Some couples not only want their wedding to be different...but their honeymoons need to stand out as well. A typical island honeymoon not what you and your sweetie are after? A winter wonderland of skiing not in the cards? How about a trip to Africa?
This blog is inspired by the many couples I have been speaking with over the past two months that are going on safari for their honeymoons. They will be traveling to Africa to see some of the biggest and most beautiful animals in the world. The options are endless for the couple that wants to try something new.
I first heard about the African safari experience when my father sent me some pictures from his trip about a year ago. He was up close and personal with the lions and tigers and bears...ok, maybe not bears, but you get the picture. His description of how close he could get to the animals scared me, but I'm finding more and more couples longing for the same experience.
I came across a website: safari2africa.com (incidentally, that's where the above picture is from) and it's a great place to start for the couple that isn't sure what they would be in for on this adventure. This website is great because it offers so many different packages, and there's really something for everyone. Whether you want to get up close and personal, or have a laid back experience that's way better than a trip to the zoo, you should check this website out!
Now, just because you're on safari, doesn't mean you'll have to be in a tent sleeping under the stars. No sir! There are some beautiful accommodations in Africa from 5 star hotels sitting at the foot of a mountain, to luxury villas on the beach. I love this because it keeps the romance alive on an otherwise adventurous honeymoon. Many of the hotels offer spas and massages as well, to spend some peaceful, quiet time with your new partner in life.
So, if you're looking for a little adventure, take a look into an African Safari honeymoon. Who knows, it might be the right place for you both!
Everyday brides are looking for the newest and best thing to hit the wedding market. They want a way to make their wedding stand out from the rest. It's always been my opinion that if you take care of all of the details and make them special, the big picture will be amazing.
I was recently contacted by a company called "Wood Invitations" and they sent me a full demo packet of everything that they do. I am so amazed by what I saw, that I had to blog about it...and next month they will be my featured vendor on www.goldenweddingplanners.com
The invitation in this picture is just one of the many really cool things that they do. The invites are made of wood, and engraved with designs and whatever words you want. Even the envelopes are available in wood!
To tie everything together, they also offer save the dates, wedding favors, magnets, gift boxes and so much more! They have something to suit every style, and I think these are perfect especially for outdoor weddings. If you don't want the brown color of the wood, they offer multi-colored invites as well.
When you send an invite, it really is the first (second if you send a save the date) expression of your style and what your wedding has to offer. The invitation really should say something about the wedding that guests are going to attend. Once your have your gorgeous wooden invitation, why not bring it to the florist and see how it inspires them? Perhaps some branches for your centerpieces? Let the spirit and design of the invitations influence your entire day!
Why not take that extra step to really impress your guests and get them excited for your big day? Not to mention, it's a great way to start your wedding album!
I hope that the couples I'm working with now, and the ones I'll meet in the future will consider working with this incredible vendor. Please visit their website to see everything they have to offer and tell them Danielle from Golden Wedding Planners sent you!
http://www.woodinvitations.com/
Happy Planning!
Putting together your tables and seating assignments can be one of the toughest decisions you make while planning your wedding. Though you will have your entire engagement to decide where people are going to sit, you'll have to decide fairly early on if you are going to have a head table or a sweetheart table. Once you know this information, it will be easier for your venue to show how the other tables can be arranged, and many other ideas will start to come together.
But what if you can't decide between a head table and a sweetheart table? What if you want your bridal party around you, but the idea of sitting in a line is a little 80s to you? What if you want a head table, but you're getting some argument from your party who would rather sit with their spouses? Remember, at the end of the day, it is your day, but let's see what options you have!
First off, a head table can be beautiful. It's the centerpiece of the wedding reception where you get to showcase your dress, your new husband, your closest friends/family, and the fabulous dresses you picked out. Speeches are easy to give and since the head table is at the front of the room, everyone will be able to face the same direction to see. Many times the head table is elevated above the rest of the room, which will also give you a great view of everyone having the time of their lives at your wedding.
That said, if many of your attendants are married and with their significant others, you can consider having them also sit at the head table. But be careful because if you have a large wedding party, finding a table or tables to make that work can be tricky. It is true that no one spends a great deal of time at their table except to sit down for dinner, but keep in mind that your bridesmaids and groomsmen might want to spend that time with their spouses.
