Are Wedding Bells Ringing This Summer? Keep These Top 10
Travel Tips in Mind when Planning Your Honeymoon or Vacation

guest article + tips courtesy of Stacey Vogler, Managing Director, Protect Your Bubble

Whether it's a destination wedding at an exotic location or a hometown service followed by a honeymoon, many marriages start off with travel. While most happy couples who are planning a summer wedding have already booked their travel and accommodations well in advance, they may not have done everything they can to make sure the honeymoon travel goes off without a hitch. Here are 10 tips that can help you protect what matters most:

1. Create – and stick to – a budget. But, remember, be realistic. Overspending on vacation will cause a headache walking through the threshold upon returning home.

2. Outline the activities you'd like to do, then choose a destination that will suit your activities.

3. Know the climate before booking. Is it hurricane season? Check out the weather before you book - it could ruin your honeymoon – and no one wants to be indoors every day.

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4. Be cautious of travel deals that are too good to be true. Don't share credit card or other personal information on insecure websites and public wifi.

5. Do you and your fiance have conflicting ideas on a destination? This is a great time to start learning how to compromise. Each pick the three top places on your “wish lists” and then take a vote.

6. For the best airline deals, book on a Tuesday around 3 pm, and avoid Saturday flights. Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be slightly less expensive for traveling to the perfect honeymoon destination.

7. Wedding planning can be stressful, but booking a honeymoon doesn't have to be. Give yourself plenty of time to plan. And consider purchasing travel insurance just in case something goes wrong. Make your honeymoon memorable in the best way.

8. Make photo copies of your passport, credit cards, etc. Hide them in your luggage and also share with your family just in case you lose your wallet and/or identification while traveling.

9. Depending on where you go, don't drink the water or ice unless you verify that it's purified. Do what you have to do to avoid Montezuma's Revenge on your honeymoon. Spending your time in the bathroom is not an ideal honeymoon.

10. If going to a busy location, pick pocketing can be a problem. Keep your cash, wallet, smartphones and other high-theft items out of sight as much as possible. While it’s not the sexiest look, a money belt may save you the headache when your things are stolen. Also, put the hotel safe to use –that’s what it’s there for.

I'm happy to welcome Jessica Hair Extensions {a salon based in Toronto} to the blog today. Jessica is a certified specialist in hair extension applications and has more than eight years of experience. Today, she is here to share with you all the details about Wedding Day Hair Extensions . . .

A girl dreams about her wedding from a very young age; how she will look, what she will wear. Nothing less than perfect is acceptable. Her gown, the veil, the aisle, the location, her make-up, her hair, everything has to be perfect. After all, you get married just once after you have found your soul mate. You want to bring your most exquisite self to the person waiting at the end of the aisle.

Many women today are turning to hair extensions, which not only add more volume to the hair, but also enhance the entire look. Hair extensions can last up to 6 months without causing any damage to your natural hair. An advantage of getting hair extensions is that it’s completely chemical free.

Many Hollywood celebrities get hair extensions and this makes them look younger, sexier and elegant. From Rihanna to Beyoncé, from Victoria Beckham to Eva Langoria, each of these ladies have experimented with their looks.

Experimenting with hair can give you some time alone and an opportunity to pamper yourself. And the best time to do this is before getting married when you can get a new look.

You can experiment with different hairstyles with the new added length, be it tying up or letting them loose across your shoulders. They will make you look elegant and instill a lot of confidence that will be clearly visible to others and yourself. Since confidence is directly related to how we look, clearly between all this excitement and stress, having a perfect hairdo is a priority.

Hair extensions also add to the texture of your hair. So how is it done? You can visit your parlour 2 weeks before your wedding; they will attach your hair with the hair extension that is first exposed to keratin protein, which is an essential part of hair. The entire process will take a few hours and is done in almost all salons.

You will be required to take extra care of your hair post hair extensions; making a plait while sleeping in order to stop tangling of hair, avoiding hair wash for 48 hours after getting hair extensions, regularly brushing your hair with special combs that are designed for hair extensions; avoiding unusual hairdos. You should be very clear about the length you desire which will match your wedding gown and also enhance your diet by including more proteins which will provide necessary vitamins and nourishment to your natural hair.

Having the perfect hair is an essential feature of being the picture perfect bride and hair extensions are a good way to accomplish that.

I'm thrilled to welcome Great Performances {one of NYC’s premier event production companies} back to the blog today. This time, Josh is here to share his top 5 décor tips for spring weddings.

