The Destination Wedding Travel Blog

New Contests for Winter

2009-11-10T12:59:00.007-05:00

In the market for some free swag? You’re in luck because we’ve recently launched a few new contests for our Winter issue.

Win a Florida Honeymoon!
Does lazing on a sunny Florida beach sound like a perfect post-wedding escape? You and your honey can win a five-night stay at the ultra-chic The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida, including a 50-minute couple’s massage. Mmmm…. Aren’t you more relaxed already?

Lovely Locks Giveaway
Every bride wants a great hair day, which is why 20 lucky readers will win our favorite hair products featured in the Beauty To Go section of our Winter issue! Enter now for a chance to win the goods, and be sure to grab a copy of the mag for the how-to on these classic wedding-day dos.

Rock On Giveaway
Add some edge to your wedding day with the rock and roll inspired accessories of the Global Style section of our Winter issue. Plus, you can snag some rock-star-worthy items yourself: enter for a chance to score a Glam Noir compact, Things Remembered flask, Guitar Hero Smash Hits video game for Xbox 360, VonZipper shades, or even a Kenneth Jay Lane cuff worth $300.

That’s not all: we’re hard at work wrapping up our Worldwide Guide issue (look for it on December 15th). Stay tuned to our blog for even more giveaways, including goodies from the winners of our first-annual Beauty Awards. Trust us, that will definitely be as awesome as it sounds!

Real Wedding: Tiffany and Jared, Negril, Jamaica

2009-11-09T17:10:00.001-05:00

What’s the biggest fear of destination brides holding an outdoor wedding? Rain. And between June and December, island brides can face bad-weather woes to the extreme: the threat of hurricanes, as this week’s featured wedding demonstrates. Hurricane Paloma hit the island of Jamaica just days before Tiffany and Jared Ishiguro were going to say I do. The couple had chosen Tensing Pen in Negril, Jamaica, as their venue after falling in love with its setting: not on the beach but still surrounded by glorious views of the Caribbean Sea. Joined only by close family and friends (11 guests in all), they arrived in Jamaica just as the hurricane did. They watched in horror as crashing waves covered their beautiful ceremony location, and they were evacuated to a nearby resort, pushing the wedding back by one day.

Every bride's worst fear - a hurricane!

Luckily, the storm passed quickly, and Tiffany and Jared were able to have the wedding of their dreams. The weather after the storm was picture-perfect, and because the resort had been evacuated, the couple and their guests had the entire property to themselves. It made for a very special and intimate celebration — one they thought might not even happen.

Tiffany’s advice to future brides and grooms is to realize you can’t always control every detail. She also recommends making a wedding-day schedule to streamline everything. Since she lost a day because of weather, twice as many activities (such as the day-after photo shoot) had to be crammed into the morning of the wedding. She felt chaotic and wishes she had been more organized. It’s also a good idea to make sure a wedding planner or family member has a copy of the schedule to keep everything flowing smoothly.

The amazing photos are courtesy of Punam Bean Photography

Get the full wedding story and read planning tips from Tiffany here.

Rockin the Pearls

2009-11-05T12:34:00.006-05:00

What’s not to love about fashion shoots? We get to work with gorgeous gowns and accessorize with super-fun jewelry. For the winter issue’s Maine shoot (on stands now), we pulled from a handful of our favorite jewelry designers including pearlparadise.com. And while I’m not necessarily a “strand of pearls” type of gal, I did discover that piling on a bunch of them proved be a fun, messy alternative — which is why when I heard about their new metallic Freshadama freshwater pearls, I couldn’t wait to check them out. Each pearl varies in size from 6.5 to 9.5 mm and comes in colors ranging from gold to copper.

Find one that catches your eye? Check out their website. Rumor has it they’re offering a pre-holiday promo with strands priced between $190 and $1,200 (depending on size).

See? Who says diamonds have to be a girl’s best friend?

Porn for the Bride

2009-11-04T12:28:00.010-05:00

Every bride-to-be knows that even the most helpful groom never quite reaches the same level of excitement about wedding planning that she does — which is what makes Porn for the Bride, a new release from Chronicle Books, so hilarious. This fun little gift book features 40 full-color images of attractive, well-dressed grooms expressing sentiments that would make any bride swoon — like, “Sure, invite all of your old boyfriends — let ’em get one last look at what they’re missing!” Great as a conversation starter at a bachelorette party or shower, the book is $12.95.

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the funniest pages, courtesy of Chronicle (click on them for a bigger view). Enjoy!

