Crane Media | Hawaii Video Blog

We are honored to be a part of the very first WEDDINGS 101 workshop presented by the Ihilani Resort and Spa.  The Ihilani in Ko’Olina has been a popular location for brides who want all of the luxuries a Resort has to offer while remaining on the west side of Oahu.  In November, the Ihilani will offer prospective brides the opportunity to tour the property and sample all that the resort has to offer.

Vendors that will speak at this event will be:
Terri Hyden [Ihilani Resort]
James Chun [Crane Media]
Kelly Sugano [A Perfect Day]
David Louis [Dynamic Sounds]
Sue Yamaguchi [SUV Expressions]
China Anderson [REA Events]
Robin Scanlon [Eye of the Islands]

Please come and enjoy lunch at this one of a kind property.  Invitation below.  Tell them that Crane Media sent ya.

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Congratulations on your recent engagement!

We cordially invite you to join us for Weddings 101

Hokulani Ballroom JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
Wednesday, November 11, 2009

9:30am – 10:00am : Registration
10:00am – 2:00pm : Workshop with Lunch

Weddings are our specialty and we would like to share our expertise in planning for the most special first day of your new lives together.   A select group of Hawaii’s most talented wedding professionals will conduct mini-seminars on coordination, floral arrangements, décor, photography, videography and entertainment.

No charge for admission
Complimentary validated parking
R.S.V.P by Monday, November 9, 2009 to Ihilani Event Management
679-3255 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday

Here is a clip from one of our favorites: Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson.  If you’re not aware, Ben and Maila are available to perform at your wedding.  And they have been a BIG HIT at every wedding I’ve seen them at.  The following video is of a original song that they wrote themselves.

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Originally posted by The Bridal Boutique

Did you know The Bridal Boutique posts monthly specials on the company website?  Click here

For example, brides who purchased their wedding dress in June received free gown clean and preservation services after their wedding (a $260 value!).

This month we have multiple offerings to help you get a jump start on your wedding planning. Once you have found your perfect dress, accessories, and wedding party attire, you will often hear Joyce and Cecilia say “now, you can check it off your to-do list!” AND, shift your focus on other important wedding details.

Here’s what’s going on at the Boutique in October:

Look amazing from head-to-toe!
FREE accessory of choice with the purchase of a regularly-priced wedding gown.
Choose from a beautiful selection of veils, hairpieces, shoes, garters…and  more!

About a year and a half ago, a great friend in the wedding industry decided to make a move back to her hometown of Seattle.  I had the great opportunity to get to know her during her stay in Hawaii.  While inHawaii, she worked with Sandra Williams of Finishing Touch as a wedding planner.  So we got to know each other on a personal and business level.  When she left, I told her that I predicted that she would be engaged within 18 months.  And why not?  She was smart, ambitious and beautiful - a major catch for any guy.  She dismissed my premonitions as silly banter, but guess what?  18 months later, I get a joyful email from her saying that my prediction came true…almost to the exact date.

Rebecca Bradley is now a soon to be bride and owner of New Creations, Wedding Design and Coordination.  And I am fortunate enough to be asked to shoot her wedding.  Of course, Sandra will be flying up as well to witness the event.  Here is Sandra’s blog about it.

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Aloha Seattle!
(originally posted by Sandra Williams)

I usually don’t do this on my blog (because I think it’s super cheesy), but I do want to give a shout out to my old assistant / on-site coordinator Rebecca Bradley. Rebecca worked with Finishing Touch for about 3 years (from Winter 2005 to Summer of 2008) and have since then moved back to her hometown of Seattle. Have you ever met someone you just know that he/she was born to do something? That’s how felt when I first met Rebecca. I knew from the very beginning that she will make a great wedding planner, and I am so happy and proud to announce that she had started her own wedding design and coordination business, New Creations Wedding Design & Coordination. Her website is still a work in progress, but I am sure it will be fully fabulous very soon. If you are reading this from Seattle or knows someone who is getting married there, call Rebecca. Tell her you read about her business here and send her my aloha… she will LOVE it!

I received a email this morning from a past groom, Andrew Roth, who has been working on a web based marketing project called PLAY.   The website promotes group buying over the Internet, where groups of people leverage their collective buying power to achieve unique rates and promotions with local businesses.

Yesterday they launched the first promotion with JJ Dolans, the Irish Pub in Chinatown famous for its pizza.  The deal with JJ Dolans is $15 for $30 in food and beverage. To get the deal, a minimum number of people need to sign up for it. They achieved the minimum quota of 25 sales at 9:14am yesterday morning and have a maximum of 500 that expires at the end of this Sunday.

What an amazing concept to help local businesses and local people.  Check it out and sign up to receive their special of the day via email.

I found this post on Facebook today from one of my favorite photographers: Courtney Dellafiora.  She is a hip, fun, classy, and all around cool gal with a BIG heart.  So big that she is giving away a free wedding shoot just to bless someone with the gift that God has given her.  Take a look at her offer below and check out her sight.  You will not be dissappointed.

