Monday, May 12, 2014

Visit Our New Local Directory

We are currently making some improvements to the Wedding Zone network. Please check back soon!

Looking for local wedding professionals? Visit Wedding Zone Local to start your search!

Monday, August 12, 2013

DIY Wedding: Five Ways To Incorporate Fun Material Into Your Wedding

Once the wedding proposal has been made and accepted the fun begins. Your wedding day will be a labor of love that is sure to incorporate childhood dreams and a grown-up wish list.


SURPRISE AISLE RUNNER


If you are a bride who leans to the wild side, consider a non-traditional aislerunner for your wedding ceremony. What's wrong with using a fun leopard print fabric to glide up the aisle on? Leopard print can be purchased in a variety of shades and you can buy extra fabric for pew bows and to embellish candle stands and reception tables.


LEATHER AND LACE


Anything goes when planning a wedding, so don't be afraid to embrace a daring theme including lace accents. Bridesmaids can don leather sashes to accent their lacy gowns. Leather and lace touches would be lovely on bouquets, boutonnieres and reception centerpieces. Pair these materials with darker wedding colors like chocolate brown, deep magenta and black.


OVERDO WITH TULLE


Lots of brides utilize tulle in their wedding decorations, but consider bumping it up a notch! Purchase three or more colors of tulle for a festive and colorful event. Use the rainbow of tulle to make pew bows, reception table runners and chair accents. You will have instant wedding joy using small layered squares of tulle for candy favors tied up with twine and colorful tags thanking guests for attending.


COWBOY UP


There is a growing trend of cowboy themed weddings featuring easy cotton wedding clothes, wildflower bouquets and fun calico prints with leather accents. Have crafty girlfriends help make calico print table runners, napkins or place mats for each guest. Top your tables with mason jars, simple flowers and a scatter of buttons for the perfect touch. Using leather products by rustico, wrap silverware bundles in leather bows and make candy-filled leather pouches as wedding favors.


BURLAP DREAM


Let burlap be the unexpected star of your wedding reception. It is lovely to work with, affordable and adaptable. Use it for a wedding aisle runner trimmed with rose petals, as well as for the ring-bearer pillow and chair bows. You can stitch drawstring bags filled with spa products as gifts to wedding attendants.


When planning the perfect wedding it is a wonderful idea to incorporate fun materials as they add interest, rich texture and unexpected touches. Be creative and a little daring and you are sure to be pleased with how your memorable day comes together.


Article submitted by Rianne Hunter

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The 10 Habits That Keep Marriages Strong

Years of Happiness

The key to wedded bliss isn't over-the-top romance, but these surprisingly simple practices you can do to stay, or fall back, in love with your partner. Read on for expert tips on how to have a happy marriage.

1) Not trying to change each other


Maybe you wish he folded his socks, or that he would chat it up with your friends without prompting. But, his inability to notice hair in the sink may stem from the laid-back personality that drew you to him in the first place. "One of the things we see with happy couples is that they know their partner's differences, and have pretty much stopped trying to change the other person," says Darren Wilk, a certified Gottman Couples Therapist with a private practice in Vancouver, British Columbia. "Rather than trying to fight their partner's personality style, they instead focus on each other's strengths."

2) Framing your demands as favors


Whether you want him to unload the dishwasher more often or pay closer attention to the kids, your partner will be more likely to change his behavior if he feels like he'll get relationship brownie points. "Throw it out there like a favor. Present it like 'here is the recipe for what will make me happy,' because everyone wants to make their partner feel happy," says Wilk. "When you present your needs, present them as what you do want rather than what you don't want." Instead of saying, "I hate when you have to have everything scheduled," try saying, "I would love to have a day where we can just be spontaneous."

3) Vocalizing your appreciation


Giving your partner positive reinforcement sounds like a no-brainer, but couples often forget to do it.

"Relationship expert Gottman's research found that in everyday life, happy couples have 20 positive moments, such as a shared look, compliment, or affectionate touch, to every negative moment," says Wilk.

Tell him something positive three times a day, and be specific. Instead of saying, "You're a good dad," tell him why. "You're a good dad because you helped our daughter with that puzzle, which I never would have had the patience to do."

4) Focusing on the positive


"Unhappy couples are stuck in a negative state of mind," says Wilk. "You will always find what you look for. If you look for stuff that bugs you and that your partner is doing wrong, you will find it every day. If you look at what your partner is doing it right, you'll find it everyday."

It's a choice to flip your mindset, so when you find yourself getting annoyed, visualize something he does that makes your heart flutter to halt the negative thought circuit.

