Deisgn

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Elegant B & W Affair at the Ko’olau Country Club

August 27, 2009 in Black and White, Deisgn, Denny, Glass Ballroom, Ko'olau Country Club, Serena, Wedding | 1 comment

If you follow my blog, you may notice alot of my weddings take place at private estates; so I am often thrilled when I get the rare opportunity to work inside a ballroom. Working indoors provides a more controlled environment so we can go crazy on the candles and play with the height of the centerpieces. Plus, who doesn’t love a good air-conditioned ballroom when it’s almost 95 degree outside, right? :) Rachel and Nick of Blue Nalu Photography was so gracious with helping us photograph the details of this wedding Yvonne and I did at the Ko’olau Country Club Glass Ballroom. Half of this ballroom is surrounded by glass windows (hence the name!), allowing the guests to enjoy the majestic view of the Ko’olau mountains. We also experimented with lighting for this event. Due to the amount of glass windows in the ballroom, I had no idea how the lighting will look at night, but they actually looked pretty amazing. Lighting is a fantastic way to dress up your event and to give it that “wow” factor. Thank you to Serena and Denny for allowing us to be a part of your wedding! Photos by Blue Nalu Photography (amazing husband and wife team, nicest and the most genuine couple you will ever meet!), floral and lighting by Yvonne Design, linens by Les Saisons.
Overall ballroom set up

Table top design 1: White Phalaenopsis orchids and Hydrangeas arranged on white satin linen with black ribbon applique

Spider mums always make a dramatic statement as napkin embellishment

Table top design 2: Submerged white Phalaenopsis orchid in glass orbs arranged on tuxedo black satin linen

More beautiful details on the head table

This is NOT a professional photo. I want to see how the lighting will look on my point & shoot camera at night, not bad, huh? :)

Beautiful Outdoor Soiree

July 3, 2009 in Deisgn, Outdoor, Tents, Weddings, custom canopies | No comments

One of the many special things about Hawaii is its beautiful weather all year round. Alot of brides ask me if there’s a time they should avoid getting married in Hawaii due to rain, and my answer is often “no”, besides Winter months are a little riskier than Spring and Summer months. We coordinate weddings all year round, and a majority of them take place outdoors. We do get tropical passing showers, but they are usually harmless rain that will pass in 5 to 10 minutes. We are also able to tell from the forecast when there’s going to be a downpour, and that’s when your wedding planner will come in and introduce her rain plan :) Since Summer is in full swing, I thought these ideas about tents, and the many possibilities of how to make them your own would be appropriate. Tents have come a long way… there are so much we can do these days to make your outdoor reception fabulous, elegant and refined! Say bye-bye to backyard weddings, hello to beautiful outdoor soiree!

BELOW (Christina & Brian): Custom canopies are really making waves these past few years. We don’t call them “custom” for no reason. They can be built in different sizes or shapes, any stained wood color and any fabric / color of your choice. They are a bit pricier than the other tent options mentioned in this blog, but they are worth every penny!
BELOW (Miki & Joel): To create a simple and understated beach chic ambiance, go with natural color bamboo and white sheer fabric canopies. *General disclaimer: custom canopies provide great sun coverage, but definitely not rain :)

BELOW (Erin & Mat): Solid top tent is probably the least expensive tent available for rent. They provide great sun and rain coverage. This photo shows a solid top tent lined with a white tent liner completed with uplighting. Tent liner is a great way to hide the metal poles that are visible from underneath the tent, and they also make your event look 110% more elegant!

BELOW (Jennifer & Michael): Gobo projection can be used in many different ways at an event, the most common we’ve seen is on the dance floor. Projecting a pattern on the outside of a solid top tent is another way to dress up that plain white vinyl sheet :)

BELOW (Christina & Steve): Clear top tent is another beautiful option for outdoor weddings. They do not provide very good sun coverage, but the fact that your guests can look up and see the stars at night is well worth it. We did a light swagging of white fabric under this tent. The fabric really helped to create a softer look for the reception.

BELOW: Another photo showcasing what fabric can do to soften up the look of a metal framed tent.

BELOW (Miki & Joel): Hanging dramatic light fixtures under your tent is also a great way to make a stunning statement.

BELOW (Miki & Joel): These Capiz shells chandeliers emit a nice glow at night.

BELOW (Renee & Adam): Looking for an affordable way to dress up your tent? Try hanging paper lanterns sporadically throughout your tent. These lanterns are affordable, and they come in any colors you can imagine.

BELOW (Amy & Jeff): If you want to create a more contemporary look, try grouping your lanterns and hang them over each individual guest table – sort of like hanging your lanterns in the shape of a bunch of grapes. This group of lanterns will feel like a custom chandelier piece you will see hanging over a dining table at someone’s home!

BELOW: I also love the use of market umbrellas to provide coverage for an outdoor reception. The simplicity of this set up feels rustic, intimate, charming and simply lovely – everything a wedding should be all about.