Best wedding dress stores 2011

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Are you looking for a local dress shop find? There are options, and in this article we will learn how a local dress shop to find. Let's start with a store that the dresses you want and need to find! The first thing to remember to find a local wedding shop, you either have a lot of options, or have several options, and some areas only one chance!

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The key is knowing where to look to find alternatives. One option is to go through family and friends, and find out what options so the spot. Often you will find a large number of possibilities with this method.

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Another method is to go through a local file is a list of companies. The results of this study is that you can come up with some great features that are local to you. Another approach is to look through the magazine devoted to weddings. Wedding magazines can be a great way to find your options are, and often the stores will advertise through them.

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The Internet is a great way to find a dress shop, and some you can buy online, that's a great way to really save. Wedding dress shops have had a problem, as more and more people choose to buy a dress online and it can make the difference, and help you save big. Find great savings online, however, you can not see what you buy. Make sure they have a return policy that meets your needs.

Best Winter Wedding Dresses 2011

wedding dresses for winter weddings

If you are looking for a romantic wedding in the world, not winter wedding more! Winter wedding can be a bright and magical. Try to imagine a picture of red roses and white background to show. How wonderful winter wedding photography! Perfect wedding dress to paint that picture. If you want lush winter wedding or simple, warm wedding dress is a must.

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When it comes to winter wedding planning, there are many ideas and creativity. Winter wedding can celebrate the holidays or can be made only for the bride and groom. To determine which wedding dress to wear, you must first choose a wedding theme. Wedding dress is as important as your central reception desk. You should choose a wedding dress that best highlights yourself. If your wedding is a small intimate family gathering during the winter. If you are planning a luxury wedding dress, solid velvet, tweed and synily be your ideal choice. It can be elegant to fit in your intimate wedding ceremony.

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If you are planning a large wedding, various wedding dresses in winter may not be available. Most wedding dresses are strapless, sleeveless or back, even, but it's not for brides who want to shoot a winter option. Search for wraps, scarves, gloves, dress stress and keep you warm in practice. You can even prepare opaque tights for the frosty weather. Just think, in a white suit with fur or fake fur bridesmaid hoop. What a fantastic shot in a Hollywood movie! Do not forget accessories like ice, such as diamond or rhinestone.

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Another solution is to buy a wedding dress with sleeves. Designers Dresses different time to meet cold weather. These dramatic dresses can range from simple elegance to the luxurious style. They sure turn heads and make your clothing stage attention. Beautiful jacket can also be a good choice for you to warm your big day. There are many all-white jacket for you to choose from. Winter wedding dresses fashionable support as more brides choose to have their wedding in the winter. You can use your imagination to dress the bride, bridesmaids, and all you can to keep warm on your wedding day.

Sexy Black and White Wedding Dresses 2011

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Nothing says stylish, sophisticated, beautiful and discreet, like black and white wedding. Of course, black and white look of love marriage as a funeral, the whole package requires careful planning and thoughtful execution. Moreover, black and white does not mean everything should remain absolutely color free, however, shows that black and white issue requires a careful step strategy, preferably pink or red in the dusk of a case in the evening.

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Select Perfect Accents, Scaling the black and white wedding in the twilight, enhance the romance of the occasion, and keep the wardrobe requirements easy. The fundamental principle of true elegance, you just need enough of the right stuff. The groomsmen wear either black suit with a vest or a simple black tux and the bridesmaids wear chic little black dresses cocktail length is perfectly acceptable. As always, bridesmaids feel very grateful that you dresses that are either already own or may be elected again to wear while the groomsmen feel grateful that you are not dressed in some outrageous get up that makes them feel like decorations wedding cake. Ask your bridesmaids only accessories with pearls, groomsmen says that the rules prohibiting evaluation of all descriptions. Keep the lights low. Maximizing the candlelight. Scaling the black and white wedding in the dark, upgrade all matter in the night. The upgrade has little or no effect on the clothing of the bridal party, except that bridesmaid dresses should be long now. You still must meet the basic standard of elegance, where everything in a simple and modest.