5) Taking trips down memory lane


"Happy couples tend to rewrite history by glossing over the bad stuff and focusing on the happy times," says Wilk. By reliving memories out loud to your partner, it actually changes your mindset, and how you view him and think about your relationship. Try this exercise whenever your feel your relationship needs a boost: Go over the highlights of when you were first dating, or rehearse the best moments of your relationship (such as the day you had an impromptu picnic in the park during your lunch hour, or that surprise anniversary date he took you on) to uncover buried memories.

6) Never siding with the enemy


"Sometimes what affair-proofs a relationship is simply being there when your partner needs to vent, and having their back without trying to fix the problem," says Wilk. "People want someone to listen to them. The key is to be supportive, and never take the side of the person he's venting about, even if you can see where that person is coming from. For example, if he is upset that his boss took away a contract and gave it to someone else in the office, now is not the time to say, "Well, maybe you didn't put your best effort in." Right now he needs his feelings validated, and to hear you say, "That must have been really hard." Happy couples know when to bite their tongues.

7) Not getting too comfortable


Trust, security, and commitment are key elements in any relationship, but having them doesn't mean you can treat your relationship as rock-solid, and stop trying.

"Relationships are a fragile ecosystem, and that's why there is a 50 percent divorce rate," says Wilk. "Happy couples keep dating, telling each other they look great, and doing things together."

8) Having rituals of connection


"It's not only about having a date night, but happy couples seem to do a lot of mundane things together," says Wilk. "They have little habits that they decide to do together, whether it be sitting down to pay the bills once a month or folding laundry."

We say, anything to make that pile of dirty clothes feel more manageable.

9) Knowing your partner's calls for attention


Happy couples are mindful of those little moves their partners do for attention. When Gottman's team studied 120 newlyweds in his Love Lab, they discovered that couples who stayed married six years later were paying attention to these bids for connection 86 percent of the time, compared to only 33 percent of the time for those who later divorced.

So, look out for the little things, and respond to his need to connect. Like if you're grocery shopping and he casually mentions that he hasn't had Fruit Loops since he was a kid, throw them in the cart for him to show that you care.

10) Doing the little things


"When it comes to relationship satisfaction, you can't just ride on the big things like, 'I don't drink, I pay the bills, I don't beat you, we went to Hawaii last year,'" says Wilk. "This stuff is not really what keeps couples happy in their daily lives."

What really matters is all the small stuff that adds up, such as being there for each other when one needs to vent, or noticing when he needs a hug, or making him his favorite meal just because. "It's also giving up on the idea that you have to feel in love all the time. Marriage is about trust and commitment and knowing each other," says Wilk. "That's what love is."

About the author: Article written by Holly Corbett, submitted by Redbook Magazine.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Bridesmaid Gift Ideas 2013

If you buy the same generic gift for all your ladies and call it a day, your hunt for the perfect present really isn’t that challenging. However, if you want a unique present for each bridesmaid that expresses your gratitude for all her help and support, you have a bit of a challenge ahead of you.

Finding a gift that expresses your gratitude will depend on the personality type of each bridesmaid. We have gift ideas for nearly every personality type out there. Check here for gift ideas that will fit every lady in your wedding party.

The Future Starlet

Tickets for an off-Broadway production at a local theater.
A subscription to a magazine with all the latest Hollywood drama.
A gift certificate to the movie theater.
A gift basket will all the fixins for the perfect night at home – a DVD of the latest Hollywood sensation, popcorn, plenty of sweet treats, and fuzzy slippers.

The Always-On-The-Go Girl

Gift certificate for a zumba class at the local gym.
Photography lessons.
Sailing lessons.
Registration in a glamping expedition.

The Next Top Chef

Custom apron.
Gift certificate for a tour of a local winery.
Table linens.
Non-perishable gourmet grocery items.
Cooking classes with a chef.

The Crafts Queen

Handmade jewelry.
Personalized, handmade stationary.
A quilt.
Homemade beauty products like facemasks, soap, hair tonics or lotion.
Yarn and knitting needles.

The Tomboy

Custom poker set.
Tickets to watch her favorite sports team.
Workout essentials – yoga mat, water bottle, running shoes, rollerblades.

The Anywhere-But-Here Girl

Personalized luggage tags.
A gift basket with a plug adaptor, travel alarm clock, ear plugs, and sleep mask.
A small fleece blanket, perfect for curling up on a chilly airplane.
A cosmetic bag with travel size bottles for beauty essentials.

