What type of honeymoon are you up to?

What type of honeymoon are you up to? Here are a few suggestions I found at yahoo.com :) :

Foodiemoon: If your Instagram is chock-full of carefully curated food pics, a foodiemoon is for you. Check out Paradisus Resorts to add more to your palette..

Minimoon: With hectic schedules leading to belated honeymoons, a minimoon is becoming an increasingly popular option for couples. Bermuda, anyone?

Ecomoon: For eco-conscious couples who want to keep their carbon footprint in mind during their honeymoon Costa Rica, is the perfect place.

Glampingmoon: Because there’s nothing sexy about bug spray in your nether regions, glamping marries sleeping under the stars with splashy five-star accommodations. 

Boozymoon: You’ve earned a drink after tying the knot, so why not dedicate your entire honeymoon to proper imbibing? All Inclusive!!! Wineries!!!

Adventuremoon: There can be more to a honeymoon than sipping umbrella drinks by the pool.

Volunteermoon: There are few things more rewarding than giving back — especially on vacation. More couples are choosing to volunteer for their honeymoon, and it’s just as good of a way to start marital bliss as planting yourself at a five-star hotel. 

Destination Tuesdays: St. Maarten/ St. Martin

St. Maarten/ St. Martin is a split-culture island which has Dutch nightlife and fabulous, duty-free French shopping - and of course, a few gorgeous beaches.

Divided into the Dutch-controlled St. Maarten and the French-ruled St. Martin, this 37-square-mile-island still manages to blend Dutch, French and Caribbean influences effortlessly. These distinct heritages each bring their own flair, whether you are looking to party like the French until dawn, take in a lively native dance show or sample Dutch-inspired cuisine. Made famous for its local airport with a landing area that barely clears the bright water, St. Martin has an endless variety of water sports, duty-free shopping, and plenty of festivals, markets, and traditions to savor on your trip.

St. Maarten is home to a number of beautiful beaches, with watersports by far the most popular way to enjoy them. Whether you want to windsurf, snorkel, sail or kayak, beaches like Mullet Bay, Orient Bay and Maho Beach are easy to enjoy.

The island is known for its water sports, so be sure to schedule a surfing lesson, kayaking excursion, or yacht trip. The beaches are also great for people-watching, so feel free to camp out with a cold tropical drink and unwind (warning- the French side beaches are swimsuit optional). With some of the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean, it’s also difficult to resist the great buys, whether you want to bargain at an open-air market or browse the expensive boutiques in Marigot.

At night, with a party-till-dawn European attitude, you will find plenty of casinos, discos and nightclubs.

Recommended resorts:

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino is located in the heart of Maho Village. On the property are a variety of fine restaurants and a quaint village marketplace with 40 boutiques and unrivaled nightlife, including our Casino Royale, St Maarten's largest. All Inclusive option available.

• Casino
• 2 Swimming Pools
• 4 Tennis Courts
• Children's Program and Kids' club
• Spa
• Fitness Center
• 4 Restaurants

Brand-New, opened this May - Riu Palace St. Martin - All Inclusive, family friendly resort.

Located in the beautiful cove of Anse Marcel brings the opportunity to enjoy a natural reserve with its unique flora and fauna and also sandy white beaches with dream-like turquoise waters, ideal for relaxing and practicing water sports. Rooms, restaurants, bars,pools and spa are at your complete disposal as part of the exclusive hotel facilities. The hotel restaurants will delight you with a wide variety of flavors from the rich and colorful Caribbean cuisine to the international dishes prepared daily by chefs. 

Credits to destinationweddings.com

Destination Weddings Tips: 5 tips for blending families with kids at second weddings.

5 tips for blending families with kids at second weddings.

It's not uncommon for the bride and groom to have children from previous marriages. No shocker considering the divorce rates around the world. There's no rule about how to involve your children from previous marriages in the wedding -- the only guideline should be that you don't force them to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable or disloyal to their other birth parent. Here are some ideas of how you can involve them in the process so that they feel like they're part of the new family the marriage is creating.

1) Ask them to help with planning if they are old enough.

2) Let them invite their friends.
Not only does this take pressure off the parents to keep everybody entertained, but it gives the kids a support system if he or she needs somebody to lean on. 

