Honeymoon packing tip #10 - Make Room for RuMe!

If you're like me, you never know when you're going to find something you need - on a vacation, on your way home, or as you're heading out. Since I love the planet as much as I love shopping, I have taken to carrying a reusable tote in my bag at all times.


Sure there are lots of these on the market but my favorite comes from RuMe. They are super small and light when folded and large enough for groceries or a day's worth of shopping when unfolded. Best of all, they are super sturdy (think groceries for the week) and they fit perfectly over your shoulder keeping your hands free. I also discovered that they can also double as a beach bag - here we are in Anguilla last month:

They're available in an array of sizes and patterns so order one or a few to throw in your honeymoon suitcase. They would also make nice bridesmaid gifts or destination wedding Out of Town bags.

Red, White and Blue Wedding from Eat, Drink, Marry!

In honor of July 4th weekend, I leave you with some photos of my favorite red, white and blue election themed wedding from Eat, Drink and Marry. I love how Maggie incorporated her patriotic theme in so many cute ways. Check out her fun blog for more pics and scoop on her wedding weekend.







Have a great holiday weekend everyone!!!

Looking for a Low Key Destination Wedding? Casa Morada, No Passports Required!

Globetrotting Cindy is just back from the tropical Florida Keys with a great hot spot for destination weddings:

Casa Morada, hidden in the low-key lazy beach town of Islamorda, Florida, is just 90 miles from Miami and only 90 minutes from Key West. The 16-suite boutique hotel tucked away on a quiet side street, is owned and designed by former Ian Schrager employees, who took their combined 24 year experience to bring guests the ultimate romantic and upscale experience. It's an adults only (16 and up) property and friendly dogs are welcome.

Each of the oversized suites are decorated with a mixture of custom Mexican antiques and modern accents and have private terraces.


The coolest feature of this property is the small private island, accessible by a wooden bridge. The island has a pool, beach chairs, and a cabana serving great cocktails and small bites. Complimentary yoga is also offered on the island every morning.

The Casa Morada offers affordable wedding and honeymoon packages, my favorite is below:


Sunset Elopement Package for up to 20 guests (available mid-week)

- Honeymoon Suite for two nights for the bride and groom
- 5 Garden Suites for the night of the wedding for family and friends
- Continental breakfast delivered to the new couple's suite every morning
- Sunset Ceremony performed at water's edge for up to 20 guests
- Bridal bouquet and boutonniere
- Photographer for 1.5 hours
- Photo DVD of 150 - 250 images and a private website to share with your family and friends
- Champagne toast after ceremony
- Wedding cake
- Fruit & cheese platter
- All taxes

Priced at just $5,625.00 now through December 31, 2009

Summer's Here! Time for a Little White Dress

Maybe you're having a destination wedding on the beach or maybe you're looking for a little white dress for your summer engagement party, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner.

If so, check out these summer loving, little white numbers by Lilly Pullitzer:

Kaylor Dress Eyelet

Betsey Dress Embroidered Eyelet

Adelson Shift Solid

Basil Crochet Dress

Destination Weddings For Dummies - and smart cookies too!

Destination Weddings are great for so many reasons - my favorite being that everyone gets to go on vacation! If you're thinking of tying the knot away from home, get all your planning advice in one fun to read book: Destination Weddings for Dummies.


From organizing tips and budgeting guidelines to destination suggestions and fashion tips, this book really covers all the bases. I especially enjoyed the tips for last minute emergencies and destination wedding etiquette.

Available on Amazon in print and Kindle version for you paperless types. Makes a great wedding shower or engagement gift too!

Thinking about a Caribbean wedding? Head to the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and your wedding is free!!!

Pack your little white dress and leave the wedding planning to the experts! Now through December 19, couples who book a seven-night stay at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort will receive a complimentary wedding package!


This is a really great deal to combine with the hotel's Super Escape Inclusive Package starting as low as $299 per night -- do the math and you get a free wedding and all-inclusive week-long honeymoon for just over $2,000!!!!!

The complimentary wedding package includes:

• Professional wedding consultant
• Picturesque ceremony location: beach, lawn, gazebo or garden
• Ceremony (religious or non-denominational): includes set-up of chairs, table for signing the marriage license, basic décor and officiant
  
• Wedding License, Including document preparation
• One Bottle of Celebratory Champagne
• Accommodation upgrade for bride and groom (based on availability)

The resort can arrange for extras like flowers, music and photographers as well.

