We all know about Trip advisor for desties. But when choosing your room blocks and venues, check Trip Advisor first! It is great to find out what other travelers are saying about your venue or the hotels where you want your guests to stay. Some of the reviews may be a bit testy– but you have to take it as a grain of salt. The important thing is that you get a concept of what you might be in for. It is absolutely horrible to shell out hundreds and thousands of money and receive bad customer service or substandard lodging. You may even be able to find some reviews from brides or wedding guests to make the review all the more applicable to your planning. Trip Advisor also has forums where you can interact with other travelers about your specific area– great to get some unbiased opinions to help seal the deal.
Archive for July, 2007
Before You Start Trippin’….
July 30, 2007It’s Happy Hour Somewhere…
July 27, 2007
It may be 9:00 a.m. your time, but it’s happy hour somewhere! I just LOVE these uber-cute arrangements from 1-800 FLOWERS. They are the perfect touch for bridal luncheons, bachelorette parties or even an informal wedding. The Strawberry Floral Margarita is a beauty– full of lush stargazers, roses and orchids. Perfect if you are using a lot of pink in your theme. There are other Happy Hour Bouquets: the Margarita and Apple Martini just to name a few.
If you love ‘em use promotional code SMSAVE to get $10 off your order of $100 or more. (Valid until August 5, 2007)
ITALY BEATS OUT HAWAII’S 10 YEAR WINNING STREAK FOR # 1 HONEYMOON DESTINATION
New York, NY, July 9, 2007 – Modern Bride magazine unveils the results of their eleventh annual World’s Best Honeymoons Survey in the August/September issue. The survey was conducted through Virtuoso, a network of 6,000 luxury travel agents who are among the nation’s top travel bookers. Travel experts ranked their overall favorite honeymoon destination, the hotels and resorts with the most luxurious amenities, as well as the destinations that offer the best in categories such as romance, seclusion, affordability, adventure, nightlife, food, and culture.
This Year’s Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations are:
1. Italy (3rd in ‘06) – the number one honeymoon destination for the first year ever, with vibrant cities, tantalizing cuisine, and a culture that has embraced true love for centuries
2. Hawaii - a top destination for eleven years with its luxurious resorts and sprawling beaches
3. Tahiti – for lovers looking to savor the sights, scents and flavors of a French Polynesian treasure
4. Costa Rica (26th in ‘04) – exotic rainforests, erupting volcanoes, and wildlife reserves promise an adventure lover’s paradise
5. Mexico – for a blend of rich culture, endless fiestas, and thousands of miles of white sand beaches
6. France (9th in ‘06) - for exquisite works of art and architecture, decadent desserts, and an amazing countryside
7. Maldives – over 1,000 secluded isles offer out of this world sailing, diving, and swimming in crystal blue waters
8. Anguilla (34th in ‘03) - where the beauty of the Caribbean meets with posh resorts and eclectic cuisine
9. Fiji – a South Pacific oasis of limestone caves, Asian inspired cuisine, and pristine coral gardens
10. Greece – a convergence of sumptuous food, enchanting island hopping, black sand, and emerald seas
Expertly acclaimed hotels and resorts with the most luxurious amenities include:
Ultimate honeymoon suite: Premier Overwater Villa at the St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Ultimate resort for seclusion: Le Taha’s Private Island & Spa, French Polynesia
Resort with best service: The Peninsula Bangkok, Thailand
Most luxurious bathroom: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco, CA
Best resort private plunge pool: Ladera, St. Lucia
Resort with the best bed: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Big Island, HI
Resort with best beach: Caneel Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Resort with best bar: The Setai, Miami Beach, FL
Resort with best spa: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand
Best hotel brand: Four Seasons
Best all-inclusive brand: Sandals
Top three honeymoon destinations organized by category:
Most up-and-coming honeymoon destinations: Dubai, Croatia, Costa Rica
Best cultural experience: Italy, France, Greece
Most romantic: Tahiti, Italy, Hawaii
Sexiest Ambiance: Tahiti, St. Barths, Brazil
Best nightlife: Las Vegas, New York, Brazil
Most affordable destinations: Mexico, Las Vegas, Dominican Republic
Most secluded: Maldives, Seychelles, Tahiti
Best beaches: Turks & Caicos, Hawaii, Tahiti
Best snorkeling/diving: Belize, Cayman Islands, Australia
Best for winter sports: Switzerland, Colorado, Canada
Best food: Italy, France, New York
Best adventure: Costa Rica, South Africa, New Zealand
For more info: www.brides.com/modernbride
Ooohhh Wedding Music!
July 25, 2007
Having a five year old prima donna in the house means several things, some of which are: 1.) my lipgloss, brushes and shoes are constantly missing. (I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with this until she was at least sixteen!) 2.) This entire house would be Disney Princess if she had her way. As a former Disney Princess myself (I like stopped being one last week, I think…) I’m totally in love with the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings CD. If you still love the thought and romance of Disney, but don’t want to go “cutesy” this is defintiely the option. All songs are instrumental and contemporary– perfect for a first dance or cocktail hour for your themed (or even not-so-themed) wedding.
These also tie in perfectly with the Kirstie Kelly designer dresses that she created especially for the grown up Disney princess!
Ask A Wedding Planner….
July 24, 2007I always thought that Dave Chappelle’s “Ask A ….” segments were hilarious on his show. The answers were brutally honest, witty and poignant (at times! 
). So I thought about some questions that I know brides ask (mostly to other brides in the form of complaints) and will address them here.
Why are so many deposits non-refundable?
