10 Steps To Plan Your Destination Wedding

AAhhh a destination wedding, whether it’s a trip across the States or across the world, this will be an event that takes some creative planning. I have talked about popular spots to have a wedding, but today we will make our check list of 10 important things you must do before you leave.

Lets start with our check list and some of the things to take care of early on in your planning stages. Obviously find a spot you both agree on going, then check out some of the customs issues and if you will be able to ship your flowers, dress, decorations, ect… Some places are very picky about accepting things from the US so just check to see how the whole process will work before you book your trip. Next, after you have decided on your dream wedding location, look at the local chapels, beaches, vineyards, where ever you would like your ceremony to take place, and see what there schedules and regulations are for weddings. Ok, now that you have the destination and spot you are going to get married we have to plan out some of the finer details. STEP 1,PASSPORT. I know what you are thinking, ” duh, does this guy think I’m stupid” no, I don’t think that, but just make sure your passport doesn’t expire the month before you are supposed to leave. STEP 2, Decide on what flowers you need, if you will order them online and have them shipped, or if you will order them where your ceremony will take place. With this step be sure to see if there is a designer, or make sure you are comfortable on designing them yourself. We just sent flowers to Jamaica for a small wedding, www.worldwideweddingflowers.com STEP 3, wedding planner, or no wedding planner? Sometimes it is nice to have someone put all of these things together for you if you can afford it. Now, do you use a local wedding planner or hire someone who lives where you will be going? Sometimes it might be better to have a planner where you will be going, I know this will freak you out not being able to see them, but they know they lay of the land, customs, and other rules and regulations of where you will be traveling to. Just something to think about. STEP4, Your dress, his tux and your wedding party. This is the part that will freak everyone out. Do you ship your clothes there, or do you put it on the plane with you. Plenty of pro’s and con’s for both, but we wont get into that. Consider both options, check the shipping rates and what the country, island, or state’s reputation is with receiving special packages. If you hear that almost nothing makes it there, whether stolen or beaten to a pulp, you need to know this. It might be worth taking it on the plane. STEP 5, Plane, train, or automobile? I don’t recommend an automobile if you are leaving the country, especially to an island or Europe, you might not make it there in one piece. Ok, I know, I’m lame, sorry……Back to the subject. Call the airlines and find out if you have everyone attending your wedding buy tickets for the same airlines if the company will give you a discount. In most cases this will be possible, just make sure you give everyone enough notice, and help with getting ticket prices out to everyone. STEP 6, Hotel reservations. Find a great place to stay, maybe have the ceremony there, just check it out, it may be worth your effort. As with the airlines, talk with the hotel way in advance and get a special rate for everyone, reserve your rooms, and check one more item off the list. STEP 7, Food, cakes, and drinks. This one is easy, most places cannot import food, so, look at the local cuisine and pick some items that will please you and your guests while still making them broaden their horizons. STEP 8, This one is important, weather. You don’t want to have your wedding during hurricane season, or a time where it is ridiculous hot/cold. Look at the local weather patterns and make sure it is going to be decent time of year. STEP 9, Music & Entertainment. Will it be easier to have someone come with you, or hire a local musician/entertainer? My vote for this is to have someone local, it really gives you the full effect of their culture. You can still have them play “your song” but think about taking in the wonderful culture. After all, you do want to escape and do something exotic. STEP 10, Leaving. I know it isn’t fun to leave paradise, but we have to   Now, do you go back to your home town and then leave for the honeymoon, or just leave from your destination? Maybe you ship everyone out of there and relax with your wonderful new partner. Back pack the land, visit hot spots, there is a reason you wanted to get married there, maybe make that spot your honeymoon as well.

So, planning your destination wedding isn’t a daunting task, just something you need to creatively plan. So, don’t get stressed, break this down into steps, maybe planning 2 things per month to get married within a year. Take your time, have fun, relax, and get excited your special day is now that much closer!

Thank you all so much for reading,

The Wedding Guy

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

DIY ( Do It Yourself )

Ok, the big topic today is going to “DIY” ( Do It Yourself ). This is becoming a hot trend, especially with everyone trying to save a little money here and there. So, today lets talk about all the ways you save some money.