And our favorite (though this one isn't such a stretch):

Real Wedding: Mae and Jeremy, Maui, Hawaii

2009-11-03T10:03:00.001-05:00

Louisiana-based couple Mae and Jeremy O’Donnell knew their guests would have to travel in order attend their wedding, so they decided to make the most of it. They chose Hawaii, where most of their guests had never been, and the Sheraton Maui Resort. The morning of the wedding, Mae had to face the fear of all brides who choose to marry outdoors: the impending threat of bad weather. She managed to keep her panic under control by reminding herself that rain on a wedding day is considered a blessing. Luckily, the heavy winds and rain ceased, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds to shine down onto the ceremony.

The little touches that made this wedding so fun came from the help of a few talented vendors. A family member, Cheryl Shoemaker from Orchid Isle Weddings & Events, handled the planning, coordination and vendor recommendations. Anny Heid Flowers created the bridal bouquets and table centerpieces, using cymbidium orchids, roses, gerbera daisies and calla lilies. DK Designs tied in the wedding colors throughout the event with handmade invitations, program fans, table signs and favors that doubled as place cards.

Photos courtesy of Stewart Pinsky Photography.

See all the photos and read planning tips from Mae here.

Inspired by Fall Fashion - Scarf Week

2009-10-30T12:19:00.012-04:00

I want to dress like this without becoming a sweaty mess!

Last weekend, Tara and I were sipping mimosas at an outdoor cafe, melting in the 80-degree weather and discussing how we couldn’t wait for fall weather. We’re seriously jonesing to wear skirts with tights, cozy cardigans, long coats, knee-high boots and fuzzy scarves, but alas, the Florida heat keeps us in tank tops and sandals until mid-November. Since we’re impatient, we declared it to be Scarf Week and committed to wearing a different fabulous scarf each day (even if the temps reached record highs… which they did).

Day 1: Tara and I posing for photobooth!

(l - r) Tara, Rebecca

Our excitement for scarf week was contagious, and Erika joined us on the second day!

(l - r) Tara, Rebecca, Erika

On day three, our photo editor extraordinaire, Diane, got in on the action!

(l - r) Tara, Erika, Rebecca, Diane

Even Susan got caught up in Scarf Week and joined our party on day four!

(l - r) Tara, Rebecca, Erika, Diane, Susan

And today, the final day of Scarf Week, Keri, the freelance photo editor for Parenting, joined in on the fun!

(l - r) Tara, Rebecca, Diane, Susan, Keri

Good times. Maybe every year we’ll celebrate Scarf Week right before Halloween.

And now I’ll leave you with some inspiring fall wedding dresses and images, courtesy of Les Habitudes.

A Perfect Match

2009-10-29T17:07:00.008-04:00

One of our favorite stops in New York is Buddakan, a hip mega-restaurant that seriously makes the best edamame dumplings ever! So you can imagine our excitement when we discovered that Buddakan would be hosting the Claire Pettibone show at Bridal Market. Last season I fell in love with her rock-n-roll style, while this season I had a crush on the Asian-influenced Cherry Blossom theme. But as a beauty editor, one thing I wasn’t expecting was the Stila loves Claire Pettibone Palette that was in our gift bags. Seriously.

Each palette features three eye shadow trios and one convertible color lip and cheek stain — basically, an all-in-one. And while I usually shy away from palettes (I mean, what color is really going to work on all of us?), this one is surprisingly neutral, but not in a boring-brown kind of way. Plus, the colors complimented both Susan and myself. (She’s blonde, I’m brunette.)

Another bonus? It’s completely travel-friendly making it great for any bride on the go. The Stila Loves Claire Pettibone Palette retails for $42 and will be available this Spring 2010.

Now that’s a pretty little package!

Bermuda Music Festival

2009-10-28T17:09:00.003-04:00

I adore Bermuda. Who knew such a unique island was out there all by its lonesome in the middle of the Atlantic, 650 miles from North Carolina? It’s not quite British, not quite American, not quite Caribbean, but it’s got a little bit of each. You can spend the day sunning on a gorgeous pink-sand beach, then go out for drinks at a merry pub — and pay for your pint with U.S. dollars.

It’s equally charming for weddings, with mega-resorts like The Fairmont Southampton, cottage-style escapes like Cambridge Beaches, and cozy boutique hotels like The Reefs all offering picturesque venues and tons of package options.

If you can get a way for a very last-minute scouting trip this weekend, you’ll have a chance to enjoy all of the above, plus the annual Bermuda Music Festival, this year featuring music-biz legend Quincy Jones and a host of his industry friends, like Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean, John Legend and others. The fun starts Oct. 29 and continues through the 31st, with the Halloween-night program featuring a special 25-year-anniversary presentation of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” You can’t beat the location either — the Keep Yard at the Maritime Museum in the Royal Naval Dockyard; be sure to go early to wander through this historic attraction. Tickets and hotel deals are still available; click here to find out more.

