Looking to have a destination wedding? We’ll try to get you set up!

Charlie and Perla Williams really are luckers. Look at the beautiful beach they have for exchanging their vows…

This is in the USA, by the way! Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Destination weddings are different in that the bride and groom are the hosts for the affair. And unlike regular weddings at home, the couple must take some responsibility for the guests’ entertainment throughout the duration of the stay. It is not necessary to have every minute planned but it is certainly good manners to have some events available for the guests to enjoy.

In order to prepare for the social activities, there are several ways that the couple can decide what to organize.

• Make a small list of tours that you think the guests will enjoy. Add the list to your wedding website or advise your guests of your ideas. Have each person tick off the tours that would be enjoyable. Then you can make a final determination from the consensus.
• Plan some together time for yourselves and the guests. For example, a welcoming party when everyone arrives. It might be a full dinner or it could be an afternoon tea or cocktail party.
• Prepare an itinerary for the wedding stay so that guests know what events you are providing and when they can go sightseeing on their own. Have the schedule in the guests’ rooms when they arrive so that if they would like to reserve space on other tours, they have the time to do that.
• Also, by letting the guests know up front what you are providing, it removes the money question from the conversation as the events listed will be those paid for by the couple and also, it allows the couple to spend a little time alone for themselves.

Providing information to guests is vital when planning a destination wedding. A traditional wedding usually only requires one day of a guest’s time and a map to the church and reception hall is most often sufficient explanation. But with a destination wedding, especially out of country, it is thoughtless and inconsiderate to expect family and friends to manage on their own. Thus, a Wedding Information Website is perfect to keep everyone up to date.

The website may be setup in such a way that you can disseminate details, answer questions from your guests, and update instantly when new facts become available. A small forum type site would work well to maintain interaction between the guests and the couple. It will also give the guests a chance to talk among themselves to facilitate their trip. Of course, each person should use a login so that the website is kept private from the general public.

Continue reading →

In a perfect universe, after marriage, we ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. Of course that is what every new married couple wants and intends on doing, however, that is just not the way things seem to work out, especially in the world we live in today.

The words, “for better or worse”, have seemed to lose their true value and meaning. We`ve all often times heard theses wedding vows in movies, “through the good and the bad” or “through the ups and the downs”, nowadays it seems those vows have been neglected and forgotten. Of course we would love to maintain the young, new love of our courtship forever, but it seems that when the going gets tough and that “true love” feeling dwindles away, the memory of those wedding vows slowly fades away.

Any married couple will agree, marriage is a series of ups and downs. When the bad starts to take over the good, it`s time to seek help. But, where to turn? It appears that most couples that are having issues put off getting marital help until they are at their breaking point and it`s too late. Unfortunately, in today’s society divorce seems to be the only way to put an end to the ongoing problems that seem to be constantly resurfacing.

It`s time to put your pride aside and ask for help. If you are trying to figure out a way to stop divorce from ending your marriage, then I would highly recommend using a program that has been successful in saving marriages throughout the world. It`s a unique alternative to the traditional marriage counseling, it`s called Marriage Fitness. Mort Fertel is the author and founder of the Marriage Fitness Program and is a respected authority on the psychology of relationships with an international reputation. He has helped save thousands upon of relationships that were headed for divorce. If you are thinking,” How can I Save My Marriage?”, and you have already tried counseling but haven’t found the success you were looking for or have not yet seen any change in your relationship, then I suggest this trying this alternative to going to see a counselor. Many couples find it difficult to not only find the right counselor for them, but find the time and the money to see a counselor on a frequent basis. This program allows you to purchases a series of helpful books and CD`s that you and your partner can use right from your own home.

The author, Mort Fertel has been a featured expert on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, as well as the FOX network and is a frequent guest on many talk radio programs. His back ground and accolades is proof in itself that this Marriage Fitness system can work for you and if you aren’t satisfied with his help then you have a money back guarantee. I say, give it a shot you have nothing to lose and the rest of your life’s happiness to gain. Ultimately, couples want to stay together. Many marriages that have ended in divorce could have been salvaged with the proper help and diligent effort on both sides. With this program you find that love and hard work can be the solution.

When you first fell in love and decided to get married, you may have not known how hard marriage can be. Many times couples just need to be educated on how to rebuild the love and trust that was once there. I wouldn’t recommend this program if I didn’t think people would benefit from it. The first step in saving your marriage is to seek help. It is there for you. Don’t end up divorced and miserable, regretting the choice to not give this a try. Marriage is hard work; it takes perseverance and strength to move forward. Remember your vows, for better and for worse, and get started today!

Providing as much information about the theme and location is important when organizing a destination wedding. Particularly when the location is different than the normal church and reception hall event. For example, if the wedding is being held outdoors, rocky terrain or sandy areas will make it difficult to walk in high heels or sling back sandals for the ladies.

Indeed it sounds very funny to discuss the guests’ footwear but the guests depend on the bride and groom when invited to unfamiliar areas. Not only do you want to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort, but also you do not want anyone feeling like he or she is overdressed. Packing the right footwear is crucial, as it may not be that easy to buy appropriate shoes at the location.

Continue reading →

While there is no concrete etiquette regarding Save the Date Cards, other than sending them out in time and only sending them to actual invited guests, there are many ways to choose and send your cards. Here are a few ideas to get you started when planning your destination wedding.

