iBride

Browsing for wedding attire just got a whole lot more mobile with Brides Magazine’s new iPhone ‘Dressing Room’ app. The free application lets the brides search hundreds of wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses by designer, price and silhouette, check the selection at local retailers, and even make an appointment. Feel free to get the app here.

Of course even iPhoneless brides can utilize their blackberries and cellphones to make dress shopping easier. Use your camera phone and picture messaging abilities to take pictures while you dress shop. Include the designer and other notes in the comments section, and, wa-la, you have an easy access, easy to share dress album that will help you keep all the dresses straight and lead you to the perfect one!

Well-Groomed: 5 Style Tips for a Great Looking Groom

A man will never wear an outfit more important than the one he chooses for his wedding day. It has to look good -it will photographed hundreds of times, it has to be comfortable enough to be worn all day, and it has to reflect his true style. These five tips will help grooms look great on their big day.

1. Tropical climates such as Hawaii’s inspires a lighter fabrics and color schemes. Cottons and linens are breezy choices. Khakis, light grays and white suits are elegant choices over a linen shirt. Lose the jacket and tie for a more casual choice. Roll up pant legs and sleeves or unbutton the collar to customize. No matter how casual, keep all the components high quality- well tailored trousers, crisp custom made shirts, and French cuffs.

2. Bright colors enliven the typical suit and tie and tie together your palate. For a splash of color, go for vibrant ties and vests. An added bonus is that these components will contrast nicely with your other pieces and really pop in photographs.

3. The well dressed groom has to have style from head-to-toe. Keep this in mind while selecting shoes. Think form and function. Shoes can dress an outfit up or play it down. For an indoor church or chapel wedding, light toned loafers or wingtips are elegant choices when paired with light suit. Switch those for Sperry’s for a nautical feel. Flipflops are a natural choice for a beach themed affair, but think leather, not plastic, for this special occasion.

4. A new wedding ring shouldn’t be a groom’s only accessories. Cuff links, pocket squares, sunglasses, watches, and suspenders are all fantastic ways to customize a staid outfit and add a personal touch. Think aesthetically (does it look good?) and personally (what does this say about me?). Subtle details such as cuff links can be a great way to honor your heritage or celebrate a favorite affiliation.

5. Just like a bride plans her entire ensemble in advance, grooms should pull every element of their wedding day look together before they board the plane for their destination wedding, much less walk down the aisle. Do a full dress rehearsal to make sure you have everything you need – from sunscreen to socks. This simple exercise will spare you any surprises on your big day.

Bridal Fashion Week

What could possibly make New York’s Waldorf-Astoria even more elegant? How about dozens of runway shows from the world’s best wedding designers? With its epicenter in the Waldorf, Spring 2010 Bridal Fashion Week has descended on Manhattan, providing inspiration for brides nationwide. Both theknot.com and Brides.com/blog have extensive coverage.

Romantic gown trends that keep reappearing on the runway include regal ballgown silhouettes, intricate pleating and ruching, retro stylizations, and the extensive use of organza and tulle. Luxe detailing such as diamond encrusted bodices, floral embellishment, and ostrich feather plumes are popping up in many collections. Designers from Ramona Kaveza to Lela Rose have added short reception dresses to their collections.

To add the finishing touches to your wedding day collection, check out the many accessories on the runway. Monique Lhuillier’s entire collection sported hats that would make jaunty veil alternatives to a destination bride’s ensemble. Many designers featured gloves of all sizes and materials in their show. Always a ladylike addition, short gloves are being paired with casual and daytime dresses while long gloves look fresh and modern in sheer organza or textured silks. A practical and attractive element, the boleros and coats of the season are fashionable ways of making a gown more seasonable as we head into cooler months.

Enjoy the looks of the season this fashion week, use them for inspiration, and remember to use your own sense of style to navigate the typhoon of style that is of Bridal Fashion Week.

Walk Down the Aisle in Style

Shoes provide an opportunity to personalize your wedding ensemble and highlight the aesthetics that make your celebration so special. Colorful shoes provide whimsy and surprise beneath your wedding dress. You can use your shoes to highlight the palate of your celebration.  Study the shades of your flowers, attire and even your venue for color cues.  Use pattern, floral, stripes, or animal print to reinforce your theme. Blue shoes, like Carrie Bradshaw’s bright Manolos in the Sex in the City movie, give you your ‘something blue’.

