This engagement session was a blast. We went all over Honolulu to get some interesting backgrounds to showcase this couple’s love for each other. To get some shots with interesting architecture we took Marlissa and Daniel to some of the most distinctive buildings in Honolulu, including Honolulu Hale, ‘Iolani Palace, and Aloha Tower.
Eric and I love making stuff, but honestly with the Wedding Photography business keeping us busy, we have unfortunately put our own wedding planning on the back burner for far far too long. Heck, I only ordered my wedding dress earlier this month (to the shock and dismay of the ladies at Masako Formals in Honolulu…”Your wedding is this MAY???”) For those of you who don’t know, Eric and I are actually already married, and had a civil ceremony in September 2008, but are having our actual wedding back in the California Bay Area this May!
With my history in 911 call-taking, I have mastered the art of multitasking and really feel out of my element if less than 5 things are going on at once. So of course for Super Bowl weekend, we decided if we were gonna sit and watch the game for that amount of time we can FINALLY get our own wedding invitations done.
Our very good Wedding Planner friends Michelle and Justin from Au Lait, Inc. lent us their expertise and manpower in crafting over 100 invitations. If only everyone could be so fortunate! Eric, Michelle, Justin and I spent … well, I’m not going to admit to how many hours getting each paper slice perfectly strait and every envelope licked and stamped. After a few needed breaks for refreshments (beer) and snacks (Clausen pickles), the fruits of our labors finally paid off and most have been sent out, squeaking by just under three months before the wedding.
Mucho mahalo to Michelle and Justin of Au Lait, Inc for their skills and to their Shiba Inu “Inuki” for playing the role of official mascot of the Leslie Mansperger Wedding “Do It Yourself” Wedding Invitation Extravaganza Weekend.
If you live in Oahu and have not been by the Wedding Cafe yet, you absolutely must! This dual purpose cafe combines yummy drinks and treats with a plethora of wedding planning resources. You can browse through tons of Bridal Magazines, local wedding photographer’s albums, venue information and more. Let me tell you, if I had been able to come to the Wedding Cafe early on in our wedding planning, it would have saved me tons of hours of searching for good magazines, books, and contacts.
Not only do they offer all of these resources, but they also offer weekly workshops on every aspect of wedding planning: Budget and time lines, hair and makeup, florists, photographers, etc. Eric and I rushed over from shooting the Special Olympics Punt Pass and Kick with the NFL Pro Bowl Players (including Eli & Peyton Manning!) to attend the workshop on Tabletop and Decor. The room was absolutely packed with soon-to-be brides and some soon-to-be hubbys too!
The professional panel gave advice on what to consider when picking out floral arrangements and decor. One of my favorite tips was to ask for organically grown flowers to accent the cake to prevent any pesticides from making their way onto your wedding cake! Eric and I are always looking for “green wedding” tips and loved Debbie Hemingway’s suggestion to use live plants as centerpieces that can be planted after the wedding instead of just thrown out like other flowers.
So, in closing, as I pass out from a busy busy week…. Check out the Wedding Cafe at Ward Center and learn all about weddings and local resources. GI Joe put it best: “And knowing is half the battle!”
Here are some photographs of the lovely floral and decor displays by the following companies:
Designs by Hemingway (photo directly below)
Floral Inspirations
My Florist
Passion Roots
Spinning WEB
Su-V Expressions
(photo collage of these displays directly below)
Volunteering with the Special Olympics is always an honor for us. These athletes have the most amazing attitudes, most welcoming personalities and the biggest hearts. It was an exceptional treat to see these athletes joined by some of the most talented and famous football stars in the world, the Pro Bowl Athletes of 2009.
Eli and Peyton Manning, joined by Stephen Gostkowski and Jordan Gross, volunteered their time to coach 30 of Hawaii’s Special Olympic athletes at this years Punt, Pass and Kick event. In addition to the excitement of meeting and playing with these awesome football players, mascots from the Bears, Ravens, Buccaneers, and Texans provided extra entertainment, high fives, and hugs.