The Green Girl

A compost pail.
Fair trade coffee.
Bike tire air pump.
Bulbs or seedlings for flowers or herbs.
A gift basket with homemade goodies – breads, jams, etc.

The Outdoor Lover

A gift basket with a beach towel, sunscreen, beach ball, and sandals.
A kite.
A picnic basket with reusable plates, cups and silverware.
A custom cornhole set.

The Family Girl

A subscription to a parenting magazine.
Gift certificate to the zoo.
Family-friendly board games.
Gift certificate to a museum.
Snowman building kit.

The Beauty Queen

Silk pajamas.
Designer clutch.
Manicure essentials – nail polish, emery boards, luxurious hand cream.
A weekend travel package to a spa.

The Gadget Girl

Gift certificate to the app or iTunes store.
High tech headphones.
Blu ray player.
Car adapter for mp3 player/iPod/iPad.
Cordless mouse or keyboard.

About the author: Guest author Jessica Zepeda is a newlywed who is happy the drama of wedding planning is over! Now, she likes to share all her wonderful tips with those brides who are still wading through the process. She has even started a blog of best bachelorette party games and bachelorette party tips.

Surely, you will be able to find the perfect gift for each of your bridesmaids. Every lady has a different personality and each one deserves a gift that she’ll appreciate!

Do you have any great gift ideas we left off the list? Let us know!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Double Honeymoon



Decisions, decisions, decisions. You've just spent months and months planning your wedding. What are you going to do for your honeymoon? Maybe, you just want to take a break and relax. Your partner, on the other hand, is looking to celebrate and party it up 24/7.

What to do? The double honeymoon, or the half and half honeymoon, gives you the best of both worlds. Let me use our honeymoon as an example... my wife and I both enjoy the nightlife, however, after several months of running around planning our wedding, we both agreed that we needed some time to relax.

Our first destination was Jumby Bay in Antigua, a secluded island resort that can only be reached by plane or boat. No television, no cars, no cabs, just bicycles and golf carts to get you around this luxurious private island. While we were honeymooning, fashion designer and daughter of Sir Paul, Stella McCartney, was doing a photo shoot at the resort. The staff greeted us personally each morning at breakfast by first and last name.

After three days of total rest and relaxation, it was time to move on. We jumped on the hourly ferry to the mainland and took a cab over to our next destination... Sandals Antigua. We spent the last four days of our honeymoon with twenty four hours of activities, loud music and fun people. Of course, it wasn't as relaxing and personalized as our first three days in Antigua, but it balanced out our Honeymoon perfectly!

If you budget your money the right way by spending less time at the 'luxurious' destination and more time at the 'commercial' resort, you won't see much of a difference in price. It was only a couple hundred dollars extra for us to stay at Jumby Bay for the first three days, as opposed to staying at Sandals for the whole week. Be sure to look for all-inclusive packages at both destinations if available.

It's your honeymoon... you deserve the best!

Submitted by Joe Tortorello, Site Administrator

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Top 10 Hotel / Resorts In The Caribbean

Conde Nast Traveler has recently published the "Top 10 hotels & resorts in the Caribbean".

Whether you're planning an all-inclusive destination wedding or romantic honeymoon, these hotel and resort destinations may be your answer to the Caribbean destination wedding or honeymoon of your dream!

To see more hotels on the list, go to CondeNastTraveler.com.

1) Peninsula House

Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. Visit Peninsula House for simple luxuries, grand gestures, antique vases overflowing with orchids, light filtering into every guest room. Las Terrenas lies comfortably among some of the many idyllic beachfront villages that dot the Northeastern Coast of the Dominican Republic, on the Samana Peninsula, where the sun first rises to welcome the day...

2) Jumby Bay

Jumby Bay, Antigua. Visit Jumby Bay online for more information. A Rosewood Resort, situated on a private Caribbean island just off the coast of Antigua, the luxury resort of Jumby Bay offers spectacular natural surroundings and haven-like seclusion, perfect for your destination wedding or honeymoon.

"Absolutely incredible, loved it. Beautiful beaches, luxurious villas. We had dinner right next to Stella McCartney, fashion designer and daughter of The Beatles, Sir Paul, who is also a frequent vacationer at this resort. Will definitely be taking my wife back soon!"

We happen to have our very own personal experience with this property. Joe Tortorello, owner and founder of weddingzone.net, weddingzone.com and other affiliated sites spent part of his honeymoon with his wife Jennifer at Jumby Bay. They finished up at Sandals Grande All Inclusive Antigua Resort.

