01.16.08
Free Dinner at Castle Venlaw!
The Wedding Planner advises: Anyone looking for a castle for an intimate wedding in Scotland should check out Castle Venlaw Hotel in Peebles, close to Edinburgh, Scotland this month.
The castle is situated in four acres of lawned and wooded grounds within the Royal Burgh of Peebles. The town centre is only three minutes away by car and only fifteen by foot. Edinburgh is about a 45 minute drive. The castle is easily located off the main Edinburgh to Peebles road. The castle is listed in the Good Hotel Guide 2004, recommended by Condé Nast Johansens, rated 4 stars by VisitScotland and 3 stars by the AA. The AA has also awarded the castle’s restaurant two rosettes in recognition of the quality of its cuisine. It has 12 en-suite bedrooms, most of which are particularly large with spectacular views across Peebles and the countryside beyond. The Glenturret Suite, with its super-king bed and separate sitting room, is an ideal retreat for the bride and groom, as is the Glenkinchie Suite which also boasts 2 bathrooms and the romance of a four-poster bed. The restaurant comfortably seats 35 guests in an elegant setting of period features such as a magnificent fireplace and elaborate plaster ceilings and cornices.
Throughout the month of January 2008, if you stay any night from Sunday to Thursday, the castle will offer a dinner inclusive deal when a booking is made on any of the bed and breakfast rates. This offer is subject to availability and does not apply to existing bookings.
For further information, e-mail info@weddingplanner.ie or if you are reading this AFTER March 2008 visit my website www.weddingplanner.ie as we’ll have launched our ebook ‘The Wedding Planner’s Guide to Castle Weddings 2008′ by then which you can buy!!
Nice Day For An Ice Wedding
Imagine an Artic landscape covered in a beautiful thick blanket of snow. Amidst this winter wonderland is a chapel made completely of ice to which you arrive in a reindeer pulled sleigh. Or how about standing as husband and wife for the first time in the middle of a glacier, having arrived by helicopter?
Ice Hotels In Sweden, 200km north of the Artic Circle lies Jukkasjärvi, home of the first ice hotel (as seen on a TV ad for a certain brand of cider). Built completely of ice and snow from scratch every November, this winter paradise offers a hotel reception, a main hall, an ice-art exhibition, ice bar, a glorious ice chapel, the Ice Globe Theatre and of course hotel rooms and suites. After you exchange your vows in this enchanting setting, continue your magical moment with a sparkling cocktail beverage in the ice bar, followed by a delicious meal. To finish this extraordinary day, spend the night in one of the Theme Suites. As everything in the ice hotels is made of sculptured ice, including the glasses, the beds too are large slabs of ice. Reindeer skins and thermal sleeping bags keep you snug. However, as it will be your wedding night, you may not need them to keep you warm!
The Canadian Ice Hotel and chapel in Quebec offers similar unique experiences. The 8th season of the Ice Hotel Québec-Canada is now in full swing. In late April the sun’s rays begin to melt the recently completed masterpiece and the hotel returns to the river leaving only memories behind, but of course you’ll have the photos!
Underwater Honeymoon
Unusual Weddings – Weddings & Honeymoons Abroad – Weddings Florida
Waking up to view a pair of angelfish looking in your bedroom window is a moment you’ll never forget.
