Real Wedding: Angela and Justin, Chianti, Italy

Requirements for a dreamy wedding in Italy: Romantic vineyard? Check. Storybook castle? Check. Flowing Wine? Check. Tons of relatives? Check, check and check. In fact, with because of so many family roots planted in Italy, tying the knot there seemed like the obvious choice for our featured couple this week, Angela and Justin Brocato. They started searching for wedding spots in Tuscany a year ahead of time and found the perfect place: Castello Vicchiomaggio, a charming 15th century castle perched on a hill and surrounded by vineyards. Fun save-the-date idea: on their scouting trip, they bought postcards, used a personalized stamp they had brought from home with their wedding date and website, and mailed them from Italy. By the time the save-the-dates had reached their guests, Angela and Justin were able to update the website with the solidified wedding details. Very smart!

I love the details of this wedding! Angela did an awesome job combining the yellow-gold and black color palette with traditional Tuscan charm. Each guest was greeted with a welcome basket containing locally-purchased snacks, wine, flavored olive oil and a handwritten welcome note from Angela and Justin. Reception tables were each titled as different wines from the region, and place cards were written in calligraphy using Italian abbreviations Sig. and Sig.na, and mounted on wine corks. Chair cards used the same lettering and were tied to each chair with gold organza ribbon. Bellissimo!

Photos courtesy of Stefano Nannucci.

See more photos and read planning tips from Angela here.

Black Friday Resort-style

Black Friday isn’t just for electronics and appliances; some resorts are getting into the game too — like Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts.

These two beachfront properties are offering a “Black Friday Beach Blowout” 50-percent-off sale starting at 12:01 a.m. EST Friday, Nov. 27, and continuing through midnight on Monday, Nov. 30. You and your guests can grab half-price stays for travel between Dec. 18, 2009, and March 31, 2010, at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino (pictured) and Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino. Room-only rates originally starting at $275 per room, per night, are now just $138, and all-inclusive rates originally starting at $245 per person, per night, are now just $123. Use booking code BF09.

Sonesta Maho Beach & Casino, located on the island’s southwest shore, features a Vegas-style casino, nightclub and myriad dining options, while Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino lines a one-mile stretch of white sand on Great Bay Harbour, close to Philipsburg’s duty-free shops and restaurants.

Happy shopping, and from all of us at DWH, have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Trend Alert Part 2

Last week I highlighted five trends that we've been seeing at a lot of real destination weddings. Here are five more that we love. And don't worry, if you steal any of these ideas, your secret's safe with us!




Coordinating signage. As venues get more and more unique, signs have become an invaluable navigation tool for guests. But poster boards and markers won’t cut it — today’s signs are created with the same care as the invites.







Party props. To get people in the festive spirit, couples are turning to … toys. Think funny hats on the dance floor, zany accessories for a photo booth, and local souvenirs, from maracas to puppets, that add to the fun. (Image courtesy Snippet & Ink.)







Giving back. During their ceremonies, couples are planting trees and releasing baby sea turtles, both gestures symbolizing new beginnings while also lending a hand to Mother Nature.







Innovative dessert stations. Brides are upping the ante with dessert buffets, incorporating candy displays, chocolate fondue, fruit skewers, and bite-size treats served in shot glasses and ceramic soup spoons.




Rural settings. From rustic barns and ranches to small, family-owned vineyards, brides are heading to the country for backdrops that blend intimacy, nature and nostalgia. (Image courtesy Riverside Farm in Pittsfield, Vermont.)

Real Wedding: Dani and David, Isle of Palms, South Carolina

For their wedding, Dani and David Dillard traveled all the way from Dallas to Isle of Palms, a seven-mile long island off the coast of South Carolina. They didn’t feel like Texas was the right setting for their big day and, since most of their guests were on the east coast, they decided this location would be more convenient. They fell in love with Wild Dunes Resort and chose it as their venue.

The wedding wouldn’t have been the same without the creative touches added by Dani’s mother, Cindy Dude. Not only did she DIY the programs, centerpieces and place cards, she also transformed an antique door into a place card display, refinished old church windows for ceremony backdrops and envisioned a way for each guest to be a part of the ceremony — each person lit a candle that illuminated the bride and groom’s path down the aisle. If only we could all be so inventive!

Photos courtesy of Liz Duren.

How adorable is the ring bearer? And I love the box for the rings — what a great idea!

I also really like this “Make A Wish” presentation. Each guest’s name is printed on a card so the bride and groom know who it’s from, just in case someone forgets to sign his or her name.