(check this article for updates on info and pictures!)
We absolutely love doing engagement photo sessions and this couple are the perfect example why we do! We met up with Ann and Sam, who are both Army Emergency Room nurses, on the Northshore of Oahu at Sunset Beach to find the beach fairly empty and the waves with a high swell. This adventurous couple marched up and down the beach, braved the waves, and played on the reef. I got so wrapped up in taking pictures that I lost my sandals about half way through the shoot. We found one of them, but I think we sacrificed the other to the ocean. Ann and Sam were down to try anything for a great picture. We think their hard work paid off! Thank you Ann and Sam for a lovely day at sunset beach!
Contact us for help with your Oahu Engagement or if you are looking for a Wedding Photographer in Hawaii
Located on the North Shore of Oahu, Loulu Palm Estate offers what few other wedding venues in Oahu can: a spacious lawn, peaceful atmosphere, private beach, plantation style home, and beautiful landscaping with tropical plants and palm trees. Just a stones throw from world famous surf spot, Sunset Beach, Loulu Palm Estate has a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean from its mile long stretch of private beach. If you and your wedding planner can dream it up, it can be done at the expansive lawn and beach at Loulu Palm Estate.
Loulu Palm Estate is an escape from the high rise hotels, tourist traffic, and city lights of Honolulu. This wedding venue is perfect for brides seeking an intimate, beachfront, completely personalized wedding.
We were introduced to this private estate recently when we were asked to photograph Loulu Palm Estate. The wedding was gorgeous! The decor and floral arrangements were done by Yvonne Event Floral and Decor in coordination with wedding and event planner Sandra at Finishing Touch. Music was provided by the very entertaining DJ Troy Michael.
Please contact this Oahu Wedding Venue for more information:
Loulu Palm Estate
Location: Oahu (North shore)
Phone: 808-744-7211
Website: http://www.loulupalm.com
Please contact us at L’Amour Photography for availability to photograph your Oahu destination wedding.
We are excited to share some happy news with you all. Leslie Mansperger Photography has been awarded the title of “Best of 2008” from OneWed.com. We are the only wedding photographer from the state of Hawaii to be given this rating which is a huge honor considering how many amazing photographers are on these islands! Thanks to our happy customers who submitted ratings and reviews of their experience with us on OneWed.com, we have receieved this ranking on the growing wedding resource website.
We are always happy to hear back from our clients, so keep those comments coming! We want to thank all of you that have written us or voted for us on OneWed.com. Mucho Mahalo and thank you very much!
What better way to start the new year than to get married! Alicia and Lee were married at world renowned Lanikai Beach on December 31, 2008. Ranked amongst the best beaches in the world, Lanikai Beach was the perfect backdrop for Alicia and Lee’s wedding ceremony. Alicia and Lee were surrounded by their closest friends and family as they exchanged vows and rings.
I loved all of the sentimental details of this wedding! Alicia looked beautiful in her mother’s wedding dress and incorporated her support for the US Marines into the ceremony and reception. Her garter belt was in camouflage print with the Marine Corps symbol on a charm in the center. The favors were accented by photos of Alicia with Lee in uniform.
The beautiful, two tier, round fondant cake was made by Vikki at Sunshine’s Cake Creations. Eric and I never turn down cake at a wedding and are becoming some-what of wedding cake connoisseurs. This cake stands out in our minds as one of the best we have had so far. Perfectly decorated, sweet, creamy, and strawberries in the filling! Love it!
Congratulations to Alicia and Lee on their beautiful wedding and marriage! We wish them the very best!
Old world elegance and classic Hawaiian soul meet at Bayer Estate. Dating back to the 1930’s, this historical property offers a wedding atmosphere unparalleled by others in Oahu. This wedding venue would perfectly suit a bride who wants a private wedding with elegance and charm. For an Oahu Wedding Photographer, the Bayer Estate is paradise!
