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