Thinking a Winter 2016 Destination Wedding?

Is it Too Early to Plan if I Start now? 

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

Recently, even more so than usual I have been asked, “ Is it too early to start planning my 2016 winter destination wedding?”  They all seemed prepared for me to “yes” and are genuinely surprised when I actually, “No! Actually we have quite a few couples contracted that are already with us starting their wedding planning.

The interesting part is that most couples have first gone to another travel agency, and have been told it is too early.   You can’t blame anyone who asked around and went to a family friend right? Most travel agents wouldn’t think of going this early to start the destination wedding.. well, we are not your typical travel agency are we?

Now the reason for my reply that it is not too early simply is that we have added a services to guide you by the hand to START the RESEARCH before even pricing the travel and wedding planning.  Personally, I LOVE how couples are being more cognitive of their incomes.  Whether you can afford something or not, why are you going to spend it all at once without a quality decision?  If you asked me, I know I would be honest and say I do a LOT of research before I buy most things, so it only makes sense that wedding needs this much care.

What we have done is added a few facets to our wedding planning package that now allow couples to dig deeper than the surface to find the best wedding location FOR THEM. Price or not, please, please, please do not just choose your location based on price.  How are you going to be happy? Honestly, if you choose  a location because “it is cheap”, well let’s be honest, you may really get “cheap” in the end.  Or what about the most expensive? Why would you pay for a top dollar resort when it really does even suit you as a couple?

My suggestion is meet with us.  Talk with us. THEN let’s see if we should start a wedding planning package that helps you research before we hand over your hard earned dollars to travel companies and resorts.  Taking this extra step will really give you that peace you made the most informed decision you could. 

Note we have many packages now for destination weddings and we really can adjust them for you.  Can you call us up and ask us how much? No, and we will not answer you over the phone.  Are you shocked I said that? If so, I am sorry, but we would not be one of the most specialized companies for destination wedding if we did? We need to tailor it for you.

Below are 2 most popular destination wedding planning packages.  The first is our most inclusive package the Platinum Package.  This is best suited for those who really need us to take you by the hand from start to finish.  We don’t limit our time to plan your wedding. It is start to finish!

The second is our newest package called our Pearl Package! It is our mini package.  It is really great as it is half the price of the Platinum but is covers all the important bases.  The most important part is that is covers the research help.  You have 90 days access to a resort specific data base to learn about the different resorts in detail.  Once you are ready we can price, narrow it down and we will then get you the information on the wedding packages, connect you with the resort planner and secure your wedding date and location… THEN you can take over.  This is the best package for couples who really want to plan themselves but have no idea how to start.  Sometime it is not just that you don’t know who to start, rather WHO DO YOU TRUST to be honest. 

So read this over, and call or email us.  Let’s talk. Let’s make your wedding your best day thus far, and most it the way YOU want it.  Instinctively, we are often motivated by highly advertised low priced holidays.  Remember, this is your wedding.  You will want to find a balance between low cost and high quality.  Even though you want to shop around for the best price, try to find out at the beginning if you think you will have a good relationship with your destination wedding travel professional.  You are planning a wedding, you will want to work together as team to make your day unbelievable! 

Salud to Your Future & Your Wedding!

Jaime VR 

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.

Las Vegas Destination Wedding you say?

Are people still doing that?
text by Jaime Valdes-Riench

We are asking all the time if Vegas is still in the cards for destination weddings, and my answer is YES! But unless you want a drive thru wedding you may want to raise the stakes and give it a little sizzle to make it more than a typical Vegas wedding.

Our couple Jennifer and David did just that.  They had a reasonable budget and added extras where needed.  Their wedding didn't break the bank.  The location was in the MGM Grand Chapel with the real funs was the reception and after party.

