It’s time for another photo contest here at Love Notes!  Just like before, the winning image will appear in the upcoming Summer/Fall 2012 Edition of Pacific Weddings. We snatched this photo from one of our favorite Hawaii photographers, Tamiz. Rebecca and Jonathon are a husband and wife team with a signature style that truly stands out. They are featured on The List, our little black book of preferred vendors as well as the Maui Wedding Photography Spot. This image was taken at the luxury bridal show Creme de la Creme in Vancouver. (Hint, Rebecca, we think you should enter this amazing shot!) Read on below to find out how easy it is to enter the contest. Deadline is May 10, 2012. Good luck!  xo ~robyn

Ok, so here are the rules:

Submit a photograph for a chance to have your image appear FULL PAGE in the upcoming issue of Pacific Weddings! The winning photo will appear on The Last Word page facing the inside back cover of the magazine. This special page is carefully selected by yours truly and dedicated with an inspirational scripture to our readers. Contest Deadline is May 10, 2012. Anyone can submit from brides to  florists and photographers by sending us an extraordinary shot. Email your favorite shot today and you could be chosen for publication in the upcoming issue!

Here’s how it works:
Email your photo(s) to contest@pacificweddings.com, then we will post our top five selections and let the readers vote!

•PLEASE DO NOT SEND HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES AT THIS TIME
•Send no more than 5 images per entrant.
•Photos should be 72 dpi and no larger than 8×10″.  (High resolution images will be requested if your image is among the finalists. A photo release will also be required if your image is one of the five posted for voting.)

The Last Word Photo Contest Contest Deadline is May 10, 2012, so don’t miss out!

Photographer Jonathan Ong captured the wonderfully natural and gorgeous wedding of Justin and Jessica at Stones of the Yarra Valley in the Yarra Valley, just beyond Melbourne, Australia.

In lieu of a bouquet or veil, florist Rita of Blooming Brides created an ethereal floral headpiece to complete Jessica’s vintage-inspired look. The bride wore a crinkled tiered dress made from spotted tulle by Melbourne designer Gwendolynne Burkin. As for the groom, Jessica had no idea was he planned to wear on their wedding day. She wanted to be surprised! Justin opted for a Dom Bagnato light blue grey suit paired with a  Rhodes & Beckett Tie checked white and navy shirt, navy tie and a spotted pocket handkerchief.






When it came to the flowers, the couple wanted natural tones and a “just came back from the garden and chucked the posies in jars” look. They opted for creams, ivories and lots of foliage. The space was adorned in David Austin and Ice Berg Roses, Lisianthus, Snowberry, hydrangea, Field Daisy’s with sprigs of Rosemary.








In the barn, the main feature of the decor were amber beer bottles and glass jars collected over time. They hung from the trees as a ceremony back drop and lined the tables as flower vases.  Emma Scarlett created strips of fabric garlands in natural tones that hung between posts with Festoon lights.  They re-purposed a rustic window for the table seating chart that was displayed during the cocktail hour.



Vendors:
Wedding Venue: Stones of the Yarra Valley, Australia
Photography by Jonathan Ong
Bridal Dress: Gwendolynne Burkin
Hair: Lauren Mackellar
Floral Design: Blooming Brides’
Entertainment: Soulbeats Entertainment

(Photos by the talented Trish Barker) Steph Smith, owner of Garnish Events, is all about impeccable attention to detail. The boutique cocktail caterer says, “The drink is a craft itself and deserves the attention to look and taste beautiful, so the bar is an experience on many levels. We want people to come within ten feet and smell the oil from the orange peels, sweet basil and fresh lilikoi puree.” I’ve had the pleasure of working with Steph and her amazing staff and she serves the most delicious — and pretty — cocktails I’ve ever had. We featured these signature Maui drinks in the latest issue of Pacific Weddings, and today she’s kind enough to share the recipes! Is it almost cocktail hour? xo ~ robyn

Some of their most successful cocktails have been inspired classics spiked with a unique island flair. “Barefoot in the Garden is one of the drinks people love and is an unexpected pairing. It combines muddled cucumber and cilantro, fresh squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, elderflower liqueur and tequila and is garnished with cilantro.” But for guests who want something they’re more comfortable with, Garnish can oblige…with a fresh twist, of course. “The Passion Love is another wedding favorite as it is reminiscent of a fresh, local cosmopolitan. We mix fresh passionfruit, lime and cranberry juices with vodka and a ginger sugar rim.”

Garnish insists that mixology is an art; to create perfectly balanced cocktails in the most beautiful, decorative way. For this reason, never will a store bought alcohol bottle be seen on their bars, but rather displayed in distinguished decanters, served in rustic mason jars or vintage champagne coupes. Smith hopes to create a carefree, whimsical environment for guests to enjoy delicious, elegant cocktails. “We want them to experience them in their entirety” she insists. “To drink them in with their eyes and breathe in their scent.” We agree!

