Lilybrooke on Destination Decisions

Destination Decisions

Finding a spot to tie the knot isn’t as easy as it sounds

By Anna Sachse
CTW Features

[credit: Sandals/Martha Stewart Weddings]

Maybe you always wanted to get married by the sea but both you and your fiancé have lived your whole lives in Nebraska. Or maybe you’re just looking for a subtle way to trim your guest list.

Both of these reasons and more provide perfect motivation for a destination wedding. But with an entire world at your disposal, how do you pick the perfect place to go?

“The first thing I do is ask clients what they’re going for,” says Brooke Sheldon, a destination wedding planner and owner of Lilybrooke Events in Kennebunkport, Maine. “Do they want their guests to have an opportunity to be active – perhaps hiking or kayaking – or do they want them to be able to lounge on the beach? Once you get that overall feel, you can build the wedding from there.”

But do keep in mind that regardless of whether your dream wedding takes place in a European castle or involves sleeping in African tents, there are always a few standard logistics to consider.

For example, if the guest list is larger than just the two of you, it’s a good idea to pick a spot that has multiple flights going in and out, says Renee Meyer, a destination wedding travel specialist and founder of Unforgettable Honeymoons.

This can help prevent no-shows due to bad weather and may keep airfares within a reasonable level. Another way to keep things affordable for your guests is to avoid peak seasons. “Christmas to the end of March usually costs about 30 percent more than the rest of the year in places like the Caribbean,” Meyer says.

And there are other things that might affect your decision, adds Sheldon. These include: seasonal weather; drastic temperature changes when the sun goes down; the wedding-related experience of your resort and/or coordinator; other major events that could affect flight and hotel availability or impede traffic; and possible waiting periods or blood-test requirements (such as in Mexico) for valid marriage certificates.

Taking all these considerations, and more, into account, the experts have a few top destination wedding recommendations.

Meyer has helped plan over 100 wedding in Fiji since 1994. Known for its romantic, bungalow-style hideaways, turquoise waters, white sand beaches and lush rain forests, this picture-perfect destination also makes it easy on couples – marriages performed here are legally recognized in the U.S., they have no waiting period or blood test requirement, one U.S. dollar buys approximately two Fijian dollars and the flight is 10 hours nonstop from LAX. “Many resorts even incorporate wedding services into seven-night packages with airfare, upscale lodging and all meals,” says Meyer, who herself got married at Qamea Resort & Spa on Fiji’s Qamea island in 2005. You can choose to get married on the beach, by a waterfall, on top of a hill, in the gardens or even have a traditional Fijian wedding, complete with warriors in full costume.

Another one of Meyer’s favorite wedding locales is Jamaica. There is a two-day waiting period for licenses (which cost $200), but no blood tests, it’s easy to get to from all over the U.S. and many hotels offer great bargains. Meyer recommends staying at one of the four Couples Resorts, where weddings (including a ceremony on the beach, in the garden or on a terrace, the minister, champagne, flowers and cake, as well as a couples’ massage) are free if you stay at least three nights. “I consistently get 100-percent great feedback,” says Meyer.

Also at the top of her list are the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Maui, where all the beaches are public, and St. Lucia in the West Indies, which has spectacular views and plenty of opportunity for activities like snorkeling, sailing, wind surfing and trail riding.

But as nice as tropical locales sound during colder months, do keep in mind that you don’t always have to leave the continent to find your “destination,” adds Sheldon, who specializes in New England weddings. “For example, Maine is easy to fly into or only a five hour drive from New York City,” she notes. “And it’s really such a magical place, where the climate, landscape and people are truly so unique that you still end up feeling like you traveled faraway.”

Copyright © CTW Features

Radio Ad for "The Wedding Experience"

Today our ads for The Wedding Experience began to play on five different area radio stations throughout Grand Rapids, MI. Taping radio spots is so much fun to play around with. It was a challenge to create an image for the wedding show using drama and inflection in your voice. I'm certainly not great at it, but enjoy the opportunity when tasked with it.

The equipment and how they edit is amazing to me. They can make you talk faster (even ever so slightly) or slower to fill that 60 or 30 second time-slot perfectly. They can remove the pauses or edit out the slightest error and replace it with the corrected version. Below is what my voice looks like on a computer monitor. Thanks to Gene the Production Director below, and Steve (our cameraman).

The amazing lesson is, if you aren't smiling, you can hear it. I guess it's true that you never are fully dressed without a smile.

www.grweddingexperience.com

Resolution in Training

One of my favorite titles every year is that of Race Director. I am privileged to wear that hat twice a year coordinating two 5K events and one 10K. I've never considered myself a "runner" but I have run, slowly, since grade school.

New Year's Eve 2008 I decided to participate in the New Year's Resolution Run as I was wanted to go to every possible running event to learn how I could make my events better for those who participated. That was one of the hardest 4 miles I have ever run, but somehow, somewhere I decided that 2009 was the year I would accomplish a long standing and long shot goal of finishing a marathon. This was not a goal that I ever considered obtainable, especially when I could not run 4 miles without sneaking in a walk here and there. But last January I made that decision and I spent the next seven months in training. I even started to believe that I could do anything that required endurance. I was after all training for a marathon...

