Hawaiian Wedding Decoration Ideas

Friday, February 21, 2014

Hawaiian Wedding Decoration Ideas

Delicious, yes, but do you really want them at your wedding?

Since decorations set the mood for any occasion, they should be one of your first priorities in planning your wedding. If you want a Hawaii-themed wedding (or a wedding in Hawaii, for that matter), remember that they can range from culturally rich to offensively cheesy and that decorations make all the difference. Agricultural restrictions might prevent you from ordering the foods and flowers most commonly associated with Hawaii, but that doesn't mean you need to resort to plastic leis and cellophane grass. Consider some ideas to get you started.

Lauhala

Lauhala complements any color scheme.

Lauhala (leaf from the hala, or pandanus tree) can be woven into a variety of items, from place mats to hats to bracelets. More importantly, it is a staple in Hawaii party decor and neutral enough to complement any color scheme. Its versatility lends itself to a variety of decorating ideas. Place mats are always a good idea, but you can also use lauhala baskets as centerpieces or as a place for wedding cards. Larger lauhala mats can serve as wall hangings or as rugs.

Wooden Decor

Deep, rounded bowls are common in Hawaiian woodwork.

Distinguished by the golden overtones and iridescent quality of its wood, koa, a member of the acacia family, is a recurring element in Hawaiian artwork, as is milo, a reddish wood with similar properties and uses. Though milo and koa products are probably too expensive to buy en masse, you might consider buying a bowl or a picture frame to serve as accents, cutting your cake with a koa wood knife, or using a koa-backed guest book. If this isn't an option, consider buying deep, rounded bowls in darker colors to decorate your tables or to hold your guest cards. If you feel bad about using a substitute, lay Hawaii-made kukui nut leis around the bowl.

Tropical Foliage

Tropical foliage evokes Hawaii wit

Hawaii is known for its lush, green forests, so why not incorporate some of that greenery into your wedding? The obvious choice would be asking your florist to incorporate tropical greenery into the flower arrangements (sturdy flowers like orchids and gingers work best), but you can also order ti leaves and lay them down the center line of long tables, or drape ti leaf leis along the altar, podium, or archways. Maile, a highly fragrant leaf-based lei, is a staple in Hawaiian celebrations, so consider ordering a maile lei for the bride and groom as well.

Textiles

Sarongs: they're not just for the beach anymore.

Chances are everyone who attends your wedding will be wearing "Hawaiian" attire, so why not incorporate Hawaiian fabric into your decor? If you think floral print might clash with your flowers, don't worry -- traditional Hawaiian fabric, or kapa, generally carried regular, geometric patterns and a number of artists now incorporate those patterns into modern sarongs, called pareu in Hawaii. Purchase sturdy textiles and use them as tablecloths, drapes, or to line the buffet table.

Century bird cages

Friday, February 21, 2014