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Pink at dawn, red at night. The basic rules of strategy stress remains unchanged. Accent colors are displayed in the flowers, the ribbons that hold the flowers, the links groomsmen, they dare to edgy, shoes, bride. Carry the theme of the ceremony to the reception, keep your table this season, with the accent color in your main theme and glasses of champagne or wine glasses. To stay strictly within the guidelines of the issue, you will serve rosé wine for your wedding in the twilight shades of pink, a strong merlot for the first night of your wedding with accents in red. Perfecting the issue, you could have a pink meat served at dinner in the evening wedding, pork or lamb can taste prepared for the occasion, but you need a vegetarian alternative. Of course, red tons of beef demand, cordial, the better, provided it is cooked to perfection.

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The organic touch to the black and white wedding, Excessive wrapping paper is a product of the year 1950, and is generally regarded as a monument to unnecessary waste, more or less exaggerated fins your father's Buick. Not only old school outdated. You have black and white wedding restoration of the Victorian era habit of wrapping gifts in newspaper and secure with your signature grosgrain ribbon-pink or red, of course. The recycling of paper and ribbon are infinitely reusable. The request also more or less, meet the traditional requirement of "something new".

Sexy Beach Wedding Dress

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Find unique and stylish wedding dress with buttons all the bride's dreams. Button to show the silhouette of the bride, and a style perfect for any time to meet the expectations I want to do this all the original expectations. For this purpose, even to see their favorite foundation in hopes of bringing reality to come and dream of their wedding. They want their wedding to offer the best. Clearly, so that will help you achieve the perfect wedding dress.

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Beach wedding dress, bridal wear or any other kind Trends in this regard, a simple, quick and sharp as a bend in the direction of the last few years. wide fabric covered with flowers and heavy equipment in the past there was a long wedding dress. In recent years, has undergone a great amount of change the style of wedding dress. What appeared to be the bride's shoulders and found an elegant and pristine beach wedding dress than the top eight now being refined. Easy cleaning, minimalism and effortlessness as a synonym for the future, the word "simple" Now look in the dictionary. And again, with a different set of words such as these will have a significant blandness. For you, the word will have a look at these two teams will have to go on the biggest challenges the idea of wearing a beach wedding dress simple decisions, perhaps the most special days of his life only. Of course, this excitement is not it?

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In other words, where the problem may be a simple dress? Words, "minimalist" or beach wear for the wedding to be "clean" to give a clear picture of the union should be wearing a dress for a wedding can be a simple "easy." If you want to obtain a clear picture has a simple wedding, just have to remember in the last few years, junior dress Carolyn Bessette, John Kennedy, and her wedding dress and then only, the recall attempt is not much of a clothing decision, and great, but point to a long and considered to be soft on the straight sheath dress designed to look prejudice an enviable clean, beautiful lines, added a simple dress.

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If you fit the perfect short or long dress, wedding dress or a simple set, regardless of your choice, if you to pinpoint. If you properly clean and your silhouette sleek lines of the outline should be moved to consider your natural curve. Contact your clothes tailor a perfect fit. Dress material also plays an important role here. Put a light gel or a wedding with the theme, choose something. A simple beach wedding, linen, chiffon, organza and silk will do for the good. They are of various colors, the light can be bought and you want to hack works well.

Best Red Wedding Dresses 2011

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As if choosing a red wedding gown isn't bold enough, there are ways to accent the dress which could bring out the richness of the color. If you are considering on putting a dramatic touch to your wedding by going full color with a red wedding dress, you'll have to be extra careful, though. Red isn't really a popular color choice amongst the traditional; it is more for the free-spirited, not for the weak of heart. These tips may help you get the most out of your red wedding dress, while skirting easily and discreetly between the boundaries of convention and individual expression.

