Other engaged couples who want to create an intimate wedding invite each other’s parents to attend or two sets of best friends. This can provide the best ambience for an intimate wedding getaway.

Another approach that is still small and intimate but starts the marriage with a more adventurous flair is to choose a location where the bride or groom has been to once or twice. Other couple’s have friends who have recently been married away from their home town by choosing one of the popular locations that are heavily advertised for destination weddings. For many understandable reasons, mountain and island getaways have proven the most common remote wedding locations. Keep in mind that island getaways will cost a bit more due to airfare, and most often a mountain getaway is more reasonable for those with a budget.

Identifying Your Wedding Assistant

A responsible relative (mother or sister, usually) or even a best friend can be quite helpful in this sometimes complicated effort of planning a long distance wedding. Having either a friend act as a wedding planner or a competent assistant tends to ease the stress of planning a wedding near or away from home.

Rule of thumb: Planning a destination wedding can be more stressful when you are doing all the planning than having your marriage ceremony in your hometown where the majority of the wedding party, parents, and friends currently live. Still, the extra effort to plan a wedding in a location like the islands or a scenic mountain retreat will more than pay for itself in costs. Remember, having a wedding where you live usually becomes larger and larger as the guest list keeps growing. A wedding with 100 people (an average to smaller sized wedding) easily exceeds $15,000 in a major metropolitan area.

If you follow some of the following tips, you will add enjoyment to the wedding planning process by reducing the stress on yourself and your helper if you haven’t decided on a professional wedding planner.

If your helper is a friend odds are he or she is not a professional wedding planner. This is okay, but remember to help you friend and stay involved in the process.

Don’t expect them to do everything. Moreover, don’t expect to be on the phone with them every day either. If you feel their degree of responsiveness is not what you desire, gently take on more of the planning yourself in a nice and grateful way or consider finding another person to help with some of the wedding details and tasks. Treasure your relationship with your helper. He or she should be able to give you room in deciding alternatives and direction.

If you’re getting married in a popular wedding location, search the name of the city or town and the service you desire through your favorite internet search engine.

Next begin to survey the websites that appeal to you. Send off an email to each and check their responsiveness. Remember, responsiveness is the key in long distance wedding planning. If they don’t respond or don’t respond in a timely manner, try another vendor. Often quality wedding planners will also list a toll free phone number so you can chat over the details of their wedding locations and packages.

Since many companies in this day and age have to wade through so much email even though they advertise through a website it is always a good idea to just pick up the phone and call. Plus you will get a personal feeling about their services through a one on one conversation.

Also, a good long distance planner will have resources for all facets of the wedding. You won’t need to order a local telephone book through the destination’s phone company although you could and cut costs by doing some of the leg work.

Article written by Rev. Kenny Giordano of Associated Ministers Toll free: (866) 846-3487

All of the islands have many churches available, whether you’re in Kauai, Maui, or any of the other beautiful Hawaiian Islands. There are also historical churches you may want to visit such as the beautiful Wai’oli Church that is located on the North Shore in Hanalei. You’ll be welcome at any of Hawaii’s churches.

On the island of Kauai, the Jewish Community is the only Jewish congregation on the island. The Jewish Community of Kauai is unaffiliated and conducts monthly Shabbat Services, observing and celebrating Jewish holidays throughout the year. They also host presentations on topics related to their faith and to the community at large.

You will also find some wonderful Buddhist temples and meditation centers throughout the islands. Kauai is home also home to two Hindu temples, of which the Sivalingam temple is still under construction and will be one of the largest Hindu temples in the world.

The tradition of buying wedding gifts for the soon to be betrothed couple is believed to have originated from the days when a dowry was paid by the bride’s father to his future son-in-law and family. Family and friends would often help out if the bride’s father could not provide an adequate dowry.

The practice of buying gifts continued when the custom of paying a dowry was no longer practiced. This enabled family and friends to help the couple set up house. Most people who attend the wedding will bring a wedding gift.

Most couples prefer to receive gifts they can use for years, and most guests give gifts that would help the newly married couple start out on a good financial footing. They want to give a gift that is needed and wanted, regardless of the couples age or budget. You know yourself how good it feels to give someone a gift they really like and need. Everyone wants his or her gift to be special.

