The Wish Lantern

text by Tiffany Check
photos by Sugar and Soul Photography

The Wish Lantern

 

Also known as Sky lantern, wish lanterns are becoming more and more popular at weddings, especially destination weddings. Although the shy lantern may be new to most people they have actually been around for a very long time. 

Originating in China they were strategically used in war to call for help. After the war they became popular in China and Thailand, where they were used at festivals. People would gather to release the sky lantern in to the sky to symbolize the release of their bad luck and misfortune.

For those who are not familiar with what a sky lantern is… it is a small hot air balloon made from paper. It has an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. Most Sky lanterns that you can purchase now are 99% biodegradable.

Currently many know the sky lantern as a Wish lantern. Brides looking for that wow factor, this is a great way to end your night. Have your guests gather together in an open outdoor location. For our Destination Wedding couples, the beach is a great location for this. Everyone receives a wish lantern and can write down a wish for the newlyweds on the lantern. It is believed that when the lantern is released into the sky the wishes they wrote on the lantern will come true for the bride and groom. What a memorable way to end a very special night with all your nearest and dearest watching as all the lanterns fly up to the sky.

Hard Rock Resorts; Weddings Packages Designed by Colin Cowie

Time to rock your wedding planning to make your destination wedding incredible
Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style
Image credits to:  Hard Rock Resorts

Last week Tiffany and I and the privilege of attending the Hard Rock All Inclusive Resorts launch for the Colin Cowie Collection of their wedding décor themes.  We had the honour of meeting Mr. Cowie himself and listened to the information session on the new resorts and exquisite wedding packages.

Hard Rock is a brand as a company we can identify with.  It is full of fun, over the top inclusions, and there is a focus to detail everywhere you look.  From adults to kids, it covers all the important bases.  Premium service is a must with us, and that is what they stand for all wrapped up in a great experience.  The more destination wedding we book and coordinate, the more we see the need for resorts such as these.  It is a brand that when we came home, we where excited to start sharing with our clients.

As a gift to us for attending, the Hard Rock Resorts gave us 2 free wedding packages*  that we could give away to whomever we choose! (*speak to us on the details and inclusions) Now if you have spoken to us, you know we love giving away anything we can to our clients.  So no draws, no hoops to jump through, just first come, first to receive this free wedding package! That’s it! It’s yours, just book.

We do want to clarify a few items with you on these packages.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of knowing Colin Cowie’s work, you then most likely have seen it and have not realized.  He has designed and executed décor for award shows such as the Oscars, and celebrity weddings and events (Oprah is one of his clients).  His work is outstanding and sets the precedence for what we project is the “next big thing”.  What he has done is taken the time to design 8 different wedding décor themes.  The inclusion of the themes start from ceremony site, to different table layout options, to exquisite cakes.  What they are giving away is a package to the total of $3000.00 to anyone who books with us before April 2013 for travel before December 2014. The location they are offering this at is:  Hard Rock Cancun, Hard Rock Vallarta and Hard Rock Riviera Maya (current was Aventura Palace)

What does this mean? Are you looking for a destination wedding for the winter of 2014? Are you looking to have your wedding at one of those area’s in Mexico?  Well, then it may be time to email or call us!  How do you get started?  We price the travel for your group, you book the travel for your group at one of these resorts before April 2013 and we will give you the free wedding package that has the value of up to $3,000.00 for free.  (Please contact us for all the details of the package). 

It ‘s time to rock destination weddings.  It’s time that guests come back not just with the best memory of your wedding, but also the best memory of an unforgettable trip and experience.  Just be warned, your guests may not want to go anywhere else after this trip.  Hard Rock was designed not just for adults, but also has incredible kid programs.  It covers your group from A – Z (mixed with a little Ozzy). 

Please enjoy some images from our night at the Hard Rock Café in Toronto:

 

Talking Destination Wedding Decor on BT

Jaime Valdes-Riench was invited to join WeddingsinWinnipeg.ca while they spoke about Destination Weddings and decor. Please watch and enjoy! There are 2 segments, so make sure you watch them both!