The St. Kitts Marriott Resort offers over 450 guest rooms and luxurious suites, a championship golf course, the largest Vegas-style casino in the Caribbean, a revitalizing spa, the Pirates of St. Kitts Kids Club program, eight restaurants and two lounges so your wedding guests will have plenty to keep them busy.

I love the Caribbean so if you run out of guests to invite, feel free to invite me : ).

Have you scanned any travel experiences on your bridal registry lately?

Here's a great bridal registry idea for Globetrotting Brides and Grooms!

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has launched the Hyatt Gift Registry, where couples can register online for a host of amenities, services and accommodations at Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide - think tropical honeymoon, destination wedding, spa treatments, scuba diving, golf lessons, romantic dinners, wine tasting, etc. Much more exciting than toasters or china if you ask me.


Guests make a contribution towards Hyatt Gift Cards (redeemable at Hyatts in the U.S., Canada and Caribbean) or Hyatt Check Certificates™ (redeemable at Hyatts worldwide). Best of all, there are no expiration dates or blackout dates so any extra honeymoon credits can go towards future vacations - think anniversary trips, romantic weekends, babymoons, etc.


Just like traditional registries, you can sneak a peek as the gifts arrive and you'll also get an email notification so you can confirm your honeymoon activities. It's an ideal option for any couple and I can guarantee your groom's eyes won't glaze over when you're selecting spa treatments.


And if you're planning a destination wedding, couples who wed at a participating Hyatt property (in the U.S., Canada, Cancun, Mexico or Aruba) by June 30, 2010 will receive up to five complimentary nights towards their honeymoon.

Sedona, AZ: A great warm weather destination wedding and honeymoon hotspot awaits.....

If you're looking for a scenic, easy to reach, warm-weather locale with friendly locals, Southwest charm, hotels galore and great food, look no further than Sedona, Arizona. In addition to offering up red mountain views at every turn, Sedona has an array of sights and attractions sure to please every wedding guest or honeymooner.

The Globetrotting Groom and I visited last month and had a fabulous trip! Sedona is about 90 minutes north of Phoenix and yes, Jet Blue's TV's made our 5 hour flight from NYC a breeze. You'll know you're close when the views suddenly turn from dusty desert to technicolor reds and pinks. It reminds me of the Wizard of Oz when it goes from black and white to color. It's really amazing.

I'll be writing more about hotspots for destination weddings but here are some things you'll want to check out if you're planning a Sedona honeymoon, girl's getaway or destination wedding.

- Sedona is super easy to get around and there are free shuttles if you don't want to rent a car. Get your bearings on a Sedona Trolly tour or if you're feeling more adventurous, try one of the many Pink Jeep Tours.

- Get out and explore Red Rock Country's state parks, hidden canyons, red rock trails and famed vortexes. Hikers, mountain bikers, campers will be in heaven but for those who want a relaxing vacation (like me) there are plenty of scenic drives, sunsets, star gazing shows and activities like exploring Indian ruins and petroglyphs at Palatki (this was seriously cool).


- You're on vacation so kick back with some great food and drinks! For Mexican, we loved the Elote Cafe and Javelina Cantina. For a gorgeous creekside backdrop with top-notch food and service, visit L'Auberge de Sedona. For mountain backdrops and fine dining, try Hundred Rox at Amara. For Italian bistro dining, check out Joey Bistro. For contemporary fare and happy hour action, visit Reds at Sedona Rouge. There are also local ice cream parlors and wineries so be sure to explore.

- No vacation is complete without shopping and Sedona shopping packs a punch. There are so many art galleries and shops where you'll find everything from jewelry, glass sculptures, pottery, photography, artwork, textiles, home decor, clothing and gifts galore. The Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, Hillside Sedona and "Uptown" boutiques were my favorites.

Of course, you'll also find great spas, golf, kid-friendly spots and nearby Grand Canyon activities making it a sure to please spot for all. Travel promotions abound so be sure to check out the latest travel deals and discounts.

And, stay tuned for the scoop on Sedona destination weddings...

Looking for a unique destination for your engagement photos?

The Globetrotting Groom and I are back Arizona and I'll be posting several entries about our fun-filled trip. Aside from the amazing destination wedding locations in Sedona (stay tuned...), I uncovered a really fun spot for engagement photos in Phoenix.

If you're thinking about a destination engagement shoot with a Southwest flavor, you'll want to check out the Desert Botanical Garden. Now through May 31, they've got a really cool and colorful Dale Chihuly: The Nature of Glass exhibit going on. Aside from the amazing desert backdrop (hello skyscraper cactus!), how cool are these ginormous glass sculptures?

