The Honeymoon

Tips to Plan Honeymoon Travel

Tahiti. Italy. Mexico. The Bahamas. After your wedding, it’s time to enjoy all the luxuries of the perfect honeymoon. Whether you are planning a getaway to enjoy white sand beaches and sun or tour ancient ruins and learn about a different culture, make heed some of these important honeymoon travel tips that may make planning and enjoying your trip a bit easier.

• Honeymoon Registry
  Have you heard of the latest craze? Have your wedding guests pay for all or part of, or your honeymoon. Honeymoon registries allow wedding guests to contribute funds to your special trip and even sponsor specific activities you wish to enjoy while you are there!
• Say “I do” to your differences
  Do you like adventure travel while your significant other would much rather be sunbathing on a beach all day? So that you don’t create riffs in planning your trip of a lifetime, make sure you communicate before you begin to plan so that both of you can get maximum enjoyment out of your vacation
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• Honeymoon, under wraps
  When you plan your trip, refrain from sharing that you are planning a honeymoon. Some entities will charge you extra because they know that couples are willing to splurge on their special getaway. However, after your travel planning is complete, when making your reservations, it may pay to share that you’re arriving for your honeymoon – some places will give you free upgrades or complimentary items.
• Details, details…
  Planning a honeymoon is planning an excursion like no other. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pull out all the stops, upgrade from average to amazing, and enjoy special splurges. Some ideas? How about planning a private helicopter tour or a luxury spa together? Have a chef prepare a custom meal just for you, or arrange to take a private tour of the nearest escape.
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• Refrain from over planning
• While you want your honeymoon to be perfect, heed wise advice and don’t overdo it with the planning. Cut down on the stress and enjoy yourself, by limiting the amount of physical activity you will participate in each day. Or, allow a specific amount of time between activities on your itinerary so you are not rushing from one thing to another.
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• Copies of Documentation
  After you’ve created your itinerary be sure to make copies of it to share with family and friends. Keep an additional copy for yourself. That way, your family will know where you are in case problems arise back home, and you will have an extra copy in case you lose the original. Additionally, you may want to register your travel plan with the U.S. State Department. Registration allows the Department of State to assist you and contact family or friends in case of an emergency. 
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• Get access to 24/7 concierge services
  Be sure you have 24/7 access to travel assistance services. Many travel insurance plans include 24/7 concierge services to assist you with spur of the moment planning to like restaurant referrals and reservations, floral services, private charter assistance, find, wrap and deliver one-of-a-kind gifts and local and event ticketing. Keep the assistance hotline number with you at all times to reach trained travel counselors that can help you in almost any emergency situation and also help rebook hotels and flights, coordinate medical emergencies.

Planning your wedding

Planning your wedding with the Wyndham Hotel Group

Six great locations for a destination wedding

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – (July 16, 2015) The destination wedding trend has shown no signs of slowing as couples continue to move away from tradition and towards unique celebrations in exotic locations.

Whether planning an intimate ceremony or a grand affair, the Asia Pacific region is brimming with spectacular wedding locations catering to every taste and budget.

Here are six of the best for couples looking to get hitched on location:

 

1.       Margaret River

The Margaret River wine region provides a breathtaking setting for a dream destination wedding. With stunning wineries, pristine beaches, verdant forests and superb local produce, the region has everything needed to create a truly memorable event.

While there are numerous venue options in the region, the idyllic beachfront location of Wyndham Resort & Spa Dunsborough makes it hard to beat. It boasts stunning grounds, direct beach access, beautiful gardens, a wedding chapel and reception venue options including first-floor function rooms with magnificent ocean views of Geographe Bay. The facilities cater for up to 220 guests for a modern and stylish cocktail party or can hold up to 130 guests for a sit-down dinner.

2.       Sunshine Coast

 

With laidback towns, beautiful beaches and a sub-tropical climate year-round, the Sunshine Coast will leave couples and their guests feeling relaxed and refreshed. 

 

One of the few venues on the Sunshine Coast that provides absolute beachfront weddings, Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre Marcoola Beach offers several stunning ceremony options including the beach, sand dunes, poolside and garden lawn. Located on an idyllic stretch of uncrowded golden sand, the resort provides a one-stop-wedding shop with catering, accommodation and onsite event staff all available to take the stress out of organising a wedding.

 3.       Brisbane

The urban wedding trend is on the rise in Australia’s capital cities and bustling Brisbane - named Australia’s hippest city by Lonely Planet in 2014 – offers the betrothed everything they could want and more! From hip hotels to a thriving arts scene, the city is a playground for creative couples looking for something a bit different.

