a completed moon gate awaits couples who wanted to renew their marriage vows (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger appears as a thumbnail in the 2020 photo calendar of Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens)
This is the third in a series on the floral design event in September that marked the conclusion of a state-wide series of workshops geared to wedding arrangements.
detail of a flyer and ad prepared for the state-wide floral design series of workshops (graphic design by Colin Gilliam)
Sponsored by the Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association and Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens, the Hilo workshop moved from Nani Mau Gardens into Lili`uokalani Gardens on Sunday morning, September 8. By noon there were three major locations for couples to use in renewing their marriage vows.
Alison Higgins of Grace Flowers Hawaii in Honoka`a (photo by Sarah Anderson)
Locations were scouted months in advance. This spot was chosen by Hitomi Gilliam AIFD of Vancouver BC Canada and Alison Higgins of Grace Flowers Hawaii in Honoka`a. Higgins provided the structure and her team worked on installing the design.
barrels full of flowers and foliage were needed to fill this design (photo by Rita French)
the design filled the structure front and back, top to bottom (photo by Sarah Anderson)
Tony and Judy Graaf were participants in the floral design workshop and the first couple to register for wedding vow renewal with Rev. Katlin McCallister of Church of the Holy Apostles in Hilo (photo by Sarah Anderson)
Brenna Quan, Judy Graaf, Hitomi Gilliam, Tony Graff, and Alison Higgins by the moon gate (photo by Sarah Anderson)
Cathey and Roger Kizey celebrate 50 years of marriage by heading across the Isemoto Bridge toward the moon gate where they renewed their vows with Rev. Katlin McCallister (photo by Rita French)
Cathey and Roger Kizey (photo by Rita French)
People passing by also made use of the floral structures.
The previous blog entries covered the white pillars set up near the arched stone bridge and a floral chandelier in the bamboo patch. The next blog entry will cover the background effort necessary to bring all of this beauty to the gardens.
Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens provided the registration tent, site, security, ministers, and photographers. Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association provided the floral designs, mechanics and product plus talent. The workshop participants also provided bouquets, head pieces, and lei to the ministers and couples.
At the end of the day, the structures were taken down and all the flowers were given away.
U.S. Japanese Gardens 