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All images courtesy PINKY YOSHIMOTO / Pinky Photography
 

While I am well-known as as Hawaii wedding emcee, I did get my training and background initially as a Hawaii DJ, and I put those skills to use on November 17 at the Business of Networking social event at the Edition Hotel in Waikiki. The event was sponsored by Pacific Edge Magazine and Social Wahines. Darnelle, the show producer, had asked my good friend David Louis with Dynamic Sounds to be the DJ and provide the sound system, and Dave asked me if I wanted to come along and hang out. How could I say no?

It was a fun experience. I was able to mingle and network with other business professionals. I made some good contacts and even ran into Arsena Kailihiwa, whose wedding I did back in 2005!

It was great catching up with her and seeing how much she and her family has changed since the wedding.

For me, it was refreshing to simply play music as a DJ and not worry about introducing people, rehearsing a presentation, or doing any advance preparation. Best of all, I was able to play some music I rarely get to play at Hawaii weddings: a bunch of dance music! I never get to play the likes of DJ Sammy, Iio, Tiesto, Alice Deejay, etc. at most Hawaii weddings, so it was a rare treat for me to be able to do so in front of real people! Everyone enjoyed the selection, as I saw some people even singing along to some recognizable mainstream tracks.

 

 

 

 

All images courtesy PINKY YOSHIMOTO / Pinky Photography
 

Special thanks to David Louis with Dynamic Sounds for the invitation to join him and perform at this event, as well as to Pinky Yoshimoto of Pinky Photography for all of the great images you see in this post!

Click here to see more images of the event.

Thanks to all who came & partied!

Continue reading »]]> This is a new feature I’m debuting today and hopefully will be able to maintain: Why I Like…Wednesdays, where I focus on a particular Hawaii wedding professional I enjoy working with! As a Hawaii wedding emcee, I work with a lot of wedding professionals, some good, others GREAT, others…ummm…you get the idea. Each Wednesday, I’ll spotlight a particular Hawaii wedding professional I like to work with, and hopefully you’ll like to work with too.

Today’s spotlight is on The Bridal Boutique, owned by Cecilia Domingo and Joyce Coelho. Why do I love them? Besides their great sense of style, they really know how to make a bride look beautiful in their dress. They can help you choose the right gown for your Hawaii wedding, as well as help you find coordinated outfits for your bridesmaids, if you wish. Many of my clients are Bridal Boutique brides, and they LOVE their dresses. And you will too.

Here’s Nicole Richardson. She got married New Years Eve and wanted two dresses: a formal gown for the formal wedding, and a unique wedding dress for the reception that reflects her rebel “rocker” image. Joyce & Cecilia were able to help her create the right dresses for the occasion:

The “traditional” wedding dress
 

The “not-so-traditional” wedding dress
Images courtesy Norma Allen Photography

The concept of the “not-so-traditional” dress was Nicole’s; Cecilia & Joyce were able to accommodate it, and Nicole was one very happy bride!

I love working with Joyce & Cecilia with the Bridal Boutique, especially since my brides are so happy with them and their services. And you will too! Check them out!

Website: http://www.bridalboutique.com
Blog: http://thebridalboutique.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thebridalboutique
Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridal_boutique
Phone: 808-597-8893

And when you contact them, tell ‘em Marino sent you!

The Wedding Cafe Workshops – Gowns from KAIMEDIA on Vimeo.

Continue reading »]]> Dianna Shitanishi with Hawaii Weddings & Events is a good friend and professional wedding consultant with whom I totally enjoy working with. She will do an awesome job coordinating your wedding day and even can help you with planning the details leading to your event. I personally like working with her because she makes my job as a professional Master of Ceremonies so much easier. If you’re looking for a consultant for your Hawaii wedding, I highly recommend her.

Dianna currently has a limited-time offer to coordinate your wedding for you if your wedding is in the fall (September to December 2010), but the offer expires this Sunday, February 28, or when four brides-to-be take her up on the offer, whichever comes first. And from what she tells me, she’s already had three commitments.

Click here for more information on her offer.

So if you’re still looking for a consultant to help you make your wedding day more stress-free and enjoyable, and you want to save some money with it too, contact her TODAY. And when you do, mention that I sent you, and she’ll take good care of you!

Continue reading »]]> My other company (besides Ninja Entertainment) is AV Associates Hawaii, which provides audiovisual rental and services for theatrical productions and special events. A recent theatrical production highlights the serious importance of communication among all of your wedding professionals in order for you to have a successful celebration. Let me explain.

At this recent production, I was hired to provide audiovisual and lighting services for a one-day, ethnic performance that showcased dances, singing, and other facets of a particular Asian culture. Normally I would meet with the show producers in advance to go over the logistics, timeline, stage setup, etc. This is to better understand the vision of the producer and to be prepared for the event, in order to best serve my clients. At the very least, I would insist on a lengthy phone conversation to go over these points. But for this one particular event, the show producer did not communicate in advance with me and the other event professionals he was working with.