Celebrate Romance - Trends for Destination Weddings & Honeymoons

Yesterday I went to a fabulous Celebrate Romance event sponsored by Destination Wedding & Honeymoons. It was at New York's Plaza Hotel (yes, its just like in Bride Wars) and there were dozens of representatives from luxury hotels and tropical destinations showing off their honeymoon and destination wedding offerings.

Randy from Say Yes to the Dress, Darcy from Martha Stewart Weddings and celebrity wedding cake designer Ron Ben-Israel were all in the house. Here's Ron about to cut one of his colorful creations with Susan Moynihan, editor in chief of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons.


After lunch, there was a "State of Romance Market" panel discussion where I learned about the latest trends in destination weddings and honeymoons. Here are some interesting findings from the Destination Weddings & Honeymoons reader survey:

- Despite the recession, destination wedding budgets are on the rise (up from $19,800 in 2006 to $20,600 in 2009).

- Destination couples marry sooner! Average engagement is 10.8 months vs. 14 months.

-Warm-weather locales top the list of wedding and honeymoon destinations. For international weddings, the Caribbean (51%) and Mexico (21%) are most popular while Florida (17%), Las Vegas (11%), Hawaii (9%) lead domestically.

- The average number of guests at a destination wedding is 48.

- More than half of destination couples pay for their own weddings.

- The average total honeymoon cost for destination couples is $8,200 vs $6,124 for traditional wedding couples.

- Honeymooners consider location (hello beachfront room!) and weather most important.

Stay tuned for some tropical destination wedding and honeymoon suggestions over the coming weeks...and be sure to visit Destination Weddings & Honeymoons for planning tips and ideas.

Wedding planning got you down? Head to Vegas, baby!

There are sooooo many reasons to head to Vegas!

(source)

Maybe the wedding planning is getting to you and you just want to elope! Having Elvis perform the ceremony is totally up to you...

Maybe you want to take a "Last Fling Before Wedding Bells Ring" bachelorette trip! Vegas is sure to please every girl in your group (shopping, sunning, nightlife, cuisine, museums, and more).

Maybe you want to take advantage of all the great Las Vegas Deals. Hello pampering four-star Las Vegas Hotels for just $49 per night!

Or maybe you just want to check out some mind-blowing Las Vegas Shows. FYI, if you've never seen Cirque du Soleil, you're missing out!

Whatever your reason, just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas......

Fun and flirty party dress or wedding gown. You decide.

I know the Sara Seven frocks have been making the bridal blog rounds but there is one dress that really catches my eye. There is just something so fun and flirty about this Powdered Sugar Dress.



This sweet confection is made of white sparkle organza with silver beading at the waist. Considering its a custom order, I think the $375 price tag is a real steal. It's perfect for a rehearsal dinner, beach wedding or wedding reception dress. And wouldn't those blue Christian Louboutin Glittered Platform Pumps look great with it??!?!

Want a little Moroccan inspiration?

I'm always dreaming of a Moroccan getaway so when I spotted Bridal Buzz' post on Moroccan Sunrise Collection by Sephora, I was intrigued...

I love that the products are just as pretty as the packaging. In addition, the limited-edition collection features lots of travel-friendly cases making them perfect for a destination wedding or weekend retreat.

You'll find bronzer, eye shadow and lip gloss in sun-kissed shades and tres chic gold and white, tangerine and gold or fushia and gold cosmetic bags. I think they'd make great bridesmaid presents.

Click here to see more...

Got your soulmate? Go get your SoleMates!

Here's a photo from my engagement party last May. We all look happy, right? You can't even tell that it had rained like crazy all day, ending just before the party started...

But, if you look closely at our feet, we were actually sinking right into the wet grass! Ewwww...


Better late than never, here's another amazing invention that would have saved our heels! SoleMates are little rubber coverings that slip right over your high heels.


In addition to making your shoe more stable (a nice feature for klutzy gals), they help you from sinking into the grass and slipping into cracks! If you're planning a garden wedding, having cocktails on cobblestones or just looking to protect your special day heels, you'll want to check them out. I think they'd be a nice amenity for destination weddings (bulk discounts apply on orders or 10 or more) or bathroom baskets.

They come in clear or black and fit most high heels. Click here to find a retailer by you or order online. At just $12 a pair, they're a great investment for your fancy shoes.