Upcoming Wedding Events

Getting married can be stressful. We don't normally see that aspect in the Hollywood movies, just the gorgeous bride on the wedding day and then being whisked away to the honeymoon. But then there are those movies like Bridesmaids and the bachelor party famously gone wrong in The Hangover. 

When you are planning a wedding, you (the bride) and possibly your fiancé, bridesmaids, mom or even mother-in-law will attend various bridal shows in your area to narrow down your choices for your wedding and reception. 

What many brides don't know is that there are dozens of other events that they can attend to get even MORE information! Planning your wedding should be fun, not stressful. These two events can help take some of that stress away!

One great event coming up NEXT week is a Honeymoon Happy Hour! It is Tuesday, February 18th! It is being hosted by local travel agency, Travel Planners, Inc. The event is being held at the Hotel Capstone in Tuscaloosa, AL from 6:00-8:00 PM. The experienced travel agents are honeymoon experts so come and ask questions while you enjoy free drinks and appetizers. Oh and the event is FREE! Everyone loves free! This is a great opportunity to learn about deals and steals at great romantic locations! RSVP by calling 205.870.3031

Another fun event that is coming up is for the GROOM! How fun! A mens only event. You do not see many of those! The event is a Groom Workshop hosted by Feel the Beat Entertainment on February 23rd from 3:00-5:00 PM and February 25th from 6:30-8:30 PM! The workshop is being held at the Feel The Beat offices in Chelsea, AL. This event is targeted toward the groom so that he will learn wedding etiquette, duties, how NOT to act on the bachelor party, how to keep the romance alive and how to win brownie points with his new bride! There will be finger food and GREAT giveaways. Do not miss this FREE event. RSVP by calling 205.678.0845!

Please RSVP for each of these events. 

Hot 2014 Wedding Trends

So it is February and most of us have gotten used to writing 2014 instead of 2013 on our checks now. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, there will be thousands of engagements and even more wedding planning. Each year brings new trends, fun ideas and bright colors. 

This year is the year of pink. Pink is back people! Not the bright annoying pepto color, but soft nude pink ranging to peachy and blush pinks. This is definitely a trend we will see catch on like wildfire and I for one am very excited!

Say goodbye to vintage themed, barns and burlap this year. This 2014 is going to be filled with Great Gatsby and 1920s themed weddings! Bring on the fancy china, old Hollywood, crystal, gold and black!  This year will be the year of roaring twenties glamour. We will see art deco details galore or even bohemian-flapper! Brides this year will turn to pearls and fur for their fashion while the groom and groomsmen will adorn suspenders, pocket watches, and vests! We love this idea! 

The next trend is not so new, but will definitely become bolder this year. Patterns! We will be seeing plethora of stripes, florals, chevron and polka dots. Also we will see a lot of mixed textures such as wool, fur, copper, marble and leather! Excited to see this year's wedding pictures!

As far as floral arrangements, we will be seeing many peonies, succulents and poppies. These flowers are considered "romantic" and will be in great use this year. I adore succulents, so this trend is one of my favorites! 

Another very popular trend this year is letter press invitations. This has been around for sometime, but this year we will see more dainty and personalized wedding invitations. Check out this wonderful video on a local printing press in Birmingham, Alabama! 

A theme this year that I am absolutely loving is the family style serving. Seated dinners, finger foods and fancy getups are out this year. The family style catering is very in. It is more personal and your guests can interact more. When guests help themselves it is more interactive! Love this!

2014 is the year of GLITTER! Glitter cakes that is! Gold, silver and colored glitter will adorn many cakes this year. 

I am super excited to see these trends unfold this year and the possibility of more new trends throughout 2014! Bring it on!

Honeymoon Happy Hour

 

 

Come out and see us at the Hotel Capstone in Tuscaloosa on February 18th! It is going to be a great time so come and learn about where you can go on your honeymoon on YOUR budget!!

Take me to paradise: Malibu

Today it is 20 degrees in Birmingham, AL. I am sitting here at work with my cup of coffee trying to stay warm and dreaming of a warm getaway. There are many places I would love to visit, but Malibu is a top destination. I have never been but dream to go there one day and bask in the warm sun on those gorgeous beaches. Maybe if I ever get out there I could run into famous celebrities that live there such as Robert Downey Jr., Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Sting, and even Beyonce! That would be such a treat!