Lets start with flowers, my favorite topic. There are a few sites out there that will ship you flowers in boxes and the arranging is up to you. That’s actually what my business is, you can check it out at www.worldwideweddingflowers.comBut back to our subject. Don’t be intimidated by this. It is very easy to create your own arrangements, all you need is a little preparation & practice. Once you place your order and your flowers arrive you will need to take them out, cut them at a 45 Degree angle, and put them in nice fresh cold water. This will help them to open up and look beautiful. Once you start arranging your flowers just follow your creativity. I cant tell you how to arrange flowers, this is just like art, its an expression of you, something original you create, so be creative and have fun. You can go to book stores and look on-line for tips and tricks, but this task is much much easier than most people think. I’m an ex-hockey player with a flower arranging award, so trust me, if I can do it so can you. For all you brides out there wondering how to make your own bouquet, this process is easy. Get together 2 or 3 types of your favorite flowers and some beautiful satin. Next, arrange your flowers according to your taste, remember, this is art and when you create it, it will have your own personal flair. Once you have them together and you like the outcome, cut the flowers to your desired length and wrap the length of the stem with your satin. See that wasn’t to hard, there is no need to go out there and pay someone over $100 dollars just to make your bouquet. You could create this and save tons of money. 

For many more ideas check out this great website I like to look at from time to time. www.diynetwork.com This site has everything you can imagine on how to “do-it-yourself”

With all the different ways to “do-it-yourself” this is something that will make timeless memories, and also make you laugh. So remember, you can save money and still create a beautiful wedding. Another great thing that comes with a do-it-yourself wedding, is the closeness and fun bonding experience you and your spouse will have. This will make your day just that much more special, so, take lots of pictures, have a lots of laughs, and enjoy celebrating your new life together.

Thank you all so much for reading,

The Wedding Guy

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

Flowers Flowers Flowers

Today we are going to talk about wedding flowers. How to style, save, and what some of the hottest trends are going to be in 2008.

Lets start by determining what you are going to need. First, you need have to have all your colors and themes set of before you can really choose the right flowers. Once you do this, it’s time to start looking at what’s out there. Know I know we all have our favorite flowers, but what if it doesn’t go with your theme? You don’t want to have flowers that look out of place, don’t panic, find someone who is good with a spray can. Know I know what your all thinking, you can’t spray paint flowers, but how do you think some of the flowers you see get those unique colors. You can use this process to take your favorite flower and make them fit your theme. Also, be sure that you look all types of flowers out there, there might be a flower you have never seen before that will really compliment your wedding. Now, the big question is how many flowers do you really need? This all depends on what “you” want. You don’t want an absence of flowers and you don’t want to be over kill. What I recommend is having small designs going down the isle and at least an arrangement on each table to really create the full effect. Then you need to determine how many small bouquets and boutonniere’s you will need for all your brides maids and grooms men. Next you need to have your tossing bouquet, and of course your main bouquet. Which brings me to the next topic, your main bouquet. This is will be the most fun to plan out, all your favorite flowers in your hand on your special day. Can this get any better? I think not. Take some time on choosing what you need for your bouquet. Do you go simple or extravagant? Well some of the biggest trends out this year for all your brides out there are going big, bold, and creating zen-like arrangements. Don’t stress over this topic, remember all of this is supposed to be fun. Look for someone to help you out with these decisions, websites, blogs, forums, anything to bounce ideas off of other brides to be. For flower help visit my site www.worldwideweddingflowers.com we help with all your flower needs.

Ok, the most important topic for almost everyone. How do we save money, but still create that beautiful look? This is where you need to do some surfing and find whats out there. Like I said above, my site has the best prices on the net. www.worldwideweddingflowers.comBut there are many places out there that’s will be able to help you style and save for your wedding. Check out some “do it yourself websites”. Arranging flowers is not that hard, you just need a little bit of practice and you can create that celebrity look yourself. Before letting your wedding planner do all this for you, go and talk with some of your local flower shops and see what they will charge for designing your flowers. Also ask them if you buy your flowers from another source, will they still design them? Do your home work, you can have all the flowers of your dream for less than you think.