Original text by Jade Snow; Photos by Trish Barker

Have you visited the Pacific Weddings Movie Room lately? You’ll find fun behind-the-scenes video of our photo shoots, beautiful real weddings and footage of Hawaii’s top wedding sites. We also introduce you to “our crowd” of A-list wedding talent, like Anna Kim. Her romantic images express her irrepressible joie de vivre! Enjoy,  xo ~robyn

See more of Anna’s work and check out the portfolios of a select group of Maui wedding photograhers at Maui Wedding Photography Spot.

{My favorite adventures. meet Anna Kim from Stillmotion on Vimeo}

Korri McFann knows fabulous weddings. As Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons worldwide marketing and business development director, she has had her hands in over 500 weddings and events! Korri was instrumental in developing Disney’s Couture Collection and orchestrating a relationship with celebrity wedding planner David Tutera.

“The great thing about my career is that it is always evolving,” says the mother of two. “I feel very fortunate that I get to work in an industry that I love and am so passionate about. I am always looking for new ways to push our brand forward and redefine the modern princess.”

In describing her personal style the words feminine, classic and romantic come to mind. “In fact, one of my favorite style icons is Jackie O.,” Korri says. “My life is crazy, but I always take the time to do my hair and makeup. If my hair and makeup is done I always really like my outfit and feel complete.”

We sat down with Korri to get her “short-list” of favorite destination wedding activities and leisurely pursuits in Hawaii, a place she gets to visit often for both work and pleasure. She just may have the dream job!

My all-time favorite resort is Disney’s Beach Club Resort. They have an incredible pool with white sand on the bottom just steps away from Disney’s BoardWalk and the back door to Epcot. And no trip is ever complete until we make a stop at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop for a ‘Kitchen Sink’!

Hands down, the best cafe and restaurant in Hawaii is ‘Ama ‘Ama restaurant in Disney’s Aulani Resort. I love this location because it is completely open and has a stunning view of the Pacific. They serve all three meals, and I was especially pleased with their breakfast offerings. Their signature dish is a Banana Stuffed French Toast With Chocolate and Peanut Butter Sauce- trust me, you won’t regret starting your day with this entrée.

For my all-time favorite beach in Hawaii, I have a special place in my heart for the North Shore as it’s where I honeymooned.  I always try to make a stop there since it’s nostalgic for me and brings back such great memories. My husband and I have a great history, so it’s always fun to see where it all began.

Go-to date spot: Now that I’m a mom, I appreciate the little things in life. Taking the time to go see a movie with my husband is like going to the spa! It’s important to take time to do things as a couple- even if it’s ordering take-out and chatting about our days.

Must-do adventure: Take a Disney cruise! I love cruises because there is truly something to do for everyone- no matter the age. I can drop my sons off at the kids club and have a date night with my husband and know that everyone is having a good time. I can honestly say it’s probably the most relaxed I’ve ever been!

Find out more about Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons here. All images via Disney.

A gorgeous, well-executed wedding cake is not an easy thing to come by. We’ve worked with some of the most-talented designers in the industry and are continually on the hunt for the best of the best. Charm City Cakes has officially wowed us with their summer 2012 collection of confectionery creations. Their designs touch on current trends in weddings (think chevren, ombre, dots and fringe) while remaining classic and feminine. We’re keeping an eye on this company, located on both coasts! Check out their west coast branch here.





via Design*Sponge

Everyone is swooning over the new Bridal Collection by Ruche! The dreamy photographs by Stephanie Williams of This Modern Romance say it all! xo ~robyn

Photographer: Stephanie Williams / Event designer + coordinator + paper details: Sugar and Fluff /Florals: Bunch Studio / Cakes: Sweet and Saucy / Makeup + hair: KC Witkamp / Vintage rentals: Ribbons and Rust / Location: Kimberly Crest / Horse rentals:  Giddy Up Ranch / Models: Ashlyn Pearce , Madeleine Barnes, Jessica Strother, Eric Allen, Sarah G., Margarita K

If men’s streetwear has shown us anything this year, it’s that bow ties aren’t limited to the black tuxedo anymore. Exquisite fabrics and not-too-preppy prints have revamped the once nerdy accessory. Most recently, we have companies like Pomedôro to thank for raising the style bar. Could the necktie be considered haute couture? We hope so.




via Refinery29

It’s no surprise that we look to the storefronts of our favorite designers for inspiration. Anthropologie continues to impress with unexpected objects turned into art time and time again. With the countless photo shoots that we produce here at Pacific Weddings, we can appreciate the time and ingenuity that goes into these installations, whether for an event or store display. Pictured here are the creations of Bramble Workshop, the design studio of Los Angeles artist Jessica Pezalla. Her client list includes Hermés, Anthropologie, The Reform School and The Cream Event.