From Traditional Registries to Gift Coordinators

Traditional registries are not the only option, and may not be popular with gift givers, either. One wedding gift trend is for several people to chip in and buy an expensive gift together than the couple might not otherwise be able to purchase on their own.

Some travel agencies offer honeymoon registration, which allows others to help with your honeymoon expenses. If you decide to use a registry, be sure to register five to eight months prior to the wedding event. This ensures that your list will be in place before any parties or showers and you won’t receive duplicate items. Most companies will maintain your registry for at least one year after your wedding date. You can even publish your list on a web page or set up your very own wedding website.

Monetary gifts are also acceptable these days. In fact, a monetary gift will give you the means to purchase something you really want.

Gifts for the Wedding Party

Other gifts to consider are the gifts that the bridge and groom will present as tokens of their appreciation to the matron of honor, brides maids, and the best man. These gifts will be treasured by those involved in the ceremony. Both the matron of honor and the best man usually receive a gift that is a little more personal and different from those given to the other member’s of the wedding party.

Wedding Invitations and Cards

You’ll need to announce your engagement, invite your guests to the festivities, and announce your wedding. The proper wedding invitation is critical, whether it be a church wedding, home wedding, or beach wedding. You’ll want to send wedding invitations to friends, relatives, and acquaintances you wish to be present at your ceremony.

Wedding invitations are traditionally sent out six to eight weeks prior to the ceremony. In sending out the invitations, please remember to take into consideration the number of people who will fit comfortably into the reception area.

There are several different styles of wedding invitations to choose from. Wedding invitations should convey the overall theme of the occasion, including the color scheme and perhaps depict the type of flowers you plan to use in your ceremony. Your invitations should represent the style and formality of your wedding. If you’re having a formal wedding, traditional and classic invitations are the most appropriate styles. The traditional formal wedding invitation is engraved in black script on white or off-white stock, placed in an inner unsealed envelope. Reception information appears on a separate enclosure in the same typescript and paper.

Classic or contemporary invitations are more suitable for semi-formal weddings. Of course, you want to include the date and location, perhaps even a simple map. Always spell out the full names of the bride and groom. The date should also be spelled out. For example: Sunday the twenty third of April, two thousand and five. The year can be written as numerals (2007) if you like, depending on how formal you want the presentation to be. Maps and hotel information, printed on the same paper stock and typeface as the invitation, may be mailed with the invitation. Don’t forget to include RSVP cards as well as postage-paid envelopes or other contact information such as telephone number or email address.

Concierge services similar to those you’ll experience upon checking into a hotel are also available. You can have everything organized from delivery of the local newspaper to guided fishing and snorkeling excursions or private air and yacht charters. Your island vacation activities are limited only by your imagination.

When guests arrive in Hawaii, they often spend their first few days enjoying beachside locations and the Hawaiian atmosphere and sun. Many guests then explore the island, taking in the local culture via museums and events, learning a local tradition such as hula or surfing, or discovering the rich Hawaiian outdoors through various types of local activities.

Whatever your desire, island accommodations are available to fit your needs.

Resort Kauai Vacation Rentals

Kauai has been the film location site for more than 60 major motion picture and television films, including “South Pacific,” and “Jurassic Park I, II, and III,” “Six Days/Seven Nights,” and “Dragonfly.” and more recently “Tropical Thunder,” and Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Much of Kauai remains untouched by human development, yet it offers the ultimate vacation destination. There are navigable rivers and lush streams, fragrant flowering plants, and exotic birds to enjoy, along with spectacular waterfalls, coconut palm groves, and the great Waimea Canyon. Of course we can’t forget to mention that Kauai has over fifty miles of white sand beaches!

All the beaches on Kauai are public beaches. It is very important to remember that Kauai also has some of the largest waves breaking on her shores, so you need to adhere strictly to safety guidelines. You can also enjoy horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, nature walks, golf, museums, parks, biking, and kayaking. Let’s not forget all of the beautiful gardens and waterfalls on Kauai. The choices are endless.

