Hey there! So you found the most interesting page on my site. This is my recent Oahu wedding, Hawaii wedding, and...well..lets be honest, it's a blog. The story behind this blog, well, it started out purely about Hawaii weddings, then it evolved into everything and all of the above. Basically, ITS MY BLOG!! So I write about anything on here. I updated this blog "alomost" on a daily basis. You can learn more about me, my quirks, my style, and of course, you'll get wedding tips here.
Call me if you want to make me richer..I mean, book my services!
It really helps to be the son of a computer guru. My father runs a small computer company based out of his home and he has been incredibly successful at it. Ever since I was a little kid, I have always been privileged to be around the latest computers and technology. So when my computer crashed this weekend when it automatically loaded a "fake virus-scan" program, I was only out of touch with my clients for a day-and-a-half as my dad fixed everything in that time span. A day-and-a-half can seems like an eternity to me.
As of now, my computer is almost back up to running order. I have to install a few more programs on it and I'm good to go. I had to upgrade my video editing software, so for the next week or so, my computer will be nothing more than an over-powered internet machine. Since I had to upgrade my editing software, I am also thinking about upgrading a handful of other things as well.
I'm looking at purchasing a fish-eye lens for my camera to add a little more variety to my shots. And I'm thinking about going HD for my video. See, the problem with HD is that with the DSLR's that are capable of shooting extraordinary quality can only shoot 12 to 15 minutes at a time. This means I would not be able to shoot your entire wedding if I got these cameras. You would compromise quality for memories forever lost. And to me, that's not an option. Also with the volume of weddings combined with the salt air of the ocean at the beach, these DSLR's will probably break in a matter of months. But, the technology is coming around soon.
Anyway, I'm off to bed. It's 6:30am! I just got done replying to all my emails. I'm hitting the hay.
AQUA ALOHA SURF AND SPA If you're on a budget this is probably the best place to stay
This is my latest travel recommendation. It's not a luxury hotel, it's a budget hotel, and for the price, I have to say it's awesome. The reviews on the internet have been great, except for a few people who expect to get luxury for $89. A handful of my couples have stayed at this hotel and they truly recommend it. Their remarks? It's a clean place to stay for $89, and lots amenities for a budget hotel.
This is not a paid endorsement. This is just me, saying "Hey, I think this place should be on your hot list if you're on a budget."
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On other news, I've been rather busy, hence the lack of wedding blog updates. Don't worry, I'll start blogging about wedding soon. What I have been up too? I've actually been playing tour guide to friends, and you know how that is. Tiring! I've also been thinking that I should blog about what type of stuff there is to do in Oahu. Possibly restaurant reviews, as I know the majority of you will want some place nice to eat for your wedding. Plus, I'll get to eat out and write it off at the same time.
TALL AND CUTE The Hawaii Wedding of Doug and Gretchen
I remember whispering into Gretchen's father's ear after her wedding, laughing to him, "Why in the world did they ever want a sunrise wedding?"
Her father shrugged at me and said, "You know, I'm not a morning person, my wife isn't, and I know these two are not."
So why did they get married in the morning? I'm guessing, it's the pictures. They saw one of my other couples pictures, Ed and Allison's, saw how cool sunrise pictures could be at Lanikai, and well...had to so the same. And I know there are some of you brides out there that are not thinking about a sunrise wedding at Lanikai!
Now, I have to be honest with all you out there. I am not a morning person. I'm a night owl. I stay up late, work late, and when that sun peaks it's head out over the mountain, that's usually my cue to hit the hay. This works out well for me as most of my couples call in the morning anyway since Hawaii is anywhere from two to six hours behind the rest of the United States. If they don't call in the morning, well, they usually call when I wake up, which is right about the time they get off work. Hey, so what can I say, being a night owl works well for planning weddings. I'm in the nirvana of timezones right?
Morning people...haha... As you can see, the camera man is not jumping with them..haha
Anyway, enough of my ranting about myself, lets get onto the details of this wedding. Gretchen emailed me and literally begged me to do a wedding at Lanikai at sunrise. She was an avid follower of my blog, and knew that I hated sunrise weddings. Well, I of course agreed. I'm not a big-headed wedding-photographer-guy-right? Well, technically I am because my head is big...but you know what I mean. I'm not "Hollywood-better-than-you" big headed. I have no problem doing what it takes to make my brides happy. Hey as long a there is no human sacrifice request with your wedding, I'm all game.
Long story short, I took the early morning gig. Not reluctantly, but happily. Waking up early in the morning wasn't that bad anyway...kinda refreshing.
I love this shot
I bet that water was cold!
Thumbs up! Okay this shot was their idea. It's their inside joke. I love this shot though.
The only monkey pose in wedding history. Doug and Gretchen were complete fun.
The Baywatch pose....my idea.
What made Doug and Gretchen's wedding easy for me was that I only had to provide for photography and video services. They got their own leis, hakus, and even their own minister. I just had to wake up early, take a shower, grab my equipment and go. They also had the perfect fun laid back attitude made this morning wedding awesome.
A dramatic piggy back shot
Doug and Gretchan's wedding was cool. It was literally the shortest wedding ceremony I had ever seen. It was so short that I felt that giving them my usual video edit upgrade service to the video package would not be getting a value for their investment. So, I decided to extend their video slide show portion of their video from 15 to a good amount, and to add an interview portion to their video for free. It was a great call because everything turned out perfect. Just check out the video. As you can see it's much different than most of my others.