What’s hot for ‘08? Well let me just sum that up with one word. “GREEN” This is the biggest trend we will all see this year. Eco-friendly everything is in. With recycled jewelry & invitations, green is the “in” thing to do this year. As far as flowers go, huge high arrangements, and one of my favorite, the round arrangement. Basically you have a small vase, or something to hold your flowers, and create a big over flowing arrangement that is perfectly round. Zen will be in this year, simple elegance will always be around I think. Pick up a couple of magazines, read some blogs, and most importantly ask questions. You can bounce anything off me, I will help the best I can. Just remember, don’t stress, have fun, and make this the day of your dreams!

Well, I will wrap it for today, next we are going to talk about to DIY ( do it yourself ) We will cover making arrangements, and other ways to help you save money. Plus your wedding will have “your” perfect touch. Thank you all so much for reading today.

The Wedding Guy

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

Wedding Fashion

Wedding Fashion………Where do we start? There is way to much here to discuss, so lets just dive right into some of the biggest trends this year!

Ok, lets start with the most important, the dress. First you have to find your budget. I know you ladies hate this part, but its necessary. I know most of you out there love all the designers, but look hard and you can find that designer look for less. Whats the hottest style dress for 2008? We have a few that will really catch your eye. Asymmetry is in again, check out some styles inspired by the Romans. Brioche shapes have really started to become popular, and will prove to be a great trend through this year. Something that will really catch your eye, the new, short dress, perfect for your destination wedding where temperatures will rise. Now, for all you princess out there the quirky ball gown dresses are the right up your alley. From pink , to pure white witth gloves, these styles will really make your fairy tale wedding come true. One of my favorite I have found, is the multi-tiered dress, a strapless dress with layers upon layers of luxurious fabric, this is sure to take every ones breath away. You can find all these styles this year no matter what your budget is. Do your home work, schedule your fittings, and fall in love with one of these magnificent styles.

Onto brides maid dresses. Some of the biggest trends this year are Steel grey, bold colors, and deep hues. Try to find dresses for your lovely ladies that will really set them apart. White weddings are becoming very popular again,so spice it up with bold, exotic flowers ( www.worldwideweddingflowers.com )and some of these beautiful dresses to make your wedding have that unique edge. 

From chocolate diamonds, to eco-friendly rings, here are some of the most popular engagement trends this year. Neutral colored stones are very in this year. Look for chocolate, and lite colored diamonds to really be in style this year. Diamonds, Diamonds everywhere! One of the hottest styles this year will be to in-circle your beautiful ring with diamonds. This creates tons of extra sparkle, and helps your main stone pop. Intricately raised settings are beautiful and will cost a little more, but this style is sure to attract a lot of attention. These settings have very detailed and elegant metal work, and are sure to top the list this year. Vintage is coming back, from ceremonies to jewelry look for the classic trends we all know and love to make a big come back this year. Eco-Friendly rings are sure to make a hit this year. With our concern about the environment, check out rings with conflict free diamonds, and recycled metals. This is the perfect way to help our environment in style.

Well, I think that’s enough for today. Next we will talk about all of the flower trends we have this upcoming year. Thank you all for reading.

 The Wedding Guy

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

Gay Marriage

Ok, here we go. I know this is a hard topic for a lot of people out there, but I think we all need to step back and look at the big picture and dive in head first.

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL!! Ok, there are too many people out there so up in arms about this topic, quoting bible verses and what not. Now I don’t know the bible by heart, but one thing I do know is I am a good and very faithful Christian. I do right by people and follow the golden rule on a daily basis. But, doesn’t the bible teach to love one another? Doesn’t it also say that the only one who has the right to judge is God Himself? Who are we to judge others, that’s not our job. Look in the mirror before you point the finger. Sorry I am passionate about this topic. I am not a homosexual, but I have always supported anyone who does right by people and has good intentions. Why is this so bad? Two people deserve to be happy, whether they are 2 women or 2 men or a man and a woman, we should not deny them of fulfilling a dream of theirs. To a lot of people this is a weird topic, but i don’t hear all these people up in arms with Brittany Spears and her hot mess, or the drug addicted youth. I personally feel we have way more problems out there rather than gay marriage. Everyone needs to chill out a bit, everyone is too up-tight. I understand it might be weird for people, and we fear what we don’t understand, but look deep down and you understand it. Look at your loved one, your family, your best friend, that love you feel when you see them, the same is possible between 2 people of the same sex and we shouldn’t say they cannot take their relationship to the highest level. I know this blog isn’t going to make everyone change their views and I’m not really trying to force people to change, but I’m trying to get people to understand that happiness is great. Its the one thing on earth that you dont have to pay for, we need to open our eyes and minds and start to accept people for who they are.

