The Back-Up Plan

photo courtesy Meg Perotti

Anyone remember the televised Bachelor wedding a couple of years ago when Jason married Molly at a stunning outdoor location overlooking the California coast? Anyone remember the torrential downpour that soaked both them and all of their guests? While the couple appeared to laugh it off, I’m not sure their guests were thinking the same thing as they had to sit at the reception in soaking wet clothes and chilled to the bone. There is also only so much the photographer can do to touch up the photos when everyone looks like a drowned rat.

Trusting Mother Nature to smile upon you on your wedding day is a pretty big risk. It’s great when it all comes together, but has the arrival for disaster if nasty weather rolls in. As a wedding planner, I always make sure there is a Plan B. In fact, I’m adamant that there has to be a back-up plan. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing my job. Bad weather can spoil a wedding day faster than anything else!

Here are some simple ideas that can help make your wedding day run a little smoother if rain or snow try to threaten your day:

• Have an e-mail distribution list and/or phone fan-out planned and ready to use if necessary so you can let guests know quickly about possible changes to your wedding day plans. This isn’t that hard to do when in today’s world of technology, but it does mean you have to think ahead a bit, like making sure you know where out-of-town guests will be staying and making sure you have both e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers.
   
• If you have an outdoor ceremony planned, make sure you have another option available to you. This could be as simple as having to rearrange your reception venue a bit and post someone at the ceremony site to redirect traffic if necessary.
   
• Buy a couple of cool umbrellas and a funky pair of rubber boots. They can be fun and fantastic photo props AND, better yet, they will keep you dry!
   
• Make sure you talk with your photographer and plan an alternate INDOOR location for your photos.

A little pre-planning will make a world of difference in the actual outcome of your wedding day!

--------------------------------------------------  

Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Conrad Maldives: Reshaping the Concept of Luxury

30 Water Villas Will Undergo a Complete Transformation in 2011

Setting the standard for luxury travel in the Maldives for over 15 years, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island raises the bar once again with the complete renovation of 28 Water Villas and two Premier Water Villas starting May 15. Expected to last for six months, the renovation work will transform the villas into ultra-luxurious contemporary over-water retreats with additional decking, private pools, entirely new furniture and sublime bathrooms with picture windows overlooking the ocean.

“Rangali Island is the smaller of the resort’s two islands,” says Regional General Manager Carsten Schieck, “and it offers the natural setting for the pure beauty and luxury that guests expect to find in the Maldives. The complete renovation of our Water Villas will ensure that these rooms retain their position as some of the most outstanding villas in the country.”

During the renovation, 28 Water Villas will be taken apart and completely renovated from the inside out, while two Premier Water Villas will see subtle updates on the interior. The layout of the Water Villas will become an open plan, giving a sense of space. The highlight of the architecture is the desk which is set over glass panels, giving the impression that it is floating over the water below.

The décor of the new Water Villas features elegant natural tones of wood and soft whites with gentle shades of lavender and green. Understated, recessed lighting adds to the contemporary feel.

As part of the renovation, half of Rangali Island; one restaurant, Vilu; and one of the resort’s two spas will be closed. The rest of the resort will continue to operate as usual with guests having the option of dining at eight restaurants and bars. The Spa Retreat on the main island will offer the full treatment list from the Over-Water Spa during its six-month closure.

Rangali Restaurant and Bar

In all Water Villas, guests will enjoy the latest in modern amenities including flat screen satellite TVs, CD stereos with iPod connectors, DVD players, “Nespresso” tea/coffee machines, mini bars and International Direct Dialing (IDD) telephones. The renovated villas are expected to open on November 1, 2011 with room rates starting from $1,000 per night for two.

With the Spa Retreat and Beach Villas on Rangalifinolhu Island and Water Villas on Rangali Island, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers the widest choice of accommodation in the Maldives, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of different experiences without ever leaving the resort.

Can you imagine sleeping in this room surrounded by the sea? This is definitely a dream come true experience!

