The Events by Evonne blog

I am so excited to announce the launch of my 2nd company, a joint venture with my hubby, Darren. Please check out our new website and blog and leave us a comment!

Abena and Omar’s wedding on Saturday was absolutely amazing. Everyone was soooo sweet and had a wonderful time. Abena’s grandmother flew all the way from Ghana to attend the wedding. It was such a special day for all.

Here are some photos that Darren and I took:

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Stay tuned for the professional photos by Visionari.

Yesterday, I spent a late afternoon with Abena and Omar at the beach right in front of their rented villa in Kihei. We did a casual “pre-wedding” photo session and it was a lot of fun. It gave me a chance to get to know them better. I met Abena a year ago when she was out here with her mom and sister. I can’t believe the year has just flown by and she is getting married this Saturday.

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They are such a fun, loving couple! It’s going to be a gorgeous wedding and it will be my very last one in 2009. I look forward to sharing some sneak peeks next week. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday everyone!

Last week, one of my good friends and colleagues from San Francisco came to Maui to visit. Chung is an accomplished wedding photographer in the Bay Area, and Darren and I had the privilege to spend an afternoon with him, his sister and his friends for a casual beach portrait photo shoot.

Here is a picture that Darren took of me and Chung:

And here’s one that I took of Chung in action:

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We learned a lot of great tips and tricks from Chung that day, and here are some of the photos that yours truly took! :)

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Besides the San Francisco Bay Area, Chung also travels to other destinations for weddings. If you haven’t done so already, you need to check out his website and his blog to see his amazing photos!

It was great seeing you, Chung! Hope to catch up with you again next month when we are back in the bay!

As I am approaching the end of the 2009 wedding season, that means it’s time for me to:

relax and rejuvenate;
rest and recharge;
visit our families and friends on the mainland over the holidays; and
work on a project that my hubby and I have been wanting to accomplish in the past few months!

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There will be some great changes coming in 2010, hopefully I will be able to share with everyone very soon! With that said, I would need more time to concentrate on my new project in the next couple of months. It may take up a lot of my blogging time, but please do check back often for latest update in the wedding world as well as my world!

Here are a few more pictures by one of my latest favorite wedding photographers in Vancouver, Canada - Jamie Delaine. Can you believe that she’s only 19? Her work is amazing! You need to check out her website and her blog! Jamie, next time when you come back to Hawaii for a vacation, please stop by Maui… would love to meet you in person! :)

And here is Jamie…

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When Liz contacted me back in May 2008, she wasn’t ready to start the planning of her wedding yet. She told me that she would need my services in a few months. Sure enough, 2 months later in July, I got an email from Liz and she said she bought her dream dress at Kleinfeld Bridal in NYC and so the planning officially began!

She and Nelson came out to Maui for a scouting trip in November, and we got to spend some time together doing food tasting and checking out venues and meeting with vendors. They are such an adorable couple. They fell in love with photographer Amity Mason and before they went home, they did an engagement session with her which you can see the photos HERE.

CAKE: Cakes by JoAnn. CATERING: Aloha Events Catering. FLORALS: Asa Flowers. LINENS/RENTALS/TENT: Pacific Event Group. PHOTOS: Amity Mason.

As the planning progressed, Liz told me that she’d like a “Sex in the City” wedding on Maui! She named all of her tables after the 4 characters in the popular TV show - Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha! And of course, she had to have the blue Manolo Blanik’s that Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker’s character) wore! :)

To honor her Chinese heritage, Liz chose red and gold as her wedding colors. As you can see from the slideshow, she had gorgeous decor in red and the linens were all in light gold… the combination was absolutely stunning - definitely one of my favorite weddings in 2009!

Congrats, Liz and Nelson. All the best to you both! I look forward to catching up with you the next time I am in New York!

It’s been a really crazy busy week for me and I can’t believe it’s Thursday already, but I just wanted to say “Happy Birthday” to my hubby today.

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I love you and hope you have a great day. I look forward to celebrating a lot more birthdays with you!

With the holidays just around the corner, my favorite ladies at Prim & Pixie are offering our readers a 20% discount on their Holiday Collection, which includes photo cards, greeting cards and party invitations.

They can also create coordinating gift tags & thank you notes. Also keep in mind that they will customize all of our designs with your choice of color and wording.

Go visit their website now and have fun shopping!

Are you planning to write your own vows for the wedding? When I got married 4-1/2 years ago, I thought about it but then I knew I would start crying if I say anything personal, and then I probably wouldn’t be able to finish it. So we ended up not writing our own which was just fine.

But if you are writing yours, here’s the homework you need to do and the questions you should ask to make your wedding vows perfect {source from The Knot}!

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Prep Step A: Get clearance
Make sure your officiant will accept personalized vows. Catholic and Episcopal congregations, for instance, may require you to recite all or part of the traditional vows, though in most cases that’s left to the officiant’s discretion. Remember: Even the most accommodating officiant will want to review your words in advance.

Prep Step B: Make a plan
You need to tackle the logistics to make sure you and your fiance are both on the same page: Are you each going to write your own, or will you write them together? Will you show them to each other before the ceremony?

Knot Note: If you’re feeling shy, opt to write your vows together and even recite the exact same promises. If there’s more you wish to say, privately, say it in the cards you exchange on the day of your wedding or on your honeymoon.

Prep Step C: Create your outline
An outline can help to establish a structure that you both stick to. For example, plan to first talk about how great your fiance is, then about how great you are as a couple, then about what you’re vowing to each other.

Prep Step D: Find your voice
What overall tone do you want: Humorous and touching? Poetic and mushy? It’s your call — the most important thing is that your vows ring true and sound like they’re from your heart.

