Planning a wedding, especially a destination wedding, can be very difficult. Usually, you are not familiar with the location and local vendors, so having someone to assist can make a world of difference!
By wedding planner, we don’t mean a wedding vendor or tour operators—these folks usually just package hotels, airfare, and ground transit. We mean a true wedding planner who will help with flowers, cakes, logistics, negotiating and securing contracts with hotels, arranging music and handling all your needs.
Some hotels and resorts have their own on-site planners, some don’t. In general, we found these on-site planners to be only moderately helpful. They were responsive to get you to sign a contract, but not helpful to answer your detailed questions. We started to feel like just a number—something we definitely didn’t want for our special day.
We quickly learned that there are a number of independent destination wedding planners in several locations. These folks are local and know the good, the bad and the ugly about local vendors. Since they are not affiliated with the hotel/resort directly, they have more freedom in recommending good vendors, not just the ones that have contracts with the resort.
We also learned that finding these independent wedding planners is a bit of a needle in a haystack. We found our planner, And the Two Become One in the Bahamas, through a review that someone had posted in the Knot Bios. Seeking out reviews or friends who have utilized their services can be very helpful.
To get an idea of all of the things that an independent wedding planner can do for you, check out the website for Ceremonies of St. John. They help with everything from coordinating the marriage license to making sure the color on the cake is right.
Monday, 7 May 2007
Sunday, 6 May 2007
The Wedding Podcast Network
As if this week couldn't get better...The Wedding Podcast Network selected this blog to syndicate their wedding podcasts! There's a link off to the right, in the sidebar. Not just anybody gets to offer the syndication, so I am honored.
Some of you might be wondering what the Wedding Podcast Network is. Well, it's cool, and you should for sure check it out. Basically, its "The largest most comprehensive collection of original wedding talk radio programming for couples planning their wedding. Conversations with newlyweds and wedding professionals sharing their first hand experiences." Yeah, I took that quote right from the WPN homepage. It is the best way to describe it. The content chages regularly, so check back often.
You can listen to podcasts on your ipod, your computer, or --- burn them to a cd so you can listen to them in your car, while flipping through Grace Ormonde Wedding Style as you are waiting in traffic on the way to Naples, while sipping on your Chai Tea Frap. from Starbucks.
Some of you might be wondering what the Wedding Podcast Network is. Well, it's cool, and you should for sure check it out. Basically, its "The largest most comprehensive collection of original wedding talk radio programming for couples planning their wedding. Conversations with newlyweds and wedding professionals sharing their first hand experiences." Yeah, I took that quote right from the WPN homepage. It is the best way to describe it. The content chages regularly, so check back often.
You can listen to podcasts on your ipod, your computer, or --- burn them to a cd so you can listen to them in your car, while flipping through Grace Ormonde Wedding Style as you are waiting in traffic on the way to Naples, while sipping on your Chai Tea Frap. from Starbucks.
You like me, you really like me!
On Newsstands this week- The Knot Best of Weddings 2007. This inaugural issue lists the cream of the crop of wedding professionals across the United States. I'm very excited about this issue. Why? Well, you know I'm a wedding magazine & book junkie, but also because Weddings by Socialites was selected for the event planners category! Totally a reason to celebrate! Thanks so much to everyone who nominated me- I can't tell you how happy it made me.
So there was a little typo, they listed me as a winner from South Florida (Miami)...but I'm actually a South West Coast Florida planner (Captiva, Naples, Sanibel, etc.). That's ok, though, you know where to find me.
Friday, 4 May 2007
The Dress
Ah, the dress. For most brides, the dress is the most important part of the wedding. It sets the tone for the festivities, and, let's be honest, the dress gives every woman the opportunity to be a princess for a day. However, dresses for destination weddings can be more complicated than dresses for traditional weddings because of two particular factors—traveling with the dress and dealing with the weather and location at the destination.
The actual act of getting the dress from point to point is not as difficult as one might imagine. Most airlines are very willing to help brides transport their gowns safely, and flight attendants will often do their best to make room in the first class closet. It can help to approach the gate attendant before the flight boards and/or to speak to the flight attendant as soon as you step on the plane. (And it should go without saying that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.) Our experience - and we ultimately flew with the dress four times - was seamless, even on Bahamas Air, which didn't even have overhead compartments large enough for standard sized carry-ons. Some people find it useful to take a steamer with them or utilize hotel services once they arrive at the destination to take care of any wrinkles. Laura had a somewhat "poufy dress," so we didn't encounter any wrinkle issues.