Top 5 Décor Tips for Spring Weddings {edible salad garden with gardening shovels as the serving utensil} | from Josh Tierney of Great Performances for www.brendasweddingblog.com

1. Spring is all about planting:

• You can utilize seed packets as part of your décor - whether it’s vintage seed packets or actual seed packets you buy from a nursery
• Seed packets can be used as favors, escort cards or table display items
• Seed packets can also be carried throughout the theme of the party
• Plants can be used in an edible salad garden with really beautiful compost salads. Another option is a crudité display.
• Seedlings can be used for décor. Consider newly sprouted items that are available from different hardware stores and nurseries such as fresh herbs, etc. that you buy early in the season. Guests can also take these home and plant them.

Vintage Seed Packets as escort cards for weddings | image via eco-beautifulweddings.com

2. Baby animals:

• Consider dressing the ring bearer or flower girl (if they are very young) in a lamb or baby chick costume to walk down the aisle. This also makes for a great photo opportunity.
• For the photo booth, consider hiring an animal wrangler to bring chicks, lambs, pigs  so guests can hold them in photos. This is great for weddings on farms or in the countryside.

3. Flowers:

• You can go to local craft store and buy silk flowers and use them to make a wall entirely out of flowers. This can be used as a backdrop for the dessert display, photos or a photo booth.

Silk flower wall for wedding backdrops - perfect for behind dessert displays, photos of wedding guests or the photo booth {image via Martha Stewart Weddings}

4. Non-Floral Plants:

• You can create a non-floral plant centerpiece or an edible centerpiece. For example, a beautifully presented crudité edible garden as a centerpiece. You can also incorporate flowers and bulbs in this.

Edible Wedding Garden : crudité appetizer display | by Amanda Gentile

Edible Wedding Centerpieces : crudité edible garden with pumpernickel dirt | by Josh Tierney

5. Birds:

• Buy fake birds from the craft store... finches, etc. and vintage bird cages from etsy or ebay. These come in a beautiful brass color or you can spray paint them to match your color theme.
• You can also incorporate real birds and put them in the bird cages instead of using flowers. You can donate these after the wedding to a local nursing home, school, etc. This is a great alternative to using flowers that will get thrown in the garbage at the end of the wedding.

About the Guest Author: Great Performances is New York City’s premier catering company spearheading the evolving “food as fashion” movement. The company is known for incorporating seasonal ingredients into its delicious, innovative and beautifully designed food presentations. Counting many of the city's most high-profile cultural institutions and landmark properties as clients, such as Sotheby's, The Plaza, Asia Society, BAM, and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (at the Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center), Great Performances is the only New York City caterer to own and operate its own 60-acre organic farm, Katchkie Farm, in Kinderhook, NY.

Happy Monday. Today I have a fun article courtesy of SmugMug {the leading website for storing and sharing photo. With the height of wedding season right around corner, brides across the country are planning every last detail of the big day – from the favors and signature cocktail to the DJ playlist and, of course, photography shot list. SmugMug has pulled together its resources to compile the must-have photography list of the 2014 wedding season. Taking the traditional photos up a notch (or two), SmugMug offers brides-to-be a new take on bridal favorites, from artsy ring shots to aerial first dances.

1. Get Creative with the Ring Shot

We’ve seen plenty of rings nestled in a bouquet of flowers or resting on the heel of a Jimmy Choo shoe, but it’s time to get creative with your left hand’s best accessory. Whether incorporating your favorite pastime (eating) by wrapping rings around a fork and knife or taking the artsy "plunge" by dropping them in water, ask your photographer for new ways to show off the bling.

Great ring shot of the bride's wedding ring and engagement ring inside the groom's wedding band | photo by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

Fun wedding ring shot - balanced on red velvet heels with bling bows | photo by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

Cute ring shot on a pumpkin stem | by Bill Fraser Through The Lens Studio www.ttlsphoto.com

Sweet little shot of the wedding rings on the turtles necks of a trinket box | by Jenz Pix www.psquarestudios.com

2. Have Fun with Backgrounds

The requisite bridal party group shot typically includes a lot of “oohs,” “ahhs” and funny faces. Amp up the action with Photoshop {or just the regular real-life photo} to create a personalized and memorable photograph – because nothing says “best day of my life” quite like a Tyrannosaurus Rex or AT-AT from Star Wars chasing the bridal party. And, don't forget about the bridal portraits too being unique.