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FREE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GIVEAWAY
originally posted by www.dellafiora.com

I know Christmas is still 80 days away, but it has already been in my mind a lot lately. I just loooovvee Christmas time. It is definitely one of my favorite parts of every year mostly because of family get togethers and how incredibly cheery and happy everyone is. Just thinking about the fact that it is right around the corner gets me all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I cannot wait!!! Another reason I adore Christmas so much is because of all the giving that takes place. One of the greatest feelings in the world is to give. Whether it’s just a smile or an actual gift… you can do no wrong when you give from your heart. In my opinion it’s truly one of the most rewarding experiences in life. I have been given SO much in my life that I am eternally grateful for. One of my favorites gifts has been the one God gave me of having an artistic mind and being able to see the world a little bit differently. I could never possibly thank HIM enough for blessing me with the talent of photography and art. I am SO lucky and blessed to be able to share with others with what God has given me. I don’t claim to be the best out there, as I believe I am FAR from it. But I am so grateful for what I do have and would never take it for granted. Because God has given me so much, I want to use my gift to give to someone else. With all of that being said I have decided to run a contest to give away a free wedding package to a deserving bride & groom. I’m SO excited about this and cannot wait to tell you about it. So let’s no wait any longer and get to it!

Here is the juicy scoop:

What exactly does the winner get?
This contest is open to anyone in the world!

8 hours of wedding day coverage
two photographers
engagement or trash the gown shoot
CD with full resolution images
10×10 30pg coffee table (flushmount) album (60 images)

How to enter:
It’s easy! To enter the contest all you have to do is email me at: courtney@dellafiora.com and be sure to include the following:

- bride & groom’s name
- wedding date & time of ceremony
- wedding location & venue
- photo of you and your fiance’
- wedding website (if applicable)
- and last but not least, send me a mini version of your love story or how you fell in love and why you feel as though you deserve this- be as detailed and honest as you like!

The rules:

- your wedding must be in 2010
- I must be available on your wedding date
- all of my goods and services are free, but if any travel is required you must pay for all expenses involved for me and my 2nd shooter/wonderful boyfriend Michael (travel, hotel, etc)
- because each wedding date is so valuable, the winner must put down a $700 deposit (to guarantee your date) that will be fully refunded on date of wedding once agreement has been fulfilled by both parties.

The contest runs for 4 weeks starting NOW and ends November 2, 2009. The winner will be chosen on November 5, 2009 and announced on the blog. I’m so excited and cannot wait to read all of your stories! I just know it will be a very hard decision as I’m sure they will all be fabulous. Good luck to everyone!

I look forward to hearing from you!! : )

To make this post a little prettier here is a shot that I just love from Aryanne and Chad’s newlywed shoot that I shot earlier this year.

Good luck!

“A once in a lifetime event deserves a one of a kind venue.  Let us guide you through our new ballrooms and show you our room and suite accommodations.  Meet our exclusive Partnered Companies and our own Romance Specialist.  Revel in the design and service details of The Kahala Wedding Experience.”

Friday, October 23rd, 2009
5pm - 10pm
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
Ballrooms, Ceremony Sites, Guest Rooms and Suites

Start your journey with a simple step.  Register for the Kahala Wedding Showcase by going to www.kahalaresort.com or call 808.739.8715

Don’t miss the grand opening of David’s Bridal.  It’s the first store in the state.  No promises, but in the past, there were balloons, news coverage AND prizes for brides.  Here are the details:

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Store Address: 
Pearl City Gateway (Across from Walmart)
1140 Kuala Street, Suite 100
Pearl City, HI 96782

See you there!

Our groom today, Thomas, is a familiar face.  Last year, he was the bestman at Ted and Angela’s wedding.  Of course, Ted made his reprise today as Thomas’ bestman.  Lifelong friends were they.  They chose to have their weddings at the same location (Halekulani), using the same wedding planner (Kelly Sugano of ‘A Perfect Day’) and us as their videographer.

We have been having a lot of fun experimenting with new ways to see the same thing.  One thing that every wedding has are rings.   So it’s always a fun challenge for us think of creative ways to showcase it.  After all, the rings are the quintessential symbol of the wedding itself.  It deserves to have a little of the spotlight.

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Priviledged to work with this day:

Kelly Sugano - A Perfect Day
Halekulani Resort 

posted by james chun | www.cranemedia.com

What a crazy Sunday it was.  My day started off with a early morning on the set of “The Kealohas” where I played the character of “Mr. Lee”.  We always havd a blast shooting with this crew.  Don’t we look marvelous?

After the shoot, it was off to Ward Center to check out “Bride Wars” by the Wedding Cafe.  Bride wars was a competition between brides who plays games in order to win various prizes from local wedding vendors.  I didn’t get a chance to stay all the way but it looked like a lot of fun.

After all that, it was off to Sinae and Kealii’s wedding.  Sinae was the maid of honor at another wedding that we had shot the previous year.  It’s always a pleasure to see past clients again at their friend’s weddings.  At that point, we seem more like friends.

Having full confidence in our taste, Sinae allowed us to pick the song for her ceremony highlights.  So we went with “Say” by OneRepublic.  It’s not a typical wedding song but I love the way it builds up.  One of my favorite shots in the video is the opening scene with the spinning ring.  Like so many great discoveries, this too was an accident.  After I was given the rings, I just put them on Sinae’s iPhone.  Then she got a call and the rings started to spin due to the vibration of the phone.  Viola! 

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Priviledged to work with this day:

Sandra Williams - Finishing Touch
Shawn Starr Photography

posted by james chun | www.cranemedia.com