Weddings

N O ITH W

2015 • THE MAUI NEWS

D EN TR

WEDDINGS

W O W

Life is sweet

FOR COUPLES AT SUGAR BEACH EVENTS

+ KEEP YOUR DRESS PRESERVED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME ++ MAKE SURE YOU GET THE CAKE OF YOUR DREAMS A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Page T1

WEDDINGS • 2015

Timing key to sunset photos

Lizada Photography photo

California couple Blanca and Tim Duncan headed down to Kapalua Bay following their ceremony Aug. 22. This photo was taken at 6:34 p.m., says Maui photographer Ceasar Lizada. In his experience, sunsets make for particularly dramatic photographs during the winter and spring months.

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Sunsets on Maui often lead local residents and visitors alike to stop what they’re doing and gaze toward the horizon in appreciation. It’s no wonder that couples getting married on Maui would want to take advantage of the dramatic backdrop. But the window of opportunity is shorter than some might think, and it takes careful planning and timing to capture the vivid colors and light.

Maui photographer Ceasar Lizada of Lizada Photography suggests that couples plan to hold their ceremony at least an hour and half prior to sunset. With ceremonies typically lasting 15 to 20 minutes, that leaves time to take family and group shots, then head to the beach or other location with

a view.

Lizada, who has been photographing weddings on Maui for more than 15 years, prefers to start shooting at least 15 minutes prior to sunset for the best light. He photographs quickly as the sun sets below the horizon, and then sometimes lingers with the couple for up to 10 minutes after, if the colors are particularly striking.

“Sometimes, the sun will light up the whole sky,” he says.

In his experience, weddings held in the winter and spring tend to offer the best sunset photos, with the more unstable weather creating more dramatic clouds and colors.

“Of course, in Hawaii, all year round you have a nice sunset,” he says.

Maui Sunset Times: March 15 to March 15, 2016

MARCH 15, 2015

6:35 p.m.

OCTOBER 1, 2015

6:15 p.m.

APRIL 1, 2015

6:40 p.m.

OCTOBER 15, 2015

6:03 p.m.

APRIL 15, 2015

6:44 p.m.

NOVEMBER 1, 2015

5:51 p.m.

MAY 1, 2015

6:50 p.m.

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

5:45 p.m.

MAY 15, 2015

6:56 p.m.

DECEMBER 1, 2015

5:44 p.m.

JUNE 1, 2015

7:03 p.m.

DECEMBER 15, 2015

5:47 p.m.

JUNE 15, 2015

7:08 p.m.

JANUARY 1, 2016

5:55 p.m.

JULY 1, 2015

7:11 p.m.

JANUARY 15, 2016

6:05 p.m.

JULY 15, 2015

7:10 p.m.

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

6:16 p.m.

AUGUST 1, 2015

7:05 p.m.

FEBRUARY 15, 2016

6:24 p.m.

AUGUST 15, 2015

6:56 p.m.

MARCH 1, 2016

6:30 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

6:43 p.m.

MARCH 15, 2016

6:35 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

6:30 p.m.

Source: www.sunrisesunset.com

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SWEET

SCENE Sugar Beach Events offers top-notch catering, venue

By CHELSEA DUNCAN Special Sections Editor

hef Lee Anderson describes opening her dream business, a wedding venue and catering service, and then finding the man of her dreams not long after, as “kismet.” “It was meant to be,” says the owner of Sugar Beach Events in north Kihei.

Anderson and her team have been helping happy couples say “I do” since launching the business in 2013, and in June, the chef was able to experience the magic from a new perspective — as the bride.

Instead of whipping up pineapple rum ceviche appetizers or one of her other creative concoctions in the on-site kitchen at this wedding, Anderson was pampered in the

C

See SUGAR BEACH on Page 7

Sugar Beach Events • 85 N. Kihei Rd, Kihei 856-6151 • www.sugarbeacheventshawaii.com On the cover: Mira Kim and Ray Tomas were married at Sugar Beach in July; photo by Anna Kim Photography.

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Chef Lee married Carl Anderson in June at her venue and catering business, Sugar Beach Events in Kihei. The venue offers a variety of catering options, such as an antipasta cart, as well as cakes.

