The Hawaii Bride: Recessionistas’ Wedding

Kristina, The Hawaii Bride, has a ton of diy tips and advice for you today... Happy Monday!

I have just gotten used to this amusing new idiom that seems to be flung around every which way expressing both whimsy and woe. On a serious note, we hear about the recession daily: layoffs and pay cuts are splattered across newspaper headlines; businesses and shops continue closing their doors. We're living through a pretty tragic time. But, for the newly-engaged, this misfortune is exponentially worse. Weddings, traditionally, have been a time for indulgence and splurging. Now, it seems we need to nip every nickel and say goodbye to that lavish wedding of our dreams… or do we?

Lucky for the modern bride, it seems that wedding styles have moved in a refreshing direction. Venues are open and airy, themes are more organic and green, materials are sustainable. This need to be frugal is actually a wonderful challenge to be inventive and unique. As I was perusing one of our favorite wedding blogs, 100 layer cake, I found a Sacramento couple, Lisa and Geoff, who embody this creative mantra. This is truly the ULTIMATE Do-It-Yourself Wedding. The couple actually made EVERYTHING including the wedding dress, bridesmaids’ outfits, and even the cake-toppers. AMAZING!

Bride Lisa actually designed and hand made her wedding dress – complete with a layered, colorful tulle underlay – and hair pieces. Did I mention she is a photographer and designer herself?

Mustache mania! A little imagination can generate the most distinctive and memorable photos. Check out the handmade bridesmaid dresses.

What a happy couple. The bride wore the cutest be-ribboned red heels for the ceremony. But, I LOVE that she changed into these adorable yellow ballet flats!

You should definitely check out the rest of Lisa and Geoff’s unbelievable DIY wedding.

Besides being ultra-creative and designing a lot of the wedding yourself, there are other ways to keep you from breaking the bank. In fact, the Honolulu Advertiser online recently had an article about smart wedding budgeting. Some of the ingenious tips, perfect for the progressive bride, included:

· Getting married on a weekday or Sunday when reception site rents are lower

· Choosing an off-peak month, especially in Hawaii where the weather is beautiful throughout the year

· Outdoor spaces like parks, clubhouses, or your friend’s beautiful backyard are all less expensive, more imaginative, and much more personal than a generic hotel ballroom

· Save on postage by having guests e-mail their RSVPs – who wouldn’t be happy to save a couple trees (and dollars)

· Serve brunch or lunch instead of dinner OR make it a buffet or stations. A cocktail reception is chic and cheaper

Although I didn’t have this great article to follow for my planning, I did end up using many of the ideas and everything turned out beautifully. So, Recessionista’s, Plan On! And have a great rest of your week!

Thanks for stopping by today, Kristina!

pacific wedding guide
The guide to planning your destination wedding in the Pacific

Lisa and Geoff's wedding photos were taken by a very talented Sacramento photographer, Sarah Maren.

The Hawaii Bride: Ode To Pandora

Whew, it’s Monday already. These weekends are flying by! I spent a good portion of my days off with my husband, painting and redecorating our living room. While we worked, we listened to perfect tunes streaming live over Pandora.

What is Pandora you ask? Well, it is only the most incredible invention of man since sliced bread! No longer associated with the mythological Greek woman who unleashed all the evils of mankind, the Pandora of present day is free streaming music over the web. What makes it so amazing is that you, the listener, create the stations based on music you love. You start a station by typing in a song or artist you would like to listen to. Then, based on a myriad of musical attributes, Pandora plays new songs and artists similar to the one you typed in. If you don’t like what they play, you can give it a “thumbs down” and the song will never play again. But, if you do like it, give it a “thumbs up” and the system learns more about the music you want. And you can create as many stations as you desire. It is a fantastic opportunity to discover new artists to fall in love with. Learn more about the nitty gritty here.

Now what does Pandora have to do with weddings? Well, as a bride, Pandora can be your best friend. During my planning days, I would listen to Pandora while at work. I knew I didn’t want traditional music at my wedding and I couldn’t afford a whole 12 piece band. So, I went the modern way by plugging in an iPod and hiring a deejay. To create my playlists, I listened to hours of music on Pandora and got acquainted with new faves. Artists like Iron and Wine, Ray LaMontagne, Regina Spektor, and Priscilla Ahn were all amazing Pandora finds. My top playlists were indie music for our cocktail/gallery hour, jazz and big band for dinner, and hip hop for dancing. I even found perfect songs for the processional, recessional, and video that were unique and represented my hubby and I (and our wedding style) well.

One of the most recent songs I fell in love with is Tracy Chapman’s The Promise, which I could totally see as an unconventional processional or first dance song. Take a listen here:

Oh Pandora, how do I love thee? Let me recap the ways…

1. It gets to know you and plays what you want to hear.

2. It has even the most obscure of music in its repertoire.

3. It’s free.

What more could you ask for?

Hope your week is wonderful!

DIY Wedding Rings

Few possessions are closer to our hearts than our wedding rings, but we are usually limited to figuring out whether to buy one ready-made or to ask a jeweller to make a custom one. Now I have come across a third possibility in New York: making it yourself.

Rarely has jewellery been something that we can make, because of the skill and equipment required. New York Wedding Ring, however, is changing that with private, full-day workshops in which couples can design and craft their engagement or wedding rings. A professional jeweller guides you through each stage of the process as you work with platinum, gold, palladium, or mokume gane; by the end of the day, you will have crafted professional-quality rings through an experience you'll always remember.

Wouldn't it be great to see this type of service in Australia? Not only designing, but also crafting your love for each other through your wedding rings. How romantic!

DIY Wedding Rings

Few possessions are closer to our hearts than our wedding rings, but we are usually limited to figuring out whether to buy one ready-made or to ask a jeweller to make a custom one. Now I have come across a third possibility in New York: making it yourself.

Rarely has jewellery been something that we can make, because of the skill and equipment required. New York Wedding Ring, however, is changing that with private, full-day workshops in which couples can design and craft their engagement or wedding rings. A professional jeweller guides you through each stage of the process as you work with platinum, gold, palladium, or mokume gane; by the end of the day, you will have crafted professional-quality rings through an experience you'll always remember.

Wouldn't it be great to see this type of service in Australia? Not only designing, but also crafting your love for each other through your wedding rings. How romantic!