A special thank you to Conrad Maldives for giving us information about the renovations to their beautiful resort and allowing us to use their photos.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations  for honeymooners and families. As the owner of  Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca   or phone 403-477-0643

Style Tips To Make Your Bridesmaids Happy

For years, bridesmaids dresses have gotten a bum wrap! Okay, true, there were decades with REALLY BAD bridesmaid dresses out there. We know that the bride is supposed to be the shining star of the day, but these dresses were so terrible that no one wanted to be seen in them. Hollywood even capitalized on the idea and concept with the 2007 chick-flick, 27 Dresses.

Photo courtesy of M. MacRae

However, times are changing, and with so many choices out there, your bridesmaids can now look gorgeous and stylish without taking away from you! Here are some fashion tips to consider when choosing dresses for your attendants that will keep you in their good books:

1.    Allow for versatility – Not everyone needs to look identical. More and more brides are allowing their bridesmaids to choose dresses in various styles (but within the same color palette) or different colors (but similar styles). Fact is that we don’t all look good in the same color or style, so by being flexible, your attendants can choose something that (A) looks good on them, and (B) they feel good in! Talk about a win-win situation for everyone!!!

2.    Cocktails anyone? – Keep the dress knee-length and there is a better chance that it can be worn again at a work party, a semi-formal event, or even possibly another wedding. Floor-length ball gowns will just collect dust at the back of a closet, making it hard to justify the purchase.

Take into consideration the weather if the outdoors is included in your wedding shots Photo courtesy of Snap Photography

3.    Basic Black – Most women need at least one black dress in their wardrobe. By choosing this dark hue, there is a better chance the dress will be something they can dress up or down on future occasions. Other dark colors, such as navy or slate gray, can also work, but nothing is as timeless as your basic black.

Try and stay flexible about different styles that allow for different cultural and religious beliefs.  Photo courtesy of Vermilion Photography 

4.    Comfort vs. High Fashion – Choose a style that is figure flattering on most body types. Avoid extremely fitted fashion that may require significant and costly alterations in order to make them fit properly.

5.    Keep Costs Down – You don’t need to buy your dresses at a discount store, but it is important to keep costs in mind when you’re choosing a style for your maids to wear. Choose something that won’t break the bank. According to The Knot (www.theknot.com), the average bridesmaid dress in 2009 cost a reasonable $144.

Choosing a bridesmaid dress will have its challenges. There is no way to please everyone, but if you keep the above ideas in mind, you will be much further ahead in getting everyone on board with your decision.

--------------------------------------------------  

Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Save on Your Honeymoon

I came across this article listed under travel tips in the Wedding Bells website (www.weddingbells.ca) written by Leeann Yee. It has some really good hints on keeping the costs down for your honeymoon. Wedding Bells magazine and website has some great ideas and tools for couple planning their wedding. You will want to check it out!

How to make sure your honeymoon doesn’t break the bank. By Leeann Yee

Photography courtesy Viceroy Bali Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

It may be one of the biggest (or most extravagant) trips you’ll take in your lifetime, but there’s no reason you need to go over budget to do it. Plus, it may be one of the only vacations you’ll take where you’ll be guaranteed special treatment, so live it up! Read on to find out how to make the most of your honeymoon dollars.

Shop for Honeymoon Packages

1. Tons of resorts offer honeymoon packages, which often include little extras like champagne in your room, candlelight dinner or even couples’ massages. You’ll often get more than the average client because yes, it is your honeymoon and you deserve to get pampered! Sandals is a great example of an all-inclusive resort that offers fantastic value for your honeymoon budget.

2. If you’ve always wanted to stay at a certain hotel (like the Ashford Castle in Ireland or The New York Palace), go directly to their website or call them up and ask about honeymoon package deals. Tell them you’re newlyweds and during your special stay you might even get a bonus not advertised online, like a room upgrade, discount on an extra night or even complimentary champagne.

Ask your Friends!