Anna Kim Photography photos

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WEDDINGS • 2015

Maui Wedding Association expo gathers industry experts

Photos courtesy Maui Wedding Association

The 19th annual Maui Wedding Expo held at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in June featured a variety of vendors, including Cake Pops by Liz (clockwise from top left), and performers such as Manutea Nui E dancers and Darren Lee of Burn’n Love. The event also featured bridal wear fashion shows, as well as dozens of other vendors who set up booths to show off their services.

Maui Wedding Association will once again host the island’s one-ofa-kind event that brings together a wide variety of wedding professional into one convenient location.

This year’s 20th annual Maui Weddings Expo will take place Aug. 29 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu.

“It continues to be the only major wedding expo for Maui, and for 20 years, it’s been produced by the Maui Wedding Association,” said Tambara Garrick, the association’s president and sales manager for Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Lahaina. “It’s a huge accomplishment.”

She said the golf club has been a member of MWA since the association’s be20th annual Maui ginnings and is the perfect location for Wedding Expo the event, with its central location and ample parking.

Saturday, Aug. 29 Two of the venue’s private function King Kamehameha sites will be decked out with wedding decor to help guests envision their dream Golf Club, 2500 ceremony, and the bar in the “Marilyn Honoapiilani Highway Monroe” room will feature champagne in Waikapu and pupus.

“It will be really fun because people can come and hang out for a good part of the afternoon and have a good time,” Garrick said.

And of course, guests can peruse the booths set up by the island’s top vendors, from transportation providers and wedding coordinators, to photographers, cake creators, caterers, and hair and makeup artists.

Garrick said usually at least 50 vendors, all members of the association, participate in the event.

“You can go and plan your entire wedding there,” she said.

Admission is free, and guests will have the chance to win door prizes, enjoy live entertainment and watch fashion shows. To register to attend or for more information, visit www.weddingexpomaui.com.

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A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Page T4

A DRESSY

KEEPSAKE Preservation process can ensure your treasured gown endures for generations

By CHELSEA DUNCAN Special Sections Editor

or many brides, their special day revolves around one item in particular — the dress. Of course, there are also the flowers, the location, the food, the favors, the music and more, but aside from the vows, not many details last beyond the actual wedding date.

The dress, however, is something that can

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last for years to come, something that may even be worn by brides of future generations.

“For a bride, her wedding gown is the most important dress she will wear in her lifetime,” says Jamie Newkirk, office manager at Maui’s Quality Dry Cleaning & Laundry Inc. That's where the preservation process, or “heirlooming,” comes in. The methods used

See PRESERVE on the next page

MAUI’S HIDDEN WEDDING TREASURE Lizada Photography photo

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WEDDINGS • 2015 PRESERVE Continued from Page 5 at Maui’s Quality Dry Cleaning ensure that the gowns that brides spend so much time choosing — and likely a large chunk of their budget — can remain a keepsake into the future. Gowns are protected from yellowing, damage and other stains when preserved in a “Keepsake Wedding Gown Box,” a process that Newkirk says is done on site to ensure quality control.

The process starts with

276.2110

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careful pre-spotting, cleaning and steam-pressing, and the dress is then inspected and hand-folded with layers of protective tissue to be placed into an archival-quality storage chest.

“Whether a bride wants to preserve her gown for the lasting memories or as a family heirloom for future generations, this is the best protection we have,” says Newkirk.

The business, which also offers pre-ceremony steaming and pressing, commonly has destination brides ship their gowns in advance. After the wedding, the dress can then be preserved and shipped back.

Experts agree that brides should take steps to preserve their gowns as soon as possible following the wedding.

Conditions at weddings on Maui provide unique threats to wedding gowns, from the red dirt found throughout the island, to sand and salt water. Red dirt, in particular, can be almost impossible to remove, Newkirk says, but after more than 20 years, the business has found success with the stubborn stains.

“Salt water can be damaging to fabrics and will need to be rinsed out promptly,” Newkirk adds. “Always air out a wet gown before putting it in a bag to bring to the cleaners — mildew grows quickly here.”

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Juliet married Vincent Roseby at Grand Wailea in September.

Lizada Photography photo

Newkirk says the business has just about seen it all when it comes to the aftermath of particularly rowdy receptions. A few years ago, a bride brought in a dress that looked like an entire cake had been thrown at it, like a “raspberry filling food fight,” she says. Another time, a full bottle of red wine had been dumped down the front of a silk dress. Maui brides are also known to frolic in the surf.

