Puerto Rico Wedding Planner

Design Your Bridesmaid Dress Contest - Bridal Party - In Style Weddings

2009-10-25T11:10:00.001-04:00

Design Your Bridesmaid Dress Contest - Bridal Party - In Style Weddings

Have you ever dreamt of designing the perfect bridesmaid dress? Send us your sketch, and if we choose your design, Thread will create it for up to eight bridesmaids and add the style to their collection!

To enter, send your sketch to weddings@instylemag.com or 1271 Avenue of the Americas NY NY 10020 Attn: InStyle Wedding Design Your Bridesmaid Dress Contest.

Click here for complete contest rules.

Click here to learn more about Thread.

Inspiration For Your Bridal Bouquet

2009-10-23T08:00:00.009-04:00

Let's talk bridal bouquets. Such a personal choice, but I am often asked for my opinion. So here is a little inspiration. Anything goes when your having a destination wedding in Puerto Rico. It can be a formal look, rich deep colors or a whimsical look, loose, colorful or as simple as one large calla lilly with a beautiful ribbon. It's all in your hands... literally :) Here are a few bouquets for inspiration...

A Little Paradise I Call Home - Palmas Del Mar

2009-10-20T14:06:00.005-04:00

Hello future Mr & Mrs,

I am going to blog today about a little paradise I call home... Palmas del Mar. It is a unique enclosed community located on the southeast side of the island. This gorgeous community is full of wonderful, fun amenities such as;

2 award winning golf courses
Beach Club
Equestrian Center
Largest tennis center in all of the Caribbean
Largest marina in all of the Caribbean
17 restaurants - ranging from Japanese to pizza
Bike paths
Casino

If you are looking for a unique destination wedding experience in a self enclosed community offering the best of the best, Palmas del Mar is the site. Your guests won't even have to rent a car, a golf cart will get them around the entire community. How fun would it be to run into your guests on the golf cart path on the way to the welcome dinner. And most importantly the resort has an array of choices for lodging; private homes, villas and the 4 Points Sheraton Hotel.

I had a meeting with the catering dept at the 4 Points Sheraton and they have come up with a very reasonable, high quality menu.

The Enchanted Package (min 30 guests):

$89 pp including gratuity (tax not included)

Beach or Garden Ceremony Site
Outdoor or Ballroom Reception Site
Cocktail Hour - Mimosa or Sangria
Cocktail Hour - Cold & Hot Hors d'oeuves
Champagne Toast
Choice of Soup
Choice of Salad
Choice of one of 7 Main Courses
Choice of Starch
Choice of Vegetable
Bread & Butter
Coffee
4 Hour Open Bar (house brands)
White Table & Napkin Linen

If you would like more information about marrying in Palmas del Mar, please email me or call.

Fun Favor/Escort Card Idea

2009-10-18T09:32:00.010-04:00

Brides and I are always looking for unique escort card ideas and fun, useful favors. When you can combine the two it's twice as good.

Heide & Paul's wedding was full of lovely, fun, money saving and unique ideas. One that I loved in particular was the favor. Heide & Paul wanted to give their guests a taste of the best rum the world has to offer, Puerto Rico's Bacardi Rum. So off I went to the Bacardi factory for my research (it's a dirty job but someone has to do it) and to pick up Bacardi nips (I must suggest if you are vacationing in Puerto Rico it's a fun tour. It is interesting, they offer two drinks of your choice at the end and best of all it is completely free). She wanted two nips, one dark and one light, for each guest (they also have flavored nips). We attached them to each other with a pretty ribbon and double sided tape. She made adorable tags that said "Some Puerto Rico Spirit" and they were placed at each guests table setting. When the guests arrived to their seat they all commented on how cute the favors were and how wonderful it was not to have to pack one more item in their luggage. Then I thought what a great favor/escort card. Same idea, you would add the table name/number to the tag. Super cute and you eliminate one extra item on your reception list.

