Congrats, You’re Married!!! Now what?

You Did It!!!! You tied the knot!! Your Kauai Wedding was a blast!! You’ve enjoyed your honeymoon....now what?! It’s time for the Adult Stuff! If you’re up for it, it’s time to change your last name!!!

Changing your name legally sounds really daunting, but we’re going to try and break it down for you in 8 steps! Here we goooo!!
       ⁃ Step 1 - Get certified copies of your wedding certificate from your local, marriage license office. I would recommend printing at least 5-8 certified copies, just in case. You’re going to send a few of these to (DMV, Social Secuirty, Passport, etc). I even made simple, black and white copies as well.
       ⁃ Step 2 - Visit your local Social Security Admin Office to get a new SS card - this is one of the first pieces of docs you’ll need to legally change your name.
       ⁃ Step 3 - DMV time! After you get your SS card, visit your DMV to update your driver’s license. Yes, you’ll have to take a new pic!
         ⁃ Step 4 - Now time for banking! Update your name on your bank accounts, checkbooks, credit cards, etc.
        ⁃ Step 5 - Passport - You should always have a passport! Processing takes time, so I would do this when you get back from your honeymoon, to make it easy.
        ⁃ Step 6 - Your work info also needs to be updated W-2, W-4...contact your HR rep for more info! If you own your own business, you’ll need to update those docs legally as well!
        ⁃ Step 7 - Misc Name Changes - Post Office, Costco, Membership places, Rewards Cards...
        ⁃ Step 8 - As you are filing for your name change, carry a black and white copy of your marriage license with you wherever you go, just in case someone asks to see your “married” or “maiden” name. I had to show this randomly a few times!

This is definitely “adulting” 101 info! Not as fun as planning your Wedding, but at least you can make it really official!

Let's talk Bridal Beauty Ladies! I would say 95% of Brides hire Hair & Makeup Artists for their Wedding Day! If you're like me, I have no idea how to pick the right color foundation, how to apply false lashes and what lip color works best with my skin tone, let alone my wedding dress! I definitely needed professional Beauty help on my Wedding Day! Here are some tips I learned for finding the right Hair & Makeup Artist for you, especially for a Kauai Wedding! 

- Schedule a Hair & Makeup Trial 
Ladies, THIS IS A MUST!! If you are having a destination Wedding on Kauai and you've never met your Beauty Vendor, you have to schedule a trial with her! Make sure you feel comfortable with her makeup style,the products she uses and her overall vibe. Doing a trial will allow you to see how you will look in the exact hair and makeup style you have dreamed about while planning your Wedding! Plus, if there are things you don't like about it, you can address it then and there, rather than on Wedding Day. 

- If possible, schedule your hair & makeup trial on the same day as your Dress Fitting
If your Bridal Gown location is in the same area as your Beauty Trial, try and schedule those appointments on the same day! That way, you can see what your Bridal Beauty will look like, in your Wedding Dress! 

- Healthy Skin
In order to achieve that Bridal Glow, make sure you are taking the necessary steps to have Healthy Skin months prior to your Wedding Day! Whether it is routine facials with your esthetician, making sure you're cleansing your face on a regular basis or something as easy as staying hydrated, you want to make sure you prep your skin ahead of time prior to Wedding Day to achieve flawless results. 

- Stay Hydrated!
I'll say this one again - Stay Hydrated! I found that the more I drank water, the smoother my skin looked! It was that easy! Booze dehydrates your skin, so don't drink too much the week of your Wedding or else you will see the result on your face!

- Get Plenty of Sleep
Why was Sleeping Beauty so gorgeous? Because she slept all the time!! Getting plenty of sleep allows your body to rest and regenerate, giving you that well rested look on Wedding Day! 

- The Best Version of Yourself 
Lastly, ask your Hair & Makeup Artist to give you a look that is the Best Version of Yourself! Don't cake that makeup on! It's hot here in Kauai and trust me, your face will literally fall off in this humidity. You don't need a lot of makeup to look beautiful! Keep it light and make sure we can still see your skin! 

You're about 1-2 months away from your Kauai Wedding....the BIG DAY and your caterer or venue is asking you to choose your menu selection for your guests! How exciting?!! I am a HUGE foodie, so this topic is right up my alley! They ask you, "How many pupus would you like to serve per person?" Huh? Let's start with the basics. 

