ali'i kula lavender says i do

if your heart swoons for the lavender fields of provence but your other half insists on a beachside ceremony, it's time to click over to ali'i kula lavender which has opened up its maui farm to woo island brides and grooms with a dreamy alternative straight out of a jane austen novel.

the upcountry locale is suited for intimate weddings (50 to 120 guests) and the ten acre site offers both privacy and panoramic views all the way down to the pacific. it's a romantic compromise which all your guests are sure to remember and one that will make for a lovely backdrop for the official photographic record of your big day. 

the royal gazebo or estate lookout can be booked à la carte or via one of akl's wedding packages which includes a helping hand to coordinate all the details.

p.s. save 10% on wedding packages booked before june! contact akl for details.

sweet blossoms hawaii

even with the abundance of flowers grown in hawaii and this invention called the internet (which magically connects your business to the world whether potential customers live down the block or across the ocean and is underutilized, if at all, by so many hawaii businesses), it seems that finding a florist with a knack for modern arrangements outside the booming island wedding marketplace can be as difficult as locating a needle in a haystack.

enter sweet blossoms hawaii, a small floral shop on kapahulu that opened its doors last september with a focus on composing lush arrangements be it a simple prom boutonniere or a cascade of petals for everyday celebrations. a lifelong love of flowers prompted irene, sweet blossoms shopkeeper & head floral designer, to create wedding arrangements for family & friends during college before spending a few years learning the tricks of the trade while working in the flower trade.

what most impressed me about sweet blossoms is that an environmental policy is posted on their blog (which stands in for the official website): green waste is composted, when water is changed it gets sprinkled in the garden, cardboard boxes are reused and recycled, and tradewinds (aka the original a/c), keep the shop cool while also reducing sb's carbon footprint.

sweet blossoms also opts for local blooms when available to support local flower farmers while customers are encouraged to return vases in exchange for store credit.

the online gallery showcases an array of floral goodness and the staff welcomes customer input to create just the right mix of flowers for whatever the occasion may be. a consultation nook (love the saarinen table!) is also at the ready for planning out flower details for weddings, private parties, and company bashes.

• where: 1014 kapahulu avenue, suite 210
• shop hours: mon - sat, 8a to 7p & sun, 8a to 5p
• delivery area: koko head to aloha stadium ($10 fee)

fighting eel summer 2008

puka

a quick peek of fighting eel's summer 08 collection is sure to perk up those monday blues. fe continues to reinterpret island style with updates on the flirty designs that have become a staple in closets from hawaii to hollywood. i am loving fe's more modern approach to tropical which takes aloha friday to a whole new level of sophisticatio, and a sweet nod to the lushness of the designers' hometown paradise can be found in the rainbow of colors saturating the collection.

corsica

anouck

sienna

and, a simple twist in foolproof jersey is perfect for the beach bound island bride who prefers to say i do in a pretty silhouette versatile enough to be worn after the wedding day.

p.s. the fe atelier is now open to the public on thursdays so when in chinatown stop in and browse past collections which have been marked down 30 to 80% off.

• when: every thu & fri - 10a to 5p
• where: 47 north hotel street
• fyi: cash & credit cards only

lani blue stationery

hibiscus

custom goods are one of my favorite things about etsy so it was a happy day when a new stationery line from mililani knocked on my door. the idea for lani blue stationery came to be after clients of photographer sandy aichner inquired about invitations to go with their wedding package. after doing some research and not finding anything quite right, sandy decided to jump in and draw upon her photoshop/illustrator skills to create her own paper goods line.

since its inception last spring, lani blue has extended its offerings from wedding invites to birthday notes, baby/graduation announcements, and social stationery served up in a pretty mix of modern tropical and asian design elements. and, should the relationship ever hit the skids, follow the lead of one client who shared the 411 with a juicy breakup announcement.

another reason to show lani blue some love is that all of the designs are printed with recycled papers and vegetable based inks for a little less impact on the planet.

currently, lani blue stationery is available exclusively in its etsy shop. keep in mind that custom orders have a turnaround time of 1 to 6 weeks with preprinted cards shipping within two weeks. be sure to take a peek at the faq for additional details as well as sandy's blog for a look behind the scenes.

p.s. social wahines members save 10% off their order! contact sandy for more info.

goody bottle

custom soda snacks

the toast team recently rolled out a monogram option for their custom soda snack line which is such a cute idea for a wedding favor. fillings range from sweet to savory and include local favorites like iso peanuts, arare and li hing gummies for a more modern take on the small kid time treats that were scooped out of those gigantic apothecary jars at island sweet shops.

and, if you are determined to work the official wedding color into every little detail, you can opt for m&m's and jelly bellys to further coordinate your wedding decor.

minimum order is 15 bottles. get the skinny on custom orders here.

click rewind to learn more about toast.