Day #27 - Honeymoon Preparation

You are going to need a passport to visit any country outside of the United States except for the US Territories (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).  But honestly, I believe that is going to change soon for traveling within the United States.  With that said, I believe it's best to plan ahead and obtain your passport.

Do not wait until the last minute to apply for your passport.  It takes about 6 weeks to process.  Can you get it quicker than that...yes, but the expediting fees are pretty hefty.  When applying for your passport, you will need your original birth certificate, the passport application and a 2"x2" passport photo.

In order to actually travel, your full name must match on your passport and airline ticket.  Once you have returned from your honeymoon and have an original copy of your marriage license, you can then change the name on your passport.

For more information, please visit - https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html

 
Until next time...WEDologize!

Photo credit - Jeremy Mann Photography

Taking Care of Your Jewelry (Day #13)

Below are some GREAT tips on preserving and taking care of your jewelry and precious stones.  Thanks to Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company for this wonderful information.

Unexpected things happen.  Make sure your jewelry is protected.  Here are few tips to get started:

• Visit your jeweler once a year to have your precious stones inspected and cleaned to detect any potential problems.
• Salt water and jewelry do not mix.  Ocean water can damage some stones and metals.
• Always take time to place jewelry in a secure place...not in a pocket, on the counter or in a public area
• Remove your rings before swimming.  Fingers can constrict in water making rings more likely to fall off.  
• When traveling, keep your valuable jewelry at home of store in the hotel safe NOT the room safe.

Until tomorrow...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.BridalKaleidoscope.com)

On Your Wedding Night

Most couples are expecting fireworks once they depart the reception as a married couple and walk into their wedding night suite.  Well it isn't promised for all and actually, over half of newlyweds do not engage in "activities" on wedding night.  Tired...I guess :)

But don't forget that your wedding night should be apart of your wedding planning, although your wedding planner might not be 100% involved.  Consider packing a "goodie" bag with some of the following items and have your planner or a friend set up these items for you inside your wedding suite:

Champagne w/ flutes

Edible items such as fruit and chocolates

Rose petals

Candles and a lighter

Bubble Bath and fragrant wash

Lotion

A private note for your new spouse

...and a sexy piece of lingerie from your wedding shower

I cannot guarantee sparks, but your efforts will be noted and certainly remembered.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit: michaelsegalweddings.com)
Repost from 2/13/12

Gratuity Questions Answered

I get asked a lot about gratuity guidelines for wedding vendors, so below you'll find Ultimate Wedding Vendor Tipping Guide borrowed from Brides.com.

Ceremony
Hair/makeup pros: 15–20 percent of the total bill
Musicians: $25–$50 each
Officiant: $50 if you're married by a judge or clerk; clergy members, in general, don't accept tips, so instead, make a donation ($100 on average) to the appropriate house of worship.
Altar boys or girls: $5–$10; if they decline, add this amount to your donation to the church.

Reception
Wedding planners: 10-15 percent of contracted price
Photographers/videographers: $100–$200 if the pro is part of a larger outfit or agency (but not the owner). Second shooters should receive $50–$75.
Catering manager: $250–$500
Waitstaff: 15 percent of the total pretax food bill (given to the catering manager or "captain" to distribute)
Bartenders: 10–15 percent of the total pretax bar bill. Inform the bartenders of your intent to tip after the reception, and request that they refuse tips from guests. No rogue tip jars!
Reception band/DJ: $25–$50 per person, but take their performance into account: Did your bashful uncle boogie for the first time in 40 years? Then give a little more cash.
Chauffeur/driver: 15–20 percent of the total bill, typically presented at the end of the day
Valets: $1–$2 per car, given to the supervisor in advance, to be split among staff. Display a sign at the valet station stating that gratuities have been taken care of. The valets should also be instructed to refuse any tips offered by guests.
Restroom/coat-check attendants: $.50–$2 per guest; calculate this total in advance and give to your reception site manager to distribute.

Setup/Breakdown
Delivery people: $5–$20 per person for deliveries arriving from your florist, baker, rental company, and other vendors. These staffers may also be doing the heavy lifting, on-site setup, and hauling away that come with producing your wedding—so tip accordingly.

Honeymoon
Bellhop: $1–$2 per piece of luggage brought to and from the room
Doorperson: $1–$2 per task for any kind of assistance, like hailing a cab
Housekeeper: $2–$4 per day
Concierge: $5–$20, depending on the request(s)

But of course these suggestions are standard guidelines. If you feel a vendor went above and beyond the call of duty, bless them accordingly. And if you are disappointed with the level of service of a vendor, you are not obligated to extend gratuity. But make sure to let them know how you feel so that they can improve for the next clients they service.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Now That The Wedding Is Over...

