Where's the oddest place you've been for a wedding?

Me, I attended a wedding at Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch. My roomate at the time was going to sing during the wedding ceremony (I think she's a member of En Vogue now)and I came along for the weekend. We didn't know that the reception was at Michael Jacksons house, but when Boys to Men showed up as the groomsmen, and they passed out the confidentiality forms, we knew something was up. The cocktail hour was in the guest house which had been transformed into this huge arcade. After we spent an hour drinking champagne and playing in the photobooth and pinball, we took the train over to the "backyard". The backyard had a ferris wheel, the crazy spinning ride that I swear should be illegal, bumper cars, carousel, bumper boats, a movie theatre complete with a fully staffed candy & popcorn counter, a zoo, oh, and yeah, there was a tent in the middle of all of it for the reception. We never stepped foot into that tent- too busy screaming our lungs out on that crazy spinning ride. I think its called the Zipper? I think the movie we watched was a Keanu Reeves flick, but I can't remember for sure. I do however remember being embarrassed beyond all belief when I spilled my popcorn all over one of the guys from Boys to Men. Ugh.

Perfect & Steady Sticks

In my last post I had mentioned Steady Sticks and Perfect. I got a buncha emails today asking what in the world Steady Sticks were and what about Jon McLaughlins song Perfect was so "proposal perfect".

Steady Sticks are phenomenal gadgets that I received for my birthday a couple years back. They hold a bottle of champagne or wine in the ground as well as glasses! So you can have a nice little picnic or wedding proposal on the beach and never spill a drip of your Veuve Cliquot. You can get your own Steady Sticks at Red Envelope.

And then there's Perfect. I think it should be the anthem for proposals. Read the lyrics (over there on the right sidebar)and then tell me you don't want someone to sing it to you.

And I found someone to walk me through this life
the brightest sun has opened up my eyes
Tonight I need exactly who she is
We're going to be perfect

(Bridge)
and in my life,
if I can have one thing I don't deserve
then I have never wanted anybody else but you

I'm pretty certain you can buy Indiana (Jon Mclaughlin) at Amazon.com and Target.

An Engagement Story

An extremely private surprise wedding proposal at Lighthouse beach on Sanibel Island. A groom wanted to bring his girlfriend out to the beach for a sunset walk and happen upon a beautiful table in the middle of undisturbed nature at its finest. Hidden under the table, a bottle of champagne and 2 flutes in their steady sticks and a cd playing Jon McLaughlin’s Perfect. And on the table he would place the let’s just say, “Hard to miss” engagement ring. The groom would tell his girlfriend to walk up to the table to smell the flowers and he’d take a photo. While she smelled the roses, she finds the ring. Behind her he took a knee. She turns around and, well, there’ll be a wedding to plan…

Destination Weddings & Honeymoons visits South Seas Resort

I was so excited when I walked by the wedding magazine rack today and saw the cover of destination weddings & honeymoons! "Wow, that looks familiar...hmmmm." Yep, its none other than South Seas Resort; one of my favorite places to plan weddings.

This past May, Donna & Jim tied the knot at Sunset Cove (which is in the distance of the cover photo) and then had their cocktails on Kings Crown lawn, followed by dinner and dancing inside Kings Crown. All the bouquets in the article (and Donna & Jims wedding)were by my favorite floral designers on the islands, Floral Artistry.
Currently, I'm in the midst of planning 4 other weddings on South Seas before summer hits, so yeah, you could say its a very popular place. Mostly because it is beyond gorgeous and the food is to die for. Or maybe its because of the dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees. Or maybe its the golf and tennis. Or maybe its the beach and sunset. Or maybe the pool that kicks every other pools arse with the fancy little cabanas and pina coladas. Alright, enough reasons already. The place just rocks.


All 4 of the upcoming weddings are as different as the locations my clients are coming from, and I am truly looking forward to each. I'd love to plan more- call me!

A Renewal

In the last couple weeks I had 2 very different intimate events to plan. Last Sunday I did a vow renewal for Becky & Marc. It was just the sweetest thing ever. Becky & Marc privately renewed their vows at sunset on Bowditch beach during a weekend getaway to Ft Myers Beach. Becky walked down the natural sand aisle carrying a bouquet made from flowers she had saved from their wedding 6 years ago.

After exchanging their vows, they took part in a Sand Ceremony. A Sand Ceremony is very much like the lighting if the unity candle (which does not work out on the beach!). The bride and groom each pour individual cylinders of colored sand into a larger cylinder to create a vase of unity. Many brides and grooms choose to include their parents in the ceremony by having their moms pour 2 additional cylinders into the unity vase at the start of the wedding ceremony.
Happy Anniversary and many many more!

Carly+Chris=Romance

What a gorgeous day for a gorgeous couple! Carly and Chris celebrated their nuptials at the grand venue of Hatley Castle. What a dramatic location!

Some details from the day.

Carly gets into her dress...

And looks absolutely beautiful.

Got to spend some quality time with Chris and the guys as they relaxed before the ceremony.

And then time for the main event.

An emotional moment between Carly and her father before she walked down the stairs to the aisle.

Married!




A little flare action before the reception.

Barbara from Sweet Beginnings made the room look like it was out of a fairy-tale - all golden glow and elegance.



Lots of laughter and tears during the speeches.

And a rockin' party on the patio.



We wanted to do some moody night portraits to end the evening and these two were our favourites.

Congratulations Chris + Carly!

Vanessa & Greg's Directors Cut

Last April I had the pleasure of coordinating one of the grandest destination wedding weekends ever. It was grand on many levels; it was the combination of top notch wedding professionals, incredible locations, and families and friends that were beyond amazing.
Vanessa & Greg had a church ceremony in Naples followed by an unbelievable reception at the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach.
This morning, the gang at AMC Video sent me the directors cut. Yep, I started my day sobbing like a baby. Have a look at this video. Warning though- turn up the volume and take out a tissue.
Rob- thank you so much for sharing this cut!