"I only handled photo and video for their wedding..made it much easier!"
Just for your information, the last part of the video, the interview portion, was unedited. Gertchen's brother-in-law did a hell of a great job with that interview. I just gave him the camera and told him to run with it. In fact, that's what I do with all interviews. I give it to the guy who looks a "film guy" and just let them tear it up. They ALWAYS do the best job, better than any professional videographer (that includes me!) The reason is because they know the family and friends very well, and they can badger, harass the interviewee, which makes for great moments. This is something which I cannot do. So video tip for the day...have your fun film guy do the interviews.
Sweet
Lastly, I bet you're wondering how these two lovebirds met? Here's their love story in Gretchen's own words
"We met my first semester at UHH in January, 2005 (he had been there since fall 2002). Our friend Tim lived in my dorm building, and since no one else was on campus (x-mas break), we hung out my first week in Hilo. He told me that he had a friend that i would really like- i think- because of my quirky personality.
I remember the night i met Doug, I thought "he's pretty good looking, but he's so tall!!" Doug couldn't remember my name for anything- so he called me "the girl who's name starts with G". He intrigued me with conversation, and i love to talk- but i was weary of a broken heart. I declared that i was definitely a commitment kind of girl and i certainly wanted to get married. I kept telling him all my idiosyncrasies, just see if he could really handle ME. I threw everything out there on the table and to my surprise, it did not scare him away- in fact i think it made him more interested. Although it took some convincing on his part, i did end up giving him a shot...
He knew he liked me, and he was always the "guy friend" to his girl-friends, so i was the one he was determined to not let be "just friends"
School started Monday, by Wednesday- he came knocking at my door, Bottle of Bacardi Coco in one hand and a shot glass in the other, "Is the girl who's name starts with G- here??" That day I switched into his Marine science class... Then came Friday night (January 14) we ended up talking until 6 am. We proceeded to get back up at 9 am to go to Kona, to spend all Saturday at the beach. Doug tricked me into coming over to watch a movie that night- Tricked me i say because i thought his friends would be there- it was just me and him. We ended up hanging out the rest of the holiday weekend (except when i would go back to campus to change and shower).
We were pretty much inseparable from that point on... That was exactly 5 years ago... So it seemed to be fitting to get married on the day it all really started..."
-Gretchen
Doug, that was a pretty smooth move you pulled on Gretchen there. Coming over for a movie date, then convincing her to stay. Sly...yet...very very good. You have to admit women, that it does take men some type of trickery, even convincing to get you to consider us men as "potentials." If we don't, well, we can slip into that "friend-zone" pretty quick.
Sunrises at Lanikai make it too easy to get great shots
My last thoughts on this couple. Fun, good looking, perfect for each other. I swear, Doug and Gretchen look like they belong on TV. I could see Doug in a head and shoulders commercial. Gretchen, I can see leading an all girl punk band.... But lets be blunt here, these two are way too much fun to be hanging around Hollywood people (those guys fake being cool)
Good luck to you both, and I wish you my extreme very best. And Gretchen, as soon as I hear from our coffee farm's future endeavors, I will definitely call you. I will not forget about what I mentioned to you.
I watched a little of the marriage ref last night after the Olympics. It was funny, somewhat entertaining, but altogether a bad idea. Let me first start off by saying that I like Jerry Seinfeld. He's a clean comic, doesn't swear in his bits, and he always keeps his jokes family clean so anyone can enjoy it. I know what he was thinking when he created "The Marriage Ref." He probably thought that any marriage needs to have a good laugh in there once in awhile. And while this is true, here is the reason why his show fails.
It simply does more damage to a happily married couple, than good.
Lets start with the obvious. What sane couple would want to air their problems on national television? And what sane couple would want to get marriage advice from celebrities? Isn't Alec Baldwin having some major family issues with his ex-wife and daughter? Didn't Alec Baldwin threaten to kill himself while his daughter was on the phone? Didn't Jerry Seinfeld date a 17 year-old while she was in high school, and he was 30 plus? His current wife...he met her when she just got back from her honeymoon and flirted with her. She divorced her husband shortly after and married Jerry...morals there huh. Kelly Ripa is the only judge with a stable family life, but tell me...how exactly can a woman be a mother when she works and tours the globe without her kids in tow?
Whose next to guest judge on the show? Tiger Woods? How about Mel Gibson? What celebrity would you trust giving you marriage advice? The entire premise is a joke. I honestly think that this show will accelerate marital problems than solve it.
If Seinfeld actually wanted to help these couples, rather than getting the nation to laugh at them, he would enlist relationship gurus such as Dr. Laura and Dr. John Gray as judges. These couples have serious problems, no matter how outrages their circumstances may be. Marriage, unfortunately, will be on the toughest things to do in ones life. Arguments, debates, will arise, and what is not needed, is a marriage ref who moonlights as a comedian. In fact, a marriage ref is not needed at all! That's Hollywood talk! Only you know what is needed to solve that disagreement.
My advice, pass on this show. It needs to be off the air.
What show should you watch on NBC? Chuck.. It is an awesome and fun show....NBC's only good show. Here's a clip.
