Beautiful Wedding Destinations

When it come to planning a destination wedding you two as a couple must make many decisions . However, the most important and often the first step in this process is deciding where you will have your guests travel to enjoy your wedding. Sometimes couples choose locations inside the U.S. while others choose to travel abroad for their big day. There are arguably thousands of beautiful wedding locations all over the world but everyone has their favorites, including us!

In the heart of one of the busiest cities in the world there is the calm Central Park. This park has proven to be a beautiful backdrop for your wedding in any season with an array of grottos , formal gardens, and beautiful fountains. With so many options for you to choose from it would be rather easy for you to center your wedding around any given part of the park. The surrounding city also serves as a wonderful experience for your guests who have never been to New York City.

As one of the top botanical gardens in the country , Chicago’s botanical gardens has plenty to offer for your perfect wedding.You and your guests can take in the beautiful sights and smells of the freshly bloomed flowers at your spring wedding. A favorite of many visitors is the rose terrace, so you can showcase that terrace during your cocktail hour or even at your reception.

This beautiful destination in San Antonio, TX , affectionately known as Marriage Island is known for its architecture and beautiful scenery. This island in the middle of San Antonio’s Riverwalk is a popular location for weddings hence the name. The island is most beautiful in December when the trees are decorated in 100,000 twinkling lights.

For those of you who would like to go international on your wedding day , Inverlochy Castle in Fort William, Scotland is sure to please. There isn’t a bride around that will deny that getting married in such a grand castle makes her feel like a princess.When she spent a week at Inverlochy in 1873, Queen Victoria wrote “I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot.” While you and your guests simply enjoy the sites of such a beautiful location you can also enjoy the period decor that adorns the castle as well as wonderful gourmet cuisine.

Most couples choose a destination such as an island so that they can enjoy their wedding and honeymoon without having to pack again for another day of traveling. This is where this beautiful jewel in the Indian Ocean comes in, Mauritius is sure to please all of your senses. If getting married on a beautiful island isn’t enough the beautiful white sand beaches will be sure to engage you and your guests. And when the day is over you will be able to retreat to your private bungalow on the beach, is there anything else you even have to know?

Whether  you choose to stay in the U.S. for your wedding or go abroad your there are plenty of destinations that will lend plenty of inspiration to your wedding.

ENJOY!!!

Wedding Disasters and How to Solve Them

With all of the planning that goes into your wedding day you don’t expect anything to go wrong, until it does. Instead of freaking out and ruining your big day over minor mishaps you can find ways to amend each and every situation.

1. Rain on your wedding day , when you have outdoor venue.

No one wants rain on their wedding day no matter how lucky anyone tells you it is. When searching for an outdoor venue make sure that the location also has an indoor venue for just in case purposes. If you can, secure both the indoor and outdoor venues at that location. However, If you cannot it would be wise to invest in tents and plenty of umbrellas for your guests. If you can help it choose a wedding date that isn’t in the “rain season” if you absolutely must have an outdoor wedding.

2. You wake up with a huge zit on your wedding day.

Trust me, it is not the end of the world and you will not ruin your pictures.You can use items like Preparation H or Visine in order to reduce redness and swelling. The most important thing you need to remember is not to pop any zits, this only makes it harder for the make-up artist to cover up.If you still do not feel comfortable with the make up covering your zit in your pictures you and your photographer can talk about ways to hide it. This can be done by choosing specific angles and distances to shoot from, yes it may require some more work but it will pay off in your photos.

3. Your Bridesmaids dresses don’t fit.

Yes most would assume that this should not be a problem due to multiple dress fittings but it can happen. In order to cover up an undone button or zipper that will only zip halfway have your bridesmaids get matching wraps. This allows for them to wear them down the aisle in the event that anyone’s dress is too snug.If you are worried about the wraps being in your pictures have your bridesmaids either take them off or wear them in one specific way .With the matching wraps your bridesmaids will even look coordinated when they are a bit chilly at then of the night.

4. You forget the rings/marriage license.

Of all the disaster to occur on your wedding day this is the most common of them all. You can avoid this happening by handing both the rings and the marriage license to your maid of honor and best man the night before at the rehearsal dinner. However, this is not a fool proof approach either. In the event that they are left home anyway designate a close friend or family member that is not apart of the wedding party to go home and grab the items for you just incase they are left.