So the special day that you have been planning for months has come to an end.  What is there to do now that you have had the wedding of your dreams and returned from your honeymoon?  Check out the to-do-list below for some helpful tips:

• Make sure all vendors have been paid.
• Open gifts and cards and keep records including the item (or cash amount), the guest's name and mailing address.
• Hand write personal thank you notes.
• Have your wedding gown cleaned and preserved.
• Have your wedding bouquet preserved.
• Check in with the photographer and videographer regarding review dates.
• Prepare and freeze top layer of your wedding cake to eat on your one year anniversary.  Curious how to package it properly, check out our blog on how to save the top tier.
• Begin working on changing your last name.  Need to know where to begin, check out this blog post on going from Miss to Mrs.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit: personal camera of Dejanae Events)

Honeymoon Preparations

Most couples are planning their honeymoon during the same time as they are planning their wedding ceremony and reception. But the biggest difference I've noticed is...they don't get completely stressed out by it!  Probably has to do with the fact they couples are selecting places they have never been, have warmer weather and the wedding planning stress is a thing of the past.  Some of the most popular honeymoon destinations are the Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Tahiti, Fiji, Florida Keys and cruises.

Well when planning your honeymoon, here are a few things you should consider:

(1) Before making your selection, list the places you have traveled and what you enjoyed about them.  (2) Then list the places you'd like to visit.  (3) Lastly ask yourself the following questions - What do you want to do when you get there? Do you prefer a hotel or resort?

After you have booked your travel:

1. Get your passport!!! You can get the necessary paperwork from the US Post Office or online at http://www.usps.com/.
2. Book dinners, spa services and sports activities at least 2-months in advance of your departure date.
3. Confirm arrangements a month before and pack a list of items you will be taking to ensure you don't forget anything.
4. Lastly, make copies of all your important documents (passport, insurance card, etc.) in case something gets lost or stolen while on your honeymoon.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.romancetravelconcierge.com)

Wedding Night Excitement

Most couples are expecting fireworks once they depart the reception as husband and wife and walk into their wedding night suite.  Well it isn't promised for all and actually, over half of newlyweds do not engage in "activities" on wedding night.  Tired...I guess :)

But don't forget that your wedding night should be apart of your wedding planning, although your wedding planner might not be 100% involved.  Consider packing a "goodie" bag with some of the following items and have your planner or a friend set up these items for you inside your wedding suite:

Champagne w/ flutes

Edible items such as fruit and chocolates

Rose petals

Candles and a lighter

Bubble Bath and fragrant wash

Lotion

A private note for your Husband

...and a sexy piece of lingerie from your bridal shower

I cannot guarantee sparks, but your efforts will be noted and certainly remembered.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit: michaelsegalweddings.com)

First Trip as Husband and Wife

I want to apologize to my followers for the lack of blogs for the month of May. This was the busiest May we have had...EVER. And although I'm truly thankful for the business, half the time I didn't know if I was coming or going :) But I'm back on track. So here goes.

I've coordinated six weddings in the last 6 weeks and five of those newlyweds went on a honeymoon. After reading the Summer 2011 edition of Get Married, I thought their article called "Honeymoon 101" provided an awesome checklist of what to carry on the flight and what to check. Below I've listed a few of their useful tips:

Carry On

• Tickets, confirmation and passport
  


• Basic toiletries such as deodorant, toothbrush and tooth paste
  


• A change of clothes in case your bags as delayed
  


• A travel blanket or neck roll for that long flight
  


• Camera

Check

• A copy of your drivers license and passport number should those items get lost or stolen (a Dejanae Events suggestion)
  


• Sunscreen and SPF lip balm
  


• Portable speakers for your iPod
  


• An extra tote w/ luggage tags for those items you might purchase while shopping
  


• Lingerie you have received from your bridal shower

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.southpacific.com)

And Their Off...to the Honeymoon!

Most couples are planning their honeymoon during the same time as they are planning their wedding ceremony and reception. But the biggest difference I've noticed is...they don't get completely stressed out by it! Probably has to do with the fact they couples are selecting places they have never been, are tropical and have warmer weather and the wedding planning stress is a thing of the past. Some of the most popular honeymoon destinations are the Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Tahiti, Fiji, Florida Keys and cruises.

Well when planning your honeymoon, here are a few things you should consider:

Before making your selection, list the places you have traveled and what you enjoyed about them. Then list the places you'd like to visit. Lastly ask yourself the following questions - What do you want to do when you get there? Do you prefer a hotel or resort?

After you have booked your travel:

1. Get your passport!!! You can get the necessary paperwork from the US Post Office or online at http://www.usps.com/.
2. Book dinners, spa services and sports activities at least 2-months in advance of your departure date.
3. Confirm arrangements a month before and pack a list of items you will be taking to ensure you don't forget anything.
4. Lastly, make copies of all your important documents (passport, insurance card, etc.) in case something gets lost or stolen while on your honeymoon.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits - www.Yahoo.com and www.Flickr.com)