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Green Weddings #3~ Invitations and Stationary

April 9, 2008April 9, 2008 natasha Leave a comment

Invitations and Stationary

Stationary makes up a big part of your wedding when you consider all of the places that paper can be used: engagement announcements save the date cards, shower invitations, shower thank you cards, wedding invitations, ceremony programs, place cards, menu cards, wedding announcements, and thank you cards. That’s a lot of paper, and often wedding invitations include non-recyclable elements such as plastic, so it all goes to landfill. Let your invitations set the tone of your wedding and let everyone know about your environmentally friendly wedding choice. Choose stationary that is made from post-consumer recycled paper, and stay away from bright whites, which use a lot of chemical bleach. You can also get tree-free paper that is made from recycled coffee beans, recycled denim, organic cotton, or hemp fiber. How about organic cotton invitations that contain wildflower seeds which will grow if planted? Your love can bloom literally as well as symbolically. Another option is to send save-the-dates through an email. There are many sites that provide this service for free and you can design it right there. Another option is to set up a wedding website and send the link to everyone. This is a fun way to display all of your wedding festivities and planning.

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10 Tips for the Perfect Outdoor Wedding by Nina Callaway

March 31, 2008March 31, 2008 natasha Leave a comment

Avoiding Outdoor Wedding Pitfalls

You’ve decided to have an outdoor wedding? Congratulations. Outdoor weddings are romantic and beautiful. However, they aren’t as easy as they may look. Outdoor weddings come with additional caveats and pitfalls, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to shine on your wedding day.

1. Make your guests comfortable Think about what the weather will likely be at the time of day and month of the year of your outdoor wedding. Sunny and hot? Don’t leave your guests uncomfortably melting – have your ushers give guests ice-cold bottles of water as they are seated. Consider printing your wedding program on a fan so that guests may cool themselves. Don’t forget to have plenty of sunscreen on hand as well. For a very warm location, look into renting large electric fans (don’t forget a generator) and/or a tent to shade the suns rays. If it will be cold and damp, make sure you tell guests that so they can wear extra layers. A simple xeroxed insert will do. You might want to have lap blankets on hand, or rent portable heaters.

2. Have a backup plan What will you do if it rains? The ideal outdoor wedding location has an indoor location waiting just in case. Many brides and grooms opt to have their ceremony outside and reception inside. In a pinch, the tables can be scooted to the back of the room during the ceremony. A tent is another option, but only for light to moderate rain storms. A heavy rain will soak the ground underneath, leaving guests with soggy and muddy shoes. Make sure any tent you rent is sturdy so it won’t flip over, and that it has thick and weighted sides.

3. Plan for Wind Many outdoor weddings suffer from windy conditions. Avoid light fabrics like chiffons and china silks in your dress and the bridesmaid dresses. Tell your hairstylist that you’ll be having an outdoor wedding so she/he can plan a style that won’t leave you looking like Cousin It! Men in the wedding party should use pomade or other styling product. Again, tell your guests in a printed insert so that they can plan accordingly. And of course, make sure your tent will stand up to gusting winds or find an indoor backup plan.

4. Can everybody hear? When you picture your dream wedding at the beach, you’re probably not hearing the roaring of the waves, the rushing wind, or the local kids running and screaming around you. Look into renting a sound system with clip mikes for the bride, groom and officiant. Your DJ or band may be able to easily arrange this for you.

5. Decorations One of the bonuses of an outdoor wedding is the natural beauty around you, lessening your need to decorate. But you still need to do some work. Visit the site a week before your wedding to make sure the grass is mown, the ground raked, and the flowers have bloomed. If your wedding is at a public park, you may want to ask the groomsmen or friends to do this the morning of your ceremony. If it’s been an especially cold season, you may need to supplement the flowers with some potted bulbs from a florist. Other decorations you may want to consider include an arch or trellis to focus the ceremony and frame the bride and groom as they say their vows; strings of lights or lanterns in the trees; luminaries; torches; or farolitas.

6. Make things tasty outside Does your caterer have experience planning an outdoor wedding menu? Make sure they’re planning things that will keep well outdoors in the heat. Avoid things like mayonnaise salads or dishes which must be served cold.

7.Don’t leave your guests parched Since alcohol is dehydrating, consider serving a variety of lemonades, teas and punches. Be sure to have plenty of ice and water around as well. For a fancy cocktail, why not serve a classic mint julep or a mojito? The mint will refresh and cool your guests.

8.Those pesky flying things Be sure to put out citronella candles or a bug zapper so that your guests won’t spend the whole ceremony swatting at the air.

9.Here comes the sun Consider timing your outdoor wedding for sunset where your guests will see you take your vows surrounded by the warm glow of the sun. Those having a daytime outdoor wedding should orient the ceremony so that the sun will be on guests’ backs rather than in their eyes.

10.Permits Don’t forget to contact your city parks department or other local government to get a permit for an outdoor wedding. Be sure to ask about rules concerning trash removal, candle or torch lighting, and pre-wedding photography.

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Top 25 Most Extravegant Celebrity Weddings

March 17, 2008April 23, 2008 bridalpartytees 3 Comments

The average cost of a wedding in the US is currently about $30,000, according to CNN. But for a celebrity wedding that amount will hardly cover the dress. Check out these extravagant celebrity weddings that are some of the priciest on record.