5. Your cake melts of collapses.

This is one that happens far to often for professional comfort. If you are afraid that your tall cake will not survive the entire night see if the venue’s staff can store it in their walk in fridge until dinner time. You should also consider choosing fondant instead of buttercream frosting if you plan to have your reception in a humid or warm atmosphere. You should also discuss the conditions of the environment with the cakes baker so that they can assure the sturdiness of your sugary confection.

Doing simple things to cover yourself in case of emergency is always an important part of having a drama free day.

ENJOY!!!

 

 

Wedding Media: Videos and Pics

The only thing more important than living and loving on your big day is being able to look back at that day for years and years to come. This requires you to have images and video from your big day. For most people this includes everything from the preparation for the ceremony all the way to the end of your reception.However, choosing exactly how you want to execute your photos and videos can be very challenging.

A wedding video is a great live representation of the love and happiness that you and your guest experienced on your wedding day. Therefore choosing the right way to capture this video is a very important step in securing a videographer. You should ask about the videographer’s past wedding experience, whether he or she has video samples for you to view, what type of equipment they will be using, and what packages they will offer to fit your budget. After all, your video needs to be perfect so please ask as many questions as you need to. Also discuss what you would like to see done with your video, you can do this by citing other wedding videos that you have seen, this way you and the videographer are both on the same page. After all aspects of your video have been discussed you and the videographer should make a written agreement so that the two of you know exactly what to expect on your wedding day. An important note ; if you know of a videographer that you absolutely want to use book them six or more months in advance of your wedding day.

The only thing that will probably last longer than your wedding video will be the photos. This is all the more reason to make sure that you choose the best photographer for the job. Just like with the videographer make sure that you and the photographer go over all of the particulars of your big day. Assure that you voice all of your opinions , wants, and needs in order to see how they can be accommodated on the day of the wedding. If you have a particular place in mind for your photos let the photographer know ahead of time so that he or she can plan for what equipment they need to bring for the specific environment. You can also request that the photographer and videographer work together or are a package deal to assure that the pictures and videos look like they are coming from the same wedding. Just like you would do with the videographer have a written agreement drawn up so that you are clear on what is expected on the day of your wedding.

In all you should be looking forward to how much fun you are going to have while shooting the wedding video or taking wedding pictures. A stressful environment leaves very little space for fun times.

ENJOY!!!

 

Reading Between the Lines: Wedding Licenses , Counseling, etc.

Ok great! You’ve got the guy and the ring and now all you can think about is planning the wedding of your dreams. While this is absolutely normal you also need to consider the other things that come along with planning a successful wedding and marriage.

Simply saying “I Do” is not all it takes to be married these days. The first thing you need to do after you’re engaged is to start looking into marriage licensing laws where you live. The requirements and fees for obtaining a marriage license vary from state-to-state .  Once you are aware of the laws in your state then it will be time to proceed with applying for your license, this process will require both of you to be present as well as a witness such as the maid-of-honor or best man. Though most license’s are granted within 48 hours of the application it is important that you choose to obtain the license closer to your wedding day because they are only valid for a few months.Once this is done the person who will be marrying you two will have to also sign the license after your ceremony and mail it to the proper offices to be filed.

Another thing to check off while planning your big day is pre-marital counseling. Though most couples feel that they do not need counseling so early on it will help the two of you for many great reasons. For example, The counseling will help you strengthen your communication skills this will allow the two of you to properly discuss issues rather than arguing pointlessly for hours on end, it will also prevent the two of you from going to bed mad at one another. Counseling can also help the two of you develop goals for yourselves as a family , this way you both know what the other is working towards and what you need to help your spouse reach that goal.

Nothing can kill the happiness of wedding planning faster than a prenup. But with one in three first marriages ending in divorce , a prenup is the best way to protect yourself and your finances if things were to ever go downhill. Though it is not very romantic more and more couples find themselves discussing prenuptial agreements as a way to put all of their financial cards on the table before proceeding to marriage . You do not have to be rich however to have a prenup drawn up for the two of, it is just a way for the two of you to discuss in writing what you will do in the event of a divorce. Contrary to popular beliefs this does not mean that you two are planning for a divorce so don’t think of it that way.

Once all of the paper-work has been signed and counseling has been done you two will find that the rest is easy sailing. Though marriage is not easy it is a partnership that the two of you should want to build on every single day. ENJOY!!!