3. Your friends were there for you on your big day, so why not ask them for advice on honeymoon locations? This way not only will you get a first-hand, intimate account of a destination, but you may come across a place you’ve never heard of! Plus, you’ll probably get insider tips on where to find the best cocktails and spectacular waterfalls!

Research, Research, Research

4. Just like getting your friends to give you first-hand advice, researching your honeymoon will save you time and hassles. Knowing about the destination you’re off to will help you avoid costly tourist traps, overpriced attractions and overrated accommodations.

Register for your Honeymoon

5. Nowadays you can register for just about anything and that includes your honeymoon. A honeymoon registry, whether at a specific destination, like Disney, or a registry website, like thebigday.com, it’s a great option for your guests who will love knowing they’re contributing to that trip of a lifetime. Just remember to read everything the registry has to offer, including the fine print!

Do you have a Points Card?

6. Now’s the time to put your travel card to good use. If you don’t have one, consider signing up for a credit card with points that are accumulated with every purchase and put everything wedding-related on it (and watch your points rack up!). Then use those points towards your honeymoon. Just be sure to pay that monthly statement off to avoid costly interest.
7. Are you or your husband a member of any hotels? Frequent travellers often get deals when they accumulate points from staying at the same chain, like Starwood or Marriott. When it comes time for your honeymoon, you’ll find that membership will give you even more privileges and deals.

Go During the Off-season

8. Certain months are prime for travelling, such as the summer months and anytime around the holidays. One way to save on your honeymoon is to go during the off-season. Shop around. You could pay $400 for a stay that may cost $700 during the high season. Of course don’t ignore the warnings of monsoon season, but if you time your honeymoon right, you may get all that you wanted for a fraction of the price, and maybe some additional goodies, too!

Have a Stay-cation

9. Not everyone wants to travel the world for their honeymoon, or perhaps neither of you can get time off work. If that’s the case, why not opt for a long weekend vacation close to home, like a boutique hotel you’ve always wanted to stay at or a local bed and breakfast? You’ll still have a romantic, relaxing interlude while saving for that bigger trip down the road.

Pack your Essentials!

10. This applies after you’ve decided where to go of course, but forgetting essentials may be costly. Your honeymoon destination may not have the moisturizing lotion you so love or a reasonably-priced swimsuit. Even if you’re lucky enough to find it, your must-have item may come at a hefty price. Just remember some of our handy packing tips and you’ll be all set!

Enter a Contest

11. As with all contests, winning is slim, but you were lucky in love by finding your dream man, so why not try your luck at scoring that dream honeymoon? Enter online, or through a draw or magazine. It’s fun, easy and you might just be the lucky girl who wins!

This article was taken from Wedding Bells at www.weddingbells.ca.

--------------------------------------------------  

Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant and wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at muriel@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com or phone 403-477-0643.

Save on Your Honeymoon

I came across this article listed under travel tips in the Wedding Bells website (www.weddingbells.ca) written by Leeann Yee. It has some really good hints on keeping the costs down for your honeymoon. Wedding Bells magazine and website has some great ideas and tools for couple planning their wedding. You will want to check it out!

How to make sure your honeymoon doesn’t break the bank. By Leeann Yee

Photography courtesy Viceroy Bali - Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

It may be one of the biggest (or most extravagant) trips you’ll take in your lifetime, but there’s no reason you need to go over budget to do it. Plus, it may be one of the only vacations you’ll take where you’ll be guaranteed special treatment, so live it up! Read on to find out how to make the most of your honeymoon dollars.

Shop for Honeymoon Packages

1. Tons of resorts offer honeymoon packages, which often include little extras like champagne in your room, candlelight dinner or even couples’ massages. You’ll often get more than the average client because yes, it is your honeymoon and you deserve to get pampered! Sandals is a great example of an all-inclusive resort that offers fantastic value for your honeymoon budget.

2. If you’ve always wanted to stay at a certain hotel (like the Ashford Castle in Ireland or The New York Palace), go directly to their website or call them up and ask about honeymoon package deals. Tell them you’re newlyweds and during your special stay you might even get a bonus not advertised online, like a room upgrade, discount on an extra night or even complimentary champagne.