A Quiet and Relaxing Kauai B & B

Just as the choices for vacation entertainment are endless, so are the accommodations in Kauai. You can choose from studio apartments, bed and breakfasts, cottages, resorts, condos, vacation homes, beach estates, and executive styles suites. Of course, all of the vacation accommodations in Kauai are in close proximity to beaches, golf courses, parks and museums, or you might choose a retreat in a more secluded area where you can picnic or camp. You won’t find many high-rise hotels in Kauai, because buildings can now be no more than four stories high.

Depending on your individual vacation preferences, you can find accommodations and activities to suit your tastes on Kauai. If you enjoy beaches, there are several condos, resorts, cottages, and vacation homes close to or on the beaches of Kauai.

Resources for Kauai Accommodations.

Ahh Aloha Kauai Vacation Rentals specialty is the view! Visiting their website you will find north shore vacation rental condos in Sealodge, Cliffs, Pali Ke Kua, Puu Poa and Hanalei Colony Resort. They also offer other Kauai vacation rentals including beach houses, cottages, vacation homes, and bungalows – all with oceanfront views. If you are seeking accommodations for your wedding party and family Kauai Vacation Rentals for Every Budget offers special accommodation packages in most locations on the island.

There is no better time to stay on the North Shore of Kauai than the sumer time. Princeville and Hanalei vacation rentals  or the Remax Realty Vacation Rental Service has many possible choices that will be perfect for your North Shore stay. If you are looking for something a little more quaint, you might enjoy a bed and breakfast near the famous Kilaueua Lighthouse. Hale O Kuawa is tucked away in the town of Kilauea and offers a unique experience.

Kiahuna Plantation Resort

For those staying in the sun belt of the south shore of Poipu the large Kiahuna Condo resort offers fully equipped one and two bedroom units. You can find owner direct Kiahuna rental rates for this location. Still in the Poipu area by the famous Spouting Horn on Lawai’i Beach Road you will find Kuhio Shores only 30 feet from the ocean. They have recently remodeled units for anyone who wants the thrill of staying right at the water’s edge. Kuhio Shores Vacation Rentals may be an excellent choice for sun and surf worshipers.

If you want to view a website that compares the amenities of several of the south shore resort locations, check out Suite Paradise vacation rental, resort hotels.

There are many Hawaii vacation rental websites to explore, but hopefully the resources provided above will support your search in finding the perfect vacation spot for your stay in Hawaii.

Enjoy a Kauai South Shore Sunset

Planning the logistics of your honeymoon or vacation should be planned out well in advance in order to avoid problems later. Which airline or cruise-line will suit your needs the most? Conducting the proper research is necessary in order to find the best deals.

HoneyMoon Planning Checklist

Honest Planning: In order to choose a vacation destination, you first have to have an idea of what you truly want. Is it also going to be friend and family vacation considering the guests in your wedding party? Are you looking for a romantic getaway for just you and your spouse? Are you staying at a relative’s house for part of the time, or are you looking for a resort for the honeymoon? Once you have answered all these questions, then you can begin to figure out the appropriate destination.

Saving Money: One option for saving money can involve combining your wedding and honeymoon location by keeping them in the same region or within close proximity. This is possible even if you and you to be spouse are traveling to a destination or if you are inviting friends and family, either way you will save a considerable amount of money as opposed to having a honeymoon halfway across the world from where your wedding took place.

The Right Weather: Regardless of the time of year you choose to marry, there is always a location available for your honeymoon that will satisfy your taste. If you want to get married in the winter time, but want your honeymoon to be in a summer-like environment, then the best place choice is a tropical paradise somewhere in the southern hemisphere, such as Australia or South America.

Comfortable Guests: Getting married under the hot Caribbean sun is hard on the bride and groom but also on the guests. Help out your guest by supplying them with colorful paper parasols to use during your ceremony if you are planning your event during the hottest part of the day. Not only will they be more comfortable, but your wedding pictures will be more colorful!

Helpful Reviews: One great resource for honeymoon travel planning is a site called TripAdvisor.com. This travel resource provides an abundant amount of information on hotels, destinations, and just about anything necessary for planning a vacation. All reviews are written by real travelers, so everything is quite objective and useful.

Vacation Apartments: When on vacation, there are more options for locations to stay than the usual hotels and motels. You can make a wonderful home away from home with apartment accommodations that include great features like full kitchens and multiple bedrooms. Rates for apartment accommodations are very competitive as there’s a lot of great deals available.