Ryan and Trista : One of the only reality-TV romances to ever work out, Trista and Ryan met on the set of The Bachelorette and got engaged soon after the show ended. ABC executives quickly proposed the idea of televising the wedding and agreed to pay for what some are saying was a $4 million ceremony and reception held at Lodge Rancho Mirage in California. The entire place was covered in pink flowers – some say over 30,000 were used to decorate the room! Trista was outfitted in a Badgley Mishcka dress and diamond encrusted shoes from Stuart Weitzman. Food was flown in from 14 countries and guests went through over 180 bottles of champagne, 600 bottles of wine, and 1,500 pounds of chocolate.
Liza Minelli and David Gest: This strange couple was married in a $3.5 million ceremony in 2002. They were introduced to each other by Michael Jackson, a longtime friend of Gest’s, who also served as the best man in the wedding. It was a star-studded affair, with music legends like Gloria Gaynor, Al Green and Dionne Warwick in attendance. Liz Taylor was also part of the wedding party, standing as Minelli’s matron of honor. Gest and Minelli divorced little more than a year later, and Gest sued her for $10 million, claiming she was an abusive alcoholic. A dramatic end to what started out as a fairy tale romance.
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills: Though this couple is now going through a messy divorce, their 2002 wedding was a lavish affair, costing $3 million. Held at Castle Leslie in Ireland, the guest list included Elton John, Bill Clinton, and Eric Clapton. While McCartney tried to keep details of the wedding secret, it is known that guests were treated to an all-vegetarian Indian buffet and a spectacular fireworks display after the ceremony. Unfortunately this didn’t make it the long haul the two recently divorced and the settlement topped the charts as the most expensive divorce in British History. The Beatles were right in saying ,”Can’t buy me love.”
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes : Scientologist Tom Cruise and former Dawson’s Creek star Katie Holmes had quite a public courtship, with Cruise loudly declaring his love for her on Oprah and at several press events. So it’s no surprise that their wedding ceremony was a major event. Traveling to Italy, the couple tied the knot at the Odescalchi Castle in Lake Bracciano. The affair cost $2 million. Both Cruise and Holmes wore Armani and exchanged white gold and diamond Cartier wedding bands. In attendance were some of the couple’s closest Hollywood friends, such as David and Victoria Beckham, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, and Brooke Shields. These two are still happily married with one child together and rumors buzzing that there could be a second on the way.
Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman: This pop star married music executive Bratman in a 2005 ceremony at the Staglin Family Vineyard in Napa Valley. Though the guest list was relatively small – with only 130 guests – the couple still managed to spend $2 million on their nuptials. Aguilera wore a Christian LaCroix gown and the couple exchanged wedding bands designed by Steven Webster of London. This couple met when Jordan was working for Christina’s management company Azoff Music Management. Christina’s manager Irving Azoff introduced the couple. They had a son on January 12, 2008 his name is Max. The new mama Christina spends the majority of her time now raising her baby boy Max and says her career will be on hold for awhile.
Liz Taylor and Larry Fortensky: Not surprisingly, Taylor’s seventh marriage to construction worker Larry Fortensky – a man 20 years younger than her – didn’t work out. The two met while going through treatment for alcoholism at the Betty Ford Clinic and married in 1991 at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. The ceremony cost $2 million. It was outdoors and a complete media circus. If it was any indication of the control issues to come, Taylor’s hairdresser served as Fortensky’s best man.
Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar: The $2 million nuptials between Hurley and Indian businessman Nayar was an intercontinental event, with ceremonies in both England and India. The festivities began with a ceremony at a 15th century castle in England and ended after five days of traditional Indian rites in Mumbai and Rajasthan. Guests included Elton John, Kate Moss and Hugh Grant. During the wedding a fight broke out between security gaurds and reporters. It started when the reporters wouldn’t let the couple’s car gain access to the drive to the Indian festivity. Then escalated when reporters worked past the guards and moved into the wedding before being forcibly removed.
Elton John and David Furnish: John and Furnish made formal their 12 year partnership with a civil ceremony in 2005. Their reception costs totaled $1.75 million, as 700 guests were invited to the champagne-fueled party held on the grounds of John’s mansion in Windsor, after the couple’s legal ceremony at Guidhall, the same location where Prince Charles married his soul mate, Camilla Parker Bowles. The couple met when a friend introduced them at a dinner party at Elton’s mansion. Elton said that David was the reason that he was able to overcome his addictions to both drugs and alcohol.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren: Not betraying the game that has brought Woods’ fortune, the golf supernova and his Swedish-model bride married in 2004 at the Sandy Lane Golf Resort in Barbados. Partially due to the fact that the couple rented out the entire hotel and resort, the wedding cost almost $2 million. There were 150 guests, including Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. Elin wore a simple gown and flew in her personal hairstylists from London. At the reception, champagne and caviar were served, and the banquet room was decorated with over 10,000 red and black roses. Music was provided by Hootie and the Blowfish. No surprise that the world’s best golfer would also have the world’s best wedding. This couple is still together today and Tiger is a daddy as the couple has one daughter to share his love of golf with.
Lady Diana and Prince Charles: The royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer will go down in history as the most-watched wedding ever. Broadcast on TV, an estimated 750 million viewers tuned in, along with 3,500 invited guests and 600,000 spectators who crowded the side of the roads hoping to glimpse the royal couple. Diana’s Emmanuel gown, with its famous 25-foot-long train that trailed dramatically along the red carpet of St. Paul’s cathedral, was all the buzz and has been dubbed the most signature wedding dress of all time. It’s now shown in museums all over the world. Was this a match made in heaven? Unfortunately not as these two divorced in 1996. Just a year later the dear and loved Diana passed away in a tragic and sometimes controversial car accident.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones: Douglas and Zeta-Jones wed in a $1.5 million ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Douglas, famed for his expensive divorce from first wife Diandra Douglas, is also newsworthy for hosting one of the priciest celebrity weddings on record. Like Brosnan, Douglas negotiated the rights to the wedding story and photos to OK! Magazine, so guests were forced to keep mum prior to the event. Zeta-Jones’ Welsh heritage was displayed proudly in the décor and the menu, as guests were treated to Welsh lamb. Douglas’ son Cameron from his first marriage was the best man, and attendees included stars like Sean Connery, Sharon Stone and Christopher Reeves.
Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith: This former James Bond married his bride Smith in a 2001 ceremony at an Irish castle. It was a highly private and very spendy affair, with Brosnan dropping $1.5 million on the ceremony. Both the bride and groom were whisked to and from the ceremony in Rolls Royces and Hello! Magazine bought the exclusive rights to the wedding photos. The couple’s six-tier wedding cake was said to cost almost $14,000. It comes as no surprise that the then James Bond’s wedding would be a very dramatic and beautiful event. The 120 people in attendance were the only people to set eyes on the wedding couple.
Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell : After five years of courtship, this couple wed in 1993 in a luxurious $1.5 million ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. There were 500 guests, including Bruce Willis, Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons. The entire grand ballroom was covered in tulips, gardenias, and orchids, all of which were immediately delivered to patients in a Harlem hospital following the wedding. Cristal champagne and lobster were served at the sit down dinner.
Tori Spelling and Charlie Shanian : The short-lived wedding between Spelling, formerly of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, and Shanian, a producer, was not an understated affair, costing over $1 million. The ceremony was held at Spelling’s father’s estate in front of 400 guests. Spelling wore a flapper-style Badgley Mishcka bead-encrusted wedding gown and 2.5 carat diamond earrings. Wolfgang Puck designed the wedding menu, and all guests left with a silver bottle of champagne with the couple’s names engraved in the side. Just 15 months later, however, Shanian and Spelling split for good. Spelling is now married to actor Dean McDermott.
Madonna and Guy Ritchie: Star guests at the New Year’s Eve wedding of Madonna and movie director Guy Ritchie included Gwenyth Paltrow, Sting, and Stella McCartney, who designed Madonna’s vintage-style dress. The ceremony was held at a castle in Scotland, where Ritchie grew up. He wore a traditional Scottish kilt; Madonna accented her dress with a 78-carat diamond tiara. The bill? $1.5 million. Madonna is 10 years Guy’s senior, this happily married couple has had three children together. One daughter and two sons. The daughter being the oldest coming in 1996 and the sons both coming in the new millennium one in 2000 and the other in 2005.
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss: Declaring their love with a lavish $1 million ceremony, Trump and Knauss exchanged vows in front of over 500 guests, including Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood and Elton John. Knauss’ $200,000 John Galliano gown, with its 13-foot train and crystal accents, was the centerpiece of the ceremony – she even modeled it for a Vogue cover shoot before the wedding. The wedding reception for Trump, who is 28 years his bride’s senior, was held at Trump’s luxurious Mal-a-Lago hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. Trump finally opened his mouth to say words other than “you’re fired” and said “I do” in this lavish and luxurious ceremony of matrimony.
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston : This understated couple’s $1 million wedding in 2000 was held at the Mailbu estate of TV producer Marcy Carsey. There were 200 guests in attendance, four bands and another celebratory fireworks display. Pitt personally designed their matching white-gold wedding bands; Aniston wore a Lawrence Steele dress and Manolo Blahnik sandals. Guests included the entire cast of Friends, Cameron Diaz, and Melissa Ethridge.
David and Victoria Beckham : Posh Spice married soccer star David Beckham in 1999 in a small ceremony at an Irish castle before 29 guests, all of whom were instructed to wear white and black. Victoria donned a champagne-colored Vera Wang gown and Becks a white suit. Their 4-month-old son Brooklyn lay in a crib beside the altar and acted as the ring bearer. After the ceremony, the couple released white doves into the air and celebrated with a gigantic fireworks display and reception for hundreds of guests. Total costs were said to be around $800,000.
Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti: Another Scottish wedding, Judd and Scottish race car driver Franchitti were married in the same castle as Madonna and Ritchie. The couple’s $750,000 ceremony was attended by 100 guests, including Salma Hayek and Ed Norton. Judd wore a sleek Armani gown; Franchitti a traditional Scottish kilt. The couple met at a friends wedding reception. The friend told Judd that there would be a cute race car driver in attendance. While Judd is a huge Kentucky Basketball fan and not much of a racing fan she found enough space in her heart for this race car driver.
Eva Longoria and Tony Parker : The Desperate Housewives star and San Antonio Spurs married on the coveted 7/7/07 wedding date in a 17th century castle in France – Parker’s native home. While some of the reports were dismissed, it was said that the wedding cake was going to be made in California and flown in first class for the ceremony, resulting in a possible price tag of $40,000. But their wedding was the highlight of the summer – who didn’t see the paparazzi pics of Longoria arriving at Paris City Hall in her pink Chanel jumper? This couple is still very happily married as they both continue on in their own career paths.
Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola: It’s said that Carey modeled her 1993 wedding to music producer Tommy Mottola after Princess Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles. In the $500,000 ceremony, Carey wore a $25,000 Vera Wang gown designed after Princess Di’s with a 27-foot-long train. She also wore a custom-made tiara designed to look like one of Princess Diana’s. Fifty flower girls were present at the ceremony, and Carey and Mottola ordered a six-tier cake for the guests. This marriage was not a long one however as the couple separated in 1997. They parted ways and Mariah Carey’s career continued to blossom in the years to come.
Marc Antony and Dayanara Torres : Though he is now married to Jennifer Lopez, Anthony’s 2002 marriage to Miss Universe Dayanara Torres was one for the history books. The $500,000 ceremony was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in a 500-year-old cathedral. Over 200 guests gathered to watch Torres and Anthony renew their vows (they were originally married in a quick ceremony in Las Vegas in 2000.) At the lavish affair, Torres wore a $30,000 Reem Acra Bucheese gown and the couple exchanged rings worth $20,000.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban: The Oscar-winning actress and country music star wed in their hometown of Sydney, Australia in a ceremony that cost more than $250,000. Kidman wore a floor-length Balenciaga gown, and arrived at the cliff-top church in a limo with her father. There were 250 invitees in attendance, including fellow-Aussies like Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Naomi Watts. Throngs of fans lined the streets as guests were arriving at the ceremony, and while many details were kept private and out of the photographer’s reach, Kidman and Urban did leave a case of Victoria Bitter beer for the paparazzi. This couple has two children that Kidman adopted with Tom Cruise and they have not had any of their own.
Barbara Streisand and James Brolin: This couple wed in a traditional Jewish ceremony in the living room of her Malibu mansion. And while they didn’t drop a lot of money on the location or entertainment (Streisand sang at the reception), the flower bill alone must have been staggering. Streisand had florists transform her home into an indoor garden of sorts using tens of thousands of flowers. Streisand wore a crystal-encrusted Donna Karan wedding gown and diamond choker; guests were treated to soft-shell crab and porcine ravioli. When the couple met on a blind date James had just cut off all of his hair and the first thing Barbara said to him was “Geeze what happened to your hair!” From that moment on they were happily married as James said he enjoyed how truthful Barbara was.
Celine Dion and Rene Angelil : The French-Canadian singer married her longtime manager in Montreal on December 17, 1994. She wore an extravagant pearl-encrusted gown that took 1,000 hours to make and a seven pound crystal tiara. The reception at the Hotel Westin Mont-Royal featured artificial snowflakes falling on the 530 guests dancing to a 21-piece orchestra. This couple seems to be a true example of how to make a marriage work as they hit their toughest point when Rene was diagnosed with cancer. Celine has stayed by his side and continues to love him through the entire thing. Good luck you two.

