Have Groom, will Travel...

I've been considering doing a piece on Destination Weddings for a while now; after all, with some very clever planning and budget savviness, a Wedding abroad can save you a fortune.

Hosting your Wedding in another country means obvious cuts to your guest list; ideal if you'd prefer an intimate gathering to an all-out BWW (that's Big White Wedding to us insiders!), and this is becoming increasingly popular amongst Brides and Grooms to be, instead choosing to hold a reception on their return for absent guests. 

Here are a few of my favourite Destinations; prepare to get bitten by the travel bug!

Vegas

Honestly, what kind of Wedding Planner would I be if I didn't mention the obvious choice?

Vegas is the ultimate place to tie the knot and it can be done on a very modest budget. Cliche though it may sound, getting married in Vegas doesn't always mean Elvis and a drive-through ceremony.

For the Fun Factor, think Circus Circus; a hotel and casino on the Vegas Strip which houses it's very own indoor theme park! As do many of the big hotels in Vegas, Circus Circus has a Wedding Chapel inside which is licensed for civil Ceremonies. Wedding packages at Circus Circus start from just $325.

Chapel of the Fountain, Circus Circus Hotel

                                                   Image courtesy of Equallywed.com



New York
Central Park is a beautiful location to hold an intimate and elegant ceremony. From the Cop Cot to Belvedere's Castle, there are lots of different settings for the perfect 'I Do' moment. Beautiful all year round, Central Park is an iconic New York location where a piece of paradise can be found in the middle of a concrete Metropolis.
Alternatively, you could chose the 'When in Rome' approach and marry in true no-nonsense New Yorker Style with a quick and simple ceremony at the City Clerks office. Other New York locations include the Top of the Rock, the Brooklyn Bridge, and even Times Square. American Sky offer Wedding Packages from £650.

Times Square

                                          Image courtesy of American Sky


Belvedere Castle, Central Park

Image courtesy of www.powertripberkley.com

South Africa
So what about an African Safari? It's certainly got the 'wow' factor. Known as the 'Rainbow Nation', it boasts a plethora of different cultures and stunning scenery; making it the perfect place for adventure loving couples.
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa is ideal for an intimate Wedding Ceremony, the hotel offers one of the most romantic and memorable locations in the world to get married due to it's position nestled beside the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and Table Mountain.
With exclusive Spa facilities and an in-house cinema, there are plenty of opportunities to unwind before the big day.
A Wedding Package at this stunning resort can be added as an addition to your holiday booking from £370 when booked directly.

                                       Images courtesy of the Twelve Apostles Hotel


Things to consider when choosing to Marry abroad
It's worth checking out the minimum residency period that applies to the country you've chosen as your destination. This can vary from 1 to 7 working days, so bear this in mind when budgeting for your trip. The residency period is a basic requirement that states how long you must be in the country before you can marry there.
The legalities can also be a factor; in some countries, couples are required to take a blood test to prove they are not related (yes, really!). Also, sometimes an Affidavit is required; this is a document that is obtained through a notary public that confirms your marital status. You will usually be advised of how to obtain any essential documents when booking your Wedding, but it's always worth double checking just to be sure.
Also ensure that provision will be made for transporting your Wedding Dress; the last thing you want is to be forced to pack it into your hold luggage. It will not only end up creased, but there is always the possibility that your luggage might get lost and you definitely don't want to be seperated from your gown for your Big Day.

Until next time...
Dust off your passport and book your flights!

The Enchanted One
xoxo

Do yourself a Favour

If the concept of providing dozens and dozens of favours has you (and your Budget) breaking into a cold sweat, fear not; I have compiled a list of brilliant and unusual favour ideas that come in at less than £2 each. With these simple and beautiful ideas, Favour Fever needn't be an issue, and the best part is that they can double up as place settings with the addition of a simple name tag.

