Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

What exactly are the groom’s parents responsible for paying and doing for the wedding?

Traditionally, the grooms family pays for their own wedding attire, their own travel and lodging, a wedding gift for the bride and groom and the rehearsal dinner. Another thing I’ve heard of the grooms parents paying for is the honeymoon.

Four Seasons Hotels

I get mail about The Four Seasons Hotels from around the world, and I must say there has never been a time, that they have ever disappointed me. The service, service, service is always the very best! Every time, I can stay at a Four Seasons, I do and it is where I find peace and can always be assured that the staff at the Four Seasons, will treat you like a King.

Check them all out. Start with the beautiful one in Maui! Then go to their home page and enjoy the wonderful adventure, as you try to choose the one that suits you best … for your honeymoon or a special vacation.

A friend of mine is holding my bridal shower at her house. Do I need to bring a hostess gift?

Absolutely. In fact, you should show your gratitude for her efforts both in writing and with a present. You can give her a personal token of appreciation either before or after the party or send flowers in advance so she can use them as a shower decoration.

Second Walk Down the Aisle?

Getting married for the second time? You may wonder if having your father walk you down the aisle (one of the biggest joys for a bride), is it still appropriate. Absolutely. As long as your father is willing and able, there are no rules against his escorting you to the altar once more. And you certainly wouldn’t want to offend him by not asking him to do so.

I Do In Dallas

StrictlyWeddings.com sponsored the event “I Do in Dallas” at The Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa with Diamond Affairs on September 24.

Attendees received helpful wedding planning advice by the experts at Diamond Affairs while enjoying yummy hor d’oeuvres from The Stoneleigh Hotel’s excellent catering staff.

Photography provided by F8 Studio. Flowers by Fete des Fleurs.

Reception Tables

The best designers spin standard wedding reception tables into magical entertainments filled with the dramatic qualities of good theater. They strive to create impact that sets the tone for an entire evening with a single glance. New York-based flower and event designer Preston Bailey has seen his clientele grow continually more sophisticated over the years. He constantly pushes the envelope creating new elements to excite. “What I do is space transformation. When you walk into a reception, I want you to feel as if you have entered a different time and place.”

What is the appropriate way to check in with guests who have not RSVP’d to my wedding?

There’s really no choice but to directly ask the invitees via phone,email or in person if they are planning to attend-however, you can always solicit the help of your attendants to do the dirty work. To ease the awkward nature of these conversations, phrase your inquiries like this: “Aunt Mary, it’s Beth. I hope you’ve received our wedding invitation. We need to give the our final numbers to the caterer this week, and I haven’t received your response card,so I’m calling to ask if you and and Uncle Bill plan on coming to the wedding. We hope you’ll be able to join us!” Do not point fingers or lay blame regarding their forgetfulness. After all, invitations and response cards are occasionally lost in the mail.

Private Places

Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines St. Vincent & The Grenadines, West Indies

The rhythmic sounds of the ocean sliding on the sand, the cool breezes sweeping across the landscape, the lush green of the tropical forests and the melodious sounds coming from every shop, restaurant and home—that move anyone to dance—mark the allure and sumptuous appeal of the Caribbean. Couples are drawn to these beautiful and varied islands year after year choosing between locales known for intimate spaces, stunning views and an air of romance that is real.

Drive into the mountains of St. Lucia, outside Soufrière in the southwestern part of the island and you will find a hidden resort: Ladera. Perched on the side of the mountain, each retreat has a beautifully designed plunge pool and some even offer a waterfall. In each of the rooms, there is no exterior wall—what the resort has come to call an “open wall”— affording couples the opportunity to bask in full views of the sea, island and sky. Ladera is uniquely designed so that its guests may become part of the surroundings, while maintaining the luxury of a protected environment.

Canouan Island is located in the heart of The Grenadines. One of the best kept secrets of the rich and famous, it offers both privacy and spectacular beaches. Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines, has all the amenities a couple might desire. Luxuriate in one of its 156 villas, which include some of the largest balconies in the Caribbean. Each villa offers a golf cart allowing guests to explore the resort. Indulge in the Amrita Spa, dine at the lovely La Varenne and maybe catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two at the European-style Casino: Trump Club Privee.

