Congratulations to OWA member and Hawaii wedding photography company Bianca Photography
for winning the 2009 Honolulu Star Bulletin Best Wedding Photographer category in their annual "Best of The Best" compilation! Bianca & Grant Gomes truly deserve the honor!
The Oahu Wedding Association is proud to have them as members!
BRIDAL ENTERTAINMENT: Hula dancers, Tahitian dancers, slack key musicians (we tag team with fellow OWA member, Doug Fitch!), ukulele players, Polynesian drummers and the most impressive of all, our fire knife dancers. We provide a written contract to guarantee your booking for peace of mind.
If your company were a candy bar what candy bar would it be and why?
Godiva chocolate bar with almonds. (A sugar-free version for fellow OWA member, Geralyn of Hokuli`i in congratulations for her award!)
Are you on Facebook?
Yes.
We proudly feature DJ Troy Michael as this week's OWA Member of the Week. Check him out! Troy Michael believes that the difference between a good wedding and a great wedding is a combination of all the little things. "There is not one single thing you can do to make a reception great," he says. "It is the finer personal elements all coming together that make a great reception."
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How long have you been in business? I have been a DJ for over 20 years and have worked with for many different DJ companies and night clubs. I have been operating my own mobile DJ service since 1999. What is your business specialty? I specialize in weddings. I still do an occasional corporate event or nightclub event but I love DJing at weddings. What is you best tip for bride/groom/couple? When selecting a wedding DJ take the time to understand the individual DJs style, experience, & services. Not all DJs are the same. Not all DJ companies will tell you who will be our DJ. I get excited when... I meet a client that values good entertainment and has a love for music. In my spare time you can find me... At the beach with my family. Do you have any employees and who are they? No employees and proud of it. It’s just me, myself, & I. This allows me to have full control over the success of a wedding. What do you feel YOUR clients have in common? Most of my clients are 30 something and are much like myself with a laid back personality. What trends are you seeing in your field? I am seeing more DJs offering added services like uplighting, music videos, & projection AV rentals. Who is your professional hero (whose work do most admire - this can be ANYBODY or ANY COMPANY) in your industry? Bill Gates. What influenced or inspired you in your decision to do your profession? Most of my friend all worked typical 9-5 jobs. I just could not see myself doing that. I started DJing originally as a hobby, then as part-time work and later turned my passion for music and DJing to full time business. My Mom used to tell me when are you going to get a real job? This was very motivational to me and she finally realized that DJing can be a real job. I say I have an unreal job. What are your business hours (if you are a store front) /Are there any "closed" days that we should be aware of? I typically take calls and meetings 8-5 Tue to Thur. On weekends I focus purely on my weddings. I almost always take Mondays off. Do you have a dog or pets? Does gold fish count? If your company were a candy bar what candy bar would it be and why? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups because my services are a blend of different things that make my company a success. Are you on Facebook? Yes look me up.
Our featured wedding professionals this week are Tanna and Bryson Dang, owners of The Wedding Cafe.
At The Wedding Cafe, you'll find everything you need to make your big day the one you've been dreaming about since you were a child. Vendor portfolios, how-to-guides, insider tips, friendly advice, and Wednesday night wedding workshops! Not to mention, a whole bunch of other things that'll make any day into a big day. Delicious snacks and sandwiches, one-of-a-kind accessories, and that oh-so-cute dress… it's all at The Wedding Cafe!
How long have you been in business?
The Wedding Café has been open since 2001! B&T bought in 2004.
What is your business specialty?
Wedding resource center, café and boutique baby!
What is your best tip for bride/groom/couple?
I know it’s cliché, but I always tell my couples to focus on the MARRIAGE, not the WEDDING. If you think about how incredible marriage is… how it bonds and brings two families together by love… all the other details will come together. There’s no need to stress! I did enough stressing over my own wedding for all brides around the world! J Learn from my personal case of the Bridezilla!
We get excited when...
GROOMS come to the workshops! There’s nothing better than seeing a room full of brides AND grooms… I love it when I see grooms smiling and laughing during the workshops, or even better… ANSWERING the Q&As at the end of the workshops. They’re awesome!
In our spare time you can find us...
At any coffee shop, people watching, talking, discussing, analyzing, and oohing and aahing over our puppy, Chloe.
Do you have any employees and who are they?
YUP! We have a staff of 12. Our Dream Team (we call our management team our DREAM TEAM) is made up of my sister Tessa who’s the GM, Jamie and Sheri who are Café Supervisors, Alyssa who is our Retail Specialist, Kayla who is our Wedding Resource Specialist and Margaret who is my all around go to gal or Project Development Coordinator. We also have a cool bunch of Café Belles… Lauren, Rise, Audrey, Sarah, Cailtyn and a Café Beau, Ryan.
