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I have been looking forward to photographing Aimee’s wedding since I was in college and roommates with her sister Tracee.  So I was so excited when Aimee emailed me saying she and Mike were getting hitched and she was buying us some plane tickets!  It’s always fun shooting a wedding with friends, but a wedding in Hawaii is even better!  Aimee and Mike’s day started out getting ready at the Kahala Hotel where Aimee’s mom and dad got married (and where the Dalai Lama was staying although we didn’t managed to catch a glimpse of him.)  What a cool hotel, they have dolphins swimming in the pools!  The ceremony was held at the Star of the Sea Catholic Church.  I loved the fact that the walls of the church were pretty much open, so you could feel the tropical breezes!  All the guests then headed to the Waialae Country Club for a cocktail hour featuring hand rolled sushi and spiked shave ice!  The reception also featured a banzai toast, touching speeches by the wedding party (I got a little teary during Tracee’s toast for her sister, good job Tracee!), a cigar bar, photo booth, and dancing to the music of H2O.  It was a great day for Aimee and Mike and we wish them all the best!

Great job by Aimee and Mike’s vendors – Weddings by Grace and Mona, flowers by Spinning WEB, cupcakes by A Cake Life and Bambooth photo booth.

For this Handmade with Shawna we’ve got a fantastic favor for a wedding with a vintage, romantic, or English countryside theme – or for a bride and groom who just like a good old fashioned spot of tea!  Tea staining is a great way to add a little bit of rustic charm to paper, fabric or in this case an unfinished box that’s the perfect size to stash a small favor for your wedding guests!  Let’s make them:

You can fill these cute little boxes with anything, just make a label to match!  Maybe “A Sweet Treat” for some chocolates or cookies, “For Your Furry Friends” for dog buscuits, or “Love is in Bloom” for seed packets.  Or a simple and sincere “Thank You!” works for everything.  I’ve also wondered what a rosy pomegranate tea stain might look like – if you try it let us know!

It’s time for another handmade project with Shawna of Event Styling by Shawna Marie! This is a great project for weddings with a rustic flair – woodburned place cards! Add a touch of nature to your reception with this stylish detail. It can double as a favor as well – add a magnet to the back and your guests will have a fun reminder of your wedding every time they open their fridge for a snack! Or drill a small hole in the top, add ribbon, and voila – Christmas ornament! Really the possibilities are endless, so let’s get to it!

So cute!  And don’t feel limited to just names on these either!  Not having assigned seating?  Try doing your wedding date or initials instead.

It really does add that finishing touch to a place setting!  Another great idea from Shawna.