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Martha Stewart Weddings

A Tropical Wedding in Hawaii with Punches of Pink

December 15, 2015
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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

A California couple spent a decade waiting for the right moment to get married. When they found the ideal locale in Hawaii, they knew it was time to ride off into the sunset together.

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Lian and Erween

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

When it comes to romance, Lian Somali and Erween Tangunan aren't exactly impetuous. The two met in 2005 through their jobs at Loma Linda University, in Southern California, where Erween still works as a clinical lab scientist in the school's medical center. They had more than just their workplace in common—both are of Filipino descent and are practicing Seventh-day Adventists—and being around each other felt natural from the start, says Lian. But neither was looking for love, and it took two years for friendship to turn into something more. In 2011, after four years of dating, Erween invited Lian to watch the sunset on a Santa Monica beach and handed her a box of cupcakes iced with letters that spelled out "Will you marry me?" She said yes immediately, and that was the only speedy thing about their engagement, which lasted ... almost another four more years.

"Our friends were like, 'Are you getting married?'" says Lian, laughing. Though being engaged was enough for a while, the couple began to realize that it was time to "move on to the next place in our lives," says Lian, and they started discussing where to make it official. "We wanted a destination, maybe Bali or Italy, but those were so far away," she says. They finally settled on Maui, which they had once visited together. Lian recalled reading about Haiku Mill, a more than 150-year-old ruin, now a wedding venue, and they decided, "Let's do this!" she says. Just four months later, 60 loved ones watched as the couple stood under trailing orchid blooms at the historic sugar mill and were married in a Seventh-day Adventist ceremony.

The pair had ultimately planned their March 23, 2015, nuptials quickly; still, every detail was packed with meaning. That included the music during the ceremony, when, as Lian walked down the aisle, "Erween surprised me by singing Adele's 'Make You Feel My Love,' and tears came to my eyes," she recalls. It was also true of the décor: Lian incorporated elements from Indonesia, where her father was raised and she spent childhood summers. On a trip to Bali, her dad commissioned chandeliers, chargers, and flower vessels, made from local capiz shells, all of which got held up in customs. "It was such a relief when the crates finally arrived in time for the wedding," says Erween—and a reminder that truly special moments are well worth the wait.

Watch Lian and Erween's Wedding Video

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The Invitations

Lian and Erween wanted a tropical motif for their event, "but not a typical Hawaiian-wedding look," says Lian. Instead of the usual bright prints, they chose a palette of muted jade and pink with gold highlights, and focused on two motifs: green palm leaves and the ever-present pineapples. Julie Song, a Bay Area illustrator and calligrapher, designed a letterpressed and digitally printed suite with jade-green palm leaves and ferns, pink blossoms, and green and gold fonts.
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Lian and Erween wanted a tropical motif for their event, "but not a typical Hawaiian-wedding look," says Lian. Instead of the usual bright prints, they chose a palette of muted jade and pink with gold highlights, and focused on two motifs: green palm leaves and the ever-present pineapples.

Julie Song, a Bay Area illustrator and calligrapher, designed a letterpressed and digitally printed suite with jade-green palm leaves and ferns, pink blossoms, and green and gold fonts.

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Pineapples To Go

Welcome gifts were traditional pu'olo, which means bundle in Hawaiian. Little baskets wrapped in green Ti leaves and adorned with a flower contained local treats.
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Welcome gifts were traditional pu'olo, which means bundle in Hawaiian. Little baskets wrapped in green Ti leaves and adorned with a flower contained local treats.

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The Wedding Party

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Bridesmaids wore Jenny Yoo gowns in shades of teal and seafoam and carried bouquets of hellebores, tulips, and king proteas. Groomsmen chose suits from The Black Tux.

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Soft Pink Boutonnieres

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

A tropical leaf, calligraphed with the groom and his guys' names, was used to present the spray rose, fotinia, and oregonia boutonnieres.

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A Leaf-Patterned Pillow

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Playing up the local flora, the ring pillow and table runners had a palm-frond motif.

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Toss Pouches

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

A leaf also topped bags of rose petals for guests to toss.

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Orchids All Around

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Orchid leis were strung from Haiku Mill's overhead vines and draped over chairbacks, adding a special touch to the venue, which dates back to 1861.

