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Hope to see you on FB and Happy New Year!I love this time of year, a slower wedding season which means time to actually work on our marketing. I am happy to announce our website has been updated. We’ve added new weddings to our portfolio, new testimonials from our friends, colleagues and past clients, new bios for Tristin and I, and new articles have been added to our “Press” section of those published weddings and design editorials. I hope you will enjoy looking through all the beautiful details of the new weddings that have been added.
Speaking of this season, there are only 3 weddings left in 2009 
I still can’t believe this year is almost over. This has been an amazing year in spite of the economic downturn. I wake up every morning feeling so grateful to be able to do what I love and am passionate about and to have the opportunity to call my clients friends. So please don’t forget to slow down this season (even if you are planning a wedding) and count your blessings! xoxo ~ Sandra
The much anticipated Hawaii Bride and Groom Spring Summer 2009 issue is here! Finishing Touch is honored to be a part of their “Eco Chic” editorial feature. Along with Spinning WEB, Les Saisons, Yvonne Design, Vignette, Accel Party Rentals, Lanikai Pot and Plant and Emi Ink, we created a table top design that is natural, raw, organic, environmental-friendly and refined all at the same time. The magazine just keeps on getting better and better, kudos to Julie and Gavin who work so hard to make sure each issue is nothing less than fantastic! Go pick up your copy today! This issue is also available to be read entirely online on the Hawaii Bride and Groom website. All images are taken by Marcia Campbell.
Leslie and Greg got married at the Westin Moana Surfrider in December 2008. They are both originally from the South but are currently living in Hawaii. When I met Leslie and Greg for the first time, their genuine personalities captured me right away. They were true Southerners who are known for their hospitality and generosity. When it came to selecting a color and ambiance for their wedding, there was no question that Buttery Yellow was perfect choice. There’s a certain kind of “sweetness” the color Yellow possesses: it’s so soft, romantic and down right “country”. I usually don’t get to design alot of “country style” wedding, but since this is actually Leslie’s personal style, I was excited to have this opportunity to do so. Leslie and Greg were married in the new Lani Kai room at the Moana, underneath a soft ivory canopy completed with hanging candles and flowers. For their reception, the guest tables were draped in a floor length buttery yellow linen with a garden patch-work style overlay. The pretty table linen was topped off with a lush and low garden style arrangement filled with English Garden Roses, Tulips, Peonies, Hydrangeas, Dusty Miller and other vintage style foliage. For a traditional country-styled wedding, ivory chair covers are a must! Naomi Lee of Les Saisons helped me tie these cute little “rosebuds” with coordinating sashes on the back of each chair – this small accent truly completed the look we were trying to achieve. Cake Lava created a beautiful and delicious 4-tiered wedding cake for the newlyweds. Thank you to Nicole Lomas of Peony Floral who did an amazing job with the flowers. This wedding was Nicole’s last wedding in Hawaii, she moved to San Diego in January. Nicole is probably one of the most talented and knowledgeable florists I’ve worked with; so watch out San Diego, she will be definitely be making some waves out there in the Southern California wedding industry. All images are taken by the talented Frank Amodo.
A few months ago I blogged about Erica and Paul’s beautiful wedding on 8.8.08 at The Kahala Resort and Spa. I recently received the final CD filled with stunning images from their photographer Frank Amodo, so I decided to post a “part 2″ about this wedding. Erica’s wedding was full of rich texture, bold colors and intricate details. I especially love the use of Dahlias in her wedding. Dahlia is a very hearty flower that usually lasts all day, and they come in such fun shades of colors such as lipstick red, bumble bee yellow, super hot pink and rich plum purple. They always add that “dramatic flair” to any event. Kudos to Floral Inspirations who did an amazing job with the flowers and Frank for capturing these images.
Yvonne Design, Cake Lava, Emi Ink, Les Saisons, BLU foto and myself were thrilled when Thea Lignos, editor in chief of Your Wedding Day magazine called and invited us to be a part of her magazine’s Spring 2009 editorial feature. Your Wedding Day magazine is truly a leader in introducing new wedding designs and trends, so we are all so honored to be a part of their first Hawaii photo shoot. The overall design we tried to create for this shoot is definitely unusual. This table is inspired by the very talented Kelly Wearstler, an interior designer known for her eclectic style. Personally, I have yet to be asked by a bride to create a wedding that feels “eclectic”; but after seeing these beautiful images, I hope they will inspire brides-to-be to think outside of the box to go wild, go eclectic! To see more images and the full editorial article, pick up your copy at Barns and Nobles today. All images are taken by BLU foto.
This is usually not our peak season with alot of on going weddings, but we’ve been busy designing and planning upcoming weddings this summer, fall and early 2010. Can you believe it’s already March? 2010 will come sooner before we all know it!
Strips + Toothpaste = Pearly Whites for the Big Day!
I was surfing The Knot today and found an article on new wedding trends for 2009. Click here to view the full article. I have to be honest that I am not a blind follower of “trends”, but I seem to agree with The Knot 100% this time! I love, love, love all 10 trends they’ve presented, especially the following four:
1. Rustic homespun details – I love coordinating events at unusual locations, the older the building, the more character it has! There’s also something about serving your signature cocktail in glasses your grandmother has in her cabinet, it just makes the entire event so much more down to earth, relatable and comfortable for your guests.
2. Patterns that pop – OK, I am a sucker for old world design. I love damask, paisley, floral fern and toile designs. I am so happy to hear patterns are in, gotta love that dramatic flair!
3. Two tiered wedding cakes – Back in the days, a five tiered wedding cake is always the center of attention at the wedding, but time has changed! I am excited to see these dainty cute little two tiered wedding cakes making a come back. Nothing is cuter than a small cake nicely presented on an ornate cake stand.
4. Chandeliers and creative lighting – I always tell my brides to “think big”. When a guest walk into a room, their eyes always get drawn to big decorative items such as light fixtures and table linens, not your favors and tableware! Spending money on creative lighting or investing in a beautiful chandelier to create a focal point in your room will be the best money you can spend to create a dramatic look for your event.
Oh, how I love beautiful weddings
I have been dying to blog about Miki and Joel’s wedding because their wedding was definitely one of the most beautiful weddings I have seen at Lanikuhonua. Miki and Joel were a really fun and down to earth couple to work with. They had a very nice theme for their wedding, modern chic Caribbean beach, which was carried through from the ceremony to the reception. Miki wore a wedding dress by Jin Wang and looked stunning and so comfortable in it. Her cute little shell sandals were also perfect for her beach ceremony. Miki’s did an amazing job making sure no wedding details were left out. Form the burlap wrapped invitation and the use of driftwood in her ceremony décor, to the giant capiz shell chandeliers hung below her tent and the succulent embellishments on her table top, all the wedding details were absolutely perfect! Miki and Joel’s wedding felt so comfortable and earthy, but chic and refined at the same time. I also had the honor of working with Ray of Apertura Photography (based in Southern California). For Lanikuhonua, a super popular location on Oahu, Ray was able to capture the essence of this location like I’ve never seen it before. It’s so refreshing to see the beauty of Hawaii through the eyes of mainland photographers. It reminds me again of how lucky I get to work in such a beautiful state. Yvonne did an amazing job with the flowers (she always does!); they truly exude the clean and modern beach feel Miki was trying to create. Congratulations to the Kuwaharas!
