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HOW I REFUSED TO BE BROKEN

8/15/2021

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Here we are 608 days post Pandemic shut down. Hawaii stopped in time on March 25, 2020. For professional eventiers, this was the catalyst that either shot them like a cannonball into another direction, or lit a raging fire that refused to die. I felt real, mind numbing, deafening, painful depression, for the first time in my life. Therapy is always a good idea,
but I am a stubborn soul and basically  
R E F U S E D
to give give up. With no choice but to meet our present need (ie. debt), I spent an insane amount of time researching, experimenting and working my a** off to make what we have BETTER, a still small voice kept saying "you already have what you need" TYJ.

WHAT I POSESSED
DETERMINATION
TENACITY
PURPOSE
SKILL
INVENTORY

WHAT I WAS LACKING 
FOCUS
Because I was paying attention to everything but my business 

FUNDS
Yah sure, we took advantage of the PPP, PPP2 and the EIDL. Who are we kidding....

DIRECTION
Where do I start?

Taking a step back to honestly audit my business was the first step. John and I spent many late nights talking about what we "wished" our business would look like if we could
"live our best life"


We wanted to be AUTHENTIC 
Not to be moved to act/change because its what others needed/wanted. Being authentic means you don't have to compromise your worth, your vision or desire for your business
to stay in business
Solution: Do it our way, in a good way. It might not be what everyone wants, but it WILL be right for the right client

We wanted to offer something DIFFERENT
Unfortunately different is short lived and anything successful will be repeated.
We chose the be the success, that others followed
Solution: Don't look backwards, because we're not there

We wanted to HAVE REACH
Not just to be reached by the public, but to reach our ideal client
But advertising is expensive.
Solution: Up our promotion game and really put ourselves out there with honest information

We wanted to be VALUED
We were the first to do that and now it's being marketed as someone else's design. 
Well Sh**!
Solution: Don't compromise our integrity to "get the business. Clients will see us"  
​
We wanted to be HAPPY
Such a simple concept, yet so ridiculously difficult to achieve in this business
Solution: If we are not representing our true self in our business, we will be chasing the proverbial carrot for the rest of our lives. Time to do what we love, not just act like we love what they want. 

Maybe you're not quite there. Business is very personal, it's not just a way to make money. Preventing business burn out is simply doing what you love, not pretending to love what you do. Re-invent yourself and your business regularly. Attract the right people and happiness will follow.

I'm happy today
And I love my clients

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PLAN B

11/21/2016

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Switching gears because weather is imminent,  will already test your limits. The last thing you should be doing is designing a plan b, hours before the start of your event. 
How should you plan for weather related changes?  Think shelter, food service, and flow. 
Our professional planners will ensure transitions, such as these, are carefully curated.
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What to Look For In A Vendor?...

4/21/2016

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What goes  IN to your event is what you get out of it.

Event service providers are springing up everywhere these days. How do you know what or who is right for you? This is where doing your due diligence is key. It IS a lot of work but you'll be thankful you did it.
Anyone can look good on paper (regardless of the atrocious spelling and deplorable grammar...sorry a pet peeve of mine), their reviews can even be glowing, but are they prepared and armed with a good plan, insured against mishaps or even seasoned enough to be a good source of knowledge? 

-How long have they been in business?
This should not be the deciding factor, as there are some vendors who are the      
epitome of professionalism and have only just opened their doors. While the
other side of the pendulum is a polar opposite.
-Insured?
This IS the deal breaker. You'll want to be certain the business you use, is insured,          but even more importantly is their staff or sub-contractors insured? Putting up              lights is not just a plug and play responsibility. YOU could be faced with a major 
liability if something goes wrong.
Most venues don't permit uninsured vendors on site. To discover the day of your           event that you have hired an uninsured vendor, and they won't be given access to         your site  is already too late to do anything about it.
-Familiar with venues?
 Knowing the power need and areas that require special attention or preparation, is      vital to the health of your event. It's not in your best interest to hire a vendor with a      just wing it attitude.
-Are they educated/experienced?
 There is more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. While traditional education        means going to school, there are other ways of learning and perfecting a trade. Pay    close attention to the continuing efforts of the vendor.
  • Do they know it all or seem jaded? .
  • Do you suspect they may be exaggerating their capabilities or                     experience? Don't be    shy...ask for proof
  • Can they produce certificates or evidence of said education?
-Bad Reviews?
Any business who's been around long enough, has had their fair share of bad reviews. In my best Abe Lincoln voice "You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time". THEN there is the time when a business really DID mess up. YES it happens to the best...ALL of them. No single business is immune. The question here, would be how did they handle it. 

​Ask the tough questions, your event (although kind of cliche) is a once in a lifetime event. You don't have the luxury of lessons learned. Paying close attention from the get go will help you find and TRUST the right professionals for you. 

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10 Things Wedding Guests Absolutely Hate by Country Living Magazine

3/30/2016

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Because no one can say it better than Country Living Magazine
10 Things Wedding Guests Absolutely Hate
​
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What to cut when your budget is not cutting it

7/10/2015

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Favors
     Our momma's and momma's friends all had them. We fondly remember opening the sweet little treats, as if they were our own personal gifts. The trend seems to be making a comeback in the form of homemade and organic.  This translates into costly.  "Gifting" your guests, is not just an added expense, it is an added chore. Don't get us wrong, we ADORE favors, done tastefully and of course if the budget allows.

Unnecessary Decor
       How many candles and little trinkets do you really need on the tables to  make it really pretty and uniquely yours? Surprisingly not as much as you're told... or should I say...up sold? 