3) Nisbet Plantation Beach Club

St. Kitts, Nevis. Visit Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, separated by a two-mile channel, discover the beauty of the sister islands of St. Kitts and Nevis in the British West Indies. Your Caribbean travels will lead you to islands that are rich in vegetation and history.

4) Anse Chastanet

St. Lucia. Visit Anse Chastanet to plan your destination wedding or honeymoon. Anse Chastanet's spectacular scenic location, it's unique setting and special ambiance, has firmly ensconced the Resort as one of St. Lucia's foremost honeymoon vacation spots and we have the awards to prove it.

5) Jade Mountain

Jade Mountain, St. Lucia. Visit Jade Mountain, with jaw-droppingly beautiful rooms, all have 15-foot ceilings, unforgettable Piton Mountain views, and private infinity pools in different colored tiles (ruby red, amber, plum). Chef Allen Susser’s Jade Mountain Club mixes sweet and spicy flavors, but the emphasis is on seafood that makes your taste buds sing.

6) The Reefs

Bermuda. Visit The Reefs for Bermuda's best wedding/honeymoon desination. Say “I Do” overlooking breathtaking views of the Atlantic or with pink sand between your toes. The Reefs is the perfect setting for the Bermuda wedding of your dreams.

7) The Caves

Negril, Jamaica. Visit The Caves to plan your destination wedding or honeymoon. A customized wedding or honeymoon at The Caves is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. Bask in the sheer romance of sun-dazzled days and moonlit nights.

8) Hotel Le Toiny

St. Bartherlemy, St. Barts. Visit Hotel Le Toiny to plan your dream honeymoon. Privacy and exclusivity have always been the defining characteristics of Hotel Le Toiny. Situated in the area of the island referred to as Cote Sauvage, the 15 pastel-colored bungalows, called Villa Suites, are set on a gentle slope overlooking the bay of Toiny and the Caribbean Sea.

9) Seven Stars Resort

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Visit Seven Stars Resort to book your destination wedding. Ultra private oceanfront setting, Custom wedding and honeymoon packages, Complimentary services of a wedding coordinator.

10) Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa

Westmoreland, Jamaica. Visit Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa for more info. All rooms at this, the newest Sandals resort, sit on “a never-ending beach,” in a 500-acre wilderness preserve between Bannister and Parker’s bays on the island’s south coast.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Destination Wedding Resorts

Making your wedding a unique event is a challenge to every couple and saying I do's with a twist in a romantic but adventurous resort wedding can make the experience extraordinary for the couples and the guests.

We all want to get married just once to someone whom we hope to share our whole life with. We try to check all wedding websites, magazines, bridal shows and videos and hope to come up with the most unique idea to celebrate our own. Most of the time, we cannot control who we should invite to our weddings. It is but natural to have family relatives and close friends to witness the momentous event. However, we can always choose were to celebrate it and how it will be celebrated.

A unique resort wedding with some twists like scuba diving or mid ocean wedding ceremonies and others can make one's nuptial truly unusual, one of a kind and memorable.

A Luxurious Resort Wedding is Always worth the Long Wait

If it has taken years and was almost impossible to say your precious I do, then a luxurious resort wedding will always make the long wait worth it.

After years of waiting and believing, it is but right to reward yourself and your future spouse a luxurious wedding that is complete with all the comforts and pleasures like fairy tales are told. There can be nothing more delightful than finally meeting your better half and pledging your forever with her. Spending a great time with her on a perfect get away for your wedding is like expressing your gratitude to the most high for bringing her to your life - in the grandest way possible.

A helicopter ride, a yacht trip or a stay in the luxurious beach resort can truly make the experience pleasurable and making the experience. A resort wedding is a dream come true for any bride or groom who has waited for a long time for the reality of such a dream.

A Perfect Beach Resort Wedding for Busy Couples

If you have been working all your life, a perfect beach resort wedding is the ultimate escapade that makes busy couples to enjoy each other's company in a more intimate way.

Your busy schedules could make it impossible for you to share precious moments together. However, an event like a wedding can make any boss understand the need to be off work for a couple of days. Grab the chance to spend special intimate moments with your beloved and take off to a grand beach resort wedding that can take your relationship to a whole new level.

Everyone needs quality time with the person they loves especially to someone they promises to live their lives forever with. And when it comes to starting a new life together, it is important to start everything right together. A beach resort wedding can offer both of you a relaxing, refreshing and peaceful time together in a destination far from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

About the author: This is a guest post from Kala, courtesy of Resort Weddings by Traveloni.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Photo Booth Rental Company Now Offers Facebook Integration

(PR.com) Photobooth Rocks, an Orlando photo booth rental company gets social by adding a new feature that allows you to upload your photo booth images and videos directly from your event. The photo booths also feature more upgraded technologies like video messaging, email and customized welcome screens.