While you’re thinking outside of the shoe box, don’t feel that you need to stay with traditional pumps.  For a beach wedding, flip-flops and sandals are both practical and fun.  Flats and slippers are comfortable choices for a day that will require you to be on your feet for hours. Your wedding party can join in the fun and sport footwear choices from high-tops to flip flops to bare feet.

Hawaiian Circle of Love

“From the earliest times, the circle has been a symbol of completeness, a symbol of committed love. An unbroken and never ending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is also never ending.”
–Michael Barlow-Sparkman

Circles represent an eternal cycle. The circular form of wedding bands symbolizes the everlasting love between the bride and groom. One special way to incorporate this theme into your Hawaiian wedding is the Circle of Love, a Hawaiian wedding tradition. The bride and groom stand in the center of a circle of flowers as they exchange their vows. The circle is usually made of bright tropical flowers, which are one of the greatest symbols of Hawaii. Some wedding agencies and hotels even offer customized Circles of Love as a part of the wedding package. You can also invite your family and friends to participate in this special tradition by having special guests add a single flower to the arrangement that will encircle the happy couple. The Circle of Love will add a Hawaiian sentiment to the destination wedding you’ve been dreaming of!

Wedding day fitness

Your special day is fast approaching, and you’re worried about looking your best in that perfect dress. There’s no need to panic – making a few tweaks in your diet and adding some physical activity will go a long way. All it takes is a little motivation and discipline!

If you have some room in your wedding budget, you could factor in some sessions with a personal trainer. Research independent trainers in your area for the best prices. If you belong to a gym, there should be several trainers to choose from to fit your needs. Some places even offer group discounts, so drag along the MOH or some of the bridesmaids who are probably also watching their waistlines before the big day! Adding group exercise classes to your schedule can help motivate you, and they are much more fun than spending an hour on the treadmill or StairMaster! One of my personal favorites, Spinning, burns hundreds of calories and reduces fat in just one hour a class. The lively music and energetic teachers pump you up, and you will feel great afterward. Pick up a class schedule and give them a try!

If you don’t belong to a gym, no need to worry! Walking or running outside for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, should be your goal. Fitness DVDs can be rented out at the video store, or you could buy them at fairly reasonable prices at Target. Yoga and Pilates can do wonders for your figure. Try adding Yoga or Pilates DVDs to your fitness plan to elongate and strengthen muscles and appear leaner. They can also help with relieving stress! An hour session will enhance your breathing and calm your mood. There are several other DVD options to help tone your “problem areas” or to improve overall fitness.

Whatever you decide to do to get your heart pumping, start now! Exercising releases endorphins, so you will feel and look great.

Smart eating is essential to your wedding day prep. Trade in white flour for whole wheat or whole grain choices. Drink as little, if any, alcohol as possible leading up to the wedding. If you do attend a few happy hours, opt for lower-cal choices such as white wine spritzers or a glass of red wine. Cutting out soda can make also make a big difference in a short amount of time. Water is your best bet – increase water intake and stay hydrated. Lots of water will be especially important because now you will be more active. Eating at home saves you money and calories, so try to limit dining out. When you do go out to eat, skip the bread basket and dessert. Eat every couple of hours to keep you from bingeing later. Choose smart snacks, such as 100-Calorie packs, low-calorie popcorn, low-fat string cheese, vegetables with hummus, or single servings of nuts. Cutting out some of your favorite things and replacing them with healthier alternatives will reap great benefits when it comes time for your last dress fitting!

Working out and eating healthily will have you looking and feeling your best on the day you’ve been waiting for. Your commitment and hard work will all pay off when you are enjoying that beautiful wedding cake that you so deserve with your new husband!

Oahu Wedding Association (OWA) – March Meeting at Masako Formals

Wendy and I spend a lot of time hiding behind cameras at weddings. It sorta goes with the job. This last Oahu Wedding Association meeting we got a chance to walk a mile (or a few runway lengths… I tend to over exaggerate) in the shoes of our Brides & Grooms. We got to play bride and groom, again, and get all made up to model some of Masako Formal’s wedding attire.

Not only did we get to rock a wicked tux and wedding dress, we had a chance to work with some of our fellow OWA members in a much more up close and personal role than we normally get. Wendy and I were both sized and dressed by the lovely staff at Masako Formals. This turned out to be a repeat for Wendy, since she actually bought her wedding dress from them a couple months back.

I was fitted for a silver Italian tux. It turns out that it is a very popular look for many of the Japanese weddings here. It further turns out – I don’t fit the normal Japanese sizes. No snag there though – they brought the tux to the back and was quickly back out with the tux adjusted to my size. Go go gadget tuxedo!