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Red wedding gowns are essentially dramatic, and what better way to accent the drama than with the bodice. Halter-style and sleeveless bodice, with its high choke or wrap neck, are great for emphasizing beautiful shoulders and back, with the option of going bare back. One-shoulder bodice also add elegance to the overall appeal of the dress, with an asymmetrical cut and an exposed shoulder. Surplice bodice style, which is achieved by a cross-wrapping of the fabric either in the front or back, can also be used to expose more of the neckline if desired. For those who want to push the boundaries, a corset-style bodice is probably the best way to go, since this is very form-fitting and usually strapless, with boning support and lace closures which fastens tightly on the back. While making you look like a regal bride, corsets can also exude some wild and sexy appeal.

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Neckline options become tricky when you consider that the color of the wedding gown is at any shade of red. If the color is of the deeper shades, then the neckline may make or break the look of the entire outfit. A cowl, or a neckline with a piece of fabric usually attached to the shoulder straps and droops loosely around the neck at the front or back, gives great complement to the dress; the cowl achieves better effect if it is in a color which accents that of the rest of the gown, such as silver, white or pale gold. Strapless necklines are flattering, if you've got the figure to show for it; otherwise you could opt for safer alternatives such as a v-neck or a portrait (with a shawl collar wrapping around the shoulders) neckline.

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As with traditional color gowns, the same rules practically apply for the red wedding gown in terms of body shape and style. The full skirt or the ballerina dress is great at giving proportion if you have a slim-hipped and full-busted figure. The empire line dress gives the illusion of length, and is ideal for petit body types. The princess line gown hugs closely at the waist, which gives beautiful proportion for those with slim waistlines while accenting the bust area. This style also covers wide hips discreetly and elegantly. Bias cut and column gowns are very discriminating, as it looks best with women of more or less ideal figures; this shows off body contours, as it hugs the hip area closely. If you have great shoulders and you want to expose it, the asymmetric dress achieves the effect of emphasized shoulders and arms, while its flared skirt line effectively accents or hides the hip area. A red wedding gown can wow a crowd if worn with pride and elegance. On the other hand, you could very well look like Little Red Riding Hood being led by the wolf to the altar. At redhotbrides.com, see how other brides are wowing their guests at their fairytale wedding in red style.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tommy_Glauning

Cheap Wedding Dress 2011

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Planning a wedding is all about the details. There is so much to think about! What kind of food should you serve? What flowers do you like? Should the guests wear informal or semi formal dresses? Everything needs to be carefully coordinated, not only for timing, but to give a cohesive feel to the overall celebration. Decorations are especially important. They may seem minor, but they give a theme or flavor to your festivities, create a mood at the guest tables, and will show up in photographs for years to come, so you want to pay attention to them. It can be especially challenging to come up with cheap wedding centerpieces ideas. There are a few symbols of marriage that are represented throughout the ceremony--bride and groom, rings, champagne glasses--and it can be redundant to repeat those images in a centerpiece. Store-bought, ready-made centerpieces can sometimes look tacky. So how can you create beautiful wedding centerpieces on your own with a minimum of effort?

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Flowers Are a Classic Choice, Many wedding centerpiece ideas revolve around floral displays. However, there are so many ways to make your flowers look unique! You don't have to have them professionally designed. One option is to use the same flower(s) at each table, but have them displayed in different containers. A single blossom in a vase is perfectly tasteful and pretty. A woven chain or crown of flowers can surround another item. Remember not to use highly scented flowers as centerpieces for food tables. The fragrance can interfere with the guests' enjoyment of the food, beverages, and cake! Additionally, many people have allergies, so always get recommendations from a florist on flowers that are least likely to cause reactions.

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Candles Always Impress, Floating candles in a bowl of water look beautiful, especially at night. The water can be colored with food coloring for a special effect. You can also use tinted glass bowls that will glow brilliantly from the candle's flame. A few flower petals can be floated on the water's surface as well. The bottom of the container can contain colored glass or stones. You can also use random shapes and sizes of white (or colored) candles grouped together on a dish, surrounded by a few flower petals or special mementos of the couple's journey together. Candlelight centerpieces are gorgeous; however, they do present a safety hazard. They are not recommended for receptions where children are attending, but no matter who is on your guest list, candle flames should always be protected by some type of glass or other protective container. Keep floral arrangements, paper decorations, and other flammable materials far from the flame. As with flowers, keep in mind that scents interfere with the appetite, so at eating tables, it is best to use unscented candles.

