By, Tabitha Miki FDI

“I’d love to hire you to make my Hawaiian, surprise destination proposal; but it’s not in the budget for me to do a destination proposal in Hawaii.” Have no fear, I can still help you with a few tips and tricks so you can achieve that Hawaii surprise engagement feel! Gentlemen, this is the time to enlist your mom, that’s right I said your mom. She can help with crafty DYI things, you will be pleasantly surprised! What if my mom is not the craft guru? Then there are so many options and other things your mom can help with to help set the stage! If your soon to be bride to be is close to her mom you may want to see if she would like to help in some area as well! It’s an opportunity to let all the wonderful people around you showcase their talents to be a part of something so poignant and special in both of your lives!

Tip 1: Decorations don’t have to be cliche! Many people may think tropical destination, easy, look for coconuts, fake flower leis, grass skirts, etc. Instead, look for things that exude island elegance; maybe a hawaiian quilt to lay down for a picnic, or a large lauhala looking mat (you can get them at the aloha swapmeet in Honolulu or at alohaoutlet.com as well as amazon.com) to set down for a picnic. Setting a table? Look for a white, simple table cloth and lauhala looking placemats. This is where your crafty mom, grandma, aunty or one of your friends and family can step in and wow you with their craft magic!

Tip 2: Use fresh flower leis instead of fake plastic ones. Orchid leis are available nationwide. Talk to your local florist to see if they can bring in a few for your occasion.

Tip 3: Use fresh tropical flowers and/or foliage in strategic areas. Many tropical flowers and foliage are also readily available in many locations, but consult your florist on care and if it’s a possibility, especially if you are proposing in an area with cold climate. You could ask your florist to make a centerpiece for the table using tropical flowers, or have your florist do floating candles in a different sizes of cylinder vases that have water and some type of tropical foliage in them.

Tip 4: Make a path of sand, and seashells, with loose orchid heads OUTSIDE if you have access to a yard that leads to your house or venue you will be proposing at. ( A “How to blog” on how to do this, coming soon. Stay tuned). Home improvement stores and garden shops often carry bags of sand. It is also important to make sure you are granted permission to do this if it is an outside venue or someone else’s place. If it’s hers, find an excuse to be laying sand out there and make you sure you are able to clean it up after. (This is where really nice friends and family and a few cases of their favorite beverage might come in handy, hahahaha).

Tip 5: Utilize modern tech! If you decide to do it at your place, hers, or her parent’s home, there are many HD television stations that show beaches around different Hawaiian islands. It is quite simple to have it playing in the background. It could also be as simple as playing Hawaiian music on your phone in the background to set the theme.

See, it IS still possible to accomplish that romantic, Hawaiian destination proposal feel without being in Hawaii! I hope these few tips and tricks were helpful and that you are able to make that proposal special and memorable for you both!

Best Wishes,

Jolene Kaneshige Photography!