Decisions, decisions, decisions...

amwong22

Hi All,
Need some opinions on a few matters. I am horrible at making decisions even when it comes to the simplest things such as what I want for lunch, so all these wedding decisions are going to be the end of me haha!

Venue Decisions:
1) Lanikuhonua- Pros-love this space from all the pictures, and have heard wonderful things about it.  Definitely the scenic backdrop we are looking for.
Cons-Worried about the lack of place to change into another reception dress and the price of the venue given that they only allow you to be there from 4-10. Scared of how quickly things will add up since we are starting with a blank slate...

2) Kuolua Ranch- Paliku Gardens/Bowl- Pros-Really like this space but seems to be more rain forest/mountain landscape than tropical beach like Lanikuhonua. Great price and you get the venue from 10am-10pm.
Cons- Fiance doesn't like the structure at Paliku Gardens. Thinks it looks like a picnic structure. I don't think that has to be a part of our wedding as there is ample space to have it on the grass area? Anyone have any input on this? Again also scared of how quickly things will add up starting with a blank slate..

3) Turtle Bay Resort- Pros-Love all the pictures we have seen, and this was our original venue choice. Everything is included in the resort package vs. Lanikuhonua and Paliku where we have to bring everything in.
Cons- Distance from Waikiki is very far and we are worried about the cost of transporting 80-100 guests to and from the venue.. Also, lack of ability to make the wedding original and our own.

4) Loulou Palms- Pros- Gorgeous, intimate, classy
Cons- Distance like Turtle Bay and cost....

Wedding Planner Decisions:
1) Milestones Events- Spoke to Alicia and really got along with her very well. Think we have a good connection, but she doesn't have as much experience as Dianna from Hawaii Weddings and Events.
2) Hawaii Weddings and Events- Spoke with Dianna, and got along with her well but didn't feel like we clicked as well as Alicia and I did. But her experience and wealth of knowledge is amazing.
- Both companies offer similar packages for about the same price. I am still debating between full service and partial service. I really want to be involved and am mainly wanting a coordinator for the day of and to give us advice on which vendors are the most credible and will provide us the best value for what we want and what is within our budget means.

Sorry about the long winded message everyone, but I am just having difficulty in making these 2 initital decisions. I know once these two pieces are in place, the rest of the wedding planning should be easier... hopefully?! Any advice/input would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Alicia

jessj336

As far as a WC goes, you want someone that you get along with and can work well together. I spoke to many WCs and while lots were nice or knowledgable I didn't necessarily picture myself working with them. I immediately clicked with my WC Lori personality wise and all the vendors, knotties, wedding reviews spoke very highly of her & her work. I chose her not just for her personality but for her work ethic and how she was very honest and upfront with me about vendors etc. 

I think it is very important to choose a WC that you can see yourself working with from now until your wedding day. Lori has been a delight so far and I know that our wedding day will be stress free for me as she will handle any glitches and shield me from them :-)

As for venue, you need to be able to visualize your wedding day there. If you can't picture yourself on your wedding day at the venue then I wouldn't choose it. There will always be pros & cons to any venue so you need to pick the one that fits you  & your FI best.

We fell in love with our venue immediately but didn't even think about the fact that we would have to bring everything in but it doesn't matter because in the grand scheme of things no other venue felt as perfect and you only get married in Hawaii once so again you need to like your venue despite the pros/cons.

