Weekend Wedding

Many couples are choosing weddings that last an entire wedding. This is especially common for destination weddings where the travel time involved makes a tw0 or three day wedding a no brainer. So what is a weekend wedding? Some religions and cultures do have weddings that last multiple days. Multi-ethnic or cultural couples may choose to have more than one wedding ceremony. However, the majority of couples have spend one day on the wedding, and have fun activities on others.

Wedding Venue Logistics

The experts say that the reception and the ceremony shouldn't be more than further than thirty minutes apart, but what happens if you're dead set on picking two locations that aren't that convenient? For instance, I had a friend who wanted to get married at the temple that she had attended for years, but for the reception she could only book a hotel an hour away. Unfortunately, it was the middle of the summer and everywhere else in her price range was already fully booked. In the end, only a few family and friends attended the ceremony and the majority came for the reception. She wasn't offended and everyone had a blast!

How Much Should a Venue Cost?

Did you know that the venue and food costs are usually half a wedding budget? That means if you find a less expensive venue, you can redistribute your precious funds into other areas such as wedding decorations, food costs, and even your dress!

Staying Cool at Your Wedding Venue

It's been a real scorcher the last few days, and while we've written a few posts on how to stay cool during the dog days of summer, we haven't actually written on how to pick a venue that won't bake, steam, or roast your guests. Although, many couples rely on machines that spray mist or tents, but here are a few other key features of heat proof.

Summer Wedding Venues

Summer is filled with barbecues, lounging by the beach or the pool, and going to weddings. June, named after Juno the Roman goddess of marriage, is still the most popular month to tie the knot. Here are some common summer wedding venues:

Three Green Wedding Venues

Eco-friendly is one of the new trends in weddings. People to celebrate their marriage without creating additional waste. You can minimize your carbon foot print by reducing the amount of paper and trash you create by having your invitations be printed on a single sheet of recycled paper, and serving bite-size appetizers that have their own edible container. You can also recycle your wedding dress or pick bridesmaid dresses that your friends will wear again and again.

Five Weird Weddings

A couple chose to tie the knot at their families' funeral home. Not only did they say their vows, but they also held the reception there as well. Creepy!

Backyard Weddings

Backyard weddings are fun and casual affairs, but can require as much or even more planning than fancy hotel reception wedding. Have you thought about these things?

Have Your Heard of Seychelles?

The republic of Seychelles is an island nation made up of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Since the 1970s, its primarily sector has been tourism. French and English make up the main languages, as well as Seychellois Creole, so it's fairly easy to navigate. In recent years, it's been part of top travel spots and a beautiful place to have a destination wedding or honeymoon.

Indoor versus Outdoor Wedding

Today is one of those spring days that can't decide to be beautiful or gray. Peeking out the window this morning, I decided to bring my umbrella, but by lunch it was sunny and warm. And now it's gray again. Spring weather is very unpredictable, which makes having outdoor weddings risky business as well.

New Orleans

Did you know that New Orleans is one of the best places to get married for music lovers? It has some of the best jazz clubs in the world, as well as an amazing atmosphere.

Vancouver Wedding

If you're planning to tie the knot in Vancouver, you and your guests might want to arrive a few days early. This city is known as for natural scenery as well as being ethnically and linguistically diverse. If you're outdoorsy, you probably already know that Vancouver is one of those few places that you can theoretically windsurf and ski in the same day.

Florence: Romantic Hotspot

I went to Florence a few years back as part of bonding trip with my sister and as we wandered through the beautiful cobblestone paths, biked past the Medici residence, and eat scoop after scoop of gelato, I couldn't imagine a lovelier place in the world.

Snowy Wedding

What happens if it snows at your wedding? Did you know that in many cultures it's considered a sign of good luck? Unfortunately, it might mess with your wedding plans from traffic jams to power outages.

Americana Venues

You read that right. Americana. It refers to the folklore and culture of the United States. While other people might consider a European-inspired wedding, I would like something really speaks to some place that I consider my home. Here are four places that I consider quintessentially American.

Woodland Wedding

Paris. Je t'aime

If you've chosen a destination wedding to Paris, here are some things to explore while you're there.

Public Building Wedding Venue

So, you want to have your wedding in a public space? You go, girl. There are a range of public venues from local and state parks, museums, and galleries. The catch is that while the location fee for public buildings is often quite reasonable -- it's the rentals, tents, generators, security, port-a-potties, and cleanup crews that decimate your budget.

A Backstreet Boy Wedding

On Saturday, December 17th, Backstreet Boys singer A.J. McLean tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Rochelle Deanna Karidis on the Crystal Lawn at the Beverly Hills Hotel, a five-star luxury hotel with 12 acres of seemingly-paparazzi proof gardens. Instead of something traditional and sweet, the couple went dramatic with a goth theme. Their invites where black and silver with red lettering that looked like they were written with blood!

Wedding Venue Planning Countdown

Did you know that a wedding often requires three or four wedding venues? Rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, and the post-wedding brunch? Yea, it's a doozy. Here's an easy timeline to help you schedule everything. You can also use this as a guideline for a six month engagement as well! Just remember that you need to confirm vendor details at least a week in advance!

