Interview with a Pro from TheHoneymoon.com

I have long been a fan of TheHoneymoon.com and my clients have really enjoyed the ease and offerings of their honeymoon registry website. So, I decided to have a chat with the founder, Scott Ellingboe in hopes of learning what inspires him and what's new!

LAURA: Was there a personal experience in your life that gave birth to the idea of a honeymoon registry?

Scott: Yes. I was on the phone in 1998 with an acquaintance who was a supplier to our business and he was getting remarried in his mid-forties. His fiancée was getting married for the first time and she was registering for all kinds of things they just didn't need. As he was telling me this he said, "I wish we could just register for our honeymoon to Italy because I don't need another blender." It was an "ah ha" moment.

LAURA: What would you consider the most exciting feature of TheHoneymoon.com right now?

Scott: The most exciting feature right now on our site is our digital magazine. It's a fully interactive magazine that will come out quarterly and features great honeymoon destinations and other interesting articles for couples interested in honeymoons and/or destination wedding information. It also has interesting articles on traveling "green" as well as some interesting facts about rum, which is used in many of the most famous tropical drinks. We also profile real couples to give readers a peak into someone else's honeymoon experience.

LAURA: From my own experience, I know most clients aren't willing to sacrifice their honeymoon but I assume more and more couples are seeking help in paying for the trip and adventures. Have you seen an increase in usage on your site as the economy weakens?

Scott: Yes. We have seen an increase in the number of transactions versus the same period last year. However, the average dollar amount spent per gift purchase has dropped from $117 to $102. Wedding gifts fall under discretionary spending, which is usually the first to be affected by the economy. The fact that individual gift purchases are up is proof that more people are choosing this type of registry and that wedding guests are responding.

LAURA: Have any really outrageous registries come across your site and have they been filled?

Scott: I'm not sure what qualifies as outrageous, we've had some outrageously bad registries from people who just didn't get that a honeymoon registry has to be fun, filled with gift items that will give the couple a more memorable experience. Getting to a destination is a small part of the overall experience -- it's what you do when you get there that defines the memories you will cherish forever. There is one registry from about seven years ago that was pretty outrageous at the time -- the couple registered for Viagra, "for those last few honeymoon nights!" That got a laugh out of everyone who saw it.

That's all folks! Check back for more fun interviews!

Green Your Caribbean Wedding!

One of the hottest trends in weddings this year, is "green" weddings. Society as a whole is becoming more environmentally conscious and therefore companies everywhere are jumping on the marketing bandwagon to appeal to this growing level of compassion. The travel and wedding industries are not exempt. Combine green-conscious companies from each of these industries and a Green Destination Wedding is possible! Let's start at the beginning, with the engagement rings. Green Karat sells conflict-free diamonds and will allow you to recycle any of your old jewelry and then creates a custom piece just for you!

Next it is time to send out the announcements! Twisted Limb Paperworks is just one of the green companies I found that offers 100% recycled Save-the-Date Announcements and Invitations that can be fully customized and come in an array of colors including a texted tan that resembles sand and the same pale blue as the Caribbean Sea.

Unfortunately, air travel is one of the evils of the eco-friendly modern age. Despite my green quest, I for one will never be able to give up flying. There are simply far too many places I lust for that I can't reach any other way. Terra Pass is just one of the many organizations popping up offering carbon offset programs. (I was in touch with them last year in hopes of working together and they never followed-up... but I still think their company is worth recommending.) While there are many debates about how and if these programs really work, I think it best to err on the side of "let's hope so".

Deciding where to stay will be the toughest part because eco-friendly hotels and resorts are springing up each month in the Caribbean! The Green Globe program is one of the oldest eco-friendly certification programs. The Caribbean, as a region, leads the world in the number of Green Globe certified properties. Currently there are 57 Certified Properties in the region. Here are some of my favorites. The Bucuti Resort, a small intimate resort, in Aruba has installed many water-saving devices and dozens of solar panels. Kudos to the Sandals Resort chain for making sure ALL of their hotels are Green Globe Certified. The purely luxurious Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada employs a "green team", a group of individuals who oversee and implement the environmental programs on property.

A room from the Cinnamon and Saffron Suites at Spice Island:

And because some of you don't want to return from your Destination Wedding to a house full of unnecessary gifts, there are all kinds of conscious wedding registries. My favorite this week is offered through the World Wildlife Fund and allows your guests to contribute to conservation in place of sending a gift.

Wedding Registry with a Cause - African Dowry

Times, they are a changing! Just when I thought I had seen every type of wedding registry - from handmade goods to home repairs, along comes the charitable sector. I am a huge fan of philanthropy and think this registry is another exciting way to bring charity into our everyday lives. I believe more people would help others if they had more opportunities to do so... kudos to African Dowry for providing one. The site allows couples to register for items like seeds, chickens, and beehives - survival staples in many African nations. Guests can purchase these items to be donated. The site is operated in the UK and offers the price list in pounds but they will do the conversion for you. Hmmm... maybe someone should start such a service for those living in poverty in the Caribbean.