Top 15 Creative and Romantic ways to Pop the Question to Your Sweetheart

March 11, 2008March 11, 2008 natasha 5 Comments

Proposing to your girlfriend will likely be one of your life’s most nerve-wracking experiences, no matter how ready you are that she will say yes. Whether you’re planning to take a traditional or a more unique approach to your engagement, you’re going to want to have things mapped out as much as possible to ensure it will be a perfect experience for you both. Here are some tried-and-true ideas for a flawless proposal.

Scavenger Hunt: Turn your proposal into a mini adventure by hiding the ring somewhere in your apartment or home and having your girlfriend follow a set of clues that will lead her to the diamond. If you think this tactic will tip off your intended, you may consider getting your friends in on the scheme to pretend like it’s a group activity. But for those of you who think your girl wouldn’t dare expect a ring, a private scavenger hunt will be a fun and intimate way to really emphasize the surprise. Draw a map and let the romantic adventure begin.
Romantic Dinner: While it may sound cliché, sometimes an intimate dinner is the perfect time to spring the proposal, especially for couples who value romance and privacy. The best way to go about this approach is to keep it out of the restaurants. Set up a cozy space at your home, in a park, or some other private space, and consider cooking the meal yourself. This will demonstrate your sincerity and lend an added sense of romance to the occasion. If you’re a terrible cook, then order some gourmet food from a high-rated local restaurant or have the evening catered.
On Vacation: If you and your significant other have the opportunity for a fun, romantic getaway during the time frame that you want to propose, then make some travel arrangements and hold out for that perfect setting. Proposing on a vacation is an excellent way to make sure both you and your girlfriend are relaxed and have some alone time together to bask in the glory and excitement of your engagement before getting back to the real world.
During a Mutual Hobby: Do you and your honey love to run marathons together? Maybe chess, photography, or bowling is more your thing? If your love is based on a mutual respect for a hobby or activity, consider building your proposal around the pastime that brought you together. Pop the question at the end of a run, tournament, or weekend photo drive. It will really make her think that you care about the relationship and that you love to spend time with her. Knowing that you and she can share many years of fun times together coupled with the excitement of the activity coupled with the reminder of all the things that bind your relationship together are sure to sweep her off her feet.
In the Great Outdoors: There’s nothing more inspiring than getting outside and appreciating the natural beauty at your fingertips. Turn a mountain hike or a riverside stroll into a momentous activity by proposing to your girlfriend in the great outdoors. Maybe you make it a day trip just outside of town or maybe you go all out with a week-long trek through the deep woods. Once again, you and your spouse-to-be will be relaxed and in-tune to both yourselves, your surroundings, and your relationship, making your proposal all the more memorable.
Over a Holiday: Think you could use a Christmas away from your family dramas and your Aunt Edna’s fruit cake? Convince your girlfriend that the two of you need a holiday on your own and spend some quality time curled up by the fire. Cook a romantic Christmas or Thanksgiving feast together and start some of your own traditions. You’ll both be so relaxed by a holiday without the traditional pressures that it will be the perfect time to surprise her with a ring. This time spent together will set in her mind and the thought of spending even more holidays with you will set in her mind. This is truly one of the most romantic times to propose to your sweetheart.
Recreate Your First Date: Of course, it seems like forever ago that you and your girlfriend were a couple of awkward strangers trying to navigate the ins and outs of the first date experience. But something about that date worked, and, let’s face it, it’s most likely the one date in your courtship that you’re both destined to remember forever. So why not go back to that place where you were both aflutter with nerves and excitement? Recreating your first date lends a sense of history to your relationship and allows you both to be nostalgic and proud of how far you’ve come while being excited for the future ahead.
Go Fishing: Whether or not your girl is in to angling over still waters, one creative way to propose is to get her out on a boat with a fishing pole in hand. Tie the ring (securely!) to the end of her pole and tell her you think she has a nibble. When she reels in her “fish,” you pop the question. It may sound a little cheesy on paper, but chances are your significant other isn’t a fisherwoman, and therefore she will be totally blown away and caught off guard to catch both a diamond and a fiancé. Also this shows your creativeness and a bit of your spontaneous spirit. Women love a man who is fun and spontaneous.
Under the Stars: Make your proposal as dreamy as possible by asking for your girlfriend’s hand in marriage under a clear night sky. Pick a rural spot and suggest a nighttime picnic or if you’re lucky enough to live near an observatory ask her if she would like to view some constellations. Perhaps you could even look into renting out part of the observatory out for some added privacy. What woman doesn’t love to get swept of her feet under the stars. Pop the question under the stars and create some shooting stars of your own.
The Classic: It’s been done a million times before, but combining your engagement ring with a glass of champagne is a classic and romantic way to pop the question. If you’re willing to be super vigilant, consider the old-time ritual of putting the ring in her champagne. Otherwise, tie it around the stem of her glass. It may not be the most original way to propose but it certainly is a very classy thing to do. What better way to celebrate your engagement than to drink up right after you here the words you want to hear. She will have a engagement to remember and that she will love to tell for years to come. So why not drink up and share your love with the love of your life and accent it with a bottle of the bubbly!
Airplane Banner: OK, so you’ve seen it in a million movies, but it doesn’t mean that your girlfriend still wouldn’t be completely floored to get proposed to via a huge airplane banner in the sky. Or get fancy and hire a sky writer to spell it out in smoke. This isn’t the most romantic way to propose but it is certainly a fun way to do it. Picture this, you and your special lady swimming in the ocean and having a great day just spending time with each other and catching some rays. The clock strikes noon and here comes your plane. You tell her to look up to the sky and she sees your perfect proposal and you and she get to spend the rest of your lives together. Sound like this is up your alley?
At the Movies: Are you and your honey total film buffs? Maybe going to the movies is a weekly ritual? Well one way to propose would be to capitalize on the resources at hand. Look into renting out a movie theater and recording your own personal video proposal to play on the big screen. Or go all out and create your own personal drive-in movie theater in your backyard. Either way if you two love to spend time together and enjoy a good film this could be the perfect way to tell your honey that you’re ready to take the next step in life together!
Fortune Cookie: Fortune Cookies, with their future-telling messages, are a cute and unique way to orchestrate a proposal. Order in some Chinese food or go out to your favorite local dive and substitute your personalized fortune cookie for the restaurant version after the meal. You can order your own cookies with your custom messagebaked in or make your own cookies and bake in both the message and the ring. If you do decide to bake the message and the ring in together you better hope she isn’t an eat first read later kind of lady. Nonetheless this is a very cute and fun way to propose.
Give her Big Sign: Signs are everywhere in this world, so why not use some to your advantage? Consider a proposal on a well-placed billboard, perhaps near your favorite shopping spot. Or, if you’re a sporty couple with a particular love for a particular team, take her to a game and pop the question on the jumbotron. Some women have stated that this might not be the most favorable way to propose but it is certainly done enough. On the bright side of the idea she will know that you want everyone to know that you love her and want to be with her for as long as you both shall live. This public display of affection is one that she will appreciate and remember forever.
Puzzle Proposal: Maybe you and your girlfriend enjoy nothing more than a good jigsaw on a Saturday night or maybe you are just looking for a unique way to grab her attention. With some of the software on the market, you can create your own jigsaw puzzle with a custom message and even include an image by simply uploading your favorite picture. This method of proposal is both cute and creative and fun. Who doesn’t like spending some down time and putting together a good puzzle. She will know that you put a lot of thought into how you chose to propose when she gets the the end of this puzzle!

Nerd Alert! Top 10 Geekiest Weddings

February 25, 2008February 25, 2008 natasha 3 Comments

Weddings can be sweet, romantic celebrations of the love between a man and a woman. Or they can be a great excuse to stage a Civil War reenactment. Whatever your pleasure, weddings are often very reflective of the couple’s personalities. People that have so-called “geeky” pastimes, like, say, computer programming or dressing up like Ewoks, have been known to let those passions shine through during their matrimonial procession. Here’s a list of some of the geekiest weddings to be documented on the Internet. Also, please don’t miss this video montage of photos from geek weddings across the world.

Eric and Kathy: In Eric Mack’s online blog, he recalls his “Princess Bride”-themed wedding to his bride Kathy. While this entry is a little sparse on photos, Mack describes both his wedding and the couple’s courtship in detail. One of the tests he put her to before proposing was to see how she handled herself at the theme restaurant “Medieval Times.” During their wedding ceremony, Mack says the Justice of the Peace stuck to the script and recited the same words from the ceremony in “The Princess Bride” – “Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethaw today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam…” His wedding ring appropriately had the words, “As you wish,” inscribed inside. On top of the couple’s cake sat a glass sculpture of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Geeky? Yes. But the couple seems to still be going strong, and Mack gets sentimental when he describes his feelings about his wife. “When my bride came down the isle, my heart melted,” he wrote. “It still does just thinking about it.”
Art and Patty : This couple clearly doesn’t take themselves too serious. They got hitched at the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas and spent their wedding night in a Dracula-themed room with a coffin-shaped bathtub! While they had a “Klingon Ceremony” and were married by a Starfleet minister, Patty confesses that the couple wasn’t diehard enough to consider themselves “true Trekkies.” But they did get a kick out of a Klingon ceremony they saw on an episode of “Deep Space Nine,” and swore they would have an identical ceremony if they ever decided to get married. After their ceremony in Vegas, they were “beamed” aboard the Starship Enterprise and launched into an I-Max simulated ride through the galaxy.
Mako and Miko: These two computer hackers look like an average couple in their wedding photo, but never fear – their vows held a significance only a geek could understand. To communicate their love, Miko and Mako chose to write their vows to reflect “mathematical significance,” writes their friend in his blog entry. “The numbers of letters in each word in each vow matches a consecutive digit in the decimal expansion of a famous mathematical constant.” Using the numbers Pi and Phi, Miko and Mako managed to construct quite lovely vows. Click here for further explanation of the vows. Warning, though, non-geeks may require a couple of read-throughs to fully grasp how they did it.
Sian and Rupert : This British couple tied the knot Medieval-style, with the groom dressed in full-plate armor and the bride wearing a fur-trimmed circa-mid-millennium gown. According to the “Daily Mail,” which covered the wedding in an article aptly headlined “Joust Married,” the ceremony cost 30,000 pounds – over $58,000 — and featured sword fights and a full-on battle reenactment. Check out the photos – the entire wedding party, guests included, got in on the action and made their own costumes. The groom allegedly spent two years researching medieval British wedding ceremonies and customs and said the couple’s ceremony was “99 per cent historically accurate.”
Michael and Janell: At their “Jedi Wedding,” couple Michael and Janell dressed like Princess Leia and Hans Solo. The groomsmen held the requisite light sabers and the bridesmaids looked like they came straight from a forest hamlet. The bride explains that for her and her hubby a “Star Wars” wedding was a “presumed necessity.” The couple met at a Star Wars trilogy party in Hollywood, and while they initially didn’t plan to use it as a theme for their wedding, Janell writes, “While driving home from seeing the digital release of ‘Episode 1: The Phantom Menace’ we were discussing the elaborate Naboo scenery, the Queen’s wardrobe, and other visual virtues of the film when it hit us simultaneously: THIS setting would make the perfect theme for our wedding, in honor of how we met.” The couple even shares “How-to” secrets and resources for others interested in staging their own George Lucas-inspired nuptials.
Wesley and Faith (album): This couple tied the knot at the 2003 Texas Renaissance Fair. Dressed in traditional costume, the bride and groom outfitted their entire wedding party accordingly and capped the ceremony off with the groom presenting the bride with his sword.
Nathan and Kelly: “With this click, I thee wed.” That’s the opening line on the wedding video of Nathan and Kelly, two big-time gamers who got married in a combination virtual and real time ceremony at the Sony Online Entertainment Faire in Las Vegas. Both big fans of the game “Everquest,” an online fantasy game, the pair were married by a Vegas pastor on stage at a buffet dinner at the end of the three-day gaming expo. Darth Vader and characters from “Everquest” were part of the bridal procession, and after sharing a real-life kiss on stage the couple was invited to “step into their future in Everquest.” Taking their game controllers in hand, the duo’s game characters, Lady Quaddra and Lord Garthan, were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Stormslayer online.
Zombie Weddings (video) : This couple was married during the annual Zombie Walk in San Francisco in 2007. Zombie Walks are organized public marches of participants dressed up like Zombies. Check out the related video section – turns out the zombie theme is quite popular at weddings!
Cory and Christi: Nintendo fanatic Cory was only allowed to take his geekiness as far as the decorations, but this Super Mario Brothers cake is truly excellent. But even more excellent was the fact that the couple had a Legend of Zelda ice vodka luge. Here’s hoping someone took away the controllers at the end of this reception.
Elizabeth and Chad (album): This couple’s wedding was thoroughly documented on their website titled, “The Geek Wedding.” There were no space themes, video game vows, or sword presentations, but there is a podcast and painstakingly detailed blog kept up by the bride. She even took an online survey to determine which veil she should buy.