3) Involve them in the actual ceremony.
Ask them to act as bridesmaids or groomsmen, which is a hugehonor. A son can walk his mom down the aisle or act as the Best Man if he's old enough. Artistic children can help with decor. Readings -- especially about family -- can be poignant coming from one or more of the bride and groom's children. But just be careful to give each and every child a special role so that nobody feels left out.

4) Create an event within the actual ceremony that demonstrates the new bond being created.
The most popular way to do it is with a sand blending ceremony, but there are other methods of sharing the actual vows with your children. For example when new step-parents make vows to their new step-children promising to love them and be there for them forever, no matter what might happen. Or when the children make vows to each other to become brothers and sisters of the heart, regardless of blood.

5) Give children an opportunity to have a real role at the reception.
With smaller children, having a special dance where the new parents dance with their new children can be precious. A giant "trash the dress" experience where the whole group jumps in the ocean or swimming pool together can be a hilarious way to bond as well, and makes for fabulous pictures.

Credits to huffingtonpost.com

Promo Friday: Great Deals in Hawaii, Dominican Republic, and Mexican Riviera

1) Maui, Hawaii - Kaanapali Beach Hotel! A friendly aloha awaits you at Hawaii's most Hawaiian hotel!

 

Book now to Aug 15, 2014 for travel from now to Dec 201 2014 to save up to 20%!

Recreation and Activities 
• Ohana Welcome Breakfast & Hawaiian Entertainment
• Free Sunset Hula Show & Hawaiian Entertainment
• Daily Hawaiian Artisans Craft Fair in hotel lobby
• Aloha Passport – Kids program for up tp 12 years old
• Fun Whale Shaped Pool 
• Lauhala Weaving
• Ukulele Lessons
• Pineapple Cutting
• Lei Making
• Hula Lessons
• Hularobics
• Hawaiian Language Lessons
• Cultural Garden Walk
• and more!

2) Samana, Dominican Republic - Grand Bahia Principe Cayacoa 4* All Inclusive Including airfare:
3 nights from 609*
4 nights from 659*
7 nights from 869*
Based on double occupancy, includes gov't taxes & fees. Price is per person from New York's JFK on JetBlue Airways. 3nts travel (Wed) Sep 3-Oct 22, 2014; 4nts travel (Sat) Aug 30-Nov 15, 2014; 7nts travel Aug 27, 30; (Wed) Sep 3-Nov 12; (Sat) Sep 6-Nov 15, 2014. Price will vary for other departure cities.

• Enjoy sports, romance, and a fabulous swimming pool at this all-inclusive resort.
• Choose from three a la carte restaurants (coupon system applies, see our website) and four bars, or dance the night away at the disco.

3) Riviera Maya, Mexico - Barcelo Maya Palace 5* All Inclusive

5 nights from $855 includes accommodation, hotel transfers, and $2000 resort credit. Airfare additional 
Book now for travel Aug 17 - Oct 31, 2014

Thursday Travel Fashion: Flamenco Wedding Dresses

As I'm looking to take flamenco classes in NYC, I thought why not share some of these beautiful "flamenco-inspired" wedding dresses with you...Enjoy!

 

 

by Ristarose

by Rosalynn Win

Destination Tuesdays: Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Ocho Rios, Jamaica is a former fishing port with breathtaking waterfalls, rocky gorges, and vibrant nightlife.

Dunn's River Falls

Translating to “eight rivers” in Spanish, Ocho Rios is actually a misnomer. The name was likely a British mix-up as this area is better known for its stunning waterfalls. Dunn’s River Falls is one of Jamaica’s most photographed landmarks, with a natural set of cascading “stairs” that travelers climb with the help of tour guides. The falls pool into the Caribbean Sea on the western end of the village on an iconic white sand beach. Aside from its waterfalls, this resort town is also a popular tourist stop for cruise lines, meaning there is plenty of night life.  

Beaches:

Dunn’s River Beach is the emptying point for the famous Dunn’s waterfalls and is a great beach for watersports like snorkeling. James Bond Beach is where Dr. No was filmed, with soft white sand and lush surrounding jungle. Reggae Beach is also a popular beach, with clusters of hundred-year-old almond and palm trees shading the golden sand.

