August 27, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Let's be honest: the thought of spending a year (or more!) planning a wedding just isn't all that exciting for some women. Sure, they want their "I Dos" to be special, but they could do without the months of scouring the Web for the best stationer, baker, florist, photographer, you name it. If you happen to be one of these women, we have great news for you.
The super-luxurious Half Moon Resort (
halfmoon.com) in Montego Bay, Jamaica has created the ultimate destination wedding package (appropriately called "Allure") with you in mind. Here's what the package includes:
For The Ceremony:
Marriage officer
Marriage license and certified copies
Tropical bridal bouquet
3 tropical bridesmaids bouquet
4 tropical Boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen
2 tropical corsages for the mothers of the bride and groom
Tropical flowers adorning a draped canopy or wedding gazebo
Violinist, guitarist or saxophonist for the ceremony
For The Reception:
6 tropical centrepieces
Votive candles and holders for each table
4-hour open bar including post-ceremony cocktail hour
Chef selection of hors d’oeuvres for post-ceremony cocktail hour
Grand dinner buffet or 3-course plated dinner
DJ for cocktail hour and reception dinner (4 hours)
Three-tiered vanilla wedding cake
Plus:
Photography service for 3 hours
Professional makeup at the beauty salon for the bride
Wedding location setup
Personal wedding planner
Best of all, you can get all of this at an incredible 5-star Caribbean resort for less than the average cost of a wedding here in the States! The one catch is that you can only have 50 wedding guests to lock this package in at the advertised price. So what are you waiting for? You better get started on that guest list!
Visit halfmoon.com for more info or to book your Allure package today.
—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor
July 9, 2009 at 11:00 AM
W recently added another incredible property to their already amazing collection of modern, stylish hotels: W Washington DC opened yesterday and you have to check it out! Try one of these 3 ways to work it into your wedding:
1. Destination wedding. The W completely gutted what used to be a roller rink on the roof of the Hotel Washington and converted it into a breathtaking rooftop ballroom, aptly called Altitude, that overlooks Lafayette Park. In addition to views, the food is impressive, too. Jean-George Vongerichten is opening his first DC restaurant in the hotel that will provide all the ballroom catering!
2. Girlfriends getaway. In addition to all the cultural sights you can take in with your girls in the nation's capital, you also have the option of staying put in the hotel's Bliss Spa. It's the first one in the region and features the spas signature hot milk and almond pedicure and the blissage 75, a 75-minute head-to-toe body massage.
3. Engagement party or welcome cocktails. Back on the rooftop is P.O.V. (Point of View), a swanky lounge for more informal gatherings. Guests can sip drinks on bold red couches and take in views of the White House lawn and the city's historic monuments from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Unsurprisingly, the ballroom is already booked through winter and the rooms are getting snatched up fast, so get a head start on your 2010 planning at
starwood.com where you can get more information and make your reservations.
—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor
May 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM
As far as amazing wedding destinations go, we're lucky to have quite a few great location options here in America. There are the stunning shores of Hawaii, the snow-covered mountain in Colorado and Utah and picturesque urban venues in New York, Chicago and even Portland. If you're not a West Coaster, chances are you may not be familiar with Mendocino Village in California, but that's about to change.
Tucked within the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Mendocino Village is a charming enclave full of history and romantic settings. The town has with museums, boutiques and galleries to fill your days, and incredible restaurants to enjoy at night. Mendocino Village is also home to the MacCallum House and the MacCullum Suites (maccallumhouse.com), luxurious accommodations with gorgeous garden- and oceanviews.
Sounds beautiful, right? It is and if you've fallen in love with the town and property as much as we have, there's good news. The MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant is giving one lucky couple and all-expense paid destination wedding! All you have to do to enter to win is submit your story and then have your friends and family vote for you. It's super easy and in this economy, who wouldn't want to win a wedding?
For more info and your chance to win, visit maccullumhouse.com.
—Jeanine Edwards
April 2, 2009 at 3:55 PM
The folks at the Ritz-Carlton realize times are a bit tough and accordingly, they've devised an incredible wedding package for those who've always dreamed of wedding away. Any couple who books the Reconnect® wedding package for a minimum of three nights between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2009 and at least twenty-five guests rooms, will be given a complimentary wedding ceremony and a complimentary three-night first anniversary stay!
This incredible offer is available at 5 gorgeous Ritz-Carlton properties throughout Mexico and the Caribbean: Cancun, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Rose Hall, Jamaica, St. Thomas, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For more information or to book your nuptials, go to ritzcarlton.com.
—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor
January 14, 2009 at 9:30 AM
With less and less cash to spare, more and more brides are looking for creative ways to save. Ladies, rejoice: I’ve found your solution.
Oriental Trading has been around for years and they’re a great resource when planning a wedding. There are great items for your ceremony and reception, and the favors (even all of the personalized ones) are only a fraction of the price you’d pay elsewhere. A set of personalized champagne flutes are $13! A total steal!
Another fave from Oriental Trading? Their destination wedding selection, including reception decorations and favor packaing. Scoop up a bunch of these products—like this seashell wedding book—to dress up your locale at a fraction of the cost.
—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor
November 6, 2008 at 12:45 PM
So you just got engaged and your dream wedding on a beautiful beach is feeling more and more like an unattainable fantasy? Stop right there! One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to planning a wedding is that destination weddings are always more expensive. Sure, they can be more pricey, but they don't have to be. You're almost guaranteed fewer guests than if you were to marry close to home, so you're saving there. Plus, if you stick to a low-key island vibe, chances are you won't get carried away splurging on unneccessary expenses.
One of my favorite destinations for a wedding away is Aruba (aruba.com). It's out of the hurricane belt, which means great weather year-round. It's also surprisingly affordable—for both you and your guests. Of course, it goes without saying that the water is crystal clear, the sand is supersoft and the sunsets are breathtaking.
Hip-hop producer Timbaland recently got married there and it was amazing. His guests stayed at the gorgeous Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino (marriot.com) in the capital city of Oranjestad. The resort has the island's only private beach and the spa does incredible massages.
Another spectacular property is RIU Aruba-Palm Beach (riu.com). It's situated on one of the most beautiful beaches in all of the Caribbean—need I say more?
So don't be discouraged. Even in these uncertain economic times, you can still have the wedding of your dreams.
—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor
October 16, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Some people are just beach people. The sun, the sand, the surf, the seabreeze—it's hard to deny the appeal. If you happen to be one of these people and are still in search of the perfect wedding locale, consider the ultra-luxurious Ceiba del Mar (ceibadelmar.com) in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
The resort prides itself on pulling off personal ceremonies, so whether you want an intimate affair at sunset or a big beach bash, they can and will accommodate. Plus, the location is unbeatable—Ceiba del Mar is situated on over a 1/2 mile of private beach. The spa there is another huge draw. Talk about pampering yourselves, you can indulge in aromatherapy and sunset massages. All of the resort's 88 rooms have a private balcony or terrace, twice daily maid service and come stocked with supersoft robes and slippers.
As if that weren't enough, they offer an insane upgrade. If your guests book 15 rooms at the resort, you get to stay in one of the penthouse suites! Pretty sweet, huh?
—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor
Click here to read our destination wedding Q&A.
