The Finishing Touch

Sandals Royal Bahamian ~ Resort Review

My husband and I just got back from a great trip down to the Bahamas where we stayed at the Sandals Royal Bahamian. Here we are at one of their large sea-side pools just before dinner on our first night.

It was quite warm while we were there, but there were always tropical breezes, great pools, the crystal clear ocean...and delightful cold beverages to cool us off.  (Drinks are always included at Sandals resorts, with or without alcohol.)  And after the flight down on a very small, 18-seater plane (and a really rough landing), I welcomed the idea of a little alcohol. After my beverage, and the first sight of our lovely room with a beautiful ocean view, the plane ride was but a distant memory.  Our vacation had begun!  Here is the view from our room.

Here are some shots of the property.  The Sandals Royal Bahamian has a decor that I'd describe as a blend of British charm and Neoclassical elegance.  The grounds are lush with tropical flowers and trees, and you'll find beautiful statues nestled within the landscape.  Check out the authentic English phone booth...

    

    

The resort had fabulous lounging areas to enjoy.  Here are two I especially liked:

  

At night, one of the ocean-front lounging areas had fire pits to enjoy.  Here we are at one of them while we enjoyed sax on the beach. (Listening to a live saxophone player, that is!)

 

Of course, being a Wedding Planner AND a Certified Sandals Specialist, I had to scout out the wedding sites on property.  Here are my two faves. (The one on the water is at Sandals Cay, which I'll tell you more about later in this post.)

 

We saw several weddings going on while we were there, and they were all done a little differently, according to what the wedding couples wanted.  It was sweet to see the brides and grooms having private candlelight dinners on the beach each night.  Here was a Martha Stewart wedding design.  I was very excited to see one of these for the first time, as Sandals has changed their designs from Preston Bailey to Martha. I got these pics just before the wedding guests arrived. 

  

I've saved the best for last!  Sandals Royal Bahamian has a private paradise called Sandals Cay.  This is an offshore island that's a 10 minute boat ride across from the resort.  Once we went there, that's where we decided to spend most of our relaxation time. 

It was amazingly uncrowded.  There was an open-air restaurant, pool with swim-up bar, and a lot of private, hut-like areas where you could be alone to unwind and enjoy the view on luxurious double loungers. 

Here's where we spent our first day on Sandals Cay (and our view)...

 

...and our second day (and view)...

   

 This island offered lots of great niches to settle into.  You could even have a couple's massage in a private cabana.

   

One little secret we discovered was that you could make reservations for dinner on Sandals Cay.  (There were many restaurant options on the main resort property, but this one on the private island didn't seem to be advertised anywhere.) There were two seatings, and they booked quickly.  I think we enjoyed that meal the most.  Speaking of food...it was quite good at the resort restaurants and there was lots of variety. (We would like to have seen more conch and lobster offerings, since those are so native to the Bahamas and Caribbean.)  I should also mention that the resort has fantastic brick oven pizza...individuals...made to order...ocean-side...Yum!

As you can see, we had a fabulous time.  If you'd like to plan your honeymoon, romantic vacation, or destination wedding at a Sandals resort, I can help you.  I'll even travel there with you to coordinate your wedding.  The Sandal Luxury-Included Resorts are a BLAST and you really get a great value for your money: Food & Beverage---included.  Water sports like sailing, scuba, and snorkeling, and equipment---included. Gratuities---included.  Airport transfers to and from hotel---included.  Learn more about Sandals Luxury-Included Resorts here.

I've personally experienced Sandals resorts in Jamaica, Bahamas, and Saint Lucia.  Contact me to start planning your Sandals vacation.  Just call my office at 772-220-0373, or send me an email inquiry at CTcelebrations@aol.com . 

I'll leave you with a couple of more pictures from our trip...Thanks Sandals!

 

Visit the "Dreamday Destinations" section of this blog for more Sandals Resort reviews. 