What do you feel YOUR clients have in common?
Well, MY clients are both brides AND vendors. So brides are all coming to us to find THE best vendors in the industry. They want “referrals” of vendors who will take care of them and truly care about their wedding. TWC is one big referral system! Our vendors all have the common goal of servicing brides and grooms to the BEST of their ability. Since we hand pick each vendor who’s a member of the café, we know all about their business ethics, backgrounds and products. So we basically are wedding match makers!
What trends are you seeing in your field?
Our brides are telling us they want more one on one interaction, service has never been more important. With budgets getting tighter and leaner, brides are placing even more value on how they’re treated and what kinds of value added services they can provide. So be nice! J
Who is your professional hero (whose work do most admire - this can be ANYBODY or ANY COMPANY) in your industry?
Hmm… in this industry… I have to say I admire my husband Bryson (also the owner of TWC!) because whenever things get tough, hectic, and out of control, he NEVER loses his cool. He’s the perfect groom! Also, I can’t imagine he grew up thinking he’d own a wedding business or even be walking/talking weddings all the time. But he’s amazing with the brides, thoughtful with our vendors and witty with our grooms. Now THAT’S love!!!
What influenced or inspired you in your decision to do your profession?
I’m a matchmaker at heart! Ha! I love connecting people and TWC is a natural way for me to pair bride to vendor, vendor to bride, vendor to vendor and now bride to bride (we host Top Bride Seminars where they meet and mingle with each other!).
What are your business hours (if you are a store front) /Are there any "closed" days that we should be aware of?
We’re open Mon-Sat 10a-9p. Sun 10a-6p. Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Come on, we’re in a mall!
Do you have a dog or pets?
YES!!!!! I have the CUTEST puppy, Chloe, who is a Chihuahua terrier mix, 8-months-old. Photo attached!
If your company were a candy bar what candy bar would it be and why???
Skittles. We offer an array of services, choices and of course, personalities but every one is “sweet!”
Are you on Facebook?
Yes, just joined and am now HOOKED!
Our featured wedding professional this week is Nicole Seu, owner and principal photographer of Studio 3511. Nicole specializes in Hawaii weddings, family, event photography and graphic design. She is a true talent!
Check out her "shell and seashore" photo exhibition on May 17th.
How long have you been in business?
About 8 years- I started mostly with friends, family weddings & then referrals, along with graphic design services as well. I’ve been out there & advertising for wedding photography for the past year and a half.
What is your business specialty?
Combining the artistic with the documentary. I am a small operation, so I have plenty of time to focus on the couples before, during and after the wedding. We bounce ideas off each other, I give them referrals to other services. I only schedule one wedding a day- so if the couple decides to extend their time on the wedding day, and wants me to stay late or come early- then its no problem. And I spend lots of time making sure each photograph is perfect after the wedding- but still get the photos to them in a very quick and timely manner- 10 business days!
What is you best tip for bride/groom/couple?
Soak in every moment & enjoy the day- ham it up for the camera. Great pictures happen everywhere!
I get excited when...
walking into a place & seeing all the great potential spots for great photographs and seeing the large, brilliant smiles on everybody’s faces. I also love meeting people who are passionate and want their photos to reflect their personality & their wedding. The way I shoot is reflective of the couple & the wedding. Its not all the same photo poses time and time again.
In my spare time you can find me...
at the beach- surfing or teaching my kids to surf
Do you have any employees and who are they?
Just me myself & I.
What do you feel YOUR clients have in common?
They want someone to take great photographs, to make them feel comfortable & to laugh and have a good time with them. They want art at a great price and they want someone who is attentive to them & will take care of them and their moment- not someone who’s always looking for more potential clients. These are things that I look for as well as clients who become friends.
What trends are you seeing in your field?
Lots of enhanced photography- touching up the photos in photoshop afterwards, giving them sparkle & glow & giving them the hand tinted look. Also, lots of grand movements & gestures, lots of kisses in the photos themselves.
Who is your professional hero (whose work do you most admire - this can be ANYBODY or ANY COMPANY) in your industry?
He’s not in the wedding/photography industry- but my hero is my grandfather. He started with nothing and worked his way up to be one of the top business men in Hawaii, with a family too. Inside the industry, I love the work of Jose Villa. His photography is nostalgic, romantic, bright & sunny & just reminds me of simpler times & of first being in love. My goal is to mix the documentary aspect of capturing the whole wedding with a style similar to Jose’s- and to create an artistic collection that the bride & groom will treasure forever.
What influenced or inspired you in your decision to do your profession?