Real Wedding: Jennifer and Chad, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

2009-10-26T16:06:00.001-04:00

We’ll be celebrating Halloween this weekend, but over in Mexico, the fiesta continues on to November 1st for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a holiday that pays respect to the deceased. That’s why it’s so fitting that our featured wedding this week, taking place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, incorporates the holiday’s theme beautifully into the celebration.

San Francisco-based couple Jennifer Albright and Chad Curran realized their wedding date was close to Dia de los Muertos, and decided to include the traditions as much as possible. They had little skeleton bride and grooms throughout the event, including as cake toppers. At the reception, Chad surprised Jennifer with a traditional Day of the Dead altar. It was decorated with photos of both their families, trinkets from their wedding guests, carnations, Mexican lottery cards and gifts for the deceased, such as tequila and cigarettes. What a fun way to include local culture into a wedding theme! ¡Olé!'

Photos courtesy of Life Mosaics

See more details and read planning tips from Jennifer here.

Just Back: Bimini Bay + Win a Free Wedding for 20 Guests!

2009-10-23T16:51:00.010-04:00

I had an absolute blast on a recent visit to Bimini Bay Resort in the Bahamas. The property is at the tip of the tiny island of Bimini, which is only seven miles long and a half-mile wide. I totally loved that the whole island is accessible by golf cart. It was easy to explore, and the people were friendly and welcoming.

Yours truly, hard at work on Spookhill Beach

Bimini Bay itself is made up of one- to three-bedroom suites and villas; most are privately owned and rented out to guests. We stayed in a two-story, three-bedroom treehouse villa, which had all the comforts of home: a full kitchen, washer and dryer, flat-screen TVs and walk-in closets. The property is ideal for intimate or large weddings where family and friends want to stay together and catch up. Because of the close proximity to Miami (about a half-hour flight), the high season is June through August, opposite of most Caribbean islands. Visiting in October, the weather was gorgeous (although a tad warm), and it felt like we had the whole resort to ourselves.

Our treehouse-style villa

Event Spaces: Say I do in the resort’s wedding gazebo while overlooking the gorgeous crystal-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, or opt for a beach ceremony on the powder-white sand of the main beach area. There are also numerous beach alcoves where smaller and informal ceremonies could be held; these sites can be a bit rocky but provide fabulous photo ops. An indoor/outdoor reception can be held at Sabór, the resort’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, and the adjacent pool overlooking the yacht harbor. Other reception options include an outdoor party by the luxurious infinity pool or an indoor affair in the larger Glass Pavilion, with stunning ocean views.

A sunset ceremony in the wedding gazebo

Personal Highlights:
Lobster Pizza at Edith’s: This small oceanfront establishment serves up the best pizza on the island, hands down. We were urged to try the house specialty: lobster pizza. While I wasn’t so sure the two would mix very well, I was game, and the pairing absolutely melted in my mouth!

Snorkeling Shipwrecks: Bimini Bay can arrange snorkeling and diving excursions through Bimini Undersea Adventures. They took us to The Sapona — a shipwreck about four miles off the coast of Bimini. Snorkeling can sometimes be disappointing because of rough waters or low visibility, but this was one of my all-time favorite trips. The crystal-clear, calm waters enabled perfect viewing conditions of the wreck, which was teeming with wildlife, and being able to swim inside the ship itself was way cool. I saw a stingray on the ocean floor, a puffer fish at full size, and tons of different schools of fish swimming in and out of the wreck.

Bimini must-do: Snorkeling The Sapona shipwreck

On our way back to the resort, we were greeted by some friendly bottle-nosed dolphins who wanted to play with our boat. To our delight, they rode in our wake and jumped over the waves, giving us an unexpected performance. Bimini Undersea Adventures also offers a dolphin adventure, where you can get up close and personal with wild Atlantic spotted dolphins. Either of these excursions would be a great group activity for your wedding guests.

Our new friends playing with us!

Interested in having your own wedding at Bimini Bay Resort? You're in luck! We're giving away a free wedding package for up to 20 guests, including a four-hour open bar with beer and wine, a wedding cake from Ana Paz and a sit-down dinner. Contest ends October 31, 2009 so don't wait! Enter now for your chance to win!

To Market

2009-10-22T12:24:00.011-04:00

Last weekend Susan and I were in New York City for Bridal Market, and while it was a bit rainy, I seem to always fall in love with some new bridal styles while I’m there. This time it was Temperley London. They do both custom and off-the-rack designs, and seriously, they are simply stunning.

Here are some of my favorites.

An added bonus for New York-bound brides: Temperley is having a Bridal Trunk show in November. If you're in the area you should definitely check it out ...

WHERE: Temperley London Boutique, 453 Broome Street, 2nd Floor (between Mercer & Greene Streets)
WHEN: Saturday, November 7th & Sunday, November 8th, 2009
TIME: 12PM – 5PM
RSVP: virginiar@temperleylondon.com

(Rumor has it they are going to have giveaways and prizes. Ohh lala!)

