$1 Wedding Favors!

I had a completely different blog post in mind today but when I got an email alert from Old Navy about their in-store $1 special for flip flops this weekend, I knew I needed to share:

If you'd like a flip flop basket for your guests, head down to Old Navy tomorrow - but bring your bridal party, your mom, your soon to be mother in law, your coworkers....because it's a limit of 5 per customer! =)

Just sit already!

Ha! My assistant and I were laughing at this sign - when I saw something similar on Pinterest, I knew I had to have one. One of the things we don't look forward to at a wedding is getting guests to SIT. They don't always recognize me as the wedding planner...maybe I'm the brides friend from college, maybe I'm your groom's co-worker...so when I go around and kindly ask everyone to please take a seat, I'm often ignored! But I think part of it is that people don't know where they are supposed to sit and really, it just doesn't matter where, we're all family here! This sign couldn't say it any better...

I modified the original saying that I had seen on Pinterest to make it a bit more tropical and fun for the islands.  I just love the way it came out!

Pretty tropical arch!

My bride Lindsey ordered this tropical arch from Roses Too for her wedding last month - I've never had an arch quite like it at one of my weddings and wanted to share - very tropical!

Thank you Blue Glass Photography for the photo! This lovely couple was married on the deck of Villa Ventana...they has such lovely views there:

A St. John Sand Ceremony

Andy & Asia were married last month on Jumbie Beach, St. John. They decided they wanted to have a sand ceremony (an island version of the unity candle) but the St. John Parks Department has a very strict policy against having glass on the beach. I came up with a very cute solution to this problem...I could almost title this "how to make the sand ceremony even more tropical"!

Pretty Destination Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas!

I really don't know how you brides do it sometimes. Looking through their site, there are just so many options for stationary and it's hard to pick out just one. I liked my wedding invitations but honestly didn't love them. I had that hardest time finding "the one" and of course, flipping through Wedding Paper Divas website today, I found "the one" I was looking for over 7 years ago...

But honestly....that was 7 years ago and I'm not sure it's still the same design I would pick today. While I still love it (and the colors would have worked very well with my wedding), I'm in a place now where I might want to go "funkier".

I love the vintage coolness here:

And the simple boldness here:

Here are some of my favorite destination wedding invitations from Wedding Paper Divas:

And guess what? Wedding Paper Divas is offering 25% through July 1st to my lovely bride & grooms! Be sure to email me for the promotion code and details!

Meet the Future of Island Bliss Weddings

That is my little ray of sunshine right there and she has made her wedding planning momma pretty proud! I about fell off my chair when she told the audience what she wanted to be when she grew up...I may have shed a tear or two!

Megan Biggs Photo - welcome to the team!

We're very excited to introduce you to Megan's Biggs Photo. Megan is new to St. Thomas and has an amazing photography talent. I was excited at her portfolio and the way she captures her subjects. She is a warm sweet person that you'll be happy to have around on your wedding day too!

Check out some of her work on her site, but thank you Megan for sharing these images with me as well:

Let me know if you're interested in Megan for your wedding day photos - you won't be disappointed!

Spirit on the Water Weddings!

My husband and I were invited to an open house last night at Spirit on the Water. The owners have done so much work to this oceanside villa and want to open up their homes for weddings and events. I can't tell you how excited I am about this. First of all, there are very few oceanside/cliffside venues here. A lot of brides will tell me they don't necessarily want to be married right on the beach but would like an awesome view of the ocean and islands. I'm telling you, it doesn't get much better than this:

This venue has just about everything my clients wish for: gorgeous palm trees, amazing views, large deck for the ceremony and space for dancing & dining, a private suite for the bride & her bridal party to get ready and you know what made me shout for joy? The fact that they are NOT renting the space for a weekly stay. This was always the hard part for my cruise ship brides. It was hard to find a villa atmosphere that only rented for the day or a few hours (Villa Botanica and Norbu being the only other two).

This space can also be rented for my couples that are staying on island and you know what? You don't have to worry about a noise ordinance! You can have the DJ play until midnight if you like. There is enough room for up to 120 guests - awesome, right?! And get this...the owner knows a roadie for Queen and the roadie set them up with all the right wiring. Your DJ is going to love this venue.

We got there about 7:45 last night and by that time, the view was pretty dark. But I did bring my camera and wanted to share some of the set ups they had. The owners have great taste - you really don't need a lot of decor here. These lanterns made my etsy-loving/pinterest addicted heart skip a beat...

There are two separate areas available for dinner. There is in interior courtyard which looks lovely with the lights and fabric and then the exterior deck. I envision a ceremony on the deck, everyone inside for dinner, then back out to the deck for dancing...

I need to go back during the day and get photos of the view - it's just gorgeous.

There are so many goodies here too - a bride and her bridesmaids can spend the night here the night before the wedding if they like. Or you and the groom can enjoy your wedding night here. They have spa packages, wedding day breakfast packages, etc. The owners, June & Ed, are excited to be a part of a couples wedding day. 

Don't you love it? Contact me if you're interested in hosting your wedding at Spirit on the Water - I can't wait to do my first wedding here!