Activities:

The Blue hole is a great excursion for families and couples alike, as a rope swing takes you into bright blue cave waters and cascading waterfalls that are gentle enough to swim in. The famous Dunn’s River Falls is one of Jamaica’s most photographed landmarks, with a natural set of cascading “stairs” that travelers climb with the help of tour guides. For a panoramic view of the rainforest, try a bobsled tour (also known as zip-lining) through over 100 acres of jungle canopy. At night, reggae escapes from dive bars and clubs alike and keeps travelers dancing through the night.

Recommended hotels:

The ClubHotel Riu Ocho Ríos (All Inclusive 24h) is located in the banks of the privileged beach Mammee Bay in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and surrounded by thick woods and waterfalls. 

• Spa and Fitness center
• 2 Hard Surface Tennis Courts
• Casino
• Beauty Salon
• Internet access
• Two pools with integrated Jacuzzi and Children’s pool
• Jamaica family vacation heaven: children’s mini-club and playground and Children’s pool
• Daily entertainment program for children ages 4 to 12.

Nestled on the cliffs of Jamaica’s emerald coast above a dazzling stretch of Caribbean, Couples Sans Souci beckons you to surrender mind, body and soul. This resort is for couples only, very romantic and All Inclusive!

• 3 Restaurants and 6 Bars
• 3 Swimming pools and Jacuzzis
• 1 Natural Mineral Spring pool
• Complimentary excursions
• Spa
• Fitness Center
• Golf
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Also, a brand new Palace Jamaica Resort is coming to Ocho Rios in 2015! I'll keep you updated on this one :)
  

Destination Wedding Etiquette: Save-The-Dates

How far in advance should you send out save-the-dates and invitations for your destination wedding?

It is recommended to send out save-the-date cards 8 months prior, and the invites 8 weeks before your big day. This will give sufficient time to your guests to apply for passports and save money, get time off from their jobs, arrange child care, and take care of other chores so they can join you.

Advance notice will give your guests more flexibility when they're making travel arrangements, too. With this in mind, add on an extra 2 or 3 weeks to those time frames to ensure that guests have adequate time to prepare for what is essentially a vacation. 

Once that's done, make sure you pick appropriate destination wedding flowers, a festive post-ceremony reception, gorgeous accessories, and a paradise-worthy hairstyle! With all of that planned, you'll want to make sure everyone you love is there to see it all come together.

Credits to brides.com

Promo Friday: Specials in Cancun, St. Lucia, and Punta Cana

1) Luxury All-Inclusive Palace Resorts in Cancun offer a great promo:
$655 per person 
INCLUDES 3 nights, Beach or Moon or Sun Palace, all-inclusive & hotel transfers. BONUS up to $100 air credit & $500 resort credit. Stay 7 nights or longer and receive up to $1500 resort credit. Airfare additional.
Travel period: Aug 24 - Dec 23, 2014

Beach Palace

Moon Palace

Sun Palace Adults-Only

Lavender Deluxe Wedding Setup in one of the Palace Resorts

2) Looking for last minute travel?

Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia
Summer Delight

Anse Chastanet

Offer: 3rd and 6th night free on basis of daily room rate, Stay 6 and Receive $150 Food and Beverage Credit
Travel period: Now – September 15th
Book now to August 15th

3) Last Minute Summer Sale at all-inclusive adults-only Excellence Punta Cana!

Savings up to 30%!!
Travel period: July 18th to August 17th
Book now to July 24th
Excellence Punta Cana


Wedding Ceremony Setup

Thursday Travel Fashion: for your feet during a beachfront ceremony :)

I would totally consider a beach wedding for a chance to wear these great confections on my feet!

pearl shimmer

arianna

by Barmine

by Michele McColgan

Destination Tuesdays: Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Runaway Bay, Jamaica is off the beaten tourist path and has quiet, preserved beaches and amenity-filled resorts.

About 1 hour from Montego Bay International Airport and only 10 miles west of Ocho Rios on Jamaica’s northern coast, Runaway Bay is known for its lavish all-inclusive resorts and beautiful Caribbean beaches. If you’re looking to hole up at a beach-side resort, sip tropical drinks and unwind, Runaway Bay is a great option. The area has great golfing, pampering spas, and a number of water sports to choose from.  Consider a snorkeling or diving excursion in the warm and clear waters. If you’re adventurous and in good walking shape, the Green Grotto Caves are a unique excursion where you will likely spot hundreds of sleepy bats. Or, take advantage of the many all-inclusive resorts in the area for lounging by the pool or on the beach with a cold drink in your hand. Or, just hang at one of the many beautiful gold and white sand beaches and enjoy the warm Caribbean waters, perfect for swimming or relaxing. 

