Welcome, Welcome!

When your out of town wedding guests arrive at their hotel room, tired and weary after their journey, nothing is more comforting than a thoughtful wedding welcome bag from the couple they traveled so far to see. A great welcome bag is a sweet way to say “thank you” to your guests before the festivities even begin.

Although the cost of wedding welcome bags could get out of hand for a large guest list, there are many ways to create bags that you can afford.

So, what goes into a perfect bag for your out of town guests? Here are some wedding welcome bag ideas:

1. Something Local - Your guest might find a map handy for entertainment as well as a list of you and your special someone's favorite things to do and places to visit and eat. It may also be nice to include a local delicacy such as a little snack.


2. Survival Supplies - Consider the climate when you pack your welcome kit. If you’re in a hot spot, make sure to include sunscreen. If it’s chilly or dry, lip balm and hand lotion are nice. No matter what the environment, your guests can always use hand sanitizer, mouthwash, and other mini-toiletries that everyone forgets when they travel.

3. “Recovery” Supplies - You don’t have to come right out and call it a “hangover kit”, but your guests came to party, right? It’s nice to give them a little something to nurse themselves back to life after your reception. While we’re on the subject of recovery, bottled water is an excellent addition to an out of town guest bag. Nobody wants to drink the tap water in an unfamiliar town, and hotel bottled water costs a fortune, so a freebie will be appreciated. Plus, you can beautify the plainest water bottle by replacing the labels with your own “brand”.

4. Reusability - A welcome bag that can be reused is the best kind. It’s not only handy, it’s a nice reminder of the fun of your wedding weekend. Your best bets are beach bags or reusable shopping bags, which both fold down nice and small for the return trip!

Keep Them Toasty

I was eating dinner "al fresco" (outside) at a very beautifully modern restaurant on the ocean. The waitress told me that if I were to get chilly, they had pashminas available by request. I was so thrilled by this comforting idea that I thought it would make for an excellent party favor for guest. 

Keep warm blankets would be perfect for an early spring or a mid-fall outdoor wedding at night when the air is still crisp. Ikea has white blankets for $3.99 and can be adorned with cute tags and ribbons to match the wedding pallet. Instant adorableness without making much of a ding in our wallets. This is the easiest DIY on the planet and your guest will appreciate your concern for their comfort. 

With Flowers in Her Hair

Finding the perfect fit for the flower girl's dress can be a challenge. Since this little item of clothing can vary vastly for your tiniest member of your bridal party and can be a pricey purchase, I decided to scour the web for classic and contemporary looks that are at a variety of price points to help provide a bit of inspiration.

So let’s get started with classically styled flower girl frocks…

Dessy’s basic flower girl dress is the perfect blank canvas to adorn with broaches, flowers, or a monogrammed sash. You have the option to choose from a vast color pallet. All classic, all adorable.

JCrew's silk taffeta Avery dress  is elongating and stunning with the option of different colors to complement your wedding colors. 

 Shelley George’s Peanut Butter Dress is a perfect choice for a demure look. Appropriate, cute and doesn't overpower. This look is clean and pretty.

The Briar Patch has a precious tutu inspired gown for more whimsical weddings. The flower girl can't help but twirl. 

 So many cute classic styles, how can one ever choose?

Destination Wedding: Cayman Islands

This past Spring Break, I had the incredible opportunity to experience the luxury lifestyle of Grand Cayman at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.  As I ran on the 7 mile beach each day, I saw many weddings taking place and thought to myself how perfect it would be to get married on the soft white sand beach of Grand Cayman facing the vast ocean with multiple different shades of blue.

So, why here? Couples with keen insight who want more than a destination wedding  head to the Cayman Islands for the ultimate in hospitality and tropical romance. Whether you choose to marry at a smaller resort or a five-star hotel, this destination has the resources to cater to every couple's personal style, guest list size, and whim. Not to mention the backdrop is absolutely gorgeous. Think tranquil turquoise waters, and sugary white sandy beaches dotted with palm and pine trees.

Here's a few things to know about Grand Cayman. The three islands are home to a wealth of reputable wedding vendors, from full-scale event planners to photographers, florists, and bakers. High season begins the week before Christmas and goes through April 16 with an average temperature of 80 degrees. Avoid hurricane season, which is May-November. The Cayman Islands is practically the safest destination in the Caribbean, which makes it a great destination for multigenerational families.