It took people a while to accept African Americans, a long while, and there is still racism, but we have a black man running for president now. I think that is awesome in itself. I know this topic will take a while to change and become “alright”, but slowly and surely people will come around. Just remember Lincoln freed the slaves, so anything can be done if we all put our minds to it. Tune in to our next post, we will be talking about the latest fashion trends and how to make it come together.

The Wedding Guy

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

Planning Your Wedding Together

For all you couples planning your wedding this year, you need to make sure the experience is one that you both enjoy. Try to make it fun, not stressful. It’s never fun to be stressed out, so, make a promise to each other to listen and if one of you is starting to get overwhelmed, the other needs to step in and help.

 Now Guys, which I don’t know how many of you actually read this stuff, but you need to pay attention. This is “HER” day, we all know this, but, don’t expect her to plan her day for herself. You need to be right there in the mix helping her pick out everything but the dress. I know we would rather drink a beer and just say, “Yes honey that looks great.” or ” I don’t care as long as your happy” THESE AREN’T GOOD ANSWERS!. Put down your beer, it will still be there, get up and get your hands dirty!! You both need to be happy, and this is when your lovely lady is going to need you most, even if she has had this day planned since she was 4 playing with Barbie and Ken , she really does need your help.

Ok now that I just called guys out, I have to say a few things to you Ladies. Now don’t get mad at me and ban my blog, take some advice from a guy and see how it works. Ok deep breath, here we go. Ladies, IT IS YOUR DAY, But remember you do have a man to. He might have always thought about something cool to have at his wedding. Yes we think about that stuff to, just not in great detail like you guys do, so ask him his ideas and opinions. Ok next step, if you do ask our opinion for something in the wedding like invitations, place settings, ect….Ask to have our complete focus and for us to look you in the eyes. If you don’t like our opinion don’t blow up and go bridezilla, maybe we see what your talking about, but in a different light. Remember you both want to get married so you both care, talk things over and come up with a solution you both love. This is what married life will be all about, so this is a great step toward your wonderful future together.

 Now lets learn how to deal with stress. I know what your thinking, he is a guy what does he know about wedding stress. Just listen and maybe I can help. Plan early and don’t wait!! You cant wait until the last minute. You will explode and we have all seen bridezilla one to many times. So, what you need to do is both sit down together ( guys are you still reading? Ladies if he isn’t reading this with you get his butt over there ) no distractions, pick a date then move forward. Do little tasks along the way to help alleviate the work load. Last and most important, IT’S YOUR WEDDING. NOT ANYONE ELSE’S. ONLY WORRY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR MAN. YOU WONT BE HAPPY TRYING TO PLEASE OTHER PEOPLE AT YOUR OWN WEDDING.

Ok, I think I have rambled enough today. The motto of today’s post is happiness and to make sure we have fun planning our wedding. Tomorrow I’m going to talk about a very controversial, topic Gay Marriage. Thanks so much for tuning in! 

The Wedding Guy

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

Everything weddings

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the long break. My soon to be fiancee and I were doing a bit of traveling and took that opportunity to take a break from work as well. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

OK, maybe I did work a little bit, but not to hard. I am developing a new site that will be the ultimate wedding site. From fashion to finding the right planner, or making reservations to have an out of the country destination wedding, it will be all under one roof. This will be up and running by the end of January, and I’m really excited about this project because my wonderful girlfriend will be helping a lot. She is absolutely amazing when it comes to making everything come together, especially with fashion. The site is going to be a big forum with specific topics about weddings. You will be able to talk and ask questions about flowers, fashion, venues, everything you can imagine. Its all going to be a free service. We will be getting people who are at the top of what they do to help you with questions. If you have pictures or ideas you can bounce them off of us and everyone else to get the best info and help to make your wedding day perfect. I’m really excited to get this project off the ground, and I look forward to helping everyone as much as I can.