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Make It Truly Unique, Other than the classic flowers-and-candles ideas, you can mix it up with some more creative ideas. You could display beautifully framed snapshots of the couple at each table--perhaps taken at different stages of their relationship. Grace each table with an unusual piece of art, such as a collage or small sculpture, made by one of the members of the wedding party. If either the bride or the groom has children, the children can create something lovely and meaningful. These wedding centerpiece ideas should help you get started on your way to a beautifully decorated wedding reception. Keeping it simple, sophisticated, and sentimental never fails!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yancy_Fisher

The History of Wedding Flutes and what they Mean Today

by: Kim Medeiros

Mostly anything that is put together in the making of a wedding symbolizes something and means a great deal to the bride and the groom. From the type of flowers or the traditions used or the theme colors and even the symbols mean something for both the wedding couple as it is a remembrance of something or in memory of someone or traditions in their culture or religion.

The same is said for wedding flutes, which are used to symbolize a spiritual and physical union of a marrying couple. In most weddings, you can find two of the most common types of wedding flutes that are normally used which are engraved and un-engraved flutes. Most couples prefer engraved flutes so they can state the day and date of the wedding as well as a short message. These become keepsakes for not only the wedded couple but their guests as well and serve as long time memories of the wedding day. Wedding flutes that aren’t engraved become heirlooms that are passed on from one generation to another in a family and used in future nuptials of the couple’s children.

For the bride and groom, matching wedding flutes are the star of in the reception wedding toast, and provide a poignant photo opportunity in many wedding albums. Wedding flutes carry the decorative theme of the wedding and provides and elegant accent to compliment the floral arrangements and theme color. From engraved to sleek to crystal and glass, couples have an endless choice in designs and styles and shapes and sizes when it comes to picking out their favorite flutes to suit any wedding styles whether contemporary, traditional, modern, cultural or themes weddings such as Gothic, Renaissance, 20th century or Hawaii, Asian and Oriental or beach wedding.

These choices of wedding flutes also come in varying prices. If you are on a budget, then consider cheap wedding flutes that are affordable but still have that classy and elegant look. In a wedding, you can mix and match expensive and inexpensive décor and items to bring the whole wedding theme look together. Mixing and matching can save you a whole lot of money and you can use on items that really matter a lot and are rare as opposed to items that you know you can get a cheaper pricing that have good quality.

Apart from engraved and un-engraved wedding flutes, there are also ornate wedding flutes available. These ornate flutes have intricate details on them or are made with a combination or pewter to form rose designs and creepers that make the flutes unique. Regardless of style, because of their importance in the wedding day, wedding flutes need to be selected with care. there are a few simple guidelines when it comes to selecting your flutes. Determine if you want it engraved or not engraved, next is to determine the material to be used, whether it is glass or crystal or pewter. And lastly, make sure the price equates to the quantity and quality of the flutes.

Wedding Planning on the Web

by: Joel Walsh

Whether you're a wedding planning pro or a do-it-yourself bride, I know one thing you don't: you aren't using the web enough.

The web has become the dominant way to shop for electronics, travel, cars, housing, even education. But you can just as easily use the web to find caterers, event halls, dressmakers, DJs, photographers, videographers--even a wedding planner if you decide to take a break from doing it all yourself.

Here's how the web helps you plan a wedding:

* Local search. No, you don't have to sort through vendors from here to Timbuktu. Local search technology now makes finding someone downtown as easy as finding someone anywhere. If you use Google, you only have to enter a place name along with your keyword to get a list of local businesses. Try "wedding planner fargo" (without the quotes) and see for yourself.

* Real people. The people you are buying from online aren't "virtual." They're as real as the people you'd meet in person. In fact, especially with local business, the website is just a first contact. You can always call them up or arrange to meet in person.

* Dedicated wedding information websites. There are now websites solely devoted not just to planning a wedding, but to catering, wedding cakes, even dying shoes for weddings. These same websites often have directories of wedding vendors arranged by location.