Thanks Heide for the inspiration!

Note: Another useful favor idea... The fan in the background was placed on the church pews to help guests cool off. Heide added the peach ribbon and adorable starfish to personalize them.

Heide & Paul Wedding Slideshow

2009-10-16T21:33:00.002-04:00

Click here to see a beautiful slideshow of

Heide & Paul's Wedding

Courtesy of David Medina

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009

Ceremony: Cathedral of John the Baptist, Old San Juan Puerto Rico

Reception: El Convento Hotel, Old San Juan Puert Rico Salon Monterell

Stay tuned for many more pictures to come.

Great Advice From An Expert ~ Carey Evans

2009-10-15T09:51:00.009-04:00

Hello Brides to be,

Below is an email I received from a bride I am currently assisting in creating the wedding of her dreams. Her name is Carey Evans and she is the very talented designer and co-host of HGTV's Closet Cases as well as having numerous appearances on My First Place, Freestyle and Don't sweat it with Steve Watson. She is oh so talented and full of creative ideas that look modern & chic but won't break the bank. I hope to be sharing lots and lots of her ideas with you.

Check this one out...

... Something for you maybe to blog about... In trying to save money I found that the cost for printing a return address as well as a RSVP address on every envelope would take hours to do by hand or cost money if you were hiring a calligrapher. My printer wanted to charge anywhere from $100-200 more to print my return/rsvp address on my main envelope flap and RSVP envelope. So I choose to get creative and have a stamp made for $18. With shipping it comes out to $23.. but I can have this stamp for as long as I am in this home.

I picked the "Curly" stamp from Paperwink...

But I saw a ton of them on our favorite site Etsy. Like these cool ones...
Etsy Stamp.

Just tell your brides if they are using them for their RSVPs they should ask to have a larger stamp made... mine are 2.8" x 1.75". But over all these pretty return stamps would be great gifts for newlyweds OR for anyone with a new home... or a new last name!

Thanks Carey! Love that tip! Keep them coming!

Sneak Peek ~ Heide & Paul ~ El Convento Hotel

2009-10-08T17:19:00.002-04:00

Picture courtesy of David Medina.

Jessica & Greg's Wedding Album

2009-10-01T12:55:00.005-04:00

Click on Jessica & Greg's Wedding Album

to see a beautiful slideshow of their wedding day.

courtesy of David Medina

Michelle & Rick's Wedding Album

2009-10-01T12:35:00.003-04:00

Click on Michelle & Rick's Wedding Alb um

to see a beautiful slideshow of their wedding,

courtesy of David Medina

Ramona & Chris - September 21, 2009

2009-09-30T21:56:00.005-04:00

Congratulations

Ramona & Chris

Photos courtesy of Glen Weisgerber of Fotografia Distinta

PR Wedding Planner MUST HAVE!

2009-09-30T19:41:00.002-04:00

How Fab is Mandi?

Mandizzle is an adorable new online boutique with a sassy name. Mandi specializes in handcrafted & exclusive items handmade by Mandi—from flowers and exclusive jewelry, to gifts, and accessories. She also has charming scarfs that are brand new to her shop, and more treasures for your everyday posh life. Mandi will also create you any color or flower you need to fit your wedding or party style.

Mandi's flowers were are major part of my wedding theme. With a single flower you can make a Spanish wedding come together! Whatever your theme might be or flower you have in mind Mandi can help.

Don't you just love how beautiful these flowers are!

Since my wedding, so many people have asked me about Mandi. I wanted to find away to let everyone know just where my flowers came from. Each flower is specially handmade for you, interlocking flower petals that bring a sense of enduring grace and beauty.

In order to purchase her items please visit Mandizzle, check out the boutique, share with Mandi what holiday items you would like to see by leaving a comment.