Unexpected characters joining the bride and groom and their wedding attendants | by Bill Fraser Through The Lens Studio www.ttlsphoto.com

Unexpected wandering horses behind the bride | by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

3. Bring the Generations Together

Celebrate the love that came before you by incorporating your family’s wedded bliss into your photography. A group shot of you, your mother and grandmother is always a keepsake, but you can up the sentimental value by taking a picture of three generations of wedding rings or holding photographs of your parents on their wedding day.

Bright and colorful generation wedding photo | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

4. Capture the Landscape

Couples are always on the lookout for that one photograph that will be the centerpiece of their home. A dramatic landscape shot allows your photographer to capture the natural beauty of your wedding location, while still capturing the sheer happiness of you and your new spouse on the big day - neither of which you’ll want to forget.

Beautiful photo of the bride and groom among the trees | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

5. Change Your Perspective

To capture your wedding day from an entirely new perspective, ask your photographer to go “above" and beyond and take aerial shots of important moments, like the first dance, cake cutting or the entire wedding ceremony setup.

Spectacular birds eye view of the wedding ceremony | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

Such a sweet photo of the groom in the background watching his bride dance with her dad | by Courtney Whitehurst Photography www.courtneywhitehurstphotography.zenfolio.com

Beautiful aerial photo of the wedding guests watching the bride and groom exit the doors | by VeroLuce Photography www.verolucephotography.com

Sweet moment captured with the bride and groom in focus as their background fades away | by Bill Fraser Through The Lens Studio www.ttlsphoto.com

Thank you to the following photographers for submitting their photos for inclusion in this SmugMug article . . . Courtney Whitehurst Photography, Vero Luce Photography, Bill Fraser with Through The Lens Studio, and Jenz Pix

Happy Valentine's Day Eve - I'm thrilled to welcome Great Performances {one of NYC’s premier event production companies} to the blog today. They are here to share their tips for turning an ordinary Valentine's Day celebration into an extraordinary one! First up is the menu . . .

Menu Planning

1. Focus on aphrodisiac menu items such as oysters, dark chocolate, truffles, red wine and ginger to set the mood for your romantic evening.

Recipe Suggestions:
Mini Truffle Mushroom Pizzas
Chocolate Decadence Cake
Carrot Ginger Soup

2. Create a menu inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins with rich and creamy items representing gluttony, gold leaf garnishes for greed, a spicy dish for anger or beautiful desserts for vanity.

Recipe Suggestions:
Mae Mae Café Pasta with Kale and Sausage
Spicy Vegetarian Chili
Sylvia’s Table Meringue Kisses

3. As a nod to Cupid, serve a kabob style dish skewered on Cupid’s arrows.

Recipe Suggestions:
Tequila and Lime Chicken Skewers

Decor

1. Create a dramatic and romantic atmosphere by buying inexpensive candles in bulk – with varying heights and widths – so you can fill your space with the warm glow of hundreds of flickering candles. Cover every surface with candles to make a bold and beautiful statement.

2. Stop in to your local bodega or corner market and buy several dozen of their inexpensive rose bouquets. At checkout, have the store bundle all of the bouquets together to create one huge assortment of bright red roses. By skipping the florist and taking this semi-DIY approach, you can make a giant bouquet for a small investment.

3. Rethink the usual reds and pinks and use deep purples and golds to create a more dramatic and sophisticated table. Adding in a touch of black lace ups the ante with a seductive flare.

4. Be playful with your centerpieces – a collection of ostrich feathers on the table are a light and seductive accent for the evening.

Misc.

1. Instead of simply giving a gift, design a special treasure hunt for your special someone. Incorporate each course of the meal by hiding clues under plates or with certain dishes – get creative!

2. If you don’t have time to cook a full meal, you can still make the evening special by setting a beautiful and simple table – don’t forget the candles! – and ordering in from your favorite takeout restaurant. This way you don’t have to worry about dishes and will have more time for a relaxing and romantic evening together.

About the Guest Author: Great Performances is New York City’s premier catering company spearheading the evolving “food as fashion” movement. The company is known for incorporating seasonal ingredients into its delicious, innovative and beautifully designed food presentations. Counting many of the city's most high-profile cultural institutions and landmark properties as clients, such as Sotheby's, The Plaza, Asia Society, BAM, and Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (at the Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center), Great Performances is the only New York City caterer to own and operate its own 60-acre organic farm, Katchkie Farm, in Kinderhook, NY.

Images Credits for Decor Ideas: Purple and Gold Place Setting via fabyoubliss.com, Ostrich Feathers, Roses from Market via kimberlytaylorimages.com

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