And that was just the tip of the bridal iceberg. If you’re not already, be sure to follow us on Twitter. Susan was a twitterbug and can get you the goods on all of the amazing-ness that filled this season’s runway.

New Florida Wedding Hotels

2009-10-21T15:17:00.011-04:00

Three central Florida hotel openings are making a splash — and attracting weddings. Shine on!

Waldorf Astoria Orlando — opened Oct. 1, 2009

The first newly built Waldorf Astoria since the legendary original in New York City, this 482-acre resort boasts many similarities (an iconic lobby clock, the classic Bull & Bear Steakhouse, and Oscar’s — the birthplace of Eggs Benedict), but has something the Big Apple landmark doesn’t: an address next door to Disney World. Thankfully, this property doesn’t just cater to kids. Rooms feature grown-up comforts like Egyptian-cotton linens, dual marble sinks, and 42-inch LCD TVs, while onsite amenities include a swank pool, Guerlain spa and championship golf course.

Weddings: Events here combine big-city class with tropical ease. Outdoors, choose from formal gardens or landscaped lawns, then bring the party indoors for a no-holds-barred ballroom bash, complete with chef-manned hors d’oeurve action stations and elaborate displays of mini desserts.

Deal: For their opening special, rates start at a mere $179 per night.

Postcard Inn on the Beach — opened Oct. 15, 2009

This funky boutique hotel on St. Pete Beach has already been generating buzz. The 196 guest rooms feature flat-screen TVs and down-filled duvets (not too unusual), as well as surfboards, complimentary magazines and vintage light fixtures (way cool). Onsite activities will make you feel like you stepped into a beach flick from the ’60s — think Ping Pong tables, horseshoes, tire swings, hammocks and fire pits.

Weddings: For ceremonies, it’s all about being boho, barefoot and on the beach. For receptions, a private room is available for up to 150 people. You can also buy out the onsite Wildwood Barbeque & Burger restaurant (the original is an NYC favorite).

Deal: The hotel is being marketed as “affordable lodging,” with rack rates of $99 off season and $189 peak season.

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa — opening Dec. 2009

Clearwater is a beloved beach destination, thanks to its soft white sand, warm Gulf waters and nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 celebration. Now it holds one more draw — a new beachfront resort with 250 one- and two-bedroom suites. The list of amenities is impressive — guests get full kitchens, oversized balconies, iPod docks and signature Grand Beds. The full-service Pure Spa, plus SHOR — a seafood grill featuring a dramatic show kitchen — score the property even more bragging rights.

Weddings: Whether you’re thinking beach or ballroom, rooftop pool terrace or covered promenade, you can’t go wrong with the settings here. A certified wedding planner oversees every detail, from start (hot and cold hors d’oeuvres in a variety of ethnic themes) to finish (fresh-baked cookies served as a midnight snack).

Deal: As part of a grand-opening promotion, guests can take advantage of 15 percent off the best available rate, plus a $50 daily resort credit, when referencing the booking code CBINTR.

Real Wedding: Lauren and James, Paradise Island, Bahamas

2009-10-19T11:34:00.002-04:00

Our featured wedding this week comes from Lauren Katulak and James Sorrentino, a couple from Greenwood Lake, New York. When planning their wedding, they wanted to find a tropical location with a short flight time from NY, as well as classy, upscale digs. They fell in love with One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, and it's easy to see why. The resort is a haven for celebrities and jetsetters, and the picturesque grounds were the backdrop of the James Bond movie Casino Royale. Lauren and James said their I do's on a veranda overlooking the ocean in front of 50 guests. The reception was held poolside and ended with a grand fireworks display and the bridal party taking the plunge — fully clothed — into the pool. How fun!

I love the classic elegance of this wedding — everything coordinated beautifully. Lauren chose a muted color palette with white and cream roses, peonies and hydrangeas, plus a hint of pale pink in the roses and bridesmaids’ dresses. The centerpieces were a mixture of short, square vases filled with the same flowers, and tall vases holding branches decorated with orchids and hanging candles. The three-tiered cake was made by Sylvia Weinstock (yum!) and accented with realistic-looking sugar flowers.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Hughes

Get the full wedding story and read planning tips from Lauren here.

Introducing Preston Bailey for Invitation Consultants

2009-10-15T17:59:00.006-04:00

We heart Preston Bailey, event designer to celebs (Donald Trump, Uma Thurman, Oprah Winfrey and others) and author of fab inspiration books like Fantasy Weddings and Celebrations.

