A Brilliant Idea for Planning a Destination Wedding

Sorry folks, this is a bit more just an FYI for me to get back to when I'm actually starting the planning than a wedding idea. But, a good friend of mine just sent this to me and I don't want to forget about it.

Make a 'here or there' list. Write out what can be done from where you are and what will need to be arranged where you plan to wed. Do as much as you can where you live - choose your dress, accessories, bridesmaid dresses, invitations, favors, etc. Things that must be booked there (florist, caterer, makeup and hair stylists, etc.) will need to be done on weekend trips or through great communication. Send or e-mail pictures of your ideal bouquet, hairstyles, etc., to your vendors as you come across them.

Lucky for me, I have friends and family in the area. Maybe somebody will be willing to help with some of the "there" stuff. I'm sure I can twist somebody's arm :P

A Scrapbook/Guestbook

I've never understood the concept of a guest book for one reason only. You're required to use some big furry pen and write in a book about as personalized as the one you write in at any other event. But this is my wedding. I want better than that. So here's the current guest book idea.

I want to find something in the scrapbook line and get enough pages for everybody invited to have their own page. Then, as people RSVP for the wedding, we mail them a blank page (or pages--I love the idea of the kids having a chance to do their own page) and tell the the theme of the wedding and ask them to decorate their page of the guest book in any manner they see fit. I'm hoping that by doing this, we get friends and family not only excited about the wedding, but also a bit sentimental. I want everybody to have the chance to express their feelings and thoughts and any stories or anecdotes they see fit to include.

Unity Candles, Important Family Members and a Potential Idea

I've always loved the idea of unity candles and I always think that the mothers in a wedding don't have a big enough part. So, here's another idea I've been mulling around. I haven't brought this to him yet, since I'm still not sure if it's a good idea or just a touch too sappy. But here goes.

I think I want to have my mother and his mother walk down the aisle arm in arm each carrying a single taper. When they reach the altar, his father lights the candles for each of them and they place them in the candle holders. It is these candles that are used to light the unity candle. I think that, just as having my father walk me down the aisle is a sign of our receiving his blessing, having all of the family involved would truly show the unity that will be our wedding.

Again, though, I'm still kicking this around. Thoughts are welcome.

A Weekend Agenda

I was reading about a couple who got married in Cancun a few weeks ago. They had a brilliant idea that I'm contemplating for the wedding. As their guests checked into the hotel, they were given a welcome basket filled with a couple bottles of water, a map of the area, a bag of popcorn and a few pieces of fruit.

I'm contemplating doing something similar for the wedding. But I want to expand the idea a bit for our wedding. What I think would be nice is a basket with a few packets of hot cocoa (hey, we're getting married in December), popcorn, fruit, maybe some Indianola nuts. Then again, with our theme, we may need to include some Prilosec for the post-chili/fajita moments. We'll work out details later, I've still got to see how Mike feels about this.

I think it would also be a great idea to include a weekend agenda and map. This way everybody would know what was going on when and where and nobody would feel left out. On the program, I would like to list all the important deadlines as well as the fun stuff we have planned so that everybody could participate as they wish. This way, we could have the time and place for everything from the rehearsal dinner to the miniature golf games that we really want to get everybody involved in over the weekend.