Prep Step E: Cut it down
Finally, pick a length and stick to it by keeping the mantra pithy and to the point in mind — anything longer than a minute or so, and no matter how gorgeous your prose, the audience will start to squirm.

Ready to Write!
What exactly do you say? To help you think of sentiments to include, take turns answering this list of questions. When you’re done, look through your answers for the phrases that best capture your intended message and incorporate them into the structure of your vows.

What did you think when you first saw him/her? Start from the beginning — you didn’t want to go out and now you’re grateful your friends dragged you out? How to use: When we met at __________, I knew __________.

When did you realize you were in love? The more specific you are able to be, the more touching the story. Was it when he helped you bring your sick puppy to the vet? How to use: I knew I was in love when ____________. Don’t underestimate the power of humor. Throw in at least one more playful sentiment (When she recited Don Mattingly’s RBI record…).

What do you have now that you didn’t have before you met? Focus on the heart and head, not material possessions. Has she taught you to appreciate beauty differently? Has he helped you learn to savor creating a home-cooked meal? How to use: Before I met you, I ___________. Now I ___________.

How has your worldview changed? Life has likely gotten better since the two of you joined forces, so tell everyone about it. How to use: Because of you, I see the world __________. Having trouble? Think about the new things you’ve tried with your mate — what have you experienced together that you never would have on your own?

What do you miss most when you’re apart? This will probably be something mundane but powerful — what about his smile first thing in the morning, or the way she puts out your lucky mug for your morning coffee? How to use: You are such a part of me that when you’re gone, I __________.

Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? 20 years? 40 years? Go deeper than Happily married in a big house. What are your long-term hopes, dreams, and goals? How to use: I look forward to __________, laughing and __________ as we __________.

Is there a line from a movie, song, or poem that says it all? It’s okay to borrow, as long as it’s not too much of a cliche (we’re sorry, but You complete me is suffering from overuse). Instead modify something familiar to personalize. How to use: Subtly. I watch you ________, and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

Do parts of the traditional vows resonate with you? Maybe you’re not so sure about the obey part, but can you really go wrong with love, cherish, and…? How to use: Try I promise to cherish and honor you ____________, but add a time frame and funny reference for levity: …all the days of my life, especially when curled up on the couch with takeout.

Can you think of a funny or touching experience that put your partner in a new light? The way he played with your little cousin or helped your grandmother up the stairs showed you that under his macho exterior is a wittle, bitty bunny wabbit and you love him for it. How to use: When you ____________, I saw you for the _____________ person you are. And that made me want to ____________.

Is there a harrowing experience that strengthened your bond? This one rides tandem with #9. How to use: See #9.

What goals and values do you both have? Stating your common bond may just expose your inner Wordsworth. These ties — whether your shared faith or your mutual love of wine — will also help demonstrate why you’re a perfect pair. How to use: We share ___________, so together we can ___________.

What about him/her inspires you? What is it about your fiance that you’d like to improve in yourself? What do you most respect about your partner? How to use: Your ___________ has shown me how to be___________.

What promise can you make to codify your devotion? Here’s an opportunity to personalize your vows — many couples pledge their endless love, but how many promise to take the dog out in the morning, even in the snow? How to use: I promise to always ___________.

How will you change together? You know what your goals are — think about the steps the two of you will need to take together to reach them. How to use: I look forward to ___________ as we __________.

What metaphor (or simile) would capture your love? Think of something that describes or defines your love: Is it strong like a castle? Peaceful like a mountain stream? How to use: Our love is like a ___________ because it ___________.

Why are you entering the bond of marriage? Think about why marrying your fiance is so special. You may be surprised how the answer leads you to the perfect words. How to use: To me, marriage is ___________. With you, it’s ___________.

What will keep your marriage strong? Find the bedrock of your relationship. What makes your relationship tick? Is it your resilience? Your shared sense of humor? How to use: Even when ___________, we will have ___________.

What are you most looking forward to about married life? The wedding is just the beginning. How to use: I look forward to ___________ as we embark on ___________.

What do you expect out of married life? Defining your expectations will help you make and keep promises. Think about your dreams, and what you’ll have to vow to do to make them come true. How to use: I know our marriage will ___________ and I vow to ___________.

What words do you associate with love? Make a list of romantic terms so you can avoid overusing love — too many repetitions dilute its power. How to use: My devotion/adoration/ passion is ___________.

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Hopefully you find this helpful. Thanks, The Knot!

Although an all-white wedding looks absolutely stunning and beautiful (and I have yet to plan one), as a planner and designer, I always love working with colors. Besides the typical florals and linens, these days you can add a splash of your favorite hue with one of these cool items suggested by none other than the amazing Martha Stewart:

1. Cocktail Lollipops

Shaken, not stirred? Nope — in the case of these homemade liqueur lollipops, the catchphrase is “stirred, not sucked.” Meant to be swirled into a glass of champagne until they dissolve and infuse the bubbly with flavor, these playful pops (in black currant, raspberry, and peach) are a grown-ups-only take on the tried-and-true childhood treat.

2. Martini Twist

Cocktail hour has never looked so good! Give lemon peel a backseat and punch up your signature drinks with candy garnishes that match your palette (in both color and theme) instead. Not only are the splashy swizzles fun to look at, but the jolt of sugary flavor they leave behind turns standard-issue libations into bonafide guilty pleasures.

3. Colored Donut Holes

Late-night snacks can feel as tired as the wedding guests who devour them. These doughnut holes, however, are a wake-up call in the form of a sugar rush. Simply ask your caterer to whip up a big batch in a variety of sugar-coated hues, and serve them to your (grateful) guests in metallic gold paper cones.