Your guest have a plethera of options should they have some downtime in between wedding events. Stingray City is just a 10-minute boat ride away, where adventure seekers can swim with tropical fish and snorkel among the reefs. At the Turtle Farm at Boatswain's Beach, kids and adults alike will marvel at hundreds of giant turtles and other creatures of the deep. For the shoppers, there is also historic Georgetown, where sparkling jewelry retailers abound.

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman opened in December 2005, the Ritz has brought five-star luxury to the Cayman Islands. With its location on the famous Seven Mile Beach, ceremonies and receptions have a set up on the Great Lawn, by the sea on the hotel's private beach, or in a the 9,000-square-foot Cayman Islands Royal Ballroom. The Ritz is staffed with an incredible in-house team of four floral designers (who keep the hotel smelling as beautiful as it looks), as well as a pastry chef to create your wedding's requisite bouquets and confections. What's more, Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, has a menu of indulgent spa treatments (I recommend the hot stone massage!) that will wash you clean of any pre-wedding jitters!

Oscar Inspirations

On Hollywood's biggest night of the year, all eyes are on the red carpet. This night is a prime opportunity for brides to find trendy inspirations for THE dress. Glorious dresses become hot topic for morning talk shows and used to compare for years on after. The dress lives on, capturing the awe of the evening and era while staying true to the star.

Jewel tones, sparkling fabric, one-shoulder, body-hugging fits and winter white were all trends seen on the 2012 Oscars red carpet. 

Many of the dresses came straight from the runways in Paris, New York, London and Milan. Stylists typically present their celebrity clientele with 40 to 80 dress options. The most of-the-moment, wow-factor dress is typically chosen. 

Top actresses of the night went with some of the most beautiful gowns. 

 Octavia Spencer glows in a sunburst embroidered white dress by Tadashi Shoji.

 Rooney Mara, who typically opts for black-widow sexy, went with a stark white Givenchy gown with a flowing train.

Michelle Williams went with a tulle coral Louis Vuitton dress. 

Cameron Diaz is simply stunning in a strapless Gucci Premiere white gown with ruffled skirt detail.

Women tended to be a bit more covered-up for this Oscars. Gwyneth Paltrow wore a white Tom Ford gown with a stunning white cape. 

Oscar gowns will forever leave a lasting impression. And inspire unique wedding gowns!

Girl, Look at That Body

As the bride to be, there are so many details to deal with before the big day.

With so many preparations, your dress, your hair, your make-up. But what’s the first thing every woman thinks about when they start to plan their wedding? Simple. How am I going to get fit by the time I get married?

With the pressure of being the center of attention for a whole day and having hundreds of photos being taken that will become memories for the rest of your life serve as a brutal motivation to get in shape. This is the moment you want to look your best and most beautiful, and I'm here to give you the tips you need!

Here are five basic ideas to set your framework:

1. Plan Ahead - Wanting to get in shape for your wedding is a great idea, but make sure you have a plan in place before you begin. If planning ahead is your kind of thing, try looking way down the line and start right away. That way, by the time of your wedding,  you’re not stressing or possibly making yourself sick by going to the gym multiple times a day before the wedding.  Create a schedule and stay true to it.

2. Aerobic Exercise - For the brides who are dying to shed a few pounds, cardio exercise is the best place to start. Get your heart rate up by swimming, running, cycling or hiking. And to make things interesting, try switching up different exercises each week. This way you target and work on different muscles while staying interested.

3. Resistance Training - Some soon to be brides don’t need to lose weight, but would rather tone their body. Adding in resistance training with your cardio is the best way to get your pre-wedding body sculpted to perfection. Although women don’t naturally bulk up, the best way to avoid gaining too much muscle is by using low weights and high numbers of reps.

4. Eat Right - For those brides-to-be that are already moderately health conscious, this idea may seem obvious. But it is a point that can be overlooked. Working out is fantastic, but this must be combined with a sensible diet to lose weight and create a lean, toned figure. 

5. Get Fit In A Way That Fits You - There are a million and one ways to diet and exercise these days, all guaranteeing you will lose X amount of weight in X amount of days. But remember that you and your body are unique. Research and develop a plan that is right for you. Getting fit for your wedding might just be the best way to end up staying fit for life!