Weddings at Home

Most people know the saying, “there is no place like home” , but does that also apply when it comes to your wedding.Whether it’s the home you two share, a childhood home for one of you , or the families sprawling vacation property having an at-home wedding has become an option for many couples. The only bigger question once you choose to do this is how can you do it right?

First things first, an at-home wedding is a rather small and intimate affair, that means that you cannot invite everyone you would like to, so if you cannot commit to having a small guest list then finding a ceremony venue would probably be best.You should make sure that even if your guest list is manageable for the events that may take place in the properties backyard, that the same amount of people can fit inside in case of rain. Once this portion of your planning has been discussed and you have settled upon a number of guests you can move on to the next portion of your planning so you can decide on what portions of the house or property the ceremony will take place in.

Having an indoor ceremony is not always the easiest of tasks. This will require you to clear out one of the biggest “common” rooms in your home in order for our guest to be comfortable while witnessing your ceremony. This will also require you to crank up the air conditioning a few hours before the ceremony so that it isn’t uncomfortably warm when all of your guests cram into one space. You can add a nice touch by using plenty of candle light to add an intimate glow to the room.If your not too into the addition of  actual warmth with the candles then you can use your white christmas lights to add the same warm glow.

A wedding ceremony in your backyard can also lend itself to intimacy on your big day. With the limited amount of guests , you will not need to use microphones in order for all of your guests to hear you exchange vows. You will also be able to make a seamless transition into your cocktail hour and reception depending on the amount of space and the way you have positioned these activities on the property.

An indoor reception is best for those cooler months out of the year. Just like the indoor ceremony it lends itself to a much closer feel for you and your guests. Also, you will be able to use your dining room in the same manner that you used your ceremony space, intimate candle light or false candle light can add the perfect glow while you and your guests share dinner. You will also be able to make a few CD’s that will play while you and your guests are enjoying the rest of the evening , that eliminates the need for a DJ or band.

An outdoor reception can give you and your guests more space to relax, mingle, and of course dance. Depending on the weather at the time of your reception and the amount of people you may need to rent a tent with a sturdy floor for dancing. With a bigger outdoor venue a simple CD player may not suffice so you will need to look into ways to either amplify your music selections or getting a DJ or band.Your outdoor venue also allows children the opportunity to run and play without the well-known restrictions of “running in the house”.

Though many couples love the idea of an at-home wedding and reception it does not always make it the cheapest option. There are still more expenses that you will need to consider once you choose to wed at home. You will most definitely need to rent tables, chairs, table settings , linens and much more. You will most likely need a tent for an outdoor event and not to mention a caterer as well as a private space for the caterer to prepare your plated dinners or your buffet. You will also need to invest time in getting the proper permits for your event, whether it’s for all the parking your guests will take up in the residential neighborhood or the loud music from your reception late into the night.

No matter what you choose to do, remember that your wedding day will be as beautiful as you two make it. ENJOY!!!

Seasonal Weddings 101

The four seasons of the year play a large part in the things we do, when we vacation, what we wear, how often we’re out ,and a whole list of other things. But, mainly the seasons dictate when we will get married. This can be because you prefer one season over another , you want specific weather when you honeymoon, or you want certain flowers for your bouquet.

A beautiful winter wedding can feature beautiful shades ice blue and frosty silver, traditional christmas red and green, or you can choose to go all the way formal with a black and white scheme. The use of candles at your ceremony and reception can help your guests shake off the cold from outside. With this season your reception menu can also feature some heavy comfort foods that people usually enjoy in the cooler weather. The bride and her bridesmaids can use the winter cold as an excuse to pull out their beautiful white furs, they add a certain formal elegance to any ceremony as well as the pictures.

The spring offers a lot to any type of wedding you’re looking to have. As the season of new beginnings your spring ceremony can feature fresh green flower buds as well as newly bloomed flowers. This is the perfect season for a garden wedding due to the abundance of new flowers around you and the calm weather for the season. Choosing a spring wedding means that you have plenty of flowers to choose from for your bouquet, as well as a promise for beautiful weddings pictures when everything is said and done. The season also gives you the opportunity to experiment with beautiful pastels for your bridesmaid dresses. The groom and groomsmen also have the opportunity to change-up their wardrobes using lighter fabrics and colors.

