Sum m er 2023
12| Destination Weddings
14 | Venue Decoration Tips
34| 5 Tips Finding the Perfect Destination Photographer
20| KB Photos & Design
Top Destination Weddings Magazine // CDM Media Group, LLC
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Thank you to all of our Top Wedding professionals for contributing your talents to make this another amazing issue. FRONT COVER Photographer/ KB Photos & Design
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ARTICLES REAL WEDDINGS & STYLED SHOOTS
FEATURE
bridal inspiration
Here are some top places for your nuptials in 2023.
PLAYA MUJERES, MEXICO
Playa Mujeres is a resort community just north of Cancun and light years away from it?s spring-break style party. It?s an easy ride from the Cancun airport, though, and there?s plenty of resort accommodations For excursions for the couple or for visiting family and friends, there are archaeology tours to nearby Chichen Itza and Tulum, as well as plenty of cenotes, beaches and wildlife tours to explore
Hermosa is a good choice for travelers who want to get away from it all and explore the natural world. It?s near Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Palo Verde National Park and Santa Rosa National Park Liberia is the capitol of the province and maintains a native Tico atmosphere while still accommodating travelers The White City would be a great choice for a white wedding
PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS
Just offshore of New Providence in the Bahamas, Paradise Island is home to popular Cabbage and Paradise beaches. It?s also where the sprawling Atlantis resort is located. It?s connected to New Providence by a pair of bridges crossing Nassau harbor, so you and your guests can enjoy all the islands have to offer.
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA
Jamaica?s third-most populous city boasts sandy beaches, glittering caves, stunning waterfalls, restaurants, golf, nightlife and more The center of action is Gloucester Avenue, where you can visit Usain Bolt?s sports bar The city is also close to major attractions Ocho Rios, Negril and St. Elizabeth. There are plenty of historic houses, chateaus, hotels and resorts to host your I-dos.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
If you?re looking to stay stateside, this city dripping with Southern charm and tropical hues makes for a stunning wedding backdrop. You can still get your beachfront and your history, too, and the vendors have plenty of experience with destination brides, raising the chances your wedding will go off without a hitch.
PARIS, FRANCE
GUANACASLE, COSTA RICA
This tropical paradise shows off a pristine shoreline with mountains and volcanoes to boot. Playa
Go intercontinental to the most romantic city in the world. Paris is fully of luxury and boutique hotels that can cater to your every wish and whim. Start with your ceremony in the City of Lights and then move on to the Alps or Riviera for the honeymoon.
t o p Dest in at io n W eddin g s
Venue Decoration Tips
One of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding is decorating the venues where you will say your vows and celebrate afterward. Winter encourages colorful displays of bouquets, romantic centerpieces and attractive treats.
If the adventure of planning a wedding doesn? t fit into your busy schedule, hiring a planner can take much of the stress away. Allow them to be creative while sticking to your greatest desires. The event?s image will stay true to your expectations while taking the brunt of the responsibility off your shoulders. Whether you decorate yourself or hire an expert to help, here are some ways to make the most out of the spring atmosphere while making your wedding experience one to remember forever.
BEAUTIFUL COLOR PALETTE
Choosing a venue like an arboretum, conservatory or greenhouse can create a beautiful atmosphere for a winter wedding. Once you have the perfect place in mind, take advantage of attractive colors that are naturally present during this comfortable season. Flowers featuring pastel hues, buoyant blossoms and cheerful colors make a great contribution to a gorgeous backdrop If you?re hosting an outdoor event, ask the venue owners about which flowers are typically in bloom during the month of your scheduled event
WINTER-THEMED CENTERPIECE
Create an amazing display at your reception venue by building winter-themed centerpieces. For your guest tables, consider flowers that over flow from vases, sprigs of accent branches and astounding blooms. The bride and groom?s table should feature an impressive display of flowers related to your color palette. Think seasonal wintertime flowers that give your table plenty of pop. Peonies offer beautiful colors and boisterous blooms that serve as a perfect addition to your celebration photos. Hiring a local florist is an efficient way to obtain the most attractive blooms to give your wedding a natural appearance. Ask your friends, family members and colleagues if they know of any local professionals who can add some flair to your floral arrangements and centerpieces.