Wedding Weight Loss: 101 Resources to Help you Get in Shape for Your Wedding

February 12, 2008May 7, 2015 bridalpartytees 3 Comments

Your big day is rapidly approaching and you have a limited amount of time to get yourself in shape for that form-fitting dress you love. The last thing you want is to look at your wedding photos and cringe at your figure a few years down the line, so you’ll need to step up your health and fitness routine ASAP. While getting fit for your wedding can be stressful, seeing as though you’re under the gun to meet a deadline, it can also be easy in the sense that this is one time that you’ll feel consistently motivated to make the necessary adjustments to your routine. Use this list of tips and resources to help you lose weight healthfully and fast.

Weight Loss Plans

You may not have time to audition for “The Biggest Loser,” but you do have time to get on a successful diet. Try one of the counseling services below or go it your own with a custom weight loss plan to keep you focused on eating the right foods and dropping inches. Many of these plans have online reporting components to help you stay on track.

Weight Watchers: One of the most well-known weight loss systems, Weight Watchers says it’s successful because it’s not a diet. This is a program run on formulating healthy, balanced meals and keeping daily caloric intake within a certain range – no matter what foods you’re eating.
Jenny Craig: Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli and Queen Latifah are the celebrity spokespeople for this weight loss system that offers custom-made meals and one-on-one counseling.
NutriSystem: Like Jenny Craig, this system provides the dieter with ready-made foods. NutriSystem’s plan is to keep its clients’ blood sugar low by offering foods without complex carbohydrates.
L.A. Weight Loss: This plan also offers one-on-one counseling and custom, personalized menus. Like Weight Watchers, L.A. Weight Loss refutes the diet label, dubbing itself a lifestyle-plan.
Atkins: Though controversial for its complete ban on carbohydrates, many people praise the Atkins Diet’s high-protein system for helping to drop pounds fast. Consult your doctor before considering this plan.
South Beach Diet: A doctor-designed diet, South Beach takes dieters through three stages to first eliminate sugar cravings, then speed up weight loss, and finally to make sustainable lifestyle changes.
The Zone Diet: Jennifer Anniston swears by this diet that prescribes that each meal should contain 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.
The Best Life Diet: Developed by Oprah’s nutritionist and friend Bob Greene, this plan is all about choosing the right foods and portion control.
Mediterranean Diet: Endorsed by the Mayo Clinic, this diet was developed by examining the eating behaviors of people hailing from the Mediterranean region. It, to the delight of many, prescribes heart-healthy foods like olives and red wine.
Slim Fast: You can buy Slim Fast shakes at your local grocery and drug stores, and the plan is easy – drink one shake each for breakfast and lunch and then eat a sensible dinner.
Perricone Diet: A two-for-one plan, Dr. Nicholas Perricone claims his plan will both stimulate weight loss and reverse the signs of aging because it avoids foods that cause inflammation.
Deliciously Yours: This home-delivered meal plan allows you to view sample menus and pick the foods you like best.
Eating for Life: Nutrition guru Bill Phillips has sold millions of books about his Eating for Life plan that focuses on a healthy, sustainable combination of nutrition and exercise.
Fall’s Best Diet Plan: Perfect for those who are handy in the kitchen, this plan focuses on reducing blood sugar levels by eating fresh produce and lean protein.
Glycemic Index Diet: Almost identical to the South Beach Diet, this plan works well for people with strong sugar and sweets cravings by conditioning the body not to want junk food.
Medifast: Medifast swears by the small meal plan touted by many celebrities who have to slim down for movie roles. The 5-and-1 plan is six small meals a day – five of which are provided by Medifast and one healthy meal you make on your own.
Biggest Loser Club: OK, I said you don’t have time to audition for the biggest loser, but you do have time to follow diet and fitness program used on the show online through this site.
Sonoma Diet: Calling itself the “most flavorful weight loss plan under the sun,” the Sonoma Diet is a beefed-up version of the Mediterranean Diet, with an influx of Californian foods.
Diet to Go: An easy plan to follow – just pick up your pre-made meals and eat.
Duke Diet: Developed at Duke University, this plan has been around since the 1960s helping people lose weight with personalized diets, fitness routines, and medical advice.
Jillian Michaels: Do you want buff arms? Check out this plan from Jillian Michaels, the trainer on “The Biggest Loser” who has coached many people into dropping hundreds of pounds.
Flat Belly Diet: Maybe you feel pretty good about your body, but just want to lose some flub around the middle? Try this diet that focuses on eating mono-saturated fats found in foods like avocados, almonds and chocolate.
Denise Austin: This peppy aerobics queen will cheer you right into that pair of size 4 jeans with her “Eat Right!” diet philosophy, complete with meal plans and daily tips.
Dr. Oz: It seems Oprah has the market cornered on diet-guru friends. Dr. Memhet Oz, author of the bestselling book “You on a Diet”, is frequently on her show speaking about the physiological reasons we gain weight and how we can change the way our bodies react through dietary choices.
5 Factor Diet: Trainer Harley Pasternak designed this diet for the sole purpose of helping Hollywood celebrities lose weight fast. His plan consists of small meals and brief, frequent workouts. He’s helped beauties like Alicia Keyes and Eva Mendes get in shape for the red carpet.
Ultimate Tea Diet: Authors of this book claim tea will help you lose weight by decreasing your appetite and boosting metabolism. Drink your favorite tea all day, combined with a healthy diet, and watch the pounds melt off.

Exercise

Unless you’ve been living under a rock all your life or are blessed with an over-zealous metabolism, you know you can’t lose weight without exercising. Sorry all you couch potatoes, but you’re going to have to get up. Here are some basic and unique forms of exercise that will help you blast off calories.

