Wow, I can't believe that no one has written a review for Parasol Events! Perhaps yelp is not as…read morepopular in Hawaii? In any event, I am honored to be the first reviewer for this wonderful event planning company. I can really only give testament, however, to my wonderful wedding consultant, Alia Kennedy. To give some background, my husband (who is originally from Hawaii) and I live in San Francisco, but wanted to get married on Oahu because most of his family lives there, and my family lives in Korea. Hawaii was the logical location. In addition, though it might seem strange, it was actually cheaper for us to have a wedding in Hawaii than in San Francisco. Because we were planning our wedding from across the Pacific, we wanted to make sure to have a reliable and detail-oriented wedding consultant who had connections to various vendors on the island. We were also interested in someone who could share and expand upon our vision of the type of wedding we wanted. With Alia, we got just that. Alia had wonderful recommendations of what to splurge on, what not to spend too much money on, what guests find most memorable, etc. She was and is a wedding consultant extraordinaire. She also dealt with my husband and me very well. We are a neurotic and perfectionist couple (yes, my husband was very into the wedding planning as well), and she was always gracious whenever our nerves got the best of us. My wedding day couldn't have been more perfect. As the bride, I didn't have a single worry as to the coordination and flow of the wedding. I trusted in Alia to make the day progress seamlessly. Alia delivered. I could not recommend Parasol Events, or more importantly, Alia Kennedy, more highly.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Laura! Me and my now hubby were extremely not knowing…read morewhen it came to all things wedding. Add to that we tend to be a pretty laid back pair and while the idea of a wedding planner had clear appeal since we knew diddly squat about how to create the event we wanted, we were also concerned about having some type A tyrant calling the shots & running the show. Laura took the time to get to know us, both in terms of our personality and in what we wanted for our wedding. She gave us lots of advanced warning about decisions that were coming down the pike, keeping us on track and gently nudging us when a decision needed to be made, but we were dragging our feet. For all the details she gave us wonderful options and we ended up with the best vendors ever! Not only that, she made us aware of details we would otherwise not have thought of, reassuring us that we did not have to do these things, but also wanting to make sure that we had the celebration we wanted with no regrets. Laura was awesome at communication, available and responsive, exceptionally organized, and warm and friendly the whole way through. When the big day came, neither one of us were worried about any detail of our special day. Our wedding was exactly the celebration we wanted it to be and so much of that is thanks to Laura.

Why 5 stars? Because we had the perfect wedding…read more --- --- --- Diana did a phenomenal job with everything - I cannot recommend enough for you to use her, if you're planning on getting married in Oahu. My now-wife handled the majority of the communication with Diana, but she was very on top of all the communication. Everything was executed flawlessly, and with thorough explanation. We ended up choosing Kualoa Ranch, which was one of the places Diana recommended. This is another story for another review, but I highly recommend that venue! Despite all of the moving parts, and the destination wedding of 24 people who traveled into town for it, there was no stone left un-turned. Every detail was taken care of, and because of this, Diana allowed us to enjoy our once-in-a-lifetime experience without a stress or care in the world.