Just because you have a head table, doesn't mean everyone at one long table either. You can break it up into multiple tables, all still at the front of the room, facing the crowd. This is easily accomplished by placing 3-4 couples at each table, either bridesmaid with groomsmen, or attendant with their significant other. Make it fun and have each table showcase a different centerpiece! Have the tables stand out and use lighting under the tablecloths. This is your chance to showcase a very pretty picture, so get creative.
If you don't want to go the headtable route, the sweetheart table is a great idea too! Many couples prefer this so that they can spend some alone time with their new spouse. Of course, people will be visiting the table all night, so be prepared to be interrupted! With a headtable, you can utelize your bouquet as a centerpiece, as well as the bridesmaid's flowers. This is great because you both have your own flowers and the bouquets aren't just used for walking down the aisle and pictures afterwards.
Sweetheart tables also give you the option of seating your attendants with their guests. You also can have a sweetheart table, plus a table for your attendants.
The possibilities are endless and there is no right or wrong way! Always think about how you would envision the tables when you visit your venue. Try and visit your venue when they are setting up for a wedding with and without a head table.
Tell me what you think! What type of table will you be using for your wedding?
*image from tusconweddingsite.com*
Something borrowed, something new, something old, something...cerulean?
Brides are always looking for ways to put a fresh spin on old traditions for their weddings. Now, Anthropologie is here to show brides how to make that something blue, something spectacular!
Anthropologie has come out with a collection named "BHLDN"...aka Beholden. This collection stays true to their everyday look of very earthy, natural and soulful. Whether it's an airy dress for your wedding day, or a flowing gown for your bridesmaids, if you adore their style in their everyday stores, then this is the place to look to add that flair to your wedding.
One of their collections is simply called "Something Blue", and from the cerulean clutch pictured at left, to the blue butterfly broch they offer, the possibilities are endless. Something I love about this collection is also how timeless each of the pieces are. I love the idea of preserving the wedding gown for your future daughter, but what about saving these little trinkets as well? Something blue could easily become something borrowed or old as well.
Not into the whole "stashing it into the closet until someone else can use it in 20 years" thing? These pieces can be used everyday. The clutch pictured can be used in real life too, unlike cheesy white wedding shoes. So while some of the pieces might be slightly expensive, if you get to use them time and time again, it will be worth it.
Time to think outside of the box brides! When you're celebrating your anniversaries, have a piece of your wedding with you! When your friends get married and ask what you used for something blue, make sure you used something that you'll always remember. Every little detail of your wedding should have thought and purpose behind it. Let your something blue say something about you!
Outdoor weddings can be absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, they depend on the one person who thinks she's more important than the bride: Mother Nature.
Brides have enough to worry about, and I know! I personally was looking at the forecast 2 weeks in advance of my ceremony which would be taking place outside. I even swore to myself that I would never have an outside wedding. Whoops.
Thankfully, the day of my wedding there were clear skies, and it was absolutely beautiful. But 24 hours prior to that, a tropical storm had just finished sweeping through the area. My wedding was in October, and yes, that is still hurricane season.
There are a few things to think about when planning an outdoor wedding. First off, look into the general climate of the area you're getting married at. You may think you know what the weather is in the place you've lived in for your entire life, and you may have heard that it never rains in Aruba, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Obviously you're not going to have an outdoor wedding when it's below freezing and there's a chance of a blizzard, but what about during the summer? If you live in a hot and humid area, those summer thunderstorms could strike right as the wedding march begins. Just google your climatology in the area you want to get married in. Look and see when it rains the most, what the average high temperatures are, everything! You can never be too prepared.
For my destination brides, hurricane season is June 1-November 1. Depending on the month, hurricanes strike different areas. Take a look at the general tracking of the storms and what your destination has been through during the past 20 years in the month you want for your wedding!
Even if you plan everything correctly, you should always have a backup plan. A stray 20 minute thunderstorm could change your entire wedding day. If you're planning an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, or even just one of the three, you need to have alternate ideas. Work with a wedding coordinator (shameless plug: www.goldenweddingplanners.com) and tell them your ideas of your perfect outdoor bash. An experienced coordinator will make your dreams come true rain or shine. Golden Wedding Planners offers long range forecasts as well, to help you pick the best date for your big day.