“We’ve had a dress come in with a balloon hemline that had collected so much sand, we had to open up the hem to release it,” Newkirk says. “We could've built a sand castle with the amount of sand in that dress.”

Newkirk recommends that

brides pay close attention to the care label on their gowns.

In particular, “dry clean only” dresses should not get wet, as the only way to remove water stains or water-based stains is by using a water-based cleaning method.

“If your gown says ‘dry clean only,’ this limits what we can do to try and remove stains,” says Newkirk. “That said, we have been very successful at restoring dry clean only dresses that have gotten wet. It may sound like a great idea to let the waves wash over the bottom of your dress to the photographer, but if you want to pass your dress on to your daughter someday, you may want to rethink it.”

L

Ceasar L. Lizada

Pops of color, or more, finding way into dresses Picture a wedding dress.

What do you see? A gorgeous ivory beaded gown, right? While most wedding dresses are some shade of white, other colors are making their way into the picture. Brides interested in a little color in their wedding no longer have to settle for it in their chair covers, tablecloths and centerpieces. Just as bridal bouquets are getting more colorful, so are bridal gowns.

While the majority of wedding dresses remain traditionally white, other colors are available. One look online will uncover dozens of possibilities in an array of colors from deep red to emerald green to classy black. For brides who prefer the traditional but still yearn for some color, designers are making dresses with colored bodices and/or colored blocks in the skirt. A bride who looks lovely in blue can still have her cake and eat it too, with a bridal gown featuring a navy blue bodice and a white tulle skirt.

For brides interested in a bit less color, white wed-

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ding gowns are available with a hint of color here and there. Many designers today are relying on embellishments like appliques, beads, ribbons and sashes to add color to wedding dresses. A bride who adores red can still have her dreamy princess dress, made of yards and yards of satin and tulle, but with red floral appliques sewn onto the tulle skirt overlay and a red satin ribbon tied around the waist to go with her ruby tiara.

The options are endless when it comes to wedding dresses with color.

Browse through some bridal magazines to see what color trends are hot, shop around online and check out some local boutiques.

You’re sure to come across something that interests you, whether a white gown wrapped in black lace or a pale pink chiffon gown. And if you don’t, you can always have a wedding dress made and throw in all of the color you want, from purple beading across the bodice to lilac satin ribbon around the skirt bottom.

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A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Page T6

WEDDINGS • 2015 SUGAR BEACH Continued from Page 3 bridal salon before walking down the aisle to meet Carl.

Her team members went above and beyond to make the day special for her, she says, just as they have been doing for the other brides who have walked through the doors of the “Hale O Aloha.”

“Now I can speak really well to any bride about what she’s getting and what’s happening in the process, because I went through it all,” Anderson says.

The chef says the business has nearly double the bookings this year than in 2014.

Most of her clients are coming to Maui for their destination weddings, but Anderson is hoping to attract more local couples as word of the venue spreads.

Throughout the process of bringing the business to life, she sought an environment where brides would feel comfortable and welcomed.

276.2110

808.

www.mauicakes.com P.O. Box 2912 Wailuku, HI 96793

Anderson, who has been cooking professionally for some 25 years, loves entertaining and working in the kitchen, traits she attributes to her Southern background.

“This is like my home,” she says of the venue, “and I get to invite everyone in and share what I love most.”

The beachfront venue’s design is inspired by the environment, Hawaiian cultural heritage and function. The traditional-style roof line, lava rock walls, stone columns and an interior space that opens to a lawn steps from the beach all combine to make a spectacular impression. Not to mention, the view and those sunsets.

Couples who choose Sugar Beach Events as their wedding location have access to full-service event

“I wanted to show people that with this venue, the world is your oyster. You can do anything.”

— Chef Lee Anderson

planning and design, many food and beverage options, rentals, wedding cake creations and service staff. A list of preferred vendors also provides brides with a choice of off-site wedding professionals.

Anderson recently hired Denise Black, longtime wedding planner at Four Seasons Resort Maui, to serve as in-house coordinator. And new pastry chef Courtney Walter will be bringing fresh techniques and ideas to the company’s desserts and cake offerings.

