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Down & Out In Paradise

That's the super duper strength Mucinex D that you have to have the pharmacist grab for you from behind the counter. And a strong bottle of antibiotics. It's all working to fight this massive head cold and ear infection I brought back with me from the mainland. Booooo! I hate being sick and it almost always happens when I visit the states. Never has it been this bad though. I had to send my assistant to coordinate my wedding this evening and I think I'll have to send her out again tomorrow. My voice alternates between whispers and goose sounds. I seriously sound like a goose if & when my voice decides to make an appearance. If I don't return phone calls for a few days, this would be why!

Wine Box Ceremony

I'm sure everyone knows what the unity candle is and many of you know about the sand ceremony (a unity candle for the beach in essence) but I don't know if everyone is as familiar with the wine ceremony? This is where the bride & groom box up a bottle of wine with love letters to each other. They say that on the 50th anniversary they can open up the box and enjoy the wine while they read the love letters to each other....but that if they hit a rough patch along the way, they can open up the box, drink the wine and be reminded as to why they fell in love and were married in the first place. I always thought this was a sweet idea but for a destination wedding, it can be tricky getting that box of wine home. It's something that could easily be done without incorporating it into the ceremony as well - something the two of you could do at home once you return.

I was reminded of the wine ceremony when I got an email from UnCommon Goods - I love that store! They have some great wedding gifts and this awesome Anniversary Wine Box.

How cute is this? It's customizable with your initials and wedding date and holds three bottles of wine, to be enjoyed on specific anniversaries (they have 1st, 3rd and 5th anniversaries labeled on the example but I think we can aim higher than that, no??). I think this makes an amazing gift to give to a couple getting married but it's also a lovely gift for you to give each other, especially with the love notes tucked inside!

More photos to share!

Just a reminder that I am off island will have limited email access over the weekend. I will return to St. Thomas (and a normal schedule - yay!) on Monday. 

Thanks to Jennifer & Owen for sharing their wedding photos with me! Their ceremony & reception was held at Secret Harbor Beach Resort this past summer. Paradise Pictures provided professional photography.

Our coral centerpieces looked great with the blue orchids.

Love their cake from Island Sweet Stuff!

Large bamboo arch, bamboo runner, conch shells and greenery....very pretty!

If you have wedding photos you'd like to feature on the blog, please let me know - I know future brides love seeing what past brides have enjoyed!

Photo shares!

I love when a bride sends me photos from her wedding day, especially when she has brought her own photographer from home. It's nice to see a wedding through an unfamiliar photographers perspective. Thanks Ally for sharing these photos with me! And thank you Peirce Photography for allowing us to share the images. Ally was married on Lindquist Beach and had her reception at Bolongo Bay...

If you are a past bride and wouldn't mind sharing some photos for the blog, please send them to janelle@islandblissweddings.com - I know we'd all love to see them!

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!!

Brewer's Bay Wedding

In the past few months, I've had two different photographers tell me "I've never shot an event here before" when arriving to Brewer's Bay for a wedding. I then overheard a life guard tell me, "you're the only wedding planner I see here!". Now, I know for a fact that I'm not the only wedding planner that uses Brewer's Bay, but I do think its a bit of a hidden secret. I love it for it's diversity in photo backdrops, the fact that there is NO site fee, and the laid back atmosphere it has. It's a bonus that it's close to downtown for down photos as well.

Thanks so Blue Glass Photography for sharing these photos of last weeks wedding. Congrats to Courtney & Michael!