See all the photos and read planning tips from Dani here.

It’s a Nice Day for a White Wedding

Hey little sister, are you planning a winter wedding? You may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but dealing with snow on your big day can be less than merry. That’s why the iconic Flamingo Las Vegas is offering couples their White Wedding package: For $1,135 your big day will include a bouquet and boutonniere, photography and wedding album, ceremony pianist and wedding coordination services — sans the slush. Plus you get to pick from one of their six wedding venues, such as the Gazebo Chapel, Crescendo Pool or West Lawn. The icing on the cake? A Billy Idol impersonator will perform his trademark hit at the ceremony. Only in Vegas! For more info and to book the White Wedding package, visit flamingolasvegas.com.

It’s a nice day to start again. (Great, now I’m going to have that song in my head all day!)

DWH BEAUTY AWARDS

We just wrapped up our DWH Worldwide Guide (on stands 12/15), and while I love all of our issues, this one is particularly close to my heart because it features our first-ever DWH Beauty Awards!

People are always asking us what our favorite beauty products are, so it was just a matter of time before we took our expertise to task. We even called in reinforcements by polling more than 1,500 people via the Internet, Facebook and Twitter. And after we got everyone’s nominations in, the real work began.

We organized 30 categories ranging from head (shampoo) to toe (nail polish) with three product nominations each. Then we started testing. And while you’ll have to wait to find out the winners, here’s a peek at what we loved for skin. Guaranteed to make you soft and glowing.

Philosophy Microdelivery exfoliating wash
(Use it daily for a fresh-as-a-daisy face.)

Bliss vanilla + bergamont body buff
(This gives you seriously soft skin people! I'm addicted.)

Bliss rosemary + lemon softening sock salve
(Perfect for the footsie-playing duo.)

Philosophy Amazing Grace bath + shower gel
(A two-in-one and it smells fantastic? It doesn't get much better than that ladies.)

Jergens Natural Glow face moisturizer
(Who wants sun damage? Here's how to look sun-kissed and stay healthy.)

Have a tried-and-true favorite of your own? Let us know! We’re already working on research for next year and would love to hear your input!

Trend Alert Part 1

Yesterday we wrapped up production of our annual Worldwide Guide issue, which is chock-full of venue ideas, carefully vetted beauty products, and trends galore from real destination weddings. Pick up your copy from newsstands on Dec. 15, and in the meantime, here’s a look at some fun trends that we didn’t have room to mention!




Unique guest books. Forget a bound paper book. Couples are getting guests’ John Hancocks on bottles of champagne, local postcards, and note cards designed to match decorative wish boxes.








Bouquet mementos. Sentimental brides are attaching heirlooms like brooches, lockets and small framed photos of lost loved ones right to the ribbon wrap of their bouquet, keeping their near and dear ones close to their heart.






Sassy sashes. They’re not just on flower-girl gowns anymore. Bold sashes add spice to bridesmaids’ dresses, and they even made a number of appearances on bridal gowns (like this one, by Vera Wang) at the Fall 2009 Bridal Market shows.






Fans, flip-flops and refreshments. At beach weddings, couples are making sure their guests are comfortable by providing handheld fans, bottles of water, and buckets of flip-flops in a variety of sizes.







Creative lighting. We’re noticing Chinese lanterns hanging from trees, vintage string lights strung across naked tent frames, and backsplash lighting mimicking the wedding colors — all of which does wonders to set the mood. (Image courtesy Kelly Oshiro Events and Harper Smith Photography.)




More trends to come next week!

New Contests for Winter

In the market for some free swag? You’re in luck because we’ve recently launched a few new contests for our Winter issue.


Win a Florida Honeymoon!
Does lazing on a sunny Florida beach sound like a perfect post-wedding escape? You and your honey can win a five-night stay at the ultra-chic The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida, including a 50-minute couple’s massage. Mmmm…. Aren’t you more relaxed already?








Lovely Locks Giveaway
Every bride wants a great hair day, which is why 20 lucky readers will win our favorite hair products featured in the Beauty To Go section of our Winter issue! Enter now for a chance to win the goods, and be sure to grab a copy of the mag for the how-to on these classic wedding-day dos.







Rock On Giveaway
Add some edge to your wedding day with the rock and roll inspired accessories of the Global Style section of our Winter issue. Plus, you can snag some rock-star-worthy items yourself: enter for a chance to score a Glam Noir compact, Things Remembered flask, Guitar Hero Smash Hits video game for Xbox 360, VonZipper shades, or even a Kenneth Jay Lane cuff worth $300.