Recommended hotels:

Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica - family-friendly, all-inclusive resort. The resort offers great programs for children including mini dance club, ecological morning activities, face painting, video games, shows for kids. The views will amaze you at this Victorian-style hotel, where almost all of the rooms accommodate the beauty that is Runaway Bay. It is a dream location for your destination wedding!

Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica

The Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay - exclusively for adults, all-inclusive resort. This Victorian style hotel is part of the Don Pablo Collection, the most luxurious brand of Bahia Principe. Not only will you be able to enjoy all of the wonderful amenities at this hotel, but guests also have access to all of the services and amenities at the Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica next door. Your vacation at the resort will be truly unforgettable.
The 70 Rooms of the Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay hotel are all Junior Suites De Luxe with hydro massage tubs, the majority with beautiful views of the sea and with exclusive services. Come and find your place in the paradise of Runaway Bay, you won't be sorry!

The Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay

Ask about wonderful Destination Wedding packages and let me plan your vacation of a lifetime! 

Travel Tips: 5 no-fail tips for packing for your destination wedding.

5 no-fail tips for packing for your destination wedding.

1) Have everything packed and ready to carry about one week before your departure.

2) Make a checklist for your clothing and accessories using your wedding agenda as a guide. Make a similar one for your groom. For example, Welcome Dinner: (me) DVF maxi dress, flat sandals, white cardigan, turquoise necklace and bracelet; (him) navy pants, cream shirt, Oakley flip-flops. Do that for the entire wedding weekend.

3) Do NOT check your wedding dress or his tux. Have your salon or seamstress pack your dress and veil so you can carry it on the plane. Anything of value — your wedding rings and heirloom pieces — should be on your person when you fly. At the airport, alert the gate agent that you are traveling with your wedding attire, so she can give you the proper assistance. Onboard, ask the flight attendant to carefully store your garment bag.

4) Make a list of the gadgets you’ll need and any corresponding wires. If necessary, make sure you’ve got the proper electrical converter. Place all your connection wires in a single plastic bag and place it in your carry-on. You may also want to label your cellphones, cameras and iPads with your name and e-mail address. Busy brides have been known to lose track of those items over the course of such an exciting weekend.

5) Have your groom pack an extra pair of dress pants and closed-toe, non-sporty shoes. Many resort hotels have at least one formal dining room with dress codes. Also, make sure you’ve got all your medications as well as little helpers like sunscreen, tissues aspirin, Pepto-Bismol and anti-itch cream for mosquito bites.

Credits to bridalguide.com

Promo Friday

1) Pre-opening Special!!! Savings up to 63%

Brand New Zoetry Villa Rolandi - 5* All Inclusive luxury resort in Isla Mujeres, Mexico is now open for sale! Book now for travel from Nov 1st, 2014 to Dec 23rd, 2015
Why stay there?

· myTime perks
· All rooms are oceanfront
· Only a short 25 minute ride from Cancun, transportation provided on the resort’s own deluxe yacht which docks at the hotel’s private pier located on the Makax lagoon.
· Close proximity to Isla Mujeres Underwater Museum (MUSA) with over 400 sculptures that provide areas for coral growth which may be viewed by diving or snorkeling.

Zoetry Villa Rolandi

2) A newly introduced luxury All-Inclusive brand. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall 5* resort in Jamaica opening November 2014! 

Book now for stay from Nov 7th, 2014 to December 26th, 2014 to save up to 50%.

4 nights start at $729 include All Inclusive and hotel transfers.

Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall

3) Beautiful 4* All Inclusive Majestic Elegance resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic offers 25% off and myTime perks, up to $50.00 spa credit, free round of golf and more! Book now for stay from Aug 16th, 2014 to Oct 31st, 2014. 

4 nights start at $529 include All Inclusive and hotel transfers.

Majestic Elegance

Thursday Travel Fashion: Cactus-Inspired Dresses :)

Oh well, while in Cabo I was totally impressed by by the variety of cacti in the destination. 

It's not surprising that fashion designers find inspiration in these plants as well. Check out these cute dresses by Matthew Williamson. How about one of them for your Cabo Wedding? :)

Credits to matthewwilliamson.com