Oahu Wedding Association's saywhat: News, Information, & Gossip About Hawaii Wedding Professionals

Social Light Invitation

Want to learn how to throw the most fabulous wedding? Look no further, Social Light – The Art of Wedding Design is coming to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa on March 27, 2011. With only one chance to make your big day perfect, Social Light’s speakers will educate and inspire “do-it-yourself” brides and grooms with a day full of vigorous content to help couples plan the most fabulous, beautiful and memorable wedding of their life. Attendees will have the opportunity to bounce ideas and concepts off of wedding experts and get their most intimate questions answered.

Enjoy a day of luxury while experiencing a firsthand preview of the newest wedding trends in beauty, floral and decor, photography and videography, entertainment, and catering. Conceptualized out of a desire to bring knowledge, tips, and secrets to create an amazing wedding to Hawaii brides, Social Light is bringing together more than a dozen of Hawaii’s top wedding professionals for an exclusive one-day workshop.

For the event schedule, list of speakers, and registration information, please visit http://www.sociallighthawaii.com/

OWA/Hawaii Bridal Expo "Secrets of the Pros" Seminar

OWA to host informational talks at the Hawaii Bridal Expo, January 21st, 22nd and 23rd.

The Oahu Wedding Association is committed to enhance & promote the image of the wedding service industry of O'ahu with high standards of work ethics, extending the Aloha Spirit among the wedding industry and the community.

Each day at the Hawaii Bridal Expo, meet the pros at the Expo stage for an informative presentation by a panel of wedding experts. Consisting of consultants, photographers, florists and more, each talk will provide couples with tips from the pros that will help them in planning their wedding. Get your wedding questions answered as our host will share your questions with the expert panel.

Talks will take place on:

• Friday, January 21st at 7:30pm.
• Saturday, January 22nd at 12:30 and 3:30pm
• Sunday, January 23rd at 12:30 and 2:30pm

Visit the Oahu Wedding Association lounge at the Hawaii Bridal Expo for more details.

Why Attend Hawaii Bridal Expo?

Originally by Kari Black of Black Tie Bridal Showcase in Sioux Falls, SD; adapted by OWA member Brad Buckles, producer of the Hawaii Bridal Expo in Honolulu, HI

Most girls grow up dreaming about their wedding day. So when that magical moment happens and Prince Charming slips a ring on your finger you immediately beam with excitement. It has finally happened...you are getting married. This should be a piece of cake, right? Then reality sets in, and the stress of planning can get in the way of the excitement. Bridal shows are a great option for any bride-to-be. Whether you know exactly what they are looking for, or need help generating ideas, this is one stop you do not want to miss!

Go ahead and be picky about your wedding plans; you deserve the wedding you have always dreamed of. So whether you are looking to solidify major details such selecting your ceremony or reception sites or all those finer details such as decorations and invitations, bridal shows offer you a one stop shopping experience.

The Hawaii Bridal Expo is held twice a year in January and July at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and offers the area’s largest and finest selection of wedding service providers. Especially now with gas prices out of control, why not spend an afternoon collecting all your wedding information instead of hours, days, or even weeks driving to every bridal shop, flower store, and photography studio in the Honolulu area. Bridal shows are designed to bring all of the magic of wedding planning under one roof. You can expect to see all sorts of bridal companies: photographers, DJ’s, reception facilities, caterers, cake makers, dress shops, tuxedos rentals, videographers, limos, hair dressers, makeup artists, jewelry companies, invitation designers, florists, musicians, gift registries, party suppliers, travel agents, and much more.

 
Make the most of your visit to the bridal show by using the opportunity to really interview possible candidates you still need to book. Do your research before the show and bring a list of questions to ask. Be sure to bring your groom and anyone else that will be involved in the decision making process. You will be able to compare prices and products, personalities of the consultants, samples of their work, and even make reservations that day. With any luck, you can get some of your wedding plans out of the way. But be aware that most service providers require a deposit upon reservation. So take your time and talk to everyone, and make sure that you have your checkbook ready in case you find the perfect fit!

Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals or a list of previous customers from the wedding vendors you are considering. Then check out those references thoroughly. If a companies refuses to provide a list, or say they do not have references available, proceed with caution. Make sure to view several samples of their work, and only if you feel completely comfortable should you book their services.

How better to help get your wedding details underway than by receiving free gifts. Bridal shows offer couples the opportunity to win valuable door prizes worth sometimes thousands of dollars. To make registering for those prizes easy, bring along return address stickers so that you do not have to fill out numerous entry slips. And if you’re lucky, you may just walk away with a new set of china, free floral arrangements, or even a honeymoon package.

 
Finally, most bridal shows host a fashion show during the afternoon. These are fun for everyone. It is a great chance to see different styles of dresses and tuxedos in action. So kick back and enjoy the show!

Remember, organizing your wedding can be a huge job, but with the assistance of services such as bridal shows, it cuts down on some of the work. So arm yourself with your most trusty girlfriends and head to the next bridal show. Make sure you go with an open mind, and do not forget your address labels. Most importantly,

Have Fun!

Click here for more information on the Hawaii Bridal Expo, January 21-23, 2011, at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall in Honolulu, HI.

OWA Members: Visit Hawaii Bridal Expo FREE (well, almost)

This is HOT OFF THE PRESS: Oahu Wedding Association member Brad Buckles, producer of Hawaii Bridal Expo, is extending a great offer for OWA members. Come by and visit his show at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on Friday, January 22, and get in for almost free. Just bring in a canned good donation.

