Hibiscus. These cup-like flowers are a standard in most Caribbean gardens. They range in color from white to yellow to bright pink.

Bougainvillea. This official flower of the Caribbean island of Grenada grows on vines that hug trellises and fences all over the Caribbean. The thorny vines are covered in small, delicate flowers of white, pink, rose, and purple.

Oleander. This evergreen bush, native to the Mediterranean, flowers with white, pink, and yellow blossoms. Be careful with this beauty, however; it is poisonous to humans.

Birds of Paradise. This dramatic stems have an orange or yellow flower with a distinctive top that resembles a bird or a crane. These flowers, native to South Africa, can grow up to four feet tall.

Cannas. Sometimes called canna lilies, these tall stalks are topped with festive red, orange, pink, or yellow flowers.

Gardenias. A favorite for Caribbean beach weddings, this delicate, cream colored flowers is beautiful in a bouquet or as a single adornment behind the bride’s ear.

For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

Hibiscus. These cup-like flowers are a standard in most Caribbean gardens. They range in color from white to yellow to bright pink.

Bougainvillea. This official flower of the Caribbean island of Grenada grows on vines that hug trellises and fences all over the Caribbean. The thorny vines are covered in small, delicate flowers of white, pink, rose, and purple.

Oleander. This evergreen bush, native to the Mediterranean, flowers with white, pink, and yellow blossoms. Be careful with this beauty, however; it is poisonous to humans.

Birds of Paradise. This dramatic stems have an orange or yellow flower with a distinctive top that resembles a bird or a crane. These flowers, native to South Africa, can grow up to four feet tall.

Cannas. Sometimes called canna lilies, these tall stalks are topped with festive red, orange, pink, or yellow flowers.

Gardenias. A favorite for Caribbean beach weddings, this delicate, cream colored flowers is beautiful in a bouquet or as a single adornment behind the bride’s ear.

For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

Attire: Caribbean brides wear their finest outfit and a veil over their face. During the ceremony, the groom lifts the veil.

Food: A traditional Caribbean wedding feast includes curried goat, conch fritters, fried plantains, and jerk chicken. A Caribbean wedding cake uses rum rather than white sugar. While all of these dishes may not be to your taste, adding one of two will give your festivities an island flair. The drink of choice is, of course, rum.

In Bermuda, the wedding cake is topped with a small sapling, which is taken home by the couple and planted. The theory is the tree will grow as the marriage grows.

Music. Add a steel drum band for authentic Caribbean music.

Gifts. Guests at a Caribbean wedding give homemade gifts, such as furniture or quilts, which signify togetherness.


For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

A Typical Wedding Reception Order of Events

1. Guests arrive to the reception site, following the wedding ceremony

2. When most or all of the guests are present, the wedding party is formally introduced, followed by the wedding couple.

3. The wedding meal is served.

4. The cake is served. It’s customary for the bride and groom to get the first pieces.

5. A toast is offered to the wedding couple by the best man, maid/matron of honor, and the wedding couple themselves, followed by others, if desired.

6. If there is dancing, the bride and groom have the first dance, followed by the bride and her father together and then the groom and his mother.

7. The bride tosses the bouquet to the single women and the groom tosses the garter to the single men.

8. The bridal couple and guests enjoy the evening dancing and celebrating the event.


For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

Want to work a touch of pink into your wedding in a subtle way? Why not work the romantic shade into your dessert table display? From pink cookies to eclairs, here are 16 delightful sweets that will leave your guests drooling and lining up for more.

Send guests home with something unique — a personalized paperweight. You can create this easy DIY favour using air-dry clay and rubber stamps. The options for personalizing these gifts are endless. Rubber stamps are available in a wide array of designs with everything from simple flowers to phrases. Use alphabet stamps to add guest’s names and use the paperweights as place cards.

TIP: You can also use an oven dry clay for this project such as Fimo or Sculpey, both come in a wide variety of colours.

Meredith Cameron and Ryan MacIsaac, December 31, 2011, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Photography courtesy of Rachel Peters Photography (www.iamrachelpeters.com).

