Martha Stewart Weddings

An Island-Inspired, Backyard Wedding Anniversary Dinner

By Morgan Chamberlain
May 19, 2016
Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

This couple celebrated a decade of marriage with Hawaiian touches that honored their Oahu destination wedding.

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Jasmine and JD

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Most couples would find it crazy to plan a major event in less than a year, but in 2005 Jasmine and JD Star planned their entire Hawaiian wedding in just four months for one major reason—the bride's mother was in the middle of battling brain cancer. So, the couple traveled from California to Hawaii with their 25 closest family and friends for a meaningful, tropical fête.

Ten years later, in September 2015, the pair recommitted their vows and lives to each other under a pink, sunset sky. During the backyard anniversary dinner at their home in Newport Beach, California, the couple and two dozen guests celebrated love, life, and health—especially that of Jasmine's mom, who survived her fight against cancer and witnessed the pair's flourishing marriage.

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The Invitation

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

With soft watercolors and a palm leaf theme, these Daydream Prints invitations hinted at the Oahu-inspired décor of the "Two Lovebirds in a Palm Tree's" backyard tenth wedding anniversary party.

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The Pup

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

JD gave Jasmine their Maltese, Polo, during their first year of marriage and he's had an essential role in their family ever since. "We're those crazy dog lovers, so he had to be a part of our special day!" says Jasmine. Later on during the couple's party, Polo fell asleep on the couches while guests danced in the moonlight.

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The Cocktail Hour

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Cocktail hour took place on the backyard deck, where Found Vintage Rentals provided various lounge furniture, ottomans, and large pillows for guests to sit on.

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The Cocktail Hour Décor

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

A woven basket of monstera leaves, coconuts, a Chinese wedding blanket pillow, and a lei that Jasmine's dad wore throughout the night sat on the deck during cocktail hour.

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The Glassware

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography
Protea Wedding Bouquets and Arrangements

During cocktail hour, a white cabinet housed various goblets from Borrowed Blu and arrangements bursting with king and queen protea, ferns, orchids, gloriosa lilies, and waratah.

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The Vow Renewals

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Being photographers, the couple didn't want their portraits to take from their experience of the day, so they put their cameras down after taking pictures of the dinner's details and asked their assistant Tami to take some candid photographs of their vow renewals during sunset. After restating their vows, they took turns hugging each one of their guests—the loved ones who have been there for them through the past ten years.

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The Dinner Setup

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

A pergola covered by a linen canopy, monstera leaves, and hanging candles, framed the seating area for dinner, where the entire guest list sat on copper metal chairs upholstered with floral fabric.

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Shell Décor

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Strands of cowrie shells held the linen back at each corner post.

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The Table

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Hmong textile napkins and tropical flowers gave pops of color against the wooden, copper, and candlelit elements of the table.

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The Hanging Décor

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Inviting Occasions hung white tea light candles in round, clear vases above the table in macramé made of cowrie shell to give an elegant, bohemian feel to the meal.

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The Centerpieces

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Faceted candleholders, small banana bunches, coconuts, and arrangements of gloriosa lilies, orchids, ferns, and roses found their places amongst the table.

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The Place Settings

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Monstera leaves calligraphed with guests' names were tucked under wooden chargers flanked by copper flatware from Borrowed Blu. Colorful, woven textiles graced each white plate, and blue and clear goblets were provided for toasting.

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The Drinks

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

The night was filled with many toasts over glasses of bubby. Caymus wine, coconut lemonade, and apple guava spritzers were also served throughout cocktail hour and dinner.

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A Moonlit Dinner

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Throughout their sunset meal—which included kale kumquat salad with radicchio, shaved brussel sprouts with figs and shaved parmesan, coconut curry rice, potato and dill salad, Hawaiian braised pork ribs, and barbeque chicken—and into the night, guests enjoyed a playlist of Hawaiian music, reggae, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Adele, and lastly, salsa music to ensure that all of the couple's Latin family would be out on the dance floor. When JD asked his grandmother to dance, she slowly rose from her chair and took a spin with him under the stars.

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The Dessert Table

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

A large wooden table covered by hmong fabrics held island-inspired desserts flocked by tropical fruits, flowers, and décor.

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The Macarons

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography
How French Macarons Became a Wedding Dessert Must-Have

Sweet and Saucy Shop macarons (Jasmine's favorite sweet on the table) were painted with coral flowers, a banana leaf, and "Mau Loa"—the Hawaiian phrase meaning "forever" that set the mood for the night.

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The Panna Cotta

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Passionfruit panna cotta with fresh raspberries and coconut passionfruit tarts from Sweet and Saucy Shop were also served to guests.

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The Cake

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

The small vanilla cake was filled with passionfruit cream and coconut cream cheese frosting and covered with a vanilla buttercream. Designed by Sweet and Saucy Shop to look like a tropical, watercolored dream, it anchored the table of island-inspired treats. JD loved the cake so much, he ate a slice for breakfast the following morning.

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Sources

Credit: Jasmine Star Photography

Photography, Jasmine Star Photography
Design, décor, and floral, Inviting Occasions
Stationery, Daydream Prints
Cake and desserts, Sweet and Saucy Shop
Rentals, Found Vintage Rentals (furniture); Borrowed Blu (dishes, flatware, glasses, utensils)
Hair and makeup, Beauty by Melina
Jasmine's dress, Jill Stuart
Jasmine's accessories, Madewell (jewelry); Jimmy Choo (shoes)
JD's outfit, J.Crew

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