Real Party: Hawaiian Wedding

Thanks for your patience this week. I must still be on island time!
What a fun wedding we attended last weekend. I have known the bride and groom both since elementary school, and it was so fun to be a part of their special day. The wedding was held at a hotel in Waikiki. The bride is Japanese, and the couple incorporated both Japanese and Hawaiian traditions and foods into their event.

The ceremony was held in the Luau Garden on the hotel grounds. The aisle was sprinkled with white Hawaiian flowers. The couple performed a traditional lei exchange with their parents.

Mr. & Mrs at last! Woohoo!

Tiki torches burned during the cocktail hour.

Name cards were hung on ribbons on this green board at the cocktail hour.

Guests signed the mat on this beautiful wall hanging, which says "Love" in Japanese.

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The bride loves these green cymbidium orchids. Her color palate was based off of them.

Unfortunately, cymbidium orchids are EXPENSIVE. Therefore, bridesmaid bouquets served a duel purpose. There were 3 round tables set up for the wedding party and their significant others. Each table had tall vases in which bouquets were placed after the ceremony. Double duty for these pricey orchids. This is such a smart idea! And it really looked beautiful.

The rectangular tables for family and friends were decorated with green runners, candle holders with sand, and sprinkled white flowers. A money saver over traditional centerpieces, but quite beautiful. The couple didn't have to worry that guests wouldn't be able to see each other across the table, which is always a conversation-killer.

Bridesmaid essentials: a stylish bouquet & champagne!

The buffet dinner was amazing. There were many traditional wedding buffet foods: green salad, rolls, a prime rib carving station, etc. But there were also more salads and dishes than I could count with local seafood and Japanese-inspired flavors. It was the perfect setting for trying something new. There wasn't enough room on a plate to try even a small sample of everything from this buffet!

It was truly one of the most impressive buffets I have ever seen.

The cute little cake was covered in the signature flower of the day. Only a small cake was needed, because there were plenty of other dessert options!

The dessert display was overwhelming. I was disappointed that I was so full from dinner that I could only choose one thing from this table to try. Isn't it beautiful?

A candy bar, complete with customized plastic bags, served as the party favors for guests. Most of the candies had some of the signature green in them. I was lucky to have snapped this photo before the guests devoured it all! :)

After dinner, the hotel had a fireworks display. What an amazing photo opportunity. I can't wait to see what the professional photographer does with this picture-perfect moment!

Three of the bridesmaids' husbands performed a traditional banzai toast during the reception, which blesses the couple and all the guests with long, happy lives.

Congratulations Janelle & Darren! Banzai!