The weather and physical location of the wedding can also be significant factors in deciding on the dress. If your destination is often very warm or humid, you're probably better off with a gown made of lightweight fabric that doesn't have a lot of underskirts or netting. Brides getting married directly on the beach may want to avoid long trains simply because of the messiness of sand getting caught in the dress. All these considerations are important, but the decision is completely individual. If a bride has had her heart set on a "big dress" with a train for years and that's what makes her feel like a beautiful bride, a little sand getting in the way won't particularly matter.
Popular dress brands include: Amsale, Alfred Angelo, Vera Wang, Jim Hjelm, Maggie Sottero, Watters & Watters, Melissa Sweet, Priscilla of Boston, Reem Acra and Monique Lhullier. Two very popular discount bridal stores with very positive reviews: Pearl's Place and House of Brides.
The actual act of getting the dress from point to point is not as difficult as one might imagine. Most airlines are very willing to help brides transport their gowns safely, and flight attendants will often do their best to make room in the first class closet. It can help to approach the gate attendant before the flight boards and/or to speak to the flight attendant as soon as you step on the plane. (And it should go without saying that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.) Our experience - and we ultimately flew with the dress four times - was seamless, even on Bahamas Air, which didn't even have overhead compartments large enough for standard sized carry-ons. Some people find it useful to take a steamer with them or utilize hotel services once they arrive at the destination to take care of any wrinkles. Laura had a somewhat "poufy dress," so we didn't encounter any wrinkle issues.
The weather and physical location of the wedding can also be significant factors in deciding on the dress. If your destination is often very warm or humid, you're probably better off with a gown made of lightweight fabric that doesn't have a lot of underskirts or netting. Brides getting married directly on the beach may want to avoid long trains simply because of the messiness of sand getting caught in the dress. All these considerations are important, but the decision is completely individual. If a bride has had her heart set on a "big dress" with a train for years and that's what makes her feel like a beautiful bride, a little sand getting in the way won't particularly matter.
Popular dress brands include: Amsale, Alfred Angelo, Vera Wang, Jim Hjelm, Maggie Sottero, Watters & Watters, Melissa Sweet, Priscilla of Boston, Reem Acra and Monique Lhullier. Two very popular discount bridal stores with very positive reviews: Pearl's Place and House of Brides.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
An Army for a Wedding
How many people does it take to pull of a wedding? Well this past weekend, it was a small army:
Besides a father of the bride who planned for a year-
A wedding planner, 3 assistants
A Photographer, 2 additional shooters
A videographer, 2 additional camera people
2 site managers, 3 catering managers, 6 banquet captains, 20 servers, 5 bartenders
A priest and a sacristen (you know, the church lady)
8 drivers
1 dresser, 4 stylists, 1 make-up artist
3 chefs and 2 pastry chefs
A floral designer and a production staff of 5
22 musicians
2 furniture movers
and a partride in a pear tree.
I'm sure I;ve forgotten somebody, but can you blame me?
Check out Vanessa & Gregs wedding at their blog (click here or on the sidebar with the real weddings)
Thanks to Mr. G and Mr. Hurd for sharing some photos!
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Dress Shopping
Dress shopping. I rarely get to go to the bridal salons with my clients because they live out of town. But today was different! It was so fun to watch this client finally get her dress on. I say finally because it took forever to get here. The bridal salon ordered the dress months ago, with plenty of time to spare, thank goodness. But the manufacturer still caused all kinds of grief. You see, if you order a dress and say your wedding date is June, the manufacturer knows you don't need it until then. And lets say someone comes and orders the same one for a May wedding. Guess who will get the dress you originally ordered? Not you. Awful huh? So my solution? "Move" your wedding date up for ordering your gown. Give your self an extra month to 6 weeks.
And to Lacey & Ashley at Lace and Roses Bridal- thank you for making my bride happy today!
Oh how I love a great handbag made just for me
Ok, so today I got the bestest surprise ever at my PO box. My very own, made just for me, 1154 Lill Studio handbag. Now, I'm a girl, so of course I have a thing for handbags. But this bag, this is a very special bag.
At 1154 Lill Studio you design your own bag. The style, the fabrics- inside and out (even the pocket lining). I am just beyond excited. And guess what. Not only do they make just great handbags, they even have a wedding line.
To make this any cooler, if you are lucky enough to be in Chicago, Boston, or Kansas City, you can have a handbag party. How fun would that be as a pre-wedding gift to all your bridesmaids? Check out the site, you can design right online. Careful, it's slightly addicting. Oh, and I got the Grace handbag with ruffle and faux hot pink suede inside. So awesome. I need to go get a matching outfit.
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