Once all honeymoon and travel plans are booked well in advance, then you can start planning the lesser details such as daily schedule. Just make sure that, with all your travel arrangements, you include down time to have an enjoyable and relaxing trip that you’ll remember for years to come.

Planning a wedding is a lot of stress, but have no fear because once your marriage ceremony is over, you can look forward to your honeymoon. It should be an event to help you both relieve all that stress that’s built up over the past several weeks or months.

Many people overlook the honeymoon when planning a wedding and focus all their time and energy on the wedding day. The days that follow end up offering only quick or convenient excursions instead of planning out the honeymoon details to offer the two of you time to relax, enjoy your destination honeymoon to the fullest, and begin creating your life’s memories together as a couple. Therefore, give the honeymoon as much, if not more attention than the wedding day.

Relaxation After the Big Event

Give yourselves some time to relax after the wedding, so go to that perfect location where you can take it easy. If you like to sit on the beach and read, treat yourself to a nice island honeymoon.

Find a beach with a resort that has an island atmosphere in the United States, or if you want to go international and experience the real thing check out the tropical islands around Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Swim with the dolphins, or take a cruise, play in the sand. You can even learn to hula. Either way make your honeymoon something that you will remember and cherish just as much as your wedding.

Create Some Fun Adventures

Tweak your honeymoon to your tastes. Let’s say you like the night life, and clubs. Check out some areas such as Los Angeles, Miami or New York City. If you like to shows and the thrill of gambling, check out Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Maybe you are a big kid at heart, then head down to Florida and go to Disney. Plan well in advance some honeymoon adventures that you want to experience as a couple, and learn where in the world you can go to enjoy these experiences. You only get one honeymoon, and to start the foundation of a marriage with a strong and enjoyable memory, stress free, is a great way to plan the following days after your wedding.

Regardless of what you like to do, don’t skimp out on your honeymoon. The honeymoon, according to some, is the most important part of the wedding as you and your new spouse get to travel together away from the doldrums of work, and life in general. This is your dream vacation so plan it as such.

Looking for a beautiful place to get married and spend your honeymoon where there is something for everyone? Rainbow Weddings offers Hawaiian wedding packages and Kauai wedding planning services for the beautiful islands of Hawaii. We will take that this precious time of your life and plan it to perfection, leaving you stress free on your wedding day and your honeymoon.

Pause to Enjoy Iz’s Over the Rainbow

After your Kauai wedding, here are some fun suggestions:

1. Scuba dive. Home to some of the world’s best diving sites, Kauai offers a variety of courses to get you under water, checking out the marine life.
2. Hike. There are so many hiking trails on Kauai, far to many to list here. One is the famous Kalalau trail which is an eleven-mile hike along the Napali coast. There are many other trails along the streams and beaches in all areas of the island.
3. Surf. The surf is different depending on when you go. The north shore of the island gets waves in the winter months while the south shore gets waves in the summer months.
4. Skydive. Kauai offers skydiving lessons for those interested in taking the jump. Since you jump with an instructor, all you have to worry about is having fun.
5. Horseback ride. The backcountry of Kauai is home to trails, mountain pools, and waterfalls. Ride a horse to see it all and relax.
6. Golf. Rated by sports magazines and experts, there are several golf courses on Kauai that can’t be missed. Many offer views of the ocean and range in difficulty.
7. Take an ATV tour. Take an off-road tour to see the road less traveled. Only a few hours long, see some of the uninhabited wilderness that is home to rare birds and strange animals.
8. Zipline Adventures. There are several ziplines on the island of Kauai for a real thrill. Some
9. Charter Fishing. You can charter a fishing trip from one of the islands two harbors, Port Allen on the south shore, or Nawlliwili just out of Lihue.
10. Ocean Boating. Take one of the scenic boat trips. You can enjoy a dinner cruise, or a snorkeling cruise to various spots around the island.
11. Helicopter Rides. A real thrill is to see how diverse the island is by flying close above the terrain, you can even schedule a ride on the island’s search and rescue helicopters and experience the thrill of flying with no doors.

While there are many other things to do in Kauai, this list should be enough to get you started. Enjoy your wedding, and enjoy your honeymoon even more!

