Hey BPT Blog Readers! Today I want to feature a guest article that one of our readers submitted about exotic/getaway weddings. Emily Jacobson (our guest author) offers great advice if you’re thinking about an alternative to the traditional wedding. Thanks Emily!

Exotic Getaway Weddings: The Antidote for Bridal Stress

Romantic getaway weddings are coming of age! All you need is the Internet (or a phone) to arrange any kind of celebration in any imaginable locale, including everything from dancing elephants and fireworks to trousseau, rings, and license. If what you want isn’t already offered, wedding planners will work with you to create the wedding of your dreams. Many couples are attracted to the idea of a worry-free wedding. Why not, when planning a fantasy summer destination wedding is as easy as ordering pizza?

At Exotic Indian Weddings, for example, you can choose a romantic beach wedding, a jungle wedding, a river-rafting wedding, or a Himalayas wedding in a package to suit your budget. For something more stately, you might choose an India palace wedding on a small island.

The Wedding Experience displays a map of the world and gives you the option to choose from locales as diverse as Amsterdam, Tahiti, and San Francisco. They also offer cruise ship weddings and will see to all your travel arrangements. If your family is dismayed by the prospect of being left out, wedding planners will provide for their travel arrangements and accommodations as well.

Formerly known as eloping, the exotic destination wedding has many advantages over conventional weddings, not the least of which is cost. In “Beyond Vegas: 25 Exotic Wedding and Elopement Destinations Around the World” by Lisa Tabb and Sam Silverstein, the couple provides a compendium of exotic destinations like Borneo where complete wedding packages cost an average of $5,000. That’s $14,000 less than the $19,000 listed in Modern Bride as the average cost of weddings today.

The $5,000 price tag gives you lodging at the best hotels, sumptuous local food, personal pampering, and an exotic vacation — in addition to a wedding! With the money you’ll save by eloping, you can host a lavish reception for family and friends upon your happy return, treat yourself to a pair of diamond earrings to match your new ring, or even buy a 2nd vehicle. Saving time can be as important as saving money. Ms. Tabb testifies that her weddings were planned in anywhere from a few weeks to a few days.

Tabb and Silverstein eloped ten times and were legally married in far-flung locales like Kenya, the Galapagos, and Jerusalem. Their Fiji ceremony came with transport for the bride by raft, after which she was carried to shore by islanders. The happy and satisfied couple claims that each wedding was classy, well done, and definitely worth the money.

Perhaps the best part of an exotic getaway wedding is the adventure. Even without getting married on skis in the Alps, your celebration is sure to be delightfully unique. You’ll get an insider’s perspective of the local culture and, while every detail may not be perfect, Tabb and Silverstein believe this only adds to the charm and appeal of the experience.

If you’re in the early stages of planning your military wedding, you may have noticed that there are a lot of different things to keep in mind, and lots of rules and etiquette to follow. Below is a list of things to keep in mind as you’re planning your wedding, as well as some helpful tips that may make the planning process run a lot smoother.

1. Decide where: Do you want the ceremony to take place in a military chapel, on academy grounds, or at a civilian place of worship. The sooner you know this the better, especially if you decide you want to get married on Military Academy grounds. Military undergrads aren’t permitted to get married, so space is limited right after graduation.

2. How do you want to decorate: The sooner you know where you want to hold the ceremony the better, because some sites have particular rules and regulations as to how their facility is decorated; some do not allow additional decorations at, which is something you need to know.

3. Don’t forget the ranks: You can order traditional wedding invitations, but don’t forget to include any military titles held by you, your fiancé, or either sets of your parents. Some brides choose not to list their rank, but it’s completely up to you.

4. If you want to welcome your guests to wear their full dress uniforms, make sure you indicate that on the invitation by saying something to the effect of, “Full dress uniform invited”.

