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
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
- Seating Chart
Custom Signs
More details to come!
Aloha,
Belle
Sneak Peek of a Modern Chic Olowalu Wedding
We wanted to share a little sneak peek of Lisa & Hunters wedding which took place at the Olowalu Plantation House this weekend. The wedding was spectacular, with details everywhere you looked, and a crowd of jet-setting guests from all over the world. Lisa & Hunter were amazing to work with, such an incredibly sweet and gorgeous couple. We pulled out all the stops for this one; Bella Bloom crafting the “yummy” center pieces, and Tamiz Photography capturing all the forever moments. The entire Belle Team was there to make it come all together (yes, that’s us posing for the camera!). Keep checking back for more details to come.
XO,
Belle
Belle Destination Wedding & Events featured on Love and Lavender!
Love and Lavender featured our fairy tale wedding…. Carol and Nan are one of the sweetest, most endearing couples I have ever met. Both very gentle, soft spoken and absolutely giddy with excitement for their big day on beautiful Maui. Their story is quite charming! Carol and Nan are originally from China, had independently moved to the United States three years ago for college, and to learn how to speak English- were they serendipitously crossed paths. All of their friends and family members traveled the long distance from China to be a part of their special day.
In the beginning of the planning process, when Carol shared with me her vision of their wedding, she said she wanted it to be “sweet like candy” and it sure was! The wedding decor was inspired by a vintage Alice and Wonderland tea-party, which made it really fun and playful. Stacked vintage books and flower filled tea-pots made up the centerpiece decor along with tiered teacups and saucers. The wedding stationary, made up of playing cards was very reminiscent of the Queen of Hearts. “Drink Me” tags adorned cocktail straws and “Eat Me” tags attached to mini candy favors brought everyone back to the well loved story and adventures of Alice in Wonderland. Carol and Nan’s dream fairy tale wedding came true and they are surely on their way to live happily ever after.
Vendors:
Event Planner: Belle Destination Weddings & Events
Floral Designer: Bella Bloom
Musicians: Don Lax Violin,Vance Koenig Guitar
Reception Venue: Gannon’s Restaurant
DJ: DJ Dan Viola
Linens and Coverings: Pacific Event Group
Makeup Artist: Maui Make up Artistry
Officiant: Alapaki Terry
Vendor Spotlight – Photos on Maui
- At November 17, 2010
- By belle
- In Photography, Vendor Spotlight
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Welcome to our new feature on our blog, the “Vendor Spotlight.” We are excited to feature information and stories on our absolutely amazing wedding vendors here in Maui and around the Hawaiian Islands. Let me tell you, the Maui wedding industry can be a tricky place to navigate. Maui…..Small island with soooo many options for vendors. The key is to find vendors that match your price structure, style, and most importantly, your personalities. Now there are many different degrees to how much a vendor can be involved in your special day, and their interaction with you can definitely affect your experience. Take photography for instance. The photographer(s) will be interacting with you on a one on one basis, and you want to choose someone who will be personable, friendly, happy, and professional, all while maintaining their brilliant photographic and artistic talents.
I do not play favorites and I am sure there will come a time when I blog on many of the vendors I use, but I wanted to start with Scott Drexler and Bill Stockwell of Photos on Maui. These two are an absolutely phenomenal team, and are two of the most sought-after photographers on Maui. Their style is so clean and contemporary-yet-classic.
Bill Stockwell (Jr.) is the son of infamous Bill Stockwell Sr. who transformed the world of wedding photography in his time (think out with the “old” stuffy portraits and in with “new” the creative photo-journalistic moments). Bill Stockwel Jr., being the learned student of his father became extremely successful in the Napa wedding scene before setting his sights on Maui. He has been able to transform the wedding industry here on Maui as well. Although Bill is one of Maui’s most seasoned veterans, he has a great ability to adapt to developing trends in the photo industry, and has been able to maintain a high-level of quality along the way. If you ever have the privilege of meeting bill, you will find a soft-spoken, kind individual with wisdom in his eyes. You rarely catch Bill without his perma-smile.
Years down the line, Scott Drexler joined up with Bill in a true “A-Team” moment. Scott had a long-time love of photography and videography. He was an extremely successful videographer with Hawaii Video Memories before submitting to his craving for the still photograph (more to come on that vendor later). I had worked with Scott “the videographer” and have since had many opportunities to work with Scott “the photographer,” and I can say that he has really reached his true calling. Scott has taken his background in videography and movement, and really applied this to his photography skills. He now incorporates small videos in his work as well, using one of his super fancy high-end cameras. He really has the ability to shoot a dramatic and classic photo. His photographic talents aside, Scott has this amazing ability to make anyone feel so comfortable. Not everyone feels comfortable in front of a camera, and combine that with all the excitement of the big day, and it can be nerve-racking. Scott will honestly make you forget that nervousness and just makes it…fun! It also makes for a better photo. Trust me, I have been one of his nervous subjects myself. Scott also shot the recent wedding of our very own clients Bethany & Ben (yay!) coordinated by our very own Belle Planner, Lena Sebag. (Congratulations you two! More to come when the photos are finished!)
All in all, these guys are just one of the many “A-Team” professionals that you want on your team of vendors. Check out their combined and individual blogs and websites:
XOXO Jane