A Favorite of Ours, The Inter Island Doors Off Helicopter Tour

The “beautiful people” don’t just live in Hollywood, they are also our everyday neighbors, friends, sisters, brothers or cousins who are about to get married. They come alive when they style their hair to frame the face. Really anyone in the wedding party might enjoy a hair consultation to find a “new do” that adds pizazz  or style.

Not everyone’s face is designed to wear a short hairstyle. Just the same is true with long hair. The shape of the face, the height and color take part in creating an appealing look.

Let us begin with the bride and turn the page to the color and style of cosmetics used to match skin tone and wedding dress: the bride’s total bridal look has to be taken into consideration, everything must balance. The bride’s choice of wedding gown sets the tone for the entire ceremony, and the hair design has to evoke the same feeling.

Getting That Head to Toe Look

The wedding gown can also dictate the texture of the finished hair design. For instance, a smooth, shiny updo of curls or glossy slick straight hair complements a smooth satin gown. In contrast, a gown of sweeping tulle is beautifully accented by soft flowing curls.

Your look from head to toe also has a silhouette, either horizontal or vertical. A full skirt is horizontal and best balanced by a wider hair design and/or full veiling. A vertical look that is narrow and slim is complemented by a hair design of the same lines; it could be a bob tucked behind the ears or a narrow pile of curls on top of the head with loose curls flowing down the cheeks.

The head to toe look needs to have certain proportions to have a balanced effect. The bride with short hair who is wearing an ornate full traditional dress needs to remember to balance her look with the appropriate headpiece. Likewise, the petite bride with too much hair might think about wearing it up or pulled back to draw the eye vertically.

Theme Wedding Gowns

A specific Theme wedding such as renaissance, retro, or swing create a great opportunity to have certain accents make your hairstyle fun and innovative, a perfect attention getter.

Time of day set for your wedding also has a bearing on your hairstyle and headpiece you choose. For a day or morning wedding a more casual look is needed with less glitz and sparkle. Headbands, flowers, wreaths, and hats are perfect for day or morning ceremonies. Save the jewels, sparkle, and tiaras for more formal evening weddings.

We don’t want to leave the groom’s hairstyle out of the picture. Here are some tips for the groom to have that appealing look reserved for male movie stars such as Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe and Johnny Depp. They have medium length hair and keep a hairstyle that looks sophisticated and neat, while maintaining a carefree lifestyle look. You can combine the hairstyles of your favorite stars and create a perfect look that brings out who you are keeping the face shape in mind and the direction of the way the hair naturally grows.

Check Out 3 Beach Wedding Hairstyles

Thus, medieval wedding gowns were of the most expensive fabrics; velvet, damask silk, satin, fur, and fabrics woven with gold and silver thread. Colors were rich in hues, as only the wealthy could afford expensive red, purple, and black dyes. Skirts were full and gathered, the sleeves would sweep the floor, and trains were several yards long. Precious gems such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and pearls were sewn into the fabric, so the bride would sparkle in the sunlight. Fifteenth century Margaret of Flanders had such a heavily laden wedding gown she had to be carried into the church by two gentlemen attendants.

White has always symbolized a bride’s virginity and innocence in the face of her imminent change of status, but it has not always been the favorite choice. Blue, with its associations with the Virgin Mary, is another strong symbol of purity, fidelity, and eternal love (hence the popularity of sapphire in engagement rings). Brides who wore something blue believed their husbands would always be true to them, a tradition which has survived to this day.

In our world today, most of us are too busy to give romance and elegance its due attention, but weddings have a way of transforming those of us whose standard attire are jeans and T-shirts into modern-day princesses draped in satin, silk, and lace with accessories such as pearls, glimmering tiaras, and a cascading flower bouquet. Men who cannot bare to wear a necktie stand gallantly as noble gentlemen decorated and adorned with ascots and French cuffs.

Jacqueline Kennedy’s Wedding Dress

When the time came to plan my own wedding I was fascinated with Jackie Kennedy’s style. Her sophisticated, simple yet elegant dresses always had me visualizing myself in a wedding dress that had empire lines, a lightly pearl beaded bodice, long sleeves, pleated in the back, and just wide enough at the bottom to attach a seven foot veil. I knew that if I found this dress, I would probably not be able to afford it. Much to my surprise, one of my very close friends who was a dress designer, told me she had been thinking of gifting me with creating my wedding dress!

