Holiday Wedding Meets the Tropics

When we think of holiday weddings, visions of snow topped trees dance around in our heads. But, what happens when you mix a holiday wedding, with sunny Bahamas?

You get the best of both worlds: holiday elegance with a tropical flair.

Wedding details can be found here.

{Style Shoot} Tiffany Blue Inspired Wedding Decor

Style shoots are all the rage these days in the wedding industry and we couldn't resist sharing this fabulous photo shoot styled by Rachel A Clingen Wedding, Event & Seasonal Design and photographed by Purple Martini Photography from Orangeville, Ontario.

I'm obsessed with Tiffany's (they were the inspiration for my own wedding invitations) and hope you are too. Here are a few of my favourite shots from the photo shoot.

Tell us, what has inspired the decor for your special event?

*All images courtesy of Purple Martini Photography and Rachel A Clingen Wedding, Event & Seasonal Design

Fashion Friday: Our Top Etsy Wedding Picks

It's no secret that we love love love Etsy.com. Not only do they offer some amazing deals on items such as accessories and clothing, they have a whole section dedicated to weddings.

We've searched high and low and have come up with a few of our favourite Etsy Wedding favourites, found below.

Tell us, what is your favourite Etsy fashion find?

Items from left to right:

1. Peacock Shoes in Teal by ParisXOX $226.66. Click here for details.

2. Silk Bridal Bouquet (replica of Ivanka Trump's bouquet) by Modagefloral $613.01. Click here for details.

3. Birch Heart Mr. and Mrs.Wedding Toasting Glass Charms by AprilHilerDesigns $10.30. Click here for details.

4. Black and Ivory Monogramed Guest Book by Creativelykept $108.18. Click here for details.

5. Ivory Pearl Rhinestone Bridal Brooch by Eminjewelry $54.60. Click here for details. 

6. Peacock Swarovski Crystal Necklace Sterling Silver by AzureTreasures $28.85. Click here for details.

7. Ivory Faux Fur Bridal Wrap/Shrug by Alexbridal $61.81. Click here for details.

Destination Wedding Help: What Do Guests Pay?

Q: We're thinking of having a destination wedding on a tropical island, what should we expect our guests to cover in terms of costs?

A: While destination weddings are a great way to celebrate your marriage in a fun and unique way, it can also help the bride and groom cut down on costs associated with having a more traditional wedding. While we're on board for saving some money here and there, as a general rule, guests shouldn't have to pay for themselves at any event that has to do with the wedding. Having said that, a destination wedding is a bit of a tricky thing. Generally, your guests should be responsible for paying their travel and accommodation expenses however, they shouldn't have to worry about the reception or rehearsal dinner if there is one. Many resorts offer wedding packages to help plan a magical reception and include the price of dinner and beverages for your guests, allowing the bride and groom to still save some money.

How to Choose a Destination Wedding Location

There are so many things to consider when booking a destination wedding. Choosing a destination is the first obvious thing to decide on but, how do you chose between so many locations? We like to tell our brides to consider the following three factors to help guide them in a decision.
Weather - Do you want to have a beach wedding in a tropical paradise? Consider the time of year you'd like to travel and scope out the weather forecasts for that time frame. We're sure that the last thing you want is to be saying your vows in the middle of a hurricane so get out the Farmers Almanac and get planning!

Dates - We like to recommend staying away from major holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving or even Spring Break. Vacation packages and flight costs typically rise during these holidays so we like to recommend picking off-season dates as opposed to high season. Trust us, you'll be thankful you travelled during low season, there will be less bathing suit clad onlookers trying to get in on your wedding photos at the beach!

Travel Convenience - Not everyone minds connecting flights, layovers and long bus rides to get to their sunny destination however, if it were up to us, we wouldn't want to experience that for a wedding. We like to recommend paying a few extra dollars for a direct flight to wherever you're travelling too. Especially when it's for your upcoming nuptuals.Why? Well we're sure that the last thing you want to do is lose half your wedding party on a delayed flight or worse, a missed flight!

If you choose to throw caution to the wind and don't want to let weather, dates or convenience stand in your way of planning your wedding, the last thing we'd suggest is to book your wedding at a resort or location you have visited before - or that a good friend or family member you trust has recommended. You'd hate to show up for your wedding and realize the resort isn't as well maintained as the brochure made it look or the wedding packages were not exactly what was advertised.

Interested in learning more about destination weddings? Click here to find other articles about destination weddings that are worth the second look!

Destination Wedding Help: Favors

Calling all Destination Brides! We have some great favor ideas to give to your friends and family helping you celebrate your nuptials in the sunny topical islands. Take a look at some of our favourite guest favors from Theknot.com and from WeddingFavours.ca (a great Canadian resource).

http://www.weddingfavours.ca/

*Click on image for larger view

http://www.theknot.com/

*Click on image for larger view