5. Wedding Party Attire: The Bridesmaids traditionally all wear long, formal gowns, and the groom and/or groomsmen typically dress in full uniform. Brides in the military can choose to wear a traditional wedding gown, or they can also dress in uniform. If she chooses to wear a uniform, of course she can still carry a bouquet.

6. The Arch of the Swords: In most military weddings, the honor guard will form an arch that the bride and groom can walk under as they leave the church. It is preferable that six ushers from the wedding perform this ceremony, but many more can be used. Also, if you do not have enough swords or sabers rifles can be used.

7. At the reception, seat military guests according to rank and title.

8. Use a sword or saber ready to cut the cake at the reception. The guests will love it, and it adds a dramatic touch to your wedding reception.

9. Use military cake toppers according to your branch! There are hundreds of options that you can choose from that will add a personal touch to your cake.

10. To complete your military themed wedding, consider using tiny military flags or other military symbols as decoration at the reception.

How Well Do You Know the Bachelorette?

Have the M.O.H or some other bridesmaid ask a series of questions that range from naughty to nice. This game makes a great ice-breaker that will really get your group talking before the evening’s festivities. You can have the questions written out and have everyone fill out the forms, or you can ask the group as a whole. Ask questions like, “What is your favorite romantic movie?”, “What was the bachelorette’s first date?” etc.

Bachelorette, Never Have I Ever

This is a pretty simple game that you’ve probably played at a slumber party, where all sorts of truths come out. To play, one person either reads from a card or states, “Never have I ever lied about my age” or “Never have I ever went skinny dipping”, and those people who have, either take a drink, or lose a point, or however you choose to play the game.
Suck for a Buck
Give the bride a t-shirt with candies (lifesavers, or lollipops) stuck to it and charge people to lick them off.

Bachelorette Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of as many items or tasks that you want the bride and/or bridal party to find/complete before the end of the night (usually it ranges from 10-35 items/tasks). You can make them as ridiculous or tame as you want.

Examples: Call in a radio station to request a song for the bride.
Get something embarrassing from the groom
Write a toast related to marriage, sex, or weddings

Horror Shows

If you’re bridesmaids are married, ask them to bring a video from their wedding. Every time the camera shows the bride’s fake, nervous smile everyone drinks. Every time the groom wipes his nervous brow, every time a drunken bridesmaid stumbles across the dance floor, the whole party takes a drink, or gets party points (however you choose to play).

Wedding rings have been exchanged as couples exchange their vows for centuries, and in so many different cultures that no one seems to know the origin of this practice.  Obviously, many assume that the shape of the ring (a circle) is indicative of undying love and the continually renewed vows of the married couple.  The circle is also associated with the roundness of the heavens, as well as the return of the seasons.

Rings generally have magical roots, appearing in magical tales, and folklore.  Spells and incantations for the protection of the wearer ate common in themes.  Today, in traditional wedding ceremonies, the rings are blessed by a priest or other religious leader, continuing the symbolic practice of giving the rings protective powers.

In addition, the choice of metals and stones used for wedding bands corresponds with the colors used to represent the sun and the moon, hence the use of silver and gold.  In some cultures, one betrothed is given a silver band to represent the moon, and the other is give a gold band to represent the sun.

Wedding rings are most commonly worn on the third finger of the left hand.  There are several speculations as to why this is.  One reason could be because the Romans believed that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart.  Another is that the left hand was considered less “pure” than the right, and so wearing something religious and blessed on that hand “draws” the evil out.  It could also symbolize the couple’s willingness to publicize their union in broad daylight.

So there you have it! If you have ever stopped to think about why exactly we use rings to declare our love and fidelity for another, ponder on the historical background of the wedding ring.

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Looking for the perfect gown for your spring wedding? It never hurts to check out the latest trends of the season and see if any of the newest looks are your style, or even if you’re just looking for some ideas to have in mind before you go dress shopping. The NY Wedding Planning Examiner listed 10 of this spring’s top wedding fashions, and I couldn’t resist sharing them with you!