Christine Terezakis

Professional Wedding Planner, Certified Sandals Specialist serving south Florida's Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches

Dreamday Celebrations- Event Planning & Design 
  

 

 

Frame Your Date ~ Wedding Keepsake Idea

I came across this cool idea for a keepsake of your wedding and just had to share! This framed wedding date is by a company called Frame the Date.   Two sisters photograph numbers during their travels and create commemorative framed dates.  It's a great gift idea, and best of all, you'll never have to worry about your spouse forgetting your anniversary!

 

(All photos courtesy of framethedate.com)

Their company also creates framed baby birth dates, which I think could be fun for a milestone birthday as well.

Check out their web site at: www.framethedate.com   and have fun shopping!

Happy planning,  Christine 

Christine Terezakis is a Wedding Planner serving southeast Florida, the Treasure Coast, and the Palm Beaches

Dreamday Celebrations Event Planning & Design

DIY Style ~ Bulk, Wholesale Wedding Flowers

(Photos courtesy of www.fiftyflowers.com)

If you've ever considered creating your own floral bouquets for your wedding, we know of a company that offers wholesale fresh flowers with a huge selection of flower varieties and colors.  I hope our local florists (who we absolutely love working with, and who are incredibly talented!) won't mind us introducing you to FiftyFlowers.com This is a great DIY option for your wedding flowers if your budget is tight, if you're a little crafty, and if you'll have some extra time (or help) a couple of days before your wedding.  Flowers are shipped fresh to you, anywhere in the country.

In addition to bulk flowers, FiftyFlowers offers this really great item called "Wedding Flowers in a Box" which includes all of your bouquets, bouts, and corsages already assembled!  Definitely check out those packages, which are customizable and start at very reasonable prices.  Shipping is FREE.

This company is a vendor member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, which truly lends to their credibility.  I've had the opportunity to see their product in person at our ABC national conference.  The flowers had been shipped to Orlando from California and were very fresh, and there were lots of pretty flower varieties and design styles.  I was especially impressed with how fresh the rose petals were. (You can order those in bulk for your ceremony aisle and decor accenting.)

 

We definitely give this company a "thumbs-up" for their variety, freshness, and price.  We like their customer service which includes live chats and the option of talking to a professional floral designer.  They also offer other choices such as centerpieces, complete floral arrangements (shipping charged for those), and DIY decor and how-to products.

          Check them out on the web at:  WWW.fiftyflowers.com

Happy Planning!    Christine

Christine Terezakis is a Professional Wedding Planner, Event Designer serving southeast Florida, the Treasure Coast, and the palm Beaches

Dreamday Celebrations Event Planning & Design

An Idea for Your Groom's Wedding Attire

(Photos courtesy of Indochino.com)

A bride will spend an average of $1505 on a wedding dress, and a groom will spend an average of $100 on tuxedo rental, according surveys by the Bridal Association of America.  Why is it that a bride will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a wedding dress that she will only wear once, while a groom will spend a hundred or so bucks to rent a tux or suit he could potentially wear over and over again?  My guess is that they probably never thought about it.  Rentals seem to be what everyone does, so that's what they do. 

I recommend that grooms re-think this and consider investing in the purchase of his tuxedo or suit.  The average cost of a suit is about $200. A great suit is a men's wardrobe staple, and a tux is the man's equivalent to the women's necessity of "the little black dress".  You're gonna need it some time!

To make this purchase really worthwhile, I also recommend you have something custom made to your specific measurements.  A great fitting suit really looks sharp.  Men have different body shapes, just like women do.  If you do buy off the rack, go for the extra money and get alterations for a perfect fit.  Have this done by a professional tailor or seamstress, not by the person who does hems in the department store.

I came across this company who custom makes men's suits, tuxedos, dress shirts...the works! There are a lot of things I like about them: their prices start as low as $200;  lots of price points, styles, and fabrics to choose from; they offer a 100% perfect fit promise; they provide a video of how to take correct measurements; they deliver for free within two weeks. You can visit them here: www.indochino.com

Have fun shopping!

