Sharon and Dean are so thoughtful, intelligent, and laid back- they were total dream clients! I was uber-impressed to learn that both have MAs in Asian American Studies and PhDs in American Culture. Their love for culture, tradition, and family totally set the tone for their wedding day. I had so much fun designing this “Hawaii-and-Asian-inspired-but-not-overkill-tropical” wedding. The groom, having grown up in Hawaii, appreciates structured, tropical flowers like orchids, curcuma, ginger, jasmine and tuberrose. They wanted to make sure no kitschy, stereotypical Hawaii icons were used. Thus, no Hawaiian shirts, drink umbrellas, or coconut bras were in sight at Sharon and Dean’s wedding.
Just the essence of Hawaii, tied in with subtle Asian details, gave this wedding a bit of unique flavor. Sharon, who is bubbly and fun, gravitated toward a bold and energetic palette of fuchsia, burgundy and chartreuse.
The amazing Angel of Love and Splendor planned and executed almost every detail of this intricate wedding. I remember having many phone conversations with her about Sharon and Dean’s wedding where we bounced off ideas like wildfire. The Image Is Found captured the wedding (and the slammin’ afterparty) just beautifully. Their work is always inspiring and incredible! Thanks to Nate and Jaclyn for sending me these lovely images in the mail.

Meet the bride, looking naturally radiant on her wedding day!





They had- get this- 3 flower girls and SIX ring boys. It was a gang of kids walking down that aisle! The flower girls carried river cane baskets and wore delicate wreaths of orchids and rolled rose petals. Another cute detail: The 6 ring bearers carried baskets of roses and handed them out to guests along the aisle. Sharon wanted guests to know how incredibly special they were to the couple!

The violet and aqua bridesmaids dresses just popped. 10 bridesmaids!

Their bouquets were just bursting with orchids, roses, gloriosa lilies, and more.
I LOVE this image of Sharon and Dean kissing beneath a shower of orchids and white paper cranes (hand-folded by Angel herself!)

These white cranes were scattered in nooks and crannies throughout the reception. Angel had heard about the Japanese wedding tradition of folding 1000 cranes as a gift to the groom to wish him 1000 years of happiness and prosperity. She thought this would be a delightful addition to Sharon and Dean’s decor.



I mentioned earlier that Sharon and Dean’s wedding was very family-oriented. Well, this detail takes the cake! Ambitious Angel decided we needed a huge manzanita “family tree” filled with dangling vintage lockets. Each of the 73 lockets had a picture of a family member inside. I attached leucadendrons and orchids for a splash of color.


These funky little cocktail arrangements featured fuchsia bromeliad plants.

Dean’s only must-have request was that the reception be filled with the sweet aroma of tuberrose. Of course, T-Petal made it happen! Each guest had a perfect tuberrose blossom on their napkin, and Sharon and Dean’s sweetheart table was loaded with them. The smell is utterly delightful.

Loved the apple green napkins against the brown linens and draperies.

Graceful james storei orchids added some drama and height to the lush tall centerpieces. Orchid buds were affixed to the glass cylinders.

Some of the flowers I used were leucadendrons, dendrobium, mokara and cymbidium orchids, bells of ireland, roses, sweet william, and fuschsia cockscomb. The short centerpieces were bursting with color and crisp texture. Here they are displayed at the afterparty which took place at Sharon’s gorgeous family estate just steps away from the reception site. How convenient!

No one does photobooths quite like The Image is Found!
Sharon and Dean: Thank you for letting me share in the joy of your beautiful, energetic, lively wedding! It was for sure one of my 2008 highlights, and you’ll be remembered as one of the sweetest, most considerate couples I’ve had the privilege of working with. Keep partying like it’s your wedding day!
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What an absolutely lovely wedding! I knew Sharon back from our junior high school days. What a fun-loving wedding for a fun-loving girl!