Sometimes it is not the anticipated, but how the unanticipated being handled that makes the event wonderful and memorable. It was a rainy Saturday, not exactly the expected sunny outdoor wedding in Hawaii. Katy, the wedding planner, handled the event with ease. The photographer, Alyssa captured the indoor wedding perfectly. Celebrate love. Rain or shine. 

More photos can be viewed at alyssapix.com

Dream a little. Be creative. This started off as a request for a special wedding rings pillow. We wanted to dot the pillows with flowers that we have selected. And how do you attach the flowers onto the pillow?

Our solution, Let go of the notion of the “pillow” and make it a wedding rings carrier instead. Perfect combination use of anthurium, orchid and plumeria blossoms set in a wooden square bowl. Go ahead, challenge us with your special request. It’s your wedding. Make your dream come true.

It’s not easy to make a round orchid arrangement.  Each orchid blossom has to be wired and taped - creating an artificial stem, so to speak. 

Wedding Expo is coming to the Hawaii Convention Center on October 17-18, 2008. Tickets is $7.00 at-the-door. It’s the best place to begin your search for your wedding “team.” Don’t forget to pick up your free Bride’s Choice Wedding Directory. You can always research some more when you get home.

Go prepare. Visit the expo web site and see if they have a vendor list. Mark the vendors that were recommended to you by your friends and families. This way you will get to talk to them and gather their information all in one place. Mark down also vendors that won’t be at the expo. It is not cheap to be at the expo with the cost of booth rental, printing of marketing material, and staffing. You be surprised that many of the island favorite vendors won’t be at the expo because they rely so much on word of mouth recommendation. Research some of the vendors online. Mark down the vendors that make a good impression on you with their products and services. Narrow down 3 to 5 vendors per category for your day of visit.

On the day of the expo, show up early. Get the map. Locate all your pre-selected “must see” vendors. Take it slow. There is no rush. Talk to the vendors, ask questions. Take their cards and brochure. Once in a while, it is okay to get distracted. Because when a vendor impresses you that much, you sure should talk to them and get the contacts, even when they are not on your list. Happy expo!

Sorry, we won’t be there to meet you. Please stop by our shop on your way home. Come down Mauka direction on Kapiolani Ave, right on Harding Ave (Market City Mall) and right again on Kapahulu Ave. You will see us first block, right after Mr. Ojisan Resturant. Or make a wedding consultation appointment with us on another day. We know you will be excited and yet tired after visiting all those booths that day. Happy wedding planning. – Sweet Blossoms Hawaii

Friday: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fashion Show: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fashion Show: 2:30 p.m.

Our friend from The Waterfront – at Aloha Tower Marketplace is going to be there. Wedding party don’t have to be at a hotel or restaurant.  Imagine your wedding  at the historic Aloha Tower with water front view.

Order your free Bride’s Choice Wedding Directory

| Tips on wedding flowers | Wedding flowers Photo Gallery | Wedding Bouquet Photo Gallery |

Our old neighbor, Hale Niu Tuxedo is back in business. Their new shop is located at 4210 Waialae Avenue – right across from Kahala Mall. Visit them for their best service, and best price in town. Bar none. (Sounds like a commercial, didn’t it:) Enjoy.

Tuxedos by Hale Niu (808) 734-2125

Wedding season is officially here. Here is a tropical bouquet that is very special. Perfect combination of orange pin cushion, yellow pop corn orchid, orange mokara orchid, eucalyptus and dressed by ti leaves.  { more wedding planning idea }

(light blue hyacinth flower lei)

We couldn’t find any light blue flower lei. We looked in our cooler and there stood the hyacinth flowers.  Let’s try and string it. Beautiful, isn’t it?

(whit orchid angle lei)

Also this white orchid lei, we deviated from the angle style a little and the result is pretty too. 

Look around – When you go to friend’s weddings or other functions, ask for referral when you come across arrangement that you really like. Ask friends and family members for referral. Go to wedding and bridal expos and talk to as many florists as you could. But be aware that the person you talk to may not be the florist that will be doing your arrangement. The next bridal expos are on July 25-27, 2008; January 16-18, 2009

Book early – As soon as you know your wedding date. Book your florist early, especially during wedding season between June to September. At Sweet Blossoms Hawaii, we required a deposit of 10% to hold the day and 40% more 3 months before the wedding day and finally the remaining balance a few days before the wedding.