My other company www.worldwideweddingflowers.com Is doing a wedding in Antigua! It will be in late April, we are all so excited, our first out of the country wedding. If you haven’t read about our company yet, we specialize in getting wedding flowers at the cheapest prices anywhere. We get them directly from Columbia, Hawaii and a few other countries and ship them right to your door, free shipping! So check it out if you haven’t yet, and if you think we are missing something let us know. I want to make it easy and simple with everything you guys are looking for. Well I better wrap it up for today Thank you all so much for reading and I hope I can be a little help in making your wedding day run a bit smoother.

 The Flower Guy.  

www.worldwideweddingflowers.com                                                                                                                                                                        

About Us

All about us, I promise to keep this short. We will start with my wonderful girlfriend soon to be Fiancee. First off, she is the most amazing person in the world. She does way to much for me. I’m spoiled rotten, but I try to spoil her as well. She has a degree in family and consumer sciences and a minor in fashion merchandising and another minor in interior design. She is a big time fashion girl, with a very creative mind. She will be staring a few blogs up soon about fashion for all ages, and how to save money while still looking like a million bucks. Now a little background info. She is from Barbados, how awesome is that? She moved to the states when she was 15 years old and went to college here in Texas as well. Now she is starting to help our business grow. www.worldwideweddingflowers. She brings a lot of creativity to the table that I lack, and also keeps me organized, thank goodness. With out her I would not be able to do what I do today. She is the love of my life and is what keeps me going.
Now a little about me. I am from Colorado but moved to Texas when I was 7, so basically I am a Texan. I started playing hockey when I was young and played all over the US and Canada. I have lived in Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Seattle. I played for Team USA for a short while, but my career ended due to an injury. My parents own a very large wholesale flower business that I have been helping them run. I decided to create a company that deals with selling fresh flowers to the public which also specializes in wedding flowers. its called www.worldwideweddingflowers.com Please check it out and let me know what you think. There are still a few things I need to edit and change. Like I said earlier we live here in Dallas, TX and are trying to make our company well known, so please check it out and spread the word and this blog if you find it helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Tune in tomorrow to talk about wedding planners. do’s, dont’s, and how to’s of finding the right one for your wedding.