We also love Invitation Consultants, an online invitation company offering 9,000 products. Imagine our delight when the two paired up to create Preston Bailey for Invitation Consultants, a line of festive, floral invites that just launched today! Thanks to their bright, bold designs, we think they’re perfect for weddings away.

Here’s a look at some of the designs, with the company promising more styles to come. We can’t wait! From $2.

Tahiti - Part deux

2009-10-15T14:22:00.014-04:00

Last week I returned from Tahiti, known for its overwater bungalows and crystal-blue water. And when it comes to weddings and honeymoons, I found these South Pacific hotspots don’t skimp on romance.

When I arrived at Le Meridien Bora Bora, I was promptly greeted with a lei and coconut water (in a coconut of course), then escorted to my room. Large glass floors open to the water below, a private deck looks out to the sea, and, should you want to explore, they even give you your own snorkel, mask and fins. It’s enough to make you never want to leave your bungalow! But when you can tear yourself away, the resort’s turtle nursery and more than 100 other species of critters wait for you in the lagoon. Now on to the wedding deets:

The event spaces
While a traditional Polynesian beach ceremony is always popular, their new overwater chapel has ornate stained-glass windows, a shell-made altar and a windowed floor that looks into the neon-blue water below.

Want an underwater wedding? They can do that too. Your non-diving guests can even watch your nuptials from above. After the ceremony, the newlyweds cross the lagoon via canoe for a Polynesian celebration with dancers, music and Tahitian cuisine. (Planning up to nine months in advance is recommended, but I hear they can pull it off in less than three.)

Personal highlight
I’m about to make a bold statement: The diving here is some of the best I’ve ever experienced. I rank it among my top three dive spots — hands down! Bora Diving Center took us out for a two-tank dive, and while I was told we were going to see sharks, I have learned never to get my hopes up. (It is nature.)

On our first dive at Toopua, we not only found soft corals, spotted eagle rays, a giant trigger fish (that followed us the entire time), anemone fish and Tahitian butterfly fish, but we were also greeted with a few lemonsharks. I was stoked! In between dives they served us coconut Tahitian cookies and warm tea (so yummy) before we got in for our second dive at Tapo, where we saw so many lemonsharks and blacktips that I didn’t know which one to look at first. It seriously doesn’t get much better than that. I found my happy place.

Thinking of planning a wedding or honeymoon in Tahiti? Send me an email — I’ve got tons of ideas!

Dress-hunting? Susan and I are New-York bound for bridal market where I’m sure we will have lots to fall in love with. Stay tuned!

Bora Bora Bliss

2009-10-09T15:29:00.006-04:00

Having just arrived on a red-eye from Tahiti, I’m still on a high from the neon blue waters, amazing diving with lemon sharks and how my favorite scent of vanilla lingered in the air. I also can’t stop relishing over the super-amazing overwater bungalows at the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora – the locale for the movie Couples Retreat, opening today.

The comedy is about four therapy-seeking couples from the Midwest and boasts a star-studded cast including Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Faizon Love, Jason Bateman, Jean Reno and the lovely Vince Vaughn (whose very bungalow I was lucky enough to reside in). What type of digs do you think these headlining actors spent their downtime? Picture a sexy wall-less shower, super-sized soaking tub and an infinity pool overlooking a blue lagoon filled with eagle rays. The posh property has also attracted the likes of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, who spent their honeymoon holed up in its super swank private compound.

Want a taste of the A-lister life for yourself? Enter Tahiti Tourisme’s Invest In Your Love Video Contest. Just submit a video of why you and your significant other deserve a trip to Tahiti and submit it online at InvestInYourLove.com. Be creative, and good luck!

And that’s not all that happened in Tahiti! Stay tuned to my blog next week for more adventures in paradise, places to wed and must-see-stops!

Terranea Part 2: The Details

2009-10-07T14:25:00.010-04:00

I recently took a scouting trip to Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Here are the details.

The first thing you notice about Terranea is the setting: broad tawny cliffs, rolling cobalt ocean, and multiple terraces carved out for saline-treated pools, restaurant patios and walking paths. The 582-room property just opened in June after 12 years of planning to create a resort that would enhance, rather than exploit, the surrounding community. The end result was a success — Terranea’s eco initiatives, including landscaping with succulents and installing a rain-filtration system, have helped conserve California’s limited water supply and actually cleaned up the ocean (much to neighbors’ delight). Airy guest-room balconies, as well as public spaces, make the most of the vista, and furnishings are earthy and inviting.

The event spaces
The Catalina Lawn (seats 200) is the favored ceremony site; perched on a cliff, it affords regular sightings of dolphins and whales, and its trellis is easily dressed up with strings of orchids that flutter in the breeze. From there, wedding parties move to the Catalina Terrace for cocktail hour (outdoor lounges, complete with fire pits and cozy cabanas, are a popular addition). Next door, the Catalina Room effortlessly conforms to any reception theme, thanks to its muted color scheme. All three venues are within walking distance of one another and boast killer ocean views.