On the catering side, An-

derson focuses on Pacific Rim cuisine but also likes to experiment.

“I also recognize that I am trying to appeal to lots of different people from different parts of the world,” she says. “I want them to feel good, but I also want them to stretch and try something maybe they haven’t had before.”

A sample menu could include cantaloupe caprese appetizers with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, pesto and pomegranate; Konaspiced and espresso-rubbed grilled prime filet mignon

or sun-dried tomato, kale and tofu strudel for entrees; and coconut creme brulee for dessert.

Her food evolves frequently, and the chef enjoys keeping up with trends.

For savory items, she’s noticed that pickling is popular right now, with vegetables like cabbage, peppers and onions providing both zesty flavors and nutrition.

For sweets, couples are going gaga over doughnut buffets, and Sugar Beach offers flavors from salted caramel to raspberry pistachio with custom color frosting and sprinkles.

“Also, great combos of sweet and savory foods,” she says of food trends. “I do a wok-fried smoked mozzarella with truffle honey and figs that always

makes people happy.”

The business also provides off-site catering and wedding cakes around the island.

On site, Anderson wants Sugar Beach Events to inspire couples to experiment with fresh ideas and styles, from vintage or modern, to high-end or casual.

For her own wedding, featured on the popular wedding blog Style Me Pretty, Anderson and her team went wild with new concepts. In particular, a custom outdoor dining canopy made of draped twinkle lights turned up the drama and romance.

“I wanted to show people that with this venue, the world is your oyster,” she says. “You can do anything.”

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A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Page T7

WEDDINGS • 2015

Guidelines and etiquette for the perfect beach wedding All beaches in Hawaii are public and are available to everyone to use and enjoy equally on a first-come, firstserved basis. Beach weddings require a permit that can be arranged by your wedding planner for a small fee, and more information can be found at www. dlnr.hawaii.gov/ld. This also applies to state and county beach parks, plus all other state and county public lands. You may discover beachgoers, or another wedding party, already using a location that you have your heart set on, so please show your utmost respect for their right to be there.

Our ultimate wish is that you, the bride and groom, have the most positive and wonderful experience possible on your very special day.

With the foregoing in mind, the following information is provided to ensure that you, as well as all residents and guests of Hawaii, have a truly marvelous and memorable beach experience.

Beaches can make for dream wedding locations, but there are steps couples must take to ensure they are respecting other couples and the public.

grounds or close enough that the ceremonies can be ■ Select a wedding site overheard easily. that is realistically suitable ■ Respect the rights of and an appropriate size for the general public. Do not your wedding party, includ- reserve, restrict or rope off ing sufficient parking. Do beach or park areas. Please not overcrowd the area with do not ask beach users to your event. move or relocate or try to ■ For the protection and impede free passage of the stewardship of Hawaii’s public by asking them to not treasured natural and cultur- walk behind the wedding al resources, please do not party or ceremony setting. make use of any archaeolog■ The use of chairs, wedical or historic sites. ding arches and amplified ■ If there are other wed- music are not allowed at dings at the same beach, beaches and most public arplease keep your group con- eas. tained. Position your party ■ The consumption of so that it is not placed in the any alcoholic beverage is other weddings’ back- not allowed on beaches, in A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Page T8

parks or on state and county lands. We suggest that you use either sparkling cider or other non-alcoholic beverages for all toasts. Be mindful of the corks, which can get lost in the sand or water; please retrieve them and take away with your other refuse.

■ To minimize a negative impact on our fragile environment, please leave the site cleaner than you found it. It is your responsibility, or that of your wedding coordinator, to remove all flowers and any other ceremony-related debris.

—Maui Wedding Association

STAYING

ON TREND WOW planners know latest styles edding styles are constantly evolving, with fresh ideas becoming the hottest “I Do” trends and longtime favorites fading into the passe “I Don’ts.”

Carolee Higashino, owner and president of White Orchid Wedding, considers Maui “very progressive” when it comes to wedding style.

“I think we have a unique niche,” she says. “We’re not wine country weddings and we’re not New York City, but we’re creating definitely a high-scale event feeling that’s unique to the whole world and unique to the destination wedding market.”

