Destination Wedding Planning Tips

April 23rd, 2010

Let these destination wedding planning tips help you to plan the long-distance wedding of your dreams…

Find a resort with an on-site event coordinator. Planning any wedding can be challenging for a first time bride. Making arrangements across many miles can be nearly impossible without someone local on the scene. Many popular resorts have their own in-house coordinators who can do all the legwork for you in sourcing caterers, florists, and musicians – take advantage of the service!

Choose attire which suits your destination. For a tropical wedding, bridal gowns in lighter fabrics like chiffon or organza are popular. Add some beach wedding jewelry to complete the look. Bridesmaid dresses in a similar fabric and a sunny color like mango will look wonderful; give your attendants beach theme jewelry as your wedding gifts to them. Black tie is too formal for a ceremony on the sand, so consider khaki suits or a jacket and trousers for the groom and groomsmen. Remember that many islands can be windy; choose a wedding hairstyle which will keep your hair out of your face, and consider a veil which is weighted with crystals or pearls to keep it from flying around too much on a breezy day.

Double check paperwork. You now need a passport for virtually any trip outside of the U.S., and it can take months for a passport to arrive, so get one right away. Find out if you need any additional paperwork to travel to your wedding location, such as a visa. You can check online to see if the government recommends any special vaccinations, which can be completed well in advance of your trip. One critical bit of planning is the marriage license. Each country will have its own particular requirements and may require the bride and groom to bring certain documents. Don’t forget about what you need to do once you get home to make your marriage official in your home state.

Beachy Wedding Favors

July 2nd, 2009

Beach weddings are as fun and lighthearted as summer itself. When you are choosing favors for your beach wedding, be sure that they capture that sunny spirit. These are some great ideas for beachy wedding favors.

Edible favors are always a hit at a wedding. There are a couple of great options for tasty favors with a seaside theme. Cookies can be made in the shape of sailboats and fish and presented in a glassine bag. To take it up a notch, put the bag of cookies in a mini canvas tote with a nautical motif like an anchor or a beach umbrella. If you grew up on the East Coast, then you probably know that one of summer’s sweetest treats is fresh saltwater taffy. This is the perfect sort of nostalgic thing that guests love to receive as favors.

It is always fantastic to combine your escort or place cards with your favors. After all, who doesn’t love to kill two birds with one stone? One beachy wedding favor that is sure to wow your guests is a small brass compass with their name inscribed on it. It has the perfect nautical feel and it also makes a really cool and unusual keepsake from your wedding.

Candles are popular favors, and there are some great ways to make your candles tie in with a beach theme. Specialty stores have beautiful little seashells with candles in them, which is a very elegant beachy favor. Crafty brides can also make their own beach theme candle favors. Small tin pails can be filled with candle wax and a wick to make an easy gift. Use a piece of raffia to tie a starfish to the handle of the pail. Another idea is to make your candles in medium sized clear glass containers and embed shells in the wax along the outside.

The right wedding favors will make the perfect send off for your guests. They are a great way to thank your guests for coming as well as to give them a parting gift that they can enjoy. When you are having a beach wedding, your favors can be just as much fun as the wedding itself, so have a good time selecting your personal favorites.