Catalina Lawn

Personal highlights
The Spa at Terranea. I spent an entire afternoon at this oceanfront oasis. My 120-minute Inside & Out detox flowed between hot and cool treatments, beginning with a cup of hot green tea and continuing with a heated body wrap, cooling ice-friction scrub, Swiss shower, sea-clay application and finally, cold-water revitalization. Afterward, I laid out by the swank spa pool (exclusive to spa guests), which butts right up to the ocean bluff. An organic chicken wrap with avocado, roasted peppers and chipotle mayo from the Spa Café topped off the experience.

Spa Pool

Discovery Trail. This two-mile oceanfront path, which starts at Nelson’s restaurant and winds its way down to the resort’s sheltered beach, was as scenic as it was refreshing. I couldn’t help but stop every few yards to admire the breakers and distant outline of Catalina Island. My travel companion even spotted a red starfish clinging to a rock at the shoreline down below. Interpretive signs teach about the area’s flora and fauna, and three telescopes give guests a closer view (they’re operated by quarters, which are donated to area conservation causes).

Discovery Trail and resort beach (photo by Travels With Two)

Nelson’s. Check out the video I took at this rad, clifftop gastro pub. (A picture’s worth 1,000 words, right?) After enjoying dinner there one night, my friend and I sat around one of the fire pits for hours, chatting over nightcaps.

Nelson's bar

Celebrate Romance, L.A. Style!

2009-10-05T12:21:00.014-04:00

The DWH team at The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows

Wanted to share some details from our recent Celebrate Romance! media event in Beverly Hills, California. We had such fun at the NYC event in May that we took it to the West Coast last week. Host hotel was The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, which I completely loved — all pink, posh and oozing with Hollywood history. Our travel partners set up in the Rodeo ballroom, where top media and planners were invited to meet them and hear everything they’re planning for the upcoming wedding season. Good news for brides: Resorts are offering more package options, multiple venues for weddings of all sizes, and customization options for anyone who wants it, plus some of the best hotel rates we’ve seen in years.

Then, after an afternoon of networking, we opened the bar (complete with hand-passed hors d’ouvres, as well as Jet Setter cocktails created exclusively for us by the Beverly Hills Hotel). During our exciting panel discussion, Bridal Bar founder Harmony Walton, Napa-based planner extraordinaire Sasha Souza, virtual-planning pioneer Tara Soloway of Luxe Destination Weddings, and yours truly talked trends, tips and what to expect in 2010. (Big trends: longer receptions with multiple food offerings throughout the evening; dinner dishes served family-style; groom-inspired action, from cigar rollers to Rock Band; the continued prominence of signature cocktails; and a color palette of muted jewel tones that work beautifully in outdoor locales.) We ended the evening with amazing vanilla and red-velvet wedding cake, courtesy of pastry phenom NancyKay’s Confections. A great time was had by all, and we’ve already started planning for our spring 2010 event in NYC!

Our fantastic travel partners were:

Aston Hotels & Resorts, Hawaii
Barceló Maya Beach Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Grand Palladium Resorts, Mexico, Jamaica and Dominican Republic
Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa, Mexico
Gran Meliá Golf Resort, Puerto Rico
Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa, Los Cabos, Mexico
Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort, Mexico
Hotel El Cozumeleño Beach Resort, Cozumel, Mexico
Hotel Wailea, Maui
La Quinta Resort & PGA WEST, La Quinta, California
Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort, Nevada
NH Riviera Cancun, Mexico
Presidente Intercontinental Cozumel Resort & Spa, Mexico
Real Resorts, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort, Puerto Rico
Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, Beverly Hills, California
The Grand Mayan Wyndham Alliance, Mexico

Special thanks to NancyKay’s Confections for our two wedding cakes, Bob Gail Special Events for the gorgeous flowers, Domaine Carneros for the parting gifts and, most of all, the fabulous Ali Kayhan and The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows for hosting our event. We heart you all!

Check out some pics below ...

L to R: DWH publisher Carol Johnson; Ali Kayhan, director of catering sales and conference services at The Beverly Hills Hotel; pastry artist NancyKay; me

NancyKay's other delicious creation

State of the Romance Market panel, L to R: Sasha Souza, me, Harmony Walton, Tara Soloway

A sweet centerpiece by Bob Gail Special Events

Jet Setter cocktails — yum!

