Stay only 5 Nights at ANY Sandals Resort for a FREE Wedding!

Effective Immediately, Sandals Resorts has dropped their FREE WEDDING requirement to a stay of only 5 nights in ANY room category! This applies to ALL Sandals Resorts with the exception of Sandals Emerald Bay during the months of FEB to AUG where a government fee of $350 will still apply. 

To start planning your own Destination Wedding, contact the Wedding Travel Consultants at Caribbean Journey ~ 866-236-1924 or via email.

{As with all promos, restrictions apply. Please inquire.}

Friday Destination Wedding Inspiration

I love this "Real Wedding" from the One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas. View the full details over at TheKnot:

A mouth-watering collection of cakes from Style Me Pretty. View the full collection here.

Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Magazine is giving away a FREE honeymoon at the Verandah Resort & Spa in Antigua. Enter to win!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Weddings at Sandals Emerald Bay Resort in Exuma, Bahamas

Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma, Bahamas is a perfect choice for an all-inclusive Destination Wedding with an off-the-beaten path, private island feel. The beach is not shared by any other hotel, the rooms are spread out and privacy abounds. This leads to an overall elegant and romantic feel. 

Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart are offered at Sandals Emerald Bay. Every wedding includes:

Personal Wedding Consultant

Picturesque Wedding Location

Bridal Bouquet & Groom’s Boutonniere

Pre-Recorded Musical Accompaniment

Marriage Officer

Sparkling Wine & Chilled Hors d’oeuvres Reception

for Bride, Groom and Two Guests (30 minutes)

Two-tiered Wedding Cake

One (1) 5x7 Wedding Photograph

Preparation of Marriage Documents

Certified Marriage Certificate

Wedding Gift from Sandals

Honeymoon Dinner for Bride & Groom in an existing Resort Restaurant

Continental Breakfast in bed the next morning

The starter package is the Beautiful Beginnings with a price point of $1000. {The $500 additional government admin fee will be waived for couples staying 6 nights or longer.}

You can build your customized wedding package from here and add such fun inclusions as a beachy wedding sign, cheery parasols, a candy buffet, flip flop station, customized favors, and more. 

We've helped dozens of brides plan and book their dream wedding at Sandals Resorts and would love to help you! Contact us today! 

Cheers,

Meet the Winners of Sandals/Martha Stewart Wedding!

UPDATE*** This wedding will be featured on the Style Network's Real Weddings on October 23rd at 9/8 Central. Tune and and watch Bayou to the Bahamas!


This past year, Martha Stewart Weddings & Sandals Resorts teamed up to offer an all-expenses-paid wedding at Sandals Emerald Bay in Great Exuma, Bahamas.

A sweet couple on from New Orleans were announced the winners during a taping of the Martha Stewart Show. 

A grand wedding cake set amongst the all white candy & cupcake bar:

We love the scalloped edges of the tents and the peak of the crystal chandeliers... 

The customized the event by serving Bourbon laced Cafe au Lait & beignets:

See the entire wedding here.

The Sandals Resorts - Grand Romance Package was featured in this wedding with multiple add-ons.

Enjoy,

Last Minute 10-10-10 Wedding Packages

Just in case you don't have any other plans for the second week of October, why jump a plane over to Lucaya for a 10-10-10 Wedding Package!

The Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island is offering a “10/10/10 Wedding Package,” providing couples with the opportunity to tie the knot on a Bahamian beachfront on the most memorable day of the year -- Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. The package features services and amenities including a wedding performed by a Bahamian marriage officer; a reserved beachfront or gazebo ceremony site; a bridal bouquet and boutonnière; legal documents; a six-foot wedding cake; 24 4x6 photographs of the wedding ceremony; a one-hour cocktail reception with open bar; the services of a wedding coordinator; and an in-room honeymoon breakfast for two, including a bottle of champagne. The package is priced at $2,010, with a minimum three-night stay required. For more information, call 866-870-7148.

RIU Hotels offers FREE Weddings for 2011

ALL you have to do to earn a FREE Destination Wedding at select Riu Hotels is book at least 5 guestrooms for you and your wedding guests. 