Hope that helps!

jtoly

I agree with Jess, I would definately choose a WC that you get along with well since you will be dealing with this person for one of the biggest days of your life! As far as the venue, is one place more of what your looking for? Like Jess said there will probably be pros and cons for each place you look at.

amwong22

Thanks for the feedback! I know we should just go with our gut feeling in regards to the WC. I may try to schedule one more phone call with each and make sure my gut feeling stays the same and I'm not just favoring the 1st one over the other. :-)

As for locations, I maintain that anywhere we pick in Hawaii is going to be absolutely beautiful and dreamy. I think my big thing now is watching all the costs add up, I am leaning towards the venue that is half the price and just as nice but maybe not exactly what we envisioned, but then we can spend that money on other things. Fiance thinks we should pick Lanikuhonua or Turtle Bay cause all our guests are coming such a long way and we want them to be completely taken away with the breathtaking beauty of our venue... Again decisions, decisions! Perfect way to solve it is to fly there and see them in person!  

sparklegirl84

I would go with Alicia and if you like turtle bay- id go with that since its a package deal. Way less stress on you. Your guests can rent cars, right? All of the venues are away from waikiki so regardless they'll have to travel.

melmac26

I say go w/ your guts. I will also say that Lani is amazing & on the leward side of the island, we got married there. The venue did take my guests breath away for sure, as well as mine. You can bring everything in w/o being completely insane in price. Just be honest with yourselves about prices & priorities, the decisions will come easily after that.

Bottom line, how much control do you want or not want over the venue & what you can & can't bring in?

Sp2012

Hi!

Here my 2 cents from a Turtle Bay bride to be.  Of the venues you listed the only one we looked at besides TBR was Loulu Palms.  I thought it looked great, so amazing.  My FI had reservations about having to rent/cater everything in.  So yes, maybe a little less originality by foregoing this (Although depending on which site at TBR, you could be as original as you want - Stables Beach & 18th hole/green are both completely outdoor so you could design as you like)  Also the getting ready area wasn't ideal for him - he really wants A/C and fans weren't going to cut it.  Like everyone else is noting, everything is a pro/con and you pick whichever one tips in your favor. 

Our guests will have to drive themselves in from Waikiki if they choose to stay there; we have a block of rooms if they want to stay with us at TBR.  There are the Kuilima estates for a lower cost condo option.  We expect that most guests will make it a vacation and stay for several days and tour the island so will have a car anyways.  Providing transportation is nice but not necessary.  Maybe this is selfish, but I want the least stress/work possible on my wedding day, so we're making things central to the resort.  I'm horrible at DIY (plus lazy) so the more that can be provided for me and the less I have to do and prepare and bring in my luggage the better!

Once you decide, all your energy will go with your decision and I think no matter what you choose there will be no regret because you'll make it what you want!  Good luck!

noreenchiu

I am also having my wedding at Turtle Bay (didn't look at your other venues so I can't comment on those) and I'm in a similar situation as Sp2012.  We are doing the a la carte option for more flexibility, so really I am just getting the venue and catering from them.  Other than that, I'll be bringing in my own vendors.  We are expecting some of our older guests, like our parents, to stay up in the North Shore for the whole week, since they prefer something more quiet and don't want to be in Waikiki anyway.  But we think most of our friends (and ourselves) will be staying in Waikiki for at least the first half of the week, then renting a car and driving up to the North Shore for the second half or at least for the day of the wedding.  We have also suggested the Turtle Bay Condo's for a cheaper accommodation option.

destiny1108

As melmac26 said, go with your gut.     We did end up using Dianna from Hawaii Weddings and Events and she was amazing.  She was more "reserved" and professional when we first spoke, but when we had a chance to meet in person during our planning visit she was down to earth and definitely was the most experienced planner that we had interviewed and gave us honest advice.   She has a couple of other coordinators too, so maybe talk to one of them?

amwong22

Thank you all for your advice. I am still humming and hawing about what to do, but I'm sure at some point it will come to me and I will have to make a decision. Did you guys hire your wedding planners before or after you booked your venues?

Noreen- How is your planning going with Turtle Bay? Which part are you having it at? We were looking to have our reception and ceremony at Kulima Point. 

noreenchiu

amwong22: Our ceremony and reception are both at Kuilima Point.  We are doing a 4pm-9pm there, so everything will be back-to-back at the same place.  The planning process with Turtle Bay hasn't really progressed - I'm trying to get a conference call with the coordinator to figure out the details.  I can let you know more details once I talk to her!