water in the background (it's hawaii) which the courtyard doesn't give you. if its not important and you want to get married I can't think of a better place!!
videos and pics
This is halekulani courtyard video to show you where you get married =)
TOP ROW: Courtyard (ceremony) / Hau Terrace (ceremony and reception) BOTTOM ROW: Hau Terrace glass house (ceremony or reception) / Ballroom (reception)
pros: Most beautiful place ever!~ perfect sunset and space and location and PRIVATE (no one will stare at your from the ocean or on the sides at the beach) Can bring in everything yourself and pick and choose whatever you want You can provide your own drinks!! HUGE MONEY SAVER Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful
cons: You have to bring in everything... if want something easy and packaged this is not the place Must have a tent and dance floor Reception must end at 9:30pm and you off the premises by 10pm The sun is hot and its humid! Think of the FI and guests... good place to be almost anytime of the year but SUMMERS GET HOT!
videos and pics
Phase II
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2nd choice:Sheraton Waikiki The view from the nihau terrace is nice... unfortunately you can see the surfers in the water and hear ppl down by the pool or at the ocean when they yell... the food i heard was great but their prices aren't really comparable to halekulani.They are going through construction right now though and will be done by next year so hopefully everything will be much nicer... =) I was impartial to this hotel.
videos and pics This is Sheraton stock photo pic of diamond head ceremony site... its actually under construction right now
This is the view of diamond head from the nihau terrace where you get married.. if you look on the left you'll see the construction of the pool.. where you see two palm trees together is where the diamond head ceremony will be... (not private) TOP ROW: Nihau terrace (ceremony)... pic of view and pic of room your guests will sit in and where you will walk thru for ceremonyBOTTOM ROW: Big ballroom / Small Ballroom
Never got to see this place in person. Heard it was beautiful though. On the east side of oahu though and have heard a couple of weddings that had it rained or rained the night before and the ground was muddy and murkey.
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The Flowers... DIY!!! Sooo we are on a super tight budget so I will be attempting to do the flowers ourselves. I really just want to do a couple of things. First, on every other table just a simple arrangement of free flowing flowers in vases. Maybe white lilys or white roses. Or green flowers. Then on the other tables we are going to do the submerged orchids in cylinder vases.
We're also visiting Watanabe Florals when we go to hawaii. Heard they can order wholesales also =) Watanabe Florals
For leis and such I've heard Cindy's Lei Shoppe is the place to be! Cindy's Lei Shoppe
PICS!!!
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The Food... *edit... this is for those getting married at lani or outside reception... since we changed location to halekulani this doesn't apply to us anymore but good info!!
Since we have a lot of mainland guests coming to our wedding we decided to do a LUAU theme for foods. It also fit our vibe we were going which is very casual, local hawaii, party flare. We didn't want anything so fancy and stuffy. On another positive note it is a lot cheaper then having a formal 3-4 course dinner. Ranges of cost were from $12-20 dollars a person!!!
Keneke's Only place we got to eat and OH MAN... its soooooooooooo good and keith is sooo nice.... =) The food is amazing. You think it would be just like any other plate lunch place but its delicious. Don't let the building fool you (it looks kind of like hole in the wall place)The prime rib dinner buffet is awesome and cheap ($28 a person). They do all the servicing and set up for you. Perfect for lani. FI almost wanted to change location back to lani just so we could hire them =)
Photography... 1st choice: Shawn Starr! 1st VENDOR BOOKED!!! this was the most important part of the wedding. As soon as I saw his webpage of galleries I knew he was the one. I discovered him before I discovered the knotties!! And then when I found out so many knotties used and loved him I HAD TO HAVE HIM! I was willing to change the date of our wedding just to have him. Luckily everything worked out perfectly and he so nice to communicate with.
Frank has kind of the same style as shawn which is why I liked him =) ----------------------------------------------
The Dress... Not sure if I want to go really formal with the lace or if I just want a destination look with a really long veil!
The Bridesmaids Dresses!... Best BUY ever! From Forever 21. Only $23 and exactly what I was looking for!! Heads up to girls who want to use Forever 21. Some of their stuff have limited sizes so always pick them up as soon as you see them because Forever sells out and moves on to their next set of clothes.
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Make Up and Hair... Definitely going for the airbrush make up. These are the two people I've found who do the airbrush and came HIGHLY recommended! 1st choice: Dorys Foltin 2nd choice: Christine Gardner
PICS-HAIR
The Rental Companies... I have been researching both these companies. It seems accel rentals have the cheapest tents (especially clear top) while JMJ is cheap for the rest (tables linens dancefloor) Accel also charges for table set ups and what not while JMJ sets up for free!!! Accel Rentals JMJ Rentals
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SAVE THE DATE... Our SAVE THE DATE!!! I photoshopped everything in adobe illustrator. I decided to put TITUS as the main event since he wont' be able to go with us to the wedding =( We made them into magnets at vistaprint.... GREAT ADVICE.... vista print always has 'free products' promotions... they change pretty regularly but always show up. you just have to pay for the shipping. So I've bought stamps, lables, and made these save the dates. 100 of them for just $30 shipping included... the first 25 were free and I paid extra for the rest =) ----------------------------------------------
Wedding Coordinator I searched far and wide for a coordinator. I only wanted a day-of-coordinator because I wanted to save money and I had a year and a half to plan so I figure I could do it myself. BUT!!!! the hardest part was finding a coordinator who would be worth my money. If I was going to pay for someone I didn't want someone who was just going to stand there and shout directions (that doesn't seem worth a thousand dollars)... I needed someone who would be me and save me money.. I wanted someone who could see my vision and get down and dirty helping me set up tables and put up the centerpieces on each table etc etc etc. KathE was my godsend. She even helps me plan over email and is an endless supply of knowledge. She was there to walk through all the locations with me and help me decide who to pick. She's helped me find vendors who are cheaper and she will even be there at my dinner rehearsal. The only thing she doesnt do is send in my deposits or sign my contract with the vendors which I think normal coordinators do. I can't say enough of her... ::SIGH:: =) KathE from GayleWeddings
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Officiant I really wanted to incorporate the hawaiian theme into our wedding. The only person I knew who did such things and had such great reviews was Kahu Silva. His wife, Sharon the business owner, is so nice to communicate with. We must have sent dozens of emails back and forth. We do have a wedding party of 8 though and so Sharon told us we would probably be required to do a wedding rehearsal. That increased the cost so much we didn't really want to spend that much on an officiant. When I let KathE know she referred me to Kahu Bruce. He actually used to as part of Sharon's business but now recently has branched out on his own. He is the nicest man in the world and unlike with Kahu Silva I actually speak directly to Kahu Bruce. He is big on communication and getting to know you so that he can get a sense of how we function as a couple. Not only that but KathE has done so many weddings with Kahu Bruce and Kahu Silva that Kahu Bruce said she could run our rehearsal to save us money. He is just an energetic person and I'm so glad I found him. First Choice: Kahu Bruce Email