PS -10% off to Brides plus free shipping through October with code *cocoandbella*

PATA ti NOVIA

2009-09-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

Check out the beautiful feature of our wedding at PARA ti NOVIA! What a wonderful job they did featuring our wedding love story. We are so excited to share all the details with fellow brides. When Valerie at PARA ti NOVIA contacted us to do a feature article we were thrilled. She did a wonderful job! There are also a few new amazing photo's by Shawna Herring!

Check out the full article: PARA ti NOVIA

All Photo's Shawna Herring!!!

Unique Wedding Keepsake...

2009-09-30T14:05:00.007-04:00

If you are the type of bride that feels paying an exuberant amount of money for flowers that will not make it back home is ridiculous and unnecessary. This post is for you...

Lilly Buds creates heirloom quality, distinctive bridal bouquets, for divinely different bridal parties.

Each piece is tailor-made to suit your chosen style. You can have your bouquet, bridesmaids bouquet, boutonnieres, corsages and table centerpieces made to order.

Designed and created with quality materials including vintage treasures, buttons, paper and feathers, Lillybuds bouquets, buttonholes and accessories are a beautiful keepsakes to mark that special day in your life.

Prices start at around $100.

You can also find her at;

lillybuds.blogspot

lillybuds.etsy

Destination... Love

2009-09-30T13:42:00.003-04:00

A few more destination wedding ideas...

Row 1: Beach Favor Bags, Destination Love Favor Cards, Beach Cake Topper, Destination Wedding Favor Card
Row 2: Cruise Themed Magnet Favor, Miniature Travel Suitcase Container, Miniature Travel Trolley, Honeymoon Beach Attire
Row 3: Shell Place Card Holders, Heart Unity Sand Ceremony Set, Orchid "Just Married" Flip Flops, Seaside Allure Garter Set
Row 4: Palm Tree Favor Boxes, Destination Love Cruise Ship Luggage Tag, Flip Flop Placecard Holders, Sea Shell Spreader Favors

Consider hiring a wedding/event planning service based in your destination wedding location. This is especially handy when considering differences in time zones and possible language barriers. Companies such as PR Wedding Planner will handle all details of your wedding.

Save-the-dates should be sent from 6 to 12 months in advance to allow guests time to plan and budget for attending the destination wedding.

Enclose an itinerary with your wedding invitations so that guests will know what to expect.

Destination wedding guests are typically expected to pay for their airfare and hotel. You can help with the cost by negotiating group rates with hotels and airlines. Make reservations as early as possible as group rates are often based on availability.

Keep guests informed of travel and accomodation options (including prices) and any changes to the itinerary by creating a wedding website. Send an email to guests each time you make changes to the website.

Because the guest list of destination weddings is generally shorter, consider having a small reception once you return home. This will give you the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends who were not able to attend your destination wedding. Choose a decorating scheme that focuses on the location of your destination wedding. Have wedding photos or a DVD of the ceremony/reception available.

Elegant and Classic

2009-09-30T11:47:00.004-04:00

One question I get asked a lot is...

"What would you suggest as a wedding favor? How should we display them?"

I came across this idea in Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine and fell in love with it. This is perfect for a destination wedding. It is both timeless and new, create a favor cake with buttercream-colored boxes (ivory, white and aqua work nicely too) and a topper of millinery or paper flowers. Inside, nestle Mantecaditos (sugar cookies) which are a delicious, light, traditional cookie in Puerto Rico. They can be flavored with coconut, almond, lemon or amaretto. And guests don't have to pack an extra item in their luggage. It can be their midnight or breakfast snack after partying all night long. Ask a calligrapher to make a sign with your initials or monogram. Stack boxes in tiers on a square cake plate; add picot ribbon and flowers to top. Shells and pearls would also add a decorative romantic look.

Two piece boxes - Sofie's Favors

Calligraphy Resource - Laura Hooper's Calligraphy

Mantecaditos Receipe (almond flavor) - Puerto Rican Cookies

Photo Credit - Martha Stewart Weddings

Top 10 Attractions

2009-09-29T13:35:00.002-04:00

There are so many things you can do in Puerto Rico...

