Crystals & Keys ~ Marla & Gary unlocking the spirit of love!

Marla & Gary – unlocking the spirit of love

About 7 years ago, when I was just a getting into the wedding business, a wonderful girl named Marla took me under her wing and showed me the ropes of the wedding business on Maui.  I have her to thank for the start of my career as a planner and she has taught me so much along the way.  Unfortunately for the Maui wedding industry, Marla left the wedding business to open her own amazing boutique called Details.

Marla, gorgeous fashionista extraordinaire, met Gary, a boyishly handsome and humorous, at the roulette table in Las Vegas while Marla was visiting for a retail trade show.   Gary was immediately enamored and asked Marla out on a date.  The continued to talk over the phone after they returned to their homes.  Marla, living on Maui, and Gary was living in Seattle.  It took about a year before Gary announced that he was packing his bags and moving to Maui to be with Marla.

Since we as planners, know how important it is not to coordinate your own wedding (too much stress!), I had the pleasure of being Marla’s coordinator and was able to repay her for being such a huge part of my career. The planning process was so much fun, and actually very much stress-fee. Marla is one that knows exactly what she wanted form the very beginning which made the planning seamless.

Marla knew immediately that she wanted to hold the event at Haiku Mill, which is a reconstructed sugar mill.  She envisioned a romantic, vintage theme with fall colors, and we decided on a rich chocolate brown, complimented by muted golds and olive greens.  Because Haiku Mill is so rich in ambiance, we wanted to compliment the surroundings without going overboard.  We complimented the venue and the color scheme with dark burgundy dahlias, ivory hydrangea, and wax flower used in the centerpieces and scattered small bud vases.  We mixed in natural dark woods using Manzanita and succulents as well to give it a cooler complimenting tone.

For the décor, we played with strands of crystals underneath the canopy to compliment the existing crystal chandeliers.  Place cards were tea stained by the bride herself and attached to an array of vintage skeleton keys.  All of the table numbers were hand-painted by a wonderful artist from Etsy: Cheryl from My Primitive Boutique

Guests enjoyed simple, yet refined “pupus” by Maui Executive Catering (that’s Hawaiian for hours d’ vours), of Coconut Shrimp, refreshing Lump Crab & Rock Shrimp Summer Rolls, and Grilled Chicken Skewers with Thai Peanut Sauce.  For dinner an incredible buffet of Szechuan Veggies, wok-fired at the buffet, along with Macadamia Nut Encrusted Fresh Mahi Mahi with a Miso Butter Sauce, Hoisin Braised Short Ribs (OMG amazing),  with Wasabi Crème Fraiche, accompanied by Asparagus Risotto with White Truffle Oil and Shaved Parmesan Reggiano.  Ah-maz-ing!

Congratulations Marla & Gary!!! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of these incredible moments in your lives! Love & Aloha – Jane

Special thanks to Marla’s hand-picked “A-Team”:
Photography by: Scott Drexler of Photos on Maui
Cinematography by: Todd Perkins of Hawaii Video Memories
Hair & Makeup by: Mira Carman

Your Destination Wedding

Choosing to have a destination wedding can be a no-brainer for many, but for others who are unsure, there are many aspects of having a destination wedding that can help you to determine if it is the right fit for you.  

As a destination wedding planner, I find that destination weddings provide a certain degree of adventure and intimacy that can appeal to many new couples preparing to tie the knot.  Here are some of the advantages of choosing a destination wedding:

1.  The Vacation Aspect – A vacation is always something that we look forward to.  Having your wedding in a vacation destination provides that same element of insatiable anticipation for you and your guests.  When the event is over, allow yourselves some extra time in your destination location, or travel to a near-by neighboring area where you can escape from the excitement of the event, and go into “relaxation mode”for the honeymoon.   Many of my couples opt to marry on the island of Maui, where the wedding locations, restaurants, hotels, and activities are abundant, then sneak away to Kauai for the honeymoon, where they can slip away to a more quiet and undisturbed environment.

2.  The Intimacy Factor – In my experience, the level of intimacy that a destination wedding provides is always such an amazing experience for my couples and their guests.  If traveling a great distance, it is very possible that at least half of your invite list will not be able to attend.  Although this might be considered a disadvantage for many, the result can be a less-stressful experience for the bride and groom. Your closest friends and family would make up the majority of your guests, making your experience even more special.

3.  Customizing your event – Though there are many additional costs that come along with traveling, having a smaller affair can allow you to spend your wedding dollars on items and services that can be custom tailored to fit every aspect of your personalities and style.  Maybe it’s concentrating your funds on tons of flowers, or a personalized 5-course menu consisting of all of your favorite dishes.  Customizing your wedding can provide your friends and family with an experience that gives them a special look into your lives together.   

In the end, you must be confident in your decision.  There may be guests who might pout a little, but in the end, what is most important is that you are in an environment where can concentrate on the love that you share together.  Let your destination wedding coordinator take care of the rest!

XOXO Jane Lopez