Brides and grooms looking to inject some urban flavour into their special day will love TRYP Fortitude Valley Hotel, Brisbane. The country’s first street-art hotel features contemporary design and striking street art by world-acclaimed artists Magee, Numskull, Rone and Beastman coupled with exceptional finishes including 150-year-old renewed timber flooring. Already creating a buzz amongst couples looking for a unique backdrop to their big day, this hotel is still one of the city’s best kept secrets.

 

4.       Port Douglas

For a truly tropical wedding, Port Douglas offers couples a seductive setting, balmy climate and spectacular natural attractions. It is the only place in the world where two World Heritage listed attractions exist - the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest of Daintree and Cape Tribulation.  A feast for the senses, this tantalising tropical destination makes for an exotic wedding escape.

Nestled within a pocket of Melaleuca rainforest just a short walk to world-renowned Four Mile Beach, Ramada Resort Port Douglas is a favourite for destination weddings. With warm, attentive staff and venue options including the Treehouse Meeting Room set amidst the rainforest canopy and the Jacana Deck overlooking lily ponds, it is perfect for everything from intimate elopements to grand wedding receptions for up to 120 guests.

5. Wanaka, New Zealand

 

Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island is the perfect wilderness escape, offering excellent opportunities for stunning wedding snapshots against the backdrop of the Southern Alps and Lake Wanaka. Come winter, the mountains are decorated with a layer of sparkling white snow and in summer they shine under the golden sunlight. 

Located near awe-inspiring natural wonders including Mount Aspiring National Park, Rob Roy Glacier and the Clutha River, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Wanaka offers the perfect base in which to unwind and entertain family and friends before and after the big day. Enjoy stylish accommodation, a heated pool with water slide, hot tub and sauna a stone’s throw from the region’s best attractions.

6. Phuket, Thailand

  

With stunning white-sand beaches, sparkling blue seas and warm Thai hospitality, Phuket is the perfect place for a beautiful wedding combined with an exotic, tropical escape.

Set on a lush hilltop with views of Patong Bay and the Andaman Sea, Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket’s landscaped grounds can be transformed to create a spectacular event against the stunning mountainous backdrop. Choose from a traditional Western wedding or incorporate a touch of the Thai culture to create a truly unique day. All rooms at this stunning resort come complete with balconies and private outdoor Jacuzzis providing the ultimate relaxing escape for wedding guests and the happy couple.

Wyndham Wedding Promotion

Wyndham Hotel Group is offering a special for couples looking to get hitched at four of its resorts. The bride and groom will receive complimentary wedding night accommodation if they book their reception and bridal party accommodation at the resort. The offer also includes a free bottle of sparkling wine on arrival and is valid until 30 June 2016. All bookings need to be made direct by calling the resort and quoting Wyndham Wedding Promo.

Participating resorts: Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre Marcoola Beach, Ramada Resort Port Douglas and Wyndham Resort & Spa Dunsborough.

Planning your honeymoon

Eight Months to One Year Before

• Make a budget.
  Determine how much money you can spend on the honeymoon. This will help you narrow down your choices.
• Decide whether to use a travel agent.
  Travel specialists can take the planning off your plate and do all the legwork. (Some charge very reasonable fees.) Find one at the American Society of Travel Agents’ website, travelsense.org.
• Decide where you’re going.
  No brainer, right? As soon as you get engaged, you should start thinking about where you want to honeymoon. At the beach? Europe, perhaps? Consider the time of year, and what the weather will be like.
• Buy plane tickets.
  If you are using frequent flier miles, you’ll have a much better chance of getting the flights you want if you book well in advance. Most airlines release frequent flier seats around 11 months ahead of time. Booking early will also help you get a nonstop flight. Missing a connection and spending the night in an airport hotel? Not so romantic.
• Book your hotel.
  Nail down your accommodations early, so you can focus on the more minor details. Hotels in Europe tend to be small, so good ones fill up. Have a few options before you start contacting hotels.

Six Months Before

• Do any of the above if you haven’t already.
  So you aren’t having a long engagement. Don’t worry! Get started now, and take care of your plane tickets and hotel as soon as possible.
• Schedule any transportation.
  Once you know your itinerary, buy train tickets or look into a rental car, if any of that is needed. Even if you are heading to an all-inclusive beach resort you never plan to leave, you’ll need transportation to and from the airport. Make sure it’s taken care of now. Note: Eurail, the major train network across Europe, may not have updated schedules until 60 days before your trip. Go ahead and buy your overall pass, then schedule seats closer to the date.
• Make the impossible-to-get dinner reservation.
  If you’re dying to go to a Michelin-starred restaurant that’s booked months in advance, now is the time to secure a reservation.
• Get or renew your passport.
  The turnaround for getting or renewing a passport can be as quick as a month, but it’s better to have this squared away. If your passport is current, make sure it will be for at least six months after you return home. That is a requirement for some countries.
• Apply for any visas or other documentation.
  Know what the country you’re visiting requires, and take care of it.
• Purchase travel insurance.
  It may seem unnecessary (you can estimate it will run about 5 percent of your total cost), but when you are spending a lot of money on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, having it canceled because of Hurricane Joey is much more costly than a few hundred dollars. Travel insurance plans can cover everything from illness to acts of God.
• Get vaccinations.
  If you’re going to Africa, Southeast Asia (hello, Thailand!), or other exotic destinations, you may need immunizations. And some are given in stages that take time. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, cdc.gov, for information.