Photos by Christina Barreraz

I Heart Ouma

2009-09-29T11:34:00.001-04:00

Life is full of little gems! Finding one that you want to share with the whole world is unique. I heart Ouma because she is truely an artist. There is nothing like putting on one of her dresses, it makes you feel like a movie star. Her fabulous take on ballerina style dresses makes me want to run to my closet and play dress up. Her dresses can make you feel like a little girl playing dress up. I bought two of her dresses recently for my wedding. I wanted to feel extra special at my rehearsal dinner. I wanted to wear a dress I would never forget. I wanted to slip into a dress that would be timeless, unique, unforgettable to anyone who passed by me. I put it on and never wanted to take it off. I love fashion! I love to look just a little different from the rest. I'm willing to take chances on designers who share my passion for twists on the norm. Ouma's Clothing gave me every reason to remember my special day. The only problem, I will forever remember the dress more than the occasion I wore it for.

You can check out all of Ouma clothing’s dresses on www.etsy.com or see more photos on www.oumaclothing.com!

Thank you Ouma!

Fall Wedding Inspiration Board

2009-09-28T18:43:00.002-04:00

Most of these items can be found on Etsy!

Doublets Acorns... on ribbon. Pumpkin and Chocolate by truLuxe Etsy

Gold Leaf Necklace by Peaches4me Etsy

PETALS Hair Flowers -Walking in the woods by MGMart Etsy

Burnt Sugar Pear Drops Earrings Designs by EmmaThomsen Etsy

Brick Red Metallic Strapless Party Cocktail by paulnkc Etsy

Love Bird Cake Topper by Cynthia Spencer
Jose Villa Photography
Two Little Owls - Wedding Invitation by ellothere Etsy

Fall Foliage Sparkle Box by littlebirdieboutique Etsy

Fall Trends by The Bride and Bloom!

2009-09-28T17:16:00.001-04:00

Bride and Bloom Magazine

I love Bride and Bloom Magazine! I found this very cool article and thought it would fit perfect with Fall......The article is:“A Chocolate Dipped Soiree” featured in the current issue of Bride and Bloom, on newsstands now.

I am completely loving the chocolate theme! What fits better with fall than chocolate? Imagine serving your guests hot chocolate on the beach or cutting them a slice of that amazing chocolate cake. Just imagine what you can do with this theme..............!!!

Photography: The extremely talented Paula and Mike of Luna Photo

Florals: The amazing LaVonne of Adorations

Stationary: Posh Paperie

Cake: Melody of Sweet and Saucy shop.

Linens: Wildflower Linens

Chairs: Those beautiful rosette chairs from Chameleon Chair

Rentals: Megan with Classic Party Rentals

Venue: Suite and Tender Restaurant at Se San Diego.

So Pretty...

2009-09-28T12:23:00.002-04:00

So many reasons to LOVE Etsy.com. Bridesmaid Clutches with an island feel. I think these would be a perfect bridesmaid gift. Check out this adorable clutch created by Mollusa!

Mollusa on Etsy

Description:

Elegance, handmade bride and bridesmaids small clutches.. They are great for carrying your cellular phone, keys, credit cards. This clutch is a fabulous accessory to brighten up any outfit. Made with a pretty, unique and limited coloured fabrics.

The finishing touches are these ruffles and cute handmade silk and satin flowers.
Interlined with a firm interfacing to give structure to the purse.
--------------------
The size of the bag is 8"(20cm) width x 2.5"(6.5 cm) high x 2"(5 cm) deep.

SET of 2
--------------------
100 % handmade

Visit Mollusa on Esty for amazing idea's and all your wedding accessories!

Legal Marriage Requirements for Puerto Rico

2009-09-28T11:47:00.004-04:00

Easy as 1, 2 ,3...... Come to Puerto Rico to get married without complications!