Warm summer weather can do a lot to enhance your wedding ceremony and reception. Most couples take advantage of the weather and wed outside on a sunny beach, a beautiful outdoor wedding venue, and at times even their own backyard. This gives you the opportunity to play with different brightly colored flowers for your bouquet as well as many vibrant colors for your decor and bridal party that will pop under the summer sun. and after the wedding is all over you two can get away and vacation under the blissful summer sun.

And last but absolutely not least is the wonderful crisp fall wedding. This gives you the opportunity to utilize each and every color of the season. You can opt to have a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the brisk autumn air while you and your guests party the night away indoors to stay out of the cool night-time air. The “in between” weather of the season gives you a lot of options to choose from. Again this is another season where you can put filling comfort foods on your menu to warm your guests before they head out into the chilly night-time air. The fun of a fall wedding is all in the colors and how you will use them to enhance your ceremony, this season also gives you the best wedding pictures due to the leaves that will line your background.

No matter what season you choose there is a season for every bride– and a , well you know the rest. ENJOY!!!

 

 

 

Honeymoon Hopping

Ok , so once the wedding is over and you and the hubby are ready to kick back and enjoy your honeymoon where do you go?

Where ever you go the two of you must both be excited to be there, but what if you have different locations in mind?

Well yea you could choose one place and stay for about a week, or you could choose about two or three places you’d like to visit and do them all.This is called honeymoon hopping and it can be so much fun if planned correctly.

First things first, how can you “honeymoon hop” successfully? Well this can be done by paying a visit to your travel agent, there are packages that exist so that you can island hop without paying a fortune for your travels. However, you must keep in mind that if your going to go from place to place that they should be in the same general area because jet-setting across the world can be pricey ( for the average person at least).

After you’ve looked at your travel possibilities it’s important to decide what you would like to do while honeymooning. Some couples choose to spend alone time and relax while others choose to have their days jam-packed with activities, while most try to find time for both. If this is the case you would want to find a destination where you can play and another where you can relax, this way you two can explore both while vacationing together.

And last but absolutely not least, make sure that your trip is designed to have fun. This type of traveling is not for everyone, so if you feel that you may be doing too much then sit back and enjoy one location with each other. Some resorts feature round-trip ferry’s to the surrounding islands free of charge, so if you’re not adventurous enough to “hop” then give that option a try. You can explore other islands while staying in one hotel room and at one resort your entire trip.

Happy Trails!!!

 

Celebrity Weddings

When they aren’t spending time finding new ways to entertain the masses celebrity’s also have down time. Some use them to relax and spend time with their own families and some use it to fall in love and then of course get married. The most beautiful of celebrity wedding occur in the summer and though the summer is not over yet a few celebrities have kicked of the summer with their beautiful and surprisingly simple and classic weddings

Kicking off the summer weddings was Victoria secrets model Lily Aldridge and Kings of Leon singer Caleb Followill on May 12, 2011 in Montecito , CA .The couple exchanged vows at sunset in front of a small group of friends and family at the San Ysidro ranch.Both the bride and groom changed their attire after the ceremony to some much more relaxed attire. After that they shared dinner with their guests in front of the outside fireplace under the summer evening sky. Though this couple is very well-known you will find that they did things very low-key and intimate , a welcome aversion from their day-to-day lives.

The next beautiful summer wedding of Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton was one that featured plenty of southern comfort.This couple wed on May 14, 2011 in front of a large group of wedding guests. The Bride and her bridesmaids paired beautiful cowboy boots with their dresses while the groom paired some wrangler jeans with his suit jacket, vest , and tie. Their ceremony took place in a candle-lit barn filled with plenty of country accents like rustic glass , twigs , and honeysuckle. The couple recited vows while standing on a cowhide rug beneath an arch made of antlers. At the conclusion of the vows, they walked back up the aisle to “Happy Trails” and hopped into Lambert’s red ’55 Chevy truck to head to the reception. They were met by the bridal party who took hay rides to the party.

This next simply beautiful summer wedding is that of Tamera Mowry and Adam Housely. This duo married in Napa, CA. on May 15, 2011 , while the bride wore a classic white strapless gown the groom paired his tuxedo with converse’s. During the ceremony the couple paid homage to their parents by presenting them all with long-stemmed roses. After the ceremony was over the happy couple went on to their rustic wine country inspired reception. Their reception featured decorated wooden farm tables , beautiful pale pink and white flowers, and hundreds of candles. Their wedding also featured late night snacks of cupcakes as well as a taco truck when the guests were leaving.