Happy Planning!
DIY (do-it-yourself) brides, Pier 1 is the place you need to be! I was there today just picking up some candles, and I was amazed at how beautiful and inexpensive their items were!
Many brides are looking to add their own personal touches to their ceremony and reception. Sometimes in the hussle and bussle of planning a wedding, it's hard for even the most creative bride to think what would make her the happiest. Ladies, take one step into Pier 1 Imports, and you will enter a land of creativity.
Whether you are looking for a fun way to showcase candles, or interesting centerpieces, this store has everything! Right now they have so many fun ways to hang candles from trees which would be perfect for that outdoor ceremony/reception. Plus, they offer matching items to keep your theme everywhere from the walk down the aisle to the throw of the bouquet.
I was especially inspired with beautiful butterfly candle holders that would work well with any garden wedding. Releasing butterflies at the altar? Then you have to incorporate these.
Even better, when the wedding is over, you won't just have the photographs to remember it by. You will have these adorable, creative trinkets to take home with you and use in your home and backyard. They will always tell a story and you'll remember your special day every time you see them.
I invite you to stop by a Pier 1, or visit their website to see the amazing possibilities. Even if you have no idea what to do, or you are just starting out, visit the store for inspiration. I think you'll be surprised at how much you'll walk out with!
I was recently inspired by TLC's show "Say Yes to the Dress" to write this blog about all the different types of wedding gowns, and the women who think they look good in them.
Recently, there was a woman on who insisted on a trumpet style gown (see picture if you don't know what a trumpet style is), but it was completely wrong on her. She wouldn't even allow the consultant to show her any other styles, and despite her friends' opinions that sat there and disliked every trumpet she played, she "knew what was best" and only wanted that style. At the end of the show she walked out without a dress because not even she was happy about how she looked. Why wasn't she happy? Because she was about 5'3 and roughly 45-50 pounds overweight.
There are so many styles that a bride can choose from and some styles are even so close together that one may look fabulous while the other might look dreadful. Women need to be fully aware of their shape before shopping for a dress, and then understand that their favorite style might never look beautiful on them.
Aside from the cut of the dress, a strapless dress is often the most popular. I did not wear strapless because I have very broad shoulders and would've looked like a linebacker if I didn't break it up with some straps. Strapless also slips a lot and it's a pain in the ass. Depending on how high up the neckline goes, there is a chance that you would pinch the skin under your armpit area, and if you're overweight, there will be spillage. If you find yourself trying on strapless dress after strapless dress and cannot figure out the problem, just give one with straps a try and see if it makes a difference. Always be open to different styles.
Mermaid/trumpet dresses are very difficult to pull off, especially if you have any sort of hips. The models you see in the magazine have these typical measurements: 34-23-34. A trumpet dress has more material and it hugs the bodice all the way around. The mermaid is sexier and it will emphasize every single curve of your body. Be honest with yourself and ask if you want everything emphasized or not. Tall also works better with these styles and if you're on the shorter side, you'll find that big huge heels will make a difference. Are you ready to wear those all day?
A-lines offer a slightly less dramatic and less severe structure than the mermaid or trumpet, but the same general idea. The waist is dropped and it doesn't hug you all the way to your knees or even straight to your hip. There are variations on the bottom anywhere from ballgown to just a simple slip. If you want a little more freedom, this is a great style to try.
Then there are the many ways that you can wear the top: strapless, cap sleeves, long sleeves, off the shoulder, everything! Just because one thing doesn't look right on you, doesn't mean you can't open your mind to others. Think about the dresses in your closet and what you think your best features are. Don't try on a dress with the idea that you'll drop 30 pounds before the wedding day. Be realistic. If something doesn't look good and doesn't feel right, try something else.
You never know..you might surprise yourself!
Some couples not only want their wedding to be different...but their honeymoons need to stand out as well. A typical island honeymoon not what you and your sweetie are after? A winter wonderland of skiing not in the cards? How about a trip to Africa?