Sitting at my desk dreaming of a vacation

 Such a gorgeous place to be dreaming of during this cold weather

 

 

 

 

To travel to Malibu currently is not that expensive. A round trip from Birmingham, AL to Malibu, California is only about $800. Talk about a steal. You could probably even find something cheaper depending when you decide to travel.

 

While I have never been to Malibu, I still like to research where to stay and where to eat when traveling on a budget.

 

When looking for places to stay, you can find Inns and B&Bs for only $200 a night! If you are looking for something nicer, you can rent a vacation home from $400 and up. The Malibu Beach Inn is a popular place to stay while vacationing in Malibu. It is located right on the beach and has great service. The rooms are quite small, the lets me honest, when in Malibu, you will probably spend very little time in your room!

 

View from a room at the Malibu Beach Inn

 

 

Beachfront breakfast at the Malibu Beach Inn

 

 

When deciding on dining options to list I ran across Nobu Malibu many times. I have read numerous recommendations and found that it seems like an unbelievable place to eat at! It is located on the Pacific Coast Highway and is frequented by celebrities.

 

Front of Nobu Malibu

 

Views of ocean are available from nearly every seat with outdoor patio seating, exterior lounge and floor to ceiling windows.

 

Nobu Malibu is known from its exquisite cuisine such as ceviche, lobster, steak and a wonderful dessert menu. Reservations are highly recommend.

 

Another great place to eat would be the Sage Room Italian Restaurant. It is a very intimate and private setting with amazing food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malibu is a 21 mile strip of prime Pacific Coastline. Zuma Beach is the largest and most popular beach in Los Angeles County. It is known for excellent surf and wide sand beaches.

 

When looking for things to do while in Malibu, there is an unlimited list. In July there is the Malibu Art Festival and the International Film Festival. Both are great to attend. The Getty Villa is beautiful to visit as well. It is a museum dedicated to the art of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and other classic civilizations.

 

 

 

     El Matador Beach, Pepperdine University, and the Malibu Wine Safari are also great things to do while visiting Malibu. The best time to visit is in the summer time. Yes, it is busy around that time but you will get the most out of your vacation during June-August!

 

 

Maybe some day soon I will visit! Until then, keep me posted on your trips and where to visit next!



Best Places to Travel in 2014

Start adding to your Travel Bucket List! Most of these places are under the radar and not as well known! A great adventure! The list comes from one of my favorite sites, The Huffington Post.

First is Colmar, France. Colmar is a medieval storybook town that looks like it's straight out of Beauty and the Beast. Charming canals, picturesque homes and delicious Alsatian wines make this the ideal French destination. 

Ouro Preto, Brazil. Brazil will have a good year in 2014. Travelers will flock to major cities like Rio, Sao Paolo and Brasilia (among others) for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. We're not trying to say you shouldn't go to those cities. But once you've had your fill, check out Ouro Preto, a historic colonial mining town that's a bit more low-key than the big cities.

Kosrae, Micronesia. This magical little Pacific Island is filled with adventure. Untouched and undeveloped, Kosrae is a hot spot for ecotourism and sustainable travel. Lush greenery, the ancient stone city of Lelu and renowned scuba diving are just a few reasons to visit Kosrae.

Grand Rapids & Lake Michigan's Gold Coast. Seemingly one of the top U.S. destination to check out in 2014. Grand Rapids has been voted the best beer city in America and boasts more than 25 craft breweries nearby. The city also has a lively art scene and tons of festivals. Thirty miles away, Lake Michigan's Gold Coast offers the prime location for an unexpected beach getaway with 300 miles of gorgeous waterfront.

Colca Canyon, Peru. Colca Canyon is often overshadowed by Machu Picchu, but it's certainly worthy of it's own visit. Colca Canyon is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and is surrounded by the Colca Valley, which has pre-Incan roots. The canyon also offers archeological wonders and an array of unique species (like the Andean Condor).

Virunga Mountains, East Africa. A chain of volcanoes in East Africa, the Virunga Mountains are as beautiful as they are exciting. The mountains span three countries -- Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda -- and are home to the critically endangered mountain gorilla.

Ikaria, Greece. A Greek island in the Aegean Sea, Ikaria has a rich history and even richer natural wonders. In Greek mythology, Ikaria is hailed as the birthplace of Dionysos, god of wine. You can still sample Ikaria's famous red wine today. 

Banaue, Philippines. Banaue and it's signature rice terraces are a sight everyone needs to see. The rice terraces are mystifying and Banaue itself is the perfect affordable base, especially compared to other tourist spots in the Philippines.

Better start planning! Only have a year! :)