choosing a theme - establishing ambience - Hawaiian attire - theme planning advice

DARA NIAD AND
DAVE DE COSTER
JUNE 10, 2000
EL SEGUNDO, CA

What do tropical drinks, palm trees and aloha shirts have to do with planning a wedding? In the case of Dara and Dave's Hawaiian-themed nuptials, it meant planning a day of fun. Here's how they made it work.

Choosing a Theme
How does a Californian couple find themselves planning a wedding devoted to the 50th state, anyway? ''We actually ended up choosing a Hawaiian theme because we -- my parents, my fiance and myself -- had such a hard time deciding on all of the planning basics in the beginning,'' said Dara. ''Dave and I just wanted a party with a fun atmosphere, so when our caterer suggested a luau, we were thrilled.'' With visions of the Big Island as their guide, these two started planning the rest of the wedding around their new theme.

Dara and Dave outdid themselves by providing their guests with a trickling Mai Tai fountain -- easily the hit of the reception.

Surf and Turf
Choosing a site was an important step in establishing ambience for the big event. They were looking for a reasonably priced outdoor setting that could fit 180 guests, to serve as a tropical backdrop for both the ceremony and reception. This was a tall order to fill, but with a little creativity (the key to carrying off a themed wedding) and a touch of luck, they found the perfect spot: a public golf course, complete with an outdoor patio, lush landscaping, a glistening pond and a flowing waterfall.

Selecting a site with so much natural beauty was a good start, but Dara and Dave added even more personality to their theme by including a few tropical touches of their own. ''We had fresh orchids on each table and made place cards out of little drink umbrellas with each guest's name on them,'' said Dara. ''I even had the cake made at a bakery that specializes in Hawaiian confections. It had two tiers. One was layered in chiffon with lime, guava and passion fruit, and the other was chocolate, covered with whipped topping and cascading sugar gardenias.'' And what would a party be without a signature cocktail? Even better than a champagne toast, Dara and Dave outdid themselves by providing their guests with a trickling Mai Tai fountain -- easily the hit of the reception.

This couple was thoughtful about each of their wedding plans, but the real secret of their success was choosing a caterer who specialized in luaus. Because he was fluent in everything from food presentation to floral suggestions, calling in an expert was an excellent idea. ''He decorated the buffet with tropical fruit, banana leaves, birds of paradise and orchids,'' said Dara. ''He even had a special oven to prepare a roast pig.''

Hawaiian Attire
When it came to clothing selection for their big day, the bride and groom decided to put a tropical spin on tradition. ''Our 12 groomsmen wore aloha shirts, and the 10 bridesmaids had light green gowns with floral shirts to use as cover-ups,'' Dara said. As for the bride herself, she wore a traditional white gown, accented with a crown of fresh gardenias and white orchids. The groom wore a custom-made tuxedo vest, handkerchief and bow tie, each modified from one of the aloha shirts that the ushers wore. Always looking for ways to add to their theme, they also asked the guests to arrive in hula-friendly apparel. ''Everyone loved the idea,'' said Dara. ''And it was clear from the start of the wedding that everyone was enjoying themselves.''

When the Going Gets Tough
In the end, Dara and Dave were happy with their wedding results, but as with most weddings, not everything went exactly according to the original plans. For example, they hoped to have the huppah (a Jewish wedding canopy) decorated with birds of paradise. But when the florist ended up having to use ginger trees instead, they didn't fret over the change. As most brides and grooms know, it takes a combination of creativity and flexibility to pull off the day of your dreams.

Bridal Advice
So what can this couple share with others who want to plan a themed wedding? ''The best advice that anyone gave us was to make sure to take the time to stop and look around -- and really enjoy what you have created,'' Dara said. ''Dave and I paused sometime after the sun went down and finally saw how beautiful everything turned out. Plus, it was easy to see that everyone was having a great time. All of our hard work was worth it.''