Tuesday, July 23, 2013

I guess the cat is out of the bag....

Dear Beautiful Bride & Handsome Groom, 

So I am here this week:


I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to think you were bothering me if you emailed or called. I'm in Vegas until Monday to celebrate a friends upcoming wedding (otherwise known as a bachelorette party, right?! Celebrate upcoming wedding sounds classier though). But I am working while I'm away, I really am! Yesterday I sent out ALL of our flower confirmation emails (an email to go over the flower order for each wedding) for our August brides and then I went out and hit the strip. A few hours later, I came back and checked my email and I only had 1 response and it was not a response from a confirmation email. That was a huge red flag for me...I usually get responses to flower confirmation emails within minutes. But it was 1am Las Vegas time and that means 4am Virgin Islands time and well...I went to bed. But I checked it as soon as I woke up, called my husband and said, "honey, did you get any of the 5 emails I sent you yesterday?" and when I found out he did not...and then sent myself some test emails and received nothing back....well, let's just say that snapped me out of vacation bliss!

The IT department can't figure out what is going on (and yes, I reset my outgoing email server to match the hotels, that is not the issue). They are working on the problem but in the meantime, I've discovered that I can get emails to go out if I send them from the lobby. Sigh...I guess that means a lot of slot machines and Starbucks in my future!

So long story short...please don't hesitate to email me while I'm away. Yes, I'm on vacation but I never take a vacation away from work. I'll be in and out of the hotel working in between shopping and spa treatments and OH MY I'M GOING TO SEE ROD STEWART ON SUNDAY!!!! ROD STEWART!!! I can't can't can't wait! Love me some Rod Stewart....by in any event, yes, I will also be working. :) I wanted to make you aware of my IT problems though because I hate not getting back to my clients in a timely fashion and want you to be aware that there may be some delays although I'm trying very hard (and drinking lots of Starbucks) to make sure that the delay isn't too long.

I'll be back on island and going through Starbucks withdrawal starting on Tuesday.

Viva Las Vegas! (and Rod Stewart)

Janelle

PS We are all caught up on emails so if you emailed me recently and did not get a response, please resend the email. We're not sure the extent of the email issue. 

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Congrats Sammi & Andy!

Sammi & Andy arrived on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and hosted their ceremony and reception at Secret Harbor Beach Resort with a reception following at Cruzan Beach Club just a few steps away. Today is their one month anniversary - Happy Anniversary Sammi & Andy! I absolutely love your pictures from Megan Biggs Photography:












Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Congrats Anthony & Molly!

This couple was so much fun! They don't have their pro pictures back yet but Molly sent me some photos given to her by her friends and family...and what a good job they did!

Just as the group arrives at Sapphire Beach Resort for their ceremony on Pretty Klip Point, their hotel called me and said that the transportation had left the mother-of-the-groom behind. Ut oh...I knew the bride was about to be picked up so I called her driver who stated he wasn't sure how it was possible that they left the mother behind, as the groom was the one that did the headcount and said everyone was all there. We got transport for his mom and she was soon on her way but first, I went up to the groom and very casually said....so, um...is your mom here? And he's like of course, and starts looking around to see where she is...I say, um, no you left her at the hotel! His groomsmen got a good laugh!

Mom made it in plenty of time to witness a very beautiful ceremony...

Excited to walk down the aisle!



I think the look on her face says, "hey look, there's your mom!"

We did it!



Congrats Molly & Anthony - you two were a pleasure to work with! Please let me know if you ever surprised your guests with that flying shark!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

US Virgin Islands Bridal Symposium


Island Bliss Weddings had a wonderful time this morning at the USVI Bridal Symposium this morning! Thank you Sugar Bay Resort for hosting this fun event and the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism for putting on a great & informative program.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Two weddings, same day, one beach...

We had two weddings planned for Lindquist Beach one day this summer...one was in the morning and one was at sunset, both had the same photographer. Megan Biggs sent me photos of each wedding to show the contrast of a morning vs. evening wedding. Pretty cool - thanks Megan!

