wedding belles book giveaway

the first day of june rings in the official start of wedding season so it seems like the perfect time to part with my review copy of wedding belles, the first book penned by tanna dang, the popular proprietor of the wedding café. although the book was published earlier this year and, i must confess, arrived in my mailbox quite some time ago, i finally had a moment to take a peek inside and discovered a breezy read filled with stories and sage advice shared by island brides and grooms.

page after page is filled with a kama'aina take on everything from proposals to planning to big day bloopers plus the inside scoop on the reality of incorporating the many, many island wedding customs without going mad or alienating the more traditional branch of your 'ohana. tanna also pops in throughout the book with a host of helpful tips acquired since she and her husband, bryson, took over twc a few years ago.

it's definitely a fun read which i suspect will become a popular engagement gift for island lovebirds taking their first steps together on their wedding day adventure.

here's the scoop on how to enter:

• email your name & current hometown to: aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, june 4th
• please put wedding belles giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household

click back on friday to find out if you are the lucky winner.

{update: winner list posted}

aisle style

i first met tara deponte, the delightful founder of the just launched pacific wedding guide, while browsing at pacific home and was happy to find a kindred spirit on the showroom floor - a modern island girl who adores good design while staying true to her roots.

not content to remain a shop girl indefinitely and with the gorgeous snaps of big day bashes peppering the pages of many a wedding blog as inspiration, tara brought a designer's eye to the task of sourcing the top vendors in both hawaii and new zealand who produce the most stylish soirees be it delish cakes, charming invites, dreamy flowers, and all the other essential elements to make the day fab.

in addition to the directory, jet setting brides & grooms will want to take a peek at the destination guide, a quick hit list of what to do, where to go, and what to see while on island.

and, be sure to click over to the official blog which posts daily finds of "i do" inspiration plus the scoop on new vendors joining the growing pwg 'ohana.

[congratulations tara!]

{update | feb 2010: pwg received a slight name makeover and is now officially pacific bride guide}

bradley & lily

the long awaited launch of bradley & lily, the boutique letterpresserie known for its contemporary couture wedding stationery, has finally arrived! having been on letterpress watch for quite some time, i was delighted to finally take a peek at designer stacey nomura's gorgeous invites which have been stunning local brides with its artful take on traditional wedding announcements since the very first cards rolled out of its antique printing press.

one look and you can spot how mother nature, architectural motifs, and other design details, often captured by stacey's camera for future inspiration, have been translated from rolling waves, swaying palm trees or koi fish into finely crafted paper goods.

more peeks below:

old hawaii

digital printing is another option for budget crunched brides & grooms who refuse to skimp on the design possibilities offered by their big day. and, letterpress fans take note, bradley & lily's minimalist aloha & mahalo note cards are hot off the presses and can now be found both à la carte and in boxed sets at soha living who will also offer b&l's demi-couture invites in-store later this summer.

to celebrate bradley & lily's online debut, stacey is offering 15% off all demi-couture and couture stationery to readers who mention h|h before june 30th.

p.s. for brides short on time, b&l also offers a gift concierge service featuring elegant favors and other delightful offerings for your guest list with delivery available around the islands and to northern california.

{photo credit: kelly + fergus, visionari}

all about umee

oahu designer deena white may have only arrived in the islands a few years ago, but she knows all too well the dilemma of standing in front of the closet without a thing to wear for a tailor-made day in paradise.

last summer, the designer-to-be began drafting her style wish list of pieces that would complement her biz-y lifestyle, and in only a year's time the umee label (named after her japanese grandmother) went from a simple sketch to a stylish start-up.

the recently debuted capsule collection is comprised of classic silhouettes with just a hint of pleats, ruffles, and other feminine flourishes inspired by hawaii. pieces have been thoughtfully designed to transition from work to after hours fun with little fuss which is sure to be a happy find for readers who fancy a polished look for the office still pretty enough to go on a pau hana play date.

deena has even given the lbd an island makeover with the introduction of umee's little black muu muu (shown above) which i suspect will become both a style staple for homesick kama'aina and a favorite island holiday souvenir.

more peeks below . . .

ruffle strap + strapless dress

pearly plumeria + little black muu muu

since deena was once an island bride herself, a bridal collection is currently in the works with the possibility of made-to-order frocks on the drawing board to help brides-to-be coordinate the look of their wedding party.

and, in other news, keeping production local was a priority and i am happy to report that the entire umee lineup is made in hawaii!

currently, the online shop is the only click you need to know to add a little umee to your wardrobe (with free shipping on all orders at the moment), however you can be among the label's first patrons during this weekend's mom and you trunk show hosted by hifi:

• when: sat, may 9th - 2p to 4p
• where: the contemporary museum, café lawn
• fyi: enjoy a pre-sale tea for two at the café (reservations recommended)

the missing wink

word is that purchases of little indulgences are, at least for now, recession-proof as people seek comfort in fancy chocolates, lip gloss, and other affordable treats. if your peepers have been yearning for a pretty pick me up then you may want to investigate the latest product launch from maleana cosmetics.

biolash promises lush lashes with a blend of 100% natural algae complex, plant-based phytohormones, and bio-informed ginger root extract infused in an olive oil and jojoba oil base while being free of parabens and synthetic hormones. at $59, this lash wonder may be considered an indulgent splurge unless your one and only wish whenever blowing on an eyelash is for an abundance of flirty lashes without the assistance of mascara or falsies.

in other news, the honolulu-based beauty parlor has gone web 2.0 and is now offering destination brides complimentary skype consultations so you no longer have to hop on a plane and hit the streets to book your makeup match.

you can pick up a tube of biolash and shop maleana's spring/summer 2009 color collection at the line's studio in kaimuki (phone/email orders are also welcome):

• where: 3405 waialae avenue, suite 203
• studio hours: mon to fri, 9a to 6p