RSVP Cards
       Include a phone number, email or evite. Designate someone from your bridal party or your planner to receive the electronic rsvps and calls. The paper trail is not necessarily worth the additional cost. Especially since we have all this technology at our fingertips.

Save The Dates
       Ditto on the evites for this one.

Menus
       A nice touch in lieu, would be to have the chef give you a quick table side presentation on his wonderful meal. It's interactive and may cost you a lot less than the printed pretties. 
       If you DO have the means to add this to your wedding collection

Programs
        Let it flow! Personally, I don't like programs. Your guests could become anxious with with expectation if something is out of order or not on time. You could become a slave to a script that almost never goes off without a hitch. 

Rehearsal Lunch/Dinner
         Sure you need practice, we understand. A big hoopla is not the way to go. Spend the money on your big day. Your wedding party and compulsory staff need be present. 
          Keep it informal. Hit a trendy sandwich shop and go Dutch. Even if you want to pay for everyone, it still won't cost you as much as another event. 

Venue
        Get the right size space. Don't go big and then struggle to make it intimate. Sure you LOVE that one location and have always dreamed of having your wedding there, but with a smaller guest list it will put a strain on the budget and force you to add decor items and details you wouldn't need with the right size venue

Signature Drinks
        His and Her special cocktails are the rage. A good chocolate martini is not only expensive but doesn't go a long way. I'm salivating just thinking about it! If I were at your wedding, you could pay me over $200 to drink up all that Godiva chocolate, multiply that by 50-60 people. Ouch. 

Small Cake-Big Dessert Table
         Not so new idea, great savings. With a smaller cake you can opt for a prettier design without the price tag. Your caterer usually has a dessert selection your guests will love. Cupcakes are also a nice alternative to cake slices.

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Ah...Perfection!

6/8/2015

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Perfectionist or Control Freak?

If you are planning your own wedding, you just might be a perfectionist. Striving for perfection is a commendable virtue, but, when does your quest for perfection cross the line into a control issue?

The down side of being a perfectionist, while planning your wedding:
  • It will never be perfect, no matter who plans it. You'll come up with a list of  ... I should haves... I wish Is ...Why did Is...This is not necessarily a bad thing, unless you let it set the tone for the rest of the planning process.
  • You keep such a close eye on the details, you miss the moments.
  • You set yourself up for a roller coaster ride. One detail could send you on a tail spin. Not saying you're a bridezilla, just saying your emotions could be up and down the whole night. 
  • You are compelled to straighten out the little imperfections rather than tending to your guests and having a good time.
  • It takes a lot of time and dedication to plan a wedding. You might be up for it starting out but be assured it is demanding and will keep you up at night.
  • What starts out as planning quickly becomes a control issue and before you know it you have alienated everyone involved.
The up side of being a perfectionist, while planning your wedding:
  • No one can truly see what you see, who better than you, to execute it?
  • Planning your own wedding gives you a sense of accomplishment and adds to the joy of that moment, when all is revealed.
  • It could save you money. The perfectionist usually knows where and who to hire before they enter the planning arena.  
  • The perfectionist is great with time lines and checklist. Chances are that you will not overlook a deadline or little details.


That being said, hiring a planner who is also a perfectionist, might just be your saving grace! Call us for our insiders recommendations for planners that we think is your perfect fit. 



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That could have gone the other way

9/15/2014

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Imagine the horror... a vendor calls to cancel just two weeks away, because she's over booked her weekend? Yes, it HAS happened. We are on an ISLAND?!!! .... What now? Panic is a viable option.
It goes without saying that this could be disastrous!
Not so. Hawaii is home to some of the world's most beautiful and fragrant flowers and fillers.
A good local floral designer can turn your catastrophe into something unexpectedly beautiful.
In the midst
if an unraveling plan you find what you're really made of.
This also might be time to consider silks. You can still get the desired look but without the urgency of overnight shipping and out of stock messages.
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We're EXCLUSIVE...

9/4/2014

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If a vendor tells you they are THE exclusive provider of their service at a venue...RUN!  
It speaks volumes when you have NO choices.
There IS a difference between exclusive and preferred.

Just two pieces of advice-

  • Do your homework, or better yet, have your planner do his/her homework.
  • Ask to see samples or photos of their products and/or services

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Seen below: Beautiful solid wood constructed benches. Designed, built and exclusively...(ha ha ha just checking to see if you are paying attention)...offered by Hawaii Island Events. No really, only we have em.
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Gorgeous shots seen on this website were provided by some very talented photographers, Mark Hinwood,  Cameron & Athena, Toby Hoogs, Fletch Photography, Rebecca Arthurs, ​James Rubio, Piko Piko Photography, Karen Louden, Bob Brown, David O Baldwin, Bikini Birdie, Jose Villa, Techy 3, Couple Cups, Julie Harmsen, Chelsea Abril, Sunlight Studios and more. We retain the right of ownership of the works contained therein. Photos of such, may not be reproduced without our express, written consent. Photos taken from this or any of our other websites, blogs or social media, and/or email is strictly prohibited.

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  • GALLERIE
    • REAL WEDDINGS + EVENTS
    • STYLED SHOOTS + EDITORIALS
    • BEFORE AND AFTER
    • COLOR OF THE YEAR >
      • PANTONE 2020
      • PANTONE 2019
  • WHO WE ARE
  • WHAT WE DO
    • F.A.Q.
    • L♡VE LETTERS
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    • WEDDING OR EVENT
    • STYLED SHOOT
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