Ask your Friends!

3. Your friends were there for you on your big day, so why not ask them for advice on honeymoon locations? This way not only will you get a first-hand, intimate account of a destination, but you may come across a place you’ve never heard of! Plus, you’ll probably get insider tips on where to find the best cocktails and spectacular waterfalls!

Research, Research, Research

4. Just like getting your friends to give you first-hand advice, researching your honeymoon will save you time and hassles. Knowing about the destination you’re off to will help you avoid costly tourist traps, overpriced attractions and overrated accommodations.

Register for your Honeymoon

5. Nowadays you can register for just about anything and that includes your honeymoon. A honeymoon registry, whether at a specific destination, like Disney, or a registry website, like thebigday.com, it’s a great option for your guests who will love knowing they’re contributing to that trip of a lifetime. Just remember to read everything the registry has to offer, including the fine print!

Do you have a Points Card?

6. Now’s the time to put your travel card to good use. If you don’t have one, consider signing up for a credit card with points that are accumulated with every purchase and put everything wedding-related on it (and watch your points rack up!). Then use those points towards your honeymoon. Just be sure to pay that monthly statement off to avoid costly interest.

7. Are you or your husband a member of any hotels? Frequent travellers often get deals when they accumulate points from staying at the same chain, like Starwood or Marriott. When it comes time for your honeymoon, you’ll find that membership will give you even more privileges and deals.

Go During the Off-season

8. Certain months are prime for travelling, such as the summer months and anytime around the holidays. One way to save on your honeymoon is to go during the off-season. Shop around. You could pay $400 for a stay that may cost $700 during the high season. Of course don’t ignore the warnings of monsoon season, but if you time your honeymoon right, you may get all that you wanted for a fraction of the price, and maybe some additional goodies, too!

Have a Stay-cation

9. Not everyone wants to travel the world for their honeymoon, or perhaps neither of you can get time off work. If that’s the case, why not opt for a long weekend vacation close to home, like a boutique hotel you’ve always wanted to stay at or a local bed and breakfast? You’ll still have a romantic, relaxing interlude while saving for that bigger trip down the road.

Pack your Essentials!

10. This applies after you’ve decided where to go of course, but forgetting essentials may be costly. Your honeymoon destination may not have the moisturizing lotion you so love or a reasonably-priced swimsuit. Even if you’re lucky enough to find it, your must-have item may come at a hefty price. Just remember some of our handy packing tips and you’ll be all set!

Enter a Contest

11. As with all contests, winning is slim, but you were lucky in love by finding your dream man, so why not try your luck at scoring that dream honeymoon? Enter online, or through a draw or magazine. It’s fun, easy and you might just be the lucky girl who wins!


This article was taken from Wedding Bells at www.weddingbells.ca.

-------------------------------------------------- 

Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant and wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at muriel@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com or phone 403-477-0643.

The Destination Wedding Cake

Thank you to Islandbrides.com for this informative article about having a wedding cake at your destination wedding.

Photo Courtesy of Islandbrides.com

Destination Weddings, just like weddings at home, include the traditional cutting of the cake and feeding of the cake to each of the couple. This symbolizes that the couples will feed and nourish each other throughout their union.

Many resorts in The Caribbean and wedding planners will include a traditional pound cake with frosting as your wedding cake, however, if you are left to deliberate the issue of the cake on your own, consider the following tips from the islandbrides.com team:

Choosing a Baker in a foreign land

Rely on word of mouth advice from the resort you are marrying at, or your wedding planner to find the right bakery for your wedding cake. Make contact with the baker well before your wedding day and discuss your options by telephone and ask them about their experience. It helps if the baker has a website and can show you some of their past cakes. Ask them to send you a contract which would include price, size, flavour, topping, presentation, and whether they will deliver and set the cake up at your venue. Once you have arrived on island, it’s wise to meet with the baker and finalize details.