* Message boards and customer reviews. You wouldn't buy a book on Amazon without reading a review a customer had left. Now you don't have to buy decorations that way, either.

Web Wedding Planning Alternatives

The web has a lot of advantages over most other ways of discovering and evaluating wedding vendors. Just look at what your other options are:

* Recommendations from friends and colleagues. How much do your friends and colleagues really know about wedding planning? Very often, one person's idea of wedding elegance is any sane person's idea of bad, bad taste. Just look at anyone's wedding pictures. You can't trust this decision to your friends. This is your big day. It deserves a little research.

* Bridal fairs. If the vendors at bridal fairs were so great, why would they be trawling for business? Do you want an in-demand wedding vendor, or one who has to set up a booth and hand out free samples?

* Yellow pages. I remember the time my mother used the Yellow Pages to find a contractor to install some new doors. During the holiday season, the draft would blow out the candles in the window if they weren't electric. Anyone can get in the yellow pages--and believe me, anyone does.

Web Wedding Planning Advantages

* Selection. No offline source will ever have as many options, whether it's songs for the wedding reception or fabrics for the gowns.

* Ready information. As soon as you see an option you'd like to consider, you can find out all you'd ever like to know as easily as copying and pasting into Google.

* It's All in Writing. By their very nature, websites put a lot of information in writing. The written policies regarding shipping, warranties (if any), returns, and service will almost always be easy to access. (Hint: look for links to policies at the bottom of each web page.) The fact that everything is written down gives the vendor much less wiggle room to change the terms of the deal. Almost as good as the paper trail is the photograph trail--at least when it comes to merchandise. Save any relevant images along with the text.

* Better Business Bureau's Convenient BBBOnline. On the web, it's easy to check for Better Business Bureau membership. The site should have the BBBOnline logo displayed prominently on the order page. Click on the logo to be taken to the BBB.org profile for that business. The BBB page should say that business is a member in good standing. With the BBBOnline, the Bureau's ecommerce program, you can dispute a sale without having to go to the local Bureau where the store is headquartered.

In short, the web makes it much easier to get a perfect wedding.

About the author: Joel Walsh is a freelance writer. Check out this website for wedding planning information and to find wedding vendors: http://www.bridalocity.com?%20wedding%20planning[Publish this article on your website! Requirements: 1. Live link for above URL/web address. 2. Link anchor text: "wedding planning" OR leave this bracketed message intact.

Want To Know More About Wedding Planners?

By Norm Goldman

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is pleased to have as a guest Judy Allen. Judy is the author of Your Stress Free Wedding Planner (Sourcebooks, Inc.), as well as five professional books on event planning (John Wiley and Sons).

Judy has created-produced-orchestrated special events in over 30 countries for up to
2,000 guests.

Good day Judy and thank you for agreeing to our interview.

Norm:

Judy, could you tell us something about yourself and how you became involved in wedding planning?

Judy:

I started out in travel and managing one of the highest producing offices for a national chain. As part of my office’s growth, I developed corporate business, which evolved into handling all of their corporate events such as incentives, conferences, conventions, product launches and social corporate branding events.
Subsequently, I joined one of the leading incentive houses to design custom one- of- a kind events around the world for corporate clients.

Over ten years ago, I opened my own special events company. As a result, I have created-produced-orchestrated corporate and social special events around the world for over fifteen years, including the gala theatrical opening for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director Norman Jewison’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of Fiddler on the Roof.

In addition, I am also the author of five best-selling professional books on event planning that are being used around the world by industry and business professionals, and as teaching tools by Universities and Colleges.

The foreign rights for my second book, The Business of Event Planning, have been sold to China and Russia, and Harvard has deemed my third book, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette, a “must read” for event planning and small business professionals.

The event planning series of books came about as a result of my being called “to run and rescue” non-profit gala events days before an event was scheduled to take place.

I noticed that many charitable organisations were clueless as to what to be aware of and wary of when planning events. I found this most disturbing.

The same situation occurred with wedding planning. Clients or their friends began to consult with me regarding their personal wedding plan needs. I kept hearing from them as to how stressful they found the process to be- the hidden costs and surprises they kept encountering along the way. Because of the direction I am taking my company, I do limit the number of weddings that I personally become involved in.