The couple chose to have their reception in one of the Terrace Suites at the MGM Grand.  There was no limit on how late anyone could stay, but with noise ordnance laws they did have to release the DJ after 11pm.  Now did that stop the fun?  Not in the least! We arranged for them to have group area with a tab at Tabu in the MGM Grand as well.  So those who wanted to call it a night after the reception could and those who wanted to dance all night also could.  It was the time of their lives.

Now what was the icing on the wedding cake you ask?  They brought Sugar and Soul Photography along to be their photographer.  She also brought them the next day for a day after shoot in the Neon Boneyard.  The pictures are simply stunning!  Please read our feature in Weddings and Winnipeg Magazine this month in their destination weddings issue!  You will not be disappointed!

 A Good, Good Night - Weddings in Winnipeg

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

Destination Weddings - Is one right for you?

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

Photography: Sugar and Soul Photography

Travel & Events with Style wedding planner: Tiffany Check

 Most people are getting acquainted and comfortable with what destination weddings are.   In one case or another, most have had the opportunity to have been invited or even attended one of these weddings and holidays raped up in one.  Destination weddings by definition are weddings held a significant distance from the home town of the bride and groom, but often the first image that comes to most minds are the destination weddings that are held in tropical climates on white sandy beaches next to crystal blue oceans.

As you begin to plan your own wedding, has the thought of starting your new life together at one of these locations crossed your mind?  How do you know it is right for you as a couple?  Here are some questions you may want to ask yourselves to see if this option will make for a wedding day dream come true:

1.       Make a truthful budget – one that you can live with after the wedding bells have stopped chiming.  Now what is your true bottom line, so you do not go over it?   Destination weddings at established resorts in the Caribbean and Central America often come with smaller price tags and guest lists verses traditional local weddings.  To keep on budget, thought must be put into location, resort type and ranking, and the actual cost for the celebration.

2.       Are you comfortable that there will be a lot of arrangements that are out of your control?  Are you whiling to trust more to professionals to direct you in your choices verses seeing every item yourself done during the planning process?  Are you the type of couple where the small details do not matter as long as there is sun, sand, and love abundantly?

3.       Will this bring family together because they are too spread out?  Are most of your guests comfortable with travelling?   Are you comfortable without everyone in your family and social circle in attendance?  Are you hoping for a smaller size wedding and were not sure how to obtain it if you had it locally?

4.       Are you comfortable that you will be dealing with legal procedures outside your country?  Are you comfortable not knowing the officiant prior to the ceremony?  Or, as an alternative, are you comfortable with a private and brief civil ceremony prior to leaving in order to alleviate most of the “red tape” from the country of choice?  

5.       Does the idea of another culture, country, and climate inspire you or make you nervous?  Are you the adventurous type that enjoys new things, and will embrace that your wedding location will have another culture inspiring your wedding cuisine, music and theme?

As with all things, there can be easy answers to all these questions and there can be some second guessing that can come with it as well.  If this all sounds like it could be your dream, focus on the important things that can work for you.  See if you can fix the areas in doubt and if so, stand back and look at it again.  If you have found the answer for the area in question, Congratulations!  You have just started the first part of planning you wedding!  Here is an example of a challenge:  If you are not comfortable in dealing with the legal procedures of another country and the correspondence that will come with it, consider having a civil ceremony locally prior to leaving.  This way, once you are at the resort, you can have a renewal of vows, and the legal paperwork is done here in Canada.  If having the legal ceremony here is an option, have an important person in your life such as a pastor or priest marry you prior to your departure (remember, all that is required to make a marriage legal in Canada is to have the officiant, the bride, the groom and 2 witnesses be in attendance and of legal age while the marriage vows are being said).  Then you can still have your dream ceremony at the resort with all your guests in attendance.  You will have the best of both worlds!  If there is no one in particular you would like to request officiate your vows here in Canada, there is always the option of a Marriage Commissioner or Justice of the Peace employed by the province of Manitoba.

 
A wedding is the beginning of two lives uniting together.  The decision of the location should truly be that couple’s dream into a reality.