The ‘Lodge’ used to be a working scientific base in the 70s, but now, has been completely re-furbished by an award-winning firm of interior decorations. Pastel carpets and hard wood partition separate the sleeping compartment into two bedrooms, which have double beds, personal stereo, TC and video. The Living room has a huge built in entertainment centre opposite a long comfortable settee running the length of the room. A full bar and kitchen are on the other side. It’s a surreal experience to lie back and watch, through a huge window; fish swim by, while listening to the stereo and eating popcorn, bot out of the microwave. You are encouraged to go for a dive in the surrounding lagoon which is frequented by parrot fish, angel fish, barracuda, sergeant majors, nurse sharks scrawled file fish and several varieties of snapper. The Emerald Lagoon also contains other points of interest, including and archaeology exhibit, which is a recreation of the Spanish galleon the San Pedro. The wreck site reveals the ribs of the boat, ballast stones, cannon and an anchor, as well as authentic artefacts from the wreck of the ‘Atocha’. The wreck site is so accurate, that it is used to train marine archaeology students. There are also two modern day sunken boats, and underwater music plays as you explore the fascinating underwater sculptures which are created by a solar powered accretion project using the natural minerals of the sea. When you get back to the lodge you have time to have a hot fresh water shower before the habitat engineer, Mike Smith, serves dinner. At the stroke of eight o’clock, Mike ‘popped’ down to prepare a mouth watering meal of fillet mignon and lobster tails without much interruption. Mike cleaned up and swam away again. It was comforting to know that he was just a call away by radio, intercom or regular telephone. He’s also on room service call if you need anything later, such as a bottle of Dom Perignon! It’s hard to believe you are underwater with such comfortable quarters, the only constant reminder is the wall mounted depth gauge. The lodge appeals to divers, adventurers, watersports enthusiasts, honeymooners or those looking for a totally unique wedding experience. If you’re not a certified diver, the staff is happy to conduct an introductory dive lesson on site. To stay at the world’s only underwater hotel contact Jules’ undersea Lodge at Key Largo Undersea Part, 51 Shoreland Drive, Key Largo, Fl 33037. (Tel: (001 407305) 451-2353)
Memory ideas
A picture is worth…An interesting way to decorate the guests’ tables is to place a piece of clear plastic on top of the table cloth, but before doing that, you’re going to spend a little time with your photo album. You can find photos of particular guests and place them on the table. Not only does this show some of their memories, but it also shows that you were thinking of them personally as you decorated the table. The plastic will protect the pictures from being harmed. Of course, you can also make digital copies of the pictures and use those as decorations too. If the guest wants to bring them home, then you can help them do so.Next slideAnother way that couples are decorating their reception with love and memories is to play a video or a slide show of themselves with their relatives and loved ones. When set to music, this can be a stirring reminder of those that have been lost and those that may have been forgotten.You can show this on a wall that everyone can see as they’re waiting for dinner, or even as dinner is served. And it doesn’t have to be perfect or even have an explanation as to who is who.
It can just show the pictures of the new couple as they grew up, as they first met, and when they were engaged. Personalize your wedding and your guests will fall under the spell.
The wedding day is your day, but the reception is really for the people that have come to celebrate you, so why not celebrate them a little too?
Wedding Invitations – when to send
Wedding invitations should be mailed out six weeks prior to the wedding day, unless friends or relatives need to fly in from out of town. Then the invitation should be mailed eight to ten weeks in advance to give your guests time to make travel and hotel arrangements. Custom also has it that invitations need to be mailed from the bride’s home, even if guests are friends of the groom. The envelope should have the full names of the family or persons you are inviting, and the inside card should just have first names. When you are inviting a single person, it is polite to write “and Guest” next to their name.Weddings invitation wording should reflect the formality of your wedding. The more formal, the closer to tradition you want to be. Invitations should tell your guests exactly what they need to know. The wording you use is also important, although there are many varieties to choose from.For destination weddings, make sure you mail the “Save the Date” cards well in advance so guests can begin making travel plans.
