We’ve been friends since our freshman year of high school and although we have not lived in the same state since I moved to Hawaii in 1984, we still have remained great friends throughout all of these years.

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.  ~Elisabeth Foley

The great thing about getting together is that no matter how many years it takes us to see each other, the moment we get together it seems like no time has passed and we can just pick up where we left off.

With cell phones, e-mail and Facebook, it is easier than ever to keep in touch.  It is hard to imagine that we used to have to worry about the very expensive long distance phone calls and write letters without the aid of a computer.

There is no “good time” to take a vacation as there is always work to be done and clients’ needs to be met, however, we also know how important it is to have balance in life.   Everyone needs to take a few days here and there to reconnect with those that mean the most to them and to rejuvenate their body and soul.

We encourage you to “make time” for that special person in your life…….it will be good for both of you!

It is always fun to go back through pictures and reminisce about their wedding day (which even for me seems like yesterday!)       Throughout the years, Ericka has been one Hawaii Weddings and Events biggest supporters, and has graciously been in contact with many prospective brides that wanted to learn more about how a wedding planner could assist them and she shared her personal experience.

Jeffrey took a little more convincing as to why Ericka wanted a Hawaii wedding planner, but when everything was done prior to their arrival and they could simply enjoy the week with their family and friends, then he said “now I get it.”

If they look familiar, it’s because this beautiful spirited couple’s “Swept Away” picture from their talented photographer, Frank Amodo won a Pacific Weddings photo contest, and their long board picture was also featured in a full page feature on “Hot Spots” for the same magazine.

They came back for their 1st anniversary a couple of years ago and we had a great lunch followed by one of Ericka’s favorites, Bubbie’s mochi ice cream.  We still keep in touch via Facebook and Ericka had shared that one day she would love to get into wedding planning.

As a new mother, Ericka a “little” busier now as they were blessed with their daughter Eleiana who was born November 3, 2010, but should they ever get to Hawaii, she would be a welcome addition to our team.

#1.    Response time. How long has it taken your prospective planners to get back to you via telephone or e-mail?     We pride ourselves in providing our clients with a timely response and know the frustration of waiting for an answer.   We set a daily e-mail response that will  let you know if we may be out for meetings (or an event) with an expected response time so that you’re always kept informed.

#2.   Are they a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business and do they have Liability Insurance? This question will help you determine if they are a professional planner with a bonafide business or someone that does it as a hobby.    Hawaii Weddings and Events is listed on http://www.bbb.org/hawaii/business-reviews/wedding-consultants/hawaii-weddings-and-events-in-honolulu-hi-53003913#ratingdetails and has a $1M Certificate of Liability Insurance which is required for all vendors by venues such as Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort, Turtle Bay Resort and the Hyatt Regency Waikiki on an annual basis in order to work on their property.

#3.   How easily can they provide you with past client reviews or references? We ask our clients to write reviews on a variety of websites such as Wedding Wire http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/hawaii-weddings-and-events-honolulu/20e45160b6edc0ab.html or Yelp.  We can also have past clients contact you directly if you still feel the need for further validation.

#4.   What is their company’s credentials? We are honored to have the only dually certified professional planner in the State of Hawai`i holding both the Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) and Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designations which provides a depth of expertise which is invaluable.

#5.  How do they educate themselves on current trends and current products and services? What does your prospective planner do to keep abreast of current trends, products and services?     Continued education has been the the key to our success for it allows us to better serve you in ever changing times.  This past year we attended Catersource in March and also the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) Experience Conference in July.   In 2011, we are attending Event Solutions in February with keynote speakers Preston Bailey and David Tutera as well as the NACE Experience Conference in July and the Wedding MBA in September.

#6.  Do I have to use your list of vendors? There are some planners that will advise you must work with their list of vendors.  We do have a variety of professional vendors that we work with on a regular basis, but we also do not limit ourselves to that list as there are always “up and coming” vendors in our industry and we meet new vendors all the time.      We don’t just provide a “list” of vendors as we feel it is a disservice to you.  We ask a series of questions to better understand your needs, style, budget, personality, etc. which will help us to narrow down the vendors that would be best suited for you after checking their availability.

#7.  Do they have a wedding portfolio? We originally starting preparing photo albums, but as we do alot of destination weddings we’ve found that our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/hawaiiweddingsandevents makes it easier to post pictures of events for prospective clients to review as well our current clients love seeing the pictures which also gives them ideas that they may want to incorporate into their wedding.