There is no waiting period, however there are blood test requirements. You will need a birth certificate and a valid form of photo I.D. such as a driver’s license. Non U.S. citizens will need a passport.

If you have been previously married, you will need divorce papers or death certificate and if there are children, you will need birth certificates for each one.

You may use blood tests for Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Clymidia from a licensed lab in the U.S. but it must be done within 14 days of the wedding date. A registered doctor in P.R. will need to sign and certify the blood test and medical certificate for a $100.00 fee.

Couples must then visit the Demographic Registry office to present the medical certificate for validation for a $20.00 fee plus purchase a $5.00 stamp to officiate the marriage license after ceremony.

You will receive you marriage certificate in the mail within 10 days of the wedding.

Lisa, will help you through this process and make sure everything is taken care of as Puerto Rico Law requires.

Photo by Christina Barreraz

7 Tips on Destination Weddings

2009-09-27T12:24:00.004-04:00

For many couples, the major appeal of destination weddings is financial. While the average wedding costs roughly $24,000, and possibly double that in a big city, according to the wedding-planning Web site The Knot, destination weddings can be significantly cheaper, since the guest list is often considerably smaller. The theory goes that only those who really love you will travel for you — which means a destination wedding is one way to avoid paying $75 a head to feed the coworkers and business contacts many couples feel obligated to invite to local weddings. Destination weddings also make a lot of sense for couples whose families and friends are scattered around the country (or even the globe). After all, if most of the guests are going to travel anyway, why not get married in a place that's a vacation for all?

No matter your reasons for choosing a destination wedding, one thing's for sure: This time, you can't rely solely on your mom for advice, since she probably didn't get married this way. Here are some of the special considerations involved in planning a wedding far from home.

1. Claim Your Discount
Bringing 80 guests to Puerto Rico? Don't forget to ask the hotel for discounts — for you and your guests. "Remember, the resort is very interested in having your guests' business, so they shouldn't be charging you the absolute full price of the event," says Carley Roney, The Knot's editor in chief.

Many destination spots now offer wedding packages — and business is booming for some. Do you research and get the most for your money for you and your guests.

Regardless of the size of your wedding, however, you should be sure to negotiate with vendors. If there are certain items included in a wedding package that you don't want, ask for a credit. And if a property won't drop its rates substantially, look for free upgrades for you and your guests instead. For example, at a resort you can ask to be upgraded at check in from a standard room to a suite.

2. Be Kind to Your Guests
"If you want to do a destination wedding, you have to make it affordable for the people who are coming," says JoAnn Gregoli, a New York-based wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings. So, lovely though it may be, don't pick a location that will cost a few thousand dollars for the weekend.

In addition to negotiating cheaper room rates on behalf of your guests, try to cut airline costs as well. For example, if you're inviting 10 or more, American Airlines will offer a 10% discount off published rates. (You can submit a request for a group wedding discount online, or call American's wedding-services desk at 800-545-8193.)

You also can save your guests money by telling them that their presence at your wedding is the only wedding gift you need, says TheKnot's Roney. If you're not willing to give up the registry completely, be sure to register for some inexpensive items.

3. Fair Warning
With a destination wedding, save-the-date cards are crucial. Send them off as early as possible, preferably at least eight months in advance, says Roney. "Remember, this is a destination wedding, and your guests may be planning their family vacation around it," she says. Giving them a heads-up allows them to shop for the best airfares and work the trip into the family budget.

4. Know the Legalities
If you're going international, be aware of the legal requirements, says Roney. Many places have marriage fees and residency requirements in addition to a slew of other red tape. England, for example, has a seven-day residency requirement. If you're tying the knot in Venice, Italy, you'll need certain documents translated into Italian with special seals from the secretary of state where the documents originate. Other countries, like Mexico, require you to take local chest X-rays and blood tests.