Save a Fortune
Fortune Cookies are the best thing about having a takeaway; my inner child gets excited for that mystical piece of paper...share this excitement with your nearest and dearest by providing each guest with a Fortune Cookie. They are just £13.99 for 100 cookies from good old eBay...that's a blinding 14p per guest.


Scented Soaps
Everyone loves Smellies; so why not treat your guests to a bath time delight with a gorgeous scented soap favour? With a lavender scent for the ladies and an olive scent for the gents, you can get these lovely soaps in individual brown card boxes for a bargain £1.50 each from a fabulous Not On The High Street shop called 'The Wedding of My Dreams'.

Shop Here -The Wedding Of My Dreams

Antique Style Key
Perfect for a vintage theme, these cute little keepsakes can be strung with colour coordinating ribbon and labelled with a cute play on words; Lock Me in Your Heart, Key to My Heart, Key to Happiness, Key to Success etc. The possibilities are endless, and at £1.40 for 60 of these little beauties from eBay, they work out at 2.5p each!

Shop Here -eBay

Individual Jam or Honey Pots
If you've ever stayed in a hotel or guest house with individual jars of jam or honey, you'll appreciate what a cute touch they would make as a favour. Morrisons offer mini Rowse honey jars and locally made jam at 4 for £1...simply add your own labels et voila! Super low cost favours that are still gorgeous and thoughtful. Have a variety of different expressions on the labels; think 'Spread the Love', 'Meant to Bee' and 'Love is Sweet', and have one expression per table for the extra cute-factor.

Bombs Away
There is a fabulous lady on eBay called Laura who makes beautiful handmade soaps and bath bombs.
These gorgeous mini heart shaped bombs come in several fragrances including bubblegum and coconut (yum!) What's more, they are vegetarian friendly and aren't tested on animals, so you can be a friend to the furries and save a bundle! At £15.79 for 50 including P&P, the work out just over 30p per guest, andyou can choose different colours and fragrances to combine too!

Buy Laura's handmade creations HERE!

I hope you've enjoyed my inspiration station....check back soon for more money saving ideas!

Until next time...

Live life to the full, Laugh until your cheeks ache and Love like you've never been hurt!

The Enchanted One xoxo

Beat the Budgeting Blues

I'm such a bargain hunter; You will usually find me hunting for treasure in Charity shops, Car Boot Sales and on Ebay. I once picked up a vintage Laura Ashley tea dress for about two pounds, and from that moment I was completely hooked.
With my passion for all things Bargain and Bride, I am going to share even more money saving tips and tricks to help you on your way to your dream Wedding. (Check out my posts The Beginning and the Budgeting Bride and Cheap vs Cost Effective first!) The smaller your budget, the more fun you can have brainstorming creative ways to keep costs minimal. Read on to be inspired...

11) Be Spontaneous
If you can hold your nerve, are incredibly organised or have the assistance of a Planner, you can grab a bargain last minute package deal on your dream venue and save a fortune. For example, my beautiful September Bride got a massive £7,000 saving on her Wedding Package by booking just nine weeks in advance. Make lists, get help, write EVERYTHING down. It can be done!

12) Print your own Invitations
Long gone are the days where you have to allocate hundreds of pounds to your Wedding Stationery. Providing you have a big pack of quality card stock, a decent ink jet printer (or know someone who has) and a couple of hours to spare, you can very easily print absolutely beautiful invitations in the comfort of your own home. Etsy is an encyclopedia of fabulousness; just type in 'Printable Invitations' and be prepared to be 'wowed'.

This gorgeous set includes everything you see in the picture and is fully customisable for a bargain £16.97 Shop Here at LilyCielBridal



13) Altar in the Afternoon

Choose the latest available time (Usually 4pm in UK) and you can then avoid having to have a Wedding Breakfast and a Buffet. This way, you can eliminate one or the other; a BBQ option or Hog Roast could have both bases covered here.

14) Budget- No Budging!

