Lauren, and her wedding coordinator, Karine from Seasons of Life Events came to us with a sunset colored wedding palate – lots of orange, yellow and peach colors, for her modern style wedding at the Oceanfront Oasis in Hawaii Kai.

For our lovely bride’s bouquet we used a variety of white football mums, movie star roses, capriccio garden roses, peach spray roses, yellow mokara orchids, peachy yellow peruvian lilies, and white dendrobium orchids.

The bridesmaid bouquets consisted of capriccio garden roses, movie star roses, yellow mokara orchids and coral mokara orchids.

Guest table centerpieces included 3 clusters in our white, modern, square vases of movie star roses, yellow carnations and capriccio garden roses.  A single yellow carnation bloom brought in some extra color at each place setting.

One of our favorite pieces from this wedding was the custom cake flower arrangement on our raised pedestal table with a bed of moss, and a mixed variety of flowers.

Congratulations Lauren & Kyle – we were thrilled to be a part of your wedding!

More photos from this wedding can be found in our Look Book, and this is what Lauren had to say about our services.

I am so thankful for Shilhi and the fabulous work she did for our wedding. I had a modest budget but still wanted a look of sophisticated, lush, vibrant bouquets and centerpieces. Shilhi made our vision come to life; I couldn’t have imagined such creativity and uniqueness that she put into translating a “sunset glow” theme into beautiful floral arrangements. Just as important, she is super professional and fun to work with. We had absolutely no logistical issues, but did receive many compliments on how beautiful the flowers were. Thank you Shilhi for your wonderful work!

Coordination: Seasons of Life Events

Photography: Rachel Robertson

Venue: Oceanfront Oasis

Florals: Passion Roots

Today the Passion Roots studio is featured as part of the Wall Street Journal’s online series of “Inspiring Workplaces”.

For us, as an added bonus, we love working where we do.  In designing the studio, Shilhi felt it was important to create a beautiful and functional work environment.  The studio holds various functions – a place to meet with clients for consultations, a work area for processing and designing flowers, an space to conduct the many tasks of running a business and a storage area for the many props and rental items.

One of Shilhi’s favorite pieces found in her studio is an old coffee table that was cut in half and repurposed as two side countertop tables.  Another prized possession is her vintage French desk.  Many of the décor items were found at second hand stores or garage sales and incorporated into her “romantic glam with a vintage twist” style studio.  Even the floral sink was rescued from a soon-to-be demolished house.

Being surrounded by beautiful things, the Passion Roots studio is truly an inspiring place to work, especially when helping couples plan the “wedding of their dreams”.

(Photos below courtesy of Marina Miller of Red Heart Photo)

(Photos below courtesy of Taryn Reid Photography)

For more photos from the Passion Roots Studio Launch, visit out Look Book HERE.

For her gorgeous bouquet we used white garden roses, spray roses, white phalenopsis with pink centers, white cymbidium orchids, fuchsia cattleya orchids, fuchsia mokara orchids, accented with white feathers, and wrapped in a white satin dressing with our popular “bling” rhinestone trim.

For more photos from this wedding, please check out our Look Book.  Congratulations Betty and Wei!

Coordination: Finishing Touch

Photography: Visionari

Venue: Oceanfront Oasis

Florals: Passion Roots

Tiare is a stunning bride, and her bouquet was filled with gorgeous purple mokara orchids, purple-blue vanda orchids, black calla lilies, dark green lisianthus, and white runuculus, with black feather accents.

They chose a variety of centerpieces for their reception – white wedding trees accented with mokara orchids, moss and hanging crystals and a cluster of vases filled with purple lisianthus, tulips, and mokara orchids.  One of my favorite accents for this “tech wedding” was using wire wrapped around the trees and vases to look like computer USB cables.  For more photos from this wedding, please check out our Look Book.

Congratulations Tiare and Gary!

Venue: Halekulani

Coordination: Weddings by Grace & Mona

Photography: Kai Photo

Lighting and Linens: REA

Cake: Sunshine’s Cake Creations

Florals: Passion Roots

Tiare and Gary’s wedding has also been featured in the following:

MacLife – “When Apple Meets Droid: The Wedding of the Century?”

KITV’s Morning Show – Social Wire: An iPhone and Android Wedding

Weddings by Grace & Mona for The Knot – Featured Wedding #16: Tiare and Gary

Monique was open to fun ideas such as vintage clear vases and milk glass vases filled with all sorts of exotic florals.  Vintage frames with floral art served as guest registration pieces and lit bird cages were all dolled with orchids and soft foliage.