Thank you all so much,
The Wedding Guy
www.worldwideweddingflowers.com

Destination Weddings : The Top Spots

Lets talk about destination weddings today. We will look at some fun and unique spots across the world. Destination weddings are one of the most popular ways to celebrate your nuptials. In fact, I will be having my wedding out of the country. My girlfriend, soon to be Fiancee, is from Barbados. Can’t give much detail on our engagement because she reads my posts and helps to run our business. http://www.worldwideweddingflowers.com/ But we have decided to get married there and can’t wait. Ok enough about us, lets find some really great spots.
Right now Italy is the hottest spot for couples to get away for a great celebration. Italy has so much to offer, from beautiful cultural history, to its beautiful beaches. Now what I have found to be the hottest spot in Italy, is Florence, at the Grand Hotel. This hotel is absolutely gorgeous. This 18th century palace has been transformed into a beautiful hotel. It is located on the River Arno, right in the heart of Florence. The next hottest spot I have found is New Zealand. Now, the way couples have been doing this is incredible. You take a helicopter to the top of a mountain, now talk about an unforgettable wedding. The views from the mountain tops is breathtaking. This is a must for those who would like to have something very unique that you will never forget. The next hot spot is France, need I say more. Now, I am a bit biased because France has my favorite architecture and food, but this isn’t about just me. This is for every girl who still has that inner princess and would love a fairy tale wedding. There is no better place than in a beautiful French Chateau. With all the history surrounding this beautiful country France is a place everyone can enjoy. Ok for everyone that wants to have their feet in the sand for the nuptials, Le Saint Geran located in the middle of the Indian ocean is an amazing spot. This is an island that British Royalty and celebrities love to visit. If you are looking for the ultimate island wedding this is Worth checking out. Now if you do not feel like taking that long of a plane ride or maybe want to save some money, the Caribbean is a very short trip and offers many islands to choose from that can fit event the tightest budgets. Our next spot really needs no introduction, Bali, Indonesia. Bali has long been a popular destination for couples getting married or getting away to celebrate their honeymoon. Now one problem with the popularity of Bali is all of the tourists. Try to escape, and not get caught in the tourist traps. An amazing hotel I have found is Tandjung Sari Resort, which has 26 bungalows. Ask for an ocean front view and hold your ceremony on the beach. You wont be disappointed. A grand castle nestled in the hills of Scotland. This is another spot for all you princess out there. I will be traveling there in September of 2008 for a wedding. The only way to get married in Scotland is, of course, in a castle. Dalhousie Castle in Edinburgh is breath taking. This 13th century castle has a lot to offer that will leave you with great memories. Oh and don’t forget to try and find Nessy ( that infamous loch ness Monster ). Now for those who would like to stay in the States, check out the Legion of Honor, in San Francisco. This wonderful location atop a hill that over looks the San Francisco. This is a wonderful and very romantic spot located right here in the States, very worth checking out. Unique, everyone wants unique, now how about getting married in a cave located in beautiful South Wales. How many people do you know that have gotten married in a cave? Look for the chamber called “The Dome of St. Paul” It has large lake that is filled by two beautiful waterfalls. This a very unique and unforgettable wedding spot. Now last on the list is Central Park, New York, another spot located here in the beautiful United States. Central Park has a wonderful history and the city is amazing, plenty to offer for everyone. Now New York can get quite cold, so be sure to plan accordingly. Central Park is a beautiful spot where you can leave your ceremony in a horse drawn carriage for a beautiful tour of the city.
Well I hope you all found this entertaining and helpful, and I would love to hear of other great spots or experiences that you have had. Tomorrow we will talk a little about me and my soon to be fiancee, give you some insight on who we are and what we do. Thanks so much for reading today,

The Wedding Guy
http://www.worldwideweddingflowers.com/

Wedding Flowers: How to Save and Style

Today we are going to talk all about wedding flowers. Whats the latest trend? How can you save and still get quality flowers? Design your own or hire a professional? There are so many possibilities when it comes to this part of your wedding, so how do we choose?
Whats the latest Trend? It seems that every bride wants something original, something brand new. Think about your flowers like fashion. Its always changing from this to that, so try to incorporate your favorite fashion trend into your design ideas when it comes to flowers. If you love designer brands, then take a flair from your favorite designer and incorporate it into your wedding. Wrap your favorite Louis Vuitton logo around your bridal bouquet. (just an Idea) Some of the most popular flower arrangements are very bold colors, or incorporating a zen theme by doing something that is more monochromatic.
How can we save money? This is the biggest concern for most couples getting married. Do your research, see whats out there. Do you go with your local flower shop? Do you order online? Both are very acceptable. If you have a smaller budget consider ordering online. I have a website that I built specifically for this reason. http://www.worldwideweddingflowers.com/ You will have to work with someone to arrange them, or if you are creative you can do own and save Major bucks.We have the best prices on the net. The best way to save money on flowers is to really think hard about what you want and what you can afford. If you like tons of whimsical flowers consider using flowers that are a bit less expensive, but still give you that celebrity flair.
Design your own, or hire a professional? This all comes down to budget. What are you willing to compromise? Is it worth having them done professionally, or is it better to put your money elsewhere by doing it yourself. With all the literature out there designing your flowers is as easy as following a recipe. There are countless book and tons of shows that can help you with this process. With a designer, they will sometimes not have the same creative mind you do, or have the same ideas you would like. It can be hard to convey what you would like, but interview your designers. It almost like trying on a wedding dress, there are tons of designers out there that all make dresses, but only one designer can give you 100% what you want.
We know our main concern is being able to have the wedding of our dreams, but not having to take out a second mortgage for it. If you look around and do your research, there are many ways to have the wedding of your dreams by making a few compromises. I hope all of you found this interesting and helpful. Tomorrow we will talk about destination weddings, where to go and how to do it. I will be getting married in Barbados, so this will be a fun topic for all of us.

The Wedding Guy
http://www.worldwideweddingflowers.com/