It might sound obvious, but make a budget and stick to it. Make a list of necessities and another list of extras - Sit down with your fiance and rank your priorities. Don't forget that you will need to allow for Giving Notice of Marriage (currently £35 each payable at the registry office) and the Registrar (around £350-£400) if you are planning a civil ceremony.

15) Making Up

Bag a free makeover at a department store or beauty counter and then buy the products. Not only will you then have the tools to recreate the look on your big day, but you'll also know how to apply them like an expert and avoid being made up in a way that just isn't you. The best part? You'll have gorgeous products you can use again and again.

16) Highstreet Honey

I've said it before and I'll say it again; hunt the highstreet. Just look at some of the accessories New Look has to offer! These beautiful 'bits of bling' as my Mum would call them start from as little as £2.99...Loose change in the grand scheme of things!

Shop New Look

That's all from me tonight, until next time...

Go treasure hunting!

The Enchanted One xoxo



A Midsummer Night's Dream Theme - The Details

When it comes to the big day, it's the little details that make it really special. When running with a theme, whether it be all out or just subtle inspirations, those little details will be what tie the whole day together and bring the WOW factor.
It helps to think about your photos; imagine your photographer capturing those thoughtful touches that will all too soon be the memories of one of the best day of your lives together, and you'll begin to have an understanding of the magic that a little imagination and thought can bring to your special day.

This theme is all about rustic charm, romance and beautiful lighting; and of course wouldn't be complete without infinite twinkly fairy lights. (Digging through the Christmas decs, anyone?)
Think jam jars with candles (I'm so obsessed with jam jars, I know!) on the tables and hanging from branches draped in soft glow fairy lights, rustic bird cages wrapped with ivy and roses and filled with pillar candles (the LED pillar candles are the safest option) and my personal favourite idea- rustic bird tables also wrapped in ivy and filled with LED pillar candles would make stunning floor lanterns. Hang wicker hearts around your venue too for a homemade feel.
No rustic style wedding is complete without beautiful rustic signs. How stunning are these ones from Go Jump in the Lake?

They can be yours! Buy them here in Go Jump in the Lake's Etsy shop.

Continue your theme by keeping your food really rustic too; How about a buffet style Barbeque? Have wicker baskets and vintage crates containing cutlery, condiments and napkins on the buffet table. Alternatively, you could go for an all-out quintecentially British summer picnic; fill wicker picnic hampers with a quiche, cold cuts, salads, a selection of cakes and scones, fresh fruit and finger sandwiches, a bottle each of red and white wine and put a basket on each table. This way, you have the formality of a sit-down dinner without it actually being formal. With a little imagination, this option could not only work out to be very budget friendly, but can also be gourmet. Check out some catering companies for inspiration:

Smoked salmon and lemon cream sandwiches
Brie and grape sandwiches
Mini prosciutto and asparagus mini frittatas
Potato salad with herb and lemon dressing
Sausage rolls with cranberry and sage
Chocolate and Banana muffins
Summer fruit berries
Bottle of mineral water

This 'posh picnic' is being charged at £25 per head, but by having a basic finger buffet catered, you could collect hampers (Ebay!) and pack them yourselves, adding your own ideas along the way.

Then of course, there's the Wedding Cake. A 'Naked Cake' will lend it's perfectly to the theme and would look stunning as the centrepiece of a dessert table. You could even make your own cake by filling sponges with cream and fresh fruit (you could cheat and buy them from a supermarket, too!) and simply stack. The more imperfect, the better! Cover the layers with summer berries to add colour and that all important homemade opulence.

You could ask ten or so of your wedding party / guests to each make their favourite dessert and gather all your lovely homemade desserts together on one table, placing your wedding cake in the middle.

I hope this had provided plenty of inspiration and ideas you can take away for your own wedding!

Until next time...

Be creative, be inspired, be yourself!

The Enchanted One xoxo



I do not own the copyright to these photographs.