I wrote Your Stress Free Wedding Planner as a means to provide couples with what they need to know from a design, budget, implementation (logistics) and orchestration perspective – not etiquette – when they go to plan their wedding. I wanted to give them a wedding planning tool that would held them enjoy the process, lessen the stress and show them how to create a wedding day that is meaningful, memorable and magical.

Norm:

Could you tell us something about your book Your Stress Free Wedding Planner?

Judy:

I have shared with readers the ten key planning steps, that when followed in sequential order, will allow the bride and groom-to-be to create and co-ordinate a wedding that will exceed their expectations and stay within their wedding budget guidelines. It does not matter if a couple has six weeks to plan their wedding or a year or more, the event planning principles I have designed and the order of the steps which be followed for optimum results, remain the same.

Your Stress Free Wedding Planner simplifies the wedding planning process and allows everyone involved to relax, and enjoy the festivities that lead up to this very special day, secure in the knowledge that everything has been attended to.

What is unique about Your Stress Free Wedding Planner is the wedding design questionnaire that will show the bride and the groom how to combine their individual wedding visions and take them their personal idea of a dream wedding to one that will become “our” dream wedding. I also show couples contract red flag areas – that can cost them thousands of dollars more than they expected – that they need to be aware of before they sign on the dotted line as well as areas of negotiation and terms and conditions that they need to have amended on their contracts.

Norm:

If you had to choose 5 of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world, which ones would you choose and why?

Judy:

For me 5 of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world would be

· Greece/Greek Islands for their beauty, ambience and history – you can relax, sightsee, and have fun exploring as a couple:

· South Pacific (Bora Bora) – getting married on the beach and honeymooning in an over the water thatched bungalow with glass bottom floors – perfect setting in a romantic paradise

· Bali – staying at the Four Seasons that come with private plunge pools and secluded outdoor showers – a romantic hideaway from the world:

· Egypt (getting married with Pyramids as the backdrop) then on to the Valley of the Kings/cruising the Nile (honeymoon) exotic and a trip of a lifetime:

· Italy – Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Capri, Florence – so many romantic choices to choose from. You can hold your wedding reception in a castle, rent a private villa in Tuscany, hold the wedding and reception there (and honeymoon for the rest of your stay), take-over a medieval hamlet or be married or hold your wedding reception in a winery. Italy just has the air of romance.

Norm:

You have indicated that you have sailed on all types of yachts/ships. Which yacht or ship did you find to be the most romantic?

Judy:

Failing to afford chartering your own private yacht and set your own course, I personally found Windstar Cruises to be more romantic than larger cruiselines. I liked the more intimate feeling aboard ship.

Their guest count ranges in the low hundreds (148 to 308) as opposed to the in the thousands and they are not geared to having children onboard. I also like that you have the luxury of eating meals at your leisure and not at set times, summoned by a bell.

There are no formal seating table assignments – you can dine or your own or with couples you have met, there are no jacket and tie requirements and should you chose dinner can be served to your cabin. I also like the tucked away ports of calls available to you – due to being on a smaller sailing vessel -- and the easy on and off of the ship. And sitting out on deck, under the stars when the sails are unfurled is extremely romantic.

Norm:

What is a wedding planner and how do you separate the good ones from the incompetent?

Judy:

What is a wedding planner and how do you separate the good ones from the incompetent?

In the planning industry there are two types of planners: Event Planners and Wedding Planners.

Generally, event planners handle designing and producing corporate, social and non-profit events. The types of events they are involved in can be quite diverse -- from complex one-day entertaining events strategically planned to meet business objectives to corporate learning, performance, motivational events and elaborate arrangements of incentive or product launch theme productions that take place over the course of a week around the world. Some event planners handle not only event design, but also education and entertaining components (transportation, accommodation, food, beverage, decor, entertainment, themes) but also multimedia stage production. This is the type of event planning that I have been primarily involved in.