Cheers!




http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1947753219001.000000/destination-weddings/

http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/1947791890001.000000/destination-weddings-ii/




Also, here is blog from Everything is Tickyboo where these lovely chalk boards where handcrafted:



http://craftwarning.blogspot.ca/2012/11/framed.html

Destinations With Style - Recap

We would like to thank everyone who came out to the show on April 22, 2012.  We couldn't have had a better time! Here are some highlights of the vendors.  More decor to come, but for now here is a little fun with vendors!

Vendor Spotlight - Fache Forward Designs

Hello everyone,

We wanted to take the opportunity to show off the great talent that will be participating in our luxury wedding show - Destinations With Style. (website: www.destinationswithstyle.com)

Our first vendor spotlight will be on the wonderful Fach Forward Designs. We are very excited to have Britney and her team aboard to create our vision. It will definitely be something wonderful to see and enjoy!

Here is a little bit about Fache Forward. We also look forward to posting some of her work this week on an intimate wedding she did the florals for with us:

Fache Forward Designs is a local event and wedding floral design company within Manitoba, that is owned and operated by 7 year industry veteran, Britney Lee Fache.

Having graduated top of her class at the Internationally renowned Canadian Institute of Floral Design in Toronto, Ontario, Britney demonstrates her keen sense of mechanics, balance, and creative diversity, through the many weddings and events that pass through her studio every season.

Her business, FFD, prides itself on personable client relations, as well as attention to detail - celebrating the unique qualities of each individual event and wedding by designing florals that enhance the desired theme with impeccable execution.

To learn more, as well as see photos and reviews from this most recent 2011 season, please visit: www.facheforwarddesigns.com

Destination Weddings - Winnipeg - Destination Information Session

Calling all Couples In Winnipeg interested in a destination wedding abroad who have not booked their travel or wedding plans yet!

RSVP of our destination wedding show and info session has been extended to Friday, August 19, 2011. Just a few more spots left!
RSVP today!

We just wanted to take a moment to invite you to a special event in Winnipeg!
Please R.S.V.P. by Friday, August 19, 2011 if you are interested.
Space is limited and Admission is free!

You are cordially invited to join us for our Destination Wedding
Information Session and Mini Bridal Showcase
on Sunday, August 21, 2011 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm
We will have refreshments, wedding cake to sample,
door prizes, live entertainment, and Q&A.
There will also be exclusive discounts on destination wedding
coordinating, wedding dress purchases, and
more exclusive only to those who attend.

Our topics and focus will be on:
Is an international or local destination wedding right for you?
How to choose the best resort and island/country.
What is entailed in a destination wedding abroad.
How to tailor invitations and get the word out to guests effectively.
We will also have professional photographers explain their experience
taking destination wedding photographs and
why to consider them as an investment.
Tips on making your wedding distinctive on budget (décor and florals).

Our Sponsors:
Travel & Events with Style and With Style Designs
La Fiesta Cafecito
LFS – The Little Flower Shop
Jenna Rae Cakes
Rocky Mountain Soap Company

Our Speakers:
Jaime from Travel & Event with Style – destination weddings and invitations
Kamp Photography and Sugar and Soul Photography – destination wedding photography
Peggy from LFS – other options for flowers and decorating for a destination wedding

Our Prizes Sponsors:
• Travel & Events with Style (WestJet 2 piece luggage set)
• Clarion Hotel Winnipeg (Free night stay)
• Rocky Mountain Soap Company • Bliss Bridal • Fabutan
• Exclusive discounts will be given to all couples in attendance from some of our sponsors.
Our list of prizes and gifts keeps growing. Every couple will be given a swag bag!
**Note Azul Resorts in the Mayan Riviera will allow all couples who attend the bridal info session to be entered in their draw for the free trip and anyone who books their hotel within 30 days of the show receives a free upgrade!

