Chinese-American Wedding at the Haiku Mill

Marysa & David exchanged vows at the Haiku Mill with their closest family and friends – It was a perfectly small gathering between their closest family and friends. The festivities started with a Chinese Tea-Ceremony as the Bride and Groom wanted to incorporate some of David’s family traditions into the day. The Tea-Ceremony was followed by a beautiful traditional Western wedding ceremony & dinner reception. Marysa loves everything French so touches of Chinoiserie  were infused into the wedding decor.  Chinese tin-tins, pops of red, gold colors and geometric patterns made up the wedding decor. For more amazing photos Check out Style Me Pretty’s blog today were the wedding is featured!

Event Design & Planning: Belle Destination Weddings & Events

Photography: Jana Morgan Photography
Flowers: Bella Bloom Floral Boutique
Location: Haiku Mill
Minister: Pia Aluli
Catering: Aloha Events Catering
Wedding Cake: Maui Sweet Cakes
Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy
Hair and Makeup: Mira Carman
DJ: DJ Del Sol
Rentals: Pacific Isle Rentals
Custom rentals: Opihi Love
Invitations: Erica Keuter Designs
Shoes: Kate Spade
Dress: Mikaella

Multicultural Destination Wedding at the Haiku Mill

This gorgeous Bride and Groom (who preferred to remain anonymous) had a very specific vision of what they wanted their guests to experience. Their vision was very much based on feeling and emotion as opposed to using tangible images as a source of inspiration.  Their wish was to create the perfect backdrop to their love story, by transforming the gorgeously rustic Haiku Mill into a haven of comfort.  They wanted very much for everything to feel natural, and to simply accent the already incredible natural brick, vine, weathered rock and wood of the Mill’s interior.

In addition to their wish list of feelings that they wanted conveyed, the couple also wished to incorporate elements of the Groom’s Indian heritage within the event as well, without too much of the amplified opulence of a traditional Indian wedding. Adding ceremonial Hindu rituals, such as the puja ritual (offerings), allowed for their closest friends and family to actively participate in the ceremony, adding a very important feeling of intimacy to their event.  Their hands were wrapped together with a red sash as they performed the Saptapadi (Sanskrit for seven steps) around the Holy Fire (Agni).  With each step, the groom’s aunt called out a vow to establish aspects of a happy relationship and household for each other.

To create the setting they envisioned, we set up plush Turkish rugs, tons of accent pillows, coffee tables, varied vintage decor pieces, side tables, and nick knacks, giving the Mill’s lounge areas the feel of an exotic living room.  The dining tables themselves were all unique and inviting, accenting different elements of glass, drift wood, overflowing arrangements of flowers and fruit, and candles, candles, candles!  Instead of mounting a temporary trellis, the oh-so talented Bella Bloom attached individual vines and blooms to the existing vines that crawled up the entry way to the Mill.  Instead of bringing in glassware for the accent arrangements, we utilized the weathered and moss-covered ceramic urns from the Mill itself, and filled them with an abundance of flowers, falling over the edges to add on over-grown affect.  Captured by the very-talented Rebecca & Jonathon Tamiz Photography.

Event Planning & Design: Belle Destination Events
Photography: Tamiz Photography
Venue: Haiku Mill
Flowers: Bella Bloom
Officiant: Pia Aluli
Catering: Aloha Events Catering
Bar Services: Garnish Events
Wedding Cake: Maui Sweet Cakes
Vintage Rentals & Design:  Opihi Love
Rentals/ Lighting: Pacific Isle Rentals
Tents: Maui Rents
Stationary: Miss B Calligraphy
Hair & Makeup – Mira Carman  & Trisha Joseph

Makena Wedding at the Sugarman Estate Maui

Houston (in true Texas form), is known for their BIG weddings.  However, the LA based /Houston native bride-to-be, Kate, and her fiancé Andrew, sought the solace of a more peaceful and intimate soiree on the island of Maui.  The relaxed and laid back couple chose Andrew’s birthday for the celebration, and the Sugarman Estate as their venue, utilizing the vast ocean-front lawn for this incredible event.  And a very happy birthday it was!  The 100 guest event was situated at the ocean’s edge, as sea turtles popped their heads out the ocean, and the waves of the Pacific splashed nearby.  Oh how amazing!  With the help of Kate’s mother, Mary, the planning was a blast!  With Mary’s refined Texas taste, and Kate’s adventurous spirit, we blended the styles to create an updated, modern, elegant, yet dramatic event.  Aside from the stunningly gorgeous bride, the dramatic centerpiece of this wedding was the strands of orchids dripping from the ceiling.  We were inspired by the canopy of falling flowers in the movie, Twilight, and wanted to incorporate that idea and interpret into Kate’s style.  Underneath the Raj tents, situated between the crystal chandeliers, the hanging arrangement floated above the gorgeous tables below.  The opulent flowers were artfully crafted by the o-so-talented, Bella Bloom Floral Boutique, and filled the centers of long tables, draped in champagne silks, and flanked by gold accents.  This truly was an amazing event for an incredible couple!

To see more of this wedding, check out Pacific Wedding Love Notes Blog where we are featured!

Fashion for the Groom!

We always get asked about appropriate fashion for grooms, especially for destination weddings. Since most brides are wearing gorgeous wedding dresses, you want your groom to be just as stylish! Below are some of our favorite finds for all you grooms out there. Don’t forget about groom accessories: bow ties, cuff links, and handkerchiefs.

Indochino suits are perfect for your destiantion wedding! A great balance of silk, sheen and structure!

Love Good Heavens Neckties! Solid, or Print- it adds a little someting special to your wedding day!

Not feeling the necktie! Check out some of Forage Bow ties!

Cuff links add such a nice finishing touch! These Cufflink Aficionado nautical inspired cuff links are great for destination weddings, and your weekend sailor!

Cufflink Aficiando Cuff links!

Mens Wedding Fashion has taken off, there are much more options available for grooms.  Yes, the dress will always be the show stopper- but at least the groom can now feel just as special as well!

XO,

Belle

It’s All In The Details!~

When it comes to planning a destination wedding, brides must have confidence in their coordinators ability to handle all of the technical and logistical planning.  As brides have become more wedding savvy through blogs like Green Wedding Shoes, Ruffled, Pacific Weddings Love Notes and so on, it has challenged coordinators to be stylists as well!

We have always kept a focus on the attention to detail over the years. It’s reflected in every wedding & event that we coordinate and style. It’s fun to challenge ourselves to be at the forefront of the wedding industry trends, as well as, innovators of “never seen before” custom designs (we love a good think tank session!).  It’s that extra step that we take to make each bride feel her wedding is right out of a storybook!

Our team is an ensemble of designers that carry the same passion for style and everything fabulous!  Attending design Wedding Workshops, Industry Events (The Cream, in L.A) participating in Wedding Design Forums and networking with the top wedding design blogs- we bring that to every planning session!  Check out some of our latest weddings & events… it’s all in the details!

Raj Tents from Pacific Event Group to create drama to your reception.

Mini-Cupcakes!

Vintage Cake Stand

Custom Tablescapes

Custom Signs

More details to come!

Aloha,

Belle