Going into this show, I had no idea as to what the order of events would be like, how the stage was to be set up, and what to expect. As you can imagine, the setup that morning was chaotic, as my staff and I scrambled to move speakers, microphones, and equipment around to accommodate the singers, performers, and more. Needless to say, everything could have run much more smoothly if we knew in advance what to expect and thus be better prepared for it.

We did the best that we could, given the circumstances, and from the audience’s standpoint, it was a good show. But backstage, a lot of headaches could have been avoided if the show producer was open to communicating the details to us much sooner.

Tying this to your wedding, YOU are a show producer. Your wedding is an event that you’re spending a lot of time and money on. Communication with your wedding professionals is VITAL to the success of your event. If your caterer, photographer, videographer, DJ, and Master of Ceremonies know what’s going on in advance (that is, long before the wedding day), it will help them to better prepare for your event, and thus deliver the absolute best service they can deliver.

Here are some items that ALL of your wedding professionals should have before your wedding day:

• The Timeline of your event: Or as we say in the theatrical business, the Production Schedule. This helps your professionals know the order of events in advance, allowing them to set their own individual schedules as to what they have to do to best serve you. Videographers, for example, really appreciate this because they will know how much time they have between ceremony and video slideshow, and they can estimate how long they will need to edit and render your ceremony highlights.
   
  Note: if you have any unique elements in your wedding (e.g., playing a game to give away the bouquet instead of a traditional bouquet toss), make sure you include an explanation as well, so your professionals can best understand your vision and reasoning as to why you’re doing it.

 

• The Floorplan: aka The Stage Plot. This gives your professionals an understanding of where everything goes, allowing them to adjust their own setups and ultimately saving them time that day when your professionals come in to set up. For example, if your DJ knows where they need to set up, they can do it as soon as they arrive rather than set up in the wrong place and later realize that you wanted them somewhere else!
   

• The List of Your Professionals: aka The Production Staff. Include their names, contact numbers, emails, and their role in your wedding. This helps your other professionals to get in touch with each other in advance to answer any technical questions they may have. For example, your videographer may want to contact your DJ in order to see if the videographer can connect his DVD player to the DJ’s sound system in order to play back your video slideshow. Or the DJ may want to contact your caterer/rental company to inquire about tables for the DJ’s setup.

Remember that while it’s nice to hear from your professionals from time to time, it’s also equally important that you clearly communicate all of your wishes and plans to them. They’ll appreciate you for it and will do an excellent job for you on your wedding day!

Continue reading »]]> The recent ice resurfacer debacle at the Winter Olympics provides some lessons and insight into investing in quality professionals for a special occasion, like weddings. Click here to read about it in detail. In a nutshell, when it was time for the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) to decide who would provide the ice resurfacing machines (the “Zamboni machines” that most people call it by), instead of going with a trusted brand like Zamboni (who BTW, had previously participated in almost every Winter Olympics since Squaw Valley in 1960), VANOC instead went with Resurfice, a lesser-known and cheaper alternative. Unfortunately for VANOC, the Resurfice machine broke down right before several key speedskating events, delaying those events for several hours. To make matters worse, the backup machine broke down…and the backup to the backup broke down. Ultimately, VANOC had to call in an official Zamboni-branded machine from Calgary, over 400 miles away.

So how does this relate to your wedding or special event?

Your wedding, like the Olympics, is a milestone event in your life, one that involves a lot of planning, preparation, time, and money beforehand. Like the Olympics, your event will be witnessed by an audience of people who appreciate you. Your wedding, like the Olympics, will create a lot of memorable moments. Your wedding is a precious and important event.

Hiring the “cheap alternative” may sound like a good idea at first, but in the end, if the “cheap alternative” doesn’t deliver as promised–or worse, ruins your event–then that’s what you and your audience will remember forever.

Hiring a quality professional–someone you trust and feel confident with her product or service–in the long run would be worth more, because you will have a more smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable wedding day.

Here’s my point: for average, everyday parties, it’s okay to hire a “Resurfice” vendor. But for once-in-a-lifetime moments like your wedding, make sure you invest in “Zambonis”. You won’t regret your choice after the wedding is done, and when everyone raves about your party–in a good way–for years to come.

Continue reading »]]> Has the planning for your Hawaii wedding, and life in general, been stressful lately? Take some time off to regenerate, renew, and become refreshed. Christy Navarrete Pascual, a good friend and client of mine, works at Reneux Med & Day Spa in Kakaako, and she is extending a very special offer to you:

Starting at 4pm on Sunday, October 18, Christy and the Reneux staff will host an open house. There will be special offers, tours of the spa, and much more. So take some time off for yourself and go relax! You deserve it.