Wedding planners work with newly engaged couples to help them create the wedding of their dreams. They take over all the wedding planning and operation requirements, consulting closely with their clients along the way. They are compassionate, caring and adept at handling the emotional elements that are tied to planning a wedding when nerves are frayed, couples get jittery and help find areas of compromise between couples and their families when there are opposing ideas on how the wedding day should unfold. Wedding planners co-ordinate the weddings from beginning to end and are on hand on the wedding day to oversee that all goes as planned. Some wedding planners also handle social events as the two event planning styles are closely aligned whereas event planners who mainly work with corporate and business related social events generally do not cross over into wedding planning as juggling the needs of these two very different clients does not tend to mesh.

If couples are considering hiring a wedding planner, I suggest they first read Your Stress Free Wedding Planner.
With this in mind, they will immediately be able to spot the level of competency of a wedding planner, and they will be able to discern if the wedding planner is experienced or not.

Experienced wedding planners are able to fully answer questions pertaining to the budget, contract and logistical problems.

Check references- not only other wedding couples that have hired them. Also check the venues in which they have held their events.

Find out their level of ability e.g. if the wedding planner has only done events for 50 guests or less and your wedding is for 500 or more, there will be a learning curve for the wedding planner – don’t let it be at your expense.

Norm:

Have you ever planned weddings for any celebrities?

Judy:

No, not weddings, but social events with Oscar winning guests and celebrities in attendance, such as the theatrical gala premiere of Beauty and the Beast and the co-ordination of Oscar winning director’s Norman Jewison’s 25th Anniversary Celebration for Fiddler on the Roof.

Norm:

Could you tell us which wedding celebration you had planned that was the most memorable and why?

Judy:

They are all memorable – each is different and unique.
However, the one that was most memorable was one where I was a guest but got involved when there was a slight glitch.

It was an outdoor reception and the staff carrying the wedding cake out to garden for the cake cutting ceremony, tripped over one of the small children that was attending the event.

The child was okay as was the wait staff but the wedding cake landed upside down. Luckily a cloth had been placed over the cake for the reveal and guests were not aware of exactly what had taken place.

The cake was carefully righted and I went into the kitchen to meet with the chef to see what the damage had done. The top of the cake was totally smashed. I quickly gathered the bridesmaids’ bouquets that matched the flowers the bride was carrying and with the chef’s help, some plastic wrap (to protect the cake from flowers as flowers were not edible etc.) and icing.

The flowers were artfully arranged on top and fresh icing was skilfully applied to mask the dents and damage. The cake was made picture perfect without guests being any the wiser and raves were given to the floral topping on the cake. The bride and groom had been advised of what happened and were trilled with the results.

Norm:

What is your idea of a unique romantic destination?

Judy:

The amount of time it takes to get to the Seychelles can be quite daunting with airline connections and layovers (depending where you are travelling) but after arrival, there was never one moment that I regretted the travel time. What is a wonderful romantic combination is doing an African safari first and then flying to the Seychelles for the rest of your stay.

Norm:

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about wedding planning, romantic getaways or wedding destinations?

Judy:

Should you decide to combine your wedding with your honeymoon, there are now bridal registries that handle weddings and honeymoons at upscale hotel properties around the world.

Instead of giving a toaster as a wedding gift, family and friends celebrating your nuptials can contribute to your destination wedding. As an example: the activities on your honeymoon stay, or a couples’ massage or a private romantic dinner for two after the wedding.

These individuals work with wedding specialists at the location to pre-arrange all the wedding and personalized honeymoon details.

They also advise couples on the legal issues that being married in a specific location will entail.
If couples are planning a destination wedding they need to make sure that all is in order for them to get married and to file their marriage papers after their wedding.

One couple that flew to the Caribbean for their wedding did not check into residency requirements for weddings. They did not allow sufficient time and were unable to extend their time on the island, as they had to return to work. Unfortunately, they ended up posing for wedding photographs on the beach and then getting married at home.

One last comment, I have a second wedding planner coming out in 2006 called Engaged to Married in Three Months or Less (Sourcebooks, Inc.) and I will be covering destination weddings in the book. Stay tuned!