The Beverly Hills Hotel's Rodeo room set up for a reception

Our parting gift

Real Wedding: Vicki and Phong, Bali, Indonesia

2009-10-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Vicki Grafton and Phong Nguyen are both avid travelers living in Fairfax, Virginia, who knew they wanted something extremely special for their big day. The couple had previously visited several countries in Asia, including Vietnam and Thailand, but had never been to the magical island of Bali, Indonesia. They decided to have their wedding there because of the locale’s beauty and spiritual meaning, but also to expose their family and close friends to a new culture.

I have the biggest crush ever on this wedding, probably because I am itching to visit Bali. Everything looks so perfect and I love the details that were incorporated to make it unique to the destination. The two flower girls were dressed in traditional Balinese attire and the music for the ceremony was provided by a rindik trio (two bamboo-xylophone players and one flutist). I love the minimal site decorations in order to enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings, and the bamboo platform draped in white chiffon curtains used for the ceremony was a simple yet elegant touch. Another fun aspect was the couple asked their 15 guests to wear all white – a great idea for any brides considering a beach wedding. It adds an island-y laid-back feel to the wedding and also creates a chic, dramatic look for photos.

Photos courtesy of Windee Winata, The Photo Factory

See more details and read planning tips from Vicki here.

Terranea Part 1: Nelson's

2009-10-01T14:12:00.002-04:00

Like Tara, I too was in SoCal for our Celebrate Romance! media event, and I stuck around a couple extra days to check out Terranea, a gorgeous coastal resort that just opened in June.

One of my personal highlights was dining at Nelson's (pictured above), a casual clifftop restaurant with gourmet pub food, fire pits galore, and plenty of potential as an event venue (Rob Lowe reportedly hosted a recent get-together here).

Check out the video I shot at Nelson's, captured on a Flip Ultra HD video camcorder with 8GB memory. (Can I just digress for a second to say how much I love this little device? As someone who's generally technologically challenged, I find the Flip very easy to use, and it's so small, it even fits in my cute little clutch purse! I highly recommend that you pick one of these up for your destination wedding/honeymoon. After you're home, you can easily upload the videos to your blog and Facebook page, and I'm told making little movies, with inexpensive software, isn't hard either. The Flip Ultra HD retails for $199.99.)

Tune in next week for more details about Terranea!

FOUND: The Best Hair Dryer in the World

2009-09-30T17:10:00.004-04:00

For our recent Beauty to Go section in the winter issue (on stands 10/20) we featured four wedding-day dos with tips and must-have products. And while all of our testers had their favorites, everyone agreed that the T3 Bespoke Featherweight hair dryer was the BOMB. (And trust me, our testers are tough so this was no easy feat.) Intrigued? Here’s what makes this tool so magical:

QUICK DRYING TIME
Negative ions break down water molecules super fast so your hair will dry up to 60 percent faster.

LESS DAMAGE TO YOUR LOCKS
Those same negative ions seal the hair cuticle while the infrared heat penetrates the hair from the inside, out. End result: super shiny hair.

IT’S LIGHT
This thing weighs less than a can of soda and is ultra quiet.

For many of us, the less time spent drying our hair every morning means more time for the important things in life: sleeping, snuggling, enjoying your morning coffee, saving the world, etc. But for you brides out there, it means more time to enjoy your wedding day.

Lychee Martinis, Breakdancing and Graveyard Picnics

2009-09-25T12:07:00.016-04:00

For our recent Celebrate Romance media event in Los Angeles, held at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel on September 22nd, I headed to the city early to hang out with one of my best pals, Trish. (We used to live there together so we were due for some new LA- adventures.)

Our first stop was Makai Lounge, a Santa Monica hotspot known for its chic vibe (think dark woods with Asian décor) and its menu of beachy eats like mini Kobe cheeseburgers with pineapple BBQ sauce. From our cush spot outside we caught up over lychee martinis as the nearby fountain kept everything feeling zen. (Seriously, how can you not love LA?) Since they host private events and provide catering, it’s the perfect setting for a California-bound bash. Plus should your guests want to keep the party going, there’s a long list of bars and restaurants located just steps away ...

One of our favorite Santa Monica nightspots, Zanzibar, is a DJ’s dream. Music-fanatics flock here for its colorful flavor of music with everything from Afrobeat to breakdancing. And for a killer after-party, you can rent this place out too.

The next night, we took it down a notch. We packed up a basket of wine, cheese and all the fixins to watch Rosemary’s Baby at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery off Santa Monica Blvd. Every Saturday throughout the summer, the spot hosts a “drive-in-movie-style” showing of some of the most beloved cult classics. The event is gratis although a $10 donation is suggested. (Be sure to get there early for a prime spot on the grass among the graves.)

Whether you feel like hitting the music scene, getting VIP-treatment or kicking back for a late night movie, I love that LA has a little something for everyone.

Party Prepared

2009-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, I threw a big 30th-birthday bash for my hubby. Here are some resources I came across that are super-useful for any event.