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Rodd Mill River Resort
Dress: Mori Lee
Groom’s tux: Moores
Bridal party attire: Bill Levkoff
Hair: Tanya MacIssac from Sherwood Styling Salon
Makeup: Monique Horn
Music: DJ DMayneEvent (dkid13@gmail.com)
Cake: Cake made by Sassy’s Cake & Décor; cupcakes made by a friend (Krista MacLean)
Caterer: Rodd Mill River Resort
Flowers: The Village Florist
Stationery: Invitations by Michael’s

Who pays for the reception again follows no set rules. It may be the wedding couple, the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, or a combination of all of these parties.

Many Caribbean resorts that cater to destination wedding couples have wedding planners on staff that can help you coordinate all of the details for your reception–food and beverage, photography, music, and decorations. In addition, companies like Destinations Weddings.com can help you plan your wedding travel plans, your guests’ arrangements, and your reception–all at no additional cost.


For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

Your number one enemy when it comes to your summer wedding day and your beauty look: heat. It can cause a complete meltdown of your makeup if it’s not applied right and there are definitely some key steps to remember. We asked Rebecca Restepo, global makeup artist with Elizabeth Arden who was in Toronto last week for her top tips and tricks for summer brides—here’s her savvy advice.

Respect tradition by incorporating something blue into your celebration. Don’t know how? There’s plenty of beautiful, and unique, ways to get this pretty hue into your wedding, from hair accessories to fun props. To help you (or your bridesmaids!) get that “something blue” here are 15 inspiring ideas.

Aura by Swarovski was one of our favourite fragrances of 2011 and for 2012, a new limited edition version of the juice is now in stores and we have an exclusive prize pack to give away to one lucky bride! Aura Collection Mariage is a pretty floral that smells springtime fresh, ultra-dreamy and romantic. The scent combines notes of peony, lotus, lychee, green tea leaves and white musk to create a gorgeous bouquet. We are giving away one bottle of Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage Light Eau de Toilette (50 ml) and one Aura by Swarovski Collection Mariage Crystal Gloss Make-Up Jewel (prize value is $201). To win, tell us why finding the perfect fragrance is important for your wedding day. We will pick our favourite answer, so get creative!

**Contest open to residents of Canada only and closes on May 24.***

Krista Coholan and Matthew Marsh, July 16, 2011, Kiersteadville, New Brunswick.

Photography courtesy of Kelly Lawson Photography (www.lawsonphotography.ca).

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Bate’s Landing
Dress: Sottero and Midgley from Lockhart’s Wedding
Groom’s tux: Moores
Bridal party attire: Alfred Angelo from Heavenly Gowns
Hair: Aphrodite’s Hair Studio
Makeup: Merle Norman Cosmetics
Music: DJ Hunter Sounds and Ivan Daigle Band
Cake: Pies from Jeremiah’s Deli
Caterer: Jeremiah’s Deli
Favours: Stemless wine glasses from My Wedding Favours
Flowers: Creative Designs
Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas
Others: Fireworks provided by Fireworks FX

1. Number of guests. Will most of the people you invited be able to attend the out-of-town wedding? What’s the likely number of guests that will be at the wedding party event?

2. Type of event. Do you want a formal affair or do your tastes run more to a rum-swizzle party or a barbecue on the beach? How long do you intend for the party to last? Will you be having the party at the resort or do you prefer another location?

3. Food and Beverage. Do you want a full, multi-course meal? Do you want it to be plated or is a buffet okay? Do you want Champagne? Beer and wine? a full bar? How about a wedding cake?

4. Extras. Do you want a photographer present for the event? Is live music necessary? If so, what kind of music?

The resort wedding planner or a destination wedding specialist can assist you in making all of the necessary arrangements for a spectacular wedding party event.


For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

Silk shorts? Sweeping capes? That’s just the beginning.

