Creating Perfect Weddings

Kahu Wayne Vidinha marries James and Roberta Carreira, winners of the wedding contest

Haunani and Mark Rossi
Kaua’i Aloha Weddings

Tell us about your business. I’m a wedding coordinator. My husband Mark is a professional musician by trade, he plays Hawaiian slack-key guitar and ukulele. We used to do a lot of weddings for Honolulu-based companies, but after the hurricane, there was no work. So we decided to form our own company. In 1994, Kaua’i Aloha Weddings was established.

What’s the busiest time of year for weddings? May through September.

What do you find most rewarding about your business? Seeing that a couple is happy and sharing the beauty of Hawai’i with them, because it doesn’t just end with the wedding. A lot of times they’ll call us and ask us where to stay and what to do while they’re here.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your business? Weather. You give them options. If it’s raining, we can take it to a church, move to another location, move to another date or work around it with umbrellas, based on how many people are involved. If there are more than 10 people, you would look into a tent. We’ll watch the weather and see where it is and make that decision as it gets closer to the time.

Mark Rossi performs for guests at the Carreira wedding

What size are the weddings usually? Anywhere from just the couple to up to 50 people.

What sets your business apart? We’re very service-oriented. We meet all of our couples prior to the wedding and we have a one-onone relationship with them. They know us and they know they can call us anytime. We are available 24 hours a day to them.

What motivates you to get up and go to work? Just making people happy.

What are your plans for the future? Hopefully someday to be able to pass the business on to someone who will be just as successful as my husband and I.

Haunani Rossi assists Ted Sadaria, the uncle of the bride, before he walks Roberta Carreira down the aisle

Why did you decide to organize Kaua’i’s Wedding of A Lifetime giveaway for a couple in need? I just wanted to give back to the community. I read an article in Hawaii Bride and Groom magazine that they give this wedding away to a couple, and I wanted Kaua’i to participate. So I approached different vendors and asked if they wanted to be a part of it. We started last year. It’s so rewarding, and the couples are so appreciative of what they get. I hope to do it every year.

How can couples win? They have to enter through

Hawai’i Bride and Groom magazine. People in Honolulu pick them, and the advertising is through OC-16. All we know is who the winners are and then we know what they’re getting. Anyone in the state of Hawai’i can win. This year, Roberta and James Carreira of Ewa Beach, O’ahu, won. Maui, O’ahu and Kaua’i have been giving away weddings. I hope to get people from here to enter next year.

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