I used Martina Cacciaroni and Oahu Wedding Company for my wedding in May of 2009, to cut straight…read moreto the point...DO NOT USE HER! My story is long but I'm going to cover the relevant topics. I meet her and some other colleagues a year and a half before my wedding date. She's very personable and her website is great but this reflects nothing to her knowledge of wedding planning abilities. She's a great person and is very sweet but bottom line is she has not clue about what it takes to plan a wedding. I'd give her organizational skills a D-. I was so furious after my wedding that when I came home I did some research on her to find out that she was in college while she was helping me plan my wedding. Which means she's a part time coordinator and explains why she wasn't fully tracking with me. I found her myspace, facebook and some references on her college website that helped me to determine that she was a full time student during my year and a half of planning and that she graduated the same month that I had my wedding. There were so many details that we had discussed that she did not do at my wedding. I'm not sure if she thought I wouldn't of noticed or if she just solely forgot. Every vendor she recommended me to was horrible to work with. The day of the wedding she showed up with basically a bunch of friends (all about 25 yrs old or so) and they were her setup and break down crew. They didn't do a mic check before the wedding and the pastor couldn't even say my name right (which she was suppose to go over with him). It seemed like a bunch of college kids who go to college in Hawaii and decided that they're going to do a wedding planning company for people who do destination weddings. After all, how hard can it be right? I imagine that your able to get away with it so long as the party doesn't exceed 30 people but after that the flaws truly start to come out. Supposedly when I met her a year and a half before my wedding day there was another older lady who was suppose to be mentoring her but for unknown reasons the lady left. Martina is the only wedding planner I believe and there's another guy his name is Nathan Bingham or something similar, but he's just the boyfriend now turned fiance. I did some research on him and it looks like he runs some type of moped rental company on the island as well so they might just be in the business to make money but I assure you that she/they have no idea what they are doing. Even more fishy...when I paid my balance I got an emailed receipt that said it was from Oahu Wedding but the email address wasnathan@hawaiianstylerentals.com I checked that website Hawaiian Style Rentals - Honolulu's Moped, Motorcycle and Bicycle Rentals Specialists on Oahu, Hawaii. and sure enough it looks like the payment system is tied to his business. It doesn't pay to try and scam people especially with the world wide web. I read she got into a college in some state on the east coast so I'm sure she'll just move her business over there or still continue to give the illusion that she can operate out of Hawaii since she still has friend there. Whatever it is...I believe it will all come back to you eventually. I wasn't going to post my review of her initially after my wedding because I thought it would be spitefully of me to do that but if I can save just one person from telling my story than that's one person that can go on and have the wedding of her dreams since it's too late for me. Your wedding day is only one day in a lifetime...don't gamble with someone your unsure about. I say to find someone who you can get good raves on from people who are neutral and have nothing to gain or lose from telling you their personal experience.

I cannot say enough about Karine and her team at SOlE! They are amazing! I engaged SOlE a year…read morebefore my destination wedding. From day one I was impressed by Karine and her operation. I made one trip to Honolulu and Karine and her team arranged so many meetings with wonderful vendors and they attended most. It was a fantastic start! The team is so good at communicating and is hyper-organized which I so appreciate! They had fantastic checklists to keep me in check and a timeline for the event that was amazing! Throughout the year they were wonderful about emails and skyping and they were always super responsive. They led us in the right direction for vendor selection and were just pros int he event planning. The wedding was absolutely the wedding of my dreams and I know it would not have happened with out SOLE. I had many people tell me that they were glad they had already had their wedding, because mine was so great. A HUGE THANK YOU to Karine, Desiree, Faith and her team. The day could not have gone more smoothly!!! I appreciated their attention to EVERY detail - it was just amazing. Picking SOLE as my wedding planning team was the best decision I made for my wedding (beside a destination to Hawaii!). They were just professional and GREAT!!!!!

My husband Neil and I were married this past August 1st, 2012. We decided to have our wedding in…read moreKapolei Oahu. We couldn't have chosen a better wedding planner than Karine and her staff of Seasons of Life Events for our destination wedding. I found them while searching for a wedding planner via TheKnot.com. We were engaged for 3 months and new we had to go to Hawaii to research a venue and wedding planner. We met with Karine and I instantly knew she and her staff would provide the best service for us. Karine's genuine, caring, orangized and effient peronality made us already feel so welcomed. Her and her staff are very professional, always available if you need her and just a sweetheart to work with. They made our wedding above and beyond what we had expected it to be! They all made sure our wedding was our "DREAM WEDDING" and took care of EVERYTHING. They were able to assist me with additional details, vendors, and so many different and new ideas that were beautiful! On the day of the wedding, I couldn't have been more relaxed and stress free either. They were so organized on the timeline and made sure everything was in order. Tears of joy and love was all around us on the wedding day. We couldn't have done it without Seasons of Life. They definitely made our wedding remarkable and memorable for the rest of our life. Karine, Faith, Desiree and Melanie are truly the best ever! A BIG Mahalo to Karine and the staff of Seasons of Life for all their hard work and dedication in making our wedding a dream come true!