The FREE Wedding Package Includes:

* M.I.C.E. Manager to help plan the special day

* Decoration set up for the ceremony location

* Bridal Bouquet

* Matching boutonniere for the groom

* CD or recorded music during the ceremony

* Semi private dinner for the couple and wedding guests at one of our specialty restaurants

* Wedding cake for the couple and 10 wedding guests or less

* Sparkling wine for the couple and 10 wedding guests or less (during the main toast only)

* Special decoration in the room

* Witnesses if required

(MINISTER OR JUDGE FEES & DOCUMENTATION ARE NOT INCLUDED)

This offer is only valid at the following RIU Hotels:

MEXICO:

Riu Palace Mexico

Riu Palace Pacifico

Riu Santa Fe

Riu Emerald Bay

JAMAICA:

Riu Negril Hotel

Riu Tropical Bay Hotel

Riu Ocho Rios

Riu Montego Bay

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Riu Bachata Hotel

Riu Palace Punta Cana

BAHAMAS AND COSTA RICA:

Riu Palace Paradise Island

Riu Guanacaste Hotel

Wedding Date must be between January 1 to December 31, 2011. 

Ready to start planning? I'd be happy to get started right away by checking availability of your desired ceremony date/time and shop around for the best group rates on a hotel block. Drop me a line!

All of the Riu Hotels above are in locations that are easy to reach from the US and Europe and there are many cheap flight options available! Check American Airlines - they offer lots of different flight schedules to the locations listed above!

(As with all promotions, restrictions apply!) 

Enjoy,

The Bride's Guide - by Martha Stewart Weddings

I love Martha Stewart, and even more so now that she has partnered with Sandals Resorts. The Bride's Guide is a treasure chest of resources operated by the experts from Martha Stewart Weddings.

One of my favorites is the in-depth listing of Bridal Events, including such cool dates as the opening of J. Crew's first bridal boutique and trunk show listings for small independent designers. Check for an event near you!

This week, The Bride's Guide team has been busy planning a wedding at Sandals Emerald Bay in the Exumas.... read all about the process right here.

Enjoy!

One Fine Location - Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas

The One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island is bar none of my all time favorite backdrops for a Destination Wedding. I found this great collection of photos from Martha Stewart Weddings featuring an Ocean Club wedding with classic beach details...

Want more? Go here. Enjoy!

Sabor Restaurant & Bar - Grand Bahama

Celebrated as one of Grand Bahama's finest and most innovative restaurants – Sabor Restaurant and Bar in the garden overlooking the water at Pelican Bay is the ideal place for your wedding rehearsal reception or wedding reception dinner. Your guests will enjoy signature tropical drinks or selections from a full premium bar. The waterside open air area is the perfect place for all to indulge in a delightful reception to welcome your guests to our island. At this two-hour welcome reception event your guests will enjoy scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and wonderful drinks.

Here is a sample menu for an evening welcome reception at Sabor Restaurant and Bar.

Hors d’ Oeuvres (Select Five Choices)

Smoked Salmon on Wonton with Cream Cheese

Italian meat balls with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings

Tuna & salmon California Rolls with Wasabi Soy Sauce

Olive & Sundried Tomato Tapenade with Parmesan Crostini

Yellow Fin Tuna Wanton with Wasabi and Sesame Seed

Scallop Bruschetta with Vodka Cream Cheese and Bacon Crisp

Avocado & Olive Dip with Toasted Garlic Bruschetta

Orange Glazed Tiger Shrimp with Jalapeno Sauce

Cheese and Spinach Stuffed MushroomTomato and Goat Cheese Crostini

$18.00 per person - minimum 12 persons($18.00 per person* plus 18% gratuity)

Appetizer(Select Two Choices)

Crispy Greens Garden Salad with Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Toasted Almonds

Sabor Salad with Sweet Pear, Blue Cheese, Toasted Walnut and Walnut Vinaigrette

Thai Coconut and lime Seafood SoupCognac Infused Bahamian Spiny Lobster Bisque with Cognac Whipped Cream

Lemon Pepper Smoked Salmon with Lemon-Capers Cream Cheese

Crispy Golden Fish Cake with Bell Peppers and Cilantro and Spicy Cucumber Salsa

Sautéed Tiger Shrimp with Greens and Jalapeno Sauce

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Main Course(Select Three Choices)

Almond-Thyme and Sun dried Tomato Crusted Grouper with Potato Puree, Vegetables and Garlic-Tomato Coulis Sauce

Seared Yellow Tuna with Japanese Noodles Salad and Orange-Ginger Sesame Dressing

Blacken Spiced Grouper Crispy Garden Greens with Pineapple and Tomato-Olive Vinaigrette Butterfly Salmon Fillet with Roasted Vegetables, Spinach Potato Puree and Tomato-Brue Blanc Sauce