Walking: Stand up, put one foot in front of the other, repeat. Walking is a great form of exercise that you can easily fit into free gaps during your day.
Running: Like walking, but faster, running is one of the best ways to burn calories quickly and tone your whole body. Beginners should ease themselves into it by checking out tips through resources like the Runner’s World website.
Hiking: Get outside and smell the clean air! Hiking is an excellent form of exercise that also boosts your mental spirits. The trick is in the incline – find a local hill or mountain and climb it!
Biking: Put your car in the garage and lock the key. Biking as a form of transportation is an environmentally-friendly and healthy way to get around town. If your commute won’t allow it, try squeezing in a spin around the neighborhood a few times a week.
Tennis: We’re not talking about batting the ball around here, but a vigorous tennis game with a friend is a social and fun interval workout. One hour of an energetic tennis match can burn between 480 and 670 calories, depending on your weight.
Swimming: Swimming is often claimed to be one of the best calorie burners, since a person engages most of their body’s muscles while swimming. It’s also easy on the joints.
Aerobics: Break out your legwarmers and get yourself to a class. Aerobics, while very Jane Fonda-esque, are a fun way to boost your heart rate. If you can’t make it to a fitness center, get one of the many hundreds of aerobic DVDs on the market.
Kickboxing: If aerobics are to foo-foo for your refined sensibilities, then try kickboxing. A blending of martial arts and calisthenics, kickboxing is a high-energy workout that will leave you feeling empowered.
Hip Hop Dancing: Release your inner J. Lo! Hip hop dancing is a great way to improve your coordination and lose weight.
Rock Climbing: Rock climbing burns 700 calories an hour on average, which is more than excuse enough to buy that first pair of crampons.
Bellydancing: No joke, bellydancing is the latest and greatest workout craze. It’s low-impact for sure, but worth a try on days when you’re searching for something with less intensity.
Strip Tease: If you want to look like Carmen Electra, check out her strip tease aerobic video – all you need for your workout is a pillow and a bed! Very risqué.
Power Plate: If you have between $2,500 and $10,000 to spend on an exercise machine, you might get the best bang for your buck with the Power Plate, an exercise machine that works your whole body by making you keep your balance while it gyrates. This method is popular with fitness-obsessed celebrities like Madonna.
Pilates: This ballet-inspired form of exercise lengthens and strengthens muscles, giving you a lean and tone figure.
Power Yoga: Get sweatier than you could imagine with a power vinyasa yoga routine popularized by Baron Baptiste. It’s both physically and mentally challenging.
Gyrotonics: This machine has a similar, if not more pronounced, effect as Pilates, lengthening muscles and increasing flexibility.
Nia: Nia is a member of the yoga and Pilates family, but differs by focusing on continued movement that combines dance, martial arts, and yoga.
Cy-Yo: Yoga meets spinning in this new exercise trend that begins with yoga, moves to a rigorous cycling portion that focuses on holistic breathing techniques, and ends, again, with yoga.
Stroller Strides: If you already have young children, like to babysit, or have a toddler niece or nephew, check out Stroller Strides, workouts you can do while pushing your tot around the cul-de-sac.
Budokon: A combination of yoga and martial arts, Budokon founders claim it’s the ultimate mind-body workout.
Jump Rope: Jumping rope is no longer relegated to school playgrounds. One fast hour of this elementary pastime will burn well over 700 calories.
Weight Lifting: You have to combine strength training with your metabolic routine to get the best results. Try to squeeze in at least three weight sessions each week.
Squash: No longer the sport of middle-aged, Englishmen, squash is an excellent way to burn lots of calories fast. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter.
Basketball: If team sports are your thing, try joining a basketball league. The constant running up and down the court will have you in Scottie Pippen-shape in no time.

Gadgets and Calculators

To make sure you’re burning calories correctly and getting in the mileage you need, try out some of these technologies that will help you keep a leg-up on the numbers game of weight loss.

Calorie Calculator: Use this handy tool to determine how many calories you need to consume each day to reach your maximum weight loss.
Mileage Burn: Try this calculator out to find out how many calories you burned on your run.
Distance Calculator: Type in your pace and the duration of your walk and find out how far you went.
BMI Calculator: BMI is your Body Mass Index and it tells you your percentage of body fat. Use this to determine your goal.
40-30-30 Calculator: If you’re on The Zone Diet, or a Glycemic Index Diet, use this to find out how many grams of carbohydrates, protein and fat you need each day.
Ideal Weight Calculator: Use this tool to set goals by figuring out your ideal weight.
Activity Calculator: No matter what your exercise, find out how many calories you burned during your workout.
Pedometer: Wearing a pedometer will help you count steps and calculate distance and calorie burn.
Daily Calorie Burn: This calculator tells you how many calories you have to burn each day in order to lose your target amount by your intended date.
Time to Weight Loss: This tool is an essential for brides-to-be – it calculates how long it will take you to reach your target weight. The power in having this knowledge is that you can make adjustments to your program by accelerating it if it looks like you won’t be on track to your goal.
Nutrition Data: This helpful website gives you in depth information about calories and nutrients in all foods and even analyzes recipes.
Diet Facts: Another food analysis site, it even includes nutritional information about menu items at popular restaurants.
Calorie King: Count calories and determine portion sizes on this site.

Journaling and Networking

Keeping a journal of your weight loss activities and connecting with other people who are in the same boat are great ways to keep yourself motivated and on schedule. It’s also helpful to see in advance any adjustments you have to make after you cheat.

Self: Self.com is a great website to use if you’re really trying to push yourself. Sign up for one of their fitness challenges and keep yourself in line.
Fit Day: Downloadable software that lets you track every aspect of your weight loss journey.
NutriDiary: An online diary that even makes charts of your progress.
Peer Trainer: Their motto is “Buddy up. Slim down.” Find like-minded dieters to give you inspiration.
Spark People: Spark People gives you free diet plans and counseling from experts.
My Fitness Pal: Count calories and blog on this site.
The Daily Plate: This site has it all – diet and meal suggestions, chat forums, and exercise recommendations.
My Food Diary: My Food Diary is an online community for people interested in healthy living and has been endorsed by the Wall Street Journal and Martha Stewart’s Blueprint magazine.
Diet Diaries: Keep your own personal online diary, read the diaries of other dieters, and share your entries and inspirations on this simple site.
Weight Loss Buddy: In the same spirit as PeerTrainer.com, WeightLossBuddy.com is a website that helps you find motivational partners in your quest for fitness.

Behavioral Changes

To truly be successful in losing your goal amount before your wedding day, you are likely going to have to engage in some pretty serious behavioral changes. Here are some general habits you should look at adopting.