With over 1,800 guests in attendance at this year’s Pronovias 2013 Bridal Collection runway show, live from Barcelona, it was a show many won’t soon forget. Pronovias designer Manuel Mota chose “Le Jardin des Rêves” as his theme this year, which translates into “The Garden of Dreams.” The collection saw dresses that were bursting with floral motifs and a wide range of styles, everything from the romantic to the chic and cosmopolitan. Voluminous skirts and sexy silhouettes ensured that there was a dress to compliment the unique look of any bride. Intricate lace, dramatic trains and delicate sleeves were just a few of the show-stopping, trend-setting designs that graced the runway.

And the grand finale? A stunning organza flowers dress complete with a rosette train modeled by international supermodel Karolina Kurkova. Mota proved he’s at the top of his game and with a show that had something for everyone, brides everywhere will race to find the (Pronovias) dress of their dreams. Take a look at some of the best dresses from this year’s show and see which gown will have you day-dreaming about your big day.

While co-ordinating the bridesmaid dresses, flowers and centrepieces into the theme of your fantasy wedding, it is very easy to overlook the small details. Boutonnières are rather minor, however, they have great potential to take your wedding to the next level of creativity! Take a look at these 10 fresh boutonnière ideas that will tie your wedding theme together.

Katharine Bushman and Douglas Clark, July 30, 2011, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Photography courtesy of Just For You Photography (www.jfyphotography.com).

Vendors
Ceremony location: Christ Church Cathedral
Reception location: The Renaissance Harbourside Hotel
Dress: Mori Lee from Carole Frew’s Bridal
Groom’s tux: Calvin Klein from Moores
Bridal party attire: The Bridal Gallery
Hair and makeup: Suzanna Chun (info@suzannachun.com)
Music: Rick Moyer (rockinrickis@gmail.com)
Caterer: The Renaissance Harbourside Hotel
Favours: Custom M&Ms
Flowers: Queensberry Flower Company
Stationery: DIY by the bride
Others: Décor provided by All Occasions Chic Décor Rental; Bride’s shoes by Badgley Mischka

1. Recommendations from a friend or family member. The best way to find a destination wedding photographer is to get a recommendation from a trusted friend or family member who has recently traveled to that area, or who lives in the area.

2. Photography associations. Professional associations, such as the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), offer directories with local, member photographers. Many sites also provide a place where satisfied (or unsatisfied) clients can post a comment.

3. Recommendations from the resort. Often larger resorts and hotels will have a working relationship with one or more local photographers. It never hurts to ask.

4. Help from your destination wedding specialist. A destination specialist can draw on hundreds of past weddings and wedding clients to find a good photographer, one with whom his clients have been pleased.

Some destination wedding packages include one or more professional photographers. Be sure to review what’s included in your package before you sign a contract with an outside photographer.


For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

As you’ve probably noticed, the peplum is back in a big way—especially in bridal gowns. Dating back to the edgy ’80s when this style was popularized, this retro skirt overlay style has taken the runways by storm and has been featured by famous designers such as Amsale and Angel Sanchez. If you’re a fashion-forward bride who dares to be different, this is definitely a trend to try. We’ve collected some of our favourite peplum wedding dresses that are sure to show off your killer curves.

Jasjeet Mudhar and Gautam Malkani, January 7, 2012, Jamaica.

Photography courtesy of Jamie Dimitry (www.jamiedimitry.com).

Vendors
Ceremony location: Grand Palladium Resort and Spa
Reception location: Blue Lagoon at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa
Wedding planner: Loraine Yapp (876-619-0000)
Dress: Reeta Shahani (reeta.shahani@gmail.com)
Hair and makeup: The Renova Spa at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa
Music: Double AA
Groom’s tux: Harry Rosen
Bridal party attire: NuCreation and Deepa’s Creation (416-451-6775)
Cake: Grand Palladium Resort and Spa
Caterer: Grand Palladium Resort and Spa
Favours: An engraved Apple iPod Shuffle
Flowers: Tai Flora
Stationery: DIY by bride and groom

Cancun. Mexico’s most popular resort boasts dozens of beaches. Chief among these are the exclusive Punta Nizuc, near the point, and Playa Langosta, a popular snorkeling beach.

Cozumel. The island of Cozumel has more than a few beaches of its own, most of which are delightfully uncrowded. The best of these, including Paradise Beach, Playa Mia, and Playa Palencar, are located on the southwest side of the island.