Herb-Red Wine Braised Lamb Shank with Roasted Sweet Potato, Grilled Squash and Lamb Meat Juice

Grilled Sirloin Steak with Stuffed Potato, Sautéed Mushroom, Green Beans and Mustard Sauce

Pepper Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Caramelized Onions, Wasabi Potato and Cherry Port Wine Sauce

Dessert

The Sabor Gossip Cake...A Few Of Our Fabulous Ingredients: Crispy Meringue, Bailey's, Chocolate, Brownie, Frozen Bananas, Sweet Crème, Coconut Caramel SauceOrCheese Cake

Non-closeout: $55.00 per person plus 18 % gratuity for a three-course meal - minimum 16 persons. Closeout: $6000 for up to 50 persons - includes a Premium four-hour Open Bar, choice of five hors d'oeuvres and a three-course meal. $100.00 per person + 18 % gratuity.

Pelican Bay | Weddings in the Bahamas

Pelican Bay Hotel is one of the hotels located at Lucaya in the Bahamas. Designed as a European-inspired Boutique Hotel, it stands apart from its neighbors with its simple design style. This is a perfect choice for smaller, more intimate weddings with big style.

{flower girl not included}

The hotel is not beachfront so for a toes in the sand ceremony, the groom, groomsmen, and guests are delivered by ferry to the hotel's private beach 15 minutes away. This hotel has EVERYTHING else... so the beach is hardly missed... Enjoy!

Win a Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart!

You already know I am a huge fan of Martha Stewart and Sandals Resorts and am overjoyed at their recent partnership. If you saw the Martha Stewart Show on Friday, November 20th then this is old news... but for everyone else... check out this great opportunity to win a fully paid Destination Wedding for you & 10 guests to Sandals newest resort, Emerald Bay in Exuma, Bahamas.

The grand prize winner, who will be announced on ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ on February 11, will be awarded a customized destination dream wedding created by Martha Stewart’s team at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. The package also includes a 6 day/5 night Luxury Included® stay for the bride and groom at Sandals Emerald Bay; a 4 day/3 night Luxury Included® stay for 10 guests at Sandals Emerald Bay; plus, roundtrip airfare for the bride and groom, as well as all 10 guests. The wedding will be filmed and featured on ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ and in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.

Couples who wish to enter the contest, which runs through January 20, 2010, can go to marthastewartweddings.com where they’ll be invited to submit a 90-second video explaining why they should win a customized Sandals Wedding by Martha Stewart™.
With six exquisite wedding themes, in the most romantic settings, Sandals Weddings by Martha Stewart feature coordinated color palettes, beautifully designed wedding décor, complementary bouquets, invitations, cakes and favors, along with à la carte items, creating a memorable experience to suit every couple’s unique preferences.

The End.

Martha Stewart Comes to Sandals Resorts

Last week I attended a seminar sponsored by Sandals Resorts and was lucky enough to see Martha's designs in action with multiple themed table displays. I was wowed and came home giddy as a school girl excited to help my clients take advantage of this fantastic partnership. Sandals Resorts makes wedding planning easy. Add the clean, simple and elegantly chic designs of Martha Stewart and your wedding will be a huge success. I expect to receive full photography on her designs very soon... in the meantime, the above is s sneak peak. Enjoy!

One Great Location!

White Sand... clear water... paper parasols? I'm in heaven!

Where in the world is this great place???

This is Tippy's, the chic little shack attached to Pineapple Fields hotel in Eleuthera, Bahamas. This little article on this little blog sums it up nicely. Sound like your kind of place? Its little... but packs a punch when it comes to sweet Destination Wedding ambiance. Read all about their weddings right here.

Bahamas Bridal Association

If you are planning on getting married in the Bahamas, contacting the Bahamas Bridal Association is a great idea! The Association is comprised of many of the island nation's top locally based wedding planners. While a travel agent like myself is best to arrange your travel plans, a local planner is often needed to pull together all of the small details. A skilled wedding planner will oversea your event and make sure it runs smooth... we all know there is simply no room for error or stress on your wedding day! Visit their website for great resources such as legal requirements in the Bahamas and a list of available vendors.

A Kamalame Cay Wedding...

This wedding took place on Kamalame Cay, in the Bahamas, in February and was captured by Vallentyne Photography. Private Island Weddings are a growing trend, and Kamalame fits the bill... a beautiful secluded cay with all the comforts expected at a 5 star resort and a staff who goes above and beyond to help customize your special event!

The Setting...

The Special Day...

The Parties...

The End...