Noteworthy Impressions

Fall Decor

King Protea: Green/Chrissy Lambert, Small Pumpkins: inimagine.com, Bouquet: florifloral.com

 

Sometimes the change of seasons is harder to notice in Hawaii.  The more common signs of approaching autumn; shorter days, change of foliage and the cooler air are replaced with the absence of trade winds, voggy days, and blooming tropical flowers.  However fall is more of a mood that can be created anywhere in any climate.  There are ways to conjure up feelings of fall especially through thoughtful decor that marries traditional harvest decor with tropical touches.

 

Bell Jar Pumpkins: brides.com, Shells: katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com, Lanterns: Jamali Garden Supply, Lei Centerpiece: Green/Chrissy Lambert, White Pumpkins: Sunset Magazine

 

To create a fall feel in our home I usually try to put together something that will last through Thanksgiving. The white pumpkins at the local grocery store provide the perfect amount of autumn.  Also they are usually readily available because the orange pumpkins seem to go first.  Keeping the decor simple makes it more appealing and easier to complement different interiors.  The small white pumpkins look perfect on a long wood tray, piled in glass bowl, or just placed down the center of the table.  I usually add some local touches to the pumpkins with white shells that I picked up at the beach and sometimes pieces of driftwood.  If I am having a dinner party I will add some loose white orchids and small glass votives.  It always looks festive and is easy to maintain.  Below is a list of fall decor items that can help incorporate the feeling of fall with a island feel.

 

Elements: white pumpkins, driftwood/branches, shells, coral

Candle Holders: hurricane with sand, mason jar votives, coconut husk wrapped votives, white corn husk wrapped votives

Flowers: white orchids, white torch ginger, white anthuriums, white king protea

A Platinum Wedding

Candes & Milan, an elegant (and fun) couple hired Bradley & Lily Fine Stationery for custom, escort cards, place cards, programs and resort signage. The program, which is one of my personal favorites, features two shades of pink swarovski crystals tied with a delicate gold thread.

This extravagant wedding at the Four Seasons Lanai will soon be featured on WeTV's Platinum Weddings. 

Photography by Visionari | Decor by Yvonne Floral

Shell-a-bration

I had the privilege of collaborating with the talented Stacey Nomura on a wedding for my dear friends Brooke & Craig.  Brooke and Craig wanted something that married their two personal styles and interests.  Brooke described her style as modern with a touch of traditionalism and yet also wanted to incorporate her Hawaiian home.  Craig’s passion for the ocean is apparent in his perpetual tan, sun bleached hair and quiver of surfboards.  Shells seemed to be a natural choice as an appropriate representation of both Brooke and Craig. 

Stacey absorbed the information from Brooke and Craig and came up with designs for their invitations, programs, candy-bar bags and menus that described them in a such memorable, sophisticated and elegant way.  The rest of the decor followed suit.  The chocolate brown linens, capiz shell chandeliers and the flowers were chosen to compliment the shells.  The color palette stemmed from the shells used in the decor; the rust colored oranges came from the striations on the nautilus shells, the brown from the intricate design on the cowrie shells and the soft greens from the delicate green sea urchin shells.

This was an amazing process to get to be a part of; watching words become an image and then imagery dictating the design process then finally the event comes to life.  It was truly a delight to be able to give Brooke and Craig a wedding that was truly their own.

A Noteworthy Guest: Avery Solmssen has been the creative director/owner of Green Honolulu for 2 years. She combines her background in art and interior design with her passion for flowers to create truly unexpected and utterly gorgeous arrangements and bouquets. These beautiful photos were taken by the talented Chrissy Lambert of Chrissy Lambert Photography.  Mahalo Avery & Chrissy!  -Noteworthy Impressions
 

A Warm Wedding Welcome

Leaving a pre-arrival letter with a basket of treats in their hotel room is a special way to welcome your out of town guests. The booklets pictured above included a personalized cover, itineraries & activities and were bound with coconut bark.  We designed and printed this couple's letterpress laua'e invitations and wanted to continue the contemporary-nature styling into their wedding weekend.