"I was concentrating hard because I haven't sung solo in 15 years. Then I watched her walk down the aisle, and I was just filled with emotion," Erween says of singing the processional song to Lian.

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The Style

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Post-vows, Lian, wearing a Monique Lhuillier dress and carrying a cascade of hellebores, sweet peas, tulips, and jasmine vines, shared a smile with her groom, clad in a suit from The Black Tux.

"I was pretty sure I wanted a Monique Lhuillier gown—although I gave other designers a look, too—and the third one of hers I tried on felt perfect," says Lian. "People kept commenting on how well the dress, with its lace-leaf pattern, matched Haiku Mill." Lian also couldn't decide whether to wear a veil, and her sister offered hers, just in case. On the day of, she opted to don it for the ceremony.

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Pineapple Escort Cards

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

"We love pineapples!" says Lian; the pair celebrated the fruit on escort cards and vases.

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A Tropical Drink

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Two mocktails were served at the reception: "Summer Schooled," a watermelon-and-lime cooler, and "Caught in the Rain," a twist on a fresh-squeezed piña colada.

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A Tropically-Set Table

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Menus handwritten in gold ink on oversize die-cut palm fronds served as menus and played off the patterned runners. Each table was set with centerpieces of white roses and local foliage and blooms, including king proteas, photinias, and kupukupu ferns.

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Dinner Under the Stars

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Haiku Mill's open-air reception space was lit with 12 capiz-shell chandeliers imported from Indonesia. In addition to the light fixtures, 80 capiz chargers were also brought over from Asia—though there was a minor snafu with customs and they almost didn't make it to Hawaii.

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The Wedding Cake

Pink roses and white anemones adorned the guava- and-pineapple-flavored cake layered with Bavarian cream filling.
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Pink roses and white anemones adorned the guava- and-pineapple-flavored cake layered with Bavarian cream filling.

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The First Dance

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin
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The newlyweds danced to "Thinking Out Loud," by Ed Sheeran.

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Flip-Flop Fun

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Pink paper leaves calligraphed with the sizes of the teal flip flops they were attached to kept in the style of the wedding and kept guests dancing comfortably.

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Fire Dancing

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

A fire knife dancer performed at the reception.

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Local Favors

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Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Favors included pineapple-shaped cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company.

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Sources

lian-erween-wedding-hawaii-0070-s112268.jpg
Credit: Corbin Gurkin

Location: Haiku Mill

Event Production and Design: Lisa Vorce CO

Catering: Maui Executive Catering

Flowers and Décor: Teresa Sena Designs

Photography: Corbin Gurkin

Videography: Axioo

Officiant: Pastor Lewis Gray of the West Covina Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church

Stationery and Calligraphy: Julie Song Ink

Cake: Cake Fanatics

Music: [ceremony] Cambria Moss; [cocktail hour] Marvin Tevaga; [reception] Maui Wedding DJ

Rentals: Island Rents; Set Maui; Signature Event Rentals

Bride's Gown: Monique Lhuillier

Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Hair and Makeup: MeiLi Autumn Beauty

Bridesmaids' Dresses: Jenny Yoo

Flower Girl Dresses: Giselle's Boutique

Groom's Ensemble: The Black Tux

Menswear: The Black Tux

Groom's Accessories: [tie] Express; [watch] Brietling

Transportation: V.I.P. Trans 

Bar Services: Garnish Craft Cocktail Catering

Cookies: Honolulu Cookie Company

Fire Dancer: Manutea Nu E

Travel Concierge: Life:Styled

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    1 of 19 Lian and Erween
    2 of 19 The Invitations
    3 of 19 Pineapples To Go
    4 of 19 The Wedding Party
    5 of 19 Soft Pink Boutonnieres
    6 of 19 A Leaf-Patterned Pillow
    7 of 19 Toss Pouches
    8 of 19 Orchids All Around
    9 of 19 The Style
    10 of 19 Pineapple Escort Cards
    11 of 19 A Tropical Drink
    12 of 19 A Tropically-Set Table
    13 of 19 Dinner Under the Stars
    14 of 19 The Wedding Cake
    15 of 19 The First Dance
    16 of 19 Flip-Flop Fun
    17 of 19 Fire Dancing
    18 of 19 Local Favors
    19 of 19 Sources

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