Not only did Wendy get to wear another beautiful wedding dress, she was pampered with makeup by Wendy Robin of Studio W of Honolulu. Now this part gets confusing – I have to describe Wendy Robin’s (the make up artist) work on Wendy Leslie (the wife). Wendy R. is an INCREDIBLY talented makeup artist and a wonderful person. She was trained in Hollywood, worked in paris for print photographers, and then came back to LA to do makeup for the stars. The list of people that she has worked with reads like the who’s who list of Hollywood – Matt Damon, Carmen Electra, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, James Earl Jones, Bernie Mac, Jack Black, and Jaime Pressly the just name a few. She has skills. Numbchuck skills, bowstaff skills… She has plenty of skills. Wendy R. did an airbrushing job for Wendy’s makeup. I lucked out and only got a quick powder. Ahhh the joys of being a man.

After all the prep, we had a BLAST walking down the runway in front of all of our peers in the industry. It was so much fun and I felt like the luckiest guy in the world to get to escort the most beautiful woman in the world down the catwalk. We were both lucky to have some of our wonderful photographer friends there to capture the whole shabang.

All in all it was a GREAT evening. It is always such a treat to hang out with so many amazing people. We are really blessed to work in this industry with these people. Millions of thank yous go out to OWA for the opportunity to dress up and party like its 1999… I mean 2009.

-E

Check out Geralyn’s cutting (it slices, it dices) hair-do, and Mona’s convertible Kimono -

Special thanks to Grant Gomes for snapping the below collage pics for us!

And to Eugene Kam for the below (yes ladies and gentlemen – that is my wifey! I’m a lucky guy!) -

Hawaii Destination Wedding Photographer – Tanja and Stephan’s Big Day!

Tanja and Stephan were so much fun to work with on their big day.  With roots in Germany, this couple gathered at Haiku Gardens with many family and friends who flew half way around the world for their special day.  Both Eric and I have German heritage and got some coaching from our German relatives on how to pronounce the German word for “Congratulations.”  They really make it sound effortless, but Eric and I just could not get it right. But, hey, we tried!

Congrats to this cute couple and thanks for the fun time!

Oahu Military Wedding Photographer – Caprice and Manny’s Wedding

We always have awesome brides and grooms as our clients. They are always so cheery and nice to work with, it really is always a pleasure.  Caprice and Manny absolutely fall into that category.  It was so much fun chatting about girly wedding stuff with Caprice before heading down to the chapel at Haiku Gardens.  I LOVED her dress and was kicking myself for not choosing a dress like hers for our own wedding (coming up now in less than 3 weeks!!!).  I love light and flowy wedding dresses like Caprice’s sheath dress.  They are really the best of both worlds: beautiful and comfortable.  However, since we are having a church ceremony back in California I chose to go with a more formal satin gown with a huge train (I love it, but I cannot say that it is going to be nearly as comfortable as a sheath dress. *sigh*)

Manny looked very sharp in his Marine dress blues. We did feel bad though because it was pretty warm that day.  Oh, the things we do to look good.  Side note: I think wedding days are quite possibly the only day that men will understand what we women go through and the uncomfortableness that comes hand in hand with looking good.  We suffer with heavy corseted dresses and uncomfortable but really cute shoes while the grooms totally suffer through a sauna in their suits/tuxs.  Sounds fair to me! But, I digress…once again…

We had a great time playing with some fun lighting amongst the bamboo and on the path around the pond.  Manny and Caprice were whisked away to their reception in the Haiku Gardens Eco-cart complete with “Just Married sign!

Mucho Mahalo to Caprice, Manny and Family for a great wedding!

Hawaii Wedding Photographer – Bernice Puahi Memorial Chapel at Kamehameha School and The Willows Restaurant

Eric and I started this wedding day with heading over to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to capture the bride and bridesmaids getting for the big day! I’m always excited to shoot somewhere new and was particularly excited to finally get to see the newly remodeled  Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki.  When Eric and I moved to Oahu back in October of 2008 the Royal Hawaiian Hotel was closed for renovation and just recently reopened.  So, needless to say, I couldn’t wait to finally getting to shoot at  “the Pink Palace of the Pacific.”

Lauwa’e enjoyed some good girl time with her bridesmaids while getting her hair and makeup done by Jaque Rojas.  I hung out with the ladies as they got ready while Eric headed over to the wedding ceremony venue to capture the groom, Jay, and his brothers getting ready at The Bernice Puahi Bishop Memorial Chapel at Kamehameha School. This was our first time shooting at this venue and we were instantly struck by its culture and beauty.

