Barricades and barriers, road blocks and restricted areas, early on it’s clear this will not be your typical week and weekend in Waikiki.
On top of APEC Friday will also be a day that only happens once every 100 years: 11-11-11. A day many couples hope to tie the knot – while wedding vendors are steering clear.
"It’s impacted us quite tremendously, we’ve actually had to decline a lot of weddings because of the anticipation of all the traffic and with APEC in the hub of Waikiki," SAYS Naomi Lee, Les Saisons owner.
Les Saisons fine linen and chair covers turned several customers away who wanted to wed in Waikiki .
"With APEC on top of that, it’s unfortunate that it all has to happen all at once," says Lee.
She’s not alone, vendors like Cake Works also opted not not take clients who are having an 11-11-11 wedding in Waikiki.
"Some of my vendor friends totally avoided this weekend," says Cecilia Domingo, co-owner The Bridal Boutique.
The Bridal Boutique has a dozen brides they’re working with for this weekend, most are booked at venues far from town.
"With all the dignitaries coming in tomorrow I think it’s going to be crazy," says Domingo. "Videographers, photographers are in transit I’m hoping everyone gets to their destination on time."
There’s at least one bride who is not letting APEC stand in the way of her dream wedding. She’s planning to say I do at the Hale Koa.
"They have to get cleared I know even the cake vendor was mentioning she needs to be cleared as well as her cake needs to be scanned to make sure everything is set up for the wedding," says Tessa Gomes, The Wedding Café General Manager.
The couple also had to submit their guest list far in advance.
"This will be a wedding they will never forget," says Gomes.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