Evite OK, so I’m sure you’ve used this site before, but it’s just so great, I have to mention it! While sending out paper invites is still de rigueur for weddings, evite.com is really handy for other activities and parties surrounding your wedding. Free, fun and convenient, it allows your guests to include playful notes in their RSVPs, and it enables you to save contacts in an address book; track views and responses; and send out updates, reminders and even photos after the fact.

Party City You may think you outgrew party stores after age 12, but this party-supply mecca still holds its own for grown-ups. On my way to the paper-plate aisle the other day, I got sidetracked by all the cute accessories they have for bridal showers and bachelorette parties (Scratch a Dare game, anyone?). They even have tons of items for weddings, from favors to unity candles. And if you just need some good old plates, cups and napkins, you’ll find a wide assortment in plain colors and stylish patterns.

Total Wine For wine, beer and liquor, this place is like heaven, with helpful employees, impossible-to-beat prices, and an incredible selection (each store carries around 8,000 types of wine, 2,000 types of spirits and 1,000 different beers). There are locations in nine states, so if your destination do is bringing you to any of them, consider stocking up here, if your venues allow it. They have beer kegs available in various sizes and ales (including craft brews), as well as weekly in-store wine tastings to help you pair your reception meal with the right vintages.

Real Wedding – Jammie and Rick, Maui, Hawaii

2009-09-21T15:45:00.005-04:00

Ahhh… Hawaii. What a gorgeous backdrop for a destination wedding. Our featured wedding this week takes place on the island of Maui, where Jammie Lai and Rick Leong said their I do’s. This Canadian couple knew it wouldn’t be easy for their guests to travel to Hawaii, so they kept it simple with only twelve people. Their closest friends and relatives joined them for their special day, and when they returned they held a traditional Chinese tea ceremony for everyone back home in Vancouver. They married on the beautiful lawn of the Fairmont Kea Lani at sunset, followed by an intimate dinner celebration overlooking the ocean.

The photos are absolutely stunning and capture everything that a wedding in Hawaii should be, courtesy of Stewart Pinsky. And aren't Jammie's Louis Vuitton shoes fabulous??? Love them!

Get the full wedding story and read planning tips from Jammie here.

Just Back: 3 South Florida Wedding Venues, Part 3

2009-09-15T16:02:00.005-04:00

I recently took a scouting trip to South Florida. Here are the details on stop number three: The Viceroy Miami.

I first fell in love with the Viceroy brand when I visited the original outpost in Palm Springs, California. Designed by Kelly Wearstler in a stark palette of black, white and yellow, it got raves for decor targeting style-loving hipsters. Kelly’s done it again with the new Miami location, which opened downtown in early 2009. The hotel takes over some floors in the already amazing ICON apartment building, designed by another trendsetter, Philippe Starck. Decor (from the gigantic Easter Island-like statues that hold up the portico in the valet area to the Chinese dog lamps in the guest rooms) is intended to amuse and provoke — and it does.

The event spaces:
The 15th-floor pool deck is unlike any I’ve ever seen and comprises the longest infinity-edge pool in Florida, an 80-person hot tub and an outdoor living area (thankfully available for events) with a long, high dining table, fireplace and rococo-style couch — think Alice in Wonderland meets Miami. Or book the rooftop venue at Club 50, which has an indoor bar area and outdoor terrace with a long reflecting pool. (It’s also one of the city’s hottest nightspots.)

Presonal highlights:
The rooftop pool. See the description above. With couch-like daybeds, food and drinks from Café Icon, amusing accents from Mr. Starck and oh, that view — I seriously could have stayed there for days.

The Spa at Icon Brickell. Simply put, I have never seen a spa as cool as this one. The coed waiting area is a vast and loft-like, with hot and cold plunge pools and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the harbor. Furnishings are totally unspa-like — a white couch set in one of the pools, fireplaces taking over each end, and an amazing huge yellow chandelier lording over it all. The two entertainment venues, including a screening room with rows of couches in expanding sizes, as well as an airy party room ideal for groups, are utterly charming.

Eos. This collaboration between chef Michael Psilakis and restaurateur Donatella Arpaia sets a new standard for Miami dining. Psilakis lives up to his awards (which include Best New Chef by Food & Wine and Chef of the Year by Esquire) with creative Mediterranean dishes like lobster and sea-urchin risotto (A.MAZ.ING.) and smoked octopus with avocado, jalapeño and cilantro. But it’s the sushi combinations I can’t stop thinking about: The nairagi sushi included out-there additions of pistachio, apricot and a tiny bit of speck to create a bite unlike any I have ever eaten. If you have foodie friends you want to wow at your reception, this’ll do it.

If you missed it, be sure to check out the details on part one of my South Florida trip to The Breakers, Palm Beach and part two to the The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne.