1. Real Weddings

Yvonne & Bill: A Tropical Wedding in Maui, HI

After meeting through a mutual friend, Yvonne and Bill sparked immediately. The two had their first date after three months of emailing back and forth

After meeting through a mutual friend, Yvonne and Bill sparked immediately. The two had their first date after three months of emailing back and forth, and they were inseparable from then on. The Bride Yvonne, 36, senior product marketing manager The Groom Bill, 34, consultant The Date August 8 On one rainy Saturday, after feeling a bit stir-crazy in Bill’s apartment, the twosome decided to take a walk around San Francisco’s Union Square. Although they talked about marriage before, Yvonne assumed it would be far in the future. So when Bill suggested they pop into a jewelry store, she thought nothing of it. When he asked her to model two engagement rings for him and proceeded to tell the salesperson that they would take the one on her right hand, Yvonne was stunned. Once the ring had been resized, Bill formally proposed to Yvonne at an intimate French bistro. From there, the two began planning their dream vintage-inspired Hawaiian wedding in Maui.

Rather than a traditional guest book, the couple provided brightly colored, prestamped vintage Hawaiian postcards and asked guests to send their well wishes via mail.
Favors served as the centerpieces for the simple yet stylish decor. Eight stacked, woven lauhala leaf boxes were adorned with orchids and raffia ribbon and filled with assorted Hawaiian cookies. Each box had a note that read, “Mahalo for coming and sharing our special day with us. Love, Yvonne and Bill -- Aug 8, 2007.”
For the cocktail hour, guests hung out on the lanai and sipped on assorted wine, beer, mango iced tea, and Wailuku pineapple soda. The couple created straw tags that read “Aloha” on one side and “Yvonne + Bill” on the other.
Yvonne walked down the aisle carrying brightly colored Mokara orchids in burnt orange, deep fuchsia, raspberry pink, and golden amber.
Yvonne and Bill’s 35 guests were seated among five intimate round tables with white linens, fuchsia crisscrossed table runners, votive candles, favors, and natural wood chiavari chairs in a bright, airy room.
Modest yet stunning, the two-tiered wedding cake was covered in white fondant icing with differently colored Mokara orchids on each level. The cake was topped with Hawaiian-themed male and female ukulele players.
To celebrate the couple’s ethnic backgrounds (the bride is Chinese American and the groom is Korean American), they had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony following the wedding. The couple served tea to their parents and eldest relatives as a symbol of respect and honor.
The couple wed in the front yard of the Sugar House Plantation Estate with the ocean in the distance. Surrounded by lush tropical plants, flowers, and plantain trees, the couple exchanged vows under a palm leaf-covered trellis.
The Reception
Caden, the bride’s three-year-old nephew, was the ring bearer and carried a pillow woven from lauhala leaves that was decorated with red satin ribbon and pink orchids.
The wedding aisle was decorated with floral pomanders accented with yellow, red, and orange Mokara orchids. The arrangements were tied to the bright white chiavari chairs with sheer orange ribbon.