Hawaii Wedding Planning with Amanda Nazario of Savvy Weddings HI
🌺 The Super Fresh Hawaii Wedding Podcast presents an exclusive interview with Amanda Nazario, owner of Savvy Weddings HI! Amanda is a top wedding coordinator in Hawaii, known for her expert planning skills and stress-free wedding experiences. In this episode, we dive into wedding timelines, vendor communication, and planning secrets that every couple should know when planning a destination wedding in Hawaii.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Domh46XVpvE5vhUUNZ3BU?si=041e1bb88b2940dd
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SuperFreshPodcast
Podcast Transcript: Full Interview with Amanda Nazario
Introduction
Nate Burgoyne (00:05)
All right. Aloha. Welcome to the Super Fresh Hawaii Wedding Podcast. This is Nate Burgoyne with the Frobaby Productions DJ team. And I am super thrilled to have Amanda from Savvy Weddings here with me today. She is a rock star wedding coordinator. Love working with her, and she has so much fun and has so much to share today. So, Amanda, welcome to the podcast.
Amanda (00:34)
Thank you! So happy to be here. Thank you so, so much. I’m very honored to be invited to be on the podcast today.
How Amanda Got Started in Wedding Planning
Nate Burgoyne (00:43)
Fantastic. Well, let’s jump into this. First, our couples and whoever may be listening to this are wondering kind of who you are. So maybe we could just start off—tell us about your story. How did you get started as a wedding coordinator?
Amanda (01:03)
Well, I am, as you said, I’m Amanda. I am now owner of Savvy Weddings Hawaii. I was originally looking for what I wanted to do after college—not really sure. I had graduated from Manoa with a degree in marketing, and I was just like, not really sure what I wanted to do.
My best friend and my older brother got married in the same summer. I had the opportunity to be maid of honor and a bridesmaid in those weddings. And I got to work closely with the venue contact at both of them. I was really excited about what they were doing. And I was like, I want to do that. This seems fun.
Both of those weddings were in California, where I’m originally from. And when I got back to Hawaii after those two, I reached out to a few wedding planners on the island. I was like, I have zero experience. I’m just interested in the industry. I would love the opportunity to learn.
I met with Jen Kahunahana, the original owner of Savvy Weddings. She interviewed me, asked me a few questions, made sure I knew how to tie a bow—which I later found out was because she didn’t know how to tie a cute bow. So she needed me to tie cute bows.
Then I worked a few weddings for her, and we decided it was a good fit. And then it just kept going. I was an assistant for a few years, and then I worked my way all the way up to lead planner. And then in 2021, post-COVID, after going through all that, her and I had a conversation, and she was like, Hey, you’ve been basically doing it yourself. Do you want to do this full time and take it on?
And yeah, I bought the business from her—with actually a bride of mine, Sandra, who is married to my high school classmate. So it’s a very tight-knit family over here.
What’s the Best Part of Wedding Planning?
Nate Burgoyne (03:18)
That’s super exciting. So you chose to be in this industry. You didn’t just fall into it accidentally, I suppose.
Amanda (03:26)
Yeah. Yeah, I definitely chose it. It was presented to me, I guess, in an unconventional way.
Nate Burgoyne (03:39)
What is your favorite part about helping couples plan their wedding? Like, what keeps you driven with the endless enthusiasm that you have?
Amanda (03:55)
Wedding day—absolutely wedding day.
That’s, I think, part of what I fell in love with in the beginning. The day of my brother’s wedding and my best friend’s wedding was so fun to me, even though it’s crazy and chaotic sometimes. It’s so much fun and everyone’s in a good mood. It’s the peak of it.
Hearing the guests come up to the couple and tell them, This is the best wedding I’ve ever been to! That moment is amazing.
How to Create a Stress-Free Wedding Timeline
Nate Burgoyne (06:59)
Love it. Now, you just mentioned you love it when the couples come up and say, That was the best wedding ever!
I’m sure couples listening now are going, Okay, I want my wedding to be the best wedding ever! So, what are you going to tell the couples? What do they need to be thinking about? What’s the key to success for an unforgettable wedding?
Amanda (07:28)
I think being mindful of guest experience is huge.
- You are creating a space for all your loved ones.
- You want everyone to feel comfortable.
- You don’t want to lack shade if it’s needed.
- If your guests love a certain type of music, lean toward that.
Just being mindful of everybody that’s a part of the wedding is what makes the event successful.
Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Amanda
Nate Burgoyne (36:11)
Amanda, where can couples find you?
Amanda (36:30)
💍 Website: https://savvyweddingshi.com
📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/savvyweddings
Nate Burgoyne (37:00)
Fantastic. Well, Amanda, thank you so much for being on our podcast today. One of our first official guests of the Super Fresh Hawaii Wedding Podcast!
🎧 Listen to the full episode:
🔗 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Domh46XVpvE5vhUUNZ3BU?si=041e1bb88b2940dd
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SuperFreshPodcast
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