La Samanna is located on the French side of St. Martin, just a short drive from the Dutch side. Beautifully designed suites—each with its own balcony or terrace and some with Jacuzzis—allow for an ideal location to have a romantic dinner prepared by one of the resort’s signature chefs. La Samanna offers a myriad of wonderful activities for just the two of you: try a day sail or a private visit to the butterfly farm.

The Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies is a hidden treasure on the Leeward Island of Nevis allowing couples to escape to a location of utter beauty and still enjoy all that comes with the expectations of the Four Seasons name. Each of the well-appointed suites has ocean, golf course or mountain views. This is a resort that offers horseback riding on the beach, a round of golf on one of the most scenic courses in the Caribbean and open-air dining at the renowned Mango.

Long considered the quiet and more authentic part of the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands offer a distinctly Caribbean flavor with a British flare. Little Dix Bay, A Rosewood Resort—familiar to the discerning traveler—is known as an idyllic honeymoon location. Upon arriving at the resort the feeling of tranquility is immediate. Each villa has a breathtaking view from your choice of a balcony or terrace that spans the forest and beach.

The experience of the Caribbean through any of these unique resorts will certainly assure that a dream of a majestic honeymoon does not just stay a dream, but transcends into the realms of tangible reality.

Planning the Honeymoon

Making your honeymoon the trip of a lifetime may require nearly as much advanced planning as your wedding itself. Two-career couples wanting several weeks of vacation time will find their employers more sympathetic if they know your plans early.

Prices may also be lower if you plan ahead. The earlier cruises are booked, for instance, the better the price. As cabins fill up, prices rise. Trips involving airfare and accommodations can usually be guaranteed up to 331 days in advance. Many desirable accommodations have limited space.
While cruises of the Caribbean may be abundant, cruises down the Amazon or aboard a tall ship are not; likewise, booking a seat on the Orient Express is not like making reservations on Amtrak. Rooms at Spanish castles, Irish farmhouses or Scottish bed & breakfasts fill up quickly.

Cultural and sporting events-such as Carnival in Brazil, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Wimbledon and the Olympics-attract huge crowds that can make finding a room impossible unless you plan well in advance. Even environmental events can pose lodging and transportation problems. The arrival of the Monarch butterflies or a solar eclipse attract large crowds competing for limited space. If your travel plans includes Thanksgiving, Christmas or school vacations, here or abroad, planning is crucial.

Couples often find that their work and family obligations only grow in the first few years of marriage, so it may not be wise to scrimp on your honeymoon in hopes of making up for it with a bigger trip down the road. If your dreams exceed your budget, travel agencies can “register” your trip, allowing guests to finance pieces of your honeymoon as engagement, shower or wedding gifts.

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of pacing yourself. For the first week of your honeymoon, consider taking a relaxing cruise, a train trip, or a relaxing resort getaway so you and your spouse can enjoy some recovery time. Extensive sightseeing and excursions that involve a lot of physical activity may be best left for a second or third week.

Whatever you decide, planning will ensure that your honeymoon will be the trip of a lifetime and it can stoke the fires of anticipation and imagination as you set out on your first grand adventure as husband and wife.

I don’t want to spend my entire reception posing for pictures. How can I speed up the photographer so I can eat, drink and be merry?

Be prepared to cast superstition aside and take the bulk of your pictures with your groom, his family, your family and your attendants before the ceremony. Although it makes for an even longer day, snapping photos of your wedding party a couple hours before the ceremony will guarantee you more fun-time later. If you and your fiancé don’t want to sneak a peek at each other prior to the “I do’s,” prepare a list of each formal photo you want taken after the ceremony. Designate one list-keeper and have her organize groups of people so they’re photo-ready as soon as the previous group is finished. You can also build in extra time—no more than two hours—before the reception starts. One more solution: Hire a photographer who specializes in candids. Just make sure someone points out the family VIPs to him.