Nani is AMAZING. She was the officiant at our wedding at Haiku Gardens. Her words are so…read morebeautiful! She officiated my cousin's wedding last year and was so excellent I knew I had to ask her to officiate at my wedding. You will not be disappointed with her service. I also booked them for my photography. She and her husband were so excellent on directing my guests and I how to pose. I will be sure to post when the photos arrive!

I can't say enough great things about Nani! We renewed our vows for our 10th anniversary and booked…read morethe Paradise package. Getting everything figured out was easy, and stress free. We had our renewal at Magic Island at sunset. It was perfect. The ceremony was beautiful and intimate, the photos were fantastic, and I would highly recommend! We did did the Haku (head lei) for me, and it was STUNNING!

Were my review based solely on the ladies' attitudes and personalities, I'd give them more than 1…read morestar... HOWEVER, my wedding experience with them summed up in one word was: disappointing. My family is huge and all hands were on deck that day. My one request from Vida Chic and Chavah Grant that I re-iterated a dozen times was that it was MOST important that my family do as MINIMUM set up and MINIMUM break down as possible. This shouldn't have been difficult since absolutely everything was organized in detail to the 't' and they still would have had many helping hands regardless. When I say "organized", I mean ORGANIZED OCD LEVEL. Everything was delivered and ready in clear containers that were clearly labeled with everything in them, ready for set up. We had a detailed timeline that everyone had copies of. It was foolproof which should have allowed my family - namely, my OWN MOM and aunties- to just sit back and enjoy the wedding. This couldn't happen because nothing would have gotten done. I paid Vida Chic for day-of assistance which we still had meetings to prepare for and it seemed as though they understood my expectations. Come the day of, Chavah Grant who was SUPPOSED to be present as she had been my only point of contact, was NOT present for the wedding at all. She left everything to two (nice but unprepared) ladies who had no real idea of what we had discussed apparently. I can't even get upset with them since I never had an opportunity to meet with THEM to tell them what I wanted them to be responsible for. Specifically, all I asked for was: - the tables set up with the runner and centerpiece -the runners and centerpieces put back in boxes afterward -the aisle runner and the signs be layed down and then put away - the candy items for the candy table be set up and taken down - help my family accomplish this ...Seeing my family hustle they even TOLD ME "yeah wow! Your family's got everything covered!" No kidding, Sherlock!! They didn't have a choice!!! All in all, I would never use them again nor would I recommend them to anyone. When we called Chavah after the wedding to let her know that we weren't thrilled with the service, she was "surprised" since she heard "it all went so smoothly" and she made excuses for their not delivering what was honored in the contract. No attempt to even apologize was made. Of course it went smoothly!! My mom and aunties made sure of that but had they left it to Vida Chic, it would have been a mess!! Look elsewhere for your wedding needs. I can't speak for other events.

I have experienced Chavah's work first hand and let me tell you... SHE. IS. AMAAAAAZING! I call her…read more''The Modern Day Renaissance Woman.'' She is a wedding coordinator, a stylist, AND a florist! Talk about hitting a trifecta! Her work speaks for itself. She is soooo talented, not to mention... she is the easiest, most sweetest person to work with! She is always super busy so you're lucky if you can book her! Whether you are going for a classy/elegant, rustic, or boho chic wedding, she will make your event look absolutely stunning!!