Five Reasons to Keep Looking

Contracts are what protect you and your venue. Remember to get all verbal promises in writing. If your venue insists on carrying out most of the arrangements over the phone, this could be a bad sign.

Hotels As Wedding Venues

Where do you want to get wed? The choices are often baffling. While your wedding dress choice is often limited by your budget and body type -- my five foot two body frame is just not bodacious enough for a mermaid silhouette -- I could get married at any sort of venue. Where does a bride even start? In the next several posts, we'll give you the lowdown on different types of venues.

Beach Weddings 101

Stormy days make me think of sun kissed beaches and lounging on the sand. Beach weddings kind of sound like paradise, but it's not just fun and games. Beach weddings are not for everyone, and it's always a bit of a gamble. Some people thrive on spontaneity, and these people tend to have a lot of fun at these sorts of weddings.

Five Brainstorming Ideas for Venues

Are you recently engaged and have no idea where to get hitched? I know some couples who knew where they were going to get married before he even proposed. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.

Wedding Venue Research

I know that everyone says that word of mouth is great, and I completely agree, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do your own research. The most important about selecting a venue is to know your specific needs and desires. While your friends might have about a certain venue, it doesn't mean that it would be a great place for you. Why go through all the trouble of falling in love with a venue if it's too small, too far away, or too expensive?

Wedding Venues in Houston

Houston may be the biggest city in Texas, but is filled with charming details. It has venues that can accommodate Hollywood Regency, preppy traditional, and shabby chic. Houston has one of the youngest populations of any American city and is perfect for youthful couples looking for an individualized and conth6porary wedding.

Beach Wedding Warnings

There are few things as romantic as a sunset ceremony at the beach. It can be elegant or laid back, but you have to remember that like all outdoor weddings, you'll be battling the elements.

Mother (in law) and Daughter Conflicts Over Wedding Venues

Your mother or mother in law is pushing you to pick a venue that just doesn’t feel right. What do you do? How do you let her down gently? Or do you just go along with it?

The Wedding Back Up Plan

You have picked out the perfect outside venue. The landscape is breathtaking, the location is central...but what if it rains? Many venues may look amazing outside, but less than spectacular on the inside. While it's advised to keep looking, some brides just cannot pass up the opportunity and take the gamble. For every few girls who get a perfect wedding, one or two gets soaked to the skin with no backup plan

Unique Summer Wedding Destinations

Summer breezes, warm air, sun kissed skin; summer is THE time to get married. Many couples are saying 'I do' in these warmer months for good reason. So now that you decided on a summer wedding, the next question is 'where are you going to get married?'. Couple's want to take advantage of the amazing weather afforded them, so an outdoor wedding is almost a no brainer. And with destination weddings becoming increasingly more popular, top vacation spots are becoming booked solid with wedding parties, so where to go? Let's take a look at some of the unique summer wedding locations. Pack up your wedding dresses and get going!

San Diego Wedding Venues

San Diego is the second largest city in California. Filled with canyons and mesas, the city has a hilly and diverse geography. The historic Old Town was built in the 1860s and the city itself has no buildings over 500 feet tall due to a regulation passed in the 1970s. San Diego is amazing place for a destination or weekend wedding, because it’s extremely comfortable in terms of weather and walkability.

Wedding Venues in Chicago

Who wouldn't want to get married in the Windy City? It has great food, amazing music, and it is gorgeous. You shouldn't have a hard time convincing your fiancé to get wed here. Batman's Gotham City is based on Chicago after all. Chicago is vibrant and there is no other city quite like it.

Wedding Venues in Atlanta

Atlanta, capital of Georgia, is one of the most artistic and culturally dynamic cities in the US. Rather you want to travel back in time to become the belle of your ball or have an ultra chic, glamorous reception in a skyscraper, Atlanta can do it all.

Wedding Guest Do's and Don'ts

Wedding guests are an important part of any couple’s big day. So it is important to practice good wedding guest etiquette. Whether you are a guest of a wedding or hosting guests – it is vital to know what is expected of you.

Wedding Venues in Seattle

Seattle is the birthplace of rock legend Jimi Hendrix, the grunge, Starbucks Coffee, and Frasier. It is known for its "green" technologies and is a port city with both forests and farms nearby. Its perfect for an urban or rural wedding, and has a great selection of waterfront and woodsy wonderland locations. With its futuristic Space Needle, Seattle has the look and feel of a modern, forward thinking city with lots of options for all your wedding decisions. Or to get away, take the guests on a short ferry ride to an island retreat or a tucked away inn.

Finding a Wedding Venue

In the digital age, using Google to find a wedding venue is a no-brainer, but just how reliable are these suggestions? Taking a page from your grandmother’s book, why don’t you use the social networks that you’ve built up over the years?

The Backyard Wedding

Wedding Venues in Boston

Consider the Cocktail Reception

When choosing a wedding dress, you only have to please yourself, but the reception belongs to the guests. A cocktail reception is great for adult-only, casual, small weddings. Time-wise, they usually follow early afternoon weddings or later evening ones. In these situations, guests have probably eaten a full meal shortly before the ceremony.

