I've already experienced an influx of emails from potential 2010 brides...a result of Christmas Eve & Christmas Day engagements. The days leading up the NYE though, you can just feel the electricity in the air as girlfriends everyone are wondering if the New Year will elevate them to fiance and then to wife status! My own husband popped the question on New Year's Eve 2003 - seems like eons ago that we celebrated afterwards by walking the freezing cold streets of Boston after dinner at our favorite little Northend eatery. It really is the best part of my job, being involved with one of the most exciting days a couple can share together. It's so fun to get a email from a new bride, her excitement radiating from her words.
We'll be closing out 2009 where else, but at a wedding! This will be my first NYE wedding and I'm really looking forward to making it special. And I know at some point during the night, I'm going to take a minute to reflect back on that cold Boston night where I became engaged and also feel a little jolt of excitement for all the soon-to-be brides around the world that will have their hearts skip a beat on NYE when someone ask them a simple little question...let me be the first to offer a very warm congratulations!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas
from my crazy little family! Beautiful photo captured by Elisha Orin Photography - thanks Elisha!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Happy Holidays from Island Bliss Weddings!
I hope everyone is enjoying a few days off from work and this very merry holiday season, whether you are in warm tropical climates or the very cold and snowy north!
Here is the 2nd ornament that I wanted to share, all hand painted by a local artist. I have one for each of my daughter's first Christmas's. This one is my daughter Marley's. And no, she was not named after Jacob Marley.
I chose a very whimsical and fun theme with the bright & colorful fish, but they really have endless possibilities here. They do a very elegant sand dollar, beautiful tropical flowers, even fun island iguanas. I'm hoping to visit their shop sometime soon to take pictures of all the possible gift options that brides may want to consider. You could even personalize the ornaments with your guests name - such a great keepsake!
Wishing everyone a very happy holiday and bright new year!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Holiday Season, it's the Holiday Season!
I hope everyone is enjoying this time of year, although if you are in the far north, I'll never understand people that enjoy snow! I'm always asked what brought me to the islands and my honest answer is, "the weather!". I really enjoy Christmas mornings in shorts, I'll tell you that. My parents are always quick to remind me just how pretty the snow is...and I agree...I love to watch it fall...on the TV. =)
We put up our Christmas tree last weekend and there are two ornaments that I really wanted to share with my brides. I'm constantly asked about local gifts - what would be something locally made that would be a nice favor for wedding guests? I know this won't work for everyone, but I love the idea of a locally made Christmas ornament.
This, being a seahorse and all, is definitely my favorite and made at a local clay art studio. They are signed on the back with St. Thomas, USVI and I'm sure the artist would be happy to personalize.
Be sure to check back soon for the 2nd ornament!
We put up our Christmas tree last weekend and there are two ornaments that I really wanted to share with my brides. I'm constantly asked about local gifts - what would be something locally made that would be a nice favor for wedding guests? I know this won't work for everyone, but I love the idea of a locally made Christmas ornament.
This, being a seahorse and all, is definitely my favorite and made at a local clay art studio. They are signed on the back with St. Thomas, USVI and I'm sure the artist would be happy to personalize.
Be sure to check back soon for the 2nd ornament!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sweet Sarongs!
I received an email today from Carol Lane, owner of Sexy Sarongs. She makes these beautiful sarongs herself her on St. Thomas and can do them in just about any length or color, given enough notice that is.
Now having done, hundreds and hundreds of weddings, I've seen brides marry in as little as a bikini, to a nice white shirt and a khaki skirt, to a wedding dress off the rack to a $10,000 Badgley Mischka gown. I've seen it all. I think these sarongs in white would be perfect for a bride that is looking for something a little more laid back and islandy. I also think they would be great for a pre-wedding event in a fun tropical color.
If you're interested, definitely send Carol an email at sexysarongs@yahoo.com - I know she would appreciate the business. And how cool would it be to have your dress made by a local Virgin Islands designer??
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Phalaenopsis No-no's....
These orchids are just gorgeous, absolutely beautiful. Very elegant and very tropical.
But they are very, very testy. As gorgeous as they are, they do not like being cut from their vines. Once cut, they really must stay in water or they start to wilt very quickly. Then they start to look like this:
Not only do they not do well once they are cut, they are also very expensive. The picture above? That one branch of orchids with about 9 blooms on it? That cost the florist over $100. So she has to charge a lot for them. And then I'm completely nervous and the florist is completely nervous that a) they are going to arrive looking like the picture above or b) they are going to look like the picture above by the end of the night. You don't want to spend $200 on a bouquet that looks like that after a few hours!
If you absolutely love the look of these orchids though, I would definitely suggest looking into silk phalaenopsis. I know, I know, a lot of brides will shy away from silks - but there are a few types of flowers out that there look & feel just like the real thing - cymbidium orchids, calla lilies and phalaenopsis orchids are all done very well when "fake". I always suggest to brides using silks for hair flowers - they hold up way better than the real thing and are easy to move around in case they do start to fall. Check out some of the great finds I've seen on Etsy:
Hair flowers::
Bouquets:
But they are very, very testy. As gorgeous as they are, they do not like being cut from their vines. Once cut, they really must stay in water or they start to wilt very quickly. Then they start to look like this:
Not only do they not do well once they are cut, they are also very expensive. The picture above? That one branch of orchids with about 9 blooms on it? That cost the florist over $100. So she has to charge a lot for them. And then I'm completely nervous and the florist is completely nervous that a) they are going to arrive looking like the picture above or b) they are going to look like the picture above by the end of the night. You don't want to spend $200 on a bouquet that looks like that after a few hours!
If you absolutely love the look of these orchids though, I would definitely suggest looking into silk phalaenopsis. I know, I know, a lot of brides will shy away from silks - but there are a few types of flowers out that there look & feel just like the real thing - cymbidium orchids, calla lilies and phalaenopsis orchids are all done very well when "fake". I always suggest to brides using silks for hair flowers - they hold up way better than the real thing and are easy to move around in case they do start to fall. Check out some of the great finds I've seen on Etsy:
Hair flowers::
Bouquets:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
La Hora Loca!!!
I've been meaning to share this for awhile now - this wedding took place last month at Havana Blue. Actually, the wedding was in Our Lady of Perpetual Help (remember the post with all the rose petals....40,000, yes, 40,000 rose petals to fill the aisle!). The cocktail hour and reception were hosted by Havana Blue, at Frenchman's Reef. Our bride's family was Peruvian and it is a Peruvian tradition to have a "La Hora Loca" during the reception - a "crazy hour" and crazy it was!
We started with these Caribbean Carnival Dancers entering the reception and showering the guests with Mardi Gras-esque hats, masks, boas and pulling everyone out onto the dance floor.
We then had Princess Diana come and amaze the crowds with her fire dancing.
We ended the night with the Carnival troupes dance routine...absolutely the coolest thing. You don't have to be Peruvian to have a la hora loca. It's a great way to bring in island traditions and expose your guests to some of the local culture. It is totally worth every penny and something your guests will remember for a long, long time.
We started with these Caribbean Carnival Dancers entering the reception and showering the guests with Mardi Gras-esque hats, masks, boas and pulling everyone out onto the dance floor.
We then had Princess Diana come and amaze the crowds with her fire dancing.
We ended the night with the Carnival troupes dance routine...absolutely the coolest thing. You don't have to be Peruvian to have a la hora loca. It's a great way to bring in island traditions and expose your guests to some of the local culture. It is totally worth every penny and something your guests will remember for a long, long time.
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