As if the above weddings stressed less is most definitely more when it comes to your wedding. So if your going to draw inspiration from a celebrity wedding please remember that at times extravagance can be spared. ENJOY!!!

Choosing a wedding theme is often challenging because it will dictate every aspect of your big day. First off you should decide whether you will be choosing a color theme or if you will be choosing an actual concept to model your wedding after.If your choosing colors that can be a rather easy concept to follow, but choosing an actual concept can take you on a trip through the crazy and unusual but it is not that difficult.

 If your a big cartoon or comic book buff than this theme is definitely for you. However, there is a thin line between perfectly executed and over excessive. It is fun for you and your groom to dress up like your favorite characters , but if you are going to include your guests in the fun please be sure to give them specific guidelines. Your theme can transfer over into your reception venue with the food , decor , and choices of music. Keep in mind that not all of your guest will love and participate in your theme but that is also ok.

Let’s say your big on history and love a certain era, you can have a historic theme for your wedding. Your theme can focus on your favorite period or your favorite era. This theme is also one that your guests can take part in by dressing the part. You can also have this theme transfer over to your reception space with things like the food and decor. Choosing a point in history can be very fun for some of your guests especially if it is a time period in which they were living and having fun. Remember to have fun with this theme but also make sure your elements are accurate because if it is not someone can and possibly will call you on it.

If you two as a couple are madly in love with movies than you would probably choose a movie theme. Your movie theme can either be focused on one specific movie or you can just pay homage to movies in general. Most couples who do not choose a specific movie like to pay homage to old hollywood, this can be a fun theme to work with because you two can enjoy all the luxury and glamour of the era. Like this couple whose reception was in an old movie theatre, having your name on a marquee can be a great addition to your night. This theme is one that all of your guests can enjoy because they will be able to take part in the glamour of the night as well.

The most popular of themes are those that focus on a couples career or favorite pass-time. This can be fun for those couples that feature a firefighter or cop, because you can incorporate and fire engine or vintage police car for transport. This couple for example, chose to ficus on their favorite pass-time which happened to be scuba diving. This underwater wedding is very fun and highly adventurous so you shouldn’t expect all of your guests to strap on gear and join you underwater. If you plan to have a wedding like this one or anything remotely similar you should plan to have a venue where your other guests can view the ceremony safely.

Whatever theme you choose you should make sure that it is something you both love. If you do then it should be all fun in planning. ENJOY!!!

Bridal Party Dresses

Choosing the perfect dress for your bridesmaids is almost as difficult as choosing your own dress. However, there is no reason to panic, if you stay organized and focused on exactly what look your going for then things will turn out perfect.

For starters , you will want to choose a dress that flatters all the figures of your bridesmaids but is also easy on the wallet. In order to gauge the direction you want to go in you should consult a few of your bridesmaids when you start searching so that they can weigh in on your choices.

Because there are millions of dresses out there you will need to narrow down the brands and styles of dress that your interested in. If you are the traditional bride then you will want to find one dress that all of your bridesmaids will wear, this can sometimes be challenging because of all of the different types of body styles that need to be taken into consideration.However, Challenging does not mean impossible, with patience and time your bridesmaids look amazing on your wedding day.

In order to avoid choosing one dress the bride will often allow the bridesmaids to either choose the same dress in different shades of one color or choose different dresses in the same color. This will not make your bridesmaids look like a mash-up of dresses if you give certain guidelines on length , straps or no straps, etc.. Taking this route allows your bridesmaids the opportunity to be an individual while also supporting you on your big day, chances are they will consult with you before making a final decision so this does not mean you will not have control over what they wear.

Whether you choose for your bridesmaids to be perfectly matched or you decide to change it up and use a few colors and styles , it is important for them to be satisfied with what they are wearing. The days of making your bridesmaids look like fools on your big day are long gone so please make sure they are happy with what they are wearing, after all they are your closest friends and family.

This like everything else should be a happy and joyous process. If you are too stressed then you should enlist the help of some close friends or even the groom-to-be. Enjoy!!!