Guest Blogger - Danielle Cococcia of Crystal Blue Weddings

Last week Danielle gave great tips on how to choose your vendors for your destination wedding.  This week she's talking about reflecting your personal style even when you have a destination wedding.  You know I am a BIG believer in being you and showing your personality during wedding so I love this post! Thanks again Danielle!! Don't forget to check out Danielle's blog for great destination wedding advice, real Cayman Island weddings and inspiration!!

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Davidson

Just because you are getting married outside your hometown does not mean your wedding cannot be a reflection of your style. For example, if you are getting married on the beach, the décor does not need to be all sand, starfish and seashells. Here are a few tips to keep in mind…

1. First things first. Create an inspiration board (or book) to bring the vision in your head to paper. This will help you focus on what design aspects you are thinking about and looking for.
2. Talk to the designer you have hired at your destination. Look at photos of weddings they’ve designed before to find out what they can do. If there are items you are dying for but they don’t have, source them from somewhere else and ask if they will store them for you so you can ship them ahead of time.
3. Choosing a color palate. Again, if you’re getting married in the Caribbean, your color scheme does not need to be tropical, bright colors (unless you want it to be!!). Go with what you love.

4. DIY. As with any wedding, destination or otherwise, take comfort in these three lovely letters. Look to your family members or bridesmaids to help you prepare and carry these items to your destination location.

5. Remember that your wedding style does not start and end with décor. Think about it when choosing your dress, menu, favors and all of the rest.

Photo courtesy of Better Angel

Every aspect of your wedding speaks to your style…you may have to think outside the box to get what you want, but regardless of your chosen destination, one way or another, it can be done!

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!!
Deniesha JosephDJoseph@weddedluxe.com
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
718.938.4713

Guest Blogger - Danielle Cococcia of Crystal Blue Weddings

Today we have a guest blogger Danielle Cococcia of Crystal Blue Weddings.  Danielle is the voice behind one of my favorite blogs Crystal Blue Weddings.  Danielle showcases real weddings, vendors and advice from the Cayman Islands.  Today she is giving us her expertise on how to hire wedding vendors for your destination.

Photo Credit: Aaron Rebarchek Photography

Having a destination wedding—where do you start?  If you’re not familiar with the destination, it’s tough to know who is who, who is good and who will help you create your day. 

First things first, research.  With everything on the internet these days, it shouldn’t be too hard to find the vendors to start with.  Look at their websites, blogs, Facebook pages, tweets and whatever else you can find.  Research will at least give you some insight into the who is who and what they can do.

Second, if you can, visit the destination and meet with the vendors.  Nothing is as good as a face to face meeting so if it’s in the cards for you, do it.  When you meet with them, be prepared.  Have a vision for your day and discuss it with them.  After all, they are the ones who are going to help you create this vision—you want to be sure you are comfortable with their abilities, click with their personalities and know that they have the means to make your vision come to life.  If you can’t meet face to face, at least have a phone call with these people.  Trust is very hard to build on emails alone.

Third, and I really see this as a MUST, hire a local wedding planner.  Someone you feel you can trust and click with.  Someone who has experience planning weddings of your size and complexity.  Someone who will be your eyes and ears on the ground and will work with reputable local vendors to pull all of the pieces together and make it happen.   When interviewing planners, be sure to completely understand the services they are offering and how they price their services.  For example, will they handle the vendor meetings on your behalf?  Help you create a working budget?  Be present for the duration of your entire wedding and reception?  How do they charge for their services?

Next, understand the environment from a pricing and budget point of view.  Look at general areas like accommodation and entertainment.  Also, look more specifically at areas for your wedding.  Flowers, for example.  In the Cayman Islands (like in many destinations), wedding flowers need to be brought in from elsewhere.  This significantly increases the cost of flowers which may put that bouquet you had your heart set on way over your budget.  I’m not saying you can’t have it, it’s just helpful to develop a healthy expectation of costs (which is something your local planner should help you with). 

Last, it is likely that you will host more than just the wedding for your guests.  You may want to plan an excursion or a welcome party as a way of thanking your guests for making the journey to your wedding.  Keep this in mind when performing the steps above!

Thanks Danielle!! Check out Danielle's blog Crystal Blue Weddings 

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Destination Wedding Planning

During the month of January we discussed the first steps of wedding planning but that was for those couples that are having weddings in their home town. Now we are going to dedicate some time to destination wedding planning.

The key to planning any wedding is to start off with a good plan. The first steps you take will help the rest of the planning process run smoothly if you start out with a good plan. So now let's talk about the first steps to planning your destination wedding.

Choose a Destination

Choosing the country is easy.  Most couples pick their favorite vacation spot or some where they have always wanted to see. What you really need to focus on is where exactly your wedding will take place. Will it be a hotel? A venue? Indoors? Outdoors? Do want to get married in a church? You also need to know their marriage requirements as well. Many countries have different laws and you want to make sure your wedding is legal.

Choose a Date

Timing is everything when it comes to planning a destination wedding. Not only do you have to consider holidays, your schedules but you also have to consider the current weather conditions for your destination. Hurricane season, rainy season, or winter can all play apart in the time of year you choose to get married.  Some countries are complete opposite of the weather conditions you may leave in.

Wedding Websites

You should set up a wedding website when planning a destination wedding. This will be the hub of all the information your guests need for their trip. It should include your wedding date, destination, accommodation information, weekend itinerary, point of contact if you are working with a travel agent, travel documents needed and of course some details about you. Your love story, the bridal party and any fun facts.

Save the Dates

You should send your STD out one year before your wedding date. It should include your date of course, the destination of choice and link to your wedding website. Also let your guests know a formal invitation will follow.

