Invite Designer – Creative Wedding Planning & Ideas

Destination weddings are becoming very popular with engaged couples.  At first blush, destination weddings sound like they would cost a lot more money than the usual church ceremony; however, they are often cheaper.  This is because many resorts, cruises, and other travel destinations offer wedding packages that include the wedding ceremony, a catered reception with food and wedding cake, photographer, officiant, and honeymoon.  Sometimes travel to and from the destination wedding is included.  If travel isn’t included, it’s best for couples to purchase air and hotel as a package because this saves money. 

A destination wedding package not only saves money, but it also saves the bride and groom all the time and stress of planning their wedding.  It’s already done for them!  All they have to do is show up and enjoy the vacation atmosphere that greets them as soon as they arrive. 

Destination weddings are also a reunion of sorts for friends and family.  Guests spend more time with each other because the wedding ceremony is usually a day or two after family and friends arrive.  This gives everyone time to catch up with friends and family or get acquainted with the in-laws.

Additionally, if this isn’t a bride’s and/or groom’s first marriage, destination weddings are an ideal choice.  This type of wedding is more private and often don’t have the usual tongues wagging about a second or third marriage.  Plus, if children are involved, a destination wedding at a family friendly resort or cruise is great for taking the kids along, particularly if there are step siblings.  This helps them get to know one another and to make them feel part of the new family. 

Popular destination weddings are the Bahamas, Las Vegas, Hawaii, cruises, and even castles in the UK.  Destination weddings don’t have to require traveling so far from home, however.  Local beaches and parks are great for destination weddings, as well as local vineyards.  Additionally, many Bed and Breakfasts are situated on acreage that includes large landscaped gardens.  These beautiful and natural surroundings provide an ideal setting because there’s plenty of room for wedding guests.  Of course, you have to cross your fingers for good weather.  It’s always best, if you go the route of an outdoor wedding, to make sure there’s a back up in case of inclement weather.  Some of the Bed and Breakfasts that are wedding destinations also provide catering, which saves the bride and groom the time and stress of trying to find a caterer, baker, and reception venue.  Often these destination wedding Bed and Breakfasts offer romantic honeymoon packages, so be sure to check if there’s a discount on having your destination wedding at the place where you’ll spend your honeymoon.

Destination weddings can be extravagant, with the couple and their family and friends traveling to exotic locations.  Or a destination wedding can be closer to home, saving the couple time and money.  Whichever route a couple takes, a destination wedding is sure to be unique and memorable.

Alaska honeymoons offer rest and relaxation, as well as plenty of action. Many people travel there to experience nature’s beauty is such a large place. There are many beautiful parks in Alaska: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Denali National Park, to name a few. The Northern Lights are also a big draw and can be a very romantic and unique experience. People who have seen the aurora borealis in person say that pictures or videos just can’t compare to the majesty of seeing them in person. Before you go, make sure you read over the Northern Lights’ information and FAQs.Other activities include various day cruises and tours, even tours all the way up to remote Barrow. Barrow is the northernmost settlement in North America. Day tours here emphasize the traditional Eskimo customs and way of life. Dog sledding, eco-tours, and whale watching are also popular activites many Alaskan travelers want to experience.

There is quite a variety in lodging throughout all of Alaska. You’ll find your well known chain hotels, as well as inns, resorts, and bed and breakfasts. Since I think of inns and bed and breakfasts as more romantic than the mass produced franchise hotels, here are a couple romantic getaways perfect for a honeymoon. Juneau’s Alaska Wolf House Lodge is snug inside a cedar log home with open beams, skylights, and spectacular views of the sea and mountains. A professional chef is on the premises to make scrumptious breakfasts. King Salmon souffle, candied pecan waffles with cinnamon syrup, and Alaskan king crab quiche are just some of the menu’s temptations. While eating your breakfast overlooking the Gastineau Channel, you might even spot a whale or two. The Lodge also has a black bear they’ve nicknamed Molly, who lives behind the lodge on Mount Juneau. Because it’s so romantic and has a Jacuzzi for two, the Jack London Jacuzzi Suite is the choice of many honeymooners.

MSN named Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa in Juneau #4 of the “World’s Most Romantic Hotel Destinations.” Located on a small lake and overlooking the Mendenhall Glacier, this cedar home offers rooms with sound proofing and fireplaces; some rooms have a Jacuzzi. The inn also offers concierge services to help you plan your day’s activities.

To learn more about an Alaska honeymoon, check out the Travel Alaska website for more details on what to do on your visit to Alaska.

Looking for a honeymoon destination where it’s sunny in the winter, has beautiful natural surroundings, and is a place where you can relax or be as active as you want? Then consider the red rock beauty of the west – Sedona, Arizona. Please bear in mind it’s best to plan your honeymoon to Sedona when it’s not during the hot summer months, unless you and your new spouse like a dry and very high (over 100 degrees) heat.

There are many reasons people pick Sedona to visit. First and foremost, it’s gorgeous. The desert landscape, with its breathtaking red rocks, are juxtaposed with pine trees and winding creeks. You can enjoy the outdoors through jeep tours, hot air balloons, trolley tours, air tours, specialty tours; river rafting; golfing; many other outdoor activities; visiting the vortexes or going on a spiritual journey. If you love to ski, nearby Flagstaff awaits you.If you and your new spouse want to have a more leisurely day, there are lots of art galleries to peruse, chief of which is Tlaquepaque. Sedona also has great restaurants and unique shops. If you have sore muscles from hiking through the desert and mountains – or just want to unwind after all the stress of planning your wedding, there are plenty of spas to pamper both of you. The Mii Amo is a luxury spa that offers couples massage.