My husband and I got married a month ago and it was extremely stressful planning things on a short…read moretimeline. I wasn't going to hire a planner at the risk of spending so much on something I thought I could manage on my own (with some help of the fiancé, of course). I met Teri and Pura at the Wedding Expo at the Convention Center. To be honest, it was because I loved their décor display. After some much needed advice and budget reworking, I decided to splurge some of the wedding cost on a day-of planner and was excited for a consultation with Teri. She was extremely friendly and not the least bit intimidating for someone who has so much on their plate. Teri got back to me immediately with scheduling my consultation, and would reply to my emails within 24-72 hours (which is impressive if you can understand how I was a last minute addition to her extremely busy wedding season schedule!) She was amazing as far as managing my expectations within my budget. Even though I brought a mess of ideas and pre-purchased wedding details like my expensive venue, Teri was extremely cognizant of my budget at all times. She gave me great advice when it came to necessities and "risk versus reward" type details. It sounds silly when deciding what size flowers to use or using a Bluetooth speaker and playlist, but it's a huge deal when someone can save you $500+ just by substituting with simple, yet money saving options! Along with Teri, I have to give a huge commendation to her daughter, Dannah! She was pregnant, busy with her husband shipping out, and a full schedule of June weddings...she managed to do a site visit, organize the small pockets of chaos during my wedding, AND she even did the set up, SERVING OF FOOD, and take down! Honestly, Teri and Dannah were an awesome team and they were above and beyond my expectations. In lieu of describing every detail of my wedding, I can simply put it that Teri and Dannah are extremely efficient at managing their time from busy schedules, to their personal lives and their clients. They worked hard to meet their client's expectations and stayed strict to the "guidelines" they established from the beginning. I highly recommend Julian and Coco for their planning services, and both Teri and Dannah for their work ethic and genuine interest in helping people enjoy a happy and memorable experience.

*****DO NOT HIRE*****…read more Pura Stephens can talk you up on your consultation call...and that's where it ends. After our talk on the phone, I thought that she was perfect! She agreed to a payment plan of 5 individual payments and since my mother had offered to pay for a coordinator, we made our first payment. Then the silence started. Pura was supposed to have called me the following week to talk over the details, vision, etc. This call didn't take place for a month and only after I told her we wouldn't be making our 2nd payment until she returned our multiple calls. She did return my call and was pleasant and apologetic. Then she didn't call again till the 3rd payment was due. At this time I expressed my frustration and explicitly wrote what I wanted to go over in an email. At this point, we started bi-weekly phone calls...this lasted for 1 call. She didn't call me for our scheduled bi-weekly followup and didn't return emails or calls for a few weeks. When she finally did, she said it was because of a family emergency/ a family member had died. I said I was sorry for her lose, but she should have sent a mass email out to her brides. Again, we had bi-weekly calls. I emailed her questions that I had for vendors and she would forward it to them with the words "See below". The last straw was I had multiple questions in regards to party rentals, it was at least 6 questions. She emailed the vendor and in three short 5 word phrases made 3 changes and forwarded the email to me with the vendor's response. She completely ignored my questions to her and my request to ask the vendor their opinion. I emailed her per the contract - if I wanted to cancel the contract it had to be in writing and with more than 30 days notice. It states "refunds are limited to unearned fees, funds in excess of unused or non-refundable fees and out-of-pocket expenses". My mother - whom the refund needed to go to - contact Pura to setup how some of what we paid would be refunded. Pura proceeded to tell her that she would not refund until she talked to me and blamed the vendors for her lack of communication and progress. Since that call she has not answered my multiple phone calls, voicemails and emails. Only after I hired her did I find out this is her M.O. Apparently 5 phone calls and a few emails = $2000 with Julian and Coco Events. Do Not Hire this company! Stay away!

Had my wedding with Jodi green. Jodi was very nice and accommodating, but she wore a black robe…read morewith a huge sun hat. She looked scary to me. Her house is right by the beach. Great location. We didn't even get a beach permit. We got married in her back yard and took so many pictures. Her back yard has beach access. Just the most amazing beautiful place. I didn't like it at all that she wore all black. So if you are getting married make sure you know what Jodi is wearing. She kept telling us that she was sick. But a wedding is a wedding. You should look bright and at least she should have worn something more colorful being that it was in Hawaii. Like I said make sure you ask what she is wearing because on my pictures she looks like the slender man. Pretty scary. That why I don't want to post any pictures that we took with her. It looks somber.