Just east of Diamond Head in the Aina Haina area, Bayer Estate is a retreat from the more metropolitan areas centered around Waikiki Beach. Rental of this property allows exclusive use of the entire property, including the 2 story Craftsman style home and the ocean front garden. Wedding receptions at Bayer Estate stand out amongst others with antique glassware, hand painted heirloom china, and fresh floral arrangements. If your dream wedding can be described in two words, “classic and sophisticated,” this may be the perfect wedding location for you!
Here are some images that Oahu Wedding Photographers, L’Amour Photography, shoot at some recent weddings held at the beautiful Bayer Estate in Honolulu
For more information on this destination wedding venue, please contact the Bayer Estate:
Bayer Estate
5329 Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu, Hawaii 96821
Phone: (808) 377-9359
Website: http://www.bayerestate.com/
Please contact us at L’Amour Photography for availability to be your Oahu wedding photographers.
Located on the Winward side of Oahu, Luana Hills Country Club is nestled under the Ko’olau Mountains in Kailua. Perfectly manicured greens and a beautiful club house make this venue ideal for brides and grooms who want to be surrounded by lush green vegetation for their ceremony. (more…)
Paradise Cove is not only one of the most popular places for an authentic and entertaining Hawaiian Luau, it is also a great place to have your wedding! Situated on 12 acres on the West coast, or the Leeward side of Oahu, Paradise Cove is a getaway from the more metropolitan Honolulu and Waikiki area. This wedding venue features private beaches, delicious food, entertainment, and gorgeous landscaping and vegetation, not to mention one of the best sunsets on Oahu. (more…)
The Diamond Head Anela Garden Chapel in Honolulu Oahu is a non-denominational chapel accommodating couples from around the world each year. Accommodating up to 100 guests, this quaint chapel is lined with beautiful English stained glass windows that light your way down the isle.
With three reception rooms in the Guest House and expert japanese chefs catering the meals, you can be sure that you will have a Hawaiian wedding you and your guests will never forget! AND, for you local Honolulu birdes and grooms-to-be, the Diamond Head Anela Garden offers special wedding packages just for Kamaiana! If a beautiful chapel, 30,000 square feet of gardens, and a guest house aren’t enough, the Diamond Head Anela Chapel can also help you find your dream wedding dress (or tuxedo) at their bridal salon, Naoco Wedding. That is what I call a complete package!
If you are interested in more information about the Diamond Head Anela Garde, please contact this wedding venue:
Diamond Head Anela Garden
Location: 3050 Monsarrat Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: 808-735-5500
Website: http://www.kuraudia.com/ag/chapel/index.html
Please contact us at L’Amour Photography for availability to photograph your Honolulu wedding.
Hale Koa Hotel is an exclusive first class resort in Honolulu Oahu catering to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. You either have to BE someone (presently in the military or be a veteran) or KNOW someone (in your immediate family who served). With Oahu hosting multiple military bases including Schofield Barracks, Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base, Bellows Air Force Station, Fort Shafter, Hickam Air Force Base, and Pearl Harbor Naval Base, there is no question why this resort is so popular! A resort exclusively for you and your loved ones, that’s nothing to pass up! (more…)
The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel offers gorgeous views, a backdrop of Daimond Head, and a hint of Japanese stlye to any wedding ceremony or reception. Whether you are looking for a venue with some Japanese flare or simply a gorgeous setting with delicious food, the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel is worth checking out. (more…)
Located on the Winward side of Oahu in Kaneohe, Ko’olau Ballrooms stands out amongst its neighboring venues in its specialization in hosting events. Planning and personalizing weddings and events is their bread and butter, and they definitely know what they are doing! Choose from venues featuring an indoor waterfall, lush garden, or a breathtaking view of the Ko’olau Mountain Range. (more…)