Lace Lace is incredibly classy and romantic, and can be worn for an evening wedding, or during the day. All-over lace wedding gowns are going to be huge this spring, so if you’re looking for a break from all the taffeta and satin, give lace a try!

Feathers Many gowns on the runways this year featured feather embellishments. Some gowns were fully covered in feathers, and some had just a few feather accents.

Ruffled Tiers Ruffles add texture and movement to dresses, and this spring many gowns have ruffles from the waist down, or at the bottom of the dress.

Beading Beading is another gown embellishment that is quickly becoming a trend this spring. The beading can be head to toe, or just a small embellishment.

Mini Dress A hot new trend this spring is the mini dress. This style is perfect if you’re looking for a second dress to wear to the reception that won’t get in your way, or even if you’re just a bride looking to spice things up by not wearing a floor-length gown.

Off-the-Shoulder This spring, sweeping necklines that graze the arms is all the rage in bridal gowns. If you’re looking for an alternative to strapless and sleeveless, the off-the-shoulder style is a lovely choice.

Netting Fabrics Many of the 2010 runway gowns featured netting ranged in dots, pleats, and metallic embroidered lace giving depth to the gown. And, in some cases, draped netting gave the illusion of chapel-length trains.

Hair Accessories Big bows, feathers, flowers, and birdcages were just a few of the accessories adorning the brides at fashion shows this year. Accessories can make your bridal ensemble look polished from head to toe.

Touches of Black Whether it’s a black sash, a touch of black beading, or black flowers, black accents are making their way to the runways and dress shops this spring!

Bold Gems Gems on wedding gowns this spring are either barely there, or bold and brazen. Diamonds, crystals, platinum, and pearls create elegant and classy accessories to beautiful gowns. Layering longer and shorter strands of pearls creates a new look on a classic trend. Also, going with diamond stud earrings or a classic diamond necklace will always add to your look.

Hey Bridal Party Tees Fans! Great News! Starting on Monday December 14, 2009 we’re going to be giving away up to 10 t-shirts a week for one lucky Bridal Party! Sign up is really easy, all you have to do is sign up for our email list at the bottom of the home page.

Here are details:

-Each User will receive an email right after they sign up that confirms their entry
-Winners will be chosen every Tuesday and will be contacted by email
-Prize is limited to up to 10 tees to win for free
-Tee will be the relaxed fit tee

I am absolutely swooning over these Persian Cotton Candy favors from Eat Drink Chic! Not only are these favors perfectly packaged, they are filled with an exotic treat! Persian Cotton Candy, which is also know as Fairy Floss or “Pashmak”, is a gourmet cotton candy that resembles soft wisps of hair. That is why it looks so awesome in these translucent paper envelopes! Persian Cotton Candy is available in various colors and flavors are filled including Rose, Pistachio, and Vanilla. Any of these flavors would make for a wonderful treat, that is sure to make a lasting impression on your guests! Head on over to Eat Drink Chic and download a template for these super cute envelopes and labels. Plus, you will find step by step directions to help you through the whole project. Check it out!

 I have to say that I am simply obsessed with all the  templates you can find on the Wedding Chicks blog. Like this breathtaking Save the Date postcard. This is such a fun and unique save the date that guests will really enjoy. I also, love the vintage feel of the postcard. I am sure all of you vintage lovers are simply swooning. I know I was! To get this template simply click here to be re-directed to the Wedding Chicks blog!

As you know, I am a big fan of personalizing the small details of your wedding. That is why I love how Jones Soda allows you to personalize your pop labels. These would make for great wedding favors or as drinks for your guests. They would be absolutely perfect for a casual outside wedding. However, I think I would really like them for a soda bar. You can get a variety of flavors all personalized with different pictures of the couple or images that play off the theme of the wedding. Then arrange them into an old fashioned soda bar with a unique modern twist. I love it! You can personalize your soda on the Jones Soda website. The soda is about $29 for a 12 pack. Start Designing!