OAHU VENDOR REVIEW
Aloha! We tied the knot on August 25, 2012. We were on a limited budget ($10K), so we selected local vendors and did as much DIY as possible. We grew our own centerpiece flowers, handpainted the centerpiece vessels, asked a friend to play his guitar/ukelele at the reception, and did not have a wedding party. We had 56 wedding guests at a sunrise ceremony followed by an evening reception. A few wedding pics are available in a Picasa album at: https://picasaweb.google.com/113588428857020636747/MMWeddingAtWaimanaloOahu.
- Dress (www.BHLDN.com): My 100% silk wedding gown was exactly as described on the website and the craftsmanship was impeccable. The consultants were very helpful and there is free return shipping within the continental US. I would definitely buy from BHLDN again. A
- Shoes: Absolutely no shoes needed for a wedding in Hawaii!
- Alterations: Linda Fujioka, Honolulu. Linda brought in my top, added cups, and hemmed my dress in less than 2 weeks(!) for less than half the price I was quoted from a very popular bridal shop. She sewed the bodice by hand and added extra hooks and closures to the back of the gown for greater security. She is such a sweet woman, I will definitely continue to go to her for all of my tailoring needs. She also tailored by husband’s aloha shirt for the wedding. A+
- Fascinator and Veil (http://www.etsy.com/shop/IceGreenEyes): I absolutely loved my feather fascinator and birdcage veil. Sherrie answered all of my questions and crafted the perfect fascinator to complement my gown. On a side note, I am happy I chose the birdcage veil, since beach weddings are so windy! It protected my hairstyle and didn’t blow all over the place. Great price too. A
- Flowers (www.watanabefloral.com): In addition to my bouquet, we ordered leis for each of our guests. The flowers were all super fresh and gorgeous. In fact, my bouquet looked great for 5 days! Planning the flowers was easy with the expert help of Shay. Excellent value too, their prices are very hard to beat! A+
- Ceremony by Above Heaven’s Gate (www.hawaiiweddings.com): We put together an a la carte package of Pukalani Falls and Angel’s Bay (aka Waimanalo Beach) at sunrise. I had to be at hair and makeup with Wade at 4am, but it was totally worth it. Wade is such a sweetheart and made me so comfortable. Our photos started around 6am, with the sun rising over the ocean. The photographer and videographer knew exactly how to capture the magic of every minute in the garden and on the beach. Our ceremony with Captain Howie began at 8:30am and our guests loved every minute of it. He customized our vows and shared the story of how we met. The staff was always quick to answer all of my questions throughout the planning process. A
- Beach Breakfast (www.lologardens.com): Shannon baked a variety of muffins (Kona Coffee Chocolate, Zucchini Chai, and Kabocha Cream Cheese), and provided juice, coffee, and locally-grown fresh fruit (papaya, apple bananas, strawberries). She set up an amazing display near the ceremony site and our guests raved about her delicious muffins for days! A++
- Reception Location: At a private residence in Honolulu with expansive views of Waikiki.
- Reception Catering (www.ginniberries.com): Michelle’s food was incredible and worth every penny. She was a pleasure to work with and arranged all of our rentals (tables, chairs, dishware, and linens). She helped us select appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and coffee service. Her serving staff was top-notch for passed-appetizers and bartending. We enjoyed her leftovers for days. My husband and I really hope we will get another chance to hire her again for another special event! A+
- Reception Alcohol: We bought all of our wine from Fujioka’s Wine Times in Honolulu and all of our liquor and beer from Costco.
- Cake (www.diamondheadmarket.com/in-house-bakery-items.html): We ordered a Haupia Crème cake 2 days in advance for only $24. It was divine! I decorated the cake with fresh cymbidium orchids and all of our guests thought it was a “real” wedding cake worth hundreds of dollars. The best part about this bakery is that you can buy each cake by the slice for $2-3 and pick out your favorite flavor with no stress or pressure! A
- Cake Pops (http://sasugar808.blogspot.com/): Mia and Allen baked five dozen cake pops for us. Our flavors were chocolate, lemon, and guava. The lemon and chocolate flavors were the most popular. A
- Favors (www.bigislandcandies.com): We picked up individually wrapped cookies (Chocolate Dipped Macadamia Nut Shortbread) and candies (Chocolate Passion Fruit). I didn’t mention they were for a wedding, I just picked them up at the retail store at Ala Moana Shopping Center. We packed them in Hawaiian print boxes from Floradec (www.floradec.com/). A-
Re: Oahu Vendor Reviews for our 8.25.12 Beach Wedding
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