I didn’t want to leave the ballroom when we finished her head table piece. It was so pretty! Her lush southern garden was filled with mini hydrangeas, lisianthus, dusty miller, spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, ornamental kale, freesia, and infused with mokara and phalaenopsis orchids!

Thank you Monique and Nathan for giving me the opportunity to run wild with your ideas!

Coordination: Katy Castillo Weddings

Photography: Christie Pham

Venue: Moana Surfrider

Florals: Passion Roots

Congrats Brenda & Scott – we wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

Venue: Oceanfront Oasis

Coordination: Seasons of Life Events

Photography: L’Amour Photography

Linens: Les Saisons

Florals: Passion Roots

Shilhi and Passion Roots were included in the premier issue of the Hawaii Book.  The Crave book series has been published in over 28 US cities, and in Canada and Europe.

At their launch party, held at the Honolulu Design Center’s Cupola Theatre, Shilhi featured an art installation piece, as well as a registration and several cocktail arrangements.  A big shout out to our friends Kristin Kato from A Cake Life, Karine France-Matsumoto of Seasons of Life Events and Naomi Lee of Les Saisons who were also featured in the book.

The CRAVE Hawaii Books are available for purchase from Passion Roots ($19.95) and will be available soon at local Barnes and Noble stores and online at Amazon.

Thank you to Kristin Kato and Leena Haija for sharing their photos with us.

Congrats Shilhi – we’re so proud of you!

And if you haven’t already heard…

PLUSH by Passion Roots is a floral boutique servicing wedding and special events, as well as corporate, commercial, residential and everyday needs on the island of Oahu.

Inspired by Passion Roots, our full-service, award winning, couture floral and decor line, clients can now purchase our signature botanical art designs in boutique fashion, with no floral minimum.  Fresh, unexpected and natural – Plush specializes in a unique and personal experience!

Packages will be available soon, but we are currently taking custom design orders.

• Bridal Bouquets starting at $225.00
• Matching Groom Boutineer starting at $22.00
• Bridesmaids Bouquets starting at $115.00
• Matching Groomsmen Boutineer starting at  $22.00
• Centerpiece designs available

Included is a 30 minute free wedding consultation, as well as e-mail communication.  To secure your date a $50.00 deposit is required upon booking.  Contact us for more information.

We incorporated an outdoor Candyland theme filled with vintage-looking tables, chairs and café style pieces.  The first section mimicked an indoor garden style café with a wall filled with fake greenery and a custom designed chalkboard. The ceiling treatment consisted of wooden branches filled with fun lighting.

Another wall was filled with large mirrored lollipops and a custom swirled table top and seating. Can you tell we had so much fun doing this?  The larger section included an outdoor teal canopy with a larger than life French-looking chandelier all dolled up!

Little did we know we would put the room to good use with the celebration of one of our own Passion Roots babies.  From before Alison was born she had us all wrapped around her little finger.  Her baby shower was all planned when she sent her mommy, Elana (our Business and Client Relations Manager) into pre-term labor and was put on bed rest.  Then she decided to stay put another three weeks so instead of a baby shower we had a “celebration of life” party for Baby Ali after she was born.

The event, a chic soiree, was based around a pink color palate with pops of bright fushia.  Guests were asked to wear a shade of pink to celebrate everything girly.  We incorporated pink tulips, garden roses, queen anne’s lace, ranunculus, lotus pods, white peacock feathers and whispy fiolage into the arrangements and wreath.

We collaborated with Karine France-Matsumoto of Seasons of Life for event planning and styling.  Each guest was treated to a vintage glass table setting, colorful cloth napkins, a bath salt and loofah favor table and an array of delectable bite-sized treats: chicken salad croissants, strawberries, truffles, muffins and tasty chips!

Kristin Kato from A Cake Life created a beautiful 3-tier white buttercream cake, embellished with tiers of textured buttercream, silver dragees boarder trimming, buttercream ruffling, handmade sugar jewel brooches, appliques and topper design.  There were also yellow butter cupcakes with fresh strawberry cream filling topped with white buttercream and handmade sugar jewel brooch and a cupcake bouquets of mini yellow butter cupcakes topped with white buttercream in a bouquet style arrangement accent with crystal butterfly picks.  And believe me, they tasted even better than they looked!

And last but not least, the amazing Ashley Smith of Taryn Reid Photography provided us with beautiful photography of the event.

Thank you to the wonderful team of vendors who helped make this special event happen!  From left - Shilhi of Passion Roots, Karine of Seasons of Life, Ashley of Taryn Reid Photography and Kristin of  A Cake Life.  Missing: Jodi of Cupcake Boutique.

