Fruit PunchWe are often inspired by an array of choices when it comes to putting the ‘PUNCH’ to our wedding decor. Often times couples will desire the muted vintage looks, but every so often we will get another who says ‘Go Bold or Go Home’….
Read More»
Recently I was asked to write an article about what I thought a couple should consider when selecting a location for their wedding celebration. Weather it be an outdoor garden, a chapel, a ballroom, a beach or jumping out of an airplane, the decision is usually daunting to many ~ especially the leap of faith! As an artist and site designer my thoughts were simple, whatever ‘feels’ right in your heart of course! This is not as simple to some as it is to others however, often too many choices are the dilemma. To me, your site selection is critical to the visual outcome as well as the emotional outcome to your celebration. Enhancing the setting you have selected is a playground that I love to share with you.
Read More»
“Go Simple or grandiose for your special day far away from home”
If the idea of the sand in your toes, sea breeze in your hair, a holiday with your closest family and friends – oh, and a wedding —is appealing, you’re not alone.
Many not keen to include the likes of their co-workers and acquaintances at a stuffy bash for 200 are ditching the hotel ballroom or local community centre for a destination wedding – or “wedding-moon”.
There is a certain exoticism that comes with running away to get married – even if you have 80 guests along for the ride – which is why almost one in four weddings this year will be destination weddings.
There are, however, many misconceptions when it comes to getting married far from home. Amira Harris is a destination wedding specialist with Posh Productions Event Planning and Design Inc. in Calgary and helps many local couples understand the logistics of making a wedding moon a reality.
“Not only do you need to plan a budget for how much you want to spend, but also how much you expect your guests to spend.” Says Harris. “Are you looing at keeping it under $2,000 per person, or $1,500! You want people to be able to afford to attend.”
Harris also says the time of year and where you choose to get married will affect the turnout of your guests. For example, friends with kids will be more likely to attend on school breaks and come to family-friendly destinations. Sending out “save-the-date” cards well in advance is a great way to give people plenty of notice to book time off work and make arrangements for their holiday. The more notice, the more people are likely to attend.
Then again, if you choose to get married on a remote island in the South Pacific, don’t expect a large turnout, no matter how much notice you give.
When choosing where to tie the knot, there are plenty of factors to consider beyond just a great place to holiday. Do you want your wedding at a beach, villa, historical site or all-inclusive resort? And, most importantly, do you want it to be legal?
Harris says Canada doesn’t accept marriages from a large number of countries, so although you can have a symbolic ceremony (read: looks exactly like a “real” one, but doesn’t hold legal clout) in countries such as Spain, you need to do the legal paperwork at home before or after your trip. Obviously, if you are looking for something legally binding at the ceremony, there are certain countries that you will rule out.
“We tell all of our couples to pick up two to three destinations they’re interested in and tell us why they’re interested in them.” Says Harris. “if you pick two to three, we can tell you the pros and cons of all of the them, and also, at that point, we can probably rule out a place or two depending on what you decided are your must-haves.”
Some countries have specific wedding rules that must be followed. Mexico, for example, requires couples to be in the country three or more business days before their nuptials. Documents have to be translated into Spanish and blood tests for STDs and blood typing are required. Divorcees and widows need to provide translated paperwork as well and, even after all is said and done, you’ll have to wait for your official marriage license to arrive in the mail.
This is where a planner comes in. Many resorts offer them, and there are planners in Calgary, or you can try to find a wedding planner in the location where you choose to tie the knot. When planning form miles away, a local planner on the ground is an excellent ally when it comes to all of the little details.
Planners know the ins and outs of the legalities and the finer details of their wedding destinations. They have built vendor relationships and can vouch for photographers, florists and other vendors that they’ve worked with in the past. They can bridge language and cultural barriers in far-away destinations and they can recommend insurance in the case of sudden death in the family or a flight cancellation due to a epic Calgary snowstorm. Doing it yourself by handling over thousands of dollars in deposits via Paypal to Internet-chosen vendors is definitely not for the faint of heart.
“the logistics involved in organizing a destination wedding can be complex” says Heather Sadler, ownder of FiestaSol Weddings and Catering in Marbella, Spain. “It is incredibly important that you do your research and hire a good wedding planner. They will be your man on the ground and will set up a team of suppliers who should be able to guide you through the wedding process with ease.”
There is a certain amount of trust you need to have in your planner and your vendor choices. Well, unless you pack up and live in your destination of choice for the six months leading up your big day, so, for all you control-freak brides, a destination wedding probably isn’t for you.
Chilling-out Calgary couple Janine and T.J. Babey chose to tie the knot in Maui, Hawaii in May 2011. After getting engaged there the previous year, they knew a destination wedding in the Aloha State was exactly their style.
“For us, we knew we would be at our utmost relaxed state to celebrate with all our closest family and friends.” Says Janine, “We always wanted to have a destination wedding because everyone gets a vacation out of it, so it creates an experience for them.”
Working with Jacqueline Uilani Ishikawa of White Orchid Wedding in Hawaii, Janine had confidence that she had someone on the ground making sure things were getting done. Ishikawa handled the venue, florist and other local vendors, while the couple spent their time sending out fun e-newsletters to their guests with great places to stay and their top restaurant recommendations for the area. They also planned group events, including a welcome barbecue, and a rehearsal dinner.
The big day was thoughtful, intimate and a true celebration of the couple, Janine, T.J. and 28 of their family and friends spent the day just steps from the ocean. Wanting to incorporate Hawaiian culture into the ceremony, the couple had a Kahu, or Hawaiian minister, blow a conch shell to announce the start of their wedding. They also included a traditional lei ceremony to not only give nod to their surrounds, but also recognize Janine’s mother, who had passed away the year prior.
“The sun was setting over the ocean while we were having dinner,” says Babey. “The backdrop was beautiful. It was perfect.”