Christine

Christine Terezakis

Professional Wedding Planner, Event Designer serving south and southeast Florida, the Treasure Coast, and the Palm Beaches

Dreamday Celebrations Event Planning & Design

Unique Crystal Wedding Accessories

I came across some items for all of you "BLING-loving" brides out there.  The first thing that caught my attention was a bouquet that's a sparkly alternative to fresh flowers.  Crystals!  Simply Charming (simplycharming.com) is a company that offers lots of wedding accessory items. They have these great crystal bouquets:

      Not only are these ideal for the BLING bride, but her BLING Bridesmaids and Flower Girls will love them too.  Also perfect for the mothers to carry as an alternative to wearing a corsage.  As you can see in the photo above, they're a cool idea for a centerpiece too.  They come in a variety of sizes and colors.
 

The next thing that caught my eye were these crystal-encrusted straps to wear when you're going barefoot.  Foot jewelry! Beautiful for beach weddings, and would look fab in your photos.

 
 

They say that wearing your birthstone carries good fortune with you on your wedding day.  Here are some pretty garters that can be customized with birthstones.

 
  (all photos courtesy of Simply Charming)

You can visit the Simply Charming web site here for more info and to see more of their fun and fabulous stuff!  Happy shopping!

Happy planning,

Christine

Wedding Planner serving southeast Florida

Dreamday Celebrations Event Planning & Design

PS:  Visit our web site for your FREE report at:

www.dreamdaycelebrations.com

 

 

Organized Brides

One of the first things I do with the brides I work with is help them get organized.  I always recommend that they have one spot for all of their wedding information.  Brides typically have lots of info on paper like magazine clippings, color swatches, vendor contracts, guest lists, phone numbers, and more.  Wedding information should be easy to find at a moment's notice.  A binder, file folder, or a carry-all bag are great for the bride who's on the go.  (What bride isn't, right?)

We've found some great items that will help you get organized.  Not only are they practical, they're fun!

www.seejanework.com   See Jane Work is a company that offers TONS of pretty, organizational items.  For brides, we like these expanding folders because they're portable...and cute. 

 

www.exclusivelyweddings.com  Exclusively Weddings offers these totes which include accessories.  One includes a journal, portfolio, and calculator while the other has a full planner in a carrying case.

www.hbhwedding.com   Hortense B. Hewitt Company offers these two variations of spiral-bound wedding planners to help keep your wedding details organized.

Happy planning, happy shopping!

Christine Terezakis

Wedding Planner serving south Florida's Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches

Dreamday Celebrations Event Planning & Design

 

Videocast Your Wedding

 

Photo compliments of I Do Stream
 

It's always disappointing when certain family and friends can't attend a wedding.  Perhaps it's because of timing, or distance, or illness, or expenses, or some other uncontrollable reason.  But, thanks to modern technology, those loved ones can now be virtual guests and see your wedding LIVE from just about anywhere!

Photo compliments of Vow Cast 

Surprisingly, the pricing on this service is not outrageously expensive.  In most cases, all that's needed is a digital video camera and high speed internet access. And, a professional videographer is not always necessary. Here are a couple of company web sites we came across that we thought you might like to check out:

www.vowcast.com

www.idostream.com

www.videoeden.com

Also, you can talk to your photographer or videographer about providing this service as an option for you.  They may have connections with videocast services. 

Happy planning,

Christine Terezakis

Southeast Florida Treasure Coast Wedding Planner

Dreamday Celebrations Event Planning & Design

 

 

 

 

 

   

Wedding Cake Trend: Customize Your Cake Stand

 

                                  (All photos courtesy of Raise the Cake)

The cake table at a wedding reception is a big part of the decor.  We always seem to be picking out just the right linens for the wedding cake table and making the decision between a cake topper vs flowers...but, what about the cake stand?!  That's also an important  decorative element in the display.

We just came across this great company called Raise the Cake. They specialize in creating cake stands that coordinate with your cake and event decor.  You can have a stand custom made OR choose from one of the many collections they offer.  They make cupcake stands too.  Enjoy some of their pictures below and visit their web site: www.raisethecake.com

 

Happy planning!

Christine Terezakis ~ South Florida Treasure Coast Wedding Planner

Dreamday Celebrations ~ event planning & design