Only Photo booth rental Orlando Company, Photo booth Rocks can combine the latest technology with exclusive features, ease of use, and gorgeous quality style booths that give you everything you want in a professional photo / video booth for your next event.

"We continuously are updating our booths and making them better for your entertainment part from the rest," says Owner Kristin Hubbard Wilson.

Photobooth Rocks offers a variety of photo booth styles to fit your event needs. Whether you are planning an elegant gala and are looking for a sleek booth or you are hosting an event with hundreds of people, Photobooth Rocks has the traditional sleek style booth, the group style photo booth that holds 10-12 people or the open air style booth.

For more information about Photobooth Rocks, call 407-509-9786 or visit www.photoboothrocks.com

*Additional Photography is available upon request.

Join the Photobooth Rocks Fan page.

About Our DJ Rocks

The team at Photobooth Rocks has been entertaining Central Florida and the State of Florida for almost a decade. From pre-event managing to the grand finale, Photo booth Rocks prides itself on professional, high quality, cutting edge technology photo booths and experiences. Our teams’ value of commitment to showcase at every event with Black Tie Standards is just as important to us as our passion for greatness. The Owners, Management, and Operation teams coordinate logistics leaving nothing to chance.

Photobooth Rocks now allows you to post your images directly to Facebook.

For more information about Photobooth Rocks, visit www.photoboothrocks.com or call 407-509-9786.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Knot 2012 Movie Trailer

Another fun wedding inspired movie! In this romantic comedy, soulmates Alexandra (Talulah Riley) and Jeremy (Matthew McNulty) are getting married. At least that's the plan...

View information, cast, synopsis, trailer, etc. at IMDb.com...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1877797/

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Origins And Legends

Many of our modern popular wedding traditions have their origin in times past. Here's a sampling.

The Bridal Shower tradition has its roots in the 1800's. The story is told of poor a miller who fell in love with a wealthy maiden. But, the father of the maiden was against the marriage. He refused to provide a dowry for her, and a bride could not marry without a dowry. The story goes that the bride had generous friends who "showered" her with so many gifts, they could forego the missing dowry.

Why "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?" The "old" was usually a personal gift from mother to daughter, a symbolic piece of wisdom for married life. The "new" symbolized the new family being formed by the marriage. "Borrowing" is especially important since it is to come from a happily married woman, thereby lending the bride some of her own marital bliss. "Blue" has two traditions, ancient Roman maidens wore blue on the borders of their robes to denote love, fidelity and modesty, while Christians associate it with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

In very early days, fathers would offer daughters as peace offerings to warring tribes. Because of the hostility, the families were placed on opposite sides of the church so the ceremony could proceed without bloodshed. The ceremony united the two warring factions into one family, and the danger was resolved. Today, family members still sit on opposite sides.

Because the early Anglo Saxon groom often had to defend his bride from would-be kidnappers, she stood to his left, leaving his sword-arm free just in case. The "best" warrior in the tribe stood by the groom and was responsible for helping defend the bride, should the need arise. Thus we have the placement for the best man.

Ever wonder where the phrase "tie the knot" comes from? Supposedly this also goes back to early Roman times. The bride would wear a girdle that was tied in many knots, which the groom had the "duty" to untie. As a side note, this can also refer to the tying of the knot in Handfasting Ceremonies, which were usually done without the benefit of clergy.

In early times the bride had to be carried over the threshold because she was (or was pretending to be) reluctant to enter the bridal chamber. In those days, it was considered ladylike to be hesitant at this point. Another legend has it that the bride was carried over the threshold to protect her from any evil spirits which might be lingering there.

The term "Honeymoon" also originated centuries ago. It was the custom for couples to get married beneath a full moon. Then they would drink honey wine for thirty days in a row, to foster good luck. This created the term honeymoon.

The wedding cake originated from the ancient custom where a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the bride's head to symbolize hope for a fertile and fulfilling life. The guests ate the crumbs which were believed to offer good luck. The custom found it's way to England in the Middle Ages where guests would bring small cakes to a wedding and put them in one large pile. The bride and groom were expected to stand over the cakes and kiss.

Loud noises were said to drive away evil spirits, and during the ceremony the guests would make noises to keep the evil away. Today, it's traditional that the bridal party honk their car horns and drag rattling tin cans while leaving the ceremony.

Kathryn Lemmon, Wedding Zone Staff Writer