Wedding Venues in Los Angeles

The City of Angels is a magical place. Filled with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and immortalized as a seedy underbelly of crime by Raymond Chandler, LA is a city of contrasts, diversity, and art. With a thriving fashion, art, and film industry, LA is teaming with creative people and a great place to look for vendors. These people are used to catering for the stars! Los Angeles also enjoys plenty of sunshine and only has about thirty five days of rain a year.

Florida Wedding Venues Part Two

The options are truly endless. The people in Florida know how to put on a wedding. It can impossibly chic at a spa resort or intimate and genuine in a relative's backyard. But as many couples can tell you, opposites attract. You can mix and match couture and summer camp, lemoncello di testani and snow cones.

Florida Wedding Venues Part One

No part of Florida is far from the coast and the weather is almost always warm without being sweltering. It has been a favorite destination for Spring Break and absolutely wonderful for winter weddings when the rest of the world is cold, gray, and grim. How many brides can wear strapless wedding dresses on the beach during February?

Essential Wedding Reception Planning Tips

Before you start planning the wedding of your dreams you should be informed about some of the expected planning that goes along with in order to avoid shocks and surprises. When it comes to wedding reception planning, here is a list of tips and ideas to know beforehand.

Anatomy of a Welcome Bag

Let’s face it. Travel is exhausting, especially when you have to lug things like wedding gifts and formal wear. Offering a “welcome bag” is essential for those hosting destination weddings. It will also cheer up guests after a long journey. Although you can keep things in the colors and theme of your wedding, the contents of the welcome bag are more geared towards the vacation aspects of your wedding. The items inside will help guests explore the area by providing great tips on where to go, where to eat, and how to lounge on the nearest beach.

The Beach, Shall We?

Destination weddings have been growing with a vengeance. One destination that stands above all the rest is the beach. A beach wedding is romantic, whimsical, and magical. But how do you plan such a wedding when that beach is hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home? How do you relocate all of your friends and family for your special day?

Off The Beaten Path

Summer breezes, warm air, sun kissed skin. These are only a few of the reasons couples pick summer for their nuptials. Couples want to take advantage of the amazing weather, so an outdoor wedding is almost a no brainer. And with destination weddings becoming increasingly more popular, top vacation spots are becoming booked solid with wedding parties. So where to go? Let's take a look at some of the unique summer wedding locations. Pack up your wedding dress and get going!

Reception Tables 101

You’ve picked out your venue and now it’s time to rent the tables. What shape do you want? Circle, rectangle, or square? Would you like to sit eight, ten, or twelve? Do you want them evenly spaced out or clustered?

Wedding Venues in Hawaii

There's no place quite like Hawaii. Everyone has heard of the sandy beaches and tropical rain forests, but there are also snowcapped mountains and rocky wonders. There is something for everyone on this chain of islands. Hawaii is made up of six main islands: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii Island. They all have their own specialties, and many are perfect locations for weddings. If you are interested in a Hawaii wedding, read these descriptions to learn more about each island.

Destination Weddings

Destination weddings started out as elopements and now incorporate aspects of the family vacation as well. Since weddings are reunions anyway, this is a great way to spend time with loved ones.

It's Not Just About Food

Where to Wed?

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. They can happen in all sorts of places too. From rooftops to the middle of a clearing in the woods, from the beach to Westminster Abbey, no one can deny that where you tie the knot adds a touch of significance to your vows. Saying "I do" in a high vaulted church or during a sunset with wind in you hair are both beautiful options, but which one, if either, is right for you? How do you even choose? Where to begin? How about starting with the most basic of questions? Inside or out?

Wedding "Staycations"

We don't need to hark on about how much a wedding costs these days. We know. Wedding packages can really start to add up when all is said and done, and this tends to happen when you book a hotel venue or wed in a far flung locale. Here's a solution: a wedding "staycation."

Far and Away

Destination venues don't just offer amazing backdrops for nuptials. The experience serves as a vacation in a stunning locale for you and your guests. The weddings, due to the far-flung locations, tend to be smaller (which can save significant cash). And after you wed, you will know you exchanged vows in one of the most beautiful corners on Earth.

Wedding Venues: Indoors or Outdoors?

As soon as you get engaged, you need to act swiftly. Your wedding may be a year away, but if your heart is set on a certain venue in a certain locale, early booking is key. First off, decide on the season of your wedding. Then, ask yourself: Indoors or out?

Trimming Venue Costs

In 2010, the average wedding in the United States capped off at about $24,000, according to "The Wedding Report", a market research publication. That's a significant amount of change; for many, it's more than half their yearly income. No matter how smart you shop—unless you plan to elope or wed at city hall—the costs will add up.

Closer to Home

Whether you choose a midsummer ceremony under the sun, or an indoor gala in the twilight of winter, nearby options are limitless. The venue, which should reflect a personal story or your unique style, can be a stones-throw or short plane ride away.