On planning a destination wedding

First off, my apologies for not posting stuff for some time. I gave birth towards the end of June and had to take care of the baby while enjoying the maternity leave.

Many thanks for those who continue to stop by. Will be writing more, promise. :D

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My cousin just celebrated her big day here in the Philippines. She and her now hubby are based in the US but decided to hold the wedding in Bohol, the province where both their parents were born, as a salute to their heritage. Theirs was a church wedding followed by a sand ceremony and dinner reception by the beach.

During their planning, I noticed some things that I thought I'd share when you're opting for a destination wedding. I hope these tips may be of help, however few.

1. Get a wedding planner/coordinator. For couples planning a beach or destination wedding, I think this is a must especially when the place you'd want to get married is far away from where you are presently staying. It also helps if the wedding planner you're targeting is based where you want to hold your big day or knows it very well. At least he or she could give you the pros and cons of holding your wedding there, and know rules and conditions of the venue where the wedding will take place.

2. Hire suppliers which are based on the place you'll get married. My cousin hired a photographer, an event stylist, and hair and make-up artist, aside from the wedding coordinator, which are based here in the Philippines. Of course you can also choose suppliers from your place, but be ready for additional costs for their transportation.

3. If you have a friend or relative living or visiting your desired venue, ask them if they could do an ocular inspection for you. You can also do it yourself, but if you feel like you wouldn't have the time because you're in the middle of the preps, do so. It will help you save time and money, plus you'll get valuable inputs from people you really trust.

4. Have a contingency plan. Most destination weddings are held outdoors, but what if the weather turns bad? It will be helpful if the venue provides an alternative, and if your planner coordinates with them for a Plan B. Just in case.

5. Provide accommodation for your important guests. Most of them may be coming from your place, too, so better look for somewhere to stay for a night or two. You don't need to give every guest accommodation, maybe just family and friends included in the entourage. For your other guests, you can give them options, but make it clear to them who's going to shoulder the cost.

These are just a few helpful tips for those planning a destination wedding. And as I'd always say, research is very crucial in every wedding. Just keep these things in mind so you can create your own beautiful wedding.

Photo credit: Altar caribe by cop1t4 from sxc.hu.

The June bride

People said that getting married in June -- or becoming a June bride -- was believed to be lucky by many, that's why June is a month booked with so many weddings.

Well, I didn't get married in June (we were supposed to, before hubby reached his 30th birthday, but due to some circumstances, it was moved to August), but why do many couples choose June as a month to wed?

AisleDash.com shares that this belief began with the Romans, wherein the month is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of relationships. And because she reigns over women and marriage, it was said that brides getting married during her month, which is June, will enjoy a happy married life.

SuperWeddings.com brings another light into the myth or tradition. June was a popular month to get married because during the 1400-1500, people can take a bath once in a year -- which was during May. By June, people were smelling fresh, which was a good time to hold celebrations such as weddings. Now isn't that odd?

I guess June is also a good choice since by this month, it's summer in some countries. Well, not here in the Philippines, though...

So, are you a June bride?

Wedding projects you could do yourself

When my husband and I were in the thick of the wedding preparations, one thing that we always kept in mind was meeting the set budget. Unfortunately, with a limited budget, we couldn't splurge for some things like grand invites and funky souvenirs. So we thought of saving some money by doing some wedding DIY projects.

If you come to think about it, there are many wedding items you can actually do on your own. It just takes some time, patience and creativity to make it happen. On our end, we chose to create a few things using materials that are readily available in the market and would cost less than if we had it done in a shop, such as our wedding invitations and favors. We just needed some paper and a trusty printer and voila! Done!

If you have a graphics program installed in your computer, a printer and some nice paper or cardboard, you can also create save the dates, programs, table numbers and thank you cards by yourself. If you're into crafts, you can create simple table centerpieces or even the pillow for your rings. You can even hand tie your own flowers or embellish your own unity candle.

How each project will cost depends on the materials you will use. As a tip, drop by thrift stores or look for shops that sell the raw materials for wholesale price. When you have all the stuff you need, channel your creative energies on assembling and creating your DIY piece.

There are lots of wedding things which can be your DIY projects. Not only does it save you on costs, it also gives your wedding that unique, personal touch. Just remember to allot ample time for each project, preferably months before your wedding day (just so it won't be stressful for you), and ask help from talented family and friends as well.

Photo credit: Tools by konarska and Flowers in water 2 by stachoo, both from sxc.hu.

Wedding gowns: Get inspiration from the Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie Doll

Last Saturday, when my hubby and I went to the mall, I saw this Barbie exhibit celebrating her 50th year in the industry. There was a display of really beautiful Barbie dolls, but this one really caught my attention:

Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie Doll
(Image from Amazon.com)

I was (almost) literally drooling on this Barbie doll. Among the Barbie brides displayed there (including the ones from Monique Lhuillier and Reem Acra which had an awesome bustled skirt), the Carolina Herrera was my favorite. And why not, the lace details and criss-cross ribbons on its bodice was a winner. If I were as sexy as Barbie, this would have been my dream wedding gown. Actually, the overall wedding look, including her hairstyle and make-up, was so elegant.

It's interesting how Barbie can give you lots of fashion inspiration, even for a wedding dress. My only gripe is that I don't think I have a chance to own this Barbie doll, since it's really expensive here. Tsk.