Let’s talk – Have questions about flowers? Make a appointment and let’s talk. Out initial consultation is complimentary you. Over the years, we found that communication between the florist and the couple are the most important thing on getting what the couple expect for their wedding ceremony.  When you have any questions, go ahead and ask the florist.  Make sure you’re comfortable with the person you’re dealing with, let it be the photographer, the wedding planner or the florist.

Bring pictures – Clip pictures of bouquets and centerpiece arrangements that you like and bring them to your meeting. This will help the florist understand your wants.  Explain to your florist how large the bouquet you want or your florist can suggest a size that would fit you.  Most of our bouquets are about 6.5 to 7 inches (as a reference, a volleyball is 8.2″ diameter) Remember, it is like your dress, it is not the bigger the better.  You want something that will fit you.

Budget – Not many couples are on a no budget wedding, so we like to have the couple fill out our questionnaire and that helps to initiate the budgeting process. We are not car dealership, so it’s okay to tell us your budget. We are very creative on massaging the budget to get what you want. For example, saving two dollars per table centerpiece of 20 can give you $40 worth of flowers to be used for the most important flower arrangement of all, the bridal bouquet.

Sweet Valentine and Holidays. It may be a very romantic idea to have your wedding on Valentine Day. But the reality of it is that most florists will not be able to give you the full attention you deserved during the week of Valentine Day. Choice of flowers are limited. You will be paying a premium for the flowers during that week. Sometimes your first choice may even become unavailable as the valentine week comes near. Let’s not stack our stress over a happy occasion like a wedding. Let’s schedule your wedding away from busy florist holidays such as Valentine, Mother’s Day, and Prom and graduation season. You and your florist will have more time to prepare for the wedding. Happy wedding planning.

We recommend Wedding Planner – Katy Castillo Weddings

The Wedding Expo is coming up this weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center. Check out all things wedding. There should be florists, wedding planners, photographers, videographer, people that will do your favors, invitations, tuxedos, hotels, catering, etc. There will even be a fashion show.

The Wedding Expo at the Hawaii Convention Center
Tickets: $6.00 at-the-door

April 18 2008
Friday: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fashion Show: 7:30 p.m.

April 19, 2008
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fashion Show: 2:30 p.m.

Also later in October 17-18, 2008

Since Hale Niu Tuxedo Rental, our next door neighbor closed down, we were asked where else is a good tuxedo rental place. My husband was a Hale Niu’s long time customer since his high school days. We even rented from them when we got married. We don’t know any where else is better in town. I asked our friend Katy who is a wedding planner. She recommends Celebrity Tuxedo and Black Tie Affair. She also recommends Duke’s Limo and Cloud Nine for limo rental. I hope this help. Food for thoughts, all grand things in life seems to require quite a bit of planning; and when the planning is done, it will be grand. Enjoy your night at the prom. Share with us your prom pictures; share with us your stories.

Celebrity Tuxedo in Sears Ala Moana (808) 947-0397
1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
also in Sears Windward Mall (808) 487-4341, and Pearlridge Mall (808) 247-8390 Tips on Tuxedo Selections from Celebrity Tuxedo

[review 1] [....one of our fellow knotties had an unfortunate experience with them but we thought we’d give it a try.... he procrastinated until the night before..... jacket was too big and made him look like a penguin!!! I called Celebrity Tuxedo that instant and they rushed a smaller size over ....It was a perfect fit... Celebrity Tuxedo exceeded our expectations...]

Black Tie Affair (808) 732-9474
3566 Harding Ave., Suite 3
Honolulu, HI 96814
[review] [....Karen and Mike were a great husband-and-wife team. They were efficient with all the fittings....I highly recommend them.]

Not much reviews available online on any of this places. Let us know of your experience. If you feel you’ve been rushed and not have all you concerns answered, talk to the manager. Prom season sometimes stress out some the employee (especially some seasonal helps). But there is no excuse, you can walk away; there are others. Too bad there is no more Hale Niu Tuxedo.

[Fashion tips at Star Bulletin]

This kids are so creative. Try duct tape tux and dress!