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It’s a Toss Up!

The bride and groom have exchanged their “I do’s,” the officiate has pronounced them husband and wife, they turn to be received by their guests, and they are pelted with… glowsticks? Today’s brides are forever looking for ways to make their wedding unique, and the post-ceremony “toss” is just another way for you to incorporate your own personal flare!

Traditionally the ceremony toss is done with rice to symbolize a fruitful marriage – in Ancient Greece it was customary to throw apples in the air for the same reason! – but today bride’s are looking for ways to be creative, and some venues have restrictions on what can be “tossed” around. We’ve all seen rose petals, bubbles, and sparklers, but what about something a bit different? Here are some of our favorites!

Sprinkles:

Birdseed (for our particularly eco-friendly brides):

Confetti (look for biodegradable confetti, purchasable online):


Flags or stick streamers (for venues that don’t allow you to leave anything on the ground):

Spring loaded streamers (think New Years Eve crackers):

 

Lavender seeds (smells good too!):

Mini-Marshmallows:

Pom-Poms:

Mini-pom-poms:

Glowsticks (great as a sparkler-alternative for your reception entrance as well!):

And don’t forget that how you package your ceremony toss, whatever it may be, is also a great way to personalize your wedding!

From the DIY or thrifty bride:

To the custom-ordered petal cone:

And let us know if you have something different you’ve seen or done at your own wedding!!

Dawn and Jake’s Wedding – Punta Cana, DR

Dawn and Jake are married! Our warmest congratulations to this gorgeous couple who wed at the Jellyfish Restaurant in Punta Cana. The group stayed at the Majestic Elegance and they celebrated the big day offsite. Thanks to HDC Photography for some beautiful photos. Here is their story in their own words…


How They Met:

“We both work for the same advertising agency in South Florida.  Jake as a Director of TV production in the studio and Dawn as an Account Executive. What really attracted Dawn to Jake was his creativity and talent … and his amazing blue eyes.  Jake says he liked Dawn’s bubbly personality and smile.  We dated for about 4 years before Jake proposed.  It was at home one night around the holidays just as we were about to fly out to see his family in Texas the next day.   He had made an entire dinner with champagne and candles lit and got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife :)

Wedding details:

# of Guests: 30

Wedding Song: Ottis Reddings’ These Arms of Mine

Dawn’s Gown: Pronovias

Jake’s Suit: Joseph A. Bank

Signature Drink: Mango Mojito

Advice to Others: Once you a finalize a detail, don’t look back and don’t second guess yourself….just go with it.

The blue fans add a perfect colour punch to the ceremony set up.


Wedding favors: Flip flops for the beach ceremony

Flowers: Calla Lilies and roses

Most unexpected moment: The Wind!! It was an extremely windy that evening on the beach but we made the best of it!

Most romantic moment: Dancing as husband and wife for the first time

Most memorable moment: Being introduced as husband and wife and seeing all of our friends and family there with us to support our union

The cigar roller is always a welcome touch – never fails to please the guests.

Favorite Wedding detail: Taking the wedding off site to the Jellyfish.  It made the evening very special and different.  The Jellyfish is adorable and was a perfect fit for the laid back type of wedding we were looking to have.

Gift bags: Included a beer coozy with the wedding date, location and our names, aspirin, a nip of rum and a weekend agenda for the guests.

These guys really know how to throw a great party! What a fun crew…

Wishing you both happiness and success in your future together as husband and wife! A lifetime of joy.

Wedding Tree Guest Book

How much do you love creative ideas for your wedding? Check out this fun take on the guest book! From The Puzzled One, we thought this was a unique idea to share when considering what to do for your guest book.


Each piece measures 1″x1″ or larger – which is just enough room for a signature. Each of your guests will sign their name and you’ll have an amazing keepsake for years to come. And every year on your anniversary, you can put the puzzle together and remember your special day away. We like it!

Sophie and Fraser’s Wedding – Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

A very warm congratulations to Sophie and Fraser on their recent nuptials at the Melia Las Dunas in Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba. Julie planned this wedding with the couple, and you’ll probably be able to guess from the photos that Sophie’s favourite colour is yellow…

The light yellow fabric on the bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen’s outfits mixed with the punchy, bright yellow from the bouquets looks absolutely stunning. What a great colour scheme to choose for a destination wedding.

Here’s a little testimonial from the couple: “Julie, Thanks for all your help with the wedding :) It all turned out great! We had a blast! Thanks Again, Sophie and Fraser :)All the best to you both.

Add Some Calypso to your Wardrobe

Your destination wedding is far more than just “the big day.” We always stress the importance of the wedding week/weekend to our clients, which means careful planning of your outfits. Think beach wear, rehearsal dinner, welcome party, post brunch, even what you’ll wear to breakfast each day! Here  is some gorgeous inspiration from one of our favourite clothiers Calypso St. Barth.

