Joseph Padila was fortunate to be surrounded by his nieces and his nephew Steven when he married Tara Potter. Best man Steven took his responsibilities seriously and guarded the top-hat shaped ring box. The couple exchanged vows at the Diamond Head gazebo of the Kahala Hotel on June 9 and celebrated again in California on June 27.
A lei can mean so much, especially when received at a wedding. Chiaki Makihara and Soshi Honmura honored their parents and guests with leis after their June 5 ceremony at the Calvary by the Sea church. Often times, japanese tourists aren't accustomed to getting so close and a hug or kiss on the cheek leads to embarrassed giggles and laughter. For Chiaki's sister, the giggles turned into tears of joy for her older sister when she suddenly remembered the significance of the day.
After the family photos, we took advantage of the bride's long veil and the gusty tradewinds.
Jodie Tanga and Shane Dezsy married on May 30, 2009 at the Anela Garden Chapel. And although a wedding is a significant day for the bride and groom, it's also a special day for the parents. When Jodie arrived at Anela Gardens, her mom helped attach her veil and the 2 of them had a moment alone together when they could laugh and let out some of the butterflies in their stomachs. Just before the beginning of the ceremony, Jodie wanted to practice the walk down the aisle one more time with her dad and step-dad. She had to remind them not to walk too fast. Later during the reception at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, Shane and his mom shared the mother/son dance. They were in the groove with each other, and they proved that it doesn't have to be a slow dance to show your love.
Because of her position as floral designer for Okura Hotel in Tokyo, Kimie Matsui is accustomed to the best. For her wedding to Yoshiro Nakamura on May 29, she selected the Kahala Hotel Diamond Head Gazebo. Kimie's flair as a designer and attention to detail was evident in her bridal couture--her gown, shoes and veil. A highlight of the day was the delivery of an arrangement of red roses from the Okura corporation. The special arrangement arrived just a few hours before the ceremony.
Catherine Davies and Grant Shortland traveled from Australia for their May 28th destination wedding at the Halekulani Hau Terrace. For the ceremony, Debbie Hemingway of Designs by Hemingway created an airy arbor with lavender orchids suspended in glass orbs that resembled bubbles. Orchids also adorned the wedding cake and the table centerpieces that glowed with multiple candles.
The Ocean Crystal Chapel at the Hilton Hawaiian Village has become a popular ceremony site for local weddings. The chapel offers many photogenic features like a waterfall, a lily pond, multiple staircases, and a parlor, however, the best area for photos is the bride's chamber. On May 24, Tiffany Lee was in the bride's chamber with her bridal party minutes before walking down the aisle to marry John Colby. After the ceremony their guests created a curtain of bubbles as the couple exited the chapel for the Tapa Tower ballrooms.
Joanna Ho landed her biggest catch on May 24 when she married Reis Llaneza at the Rainbow Terrace of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Their gone-fishing theme was especially evident on the wedding cake created by Joanna's pastry chef uncle Raymond. Although the cake topper depicted a bride hooking a groom, our advice to Reis is to be sure his beautiful bride isn't the catch that gets away.
Tia and Chad Iida selected the Central Union Church and 3660 on the Rise for their wedding ceremony and reception on May 23. Both sites are well-known, but the couple added their personal twists at each location to make their celebration unique and memorable. The ceremony at the Atherton Chapel was held outdoors in the natural beauty of the shaded courtyard. The reception dinner was held in the private dining room of the popular Kaimuki restaurant where the focus was on food and friendship instead of a formal program.
On May 23, Hawaii's hottest, newest nightclub opened at the Moana Surfrider Hotel at the wedding reception of Paul Kim and Dona Suh. Paul and Dona were fortunate that many of their friends made the trip from California to witness their vows. Once the dinner and cake cutting was done, it was time to celebrate, and the dance floor was crowded for the rest of the evening. The party people even got a microphone from the DJ so they could sing along to their favorite dance tunes.
George Choe wanted to surprise Aiko Miyata, his wife-to-be, with a special gift before their ceremony. Days before the May 16th wedding, George delivered a Tiffany bag to our studio and asked if we could present the precious package. It was an exciting moment in the bride's chamber of the Sanctuary of the Central Union Church. In front of her bridesmaids, Aiko unwrapped a sparkling pair of earrings. George scores an A+ for romance! Following the ceremony, Aiko and George celebrated their reception at the Kahala Hotel and Resort.