Three Months Before

• Plan your activities.
  You don’t want to plan too much, and you may just want to sleep on the beach. But if you are going on a more cultural trip, go ahead and buy tickets to museums, or book a trip to a nearby architectural site. You won’t waste time waiting in lines or figuring out details once you’re there.
• Make a quick mental packing list.
  Need new luggage? Or a camera? If you determine in advance that you need expensive items, you might ask for them as wedding gifts. Or you may just realize you need to go bikini shopping.

One Month Before

• Finalize transportation.
  Reserve seats on trains if you’re going to be moving around a country. Finalize your itinerary or confirm your car rental. If you are driving in a foreign country, get an international driving permit (available at AAA offices).
• Book spa appointments or other activities.
  If you’re heading to a mega, all-inclusive resort, you may want to prebook spa treatments and special activities, like sailing trips or other excursions, that might fill up. Call and ask the resort concierge for advice.
• Fill prescriptions.
  Make sure you have full bottles of any medications you take regularly.
• Shop.
  Now’s the time to shop for clothes—not the week before the wedding. Don’t forget things like voltage converters or specific garments (like a head covering for a place of worship) you’ll need for some countries.

Two Weeks Before

• Confirm everything.
  Call the hotel and any restaurants to confirm your reservations.
• Make copies of your documents.
  Have copies of your passport, visa, credit cards, driver’s license, and any other important documents in case something is lost or stolen. Leave a set with someone at home and pack one in your suitcase.
• Write down important phone numbers.
  If you are visiting a foreign country, know the location of the closest U.S. embassy. Also, have the phone numbers of your credit card companies so you can quickly call if there are any problems.
• Get some local currency.
  You can easily get cash from an ATM in any country, but having a little bit of money on hand (about the equivalent of $200) is a good idea—even if it’s just to take a cab to the hotel without having to stop at an ATM in the airport.
• Pack.
  Don’t wait until the week before the wedding, when you’ll be extremely busy. Pack what you can ahead of time. You can throw in toiletries at the last minute.
  Related: Honeymoon Packing Checklist

One or Two Days Before

• Confirm the hotel. Again.
  It can’t hurt. Just to give you peace of mind.
• Check the weather.
  If your destination is having an unseasonably cold week, you may want to throw in another sweater.
• Pack a carry-on for the flight.
  Have essentials, like your passport, cell phone charger, and anything else you tend to forget, ready to go.

Selecting your music

"IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON"

- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

 The Ceremony | The Reception

Years from now, no matter where in the world you find yourself, no matter how old you are, whenever you hear the pieces you have selected for your wedding, it will bring the two of you back to that special day when you were married.

Music sets the tone of your wedding, so choosing the right music is essential. Although particular works and styles of performance are synonymous with weddings, the music you select should reflect your personal style and the overall theme of your wedding. Many brides opt for an elegant classical selection of music, while others choose to enhance a theme (jazz, new age, ethnic). You can set the tone of your ceremony with your choice of ensembles. You can use the following as a guide to choosing musicians for your ceremony:

Enchanting – string trio or quartet, harpist, flautist, singer.

Light and uplifting – harpist, pianist, jazz ensemble, string trio or quartet, guitarist

Fun – jazz ensemble, singer, pianist, vocal ensemble, pop ensemble, sax quartet

Formal – string trio or quartet, organist, harpist, trumpet, classical singer

Serene – string quartet, harpist, flautist, pianist, classical guitarist

Dramatic – string quartet or double quartet, bagpipes, choir

Light background – pianist, piano and violin duo, guitar and flute duo, classical guitarist

Consider commissioning an exquisite and unique original composition for your ceremony or reception. Created especially for you, and performed for the first time at your wedding, your musical creation will remain forever yours to play with friends and family as a unique and timeless memento.

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If you're holding a church wedding, please read our article, Wedding Music for the Church Ceremony, here.

The Prelude – You will need a selection of pieces to be played as your guests arrived, approximately 15 to 30 minutes before the arrival of the bride. Generally elegant and soothing, this music will define the tone of your ceremony.

The Processional – Select music with a steady, well-defined tempo to accompany the entrance of the wedding party as they walk down the aisle.

The Entrance of the Bride – Your choice of music should direct the attention of your guests to the bride as she makes her entrance.