Kassandra & Nick's morning wedding:






Chantal and Brian's sunset wedding:






Congrats to BOTH beautiful couples!

Monday, July 8, 2013

June Re-Cap!

I started going through the photos I took in June and thought...uh oh...I really don't have all that many to share! But then I started looking through the photos from Simple Island Photography and in fact, I did! Simple Island is a team of photographers and I usually get to keep a copy of all the photos (as I'm the photographer myself about 50% of the time) so it was fun pulling out some of my favorite images from each wedding.

I started doing the monthly recaps a few months ago - it's a great way to share a lot of photos that may otherwise not get shared and just sit in my data storage. It is not meant to showcase each wedding we did that month. I really wish I could but I don't always have access to the photos from each wedding nor am I at each of our events. I've felt really bad the last couple of months as I always get at least one or two emails from a bride that was disappointed her wedding didn't make make the re-cap. I think I do add at least one photo from each wedding that I have photos of...so if you don't see your wedding but would like to be on the blog, please send me some photos! I'd love to do a blog post for you.

As always, a very random assortment of photos




I think I'm going to do a blog post soon on just boutonnieres. They don't get as much attention as they should.




This couple chose to do a boat wedding where we rented a boat and a captain for the day - they got married on a little deserted island off the shores of St. John and then island hopped all day!





Not a bad way to spend your wedding day, huh?!

This couple below was married at the GORGEOUS Coco de Mer villa in the exclusive Peter Bay neighborhood of St. John. We actually just did our wedding last night there as well!


One of our brides last month sent down this "monkey knots" for her table number holders. They had arrived off a cruise ship and I thought this little knot idea was pretty clever. The owner of Villa Botanica, where she had her ceremony & reception got a little laugh when I had asked her if she had ever seen monkey knots before and she says "monkey nuts?".


I really love the combo of green and white tropical bouquets.


Blue has been a popular color this year as well.



A bird of paradise in the bouquet is always a fun and tropical touch.



One of my favorites this past month was this coral and yellow though. The gloriosa lilies were the perfect shade.


And more centerpieces from this past month.





These name cards were etched onto pieces of driftwood. Very cool!


A morning wedding on Hawksnest Beach..



Ha! And another party we coordinated this month? My daughter Maya's 5th birthday party! She loves penguins so we did an entire penguin theme.


You may want something more simple for your own cake though. :)


One of my favorite favors (although I think I'm cheating here - this wedding was actually in July) were these koozies!


I wanted to get koozies for my daughter's birthday party but my husband convinced me they were not appropriate for a childs birthday party! If only they made juice box koozies...


This was a pretty wedding at Lime Tree Beach, St. Thomas. They were crew members on the Disney ship!


A ceremony all set up and ready to go at Lindquist Beach, St. Thomas.


A bride sent me this fun picture of her bridesmaids at Sapphire Beach Resort - great colors!


And unfortunately, we did have some rain issues in June, but that didn't stop this couple from enjoying the beach.


I really loved this rose petal patterned aisle.



More centerpieces! I told you, this program just throws up the photos randomly!


The elegant ombre ruffle cake!


How adorable!!!


This was a bride after my own heart with all her seahorse details. Each chair had a vintage hankie and a fan with a white seahorse stenciled on.




This bride here? Very last minute! I got a phone call almost asking if they could get married TOMORROW. Sure! Our officiate just took a few photos for them with a small point and click camera...which still turned out lovely! Just proves you don't need all that much time to plan! =)


Probably our most popular live music request...steel pan!


Its always a good idea to have a vase or two handy to put your bouquet in - make it work double duty and add some additional decor to the reception.


I took this while the photographer set the group up for a group shot...I loved the tropical jungle feel.


And a Trunk Bay sunset...nothing is better.


Another...this group was a hoot!


Trunk Bay once again...


And that's all for now! Please send in your photos if you'd like to be featured on the blog!!