- What is a Pupu?
      Pupu is the Hawaiian word for "appetizer." Literally pronounced "poo-poo." 
- When and how are pupus served?
     From past Weddings you have attended, pupus are normally served during cocktail hour, prior to your actual dinner course, either tray passed by servers or self-served on a Buffet. Pupus allow your guests to get into party mode by enjoying food & drinks while the Bride & Groom are finishing up taking photos after the Ceremony. 
- What are some of the most popular pupus served on Kauai?
     The biggest hits are Coconut Shrimp, Ahi Poke on a wonton or taro chip, Sliders, Chicken Satay or Beef Skewers, Crab Rangoons and Vegetable Spring Rolls.
- How many pupus should I choose per person? 
     I always recommend at least 4 pieces of pupus per person. For example, if you are expecting 100 guests, that would be 400 pieces total. Your caterer will either offer Pupus by Piece or by the dozen. If by the dozen, simply divide 400 by 12 = round up to 34 dozen platters. Your caterer will know to serve these platters spaced out, so that it will last the entire duration of cocktail hour. 
- What if you are hosting a Pupus Only reception? How many pieces should I choose to ensure my guests are satisfied and this can feel like a complete meal?
       If your entire Wedding is a Pupus Only reception, I would recommend hosting at least 10 pieces of pupus per person. If you can add Action Stations to this Pupus Only Reception, I would recommend at least 2-3 action stations as well, to ensure your guests will be satisfied for the evening. You never want to leave your guests hungry! 

Our very first Blog Post!! Here we go! I like to write how I talk, so just imagine you and I are friends, casually getting together to talk about your Wedding with some refreshing cocktails in hand and pupus (Hawaiian for appetizers) getting ready to be devoured on the coffee table in front of us. Let's talk Kauai Wedding!

So you're thinking about hosting your Wedding on the beautiful Garden Isle (aka Kauai)! Let me tell you, there's nothing like this island! If you've never been here before, here are some quick facts about Kauai:
         - It's the oldest island among the Hawaiian Island chain.
        - It feels like "authentic" Hawaii with it's small town vibe, extremely kind people, lush mountain views, minty blue ocean and light, soft winds.
         - If you and your fiance love the outdoors, Kauai is for you! Most Kauai Wedding Venues are outdoor spaces. Very rarely do people come to Kauai to host an indoor event. Why would you do that to yourself?
         - Kauai is home to about 70,000 residents with about 30,000 visitors daily. That's a lot of visitors folks! 
Are we a destination wedding location? Absolutely!
         - Although it rains almost daily on Kauai, the "rainy" season is considered November-March. 
         - Each side of the island has it's own unique micro-climate which means some sides are more
rainy than others, while other sides are more dry. North Shore = wet. South Shore & West Side = dry. 
      - Most Weddings are destination, so the average guest count for Kauai Destination Weddings are around 40-100 guests. 
       - There are not that many Kauai Wedding Venues to choose from, so do your research and book early!! 

What makes Kauai Weddings so different from Mainland Weddings? These 3 Things:
​       1. WEATHER - 
    The most talked about subject when planning to host your Wedding on Kauai would be Weather. We're a Tropical Climate. It's called the Garden Isle because it rains almost everyday! That's why it's so lush and beautiful here! During the "non-rainy" months (April-October), we do get showers mostly evening and early morning. And if it does shower, we call it a "passing shower." It will rain for only a few seconds or minutes and then that shower will disappear as quickly as it came. 
    My best advice is DO NOT look at the weather app the week of your Wedding. The weather changes DAILY and it won't do you any good to stress about Mother Nature when you can't control her. It's good to have a back up plan, but remember positive brings positive, so think SUNNY!! 
     Quick Tip: Kauai normally has trade winds, which are light winds that you WANT so that the humidity level doesn't turn your hair into a rat's nest! Keep in mind, the winds do pick up at times, so if you have place cards or some sort of welcome display that has loose items, make sure to weigh them down with something or adhere them to a sign so that if the winds pick up, they're not blowing everywhere!
        2. KAUAI WEDDING VENUES - 
Most Kauai Wedding Venues, as I mentioned, are Outdoor Spaces. Whether you have a tented reception or a Lanai (aka Outdoor Covered Patio) to host your celebration, you want to feel like you and your guests are outdoors. It's SO beautiful here, you don't want people to fly here and be stuck in an enclosed space! Most of the wedding venues on Kauai emphasize their location, so whether they are located in a serene, garden setting or a lush mountain backdrop, your surroundings will always be a part of your tropical wedding aesthetic. 
        3.  MOST KAUAI WEDDINGS ARE DESTINATION WEDDINGS - 
From my experience alone, I would say 98% of all of our Weddings are from the mainland. When booking your accommodations, activities, venues, keep in mind, the majority of your guests most likely haven't even been here yet. This may be the very first time they are coming to Hawaii! Try to incorporate as much of that Hawaiian culture and flavor as you can with your meals, drinks, decor and overall vibe! They are coming here to celebrate your LOVE, but will most likely make it a vacation as well! Give them that Mai Tai with the umbrella they've been imagining for a year! Share the fresh Ahi Poke and Tako (fresh octopus) from the local plate lunch spot you love! Drive them up to Waimea Canyon to experience the breath taking views they've only experienced online! Have an all day Beach Day! 

Mainland Weddings can be so "formal" and serious, where Kauai is the island to be married so you can relax, enjoy each other and enjoy the outdoors!