WOW, one of the top planning companies in the state, creates elaborate weddings

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Chrissy Lambert Photography photo

Men’s attire: Grooms are getting more into the spirit and paying closer attention to the details of their formal wear. Funky socks with wild colors or patterns and bow-ties are particularly popular. Fedoras and vests are also catching on.

1940s vintage: Furs, feathers, sequins, crystals and pearls all fit into this style of soft and nostalgic elegance.

Some couples are even bringing in vintage cars to use as props. Chandeliers Photo courtesy White Orchid Wedding and strings of vintage “Edison bulbs” help set the mood.

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throughout the islands and also runs a division called Purple Orchid Wedding, which caters to same-sex couples.

Higashino and her team, including daughter-event coordinator Kendall Higashino, say the “boho-chic” style, which takes from bohemian or hippie influences, has endured into 2015. On the other hand, some of the vintage styling Carolee Higashino calls the “garage sale of goods” — think flea-market items like old typewriters — is evolving into a higher-end look, more of an elegant 1940s vibe.

From boho to glamour, and everything in between, Higashino lists some of the trends she’s seeing this year.

Keep it classical: Higashino says more weddings have been featuring classical instruments, likes strings, as well as bigband sounds, like horns and trumpets.

Craft cocktails: In accordance with popular farm-to-table dining, specialty cocktails featuring handmade and locally grown ingredients and garnishes are “kind of the new rage,” says Higashino. Bar service companies are also featuring custom bar setups to match the decor.

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Food trucks: Many couples are turning to these kitchens on wheels to provide their guests with latenight snacks to nosh, from “hurricane fries” to mini hotdogs, as the partying winds down and guests prepare to leave the reception.

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See TRENDS on Page 11

Garnish Events photo

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Lic EL 42

Lic EL 42

DREAMY Knowing ahead of time what type of cake you want and collecting photos of the style are tips that will help ensure that the end result is successful, according to experts.

Photo courtesy Maui Wedding Cakes

Weddings & Special Events Kahili Golf Course

The King Kamehameha Golf Club

DESSERT There are steps to ensure the wedding cake you envision becomes a reality hile some brides and grooms forgo a large wedding cake in favor of a dessert bar or a cake on every table at the reception, others clamor for the tradition.

They can’t picture not having a magnificent cake to “ooh” and “ahh” over and feed each other later.

Bakers these days can create the most elaborate dream cakes, but first, couples need to know what they want. With so many sources of inspiration, from fashion to movies, there are nearly endless possibilities.

“For me, one of the first questions I have is, ‘What inspires you?’ ” says Tori Takayesu of Maui Cakes.

Here are some tips to ensure you get the cake you want:

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(808) 243-1025

www.MauiBanquets.com

Generally, the larger the cake and the more intricate the design, the more it will cost to make. Determine both what you would like to spend and what you are willing to spend.

“Wedding cakes are expected to look perfect,” says Takayesu, “and stacking them into tiered towers is no small engineering feat.

So expect to pay at least several hundred for most bakeries for a tiered cake.”

Have a top dollar in mind, an amount you absolutely will not go over, and stick to it.

Understand that you may have to make some compromises and be willing to take some cost-cutting measures. Opt for a few faux tiers in favor of several expensive tiers,

See CAKES on the Page 12 DETERMINE YOUR STYLE

Do some research well in advance of any cake tastings.

“One of the issues is the amount of variety there is, going beyond the basic round or square, fondant or buttercream,” says Takayesu.

Browse bridal magazines and websites.

Check out bakery windows and books. Attend some bridal shows. Cut, print or take photos of any and everything you like.

Takayesu suggests considering what blends with your theme and color scheme. Do you like gilded ornate 2500 Honoapiilani Hwy, confections, or modern and clean lines? Other options range from Waikapu HI 96793 fashion looks that include pleats and ruffles to match the wedding dress to artistic cakes that look hand-painted, or cakes inspired by favorite movie characters.

For more details and menus, visit our website: Create a scrapbook of the features you like. The more you have to show bakers, the better chance you will receive the design you want.

A Supplement of THE MAUI NEWS – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Page T10

Located in the Heart of Maui

SET A BUDGET

Photo courtesy Maui Cakes

WEDDINGS • 2015 TRENDS Continued from Page 9

Elaborate tablescapes: Out with the standard white tablecloths with basic round or square white plates and in with tons of details. Couples are trending toward plated dinners, as opposed to buffets or family-style, and are ensuring their tables are set to the nines. Companies have sprung up that rent more formal and elaborate china and cutlery, and couples are mixing up textures with metallics, specialty linens and flower containers.