I'm getting married in Honolulu, Hawaii in November. Even though I haven't had my destination…read morewedding yet I wanted to give the Officiant Jody 5 stars for her help so far. If you're having a destination wedding you know how it can be difficult contacting vendors...Jody responded to me the day after I emailed her. All her responses have been prompt. We were looking for an Officiant that is non-denominational, easy going and with respect and understanding of local Hawaii. Jody is the perfect balance of all that! When I met with Jody she first showed me around her property, right on the beach! If I hadn't had another venue I'd have had the ceremony at her house. It is a beautiful house with the yard right on the sand. I can't believe her price, it's very affordable! After the tour we sat down and went over the ceremony. Jody was very receptive to our putting our own twist to it. All in all I spent an hour chatting with her and after that time I know we chose the right Officiant.

We booked CIHW for day-of coordination, and it was quite literally the best decision we could have…read moremade. While Jayvee was very helpful during the initial planning stages, a scheduling conflict arose two weeks before our wedding, and we were handed off to Leah. Despite the short notice, Leah took over and was incredibly thorough. We scheduled multiple meetings in those final weeks to ensure she knew our vision inside and out. She immediately began checking in with our vendors to ensure everything was on track. Since we were planning from Canada (not sure why our profile says SF) and had never seen our venue, we did a walkthrough with Leah and Monique once we arrived. By the time we hit the rehearsal the day before, they knew our plans well and were identifying small details we hadn't even thought of. The real "kicker" happened the morning of the wedding: the island and our venue flash flooded, and we were forced to call off the day after hair and makeup were just wrapping up at 8AM. In what would have been a breaking point for most couples, Leah, Monique, and Jayvee were our rocks. They helped calm us down and worked tirelessly with our vendors to reschedule everything. We let them know our venue preferences (no ballrooms or conference rooms, we're in Hawaii!) and they assured us that we would be able to plan something for the next day. In less than 24 hours, they helped us plan an entirely new wedding despite unknowns about the weather. Within hours, they secured a brand-new venue, negotiated the rental of a tent left over from a previous event, coordinated with all vendors to rearrange arrival times and logistics, adjusted floor plans, and rental counts due to a shift in guest attendance, and so much more that we probably don't even know. While the total change in venue and timeline led to some unavoidable delays, we saw Leah and Monique working incredibly hard to pivot and make the day beautiful. They "married" our original vision with these new, emergency arrangements as perfectly as possible. It was also the nicest day we had experienced on the island since landing several days before, a huge blessing. Once we finally made it down the aisle, they kept us on schedule and completely stress-free. Because of them, we were able to actually soak in and enjoy our wedding day, even though everything felt brand new. Having Leah and Monique by our side was a true blessing, we cannot recommend them enough for their expertise, heart, and ability to perform under pressure. Leah, Monique, and Jayvee - we love you!

From the moment I reached out to them a year before my April wedding, I knew I was in good hands…read more We chose the partial planning package, and the level of care, communication, and attention to detail we received felt above and beyond. Jayvee, Chiara, Elena, and Mina were absolutely incredible. They responded to emails promptly, walked us through every detail during planning meetings, and truly listened to what I wanted -elegant and simple. On the big day, they brought that vision to life flawlessly. I didn't have to worry about a thing. They handled everything with calm professionalism and kindness. One moment I'll never forget was when I realized I had forgotten my veil, and the venue was ready to start the ceremony without it. Even after I expressed that I really wanted to wait, they pushed to begin on time. I was feeling pretty heartbroken at the thought of walking down the aisle without something that felt so special to me. Jayvee stepped in and advocated for me without hesitation -she firmly and graciously pushed back multiple times, insisting that we wait. Thanks to her, we delayed the ceremony about 20 minutes until the veil arrived, and I got to walk down the aisle with my veil! I'm forever grateful for that moment. We also had a transportation issue less than a month before the wedding when the shuttle company we had originally booked suddenly bailed on us. It was a stressful moment, but Cherished stepped in immediately, found a reliable replacement, and handled all the coordination. The entire day flowed beautifully, from ceremony to reception, and I received so many compliments from our guests about how stunning and seamless everything felt. Thanks to The Cherished in Hawaii Weddings Team, I was able to be fully present and soak in every moment of the most beautiful day I could have imagined. I truly couldn't recommend them more. Mahalo Cherished!