Get 8 hours of sleep: Doctors have found that sleep helps maintain a healthy metabolism. When you’re not getting enough sleep, you produce toxic chemicals that make it more difficult for you shed pounds.
Drink Milk: Studies indicate that calcium aids in the body’s fat-burning process. The more calcium you get, the more fat you’ll burn.
Read Labels: Know what you’re putting in your body and start making it a habit that you read the labels of every food you buy. Make sure you make calculations on serving size – the information on labels can be misleading if taken out of context.
Caffeine: There are conflicting debates over the benefit of caffeine on weight loss, but one thing’s for sure – caffeine can boost your metabolism and suppress your appetite, while over-consumption can lead to energy crashes. And cut out the high-fat coffee drinks – stick to plain coffee or non-fat lattes.
Drink Water: You’ve heard it a million times, and for good reason. Water helps you lose weight by regulating body temperature and flushing out toxins. Drink up!
Ditch Diet Soda: No diet soda?!?! But it has no calories, which is good, right? Actually, no. Scientists have linked the chemicals in diet soda with Metabolic Syndrome, which causes weight gain. Turns out there’s nothing diet about these drinks.
Set Reasonable Goals: Having goals is extremely important to the weight loss process, but make sure that you think things through beforehand. Know what’s possible and what isn’t – don’t set yourself up for failure with outrageous expectations.
Vitamins: Make sure you’re getting proper nutrition with vitamin supplements. This will keep your body functioning at tip-top shape. The most important vitamins for weight loss are B vitamins, which help your body’s energy level.
Eat Out Less: Unfortunately, eating out is not good for the waistline, if you’re doing it frequently. You’ll be able to fix far healthier foods at home, so limit your meals out to once or twice a week. And when you are out, make good choices by sticking to salads and lean proteins, like fish and chicken.
Weigh Yourself Regularly: It doesn’t have to be every day, but you will want to step on the scale at a chosen and consistent time. Once a week is fine to chart your weight loss.
Eat Slow: One of the best tips for weight loss is learning to eat slow. When you eat fast, your body doesn’t have the chance to realize when it’s full. Slow down your intake and eat less.
Eat Early: The jury is out over whether eating before bedtime will make it more difficult for you to lose weight, but why risk it? Make sure you eat dinner at least a couple of hours before you hit the sack so you digest your food at a higher metabolic rate.
Eat Breakfast: It’s common knowledge at this point that people who skip breakfast tend to be more obese. Getting a healthy first meal gets your body’s metabolism going for the day.
Cut out Junk Food: This sounds obvious, but seriously – fast food and junk foods really must go if you want to lose weight. Trans-fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and other chemicals found in these foods are detrimental to your body’s quest to lose weight.
Fiber: Fiber is probably one of the most important things you can eat when trying to lose weight. It helps keep you regular and eliminates toxins and carcinogens.
No Refined Foods: Good-bye white sugar, so long white bread. Get refined foods out of your diet. The human body does not respond well to processed foods, as they are hard to break down. Eating processed foods means you’ll increase your body’s propensity for storing complex carbohydrates, or sugars, which will be converted into fat if not expended. Keep it natural, and you’ll see results.
So Long, Saccharine: Artificial sweeteners are not only bad for you health-wise, they can hinder your weight loss efforts.

Outfit Yourself and Your Home

Working out and staying healthy will be easier if you have the resources you need handy. Get yourself some cute workout clothes and make sure you have certain tools in your home.

Lululemon: Getting into yoga is a great way to tone up and lose weight faster, and now you can look great doing it with these amazing yoga outfits.
Binka: Binka makes working out hip with its trendy tops and pants.
Couture Active Wear: Great, original designs make up this line of workout gear.
Pure Lime: This Scandinavian line of workout clothes is geared more toward yoga enthusiasts, but is definitely versatile.
Margarita Sportswear: A sassy active wear line that is loud and bold.
Workout Videos: Check out this article about the best fitness DVDs for burning calories and sculpting muscles in the comfort of your living room.
Resistance Bands: Invest in some resistance bands for longer, leaner muscles.
Jump Ropes: Jumping rope is a great cardio workout and improves coordination. Definitely a must have for the home.
Exercise Balls: Exercise balls are an essential tool – they’re especially good for strengthening your core muscles.
Yoga Mat: You’ll need one of these for yoga, Pilates, or any floor exercises.
Free Weights: Free weights are great for general strengthening or bring them on your walk or run to increase your calorie burn and muscle mass.
Medicine Balls: Weighted medicine balls can be used in lieu of weights or to increase the intensity of moves like lunges and sit ups.

Now that you’re armed with all of this weight loss knowledge, you have everything you need to get on the path to being a gorgeous, fit bride. Remember, the principles of weight loss are simple – burn more energy than you take in and choose natural, healthy foods. Good luck!

Top Secret Destination Weddings in North America

February 3, 2008August 6, 2008 bridalpartytees 1 Comment

Unless you’re planning to have hundreds of guests, there are so many reasons to have a destination wedding. You’ll never have a better excuse to check out a new and beautiful locale, and getting away from your hometown makes the occasion feel even more special. Because destination weddings tend to be smaller, they’re more intimate and you’ll be certain that everyone in attendance is there for you and not the free booze. By picking a destination that is a little less popular, you’ll have a better chance at keeping your budget under control and coordinating services on shorter notice. This is a list of 25 wedding locations that are a little further off the beaten track.

