Wanted to take a break from work and blog about this fabulous Hawaii Events Coordinator....Karine Matsumoto, owner of Seasons of Life Hawaii.  When I got married I didn't think to hire a coordinator because why spend the money if I can do it myself?  I learned while planning my own wedding, that it's HARD! It was such a headache doing it when you're juggling a normal 9-5 job and planning.  I got sick a lot because of stress, lost a lot of weight (which at the time was good for me)  and I got this wierd bald spot on the back of my head (which wasn't too noticable thank GOD!).  My hair stylist asked if I was stressing a lot and it was because of wedding planning. The day of my wedding, I'm embarrassed to say that I was a Bridezilla, I was getting my hair and makeup done while making calls and making sure everything was going according to plan.  I remember yelling a lot and arguing with my brother because when I asked for his help...he didn't want to. Thank goodness that I use good expensive night cream or I'd probably would've gotten some stress lines on my forehead!

Karine is a fabulous coordinator.  You might have remembered some of her work from one of my posting here at the Oasis.

To make things a challenge for her, we recently had a tsunami warning here in Hawaii and had to cancel a wedding she was working with that day.  At 3pm the bride called her to see if she could make it happen, at 430pm the wedding took place.  She calls it the tsunami wedding. You have a theme in mind? She can do it. Want to get married next week? Well...let's see what she says....

How far in advance should I book you?

Sometimes if a couple is booking coordination for the day only they may think that they should book their coordinator last after all of their other vendors are secured. As part of my "day of" coordination I recommend vendors based on the couples style and budget. It's beneficial to book coordination services first before they book their other vendors to be able to utilize the recommended vendor suggestions. Saturdays and summer months book up early. I often have brides contact me in January for summer dates and they are often already booked. For the couple who is looking for partial or full coordination it's never too early to hire a coordinator to get started on planning your wedding

What if I'm on a budget?

We can work with all budgets and help you choose reliable vendors.  We will also be honest with you and let you know what can and cannot be acieved based on your budget.

Do you have a list of vendors I can choose from?

Building strong vendor relationships is important. We will only recommend vendors that we can trust to demonstrate professionalism, expertise in their field and that will be a good match with your style and budget.

Why do I need a coordinator?

Every coordinator can tell stories of each wedding and why a coordinator is needed.  Although you may have a friend or family member offer to coordinate your wedding, most likely they are not trained in coordination, have experience in the field as well as relationships with vendors and experience.  A professional coordinator can anticipate challenges and is equipped to handle these challenges.  In addition, there are so many details that are specific to a wedding that most people aren't aware of.  If a bride were able to see what goes on behind the scenes before, during and after her ceremony, and reception she would be convinced that a wedding coordinator is necessary.  In addition, coordinators are involved in the wedding industry everyday.  We see trends, understand catering, know what rental items need to be ordered, are aware of how much time to allow on the timeline for picture, toasts, dances, etc.