The Hawaii Bride: Are You Hungry? Downtown catering feeds you well!

Brides and grooms are guaranteed to agree- Good food at your wedding is a must! Today our Hawaii Bride Kristina gives you the low-down on what to expect from a wedding caterer and why she chose local fave Downtown for her Big Day...

Pacific Bride Guide got an email from reader, Kelly, last week asking about wedding food catered from Downtown at the Hawaii State Art Museum. I was lucky enough to work with General Manager Keoni and the staff at Downtown for my own wedding and I’m happy to share my experience. Here is just a little photo from my wedding, courtesy of Pacific Bride Guide vendor and my favorite photographer, Christie Pham, to tantalize you… (more photos below).

Now, some people come to weddings to see the dress, or to check out the good looking bridal party, others are family members there to wish the happy couple off… But, no matter who it is, everyone is also there for the food! So while we’re on the topic, let me just state that your menu is probably one of the most important facets of the wedding planning. They say that your food bill should be about 25%-30% of your total budget. Add in the bar tab, reception site, and you are talking a good 50% of your funds! So yes, this is important, brides!

I’ve been to my fair share of local weddings where they served the standard buffet that was sub-par. What I can tell you about Downtown is that it will not be ordinary or lacking in inventiveness. Their food is amazing and their presentation is even better. I worked with GM Keoni to decide on the menu. Since TOWN and Downtown are two of my favorite restaurants in our beautiful state, I already had my go-to dishes in mind. Downtown is all about fresh ingredients, so Keoni outlined the plan for food, but waited on the seasonal produce to confirm the details.

I had a gallery hour for our guests to walk through the wonderful spaces at HiSAM, and in the sculpture lobby we served wine and appetizers. Our appetizers were Kamiya papaya wrapped in prosciutto and mint; ahi tartare on Ho Farms cucumber; and crostini of roasted grape, mascarpone, and rosemary. Everything was delicious!

For dinner, I choose to go with stations to enhance guest mingling and minimize the need for many staff members, thus saving on cost. We had two stations full of antipasti dishes including a watercress salad with pear, gorgonzola, and walnuts; bitter greens with pine nuts and raisins; tomato and avocado with ricotta just to name a few.

One of Downtown’s specialties is the massive cheeseboard with assorted cured meats, dried fruits, and bread. This was a hit and had a line throughout the night.

Our entrees consisted of 2 selections: braised pork with the best polenta I’ve ever had and olive oil roasted free-range chicken with fingerling potatoes. Downtown is also known for their slow cooked, melt in your mouth meat entrees and ours did not disappoint.

For dessert we had a seasonal fruit warm dessert made by downtown. I have to admit that by that time I was stuffed and so tired, I don’t even remember what it was. But, I know it was delicious because we got a lot of compliments. Coffee, tea, and non-alcoholic beverage service were provided by downtown as well.

Also for dessert, we catered individual pieces from JJ’s French Bistro and Bakery on Waialae Avenue, known for their chocolate pyramid. This was a wonderful little treat for our guests since we didn’t have a large cake to pass out. Our petite cake was also made by JJ’s and it was so yummy.

Downtown was nice enough to receive all of these desserts and display them in their elegant, understated way. This is just an example of the exceptional service you will get from Keoni and staff. I felt that working with them was like working with friends – they cared about my event, and were very real as opposed to being corporate and robotic. I do know that downtown is growing in popularity every day and Keoni is swamped, so make sure to check in every now and then.

I hope that answered some of your questions, Kelly! Have a great day!

Thanks, Kristina! And have a great weekend! For more stellar Hawaii caterers, click here...

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

delectable food photos were shot by the amazingly talented Christie Pham.

Travel: My Way

Some days I feel like tapping the microphone, 'hello, is anyone out there?'. Are you out there? Do you care what I have to say? Well, listen up, buddies, today I'm dishing out my travel advice. Because as much as I love [the design of] weddings, I, gasp, love travel even more. After several years of traveling back and forth between Hawaii, Oregon and New Zealand, I definitely have come up with a method to my traveling madness. Here's what I wouldn't travel without and why:


Lululemon Wonder Unders
Since my first taste of Lululemon about a year ago, I can't let go! For those of you that don't know, Lululemon is an athletic wear brand founded in Vancouver, BC. I've had a pair of black Wonder Unders for about a year now and they haven't faded one bit. They're so comfy and you can move in them! Because I'm THAT girl that contorts herself into a pretzel trying to find the perfect sleeping position for an overnight flight. If you're a pretzel too (even if you're not), you need a pair!


Clark's Privo Shoes
While gearing up for a trip to Australia and New Zealand a couple of years ago, I was on the hunt for a comfy but cute pair of shoes. I knew I'd be pounding a lot of pavement in Sydney and Melbourne and the occasional quick hike in Auckland so I wanted shoes that could do double duty. Well, I'm here to say that Clark's aren't just for your grandparents anymore! Two years later I still love them and have worn them traveling, while setting up weddings, etc, and still love them.


A Hat, Any Hat
That would be my favorite hat up there: Grey jersey, a find in Sydney too good to resist so I bought one in black too. I'm not a total germ-o-phobe but I admit I do get a little freaked about resting my head on some random plane seat a zillion other people have rested their heads against, ick. This is me in Sydney donning my Privo's and my favorite hat. A hat also comes in handy when creating your own bedroom on a plane... I'll explain more below...


A Hand Towel
So because I've done so many overnight flights I go to the airport fully prepared wearing my Wonder Unders, Privos, hoodie and a hat. Before I board the plane, I make a stop in the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face- don't forget your face wash! That's where the hand towel comes in. But wait, when I finally want to doze off on the plane, I shove one of the ends of the hand towel under my hat and voila, I just created my own bedroom! I know that may sound a little strange, but I can make all the faces I want under there and no one will notice! Plus I feel like I have a barrier against the inevitable 'Chronic Sneezer'.


Minimal Accessories
When traveling, I'll pack a couple of my favorite rings, bracelets and necklaces. I always bring my simplest pieces because they can go with anything and you don't have to worry about them getting all tangled in your jewelry bag. I've traveled many a time with Pua Jewelry's Bamboo Bangles- perfect for traveling to Hawaii!


Gold Slippers (or if you prefer, 'Flip Flops')
I'm a big fan of gold flip-flops and I kind of dig Lauren Conrad's breezy yet put-together LA look so this pic is a perfect example of Hawaii travel style. We wear a lot of slippers here, but the gold color means they can go with anything from jeans and a tank top to a casual dress. A gold slippers are hot on the beach too. Lauren Conrad, this is definitely a 'Do'.

If you're traveling to Hawaii or New Zealand, I've got a ton more tips for you right here...and if you've cooked up your own travel habits you'd like to share, please do!

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

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!