From top to bottom: Mobiles hang on a fence before installation at The Cream Event; Neon wall drawing made with tape on the musicians stage at The Cream Event; The jade string display at Anthropologie; String chandeliers hang in Anthropologie, inspired by images of mop chandeliers. The sculptures were created using kitchen twine and deconstructed mops. The tassels were made by cutting plastic bags into strips and dusting them with metallic spray paint.






From top to bottom: Anthropologie’s window display was made from many, many recycled wine corks. They were dyed or painted, cut to various heights and glued onto wood. The circular patterns were inspired by Native American basketry; A knotted ceremony backdrop hangs from a tree at an outdoor wedding in California; The Hermés Spring 2012 window displays were inspired by movement through time in the natural world. The three hanging forms evoked wind and water currents and were made from painted, hand-cut pieces of paper; For Anthropologie’s dot window display, Jessica spread wax between layers of different colored tissue paper and ironed them together to create translucent sheets. The circles were die-cut from the sheets and strung together to create blocks of color.

Happy crafting! xox Shaunna

We sat down with Mona of Weddings by Grace and Mona, a full-service wedding planning team on Oahu, to get her scoop on Hawaii’s best offerings from food to spectacular beaches, shopping and her go-to resort for a stay-cation! “Actually, one of the things I like most about Hawaii is my mom,” she says.

“While the great weather, friendly people and beauty of the islands are huge perks to living here, it’s really my mom that is the glue that bonds me to Hawaii. Our local culture reinforces a sense of commitment to family and I am extremely fortunate to have my mom here!”

As of this year, Mona is not only leading Weddings by Grace and Mona, she is managing their sister company, Pacific Aisles, as well. “We plan to reinvent Pacific Aisles and take it in a whole new direction by shifting the focus to planning weddings for destination couples and recent transplants to Hawaii who desire a beautiful wedding, planned with the ease of a few clicks of their mouse.” We have no doubt you will be successful, Mona! Here, Mona shares her shortlist for Hawaii:

My favorite beach is easily Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island (pictured below). It is conveniently located in town, parking is plentiful, the waves are gentle, it makes a fantastic spot for a barbecue with friends and is perfect for an afternoon jog. The view of Diamond Head is spectacular!

As for food, I like anything and everything! I love Tokkuri-Tei, Koh-no-Tori,and Sushi Izakaya Gaku but am also looking forward to trying Wada!  I’m all about small portions of a variety of different dishes.

I love The Pavilion Café at the Honolulu Academy of Arts for the great food, relaxing indoor-outdoor setting, amazing architecture and beautiful works of art.

For a great date, I like to exercise what I call the “one drink/ one appetizer rule.”  Instead of heading to just one place for a date, I’d rather hit several.  Start with a cocktail at Rumfire Waikiki to catch the sunset,  followed by some of my favorite spots: Nobu, Roy’s Waikiki, the Wai‘Olu Lounge at Trump Tower (pictured above), to name a few.


The Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele is my go-to relaxing locale for a stay-cation!

Chinatown is the best neighborhood for shopping, dining, culture and nightlife.  By day, Chinatown bustles with activity, with fashionable boutiques and Chinese markets offering their wares; while cafes and restaurants serve up a variety of great eats.  By night, Chinatown sizzles with much to see and do, including live theater, pubs, restaurants, live music, and even an occasional block party.

I was first introduced to Anteprima, my favorite boutique, when they approached us to plan an event celebrating the one-year anniversary of their first boutique in Hawaii.  The glittery metallic signature colors of their wire bags always catch my eye, and when it comes to their other accessories, I appreciate the designer’s use of clean lines and attractive combination of colors.

While I do not consider myself an outdoorsy person, surfing is my must-do adventure!  For our destination couples, we have coordinated private surfing lessons for the couple and their friends which was great fun!

I admit, I have the worst score of everyone I know, but I really do enjoy golf, Hawaii’s must-do leisure. Hawaii boasts some of the most breathtaking and challenging courses in the world.  A round of golf here is well worth the investment of time and money and is a great way to soak up a bit of sunshine and relaxation.

{Photos from top to bottom: Mona captured by Kris Labang; Wada restaurant image by Martha Cheng; Aerial view of the man-made lagoon at the end of Magic Island by Dwight K. Morita; Nobu sashimi via here; Rumfire Waikiki; Wai‘Olu Lounge at Trump Tower; The Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele}