weekend muse

rockabella jewels + tamara catz

kristel from rockabella recently buzzed me about tomorrow night's muse event hosted by modern pacific weddings, smart magazine, and downtown @ hsam. the fashion show shines the spotlight on designer gowns by maui's tamara catz (plus nicole miller, jules bly, and kirstie kelly of the disney fairy tale weddings collection) versatile enough for both brides and fashionistas making the rounds of black tie bashes this holiday season.

rockabella jewels will also be in the house with new designs and there will be eco-friendly ideas on how to make your own soirées a bit more green.

• when: sat, nov 3rd - 7p to 10p
• where: thirtyninehotel
• rsvp: gowns [at] modwed [dot] com or 808.537.6762

and, if you are planning a destination wedding to the islands, be sure to click over to modern pacific weddings which is honolulu's newest one stop bridal shop. mpw will also host a trunk show featuring a few muse designers at their charming on-site lounge next week.

• when: tu/th/sa - nov 6/8/10 - 10:30a to 5:30p

{update | jan 2010: modern pacific weddings closed up shop last year}

modern wedding papers

hibiscus

brides on a budget coveting stylish invites typically have two options:

1. diy (and hope for the best)
2. beg a friend with graphic design chops to take pity on you and work their magic pro bono

a brilliant alternative is a site i stumbled upon the other day which boasts exclusive designs by some of the most sought after invitation designers, including hawaii's own kinohi designs (shown above), but with budget friendly prices.

all the paper elements necessary to throwing a memorable bash are available and most, if not all, designs come in a limited palette to help you coordinate invite colors to your event. designs tend to lean modern (with a nice selection to celebrate an island wedding) and there are a number of handy tools to streamline the ordering process.

canna

modern initials

since you can personalize text however you please, cards can easily double as party invites for those times when an evite just won't do. thank you cards can also pull double duty making either a lovely gift for the newlyweds or a sophisticated addition to your social stationary (the last issue of domino declared custom stationary is simply a must for grownups. i wonder if personalized post-it notes count?).

take a peek at wedding paper divas for more.

tamara catz bridal collection

maui designer tamara catz recently unveiled a bridal collection composed with the island bride in mind. poetic details include flattering empire waistlines, flutter sleeves, breathable textiles (silk chiffon & linen, natch), plus embellishments like embroidery with a tropical motif. all the elements combine to conjure up a gown ready to make its debut in a dreamy beachside romance.

and, the sweet taro mini featured earlier this year has been translated into a floor length style perfect for local brides seeking fresh ways to mix a little island culture into their big day.

no worries about experiencing the sticker shock so common when shopping for a gown since the more informal styles start at $220 with the collection topping out at $1200.

the bridal line is available both online and at the tamara catz boutique in paia.

happy hearts mochi

chocolate haupia

it seems there is a new mochi lady in town. the original mochi lady whipped up gourmet versions of the japanese confection in her little cottage that had folks lining outside her door in the wee hours of the morning. luckily for customers, her secrets have now been passed on from the master mochi maker to her apprentice, the new proprietress of happy hearts mochi.

as evidenced by the photos, each piece is made by hand to create sweet delights like chocolate haupia, peanut butter, hazelnut coffee haupia, and strawberry when in season. it is mochi which has been elevated to a little luxury treat and reminds me of the artistry found in the glass cases of a patisserie or chocolatier.

bento sampler haupia

happy hearts mochi is available by advance order (minimum 2 days notice) and in numerous configurations to satisfy your guests be it for a family potluck, office party, or wedding. and, since it has been proven to be especially popular during new year's and other holidays, make sure to mark october 1st on your calendar to guarantee your holiday order is in the books.

take a peek at the rest of the ground rules and the ever important price list before placing an order for your next celebration.

an affair to remember

haiku mill

one glimpse at the pua le'a estate and i fell in love all over again. the setting is dreamy . . . an abandoned sugar mill in haiku restored with both earthly delights and vintage finds scavenged from paris flea markets by an owner inspired by the love of his life. it's like hawaii's very own taj mahal hidden in the hills of maui.

within the sugar mill's walls, a pergola constructed of glass creates a swoony setting for dancing under the stars. also on the grounds, a shabby chic plantation style cottage filled with sparkly chandeliers, whitewashed furniture, and more vintage treasures. the cottage doubles as a changing room for wedding parties as well as a post-bash escape for newlyweds.

for more details on booking a private event, click over to white orchid weddings where you can also take a peek at the slideshow.