Choosing A Wedding Videographer
Capturing the perfect wedding day video takes more than just luck. There are a number of factors involved that should be considered when you’re planning your wedding video whether you’re the one behind or in front of the camera.1. ExperienceMake sure the videographer has considerable experience, has just about seen it all and can anticipate what is about to happen in order to capture events as they unfold. Take note of any recommendations from people you know or testimonials to this regard.2. CommunicationThe videographer must be prepared to liaise with other people who have key roles in your day, from the photographer to the hotel manager, in order to be alerted to upcoming highlights such as cutting the cake and the speeches as well as ensuring s/he is updated of any changes to the schedule.3. Post EditingThe video service should be able to provide additional interesting extras, such as background music and slow motion shots, which will give your finished video a professional and polished touch, distinguishing it from a regular home movie.4. ExpertiseThe wedding video should be a professional piece of work, make sure that as well as having top quality equipment, the videographer also advocates technical knowledge such as an understanding of white balance, manual focus and shutter speeds.
Ask to see examples of their work to judge the picture quality for yourself.5. LightingWhen discussing locations for the wedding day, ensure that the videographer has lighting equipment suitable for indoor filming and will be able to transport it to each venue, to ensure each picture is evenly lit and exposed.6. SoundAsk if it is possible for the groom to wear a tie-clip microphone in order to pick up both sets of vows being made.
Even the most confident of couples can be softly spoken when exchanging vows and this is the most important moment in your marriage ceremony that will want to be relived. This inconspicuous device will record voices onto the video, which may otherwise be lost.7. DiscretionThe ideal videographer will be unobtrusive and record the day without becoming a feature of it. Choose someone who understands the sensitivity needed to get all the shots whilst remaining invisible. Look for comments highlighting this ability when checking recommendations.
Stationery Etiquette
Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations should be mailed out six weeks prior to the wedding day, unless friends or relatives need to fly in from out of town. Then the invitation should be mailed eight to ten weeks in advance to give your guests time to make travel and hotel arrangements. Custom also has it that invitations need to be mailed from the bride’s home, even if guests are friends of the groom. The envelope should have the full names of the family or persons you are inviting, and the inside card should just have first names. When you are inviting a single person, it is polite to write “and Guest” next to their name.Weddings invitation wording should reflect the formality of your wedding. The more formal, the closer to tradition you want to be. Invitations should tell your guests exactly what they need to know. The wording you use is also important, although there are many varieties to choose from. Consult a wedding invitation magazine or guide before you order your invitations to know which wording will suit you best.For destination weddings, make sure you mail the “Save the Date”
cards well in advance so guests can begin making travel plans.
Thank-You Notes
It used to be that if you said thank you to someone in person for his or her gift, a thank-you note was not required. But these days, when couples are inviting more guests to the wedding, and more people send gifts through mail, thank-you notes are the only way to express your sincere appreciation.When should you send out thank-you notes for your shower and wedding? ASAP! The sooner, the better. Everyone appreciates a thank-you note, especially if it comes soon after the event. For the shower, notes should be sent out 10 to 14 days after the shower.Thank-you notes for weddings gifts received before the wedding should go out two weeks after receiving the gift so a prolonged period of time does not go between receiving the gift and sending the note.Proper wedding etiquette says that notes should be sent out two weeks to a month after you return from the honeymoon. If time starts racing and you’ve put notes on the back burner for too long, send them anyway. People expect thank-you notes for their gifts and they will still appreciate one even if it is late.Handwritten notes are the only way to go. If a guest receives a pre-printed thank-you note, he or she will feel unappreciated and think you are not thankful for their time and effort to get you something. No matter how short your handwritten note it, it expresses your appreciation so much better, and your guest will know you are truly thankful.Along with sending notes for gifts, be sure to send thank-you notes to friends and family who planned showers or parties for you; they worked hard to celebrate for you.If you receive more than one present from someone, write a thank-you note for each gift. If someone gives you a gift for your shower and then three weeks later for your wedding, it is not polite to write one note for both gifts. Get the shower thank-you note out before the wedding.Coloured ink is getting more popular these days, but for thank-you notes, black or dark blue ink should still be used.
These colours are easier to read and they just look better.These tips will help your guests appreciate your politeness and the time you spend thinking of them. Some of you guests will spend a good amount of money or time on you, and they want to know you appreciated that.
