Chocolate!!

Even though chocolate brown has been around for a while, I still like this contrast combo of colors * chocolate brown linens, white florals with accents of turquoise on the candle votives.  This linen is my chocolate brown crinkle taffeta . The florals were designed with white cattalaya , phaley, & cymbidium orchids, white hydrangeas & roses.  I created dupioni silk lounge pillows in the chocolate & turquoise

Tags: color palettes, halekulani

My Favorite Bridal Bouquets

I love designing bridal bouquets.  I go crazy looking for all the

cool elements that we are surrounded with here in Hawaii.

The tropical foliages are unreal & blend so well with both

mainland flowers & tropical exotics.  Here are a few of my fav!!

Tags: Add new tag, bridal bouquets

Fashionista Photographer

After spending 15 years in the fashion industry as an Art Director, it was time to make a change. Jeanne found herself at a crossroads as to what to do with her life. A trip to Hawaii for her sisters wedding changes all that. She immediately knew where she wanted to be and what she wanted to do. Photography has always been a passion of hers and as Jeanne directed many photoshoots, she secretly wanted to be pressing the shutter. 

“I bring my flair and love for fashion into my of shooting along with my love of people which creates a mixture of beauty and fun to your images”.

To view Jeanne Marie’s portfolio click here

jeannemarie photography

p 808.228.6973

Jeannemaire’s photo courtesy Alecia Hoyt

Tags: Add new tag, photographers

Oprah’s 20 questions to ask before you tie the knot

1. What percentage of our income are we prepared to spend to 

purchase and maintain our home on a monthly or annual basis?

2. Who is responsible for keeping our house and yard cared for and 

organized? Are we different in our needs for cleanliness and organization? 

3. How much money do we earn together? Now? In one year? In five 

years? Ten? Who is responsible for which portion? Now? In one year? Five? Ten? 

4. What is our ultimate financial goal regarding annual income, and 

when do we anticipate achieving it? By what means, and through what efforts?

5. What are our categories of expense (rent, clothing, insurance, travel) ? 

 How much do we spend monthly, annually, in each category? How much 

do we want to be able to spend? 

6. How much time will each of us spend at work, and during what 

hours? Do we begin work early? Will we prefer to work into the evening? 

7. If one of us doesn’t want to work, under what circumstances, if

 any, would that be okay? 

8. How ambitious are you? Are we comfortable with the other’s level 

of ambition? 

9. Am I comfortable giving and receiving love sexually? In sex, does 

my partner feel my love for him or her?

10. Are we satisfied with the frequency of our lovemaking? How do we 

cope when our desire levels are unmatched? A little? A lot? For a night? A week? 

A month? A year? More? 

11. Do we eat meals together? Which ones? Who is responsible for the 

food shopping? Who prepares the meals? Who cleans up afterward? 

12. Is each of us happy with the other’s approach to health? Does one 

have habits or tendencies that concern the other (e.g., smoking, excessive dieting, 

poor diet)? 

13. What place does the other’s family play in our family life? How 

often do we visit or socialize together? If we have out-of-town relatives, will we 

ask them to visit us for extended periods? How often?

14. If we have children, what kind of relationship do we hope our 

parents will have with their grandchildren? How much time will they spend 

together? 

15. Will we have children? If so, when? How many? How important is 

having children to each of us? 

16. How will having a child change the way we live now? Will we want 

to take time off from work, or work a reduced schedule? For how long? Will we 

need to rethink who is responsible for housekeeping? 

17. Are we satisfied with the quality and quantity of friends we 

currently have? Would we like to be more involved socially? Are we overwhelmed 

socially and need to cut back on such commitments?

18. What are my partner’s needs for cultivating or maintaining 

friendships outside our relationship? Is it easy for me to support those needs, or 

do they bother me in any way? 

19. Do we share a religion? Do we belong to a church, synagogue, 

mosque or temple? More than one? If not, would our relationship benefit from 

such an affiliation? 

20. Does one of us have an individual spiritual practice? Is the 

practice and the time devoted to it acceptable to the other? Does each partner 

understand and respect the other’s choices?

Tags: Add new tag, tips from the experts

An Evening at the Halekulani Hotel

Jacquie & Don  * January 10, 2009

Location:  Halekulani Hotel * Hau Terrace

I love all the red details at this wedding we designed.  I found these beautiful gold & champagne etched hurricane glass candle holders at the Tommy Bahama store.

They added just the right accent of gold to a elegant evening of centerpieces of black magic roses,  wine tafetta /  satin table linens & dupioni silk lounge pillows

Tags: Add new tag, color palettes, details, event design, halekulani

A Fresh New Look

There is a bell ringing around town.  Heather Saffery has just burst onto the wedding scene here in Hawaii.  Before starting her own business, Heather worked for a wide range of prestigious cosmetic companies  : Clinique, Dior, Laura Mercier, MAC, Prescriptives & Stila. The diverse make up techniques and philosophies of these brands have helped to cultivate her signature style.  

Although Heather calls Honolulu  her home, make-up has allowed her to travel the world.  Experiencing cultural beauty ideals from Europe,  Asia and the United States , she has trained with the best in the industry, increasing her  artistic repertoire which  allows her to work successfully with women of all ages, ethnicities & beauty preferences. 