Special acknowledgement to:
Weddings in Winnipeg Magazine

The August issue will be available to all attendees!

Please R.S.V.P by Sunday, August 14, 2011 to:
Jaime at 204-334-3396 or weddings@mywaywithstyle.com
Admission is Free!

Please Note:
Space is limited. We ask only 2 guests per wedding group.
No Drop-ins please.

Destination Weddings – travel agent, wedding planner where to we begin?

Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style

You sat down as a couple, made the decision and know you want a destination wedding, now where do you turn? Ads and billboards are everywhere and suddenly everyone is a destination professional. Every family member and friend is more than whiling to share their experiences and opinions. This can be an over whelming to a couple, and the true essence of a destination wedding is to have their wedding away, leaving the stresses (and possibly winter) behind.
As a couple, take some time to find out what you both are hoping for while you are away. Are you looking for adventure, relaxation, culture, luxury or all of the above? Often the first thing every couple says is, “We imaged something different than everyone else’s wedding we have seen”. The hardest challenge is: What do you define as “different”? What would make your day truly distinctive? Write a list of the most important items you would hope for and get ready to explore your options.

A lot of couples desire “off the beaten path” destinations. When exploring these options, it is important to make note of a few key points:

• If it is not a regular vacation spot for your gateway (i.e. Winnipeg), there is a chance their may not be direct flights. Are direct flight very important to you? Are you whiling to over night for a connection in order to get to your destination?



• The more the location is “off the beaten path” the more costly it may be. It may be so because of lack of volume for airlines and vacation companies to bring people from your gateway to that location. Are you whiling to pay a little more? Are your guests whiling to pay a little more?



• Depending on the location, the area may not be as prepared for weddings or costs may be much higher because weddings that are held there are simply more exclusive. A lot of the Caribbean islands can have a higher prices tag vs. the more typical spots we are used to seeing.

Once your research has been completed and priced by a travel professional, you may come to a cross road. Simply, the options may not be to your liking or budget. Costs may be high or travel too long when you consider your guests. Don’t allow this to be a road block, but rather a stepping stone. A suggestion is to go back to why you chose the area and what drew you to it in the beginning.

The next suggestion is to sit with your destination wedding professional and map out your best options so you can find the most viable locations and resorts to fit your criteria. Hiring a professional who is both a licensed travel agent and wedding planner is simply invaluable. A seasoned travel agent would have the experience to direct you towards alternative travel options so you may choose a different destination that can fit your budget and offer better flight plans. A destination wedding planner would be able to guide you as a couple to what you can do in order to make your wedding distinctive and unforgettable on budget. An experienced destination wedding planner has accumulated the knowledge of different wedding packages abroad, how to change them to fit you specifically, and your desired look. They also can suggest which resorts to choose so they can offer you the best options that would suit your wedding vision. Both areas of knowledge are necessary when choosing the best location for your special day. Compromising one of these services may not be a corner you wish to cut in order to receive the guidance you desire.

A destination wedding requires more than simply travel arrangements, and a wedding deserves attention and dedication. Having professionals helping you in every area will ensure your wedding will be nothing less than what you always hoped for.

Distinctive Destination Weddings – Tips on Decor

Written By Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style

Destination weddings at resorts are can give couples mixed feelings. If it is important to the couple to find a way to set themselves apart from everyone else who has explored the path of the same wedding package, they may feel over whelmed. The question that is asked is, “How may I make our day, OUR day without looking like everyone else?” Also, where do you begin? A suggestion would be to work closely with your destination wedding professional and takethe base wedding package and make it so much more!

The base wedding packages for destination weddings, at most popular resorts, really cover the bare essentials for what a wedding should begin with. You may have the basic bridal bouquet, boutonnière for the groom, and a centerpiece plus one tier wedding cake for the reception. That is hardly wedding calibre of what a wedding should be if you where wanting more. So how do you obtain that without breaking the budget? Simple, work with someone from home and add on!