That’s not all: we’re hard at work wrapping up our Worldwide Guide issue (look for it on December 15th). Stay tuned to our blog for even more giveaways, including goodies from the winners of our first-annual Beauty Awards. Trust us, that will definitely be as awesome as it sounds!

Real Wedding: Tiffany and Jared, Negril, Jamaica

What’s the biggest fear of destination brides holding an outdoor wedding? Rain. And between June and December, island brides can face bad-weather woes to the extreme: the threat of hurricanes, as this week’s featured wedding demonstrates. Hurricane Paloma hit the island of Jamaica just days before Tiffany and Jared Ishiguro were going to say I do. The couple had chosen Tensing Pen in Negril, Jamaica, as their venue after falling in love with its setting: not on the beach but still surrounded by glorious views of the Caribbean Sea. Joined only by close family and friends (11 guests in all), they arrived in Jamaica just as the hurricane did. They watched in horror as crashing waves covered their beautiful ceremony location, and they were evacuated to a nearby resort, pushing the wedding back by one day.

Every bride's worst fear - a hurricane!

Luckily, the storm passed quickly, and Tiffany and Jared were able to have the wedding of their dreams. The weather after the storm was picture-perfect, and because the resort had been evacuated, the couple and their guests had the entire property to themselves. It made for a very special and intimate celebration — one they thought might not even happen.

Tiffany’s advice to future brides and grooms is to realize you can’t always control every detail. She also recommends making a wedding-day schedule to streamline everything. Since she lost a day because of weather, twice as many activities (such as the day-after photo shoot) had to be crammed into the morning of the wedding. She felt chaotic and wishes she had been more organized. It’s also a good idea to make sure a wedding planner or family member has a copy of the schedule to keep everything flowing smoothly.

The amazing photos are courtesy of Punam Bean Photography

Get the full wedding story and read planning tips from Tiffany here.

Rockin the Pearls

What’s not to love about fashion shoots? We get to work with gorgeous gowns and accessorize with super-fun jewelry. For the winter issue’s Maine shoot (on stands now), we pulled from a handful of our favorite jewelry designers including pearlparadise.com. And while I’m not necessarily a “strand of pearls” type of gal, I did discover that piling on a bunch of them proved be a fun, messy alternative — which is why when I heard about their new metallic Freshadama freshwater pearls, I couldn’t wait to check them out. Each pearl varies in size from 6.5 to 9.5 mm and comes in colors ranging from gold to copper.

Find one that catches your eye? Check out their website. Rumor has it they’re offering a pre-holiday promo with strands priced between $190 and $1,200 (depending on size).

See? Who says diamonds have to be a girl’s best friend?

Porn for the Bride

Every bride-to-be knows that even the most helpful groom never quite reaches the same level of excitement about wedding planning that she does — which is what makes Porn for the Bride, a new release from Chronicle Books, so hilarious. This fun little gift book features 40 full-color images of attractive, well-dressed grooms expressing sentiments that would make any bride swoon — like, “Sure, invite all of your old boyfriends — let ’em get one last look at what they’re missing!” Great as a conversation starter at a bachelorette party or shower, the book is $12.95.

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the funniest pages, courtesy of Chronicle (click on them for a bigger view). Enjoy!





And our favorite (though this one isn't such a stretch):

Real Wedding: Mae and Jeremy, Maui, Hawaii

Louisiana-based couple Mae and Jeremy O’Donnell knew their guests would have to travel in order attend their wedding, so they decided to make the most of it. They chose Hawaii, where most of their guests had never been, and the Sheraton Maui Resort. The morning of the wedding, Mae had to face the fear of all brides who choose to marry outdoors: the impending threat of bad weather. She managed to keep her panic under control by reminding herself that rain on a wedding day is considered a blessing. Luckily, the heavy winds and rain ceased, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds to shine down onto the ceremony.

The little touches that made this wedding so fun came from the help of a few talented vendors. A family member, Cheryl Shoemaker from Orchid Isle Weddings & Events, handled the planning, coordination and vendor recommendations. Anny Heid Flowers created the bridal bouquets and table centerpieces, using cymbidium orchids, roses, gerbera daisies and calla lilies. DK Designs tied in the wedding colors throughout the event with handmade invitations, program fans, table signs and favors that doubled as place cards.

Photos courtesy of Stewart Pinsky Photography.

See all the photos and read planning tips from Mae here.