The Ceremony - Your ceremony music should represent your personal taste, but keep in mind that you’ll be looking back on your ceremony for the rest of your life – in ten years do you really want to be reminiscing about signing the registry to the “Chicken Dance”? 

The Recessional – Choose upbeat music as the bride and groom return down the aisle to begin their lives as husband and wife.

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We've asked our DJ's to put together a list of popular and recommended songs for all those key points in your reception. Download their list here.

Your reception is a time to celebrate, and your choices of music will make or break your night. Begin your night with ambient music as your guests enter and enjoy dinner. Then, when it’s really time to party, the music can come to the fore as your guests find themselves on the dance floor.

As your guests arrive, the music should fade into the background. Soft, alluring music will allow conversation to comfortably take place, and as you progress into the meal, your music should provide an intimate counterpoint to the elegant visual of the reception as your guests continue to settle in and get comfortable around each other.

The Bridal Waltz (First Dance) – The formalities are now over, and it’s time to party. When choosing your music for your first dance, it’s most important for the music to be meaningful to you and your partner. While traditional choices remain popular, many couples are choosing modern songs from their favourite bands or movie soundtracks.

Now that the subtle dinner music is finished, it’s time for the party to come alive, and your ensemble or DJ will let loose with a selection of party music designed to get your guests dancing.

 

Wedding Cars..

Selecting A Wedding Car

There is no other element that creates a spectacular arrival than the wedding vehicle that you and your wedding party arrive in.

Wedding cars play a key role in making magnificent entrances and nothing beats the pleasure of traveling in opulent luxury and style.

That’s why selecting the right wedding car to compliment the style and theme of your event is crucial.

Vintage, Classic Or Modern?

Vintage cars are generally made between 1919 and 1930.

Classics are from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and are no longer in production, yet still popular.

Modern Classics tend to be iconic cars from some of the classic makes that people believe stand out enough to be classics. Examples include: Ferrari Enzo, Jaguar XK8R and Aston Martin DB9.

Modern cars are generally late model luxury limousines and vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW and Ferrari’s.

There are no rules when it comes to wedding cars and arriving in style, however make sure that it is YOUR style and that it matches your wedding style.

If you’re having a modern or casual wedding, consider a motorcycle, converted fire engine or flashy new convertible Mercedes or Ferrari as your wedding transport. On the other hand, if your ceremony and reception is more traditional, a classic Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Aston Martin, or a vintage Dodge or Buick may be exactly what you’re after. These are definitely for those couples that want to make a statement.

Limousines are a classic choice for wedding cars. The couple hosting a classic and traditional wedding generally choose the limousine to accommodate themselves, their family and the bridal party. Other excellent choices in wedding cars that can also accommodate a large wedding party include stretch SUV’s.

For the bride and groom who want a more intimate experience, consider wedding cars that are elegant, yet provide a more romantic and intimate setting of a classic car, such as the Rolls Royce and Bentley. Each of these wedding cars will definitely leave a lasting impression on your wedding guests.

A wedding car of any era will make you feel a million dollars and selecting the right wedding car company will take a lot of the stress away from your wedding planning. So read these helpful tips to choose your wedding cars wisely.

Size Does Matter...

The first thing to do when organising your wedding cars is to determine how many cars are required. Will the entire bridal party be transported by a single car or by several cars? It is customary for the bride to ride with her parents to the wedding ceremony and don’t forget to include the parents and grandparents of both the bride and the groom.

The style of vehicle you select will also determine how many people it will seat. Generally classic vehicles seat four adults plus the chauffeur. Limousines on the other hand will seat 10 or more adults plus the chauffeur.

Latest Gowns from Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

Latest Gowns from Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

_{Design by Anne Avantie
Photography by Hermawan (Getty)}
Jakarta Fashion Week is Indonesia's annual premiere fashion event as a universal platform for innovative brands who wish to associate themselves with design, style and luxury. Southeast Asia's most influential fashion event shows a promising future for Indonesia's fashion to enter the global fashion market.
This year Jakarta Fashion Week 2013 was held from 3rd-9th of November and Wedding Style Guide is excited to share with you the amazing gowns showcased by our Indonesian neighbours.


<sub>Design by Ivan Gunawan
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Design by Rusly Tjohnardi
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Left: Design by Rusly Tjohnardi - Right: Design by Khanaan
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Design by Anne Avantie
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Design by Anne Avantie
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Left: Design by Elok Rege Napio - Right: Design by Anne Avantie
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Design by Anne Avantie
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Design by Anne Avantie
Photography by Irvan Arryawan (Getty)


Design by Cecilia Yuda & Lisa Daryono - Benten
Photography by Hermawan (Getty)


Design by Cecilia Yuda & Lisa Daryono - Benten
Photography by Hermawan (Getty)</sub>