For more information or to RSVP to Christy, email her at christy.navarrete [at] gmail.com

And when you go, mention that I sent you!

Continue reading »]]> It certainly has been a while since I last wrote, hasn’t it?

The last two weeks were pretty insane. Just to give you an idea of what’s been happening:

• May 23: Janilee & Melvin’s wedding celebration–very lively, fun, and awesome. The writeup for this event is forthcoming…
• May 24-25: I officially take a two day vacation by driving out to Hana, spending the night, and driving back. We visit a few hiking trails, waterfalls, and beaches on the way back. Lucky I live Hawaii, huh?
• May 26: Get home, catch up with the office work, rehearse & prepare for the Oahu Wedding Association party later that evening. After all, I am the “Voice of [that] Celebration.”
• May 27-28: Prepare for the Hawaii World Class Wedding Expo over the weekend at the Convention Center. Lots of designing, coordinating with other vendors, etc.
• May 29-30: Showtime! I have a fabulous time making new friends and meeting brides-to-be at the expo. If you came by my booth and are a new reader to this blog, thank you for stopping by!
• May 31: Attend the Hawaii wedding of my good friends Ed & Shelley. They’ve been together for almost eight years, and they finally decided to get married here in Hawaii. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception overlooking the beach at Kualoa, on the island of Oahu.
• June 1: Begin following up with brides-to-be whom I met at the expo. If I haven’t gotten to you yet or returned your calls, my apologies! You are still very much on my mind!
• June 2: More followup, and a NACE Hawaii board meeting later in the evening.
• June 3: Do research on some ethnic traditions for an upcoming wedding, then have a fabulous meeting with Christine & Woody for their wedding in August. Unfortunately, our meeting is cut short due to a schedule conflict. I also realize that it’s the beginning of the month, meaning that my Wedding VIP Club members should expect a new issue of the VIP Club newsletter in a few days.
• June 4 (today): I meet with Genesa to help her organize the details for her celebration on June 27, and later on this evening, I connect with Ashlee & Alvin for their wedding on June 20. Of course, between meetings, I’ll continue to call those of you who dropped by my booth at the wedding expo.

So that’s where we are. It’s certainly a very productive time!

Continue reading »]]> This Saturday, May 9, from 10:00am-2:00pm, I will be the “warmup act” and provide Hawaii DJ Services for a FREE bridal spectacular at Kahala Mall, produced by Kahala Mall & Mama Mia! (The upcoming musical at the Blaisdell) in partnership with Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine and KSSK Radio. This is your invitation; come on down and join in the fun!

From 10:00-11:00am, I will present wedding games and activities that you can participate in and win great prizes. You can also meet Jayne & Kahele, Hawaii Bride & Groom’s Wedding of a Lifetime winners, and hear about their experience. You also will meet Matt & Cara, Oceanic’s HILARIOUS married couple (you’ve seen their TV ads promoting digital cable), as they talk about their own “wedding” and how life is like now that they are “married” and having to share the cable box!

From 11:00am-2:00pm, Sweetie Pacarro from KSSK will host a great dance contest to win tickets to Mamma Mia, Kahala Mall gift certificates, and more! KGMB’s weather anchor Guy Hagi and his wife Kim Gennaula will be the guest judges. Also, come meet the lovely contestants of the 2009 Mrs. Hawaii Pageant!

In addition, you will see display booths by Hawaii Bride & Groom advertisers, an awesome sidewalk sale/trunk show by Kahala Mall merchants, and much, much more.

Get more info by visiting http://www.kahalamallcenter.com/cms/index.php?page=mall-promotions

I’ll be there serving as the “warmup act” and also providing Hawaii DJ services as well. I’ll see you there!

Continue reading »]]> My good friends Cecilia & Joyce from the Bridal Boutique just announced a special on their spring lines of bridesmaid dresses: If you buy three dresses for your ladies, you get a fourth dress FREE.

So if you haven’t found your girls a dress yet, now is the time to do so! Dresses from the Bridal Boutique are made of good quality fabric, come in a wonderful assortment of colors & styles, and provide a good value for your investment. And getting a fourth dress for FREE is always nice!

Check out their blog at

http://www.thebridalboutique.wordpress.com

Tell ‘em Marino sent you!

Continue reading »]]> I’m still here! I have just been busy. In addition to the Weekly Wedding Tips and this blog, I now write for the Oahu Wedding Association blogs and the NACE-Hawaii blog. I’ll be sharing my expertise and insights on those blogs, so check them out! Some of my posts will be geared to you, while others are geared towards other wedding professionals in Hawaii, to help them with blogging, social media networking, marketing, and much more.

Of course, be sure to check back here as well, since I’ll still be posting stories, advice, tips, and pictures about weddings & special events on this blog frequently as well.