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Kaua Wedding Photography photo

Photo courtesy Maui Beach Hotel

BEAUTY, CONVENIENCE AT MAUI BEACH Local residents know that Maui Beach Hotel offers an ideal venue for weddings that are conveniently located and reasonably priced. With a picturesque gazebo, a banquet room that can host up to 300 people and on-site catering, the Kahului hotel gives couples the freedom to create their fantasy wedding. “The hotel has been here for many, many years. Everybody knows this place. It’s like a landmark now,� says Tanya Norton, catering sales manager.

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Bouquet comeback: Whereas smaller, nosegay bouquets have been dominating the aisles, Higashino says brides are turning to a couple of old-school styles, especially the boho-chic girls. “We’re seeing a resurgence of the cascade for a first time in a long time,� she says. The Cosmin Danila Photography photo “cascade� features flowers spilling from a bride’s hand and flowing downward. Another style that’s making a return is the “presentation� bouquet that is cradled in the bride’s arm.

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“Nude� cakes: For an elegant and fresh look, more and more couples are seeking out these cakes that forgo the outer layer of fondant and icing, leaving the inner layers visible.

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Succulents: These cactuslooking plants are enduring as a trend, although Higashino says couples are mixing them in more often with other flowers.

Signage: Couples are making sure their guests are Kaua Wedding Photography photo in the know with fun or formal signage, using everything from surfboards and mirrors to drift wood and chalkboards. Professional calligraphers are often hired for the intricate work, which can be used for seating cards, food and bar menus, directional signs and more.

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WEDDINGS • 2015 CAKES Continued from Page 10 or restrict the more expensive designs and flavors to the smaller tiers. Ordering a smaller, more elaborate wedding cake for the cake table and inexpensive sheetcakes for guests is one way to save money.

Cheryl Logsdon of Maui Wedding Cakes reminds brides that cake designs featured in magazines usually fall into a higher price range.

“If the design is not within your budget, a good designer can offer alternatives that can achieve a similar feel to the cake you like,” Logsdon says.

CHOOSE A GOOD BAKER Look for reputable bakers that specialize in wed-

ding cakes and set up appointments with them if possible. Show them your scrapbook and sketches and discuss how feasible your ideal wedding cake would be. Ask the baker for an honest assessment of your sketches and listen to what they have to say. Discuss colors and flavors, and arrange for a cake tasting if possible. Discuss timelines and costs. Present your budget and ask for an estimate.

Logsdon suggests checking on Yelp and other review sites to see which companies have the best ratings.

“Experience counts in wedding cakes,” she says.

Logsdon also suggests perusing the websites of potential vendors to see which

types of cakes they excel at.

Another factor to consider is whether the venue you've selected has a preferred vendor list. If you choose a non-approved cake vendor, you may incur additional fees.

ORDER EARLY AND CHECK IN Don’t walk into a bakery a few days before your wedding and expect a masterpiece. Good bakers are busy. Start the process early and don’t sign a contract until you are satisfied with the terms and have reviewed them in detail.

Call the baker a couple of weeks prior to your wedding and make sure the cake will be ready on time and that the details are ironed out.

Photo courtesy Maui Wedding Cakes

Bakers can help couples come up with the best design to match their dream wedding cake concept while also keeping within budget.

Photo courtesy Maui Cakes

“Try to finalize your cake at least three weeks before your wedding date to alleviate anxiety,” says Logsdon.

Know exactly what you are getting and when it will

be delivered, as well as what any last-minute changes or add-ons will cost you.

“We always love to hear from our brides during the process,” says Takayesu.

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“There may be last-minute concerns, change in flavor choice, larger or more cake for unexpected guests. Most changes won't cost any extra and can be accommodated. We'd much rather hear from a bride then not, and avoid any disappointments.”

TOP IT OFF Don't forget about the cake topper. Like the cakes themselves, there can be a wide variety to choose from, everything from monograms in crystals, flower arrangements and artistic hand-blown glass pieces.

“With fresh flowers, I suggest you let your florist know what you would like so they can arrange a small bouquet,” says Takayesu.