Consider the weather

If your cake is to stay on display for any length of time, and your wedding is outdoors, then the hotter temperatures of the Caribbean will have an obvious effect on your choices. Try to stay away from whipped cream, buttercream and meringue and opt for more heat durable frostings like fondant or butter-based buttercream that will protect your cake from the sun. For those of you with British heritage and wanting the traditional “royal” icing on your cake, check with local bakers to see if they even do this in the Caribbean. it is not a local custom and the humidity in the islands makes it difficult to get royal icing to set to its crisp, hard texture like back home.

Photo by Dominican-caribbean-wedding.com

Cutting Costs

If you insist on bringing your own cake to your reception, despite the offer of a free cake included in your package, beware of cake cutting fees that could hike the price of your “do”. Typically priced at $1 per slice, this fee should be negotiated at the time of booking.

Local traditions

Have you fallen in love with your chosen destination and want to include it in the wedding décor and flavour? Think about incorporating local customs into your wedding cake. In Bermuda brides use a small cedar sapling as a cake topper to symbolise the growth of the love between bride and groom. In the West Indies a rich fruit cake laced with heavy rum is covered with fondant icing. On a more simplistic note you flavour your cake in rum or pina colada for an extra hint of the tropical.

Photo by Dominican-caribbean-wedding.com

Photo Courtesy: Islandbrides.com

Taking your cake home?

Etiquette of past tells us that the top tier of the wedding cake is to be served upon the couple’s first anniversary or at the christening of the first child. If your hell bent on sticking to tradition, have your baker wrap your cake in an airtight baggie and wrap it to protect it from sunlight. Ask your resort if they will freeze your cake for you and hold it in their freezers until it’s time to go home. Have a mini sized cooler on hand to transport your cake home packed with ice bags. You will need to check on the importation restrictions of your home town before you plan on doing this though.

Photo  by BethHelmstetter.com

Savings

Save money by making sure the size cake you choose will serve the amount of folks you have at your wedding. You could also reduce this by a quarter and serve mini portions alongside another desert option. Incorporate fresh fruit instead of a cake topper or fresh flowers and you could save on money and hassle. Alternatively you could take a tip from brides in china who present an imposter cake to their guests often made of Styrofoam or rubber and then serve sheets of flavoured cake from the kitchen as a desert

--------------------------------------------------

Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel and Del Sol Destination Weddings, is a travel consultant and wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings and romantic getaways to tropical areas such as Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at muriel@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com or phone 403-477-0643.

Table Linens That Will Make Your Guests Say WOW!!!

Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen

“Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen”

Photo courtesy of Michael and Anna Costa Photography

A wedding is a wonderful celebration! It’s an opportunity for friends and family to come together to share in a festive occasion. The ceremony is about two people committing their lives to one another, but the reception afterwards is a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy.

“Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen”

Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen

However, when it comes to the reception, more and more brides are looking for ways to make their wedding stand out from their friends. They want it to reflect their personalities, and at the same time, show off a bit of their creativity. People don’t want just the basic white linens. They want color, texture, and something that will amaze their guests and leave them talking long after the wedding is over.

“Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen”

Over the past few years, one company has moved into the forefront of table linen décor. Wildflower Linens was started by Youngsong Martin. As part of the fashion industry, she had attended numerous events, and found it ironic that for an industry so focused on textiles, there really wasn’t a lot that was being done in the room beyond basic decor. Knowing it could be different she poured her heart and soul into her designs and began creating table and chair linens that went from ordinary to extraordinary.

Over the past few years, Wildflower Linens has taken the world by storm. Table décor has been taken to an entirely new level as Wildflower has become the leaders in specialty linens. They have the color, the texture, and the style that brides are looking for. If you want unique, they are definitely the place to go! If you are looking for something that no one has seen before, and will leave your guests totally speechless, then Wildflower Linens is the answer!

Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen

Photo courtesy of Wildflower Linen

There is a price tag attached to bringing Wildflower Linens in from the United States, but it will be worth every penny when you see the results. Your wedding reception will definitely stand out from the rest and your reception will have the WOW you’re looking for!

--------------------------------------------------

Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.