Vows

We recently choose our minister from a long list give to me by our Wedding Coordinator. I love this ceremony as it truly reflects the values Tony and I created two years ago as a couple. I am also very excited to hear the Conch Shell blow and the Hawaiian Prayer. 83 days left.

Less Religious Ceremony With Hawaiian Prayer

Blowing of Conch Shell

because of the love you have for each other, you are here to commit your lives to each other as husband and wife.


What is marriage?

Marriage is a most sacred institution. It really was begun by God in the very beginning of time. What really is marriage. Marriage is more than a wedding. The act of wedding is a symbol, an announcement of that which is within; a union which an officiant makes legal, which the law can neither create nor quench. At its heart, a marriage is the promises made and kept by two individuals. The promises that you, are about to exchange serve as a verbal representation of the love and commitment you pledge to each other.

What is love?

We all know that love is the foundation of any marriage. But what is love? It is more than a feeling. It is more than romance. Someone has suggested that love is values. Whatever we value, we cherish. Whatever we value is important to us. Whatever we value, we commit our lives to. and ,I believe that you are choosing to commit your lives to each other as husband and wife because you have placed special value in each other. Feelings come and go but values last for a lifetime and even beyond.

True love is always shared. Someone has said that love really isn’t love until it is shared. Love can be expressed and described in many ways. I believe that one of the best descriptions of love is found in the Bible. I Corinthians 13 is called The Love Chapter. Allow me to read a portion of this song of love:

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres.


This kind of love will call for everything within you to live up to its standards. Therefore, love calls for your total commitment to each other. Work hard to keep your marriage growing. Realize that by nature, we are all self-seeking. Herein lies the greatest challenge of marriage. Love looks beyond our own selves and our own needs. Love seeks to fulfill the needs of others. This is why the scriptures say that “love is not self-seeking”. I pray that you will both commit yourselves to share this unselfish love with one another.

The BEST Marriage

There are many elements which contribute to a growing marriage relationship. Allow me to share four things which I believe are imperative for such a relationship. You may remember these four elements by the word BEST. Put together the first letter of each word and it spells the word BEST.

Bless - Speak well of each other in public and in private. Express your appreciation for each other for the small as well as for the big things you do for each other. Let the words “thank you” be a regular part of your communication.

Edify - The word edify means to build up. One of the ways to build each other up is to compliment one another. This will encourage and strengthen you and bring harmony and peace in your relationship.

Share - Share your thoughts, your feelings, your dreams, your fears, your successes and your failures with each other. Share laughter together. Share sorrows and tears with each other.
Another word for sharing is communication. Communication involves not only speaking but listening. Learn to be good listeners.

Touch - Marriage is a hands on relationship. The power of a touch can melt a hardened heart.. Holding hands, a hug, an arm around the shoulder, a kiss, a gentle caress all speak volumes of love.

This is how you can have the BEST marriage. B-bless, E-edify, S-share and T-touch. These are the kinds of things which we all can work on for the rest of our lives to nurture relationships especially with those who are closest to us.

Sharing of Wedding Vows

Since marriage is the blending of two lives from various backgrounds and since a growing relationship requires so much giving from both parties, a foundational element of a strong relationship is in one word, commitment. A major part of love is commitment.

, are you willing to commit your life to ?

, are you willing to commit your life to l?

, , in our time together up to this day, you have loved, honored and protected me, and I have you. From this day forward, I promise to continue loving, honoring and protecting you, until we are parted by death. Because of my love for you, I am committing my life to you to be your loving husband. Whether we face good times or hard times, whether we live in sickness or in health, in joy or in sorrow, I promise to be always faithful to you. I promise to be your best friend. I will seek to comfort you, protect you and cherish you all the days of my life.

, , in our time together up to this day, you have loved, honored and protected me, and I have you. From this day forward, I promise to continue loving, honoring and protecting you, until we are parted by death. Because of my love for you, I am committing my life to you to be your loving wife. Whether we live in good times or in bad times, whether we live in sickness or in health, in joy or in sorrow, I promise to be always faithful to you. I promise to be your best friend. I will seek to comfort you, protect you and cherish you all the days of my life.