Come by and visit other Hawaii wedding professionals, support our local wedding industry, and make a donation for a great cause.

HOT TIP: Getting The Weather & Traffic for Your Clients' Hawaii Wedding Almost INSTANTLY

Here's a tip for you and your clients--it's a FAST and easy way to get the weather for your client's wedding.

Let's say you're based in Honolulu but your client's Hawaii wedding later this evening is at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore. The weather in town is overcast with hints of rain. How do you quickly find out if it's pouring rain on the other side of the island?

Simple:

Post a status update on Facebook or tweet on Twitter asking for the weather.

Chances are, there will be:

• Hawaii wedding professionals at home on that side of the island, on Facebook or Twitter at the moment, who read your update/tweet and can quickly answer your question about the weather;
• Hawaii wedding professionals on location on the North Shore, who happen to read your update/tweet on their iPhone/Blackberry/Pre/etc. and can quickly answer your question about the weather;
• Friends/fans/followers who live on that side of the island, who read your update/tweet...
• Anyone on Facebook or twitter who happen to be on that side of the island, who read your update/tweet...

While not an "official" Hawaii weather forecast, FB/twitter can be one of the fastest ways of getting an idea as to what to expect for the weather at your clients' Hawaii wedding that day.

Facebook/Twitter can also be used get an idea of the traffic, road closures, accidents, or parades along your route. Let's say that your client's wedding is in Waikiki. Two hours before leaving home, put up an update/tweet asking how the commute is going into Waikiki. It's likely that someone will write in and tell you if there's horrible traffic along the H1, if there's a stalled vehicle on King Street, if there's a marathon around the Kapiolani Park area. Using all of this data, you can plan your route accordingly, then advise your clients and their transportation (limo company, personal vehicle, etc.) about the situation.

While on Facebook, Become a fan of the Oahu Wedding Association!

While on Twitter, Become a follower of the Oahu Wedding Association!

Oahu Wedding Association Board of Directors, Hard at Work

The Oahu Wedding Association Board of Directors met last Tuesday (June 23) to go over operations and policies for this month and upcoming months. They discussed everything from marketing on the web, promoting Oahu as a wedding destination, and the recent wedding of OWA President Dave Miyamoto. It was a very lively and animated discussion.

One concern that came about was the discovery that some non-members were spreading misinformation about the permitting process for Hawaii beach weddings. It seems that some wedding "professionals" are telling their brides & clients that permits to get married on the beach are unnecessary.

This is wrong.

The rules are clear:

• If they are getting married on state land (like on the beach), your clients will need a permit from the state DLNR office.
• If they must pass over city & county land to get to state land to get married, your clients will need a permit from the city & county.
• If they are having a photographer and/or videographer film the event, your clients will need a permit from the state film office.

This is all in addition to the marriage license that your client needs to get from the state Department of Health.

In addition, your clients cannot set up any chairs, arches, carpet runners/aisles, or any structure on a public beach.

Some photographers will argue that you don't need a state DLNR permit to get married on state land. This is not entirely true. You only need a film permit IF the only commercial activity is your photographer taking photos of your clients on the beach. If they get married somewhere else (like on private land) and are just being photographed on the beach, then only having a film permit is fine.

If your clients actually will get married on the beach and have hired a minister, coordinator, and other wedding professionals, then YOUR CLIENTS WILL NEED A STATE DLNR PERMIT.

If any of your clients tell you that another vendor told them otherwise, have your clients contact OWA Past President Susan O'Donnell at aloha.ido [at] att.net for the full truth.

Super-Awesome Hotel Deal for Oahu Wedding Association members, their clients, and their friends

Lisa Reasoner, Oahu Wedding Association member and the Sales & Marketing/Group & Events Coordinator of the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, is offering a great promotion at The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, which will be available for a limited time only.

Book a three-night stay and get

50% OFF the standard room rates,
50% OFF daily valet parking,
and much more!

To qualify, you must:

• Make your reservations between now until May 31;
• Choose your stay dates between July 6 until August 31.

For more information, please visit the Kaimana Beach Hotel website at www.kaimana.com. Please spread the word to among your friends, clients, and each other. And when you call, mention you heard about this promotion from the Oahu Wedding Association!

Special thanks to Lisa Reasoner for putting this together. It's just another benefit you get as a member of the Oahu Wedding Association!

Oahu Wedding Professionals on Facebook, too!

Did you know that many Oahu Wedding Association members can be found on Facebook? Our association is one of the most "wired" groups in Hawaii, and many of us can be found connecting with our clients and each other online. From coordinators, photographers, videographers, disc jockeys, florists, musicians, and more, many of us have our own profiles and/or fan pages. Whether in the office, at home, or on location, many of us check our Facebook pages throughout the day, as we understand that it a valuable way of staying in touch with our clients. Staying in touch with your wedding professional has never been easier!

Here's a tip when searching for your wedding professional: in addition to her website and blog, check out her Facebook profile. How that professional interacts with her clients and colleagues online is often an indication of how she will treat you in person once you book her.

You will find that members of the Oahu Wedding Association are very easygoing and get along well with each other, both in person and online! But don't take my word for it; visit the OWA Facebook fanpage and see for yourself!

Click here to visit the OWA Fan Page

Don't forget to become a fan!

TOP 10 Reasons...Why join OWA...?

1. GREAT friends

2. Awesome networking

3. Being in touch with the latest

4. Great meeting locations

5. Strengthening our industry

6. Great meeting locations at various vendors locales

7. Always got grinds!

8. Always meeting new guests

9. Fastest local growing association

10. Just plain FUN