Well, let’s look at it from a numerical point of view. There are 52 Saturdays in the year. A majority of the weddings we take on occur on this day and a majority of us (wedding vendors) have a policy to devote one wedding to each weekend. When you select us for your wedding, we have to take that date, and the day before and after off of our calendar. When another prospective calls and inquires for that date, we have to turn them down. If you cancel, this is our way to recoup some of the money lost for turning down previous work. Additionally, it could also include any pre-wedding work done on your behalf (to include consultations, photograph sessions, communications, designing, etc.). This is why you should always read over your contract and make sure you understand the terms of the agreement: make sure it has a payment schedule, cancellation and/or breach clauses. Even if you cancel and are willing to forfeit the initial deposit or retainer, you may still owe the vendor additional money depending on when you cancel or breach the contract.
Why do vendors ask for more money later in the game?
I’ve never seen a good vendor change their price after the contract or ask for money later without a legitimate reason. You do have a lot of brides who demand much more out of their vendors than they have contracted for. It is only fair for you to either upgrade or scale back your wishes. For example, if you have secured a day of coordinator, you need to understand that a majority of the work will be done the day of the wedding. Depending on your coordinator and the type of services she provides, you may be limited in your pre-wedding communications and consultations. What does that mean? If you want vendor contacts, extra consultations, design ideas, contract negotiations, be prepared to pay for it.
Is wedding planning really like on the shows?
Well, yes and no. Just like Bridezillas represent a small demog of the bridal population, so does such shows as Whose Wedding Is It Anyway. It is edited and cultivated for your entertainment. A lot of the drama is perpetuated for no other reason than to make it seem larger than life. But on the flipside, some personalities are exactly like what you see on T.V.– brash, bold, dramatic, creative and narcissitic. It’s T.V. and real life :)
Too Cute!
July 22, 2007Check out this proposal and wedding invite (Thanks Jimmie and Liene!)
The proposal:
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And then the wedding invitation:
[youtube uyq26Q01bVA]
If I Were Going: Rebecca and Jerry
July 21, 2007
Wanna play!? Okay, great!
You say, well, where are we going? To Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell’s wedding that just happened this past weekend.
The Scoop: Jerry & Rebecca got married under a big tree on their ranch. Their ceremony was about 15 minutes long and they “skipped” back up the aisle to a gospel choir. For the reception, they had an elaborate bbq with wagon wheels, picnic tables, colorful bales of hay, and a large dance floor over the pool.
Now, if I were going, what would I wear? Probably this gorgeous green Chloe dress– I don’t know why it appeals to me, but it does. Plus it looks fitting for the occasion– light fabric, forgiving cut and design. To tie into the cowboy theme, I would probably dress up a tan belt with this uber cute buckle from Polka Dot Petals. It somewhat takes the edge and formality out of the dress, which totally plays into the theme.
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Hair: Loose Updo |
What about you?
You are SO Not Invited!
July 21, 2007Has this happened to you yet?
You’re newly engaged– glowing, beaming with pride, looking divalicious at some family or social function, and someone says, “I can’t wait to see you in your dress! We’ll be at the wedding!”
The music stops.
The record scratches.
Then you hear crickets.
Why? Because this whole time you’re thinking…”I didn’t invite you…nor did I plan to”. I know, it’s rough. So what’s a wedding diva to do in this predicament? I know a lot of you are thinking you should just smile and nod your head, and then quickly excuse yourself. Good! But that doesn’t solve your problem. Hopefully, you have someone to run interference for you: a mom, sister, aunt, etc. Someone close to the planning and to you to speak for you, if you are uncomfortable. Wedding planners can do this too, but we are so far removed from the situation, guests think “Oh, that applies to everyone else. That doesn’t mean me”. Dads can go one of two ways: be extremely blunt and say, “Nope, you’re not invited” or totally cave.
Send in the estrogen.
Some tried and true responses are:
- “XXX and XXX would love for you to come, but they have limited the guest list to _______” (Pick your poison here: close family and friends, adults only, fifty people on each side, first cousins, local relatives, etc.)
- “XXX and XXX are just doing a small reception after the ceremony with the immediate family, but are doing a bigger party for friends and extended family about a month later. Let me get your address so that we can send you an invitation!” (Make sure this is true!)
Whatever you do, try to avoid waiting. It’s awkward. Deal with it right then and there. This way, you can avoid them calling around to other family and friends to get your wedding details and showing up later.
A Lighter Shade of Pale…Pink
July 21, 2007
I think any bride who introduces color into her wedding garb is awesome. It takes a lot to do so– without looking garish or ridiculous. That being said, there are some great designers out there who offer brides this option. If you are truly daring, you can go with this blush rose beauty, featured left. It is a Marissa Baratelli and is currently featured on Evelyne Talman’s website, a local boutique. If you want to go a little less colorful, but still want to make an impact, you could add a colored sash to your gown in your wedding colors.
Eveylne also carries a number of beautiful Mother of the Bride dresses as well as Faviana (the designer I would wear around the house just because, if I could). The next time you are in the area, please visit! They are located at:
3301 Frederica Road
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Tempt Your Palette
July 20, 2007I’m a big storyboard fan (I know…I owe several here on the blog). For some the concept might be hard to get a kick off point. Now you can use this nifty Palette Generator to help you select shades, tones and colors from a photograph on your computer. Check out this sample. Let’s say we’re “inspired” by this bouquet for the overall scheme and design of the event. We upload it to the generator and it breaks the colors down for us:
So go on! Upload your favorite eye candy and give it a whirl! You can be inspired greatly!