The accessories were easy to pick: simple off white pearl earrings and necklace that would match the bodice of my dress. The bouquet was made up with white orchids and some tuberose often made into flower leis that had a haunting fragrance. The shoes were very affordable elegant satin semi high heels. The wedding went off without a hitch, and after the very large reception, I was off to a honeymoon on Kauai. A dream come true!

Choosing Your Wedding Dress

Even on a budget, brides can find a gown to compliment their figure. Even though I choose an empire style, there are a multitude of styles available, even if your budget is less than $1000, and the option of renting wedding apparel, from the wedding dress to the tuxedos and bridesmaid dresses, is also an option.

White satin is the most popular fabric, but beautiful wedding gowns are also available in tulle, chiffon, crepe, and silk shantung. If you must stay within a budget and have a wedding consultant, be sure to share this information with him or her. There are endless web sites that you can visit to select various styles that interest you, as well as magazines geared towards the bride to be. After selecting different styles, you can visit retail stores to select the specific style, color, and fabric for the dress of your dreams. Be sure to try on several different styles. This is the one day of your life that you want to look your very best. Does the dress accent your curves? Does it make you feel like a queen?

While the bride is the center of attention, the bridesmaid’s dresses are also very important. Their dresses usually complement the bride’s gown. Many brides choose bridesmaid dresses that are of the same fabrics and colors with shades of the main color that complement each individual person. Again, you can go online to view different collections and then visit retail stores to select the specific style, color, and fabric.

Don’t forget the groom. It’s his day, too. Even though the groom is not supposed to see what the bride is wearing until their wedding day, they can share information. The main factors to consider in choosing the groom’s attire are the formality of the wedding and the time of day of the wedding ceremony. If the wedding is after six, white tie and tails are appropriate for a formal wedding.

Ideas for a Beach Wedding Dress

“Hair”! What subject has produced more anxiety, fears, tears and rituals, bottles, brushes, and gossip than that of the almighty wedding hairstyle, the coiffure of the bride. Any bad hair day is cause enough for us to shutter, stutter and utter “what will I do with my hair”?

Brides are often confused about how to wear their hair – whether to leave it simple, or to go for an elaborate effect. The key is to balance simplicity with a style that highlights your face.

Bridal hairstyles want to reflect the brides’ personality and personal style. The “natural” days are coming to an end as the modern bride looks for “more” from her wedding day salon services. More fun, more beauty, and more individuality are what brides are in search of. Creative personal touches adding flowers or tiaras help originate a “signature touch” for the couples’ big day.

If you have a wedding theme, you might choose a hair style to go along with that theme. Will you want curls, bangs, braiding or add extensions to your hair. Your wedding gown may also dictate your hairstyle

You want the person who styles your hair to take the best care in making your beauty shine as you walk down that aisle. Your intent is to pick the right salon, one for your very special dressy affair. You want to be treated like a celebrity by the person who styles your hair and gives it that natural yet very elegant look.

There is a right way to style your hair be it thick, fine, tangled, long, short, curly or straight.

Hair styles depend on the length of the bride’s hair. Not much you can do with very short hair, except wear a wig, which most brides don’t want to do. Many brides get an ‘updo’, which refers to a high crown of hair. For a wild-child look, you could try a soft perm with a few strands escaping to caress the cheek. You also have to decide on whether or not to wear a jeweled tiara as an accessory and whether it will be a tiny center-piece, or a prominent one which spans the head like a band.

You could wear flowers in your hair, as was the original ancient practice and often a bride’s choice when in tropical weddings.

5 Wedding Hairstyle Tips

1. The time of day of your wedding will help you choose a style. Loose natural styles are appropriate for informal or daytime weddings, while up-do’s portray a formal, evening look.
2. Have a “test run,” walk around with the hairstyle you plan to wear to feel its comfort level. A good rule: the simpler, the better, since pins can hurt, and intricate styles are often delicate.
3. Remember that some hairstyles can add inches to a bride’s height, If you are short, you may want to use this to your advantage.
4. Hair color looks its best the first two weeks, so have your hair colored a week to two weeks before the wedding.
5. If you are going to perm your hair, have it done a month prior to the wedding.