I am wanting to have 75 Lei at my Florida Luau after my return from my Hawaiian wedding. I can purchase the orchids cheaper than getting Lei.

It could save me a couple $100 if everyone made their lei upon arriving at the party. But I don't want to do this if it will be a lengthy or difficult task for everyone.

Anyone out there make their own Lei?

No matter how easy it is, it's an unacceptable imposition on your guests to expect them to concoct their own lei -- ironically, a symbol of hospitality. IMHO.

Anonymous: You've got a very good point. I was thinking that people would think it fun to pick the colors and combination they wanted but they may very well feel impositioned. Thanks!

Agreed...the giving of lei is steeped in tradition.

For example -- only "open" lei to pregnant ladies (lest the umbilical cord wrap around the unborn's neck).

Okay so is it okay to greet our guest with a lei. And if so, do I (female) need to greet the men and my new husband need to greet the woman - or does it not matter.

Thanks - this is getting complicated!!

No, you don't need to break up the presentations that way. Lei etiquette is based on Hawaiian tradition, not on something Emily Post came up with. As a heartfelt gift, whichever of you is closer to the guest should present it. You are supposed to kiss the recipient, tell them how great they look in it, and help them arrange it (it's worn with half in the back, not like a necklace).

There are a bunch of fertility-related traditions that you might as well ignore, unless there are going to be Hawaiians at the party. Instead, get into an Aloha frame of mind by enjoying the moment! It would be thoughtful to have plastic bags handy for the guests to put them in to take home.

Nancy- You should make the lei as the presentation with kiss and greeting is the best part of giving lei.

Buy a few lei needles when you're here and invite a couple friends to help you string them the day before. Orchids go very quickly after the first few, and you don't really need to add a bow.

With 2 kids, I must have made thousands of lei for Lei Day performances, friends' arrivals, birthday lei giving, retirements and graduations.

I'll have to admit that I buy them also... Orchids, puakenikeni and plumeria are simple. Many of the others- cigar flowers, Tahitian style ginger, pikake, for example-are either very time consuming or hard to get flowers. For those, the Lei shop is a blessing!

Oh, and I recently went to Washingon to see my daughter's college crew races. When her team won, I gave each of her mainland teammates a simple orchid lei.

I later found out that they thought that was the best...that I gave them the lei, as they said, "with a kiss, real Hawaiian Style!"

Auntiemaria and lcuy, is it true what Anonymous said about wearing the lei half back? I feel like such a dumb tourist now for wearing them like necklaces!

How long does it take you, lcuy, to make a lei after your many years of practice? (It took me 20 minutes and some pricked fingers when I was first figuring out how to do it.)

Nancy, the lei are such a lovely idea. I hope your wedding and luau are both wonderful!

Sap- Don't feel bad! Even locals let them slide forward. It just looks nicer, and is cooler, when you have them fall onto your back.

Using a lei needle, I can make orchid or Plumeria lei in maybe 5 miutes or less. You just thread about 10 onto the needle at a time, then push them onto the string. The slowest part is if I have to make a ribbon bow...I'm awful at those!

For graduation at our school, they order 20,000 plumeria to make garlands and big "bursts". Working on those gets your skill level up to speed, really fast!

for any tourists: If you do make a plumeria lei, wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes, mouth, anything else. The milk is sorta poisonous. Nothing to be alarmed about, just be sure to wash your hands! Plumeria is probably the easiest to make, don't you think lcuy? That is the first lei they teach kids to make.

Very good point Melissa! The sap can make some people itchy.

How many orchids will I need for each lei? If each lei takes 5 minutes and I can make 12 in an hour or 6 hours and if I have 2 other helpers than we can knock it out in 2 hours!!!!

Do I need to ask for certain types of orchids? Do any break while we are threading them so I should have extra? a few?

I'll make sure I learn how to make them while in Hawaii. I could maybe order the orchids from a local dealer in Florida so I would need to have them shipped from Hawaii.