I adore this favor idea...

I've looked around on Pinterest a little lately at destination wedding favors. I've had a few brides recently asking for ideas so I was looking for something new & unique. I think I found it!

Fedoras for the boys:

Shawls for the ladies:

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Or a fun help yourself station with fans, hats, shawls, etc:

Classic, simple, fun...usable! Love it.

Last Addition to the Giveaway!!

I know I've talked about my love for Isola Bella before. She is a local artist here on St. Thomas and her designs are so tropical & soothing. I've had a lot of brides use her work for their weddings - from welcome tote bags to canvas prints that they have used instead of the more traditional photo matte signatures. For my last addition to the giveaway, the lucky winner will receive the wooden seahorse art print (can also be used as a post card which I think would make a cool "save the date"), four Isola Bella coasters and this awesome gift bag with wooden gift tag:

So to recap the prize:

I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag book by Jennifer Gilbert (awesome read!)
St. John bookmark - specially made by donkey's (heehee)
Airline luggage tag favor
Beautiful handmade Haitian necklace that benefits artist living in Haiti
Isola Bella tote bag, wooden art print, wooden gift tag & drink coasters

And if you're lucky, I'll throw in some of my kids left over Halloween candy! =) Don't count on any chocolate, I tend to steal that for myself.

To Enter:

Post a picture of you and your groom (or now husband) on our Facebook page along with your wedding date.

Enjoy another chance to win by posting our website or Facebook page in your Facebook status.

Don't use Facebook? Just post a comment in any of our contest blog postings.

Contest ends at midnight on Halloween - the winner will be selected by random and announced the first week of December.

I'm a bit behind on my "favorite elements" challenge. I'll continue to post pictures of my favorite wedding elements this month but they may trickle into November. My apologies to any couples that are not highlighted! If you were married in October and I wasn't at your ceremony (I'm not at each wedding - some packages do not have an on-site coordinator or I have my assistant attend if we have two weddings that day) - please feel free to send me a picture of YOUR favorite element and I'll get it posted!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Congrats to Diana & James!

Yet another 10/11/12 wedding! Diana & James were married early on Hawksnest Beach, St. John. We chose an early time to capture the best lighting and to avoid the crowds. Hawksnest was crazy busy with weddings last year on 11/11/11 and I feared that could be true again on 10/11/12. Surprisingly, we were the only wedding there all morning!! Such a relief.

My favorite element to this wedding? The beautiful day lilies used to decorate the aisle - they fit in so well with a morning wedding:

Of course, I was also a big fan of this fun cake created by Island Sweet Stuff - loved the colors!

Check out our new promo video!

Introducing our new packages!

Check out our new packages for St. Thomas 

And our new packages for St. John!

What does this mean for you if you are already booked with an older package? It means you get to choose to keep your old package or switch to a new one. What is you haven't booked yet but you have been meaning to? Same thing! Even if you haven't sent your deposit in but you wanted to book one of the older packages, that's no problem at all.

As with ALL our weddings, every single element of the package is customizable. You can add, eliminate or adjust services to your style, needs & budget. The packages are created as a "starting point" - something for you to take and mold into your own. I have always said, your wedding should be a reflection of YOU and not the package you chose.

From now on, our packages won't include a "standard" aisle. You'll have your choice of many different styles. We have created a photo album here that showcases aisle decor. We will have more images to add to this aisle this fall. There is a little * on the package information and I know everyone sees a * and thinks "OK, where is the fine print? what's the catch?" - well the catch is this: fresh flowers on the aisle may increase the cost of the package. We have many different non-floral aisles and some with floral elements that do not raise the price but some floral aisles can be as expensive as $300 or $400 - these will have  surcharge on them.

What else is new? More of our packages include photography now - or they give you a photo & video add on option.  But this does not mean you have to choose this option or you are "stuck" with a certain photographer. Again, everything is completely customizable, as it always has been.

Be sure to email Janelle with any questions - just keep in mind we're off island until Sept 10th so email responses may be a day or two delayed as we do not have daily access to email. Enjoy your upcoming holiday weekend!!

A very unique & lovely guestbook...

I know I talk a lot about Isola Bella Designs, but it looks like some of you listen! Check out the guest book that a bride recently used at her wedding:

My bride ordered  a customized canvas from Isola Bella and we used brown Sharpies for guests to sign the canvas this. I really loved this idea! But not as much as I loved the brides purse - loved it so much I had to take a picture of it - you know I love the seahorses!

I'll have to head over to Etsy to see if I can find this...and then come up with a fancy dinner out that I'll have to make my husband take me to!