I kind of fell into the whole wedding photography because I was an artist & photographer, and loved it so much I stuck with it. Every wedding is unique & there is always something to be excited about, I love that there is so much love and happiness in the air! It shows up in the photos.
Do you have a dog or pets?
No dogs or pets, I get really bad allergies from the fur- but I do have 2 kids (they are kind of like pets sometimes), and they have some stuffed animals that are like the family pets- a palaka pig named Pigwidgeon (from Harry Potter, my 3 year old daughter named her) and my son’s lion- named Lion- they go everywhere we go.
What are your business hours (if you are a store front) /Are there any "closed" days that we should be aware of?
I am always open for my bride & grooms- I work from home, so I work out times & places to meet with my couples & meet up at places convenient to them. If the surf is extra big, glassy & empty, then the closed sign might be up. always call or email first! :-)
If your company were a candy bar what candy bar would it be and why???
I don't eat candy. Yes, I know, I'm weird...but I love ice cream, so I'll say that I'm like coffee ice cream- which is my favorite too- because it's that jolt of caffeine in a dessert form and just really smooth and luxurious on the palatte...it looks kind of boring, but there is a lot going on once you take a bite...and it goes great with any kind of food.
Are you on Facebook?
Yes- become a fan!- studio 3511 photography
What can we do to help?
Larry's son Josh is putting together the arrangements, but it's a difficult time and he's not rushing it. As soon as he is ready to announce anything, it will be posted on this blog to help him get the word out. In the meantime, a simple thing you can do is to go to Josh's Facebook page and leave a heartfelt message of support. It's a challenging time for Josh and the Fair family, but your message can help ease their grief and let them know that you do care.We are proud to feature our 3rd OWA "Member of the Week"... very inspiring. Thanks, Larry, for sharing your story.
LIVE INTERNET WEDDINGS - Larry J. Fair, Owner
How long have you been in business?
Seven years.
What is your business specialty?
Wedding videography and streaming it live over the Internet so family and friends who live off island can be a part of the big day.
What is your best tip for bride/groom/couple?
Go with a destination wedding and save $20,000 that can be used for a down payment on a home.
I get excited when...
I am doing a wedding knowing the impact of sharing the event live with them is something no one can put a price on, it is extremely gratifying.
In my spare time you can find me...
At the beach.
Do you have employees?
Yes.
What do you feel YOUR clients have in common?
The common bond of coming thousands of miles away from their loved ones, all wanting to share the moment with those who could not be here is person.
What trends are you seeing in your field?
With the world becoming increasingly smaller live internet weddings will be the standard for all weddings and events.
Who is your professional hero (whose work do most admire - this can be ANYBODY or ANY COMPANY) in your industry?
Since we are the forerunner in this exciting and new industry there really isn’t anyone to look to, instead I keep my focus on developing new and innovative ideas that can improve the entire wedding experience for my couples.
What influenced or inspired you in your decision to do your profession?
I was seriously injured in an auto accident several years ago which resulted in physical disability due to chronic pain which ultimately led to divorce, loss of my home, job, 401K, many friends and the loss of everything I valued in life and for a time I even sold my plasma twice a week to pay for my child support. I moved to Hawaii to get a fresh start in life and for two years I went to the beach, swam and snorkeled so much I knew all the fish on a first name basis.
Several years ago I was sitting at the beach and was watching this cute Japanese couple getting their photos taken at the beach with only themselves and the photographer present. I then thought to myself "I wonder if anyone is webcasting the wedding live for those who can’t be here in person so they can still be a part of it?" I went home and went on line that day and in spite of living on disability income I bought 35 domain names all relating to different variations of live internet weddings and held them for two years until technology caught up with my idea. Since that time thousands have enjoyed their sons, daughters, or parents get married live from the comfort of their own home. I started my business for two reasons, of course earning a living was one but the second was I wanted to be an inspiration to the millions of others who are disabled, living with pain who thought their life was over because of it, well it is not! I definitely have the best job in the world.
What are your business hours (if you are a store front) /Are there any "closed" days that we should be aware of?
A bride's dream never closes, nor do we.
Do you have a dog or pets?
No dogs or pets but I am considering a blog:J
If your company were a candy bar what candy bar would it be and why???
Oh good question. Ok here is my answer, all of them and reason is because everyone is included, sweet!
Are you on Facebook?
Yes.
*Been in business: 12 years*If your company were a candy bar what candy bar would it be and why? Almond Roca, there is more than meets they eye after you unwrap it. A lot of my clients are so interested to learn that we work on many magazines, film sets, special effects and celebrities besides Weddings. They always want the inside scoops about a certain celebity I have worked with, but sorry...my lips are sealed!
April 2009 (week 1) - We are proud to feature our very FIRST...
Business Owners: Julie Aragaki & Gavin Kobayashi...
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