The basic wedding package is basically that, the base. There are 2 options available: 1. Adding on with the resort and not worrying that you have to bring anything with you but your clothes and love and 2. bringing the extras to make it yours! Both answers are perfect for the right couple. To have the piece of mind that you are taken care-of and nothing needs to me carried with you is peace of mind in itself. If you where planning to organise everything through the resort, the areas of compromise are that colours may not match through out the wedding, nor florals my not be cohesive or even be on the colour scheme you are requesting. Tropical countries offer natural flowers that are bold and vibrate in colour and they may not always keep with a theme. Example: many bouquets are filled with local tropical flowers, but you may end up with a bouquet of orange, yellow and vibrant fuchsia together. It is all in one’s taste on whether or not you embrace the location’s charm and what they have to offer. Now if you prefer to have more control on the over all look of the wedding it will take a little more planning.

As with any wedding choosing the base colour scheme is intrical. Next would be to find out what the resort can offer as far as guaranteeing that themed colour so it is cohesive. It is important to note that bouquets are not always the image of perfection as they are here. A great alternative is to have a local floral designer make up bouquets for your wedding party from high quality “real feel” flowers. The key with faux is that any colour is achievable and transportable. If quality faux flowers are chosen, they also can be taken home and remade into something you will see everyday in your future home. If packed correctly, they will travel impecitively and will look fresh even in intense heat. You also have the added bonus of using your bouquet again if you have planned your day after shoot.

Here are a few other tips on how to work with your resort to create your special look: Tiffany Chairs (what we locally call Chiavari chairs) are now available at most 4 – 5 star resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. They add elegance to a room without a tremendous amount of fuss. Another tip is to add additional centerpieces to add to the look. One of the more standard centerpieces at resorts right now are the 24” cylinder vase with a floating candle. They are either trimmed with a colour ribbon or steamed faux flower submerged in the water. Depending on the size of the reception and number of guests, seating is more often long rectangle tables, with a family style set up. This usually is a result to not having enough guests for multiple circle banquet tables. One cylinder or tall rectangular vase can easily be lost on a table of that shape. Adding a few additional cube or smaller height vases filled with flowers gives texture, colour, and contrast. For those who want to add even more onto the look, bring long steamed faux orchids or exotic flowers and rent vases from the resort. Adding 3 tiers of height completely changes the look.

Another way to make the reception’s look more distinctive is adding linens and Tiffany chair covers as you would at a wedding locally. Most resorts offer a few options for linens. Overlays or runners are now being offered additionally as well, but are not always very affordable if rented threw the resort. But why not rent from home and add to the look? Locally we have amazing options, and thinking ahead will give a finishing touch. Elegant over-lays bring colour to the room, while custom tiffany chair covers as a final look of elegance to an already gorgeous look. Both pack small and light. Renting locally and bringing to the resort is a great way to combine the local charm with something more current and tailored. It is important to mention that there may be special deposits with local rental companies to make such arrangements.

The last fun item to consider for your destination wedding is practical fun items such as coloured parasols and fans. Giving fans to all attending guests at the ceremony gives a little touch of colour throughout the crowd and comfort to everyone. Parasols are a fun way to have as an alternative or addition to bouquets for bridesmaids and possibly attendees. They are both elegant and functional.

Destination Weddings do not have always have to have the look that they where chosen from a catalogue. It is always important to find an experienced professional who can make your wedding, your wedding. Travel and Events with Style has dedicated their services to find ways for couples to have a wedding abroad tailored to their individual tastes with quality and with style. Between offering services in house or finding the best possible suppliers, it comes down to planning your day and making it full of wonderful memories.

Sources:
Photography: Sugar and Soul Photography
Event Planner and Design: Travel & Events with Style
Floral Design & Rentals: The Little Flower Shop
Cakes & Pastries: Cake-ology
Linens: With Style Designs
Invitations & Stationary: With Style Designs
Venue: La Fiesta Cafecito