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Up in the Air

We all know that this economy can wreak havoc on the best-laid plans, including weddings. So what do you do if both you and your fiancé lose your jobs after you’ve already set the date, bought your dress, booked the venue, musicians, honeymoon and paid your deposits? Well, today I spoke with lovely B-to-B, Megan Larson from Ft. Worth, Texas, who faced these very same dilemmas but managed to come through it all without having a breakdown.

Megan and her fiancé, Jeremy, were engaged last March and immediately set about planning for a wedding in August 2010. Since they are paying for the wedding themselves and hope to have about 150 people in attendance, it was devastating when Megan lost her job last July (due to company downsizing), and Jeremy lost his retail job just two weeks later. Naturally, all their plans came to a screeching halt. “We realized that we just couldn’t do it. I cried for two weeks but we had no choice. We had to cancel the wedding.”

jeremy-megan
Jeremy & Megan

Fashionable Flier

website watch:

There are a thousand and one ga-jillon travel websites out there, and figuring out which one to trust can be a major time-suck. That’s where I come in.

I have a serious love/hate relationship with all things Facebook. Hate: Seeing pictures of perfect bikini bodies in said vacations, homes and outings. Being reminded (and the whole world seeing) what I looked like pre-Pilates days. Love: Keeping in touch with people I never thought possible. Completely living vicariously through photos of others’ vacations, amazing homes and fabu outings (Grammy parties and Sundance—hello!). One of my pals that fits into both camps is Glam Globetrotter, Sarah Evans. A frequent flier and serious fashionista, this girl shares the goods on all things travel and style related on her site Glam Globetrotter. (She’s also got a fab Facebook group and terrific Twitter feed). Sarah highlights fun gear (know a jet-setting mom who needs a passport case?), cool deals (score sample-sale prices for hotel stays) and her personal fantasy destinations (hint: they are generally beach-related.) Her posts are fun and sunny—just like her personality.

sarah evans
Fashion forward Sarah loves to take flight.

Posted by Jenna at 4:29 p.m.

The Scoop on St. Lucia, Part I


November 2, 2009

guest blogger: Amy Rauch

The Scoop on St. Lucia: Escape to Almond Resorts

Ahhhh, St. Lucia -- The island where couples flock for romantic bliss, lush mountain scenery, and luxurious all-inclusive resorts. It was no surprise when I visited for a media tour, hosted by Almond Resorts, that I saw numerous brides and grooms at the airport holding David's Bridal and Mens Wearhouse garment bags, and still others walking around sporting "Just Married" t-shirts and gleaming grins. I wish I had my camera out, but I was too busy waiting for my luggage to come off the plane -- last.

Thanks to Almond Resorts and their public relations firm, the Zimmerman Agency, I was able to get away for a few days from big-city living, and enjoy some tropical weather, pleasant Caribbean hospitality and even a little time for relaxation. Almond Morgan Bay and Almond Smuggler's Cove both offer great facilities for destination weddings and plenty of romantic appeal for honeymooners. I was lucky enough to stay at the deluxe Almond Morgan Bay property -- in a spacious one-bedroom oceanview suite no less! Did I mention the ginormous soaking tub in my bathroom?

I found the resort property quite scenic, spacious and peaceful. It has a nice stretch of beach -- obviously well kept -- and 4 swimming pools, including one with a swim-up bar and another for adults only, tucked away on a hillside for extra seclusion.

Who Says Restaurants Are Just For Dining?

I’m sure we all have a favorite restaurant that gives us that warm fuzzy feeling inside every time we think about it. We’ve used these special places for catering memorable events, such as birthday and engagement parties, but did you know you can actually rent your favorite restaurant for a wedding? I’m not talking about a room in the back, but the entire space. Not only is this possible, but celebrities have been doing this as well.

I was just reading how Mad Men star Christina Hendricks and her husband Geoffrey Arend celebrated their nuptials at their favorite restaurant in NYC, Il Buco. The couple invited 70 of their closest friends and family to celebrate their day. This allowed them to spend more time with the ones they loved and was far from overwhelming. It can be very difficult to enjoy your wedding when you’re worried about greeting 300 guests. They dined on fabulous Italian cuisine, danced to a ‘30s- and ‘40s-inspired jazz band and had tarot card readings in the restaurant’s wine cellar. How cool is that?

The bridal party was decked out in vintage outfits put together by Mad Men stylist Allison Leach. The groomsmen had boutonnieres made of rose hips and berries, and each of their suits were subtly different. I loved the oranges and reds that were apparent in the ties and handkerchiefs they sported. The ladies wore different types of vintage 40s dresses and shoes. They all looked totally classic and elegant in the photos! I love when couples take their ideas and turn them into original options.

Having your wedding at a restaurant makes perfect sense to me, especially if it’s a place you absolutely love. All restaurants have rules and minimums, but it's worth it to ask and see what they have to offer. You may even find that this option actually saves you money. Great food, wonderful ambiance and cost effective? Who could ask for more?

xoxo
Sam

Hair’s the Scoop

A reader asked if it was proper etiquette to invite your hairstylist and makeup artist to the wedding. The short answer is no, not necessary, unless your relationship is more than professional and you consider them good friends. But since I was having my straggly locks trimmed last night anyway I decided to go right to the source and ask my own hairstylist extraordinaire, Patrick Danek, for his thoughts on the topic. After all, throughout their careers, Patrick and his business associate, Mitchell Behr, have helped make hundreds of brides look beautiful at weddings all across the country from the east end of Long Island to California and even Argentina!

Patrick concurred that it was not necessary to extend an invitation unless you were already friends and if you do invite your stylists, make sure it’s not just verbally. Always send a formal invitation. “Otherwise, if it’s asked so casually, I probably wouldn’t go,” he said. He also advised that you always do a dry run and make an appointment to see your hairstylist and makeup artist well before the wedding day. He noted that although most brides come to their appointments with photos of long, wavy hair in hand, they often change their minds and opt for something more “special” like an up-do or a style that they wouldn’t wear every day. After all, the hairstyle and makeup should be every bit as spectacular as the gown, so don’t be afraid to experiment until you find the right look. And do listen to advice from your stylists: They truly want you to be happy and look gorgeous!

So thanks for the tips and a great haircut, Patrick, and Mitchell, I promise to go see Avatar soon.

Posted by Diane at 2:22 p.m.

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