If you want to explore the surrounding areas, there’s plenty to do. Visiting Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. The same can be said for the Petrified Forest, which is known as the “Painted Desert” because of its colorful petrified wood and badlands with fossils 225 million years old. You can take a park tour, camp overnight, or drive through the 28 miles of park on your own. Don’t forget Arizona’s amazing wonder – the Grand Canyon. It’s a two to three hour drive from Sedona. Jerome and Prescott are also worth a stop. Jerome is known as “America’s Most Vertical City” and the “Largest Ghost Town in America.” Prescott is filled with Victorian homes and has over 500 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its historical “Whiskey Row” was an infamous red light district until the 1950s.

A romantic place to stay for your Sedona honeymoon is the Boots & Saddles Bed and Breakfast. It bills itself as a “Romantic Sedona Bed & Breakfast” and has been awarded the Travelers’ 2006 and 2008 Choice Award by Trip Advisor. The location is ideal; it’s off the beaten path, yet convenient enough to take in the usual tourist spots. Beauty surrounds you at Boots and Saddles: the rooms are all tastefully decorated in Southwestern themes, and you need only look outside to see Thunder Mountain and Chimney Rock.

From their website: “Kick off your boots and soak in your private Spa under the stars or your in-room jetted tub for two in front of the flickering fire. And while you enjoy your luxurious room decorated in a Southwestern Style we will make you feel at home. You will enjoy sumptuous gourmet breakfasts, afternoon snacks, and home baked chocolate-chip cookies.”

Your hosts, Irith and Sam, will even help you plan your activities around the Sedona area. Irith’s interior designer touch is noticed throughout Boots and Saddles, while Sam, who is a great chef, makes sure you’ll have a delightful breakfast every morning. They will also give you plenty of privacy, so you can enjoy your romantic honeymoon.

Sedona is a delightful place to visit, whether you’re looking for plenty of outdoor activities, leisurely activities, rest and relaxation, or all of the above! It’s also located near several other beautiful areas that you’ll no doubt want to visit while you’re in the area!

Photo from Visit Sedona.

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For any couple out there still searching for a honeymoon destination, throw down your glossy ads with promises of ocean top bungalows (did you know you can hear all of your neighbors in one of those things?). I am telling you to stop looking and listen to a tale of a little slice of heaven located in Palm Springs, California. I am speaking of The Parker Palm Springs. Yes, The Parker of Bravo TV’s “Welcome to the Parker” fame. My husband and I just returned from a weekend full of relaxing by the pool and drinking in the last drops of sun we’ll see for at least nine months (we’re Seattle residents and its true what they say about Seattle). The Parker and Palm Springs are the perfect setting for a relaxing, sun drenched Honeymoon.

Let me whet your appetite with the opening of the Manifesto (complete text can be found at the bottom of this post) belonging to The Parker’s spa called The Palm Springs Yacht Club… “We believe in the American country club experience: mixed doubles, a long steam, and a stiff cocktail. We believe in inner beauty. But do what you can on the outside…” This is a place that understands what I’m looking for! We started our weekend with a cocktail at The Lemonade Stand. I enthusiastically recommend “The Squeeze.”

The cocktail was a good start on the way to leaving behind all of the anxiety and tension that comes along with travel. After that we couldn’t wait to check out our room. We reserved an Estate Room and were upgraded to one with a patio upon arrival. The room was great, exactly what we expected and decorated in Jonathan Adler’s “happy chic” vibe. The one let down was the bathroom; it reminded me of a Holiday Inn but with better amenities (mmm… Molton Brown and L’Occitane).

After checking out our room we immediately headed to the pool to enjoy the gorgeous Palm Springs weather, it was 97 all weekend. The Parker has two of the most chic pools I have ever seen. I am always snapping pics at places like The Parker, I get great color combination and design ideas for wedding invitations and wedding programs as well as home décor. I would kill to have a patio set-up like The Parker.

Later on that day we just explored the grounds, for those of you familiar with the TV show we found the Gene Autry Estate, the Petanque grounds, and even caught a glimpse of a room service waiter on his bike. For being in the desert the grounds were impressively lush.

We also made sure to see every inch of the interior which was of course equally as chic as the grounds.

All in all we loved The Parker and I would have been quite happy spending my honeymoon there lounging by the pool, enjoying the spa services (I had the quintessential massage and it was great), and recuperating from the wedding madness. It’s also a city you can’t throw a stone in without hitting a golf course, so if you and the new Mr. are golfers you’ll love Palm Springs. For more information on The Parker you can visit http://theparkerpalmsprings.com/. Cheers dahling….

Palm Springs Yacht Club Manifesto

We believe in the American country club experience:

mixed doubles, a long steam, and a stiff cocktail.

We believe in inner beauty. But do what you can on the outside.

We believe in old-world etiquette and new age simplicity.

We believe you can swim after you eat.

We believe we should trust those seeking enlightenment and

doubt those who claim to have found it.

We believe that the earth is three-quarters water; and your body is

three-quarters water, and… this is purely coincidence.

We believe in good sport as well as fitness: Petanque and Pastis,

Pimms Cup and Croquet, Snooker and single malt whiskey.

We believe you are only young once… but you can be immature forever.