1. Use postcards from the location or country. If you have visited the location or you have family living in the country where you will be married, it would keep within your theme, if you used local postcards.
2. Wedding stamps are another nice idea on Save the Date Cards and envelopes when used. If your local post office does not sell wedding related postage stamps, there are many retailers both online and offline who have large selections from which to choose. When purchased from a store other than the post office, they will not be considered legal stamps for mailing but they will make the cards or envelopes look quite pretty.
3. Choose cards that reflect your personality. If both the bride and groom love dogs for example, it would be acceptable to send a card with pictures of bride and groom dogs. If you are the more serious type, fancy cards with lace or ribbons and outside envelopes may suit you better.
4. For creative couples, buy blank cards from the dollar store and use your own stencils, artwork and any other drawings that make your cards unique and completely personal.
5. Couples that prefer to hold an eco wedding may purchase cards made of rice or recycled paper. Another idea is to use handmade cards from impoverished regions.

Budgets are necessary for many people, as money is not limitless. Ideally most couples want a nice wedding but at the same time would like to save their money for other things like their house or a car. So keeping the wedding costs down to a minimum is a priority.

Like a traditional wedding at home, couples planning a destination wedding should have their budget spelled out in a spreadsheet. Decide how much should be spent as a total and then divide components of the wedding event into separate sections for pricing. And to keep the costs in perspective, here are a few tips that you might undertake.

1. Book airline tickets enough in advance so that you might benefit from seasonal pricing or other specials. Volume pricing may be available as well if everyone can travel on the same flight.
2. When booking hotel accommodations, inquire about specials for the honeymoon suite. Some hotels provide discounts for the couple if a specific number of rooms are reserved. Others even offer free accommodations to the bride and groom.
3. Ask about free wedding ceremonies. Cruise ships often offer free weddings when certain packages are purchased.
4. Be careful about using credit cards while on location and purchasing from the heart. The final bill will add up very quickly if you do not stick to your original budget.
5. Order local food items and specialties. If you want your destination wedding to be truly indicative of the area, then order wines, fruits, vegetables and other food products from the locale. This is usually considerably less expensive than ordering items that must be imported.

Travel Light! It does not matter where you are going or the reason for which you are travelling, experts always tell us to pack very little and travel light. Well, that might be okay when vacationing but your wedding is important to you and you want it to be perfect so you need to bring everything along, right?

Wrong…

One of the reasons for a destination wedding for some couples is to relieve the stress of the big day and its planning. So why make packing more cumbersome than necessary? There are many items that can be left behind and ways to pack your suitcases without creating a nightmare. So let us look at seven quick points to help the happy couple.

1. Tactfully ask guests to leave wedding presents behind. You may request “no gifts” since the attendance of the guests may be your gift.
2. Dispense with any personalized wedding items such as the cake serving utensils. The hotel’s set will do just nicely.
3. Think hard when purchasing the wedding dress. Try to find something light that travels well.
4. Purchase wedding favors from local shops and artisans. Do not bring them from home.
5. Itemize well in advance. By listing everything that you should take including makeup, clothing, shoes and any other necessities, when you pack your suitcase, if you only add the items on the list, you will not be tempted to take more than you require.
6. Choose items that are not exclusive for the wedding day but can be used throughout the trip. For example, a new purse or new lingerie.
7. Stay within airline limits so that you are not forced to pay extra or leave anything behind in a moment’s notice.

Wherever, the bride and groom choose for their wedding is bound to be very romantic. Weddings equal romance so anywhere can be considered romantic if the couple makes it that way. But there are many places around the globe that automatically evoke romanticism without any thought or planning.

When one thinks of a wedding in Europe, images of castles, historic buildings and quaint nooks in the countryside come to mind. Australia provides visions of open land, cute and cuddly animals, as well as pretty waterways. Africa conjures up big, powerful animals, rugged jungles, and escapes to parts unknown. The Caribbean is known for its tropical fruit, pretty flowers, sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and hot weather all year round. And of course, Canada is best associated with Niagara Falls when thinking of wedding locations.

Each of these areas is romantic in its own right. Speak any one of the names out loud and people will envision a perfect wedding full of romance. But what other regions offer the most romantic and idyllic wedding locations in the world?

Indeed the Swiss Alps is one of the most beautiful places to marry. Snow capped mountains, fireplaces, sleigh rides, hiking, flowers, rivers and beautiful scenery provide a setting for wonderful photography and a picture perfect wedding day. There is something pristine and innocent about being married near the glaciers and so close to the sky.

Venice, a city in the northern part of Italy, always makes the most romantic wedding location lists. It goes without saying that people from all cultures find the intricate waterways, fascinating gondolas, and historic backdrops to be incredibly romantic. A wedding in Venice is a dream and if you have the matching budget — it’s a sure pick!

A wedding in Sydney, Australia is sure to delight as the city is home to many romantic locations that cater to engaged couples. A few examples are the Opera House, which was added to the World Heritage List in 2007 by UNESCO, the Tall Ships which provide romantic sea-faring trips, and the Crystal Palace, a restored heritage listed building situated on the harbour.

Scotland is another country that would qualify as one of the most romantic wedding destinations. For couples that live in North America, travelling to Scotland would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a wedding day dressed in full Scottish regalia accompanied by traditional bagpipers, at one of the ancient ruins, a historic castle or a country house estate.

Lastly, they say the French are the experts on how “to do romantic” so this list would not be complete without mentioning the French Riviera. Gourmet food, world famous wines, tropical beaches, sea chapels, history laden churches, Renaissance architecture, and Medieval villages combine to make this a stunning wedding destination. In fact, Côte d’Azur is probably one of the most prestigious areas in the world for a romantic wedding location.

A wedding abroad can (but doesn’t have to be) done in the local marital traditions — and lord do the Iranians have a great tradition when it comes to their wedding ceremonies…

One of the most beautiful wedding videos I’ve seen!