Spent a day photographing a wedding at Hale Koa Hotel and met the wedding coordinator there, Stephanie Nomura. The bride was from California and Stepahnie was an old college friend of hers. We got along very well, very easy to talk to, very organized and always stayed on top of things. The details there were perfect and she was constantly hard at work. She also helped us organize and get through group table shots…which can get crazy because there were so many tables. But we went through it quickly with her help.
She got in touch with me months later and had coffee. We had so much in common and laughed at so many stories we told as we were getting to know each other.
So here’s another of my vendor favorite, Stephanie Nomura, Wedding Coordinator.
.jpg)
.jpg)
- Who is Stephanie C. Nomura?
After years of organizing themed showers, trolley pub crawls, Waikiki scavenger hunts, and more, for friends and family, Stephanie, or Steph, realized how much passion she has for creating memorable events for others. Born and raised in Hawaii, Steph believes that a great event planner should have the creativity to build unique events that match the client, the focus to take care of all the details upfront, and the energy to keep things on schedule. By combining those traits with her sense of professionalism and, admittedly dorky, love of organization – Steph provides exceptional wedding planning and coordination.
Steph currently lives in Honolulu with her husband, Evan and 1-year old son.
- Should I hire a wedding planner?
Before you commit to hiring someone, sit down to chat with a wedding planner just for an hour. That hour should be free of charge, and it will help you to start figuring out what you envision, what are the questions that may come up as things move along and who are the vendors you may want to work with. There are so many tiny details that go into a wedding and that short conversation will really let you know if a wedding planner is right for you.
- What are the key benefits of having a wedding coordinator/planner?
Number one without a doubt is being able to enjoy your wedding with the peace of mind that all the details will come together as you envisioned. The amount of resources budgeted toward a wedding can be substantial. With just 5 to 10 percent of that cost going to coordination for the day, couples can ensure that countless hours of planning time will be saved and they will get the most for their money.
And if organization is your thing, Stephanie offers customized event planning tools for all of her clients – ensuring a smooth planning process. Tools like:
Customized To-Do Lists
Milestone Calendar
Payment Tracking and Reminders
Appointment Tracking
Wedding Binder filled with Mementos
- What kind of services does Stephanie offer?
COORDINATION:
Coordination services are for the client that planned their wedding themselves, but are looking for a professional to handle the logistics and details on the actual event day so the client can just relax and enjoy themselves. Stephanie will have detailed meetings with you to discuss timeline, layouts and details to ensure that everything comes together just as you envisioned it. The day of the event, she will be the primary point of contact with all of your vendors and ensures everything is organized and runs smoothly from start to finish. Coordination packages also include full ceremony rehearsal and customized event planning tools.
PLANNING:
Planning services are for the client looking for more assistance and guidance throughout the process of planning an event, or for the couple who simply doesn’t have the time or needs assistance to plan a destination wedding. You can come to Stephanie with your vision, idea and initial plans and she will help you create a uniquely customized and unforgettable wedding. Planning services also include full ceremony rehearsal, customized event planning tools and day-of-coordination.
“Beyond the Wedding” Planning
In addition to just your wedding, we can help you plan your Bridal Showers, Bachelorette or Bachelor Parties, Rehearsal Dinners, Baby Showers, destination events, and more! Make your event memorable by creating a fantastic unique experience for your guests while taking the pressure off of you.
And for those that are planning a destination wedding here in Hawaii – Stephanie does travel itineraries as well as. Where to stay, what to do, and how it all fits together.
- Should I hire a Planner or a Coordinator?
Some people have a perfect vision along with the resources to plan their own event but want a professional to execute the plans they’ve put in place. Others want a fully customized event that incorporates their vision that they can just show up to and enjoy the day. Some people fall in-between those two places and want some assistance during the planning process, but also want a professional to run the day. Stephanie can customize a package that fits all of your needs; all you have to do is decide which is the best fit for you!