When choosing and working with your wedding cake baker, there are several key ingredients that are a MUST…besides the cake tasting.

1. The ability to create a yummy, delicious cake
2. The ability to catch your most awesome vision
3. Ability to design, deliver, and hold a functional design-based cake through your entire event.  Cake designers are architects too…
4. Top notch customer service

Kristin Kato, owner of A Cake Life not only has all these ingredients, but the “icing on the cake” is that she is warm, super sweet, and organized!  She has been such a great vendor to work with in so many of our weddings, photo shoots, and special events. Kristin has always gone above and beyond in capturing my personal design vision as a stylist for my clients.  I hope you are able experience Kristin’s special creations for your special event!

When did you start A Cake Life and what was the inspiration behind your company?

I got started making cakes when I was a paralegal. After finishing my undergrad at the University of Oregon, I came back to Honolulu with the intent of attending law school at UH.  So, I got a job as a paralegal at an Employment and Labor litigation firm. I worked there for 2 years and during that time, I realized law wasn’t for me.  This was the same time the cool cake shows like Ace of Cakes first aired on the Food Network.  I was amazed at their creativity and artistry.  I signed up for a basic cake decorating class at a craft store, and then took a few more classes at Cake Creations Dessert Haven where I got to learn hands on.  I had a wonderful experience there and am more than grateful for all they taught me. From there, I went on to study learn all I could about design, sugar artistry and how to start a business! A Cake Life opened in July 2009 and it’s been a truly exciting and rewarding experience.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I gain inspiration from fashion – incorporating styles and textures like pleating, ruffles, brooches, weaving or quilting.  I love to incorporate elements from couples invitations or Save the Date cards.  My personal philosophy is ‘less is more’ and I love to create a clean, basic cake in a contemporary style, accented with simple, elegant elements of color, flowers or touches so the details can be showcased.

Are most of your designs original, or do you re-create previous designs?

We give each and every detail of your wedding cake special attention so its customized based on your request.  We believe each cake should be reflective of the style and personality of the 2 of you as a couple. Each cake is unique and no two are the same.  We encourage you to integrate your personality and interest to truly customize your wedding cake.

What’s the average cost for a wedding cake?

Of course prices vary depending on size, serving amount, design, sugar versus fresh flowers, tier risers or lifts and so on.  A standard size 3 tier cake (which yields approximately 72-96 servings) can range between $300-$600.

Cupcake wedding cakes are another popular option.  They allow for more flavor selection and are easy to serve.

The price of a cupcake wedding cake is dependent on the quantity needed, size of cupcakes (we offer minis, a regular and a regular filled cupcake), cupcake design, embellishments, etc. For A Cake Life, our minimum order is 60 regular and/or regular filled cupcakes or 96 mini cupcakes.  With the cupcakes and cake topper, the cupcake tree starts at $200.

On average, how many cakes do you make in a year?

While our main focus is definitely wedding cakes we also do birthday, event or corporate cakes.  Last year was our first full year in business and we did 60 wedding cakes, and 30 birthday/other cakes.  This year so far we have orders for 150 wedding cakes and 18 birthday/other cakes so we’ve more than doubled in business.

What is the best thing about your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is when our clients are thrilled and excited about their cake on their special day.  Your wedding day is the start of your new life together and we are honored to contribute to your special day.

What was the most memorable cake you have made so far?

We made a surprise grooms cake of a red Audi convertible with the couples 2 dogs sitting in the front seat.  The dogs were wearing a black top hat for the groom and a white veil for the bride.  The bride asked us to integrate their special inside joke catch phrase on the license plate and their wedding date on the other.  All the guests got the inside joke and the groom was stoked to see his surprise cake!

What is your favorite cake flavor/frosting combination?

Our most popular wedding cake flavor is our Yellow Butter Cake with Fresh Strawberry Cream filling and our Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Filling.  My personal fav is Devils Food Chocolate cake with Cookies N Cream filling.  You can’t go wrong with yummy Oreo whipped filling, Boxing reminds me snacking on Oreos as a kid!

What do you like to do when you’re not baking cakes?

When I’m not working, you’ll find me going to the dog park with my Rocky or hosting game night at my house with our friends.  We always have fun playing board games (love Cranium and Taboo). We set up bracket tournaments with our XBox Kinect and sometimes play Mah Jong!

And here are some of Kristin’s cakes that we have collaborated on.  Enjoy the eye candy!