Leis

November 20th, 2008 @ 2:55 pm by Mrs. Sushi

I’m a budget bride. While our guest list is small (15-20 peeps), trying to plan a Hawaii wedding from the East Coast can be quite costly. To save some cash, we’ve cut out the bridal party and have decided to forgo the traditional reception (more on that later). We also hope to save in the flower department. While flowers can definitely jazz up a place, we can’t justify spending thousands of dollars on them (if we had the $$, it might be a different story). Plus, the wedding is in Hawaii; there is sooo much natural beauty, why should we pay for more?

Here’s our ceremony site…

photographer: Frank Amodo

So how can I add some color without adding major cost?

A while ago, Mrs. Cherry Blossom posted this inspirational photo:

image

I totally lucked out and scored 8 inch red lanterns from Michaels for 72 cents apiece. Between buying the lanterns and ribbon, I spent less than $25 on our ceremony decorations (with the help of Michaels coupons, of course)!

With only Mr. Sushi and I as the wedding party, we are also saving on bouquets and bouts. Mr. Sushi and I are doing a lei ceremony. A lei ceremony is the exchange of leis between the bride and groom. We will also be providing leis for our immediate family members.

Knottie: Married2MrWright; lei exchange

They also did a lei exchange with all her guests.
Check out her bio for images of the great ring warming she also had!

I will be wearing a 3-strand pikake lei. If you’ve never smelled a pikake flower, it’s sooo yummy!

source

Mr. Sushi will be rockin’ a maile lei.

source

Since we’re doing leis, should I have a bouquet too? If I don’t have a bouquet, what do I do with my hands while walking down the aisle? I picture myself walking down the aisle “raisin’ the roof”. Hehe, kidding. If I do carry a bouquet, it will most definitely be DIY.

Up next, bouquet inspirations!

Tags: decor, flowers, oahu |

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20 Responses to “Leis”

Bee

Miss Champagne (message) 1,046 posts, Bumble bee

How did I miss the fact that your guest list is about the size of our wedding party??? I’m SOOO JEALOUS! Yay for small weddings:)

11/20/08 @ 2:56 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Taffy (message) 2,508 posts, Sugar bee

Wow. Yeah, your location is pretty sweet as is!!! Love your ideas to add color.

11/20/08 @ 3:08 pm (reply)

Guest

Jeana

LOL Miss Champ….Miss Sushi the wedding site is gorgeous. The lantern will pop a lot of color right in there also what if you tie a few ribbons on the trees to expand the color. Just a thought.

11/20/08 @ 3:13 pm (reply)

Member

WeddingKitty (message) 71 posts, Worker bee

Do you have a prayer book or something like that you could carry?

11/20/08 @ 3:17 pm (reply)

Member

WeddingKitty (message) 71 posts, Worker bee

you lei is understated tho, i think a bouquet or pomander would look nice too!

11/20/08 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

Guest

Leslie

If you are having your father walking down the aisle then I picture just putting your other arm on this arm, does that make sense? Kind of like your holding him close. If you have flowers, what would you do with them while holding Mr. S’s hands? (I guess you could hand them to family in the front row) Anways! I love the idea of a lei ceremony! Everything looks beautiful.

11/20/08 @ 3:21 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sushi (message) 933 posts, Busy bee

@Leslie: You make perfect sense. Holding onto dad, double handed, might just be it.

11/20/08 @ 3:37 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sushi (message) 933 posts, Busy bee

@Miss Champagne: hehe..that’s the whole reason why we decided to have a destination wedding; for the closeness.

11/20/08 @ 3:38 pm (reply)

Hostess

Mrs. DG (message) 3,986 posts, Honey bee

Given the natural breezes in Hawaii could you capitalize on that somehow? Maybe with some bamboo poles with ribbons or white cloth streamers to catch the breeze? It will add some interest to the eye.

Our ceremony is on a huge property, so there is tons of space to work with, and I was thinking about adding some Tibetan prayer flags to the site. In Tibet it is customary to write your prayer on a flag as you leave it at a holy site. We were thinking of having people write their well wishes and prayers for us as a couple on some prayer flags that we can later hang in our yard.

11/20/08 @ 3:47 pm (reply)

10.

Guest

Ashley

I don’t think I relieved your wedding vision before this post.. I love it! I am a HUUGE fan of small weddings…. we had an “alternative” reception too… dinner at a hibachi grill!

11/20/08 @ 4:23 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Megan

Your ceremony sounds very beautiful and intimate! Maybe you could hold something symbolic to your religion or to the Hawaiian culture, or you could hold a family heirloom (locket, handkerchief, etc.).

11/20/08 @ 5:00 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

Erin

You could carry a single flower, like an orchid or lily. Or you could carry a meaningful object.

I didn’t carry a bouquet. I carried my grandmother’s prayer book, which has been in many family weddings. I passed it off to my dad when we got to the end of the aisle and then just held sweetie’s hand during the cermony

11/20/08 @ 5:05 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

beelight

how did you get the lanterns for so CHEAP?!
were they on sale? or did you just go with your 50% off coupons and buy one at a time?

11/20/08 @ 6:29 pm (reply)

14.

Guest

West Coast bride

Awww, my big sister is getting married in Maui in just a couple of weeks and like you, there will only be about 20 people there. I think the double-handed Dad hold is good enough.

Before I clicked on “read more” I was totally going to suggest paper lanterns, so I’m glad to see you found them! Depending on what time of day, you could also scatter some big tikki torches around too.

11/20/08 @ 6:42 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Nicole

…Ok totally off topic, but how fun would it be to say you are getting mauied (married) in Maui? like in S&TC. I can’t wait to see how your big day comes together!

11/20/08 @ 9:09 pm (reply)

16.

Guest

skeeta

Hi Miss S! Our weddings are similar. About 25 ppl. Mine is on the beach and Im also having a picnic RD and non- reception. Please post on the reception as soon as possible! There aren’t many articles about timelines and things to do that distinguish a “reception” from a “non reception”. Any guidance would be helpful…

(BTW- love the lanterns, and I dont think you need anything, just hold dad and FH hands. ;o) )

11/21/08 @ 12:47 am (reply)

17.

Bee

Miss Sushi (message) 933 posts, Busy bee

@beelight: They were on sale at the time. Believe me, I was as shocked as you are!

@skeeta: I’m glad I’m not the only one with a non-reception.

11/21/08 @ 8:40 am (reply)

18.

Guest

Globetrotting Bride

Wow I love the leis exchange idea. If you do have a bouquet, I’d do a single flower that you could just pass off to someone in the front row. Or, why not put a flower in your hair? I love how that looks and it could complement the leis…

11/21/08 @ 8:59 am (reply)

19.

Bee

Mrs. Avocado (message) 1,400 posts, Bumble bee

I really like this idea. I really want to smell that flower as well. I guess a trip to Hawaii is in order for the Avocados.

11/21/08 @ 10:50 am (reply)

20.

Member

hana (message) 35 posts, Newbee

@Ashley: @skeeta: @Miss Sushi: I am so glad to find out that you guys had/are having small weddings and a non-reception! We’re doing the same - about 30 people and just lunch after the ceremony. Forgoing the dancing and bridal party too. Also, it’s a destination wedding too, like Miss Sushi!
I’ve never met anyone who had “non-receptions” before, so I’d really appreciate it if someone can share their ideas!

11/21/08 @ 2:39 pm (reply)