Don’t forget to pack a few light, loose scarfs, a sturdy beach bag and, of course, your shoes. Espadrilles and wedges are perfect options for your feet.

And your bathing suits and bikinis should never, ever, ever create tan lines that conflict with your wedding gown, so choose carefully in advance.

The Reveal…

Trust a wedding planner to turn every little thing into an ‘event’. As soon as I saw this on Pinterest I knew we had to do it!

I had our ultrasound technician write down the sex of the baby in a little book, decorated the box, and then had some friends take the book to the balloon store with the box so they could fill it with either pink or blue balloons. At the ultrasound I explained the idea to the technician. She looked thoughtful for a moment and then said ‘So…. you’re surprising… yourself?’ and we all burst into laughter… indeed! It’s the perfect way to surprise yourself with the gender of your coming baby!! I’d recommend it to anyone! Another cute idea is to take the slip of paper with your baby’s gender on it to a bakery and have them fill a cake with either blue or pink icing. Then you invite your friends and family over for a cake-cutting and gender reveal party!!

Xoxo
Rebecca

 

Photography by Sarah Wiggins Photography

Heather and Ryan’s Wedding – Cuba

Heather and Ryan tied the knot in Cuba at the Barcelo Marina Palace. We think this photo says it all…

What a fun crew. Wishing both Heather and Ryan a lifetime of happiness!

Monica and Alain’s Video Highlights

We showed you Monica and Alain’s gorgeous photos from their Costa Rica wedding… just in, the video. Here is the highlights video courtesy of Jonathan Yonkers (nice work!).

The Beloved (La Amada) is Bliss

In the world of all-inclusive hotels, The Beloved Hotel in Playa Mujeres, Mexico deserves a true standing ovation. It’s really in a league of it’s own, literally and figuratively. Here’s why…


First note is the location – Playa Mujeres. This new stretch of beach north of Cancun is a real delight for those wishing a true escape. If you’re not into the bustle of Cancun, and you’ve already been to the Riviera Maya but you like the proximity of flying into the Cancun airport for your vacation, this should definitely be on your “next place to consider” list. Only about 40 minutes drive through downtown Cancun (not to be mistaken for the hotel zone of Cancun), it’s an easy-to-get-to destination.

The hotel is very “boutique” in nature — especially because it’s an all inclusive. Most AI resorts are larger or extremely large (which is by no means a downfall – many people love larger resorts!!), but this property ranges in the 100 rooms category. It’s situated on a private white sand beach and the vibe is extremely laid back.


The food is fantastic – from breakfast at Aroma with my favourite French press coffee, to lunching at the Isla Grill, to snacking on some spicy tuna maki at the Lupita lounge, followed by fine dining dinner at Lupita Restaurant, all taste buds are nicely accommodated. And if you’re too lazy to venture from your room, the room service menu is also quite delicious.


We sampled Beef tenderloin, Lamb and Chicken at Lupita, along with some very interesting Mexican inspired appetizers. What I liked most about the Mexican menu is that it is actually authentic Mexican cuisine using local ingredients like cactus, mole and cilantro. It was refreshing that there were no “Taco Bell” inspired items.


The Beloved Spa is also not to be missed. The design aesthetic follows along the lines of the overall hotel decor – modern, minimalist but not overly stuffy. Try one of their signature treatments like the Warm Flotation Cocoon to sooth your tired skin.


Weddings at The Beloved are a match made in heaven. The beach is lovely and nuptials don’t have to worry about gawkers crashing your party. There is also an option to rent out Villa Balam-Ha – a two-bedroom mansion down the beach. There is a gorgeous pool area for events and the beach is private and spectacular.
The range of rooms from large suites with wrap around terraces to the beach front casitas will serve your needs and style.

And for those travelling with kids, there is a kids club and separate pool area for them to enjoy, away from the more serene adults areas. And for swimmers, there are two lap pools (a huge bonus at any hotel) to do some great exercise.

Thanks to The Beloved hotel for helping us fall in love. When thinking about a location for your destination wedding, don’t rule this place out… in fact, strongly consider it.

Monica and Alain’s Wedding – Costa Rica

Congratulations to Monica and Alain for tying the knot in beautiful Costa Rica at the Occidental Grand Papagayo!! From the very beginning, Monica’s enthusiasm and attention to detail were infectious… from almost a year out, Monica began designing her wedding and thinking about the little details that would make her wedding day personal and reflective of her and Alain’s style.

Their color scheme was chocolate brown and green, heavily influenced by the brightness of green cymbidium orchids. They included the traditional “passing of the coins” into their wedding ceremony, offered their guests Mojitos and Champagne and played “Coconut Smootchie” during cocktail hour, and danced the night away in the open-air pool-side restaurant.

Thank you to Julie Comfort Photography and Harold and the rest of the staff at the Occidental for making their day so wonderful! Big hugs to this wonderful couple and best wishes to a future of happiness together!