A Surf-Chic Wedding

For a couple who chose the North Shore of Oahu to call home, the Mokuleia Polo Field was the perfect place to host their wedding with it's natural beauty and character. The groom, an avid surfer, and the bride, a yoga instructor and high school teacher, wanted a casual, laid-back wedding that represented their low-key lifestyle and personalities.

The ceremony aisle was made of coral found along the beach and ended in a sacred circle where the spiritual ceremony was performed by a long time friend of the couple. As the bride entered, in a hand made gown made of vintage fabric, she stopped to perform a hula calling her groom-to-be to "come to her". The breaking of the glass completed the ceremony as a nod to the bride's jewish heritage. Mazel tov!

A "retired" surfboard of the groom's was used as a guest book. A string of old family photos strung on hemp wire greeted the guests at the entrance to the tent as they were served garnished signature cocktails of (what else?) Mai Tais! All the floral and greenery that decorated the reception from the tent legs, centerpieces, food stations (catered by Wahoo's Fish Taco which is where the couple first met 6 years ago in CA) to the umbrella poles was cut and picked from the couple's land just a few miles down the road. Their eco-consciousness continued throughout the event by their use of bamboo plates, bamboo leaf paper food trays and recycle bins to name a few.

As the dancing got underway, lauhala mats, blankets and floor pillows were brought out for the guests' comfort to relax and lay back "Hawaiian Style". Stefanie Riedel of Absolutely Loved Photography, was there to capture every moment of what turned out to be a day that was everything the the bride and groom had hoped it would be.

A Noteworthy Guest: Nichole Shin of Nichole Weddings & Events, LLC has been planning weddings and events in Hawaii for 7 years. Her expertise, attention to detail and passion sets her apart from the rest. Mahalo Nichole! -Noteworthy Impressions

A Breath of Fresh 'Ware

"Disposable tableware for spiritual enrichment"

Tokyo-based Wasara manufactures paperware including plates, tumblers, wine & coffee cups, bowls and serving plates from reed pulp and (bagasse) sugarcane waste.  The organic shapes are almost too beautiful to eat off of and can you imagine tossing one?

Wasara products will be available at the end of this month.  Can't wait!

via swissmiss.

Plush Blush

A recent editorial photo shoot brought together Honolulu Magazine's 2008 Best Event Planner Beth Bowlen Harbottle of Social Butterfly, Nichole Shin of Nichole Weddings & Events (another amazing coordinator), Yvonne Floral, Visionari, Les Saisons and Bradley & Lily Fine Stationery. Beth & Nichole inspired a luxurious combination of Asian and European influences with graceful touches of capiz and hints of gold.   

When asked to create a few stationery pieces for the shoot, I designed a pattern reminiscent of koi fish scales to reflect the circular patterns found throughout the décor as well as shell-tipped chopsticks for the table's letterpress menu and corresponding letterpress invitation suite. The coloring of Yvonne's florals and the iridescence of the shell accents inspired me to hand sew tiny blush glass beads onto natural linen for one unique table number!

Kid Stuff

With haute mamas running Honolulu these days, couture party invtations for children were bound to happen.  Pictured above are our "truck-chic' (photo by Visionari) and NY Yankee's themed invitation designs.

For Bradley's 2nd birthday party, guests were asked to bring their passport invitations to the zoo where they would receive their custom zoo safari map, binoculars and favor bag complete with safari hat!

We were pleasantly suprised with the entire Zooper party process.  The Honolulu Zoo Society offers two very reasonably priced party packages which can include a zoo tour, animal feeding, art activity and even cake & ice cream!  It was a great day for all of our guests, but we were most impressed by the party coordinator's ability to keep the attention of 10 toddlers for two hours.

A Vintage Cultivation

In preparation for the launch of bradleyandlily.com this fall, we have been busy creating and photographing our newest stationery designs!

Our chic and elegant decor at last weekend's Hawaii Bridal Expo was designed by Avery Solmssen from Green Honolulu and Nichole Shin of Nichole Weddings & Events.  Four beautiful place settings, including the Vintage Hawaii setting featured above, perfectly complimented our stationery.