#8.  Are they nationally recognized? Hawaii Weddings and Events is honored to have won the “Best Catered Wedding Event of the Year, Budget Under $25K – 2009″ as well as “Best Food and Beverage Themed Event – 2005″ presented by the National Association of Catering Executives.    We also were recently selected for the national wedding style magazine, Grace Ormonde’s elite Platinum List http://www.weddingstylemagazine.com/platinum-list/hawaii/all-areas/planning-and-preparation/destination-wedding-planning/coordination/hawaii-weddings-and-events

#9.  Are they flexible? Over the years we’ve continually updated our packages to meet the ever-changing needs of our brides.  We pride ourselves in providing a variety of options to at least give you a base to start with, but are happy to create a package that is specifically tailored to your own requirements.

#10.  Did they say “Thank You”? No matter who you decide upon, every potential vendor should thank you for your time and consideration.   We understand that is not an easy task to trust someone that you have just met or spoken to over the phone to assist you with one of the most important days of your lives, and that is why we are so very honored when we are selected.  We take great pride in becoming your trusted advisor to help you with an Amazing, Fun and Stress-Free wedding day!

So, how did we select who to feature first?    With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching I’m quickly reminded of a very sweet and romantic couple from Washington DC who were married in July 2008.

Their wedding colors were a vibrant red and cymbidium green with a hibiscus theme .  They, like many of my destination weddings, used a combination of our virtual consulting time and day-of coordination which helped streamline the process of selecting their remaining vendors,  wrapping up loose ends and finalizing all details prior to their arrival in Honolulu so they truly could enjoy their wedding week.

Frank Amodo truly captured some amazing pictures of Ericka and Jeffrey (some are featured in the gallery along with a few non-pro pictures), including my favorite picture between the long surfboards and he also shot the winning image Swept Away for “Pacific Weddings” photo contest.   Reader’s remarked: “This photo reminds me of how I felt on my wedding day!”, “…a perfect example of a naturally captured moment”, “spontaneous, romantic, classic!”

Their ceremony was held at St. Augustine’s Chapel which was followed by what I heard was a very fun trolley ride with their bridal party prior to arriving at the Diamond Lawn located at the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort to join their guests.

Her bridal flowers and centerpieces were created by Su-V Expressions.  As usual, given a little creative freedom, Sue went above and beyond when making her centerpieces which were even grander and more beautiful than we both imagined.

Another highlight of the evening was a keiki hula performance and special “surprise” karaoke performances by the bride’s family and their ceremony highlights from the Big Picture which was followed by their own special slide show.

To  this day, we still keep in contact, and in fact, I encouraged them to come back to  Honolulu to celebrate their 1^st anniversary.  Fortunately there were some great travel deals ad they were able to make it.

We had a great lunch at BluWater Grill in Hawaii Kai and started reminiscing about the wedding day.    Ericka asked “did you know about my family’s surprise?” and I told her “no, it was definitely a surprise, and we had to figure out the best place to merge it into the program.”  The other thing I shared was that there was some technical difficulties that delayed their slide show, so we I worked with the other vendors and the banquet captain to make some adjustments in the program while it was resolved.   Ericka said “I didn’t know about that” and I told her “exactly…..that’s why you had a coordinator!”

We ended our visit by going to Bubbie’s Ice Cream which I have a feeling will become a tradition for years to come.   Ericka is very interested in event planning, so we always joke about me opening an office in Washington, DC…..trust me, if I ever do, she will be the first person I call!

I’m very thankful for having the honor of being their coordinator, cherish their friendship and truly appreciate their continued support of Hawaii Weddings and Events.

2009 was truly an emotional roller coaster as we lost famous stars that many of us we grew up with, and I also lost a very dear friend who was instrumental in helping me launch my website.

Through these difficult periods, I’ve found that focusing on the positive, living a life with gratitude and giving to others through donating my time, services or just my knowledge to those who want to learn about our industry has became my saving grace.

While reconciling my books, I printed a recap of all the events that Hawaii Weddings and Events had the honor of serving this past year.  It brought back so many wonderful memories, and I am very happy to able to keep in contact with my clients long after their wedding day via Facebook and holiday cards.

Even with a “down economy” we were truly blessed to increase our business through referrals from past clients, continually trying new ideas and keeping a positive spirit that has opened the doors to so many wonderful opportunities for both of us.

As we wrap up the year, Wai and I want to sincerely thank you for all of your support and wish you and your families a prosperous and healthy New Year!