Live.Laugh.Love….. Luxuriate!

Deniesha Joseph

DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
www.weddedluxe.com
718.938.4713

Ask The Planner

Here's a question that I received as a comment for my post on Destination Weddings. 

Q: Thanks soooo much for doing this post. I have been thinking loooong & hard about this option!

D, I've decided that I want to have a destination wedding with a really grand reception/party for all my family & friends when I get back. Now of course pricing can be high no matter what you do (depending on how BIG you do things) however I was looking at this option as a way to save $$. Do you think this is a smart plan or is this just as expensive (generally speaking) as a traditional church wedding/reception?  Keep in mind that I plan on having approx. 25-30 ppl at the destination.

A: A destination wedding will definitely cut the cost of your wedding. Like you said, the cost can still get high depending on the choices you make but generally speaking it can cut cost. If your only reason for having a destination wedding is to cut cost than it would defeat the purpose if you come home and have a grand reception. If you want to have a reception/party when you return for those who couldn’t make it there are ways to do it without it being too pricey.


1) Instead of the tradition wedding reception, host a cocktail party. Serve heavy hor’douvers instead of a 3 course meal. Have a lounge style seating with couches and high ball tables. Have simple but elegant décor. This will decrease the cost of servers, food and floral.

2) If you leaning towards the summer months, you can host a barbeque and still make it look like a wedding celebration. It can casual but still elegant.

3) Remember, you already had a wedding so keep in mind that some of the traditions elements that add to the cost can be eliminated. So as exciting as it may be, resist the urge to hire a photographer, videographer, expensive invitations and so on. Keep it simple, remember you are already married. This party will be an extended celebration

Deniesha Joseph,
Wedded Luxe - Luxury Wedding Planning & Couture Designs
DJoseph@weddedluxe.com
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
http://twitter.com/Wedded_Luxe
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wedded-Luxe/164768235325?ref=ts
718.938.4713

Destination Weddings

Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty

I was on vacation last week spending time with my family in St. Lucia. As I mentioned, almost everything I do ends up relating to weddings in some way. Hey, I’m a wedding planner, it’s in my blood so it’s only right to discuss Destination Weddings.


I was recently chatting with a friend of mind and she was telling me about her trip to St. Lucia. She was there for her friend’s wedding and didn’t get a chance to enjoy the island because the entire time they were there, they were preparing for the wedding. If you are having a destination wedding, do not rule out a wedding planner. You want to enjoy the entire wedding experience. That’s the point of a destination wedding. You shouldn’t have to worry about these last minute details, let the professionals handle that while you sip tropical drinks by the pool and spend time with your guest that have traveled to be there for you.

Tip: When searching for a destination, search for resorts that have wedding planners on hand. Find out what services they will provide. Remember they work for the resort, not for you so putting your favors together may not be apart of their job description.

Tip: Many wedding planners work exclusively on Destination Weddings, you can find one that has experience with the resort of choice or they can recommend one for you. Most wedding planners (good ones) will and can plan a wedding any where in the world so seek help from a planner in your hometown. I know I would be happy to help!! (shameless plug)

Tip: Arrive at least 2 to 3 days before your wedding to finalize meeting with your vendors. You should also give yourself an extra day to handle your vendor meetings before your guest arrive. Usually, you have to be in the country 2 – 3 business days in order to obtain your marriage license.

For more helpful tips, check out a post I did last year on planning a Destination Wedding!

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Wedded Luxe - Luxury Wedding Planning & Couture Designs
http://www.weddedluxe.com/
718.938.4713

Wedding Shoes - Beach Wedding

I'm in St.Lucia right now but before I left I was looking for some sandals in the middle of winter and I found these beauties!! If you are planning a beach wedding and you will be getting married on the sand, keep your shoe selection in mind. Walking with heels is virtually in possible and if you are not a-sand-between-your-toes kind of girl, then you make like these sandals I found at Steve Madden. They are flat but very stylish. The best part is they are called “Bride” and they are $89.95!!

Happy Planning,


Deniesha Joseph
Wedded Luxe
Luxury Wedding Planning & Couture Designs
718.938.4713

Married Away!!

Destination Weddings are becoming extremely popular. Many couples choose this route because for one let’s face it, it’s a vacation and who doesn’t love that. Two, many feel it’s easier than the traditional wedding. A destination wedding is a wonderful way to tie the knot but there is still planning involved. Here are some planning tips to help all my married away brides get started.

1) Send save the dates to your guest at least a year in advance. This gives your guest time to plan and save for the trip. Include your destination, the date (of course) and if possible the hotel accommodations.

2) Create a wedding website to update your guest on accommodation information, passport/visa requirements and the schedule of events that maybe taking place. Be sure to include your website on your save the dates. You can easily create a website on many wedding sites for free. http://www.theknot.com/, http://www.mywedding.com/, http://www.ourweddingday.com/

3) Do your research before making your final decision. Get recommendations and read reviews from other couples that have gotten married at the resort or venue. Also take a tour before booking. Don’t rely on the web for all your research.

4) Hire a wedding planner/coordinator in the destination you have chosen. They are familiar with the local vendors and can do the research on your behalf. Hiring a planner from your home town is also helpful and you get the one on one attention you may need. A good planner can plan a wedding any where!

5) Negotiate a group rate with for your airfare and hotel when booking for 10 or more guest.

Even though this is a destination wedding, there are some fundamental planning steps that cannot be over looked. Take a look at a my previous post on what to do when you first get engaged. http://coutureventsbyd.blogspot.com/2009/01/congrat-you-said-yes-so-now-what.html

Happy Planning,

Deniesha Joseph
Couture Events by D
Designed by me, Just for you
http://www.coutureventsbyd.com/
718.938.4713