In July 2009, I finished the San Francisco Marathon, beating my time goal, enjoying negative splits, smiling, singing the entire time (sorry if you were within ear shot of me) and without walking (a feat I still have a hard time believing).

After the marathon, life and work became very busy and I have hardly run since. Last week I decided to again participate in the New Year's Resolution Run. It was another difficult 4 miles, but I am excited to get back on that track. It seems the perfect way to kick off a new year. A new year full of new hopes.

While 2009 was a turbulent year, it was an amazing year of growth for me and accomplishments reached. I've set another round of seemingly impossible goals for 2010 and hope that next January, I can reflect and write about having achieved those as well.

Until then, I will continue to participate in as many events as possible as that is the only way that I have found I can make my life and work become best practices. I continue to learn and am encouraged from those around me.

Happy New Year. Mall all of your goals be lofty.

Internet Chivalry

Planning weddings, I love the stories of how people met, how he proposed, etc. etc. etc. It's such a happy business and one where you learn so much about people and their adventures. Life is truly about the journey.

Maybe because it was the magic of New Years Day or because it took an amazing amount of courage (and internet stalking), but I received a flattering email from an absolute complete stranger that I had to share below.

"First, I am not an axe murderer (that's probably the first line of every axe murderer), but I was going somewhere today and saw you shoveling your drive, and thought, hmmm...cute girl, who must be single (otherwise, your man would be out shoveling). I always liked your house - even before it was remodeled. On the way back from a run at the high school - you were pumping gas. I almost stopped and said hello. I chickened out...probably best...Anyway, if you would be interested to chat, I am a completely normal stalker...that's a joke. Happy New Year."

While it's not for me, I admire his attempt. After all, we only live once. Go after what you're interested in. What's the worst that can happen.

Sure Babe Ruth had 714 home runs, but he struck out 1,330 times.

Maybe if he had stopped and shoveled for me, I'd have given him a chance...it's a long driveway.

The Wedding Experience. March 7, 2010.

I recently teamed with a national, publicly traded company to create a Wedding Show in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 7, 2010. As any bride-to-be knows, there are many wedding shows, so in creating a new show, it had to be different. This show is a Wedding Show, brought to brides by a Wedding Planner.

While tradeshows have a functional purpose, they are not pretty and it is hard for individual vendors to really stand out and showcase their work. Brides easily find themselves overwhelmed and jumping from booth to booth. It's hard to foster creative ideas in that type of environment. The approach that I took was to create a show that set the stage and built the image for potential clients to match up with potential vendors.

I approached Grand Rapid's premier hotel (who's building was at one point among the Top 10 Hotels in the U.S.) and was able to gain permission to utilize their facilities. My show which has been titled "The Wedding Experience" truly takes brides through the experience of a wedding day. Showcasing three of Amway Grand Plaza's gorgeous ballrooms, each room is set for a particular part of a wedding and highlights vendors that pertain to that portion of the wedding. The center of the room is adorned with items on display as vendors are throughout the room's perimeter.

The Pantlind Ballroom will be set as a wedding ceremony with ceremony chairs, an aisle, etc. and vendors displaying their products that are used in a ceremony.

The Gerald R. Ford Ballroom will be set for the dinner with tables displaying vendor's linens, centerpieces, menus, etc.

The Imperial Ballroom is a great old bank that has been converted to a ballroom. The bank's original decor has been preserved with large columns. This room will feature a dancefloor, tall cocktail tables and live music as you would find during a reception.

In addition, The Wedding Experience is teaming with area high schools and will be collecting gently worn bridesmaid and other formal dresses. These dresses will be donated to area girls to be used during the upcoming prom season.

We are all busy working to match vendors with this opportunity and to start getting the word out about the show. It's going to be a magical day and truly a Wedding Experience.

www.grweddingexperience.com

Blogging

When I started this blog, I wasn't completely sure which direction it would take. Which angle I would go after. But like all events and all weddings, each post has taken on its own characteristic. There are many sites out there that tell you the most popular color or the rules of etiquette; I'm sure now and then, I'll touch on those areas, but overall my blog is to provide a sense of who I am and what my style is. It's also a justification for my English degree and provides a fun avenue for writing about topics I enjoy.

It is so amazing when I receive feedback on my blog's posts. I love the random comments that I receive, many from people I do not know. When opening today's mail, there were a few last minute Christmas cards, a lot of information about holiday sales and one special note from a lady in Cincinnati whom I have never met but had a brief call with last week. In a much approved fashion, she wrote me a very timely thank you note on personal stationery. She ended the note by saying "please keep blogging."

I am humbled, flattered and can only respond by saying thank you to all who are reading this. The comments help me grow both professionally and personally, so please continue to send them.

I also adore personal stationery and hand written notes and know that this lady will go far because of this simple gesture. Letters cannot be taken for granted and the art cannot be lost. A txt message or email will never replace the grace that is shown when the time is taken to pen a few words.

This photo was taken when I was shopping for stationery at one of my favorite stores Gus & Ruby in Portsmouth, NH. These girls know, understand, live and breathe stationery (and invitations if you're in the market). And funny enough, this photo was posted on a blog about their store. I would have brushed the back of my hair had I known I was posing, but c'est la vie.

Santa Came Early for Lilybrooke

The store's sign is up!

I can't wait to plant spring flowers

around the window.

Warm wishes for a

wonderful Christmas holiday season.