Pastoral Prayer

Hawaiian Prayer

Ekolu mean nui maka ho’o nua
O kamanao io kamanao lana
A me kealoha, kealoha kai o ia e
Po maikai na mea a pau


Lord, there are three things great in this world
One is faith, the other is hope,
The third one is love, it’s the greatest of them all
All these things are blessed by You.
Will You bless with faith, hope and
Especially love, the greatest of them all.


Exchanging of Rings

I believe that you have rings to exchange with one another.

, this ring is an endless circle. It symbolizes the endlessness of your love for . In the weeks, months and years ahead when you see this ring on her finger, may it be a reminder of the promisees you have made to her on this your wedding day.

, just as this ring wraps endlessly around your finger, so shall my love always wrap around the very breadth of your soul. May it be a reminder of the sacred vow I haven spoke this day to you.

, this ring is an endless circle. It symbolizes the endlessness of your love for In the weeks, months and years ahead when you see this ring on her finger, may it be a reminder of the promises you have made to her on this your wedding day.

Great Weekend!

We got a lot of wedding stuff done this weekend. Tony finally picked out a suite and he looks hot in it. He's not sold on the whole outfit and thinks the pants are too tight. They aren't too tight, they just fit. He loves all his clothes to be a size bigger so when he actually wears something the right size, he thinks it's too big. Poor guy.



I also ordered the Pashmina's for all the women attending the wedding. I ordered two shades of pink and some white ones. My vision is that as the guest arrive, the women will be given their choice of Pashmina color and the men will be given their leis. I hope it all works as I envision. I haven't heard from my wedding coordinator in a couple months even though I have emailed and called her a few times. I realize she has other weddings and is on Hawaiian time, so I'm trying not to worry.



I also ordered these fabulous Star Fish place card holders from Etsy seller Gallery360. She has some beautiful things and these place card holders are exactly what I was hoping to find.

The very wonderful thing about having such a small wedding, is I can afford to have those little details. It's the details and personal touches I think make a party.

Guest!

I'm very happy to report that we do indeed have guest coming to our wedding! We have 10 guest who have booked their flights and hotel and we still have a hand full I am expecting to join us. My guess is in the end, we will have about 14-15 guest. I think that's the perfect amount.

I am also working on a welcome activity vs. welcome reception. There is so much to see and do in Kauai I feel like the guest would have much more fun on a tour vs. a long lunch or dinner. My sites are currently set on the river cruise. Everyone can participate and it's an activity that will cause everyone to mix and mingle. I just need to find lunch to go/box lunch supplier that we can use to bring onto the cruise.

This week I will contact the hotel and the wedding coordinator to see what they suggest. I'm also going to start working on my OOT bags for the guest and what we want in them.

It's getting closer so I'm Super excited to get the ball moving on the little details.

Tony has been dragging his feet on getting his suit search back on. He wasn't too thrilled with the first round so it was put on the back burner. Well tomorrow, we are going back out again and hopefully it will go better than the last time.

I've booked all my pre-wedding beauty appointments including my botox. Eek, I'm scared but I have got to get rid of this line between my eyebrows. I also spoke to the salon at the Marriott where my hair and make-up appointment is. I will be going in on April 16th for a consult. Glad that's taken care of.

I figure the more things I can get done now, the better. I know it's not going to be pretty the weeks before and I would like to still get some work done so I don't look like a flaky bride who can't function in the work place.

Dreamy

How beautifl is this clutch? Love it. It's from Etsy seller :http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5134169 sassidesign's shop. I think it's perfect for my dress and I haven't found anything I like as much. I think this will be my next purchase after my dress comes in next week.

My Ceremony Sandals Arrived

I'm so excited, my sandals I ordered for the beach ceremony arrived today. They are really beautiful and just what I wanted. I also got a call from the Bridal Salon that my dress was shipped today and will be there no later than Tuesday. I can't believe how quickly time is flying by.

Invitations

These are the invitations I love. These are the invitations I'm about to spend a lot of money on so everyone can fill out the little enclosed card saying "no, we will not be flying out to Kauai for your wedding, your just not important."

"Save the Dates"

Regardless of the ever shrinking guest list, I am still planning my wedding as if people will actually be attending. So, a few months ago I sent out these "Save the Dates" along with save the date magnets. People called me right away to tell me how much they loved them.