The lively group of family and friends headed over to the The Willows Restaurant for a delicious dinner. Not much of a public speaker myself, I always am in awe of people who can give funny and touching speeches at weddings.  Jay’s brothers and sons definitely have that gift. I will have to get them to mentor me in case Im called upon to make a speech.  (I mean, I have gone to great lengths to get out of speeches. I even spent weeks scanning photos and putting together a slide show to take the place of a speech for my good friend Brittany.  Somehow I managed to shut the power off to the DJ while doing my slideshow and ended up rambling “im sorry” into the microphone while we all waited for the DJ to re-boot all his equipment!… but I digress)

Eric and I broke from our “pre-wedding” diet (30 days to go!) to try some of Lauwa’e and Jay’s wedding cake and oh my gosh it was definitely worth it. This cake was done by one of our favorite cake artists Sunshine’s Cake Creations. We never cease to be amazed each time we see and taste Vikki’s work.

Best wishes to Lauwa’e and Jay. Thanks so much for allowing us to be part of your beautiful big day!

Hawaii Wedding Photographer – Hale Koa Hotel – Amelia and Aaron

Congrats to this cute newly wed couple, Amelia and Aaron! Eric and I were honored to be part of their wedding celebration at Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu. This was by far the most musically talented family we have been around in a while.  Amelia’s brother’s band provided the entertainment for the night with her other brother and sister joining in occasionally to help out on vocals or percussion.

This wedding reception incorporated many personal touches including a family heirloom lauhala mat which was placed under the wedding cake.  Of course, Eric will not let me blog about a wedding without mentioning the cake.  This cake was from Cake Works and had the most delicious Haupia filling.  For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to have heard of or tasted haupia, we suggest you change that soon. This creamy coconut cake filling was absolutely the stuff Hawaiian dreams are made of.

We always try to keep our ears open for any juicy secrets or embarrassing stories that people may sneak into their wedding reception speeches.  While we didn’t get to hear any blackmail material, but we were touched to  hear some heartfelt praises of Amelia and Aaron as individuals and as a couple.  So, if any of you have any funny/embarrassing stories you’d like to contribute… I’m just kidding! We wish Amelia and Aaron the very best in life and love! Congrats!

Hawaii Wedding Photographer – Oahu – Keiko and Clarence

There is a Japanese tradition that a wedding gift of one thousand folded paper cranes will grant the bride and groom a lifetime of good luck and prosperity.  Keiko and Clarence were fortunate enough to have a loving guest fold a thousand paper cranes for their big day.

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Oahu Wedding Photographer – Haiku Gardens – Celeste and Joseph

Celeste and Joseph were married at an intimate ceremony on the most appropriate day of the year, Valentine’s Day! We had a great time with this lovely couple who actually also met each other in our hometown of San Jose, California! As much as we love it here in Hawaii, it is always nice to reminisce about our favorite spots in the Bay Area.

Celeste and Joseph were joined by their two beautiful daughters as well as close family and friends for a beautiful reception at Haiku Gardens & Haleiwa Joe’s.

Our thanks to Celeste and Joseph for involving us in their Valentine’s Day wedding!

Hawaii Wedding Photographer – Haiku Gardens – Jessica and Joshua

Jessica and Joshua were married in a beautiful ceremony at the chapel at Haiku Gardens in Kaneohe, Hawaii. These newlyweds were high school sweethearts and exchanged touching vows that chronicled their lives over the years.

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Happy Belated Valentines Day from Wendy and Eric Leslie-Mansperger!

We really meant to put up this blog on Valentine’s Day, I promise. You know how little projects turn into huge projects.  Things just keep jumping onto our plate (it’s a very nice problem to have!).

Valentine’s Day is one of my most favorite days of the year right after Halloween. I mean, I like Valentine’s Day so much that I’d take it over Christmas! Our Valentine’s Day started out by shooting a short wedding at Haiku Gardens in Kaneohe. To our surprise, the couple actually met in our hometown of San Jose, California. We always like working with clients from California and reminiscing about familiar places that we miss. Its like taking a little trip home in our minds : )

We gave ourselves the night off and had a great time together. Our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple!

Below are two Valentine’s Day cards we received from family: Eric’s 89-year-old grandmother sent us this hilarious chimpanzee card that made ridiculously loud kissing sounds when we opened it.  The other card was from Eric’s Mom and Stepdad. A chipmunk with a camera! It doesn’t get much cuter than that!

We hope you and your loved ones had a great Valentine’s Day too!