5. The Wedding Planners
Given the added complications of destination weddings, a good wedding planner (like me) can be a godsend. After all, you might have to communicate in a foreign language and deal with people who live in a foreign culture. The best favor you can do yourself is to hire an onsite wedding planner.

The easiest way to do it: Hire a wedding planner in your area who specializes in destination weddings, and let him or her work with an onsite planner. "It's sort of like going to a doctor," says the Association of Bridal Consultants' Monaghan. "He can take all the information, all the history, all the symptoms and then call a specialist." And don't worry about having to pay two fees, says wedding planner Gregoli. The services of the local wedding planner are generally included in the overall price.

How much do wedding planners charge? Whether it's a flat fee, a per-hour fee or a combination of the two, prices vary by region. Generally speaking, the total fees account for roughly 15% to 20% of the cost of the wedding, Monaghan says. But remember: A good wedding planner can help keep other costs in check. He or she should be in a position to bargain with vendors, who are always looking to curry favor with high-volume professionals.

To find a good planner, start by asking friends and relatives for referrals. You can also check with a reputable wedding association, such as the Association of Bridal Consultants or the Association for Wedding Professionals International for destination wedding planners in your area. TheKnot.com also has a helpful database of wedding Web sites organized by region, each with a list of wedding coordinators in the area.

6. Don't Stress Out
Wedding planners say destination weddings are less stressful than traditional hometown hooplas, since many of the details are simply out of the couple's control. "It's the level of trust that matters," says Gregoli.

Attention, A-types: If you're planning an island wedding, set your watch to island time and your mind to island mentality. Vendors there are likely to be slower to respond to requests than mainland vendors might be, Gregoli warns. "Just be aware things could be delayed, and don't stress."

That said, if there's an element that's really important to you — say, the band or the photographer — you could always bring your own. For a wedding Gregoli recently organized in St. Thomas, the couple flew in a band from New York, and the extra cost didn't throw the couple over budget. "The food was cheaper [than it would have been in New York], so it all balanced out," she says. They put the band (six people in all) in an affordable motel, and since the band agreed to a lower fee than they normally charge in New York, the total cost was less than $6,000 — the New York average, Gregoli says.

7. Visit at Least Once
For a bigger wedding, at least one previsit is necessary, says Roney. So, alas, in the name of research, you just might have to take an extra trip to paradise with your honey. Tough work, but nobody said planning the perfect wedding would be easy.

Great tips from your wedding planner,

Lisa

Spanish Inspired Wedding Invitations....

2009-09-24T13:31:00.001-04:00

WhiteAisle.com has a great selection of vintage, lace, Spanish themed wedding invitations. I loved everything about them! They were a perfect fit for my wedding theme. You can change the font, color and paper. I had my invitations placed in a box rather than an envelope. If your creative like me you can add ribbon, flowers and vintage buttons.

Take a peek at my invitations...

Photo By Christina Barreraz

2009-09-19T23:49:00.001-04:00

Photo By Joie De Vivre

Petals for a Lifetime! I Do.

2009-09-19T01:07:00.001-04:00

Today I received the most interesting email from a bride who loved most details of my wedding. I was so flattered to read that she wanted my advice on vendors. She is having her wedding in Puerto Rico next spring and felt excited when she was reviewing my photos. Her dilemma is she is vacationing on a cruise ship that departs from Florida and docks in PR where she will hop off for her wedding, due to cruise ship regulations she isn't allowed to bring her flowers back on. She wanted to know if I knew of a florist who works with silk flowers. Awhile ago, I had planned on using silk flowers because I love the idea of keeping your bouquet. Just look at what I found for her! How great are these! They are not only tre chic but keepsakes!

Versatile Dazzler Wedding Bouquet by Ardesign

COUTURE WHITE BRIDE Feather bouquet by Croska

Couture Vintage Glamour By Croska

Dark And Dramatic By Ardesign

All of these can be custom made, contact the vendor's with your ideas.