Puerto Vallarta. Once the playground of the rich and famous, Puerto Vallarta is open to all visitors today. Mismaloya Beach, where "Night of the Iguana" was filmed, is still popular as are Sayulita Beach, near downtown, and Quimixto, a small, quiet beach south of town.

Huatulco. This quiet, Pacific coast resort was designed around the region’s nine bays, all of which are lined with wide, sand beaches. Two of the most popular of these are Playa Santa Cruz and Playa Arrocito. This is a great destination for those desiring a secluded Mexican beach wedding.


For more Destination Weddings tips, visit http://DestinationWeddings.lifetips.com

With hundreds of flowers to choose from, deciding on the look of your bridal bouquet can be a tough. The choice can be even more challenging if you’re working with a tight budget.

The first tip to take into consideration when looking for flowers that will fit within a modest budget is that you should take advantage of seasonal and local flowers. This is a great way to support local growers and save on transportation costs. Second, be selective and choose only three to four flowers to include in your bouquet — fewer varieties will help you stay within your budget. Third, consider using larger blooms instead of smaller ones for that fuller look — you won’t need as many stems to fill the empty spaces.

The best blooms for your buck include tulips, carnations, hydrangeas and peonies. Looking to splurge on your wedding stems? Then go for a bouquet that includes garden roses, cherry blossoms and lilies.

Here we’ve compiled six different bouquets courtesy of Botany Floral Studio in a range of price points. See all of the cost-effective options and which other flowers they pair well with. Prices listed are per bouquet.

Choosing the perfect dress is one thing, choosing the perfect hairstyle to go with it is another. If you are on the hunt for your perfect bridal hairstyle, we have combed through our Real Weddings and selected the hottest trends that we can’t get enough of. Whether you fancy an elegant, chic updo or relaxed low-key curls, take a look at how these real brides rocked their styles to help inspire your own!

The Duchess of Cambridge has been on a fashion roll and hot on the (Jimmy Choo) heels of her stepping out chic, thigh-slit white Roland Mouret dress, came her arrival on the red carpet on Friday is this gorgeous Jenny Packham. We’re all about this dress, but moreover it was her hair that was the particular buzz of the look. When we saw top Toronto salon The Alcorn tweet “see Kate’s updo? Prediction: less waves/more chignons for upcoming weddings” we knew it wasn’t just us who thought Kate’s hair was wedding-day perfect. Kate’s glossy locks were twisted into a chic and intricate braided chignon created for her by her glam squad from the Richard Ward salon. The style showcased the beautiful back lace detailing of the dress. Thank you Kate for the amazing wedding hair inspiration!

Farewell taffeta monstrosities! These days there are endless options when it comes to outfitting your bridesmaids. And the best way to make sure that your girls are as excited to dress up for your big day as you are is to take their opinions and budgets into consideration when selecting their gowns. We’ve gathered up a selection of stunning bridesmaid dresses in every colour that won’t break the bank (some are even under $100!) And the best part? These gowns are totally wearable after your wedding day.

Melanie Robert and Paul Lehmann, June 4, 2011, Toronto, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Ikonica Photography (www.ikonica.ca).

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Royal Conservatory of Music
Dress: Pronovias from Ritche
Groom’s tux: Freeman Formal
Bridal party attire: RW & Co.
Hair: Tony Chaar Salon
Makeup: Laura Mercier
Music: Third from the Sun
Cake: Made by a family friend
Caterer: Daniel et Daniel
Favours: Donation to Oxfam
Flowers: Provided by a family friend
Stationery: Stephita

Melanie Robert and Paul Lehmann, June 4, 2011, Toronto, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Ikonica Photography (www.ikonica.ca).

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Royal Conservatory of Music
Dress: Pronovias from Ritche
Groom’s tux: Freeman Formal
Bridal party attire: RW & Co.
Hair: Tony Chaar Salon
Makeup: Laura Mercier
Music: Third from the Sun
Cake: Made by a family friend
Caterer: Daniel et Daniel
Favours: Donation to Oxfam
Flowers: Provided by a family friend
Stationery: Stephita