Evonne Wong of Events by Evonne shares her insight for planning a destination wedding in Hawaii.

Text by Jana Morgan
Image by Evonne and Darren Photography

1.  Do NOT Skimp on Photography

Evonne says, “Yes, food is important and so is the location, but the photos are all the memories you are going to have after your big day.  If there are specific shots you want (for example, a photo of you and granny), make sure you let your photographer know.”

2.  Hire a Planner

It can be really stressful when you can’t be here to oversee all of the details coming together for your wedding day. For peace of mind, Evonne says, “It will make your life a lot easier if you have a professional planner who can help you handle all the little details throughout the planning and all the way up to the big day.” This will ensure that all of your wedding vendors show up accordingly and in a timely fashion so that you can enjoy your wedding day.

3.  Do a Scouting Trip

Evonne encourages couples to plan ahead, saying, “Why not plan a pre-wedding trip to your destination 12 months prior to the big day?  That way you’ll be able to check out all the venues, meet with vendors and have a few food and cake tastings!” Some couples even do this on the fly only a few months prior to the big day. “Just be sure that you LOVE the venue and people who will be working with you! While you are visiting, get to know the island and your photographer by scheduling a fun engagement session, so you can feel really comfortable with your photographers on the wedding day. This will keep you relaxed and allow you to have more fun.”

4.  Go with Local Vendors

“Of course, there are no set rules that you cannot bring your own hair/makeup stylist or photographer from the mainland, but here in Hawaii (and I am sure other islands and exotic destinations as well), we truly believe in helping our community and local businesses. Besides, local vendors know your destination far better than anyone else flying in. You can totally trust their knowledge and expertise in creating the most special day for you!” So true. We love our fellow photographers from the mainland, but sometimes our lighting conditions can be very different from their mainland homes. If you are using a photographer who is not from Hawaii, ask them if they have experience shooting here, whether they are familiar with the locations and if they understand the lighting conditions.

5.  Hand-Carry Your Wedding Gown

Hand-carry your wedding gown on the plane with you. Evonne advises brides to “avoid packing or shipping your precious wedding gown to your destination. No one is going to notice if your wedding favors or programs didn’t make the shipment, but if your dress goes missing, you will not be able to find another custom fitted Vera Wang on the island!” Once you arrive, you can drop your dress off at a local bridal boutique to have it pressed before the wedding day.

EVENTS BY EVONNE

Events by Evonne is a full service wedding and event planning boutique, offering both coordination and design.  Owner Evonne Wong has planned over 300 weddings and events, both on the beautiful Valley Isle of Maui and in the San Francisco Bay area. Having orchestrated her own destination wedding with 100 guests on the island of Oahu while living in San Francisco, Evonne has the unique insight and understanding to ease any anxiety that wedding couples may have in planning a destination wedding.

Evonne and her husband recently launched Evonne and Darren Photography, where the duo is blessed to share their passion of photography with each other. Working with many wedding couples, they have an understanding of what is important to their clients and use their candid and photojournalistic approach to capture all the special moments.

Stay up to date with Evonne and Darren on their blog http://www.evonnedarren.com/blog.