Summit County, Colorado: Summit County sums up all there is to love about Colorado. Home to dozens of ski resorts, mountain villages, and expansive views, couples looking for anything from seclusion, beauty or resort-style amenities will be able to find something to suit their needs within the county’s 608 square miles. Breckenridge, home to one of Colorado’s most popular ski resorts, is the county seat, and one of the most fun resort-party towns in the state. You’ll find no shortage of lodging here, and lots of catering options. But if you’re looking for something a little less touristy, try one of the smaller towns, like Dillon or Keystone, or look into renting a secluded ranch site located off one of the county roads. There are several located up toward the tiny town of Kremmling, north of Silverthorne. Whatever your preference, you’ll end up with a slew of gorgeous photos from a wedding in this priceless region.
Oaxaca, Mexico: You won’t find any beaches here – located in the middle of Mexico is the historical and culturally-rich city of Oaxaca. Complete with ancient ruins, vibrant markets, and to-die-for cuisine, Oaxaca has been named one of the most underrated vacation spots in Northern America. There are plenty of mountain crests to get hitched atop of or look into one of the upscale resorts and spas, like the Hotel Hacienda Los Laureles.
Peak’s Island, Maine Just a short ferry ride from Portland is Peak’s Island, a maritime getaway full of lively, territorial locals and magnificent views. In the summer, the influx of mainlanders drives the island’s lobster industry and in the winter the population flips on its axis to become almost desolate. But for a New England coastal wedding, you won’t find a more picturesque locale. Check out The Inn on Peak’s Island a quaint old Inn with gorgeous accommodations, a great restaurant, and ocean vistas. Lobster, of course, will be a must on your wedding menu.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Depending on where you’re from, a wedding in the Appalachian mountains might not sound like your cup of tea. Put your images of coal mines aside, Gatlinburg, located on the North Carolina border, is one of the most gorgeous spots in the Smoky Mountains. Not to mention, it’s the home of Dolly Parton! Tell me what’s more classy than a Dollywood wedding reception? Hey, if you’re into kitsch, then that might be your ticket. It’s located in Pigeon Forge, just a few miles north of Gatlinburg. If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, check out The Gatlinburg Chapel at the Park. The morning fog and mystery inherent in the Smoky Mountains is a guaranteed perfect backdrop for a romantic ceremony.
Peter Island Resort, BVI: If you want an island wedding and your guests have some dough to spend on airfare and lodging, look no further than the Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands. One of the less talked-about Islands in the Caribbean, Peter Island is not lacking in scenery and beauty. One glance at the resort’s photo gallery and you’ll be on the phone to your travel agent in no time.
Ruidoso, New Mexico: If you’re a skier, outdoor enthusiast, or lover of the old west, then check out Ruidoso, New Mexico, located a four-hour drive southeast of Albuquerque. It’s a mountain oasis in the middle of a desert state and its quaint village center has all the amenities one needs to put together a top-of-the-line wedding. One of the town’s biggest attractions, aside from the Apache Ski Resort, is the Inn of the Mountain Gods, a luxurious casino that offers lodging, reception sites, and gorgeous views.
Big SurBig Sur is hands down one of the most gorgeous places on California’s Pacific Coast Highway, with dramatic cliffs that rival those found along southern Australia’s Great Ocean Drive. While the location is a popular one among tourists, it’s also located smack dab in between California’s most populous cities and isn’t a densely populated region. You’ll have to plan ahead if you want to book a resort, like the Ventana Inn, a gorgeous hotel located on 240 coastal acres of land. But if you’re looking for something a little more low key, just pop out to the beach for your ceremony or check out the Big Sur botanical garden. There’s plenty of options. And your guests will thank you for giving them an excuse to check out this must-see landscape.
Red Fish Lake, Idaho: Dirty Dancing fans, eat your heart out. OK, so that movie takes place in upstate New York, but there is something about the Redfish Lake Lodge that is reminiscent of the holiday camp featured in the movie. The Idaho Sawtooth Mountains aren’t as vast as the Rockies, but their jagged, rough peaks are just as breathtaking. And there’s plenty of recreational activities to choose from with lodging and food on site.
Sanibel Island, Florida: This seashell-rich island, located off the Gulf coast near Ft. Myers, offers all of Florida’s good qualities, and none of the bad. Well, OK, there are some pink stucco buildings to be found, but it is Florida after all. But the good news is there’s no neon! It’s just beachy nature everywhere. Sanibel offers everything you could want in the way of accommodations and food and it’s white-sand beaches fill up daily with pink shells from the sea. If you want a secluded ceremony, check out the nearby island of Captiva, which is an uninhabited wonder of nature.
Villa Hijos del Sol, Mexico: Just an hour north of Acapulco on the Mexican Riviera is Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa , a less crowded, more pristine beach area with lots of resorts, spas and amenities. There are many options for wedding locations, including the Villa Hijos del Sol, a seaside hotel with magnificent beaches and a stunning pool area for your reception.
Cannon Beach, Oregon: If you’ve seen the Goonies, then you might recognize < http://www.el.com/to/cannonbeach/ >Cannon Beach’s magnificent jutting rock formation, Haystack Rock. This is one of Oregon’s most stunning beach vistas, with miles and miles of stretching, public beach land available for the wedding of your dreams. Hit up one of the nearby hotels for lodging and catering services – check out this online guide for resources.
West Virginia : West Virginia might possibly be the most undervalued state. This is unfortunate, because in reality West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places in the country. The entire state is covered in dense, green, forest-covered mountains, beautiful rivers, and rolling hills. It’s a refuge for hikers, mountain bikers, and campers. And since it’s not densely populated there are plenty of serene wedding spots to be found. Nestled within the mountains are several resorts perfectly suited for your impending nuptials! Look at the Greenbrier Resort & Spa, a luxurious, old colonial hotel, or the massive Stonewall Resort.
Big Bend, Texas: The Big Bend area is about as remote as it gets. Located on the Mexican border, about four hours from the closest airport in El Paso, your guests will have to work a little to get there, but they will thank you once they do. The park itself is one of the more unique National Parks in the U.S., giving your wedding party lots to do before or after the ceremony. The surrounding area also offers a diverse array of wedding locations to choose from. If you are looking for something outside the park’s borders, check out Marfa, a desert town that is quickly becoming a popular tourist location due to its thriving art scene. Or if art isn’t your thing, Ft. Davis offers gorgeous mountain backdrops and a few lodge-type hotels to choose from. If you’re planning a really small wedding, look at the Gage Hotel in Marathon. It’s about the only thing in town, but its comfortable rooms, cozy bar and restaurant, and picturesque pool area are most definitely worth forgoing traditional amenities. The hotel’s courtyard was built for a reception. All towns are located about 70 or so miles north of Big Bend’s entrance.
Rancho Cicada Retreat, California: The Rancho Cicada Retreat, located about 50 miles east of Sacramento, offers all of the beauty of expensive winery weddings at a fraction of the cost. Plus, the site has the babbling Cosumnes River running right through it. And wedding parties get the added benefit of access to the two modern and spacious cabins and all of the more basic cabins and tent sites on the property. If your guests aren’t into roughing it so much, nearby Plymouth offers adequate lodgings. Several wineries are also located in the town, so your guests can tour the countryside during their downtime!
St. Simons Island, Georgia: The Georgia Golden Isles have all the Southern allure of a Mark Twain novel, with dazzling charm, as well. St. Simons Island, where Eugenia Price wrote all of her novels, has a great lighthouse (lighthouses for sale) and many resources available for planning a wedding. Your guests can tour the marshes, see dolphins, and visit the nearby ecological haven of Cumberland Island, also a worthy candidate for a wedding location. Once you kick back with a mint julep, you’ll succumb to the easy pace of the region.
Rainbow Ranch, Montana: Rainbow Ranch is located in the heart of Big Sky Country, Montana. Nestled in a pine valley with a river flowing through, the Rainbow Ranch is both luxurious and causal at the same time. Weddings are their specialty, so don’t worry about outsourcing the food or amenities. Lodging is on site and you and your guests can spend the day taking horseback rides through gorgeous mountain meadows, fishing in the nearby river, golfing or rafting. Plus, there’s an outdoor hot tub! Need I go on?
Big Pine Key & Lower Florida Keys: The Florida Keys are a known tourist destination and can often be overcrowded, which is why the Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys are a perfect choice for a wedding. Get rid of the background noise by checking into one of these less-densely populated islands, chock-full of nature and water. To relax before your wedding, take a peaceful bike or boat ride.
Quebec City, Canada: Quebec City might as well call itself “Little Europe.” The Château Frontenac, a historical hotel, dominates the skyline like a gigantic French castle. The picturesque city becomes even more so in the winter when it is covered in snow. Host your wedding there, at the breathtaking Montmorency Falls, or alongside the vast St. Lawrence River. You will feel like a princess, guaranteed.
Sawmill Creek Resort, Ohio: If you’re a Midwesterner at heart, but want the feeling of a beach wedding, try the immense backdrop of Lake Erie for your ceremony. The Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio has everything a quintessential wedding location needs. March down the aisle over the resort’s charming Gazebo Bridge, spanning a narrow waterway. The Resort offers full wedding-planning services, accommodations, and recreations like on-site golfing and charter fishing.
White Hall Vineyards: White Hall Vineyards, located near Charlottesville, Virginia, is the perfect spot for a stylish country wedding. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, White Hall is an old-farm-turned-vineyard with great wines, reasonable rental rates, and terrific scenery.
Mendocino, California: InMendocino everything is fantastic. The food, the wine, the scenic Pacific views, the accommodations. Choose adventure or choose quaint chapel, whatever your style Mendocino has something for you.
Rancho De La Osa, Arizona: This Dude Ranch has been featured in many tourism and architectural publications, and in 2006 it was listed as one of Arizona’s most romantic getaways. The tasteful yet hip, modern interior design contrasts beautifully with the Old West theme of a Dude Ranch. The remote location, on the Mexican border, south of Tucson, offers much seclusion, and the ranch itself offers many activities like horseback riding, swimming, hiking, and spa services – it also has a great wine restaurant on site. There are a couple of catches – the entire ranch can only sleep 50 people, so it’s definitely for small weddings only, and if you’re thinking about a summer wedding, steer clear of the 100-degree-plus heats.
Badlands: So, you’ve surely heard of the South Dakota Badlands, but it’s most likely that you’ve never considered a wedding there. Well, think again! The Badlands and Black Hills have supremely unique landscapes, with wild bison roaming freely. Rent out an old ranch, like The Circle View Gathering, or head up to the legendary, historic town of Deadwood for an outlaw-themed reception.
Harvest Moon Guest House: Eloping? Even if you’re taking along a few friends, you might consider The Harvest Moon Guest House, a super-secluded, surrounded-by-nature retreat on the Similkameen River in British Columbia. It sleeps only eight, but there are other amenities nearby. It features cute, log-cabin amenities, a hot tub, and nature activities galore!