I also hear Heather is designing a new line of designer clutch hand bags. I predict you will be seeing a lot of Heather around town.  She may just be the new Vera Wang!!

www.heatherbell.net

email:  info@heatherbell.net 

Ph:  808-721-0146

Tags: Add new tag, beauty, make up

Going Green

Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine * fall /winter 08 

Tips from the experts  *  Debbie Hemingway 

Going Green 

One of the latest trends in weddings is going “Green”.  As we are all becoming 

more & more aware of our environment, hosting a sustainable eco friendly wedding or 

at least a portion of  the wedding has become “ Eco Chic”.  Environmental awareness has 

exploded &  “Green” awareness is not a passing fad . Conscious living has become 

a way of life especially here in Hawaii.  Just as your wedding is a reflection of your 

personality so should it reflect your relationship to your community & your environment. 

I believe in starting somewhere even if it is just in a very small way.  You can still 

create that “WOW” factor & have a portion of your wedding eco friendly.  Creativity 

has no limits with innovative ideas from your florist.  I call it my “ organic art”. 

TIPS : 

Use plants on buffet tables & around the room.  Bamboo is one of the most sustainable 

materials on earth.  Using curly bamboo in a centerpiece is very Zen & can create drama. 

Incorporate live trees as your centerpieces with hanging flowers, reusable crystal like 

beads, hanging name cards.  These trees can be given to your guests & planted later in 

the yard or donated to a school. 

Use natural organic products in your designs: sand, seashells, river rocks, tree branches, 

wheat grass, moss, succulents.  I love the creative aspect & fun of using these natural 

products to embellish my floral designs. 

Incorporate soy candles.  They are cleaner, longer burning, & create a 

healthy ambience. 

For your favor ideas:  use ti leaf or hemp bags tied with natural raffia.  You can fill these 

with organic dried herbs or packets of seeds. Use  a pretty lauhala box filled with your 

favorite organic tea. 

Place card holders:  use a natural leaf , succulent, or baby pineapple. 

Centerpieces: incorporate locally grown flowers & foliages.  A pretty bowl of fruit mixed 

with locally grown orchids makes a beautiful statement.  Donate your flowers 

to a local hospital or nursing home after your event. 

Remember every thoughtful action helps our environment.

Tags: eco friendly, going green, tips

Featured Wedding - Christie & Patton

Event date:  August 15, 2008 

Location:  The Bayer Estate 

Event & floral decor:  Debbie Hemingway * Designs by Hemingway 

Photography:  Visionari 

Cinematography:  Angel De Armas 

Catering :  Ginniberries 

Cake:  Cake Lava 

My planning with Christie began months prior to her event  long distance from Georgia 

where Patton had been stationed.  Patton  is in the Army’s Special Forces division & 

Chrisite works for the famous Angel de Armas, one of the best cinematographers in 

Hawaii.  Christie gave me her color palette & was so excited to let me run with the ball. 

We created a floral entry of hanging white phaley & cymbidium orchids & lots of columbian 

roses over the beautiful  Bayer Estates entry to the house.  The  ceremony took place 

under a large milo tree ocean side with long strands of crystals, hanging chandeliers, & lots 

of strands of white orchids.  We created full & dripping  centerpieces of creme & white 

roses, white phaley & cymbidium orchids accented with green cymbidium orchids.  Her 

florals were elevated on a cool acrylic square plate surrounded with lots of candles.  The 

patio area was transformed by white string curtains , hanging floral chandeliers & the most 

fantastic cake that I think I have ever laid my eyes on.  Rick & Sasha from Cake Lava 

created an amazing cake !!  From the lounge furniture & silk pillows, hanging silk 

crystal lanterns,  flowers galore , great food & music , a magical evening unfolded. 

note from the bride: 

Dear Debbie, 

As a professional in Hawaiiʼs wedding industry, Iʼve truly enjoyed seeing your designs 

come to life – but seeing them come alive on my own wedding day was a dream come 

true.  

Witnessing your designs for over 3 years has given me extremely high expectations and 

on August 15, 2008 you exceeded every single one of them!  In a way, I gave you a 

most difficult job – free reign on the entire design. You took it and ran with it!  

Not a detail was overlooked – there was almost a story to the way you designed the 

Bayer Estate.  Each element no matter how big or small, led my eyes to something else.  

I felt a constant flow of fluid motion shifting my attention throughout the venue.  Every 

flower was flawless….a photographerʼs dream!  Your placement of them was so fresh 

and modern yet, it had such a classy feel.  

Among each event of the day, your designs captured different moods that all 

complimented each other. The ceremony area was beautiful, intimate, and pure.  The 

cocktail hour was all about fun and festivities while the reception encompassed pure 

romance.  I loved the transition that took place from day to dusk!  The dangling crystals 

glistened in the warm afternoon light and glimmered in the evening from the hanging 

lanterns and the tiki-torches that edged the shoreline. 

While capturing many moods that day, you also captured our personalities.  We look 

back at our beautiful day and know that you made it a product of us.  Itʼs a day that we 

will always remember and always be thankful that you encompassed so many emotions 

through your beautiful designs.  

Debbie, you blew me away!  From your sheer talent in design and floral expertise to 

your friendly customer service, I will always regard you as a leader in the floral industry 

and now as a dear friend.  Thank you for creating a single day in which we will always 

remember. 

Much Love and Aloha, 

Christie and Patton Nix 

Tags: bayer estate, beach weddings, couples, details, event design, floral, my favorite weddings, wedding