Honeymoon Destination - Hawaii

The Wedding Gurus take you on a journey to

HAWAII

Hawaii is a honeymooners paradise with fantastic weather, stunning beaches and a never ending array of activities.

Hawaii is made up of 6 main islands with the main tourist spot being Honolulu on O’ahu. Honolulu (Waikiki) is Hawaii’s leisure and pleasure capital with gorgeous beachside resorts lined with the sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean. Here you will find the main strip of Kalakaua Avenue where you can enjoy world class shopping, dining and entertainment. For those who do not enjoy the sand or the hustle and bustle of tourists, then Hawai’i (The Big Island) might be for you. The Big Island is home to the worlds most active volcano along with deserts, rainforests and surprisingly snow capped mountains. If you are looking for a holiday which includes the sun, sand, shopping and relaxation with a little exploring, hiking and mixing with the locals then why not take the time to spend 5 days on each island. Flights between them are only a mere 40 mins departing with Hawaiian Airlines several times each day.

The Facts:

Destination: Hawaii

Capital:  Honolulu

Location: USA

Distance from Australia: Aprrox. 9hours 45mins

Average Temperature:  27°

Recommended Length of Stay: 10 days (5days Honolulu and 5days Big Island)

Recommended Hotel:  Honolulu – Sheraton Waikiki in a King Ocean Front
                                          The Big Island -  Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

My Top 5 Must do’s in Honolulu:

1.       Diamond Head Crater Walk: Hike to the summit of Diamond head and enjoy 360 degree views of Waikiki and the blue of the Pacific Ocean

2.       Enjoy a shopping spree and bag a bargain at Ala Moana Centre. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as this behemoth precinct is some 1.8 million square feet. (picture: ariel view of the huge complex)

3.       Paradise Cove Luau: Experience a genuine Hawaiian Luau with a backdrop of a spectacular sunset. Amongst the excitement you will also enjoy tropical dishes, island games and local crafts.

4.       Pearl Harbour: Relive a monument in history at the Arizona Memorial shrine dedicated to the final resting place of the thousands of sailors killed during the Pearl Harbour attack in WWII.  

5.       Take a romantic stroll down Waikiki Beach Walk, grab yourself a rainbow coloured shaved ice and stop to admire the beautiful sunset.

My Top 3 Must do’s on The Big Island:

1.       Snorkel the secluded and beautiful beaches of the Kona Coast

2.       Hiking: Take the time to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the big island. Make your way through the volcanic trails or adventure through Hilo to find secluded waterfalls, many of the visitor centres will have trails you can follow.

3.       Helicopter Tour: Discover the big islands beauty with a birds eye view of its volcanic fury, lush rainforests and turquoise blue coast.

Note:  Those travelling from Australia and other countries will require an American Visa. This is an online application which can be completed on ESTA (approx. $14USD).

Happy Travelling!

Yasmin x

Ben and Daphne - Part 2

Welcome to The Wedding of Ben and Daphne Part 2!
Part 1 was definitely amazing, but we believe that the best is definitely yet to come.
From the gorgeous traditional church with its flower laden pews and extravagant arrangements the setting was nothing less than breathtaking. Daphne's mum and grandmother walked down the aisle before her and her bridesmaids and she was glowing as she entered the church on her fathers arm. Although marrying in a Catholic Church, the couple chose not to have any music in keeping with Daphne's Greek background where music in the church ceremony is not common.
So get yourself a coffee and don't forget to grab a note pad and pen to take down details of perfect ideas for your own wedding and take a journey with Ben and Daphne through the memories of their perfect day. We hope you enjoy it. xxx

 

The Church

Daphne's gorgeous mum and Yia Yia

and on the arm of her proud dad

Ben's mum who passed away some years ago was beautifully honoured with a place at the bridal altar

The Photography

The Sclapsti family

The Crowhurst family

This is one of our favourite shots - Truly beautiful

At Semaphore - Adelaide, SA

 The Reception

The reception was held at John DiFede Reception Centre, Adelaide, SA

Flowers were a huge part of the day and the arrangements were spectacular

The candy buffet was an absolute hit and the all white theme was set off perfectly with just a hint of colour throughout

Wow......is about the only word we could think of to describe this moment!

 And they lived happily ever after....

THE END

The Story of Ben & Daphne - Part 1

Welcome to the wedding of the gorgeous Ben and Daphne. This is however so much more than a beautiful wedding, it is their story in pictures and we thank them so much for allowing us to share it with you all. We will be bringing you their story in two parts becuase the photos and captured moments were all so beautiful we couldnt leave any out!

Daphne comes from a very close Greek family who supported her wholeheartedly from the very beginning and while Ben is from an Australian Catholic background they were able to have their ceremony in a Catholic church and incorporate some of the Greek traditions throughout.

With some of the most amazing and inspiring photos, we hope you enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed working with Ben and Daphne to bring them to you and we can’t speak highly enough of the fabulous team at Impressions Photography Studio, what an amazing job they have done, we’re sure you will agree.

This is truly one of the most amazing wedding photos we have ever seen

 

The couple put in a lot of time and effort in creating the perfect invitations for their special day

Pre Wedding  

The perfect Bride & her Bridesmaids:

 What a unique idea of creating personalised matching tshirsts and even one for mum. At the end of the night when feet were tired and dresses uncomfortable the girls changed back into their matching outfits. We think this is such a cute idea.  

Pre Wedding

The handsome groom & his groomsmen:

The Accessories:

The stunning flower arrangements were from 'Tulips by Vanessa' who just happenes to be Daphne's Godsister

These fabulous peeptoes with diamonte encrustud bows can only be Tony Bianco

The Bride

Absolutely Stunning! This photo of Daphne would be at home in Vogue.

Daphne's dress with its unique splash of colour was by Caleche

The Bridal Party:

The classic suits and pink ties were from Peter Shearer Rundle Mall

Their Families:

Daphne with her mum and dad Alan & Mary Sclapsti

Daphne with her 'Yiayia' (Meaning nana in Greek)

Ben with his dad Gerald and his brother Dan

Presentation of the Bride:

It is a Greek tradition for all of the women of the family to attend at the house while the bride is getting ready.

It is also a Greek tradition for the bride to smash a glass as she leaves her parents home to signify that once smashed it can never return to it’s former glory, symbolising the couples wish to never return to the time before they shared their lives together.

Daphne’s mum, already emotional, throws rice and sugared almonds over her as she leaves with her father, to signify good health and fertility in the marriage. The connection of the almond with renewal and fertility is clear and the sweetness of the sugar represents purity and the sweetness of marriage.

To be Cotinued......

Part 2 will follow in the coming weeks, each photo more inspiring and breathtaking than the last, so ensure you follow us to recieve updates!

For all brides planning your wedding, part 2 is definitely not to be missed!

The Wedding Gurus