Wedding Planning
Here are the first few things you need think about:
PICK A STYLE
Have a conversation with your fiance and discuss how you want your wedding to feel Fun and festive?
Intimate and sophisticated? Has one of you always dreamed of marrying barefoot on a beach or on the lawn of a stately mansion?What are the
most vital elements of the wedding to each of you?
Decide what?s most important to each of you and compromise
DECIDE ON A TIMELINE
While the availability of your most coveted vendors will help you choose an exact date, you still need to think about other factors that will impact your timeline: Is there a season or time of year you hope to marry in, or avoid? Holidays or other family events you need to work around?You also might consider how much time you need for planning and preparations The answers to
all of these questions will help shape the time-line of your wedding
SET YOUR BUDGET
This can be one of the most difficult tasks of wedding planning You need to have sit-down conversations with each other, and with each set of parents, to be clear who will be contributing what when it comes to finances These numbers will impact every other decision you make, and you don? t want to plan or purchase based on assumptions.
BOOK PRIORITY VENDORS
Priority vendors will be the people in charge of the
elements most important to you and your fiance The most significant of these vendors will likely be your venue Your venue will impact almost all other aspects of your wedding ? including your date Another vendor who will likely take top billing is your photographer Be sure to research all your options to to secure the best price with the extra amenities you want
Visit our website to start your wedding planning with the best wedding professionals in Missouri.
www missouribridal co
Open Bar
Here are the first few things you need think about:
PICK A STYLE
Have a conversation with your fiance and discuss how you want your wedding to feel Fun and festive?
Intimate and sophisticated? Has one of you always dreamed of marrying barefoot on a beach or on the lawn of a stately mansion?What are the
most vital elements of the wedding to each of you?
Decide what?s most important to each of you and compromise
DECIDE ON A TIMELINE
While the availability of your most coveted vendors will help you choose an exact date, you still need to think about other factors that will impact your timeline: Is there a season or time of year you hope to marry in, or avoid? Holidays or other family events you need to work around?You also might consider how much time you need for planning and preparations The answers to
all of these questions will help shape the time-line of your wedding
SET YOUR BUDGET
This can be one of the most difficult tasks of wedding planning You need to have sit-down conversations with each other, and with each set of parents, to be clear who will be contributing what when it comes to finances These numbers will impact every other decision you make, and you don? t want to plan or purchase based on assumptions.
BOOK PRIORITY VENDORS
Priority vendors will be the people in charge of the
elements most important to you and your fiance The most significant of these vendors will likely be your venue Your venue will impact almost all other aspects of your wedding ? including your date Another vendor who will likely take top billing is your photographer Be sure to research all your options to to secure the best price with the extra amenities you want
Visit our website to start your wedding planning with the best wedding professionals in Missouri.
www missouribridal co
DIY Wedding Checklist
So you?re engaged! Wonderful! Now comes the planning.
Planning a wedding can be a beautiful headache and a second job. Deciding who will decorate, cater, provide the entertainment and photograph the event are all choices that can make or break the perfect wedding day. Here is a helpful checklist designed to ease process
DECIDE ON YOUR STYLE
Whether you?ve already spent years planning your eventual wedding or you?re just getting started, compiling all the ideas you?ve culled from bridal magazines and friends?weddings into a binder will help you narrow your focus, from the venue to the decor, the theme to the all-important dress.
CREATE A BUDGET
Paying for your dream wedding is based on a variety of factors, but most importantly a budget will be determined how much you will rely on parents or your own money. Either way, creating a realistic budget will help you stay focused and pleased with the end results
MAKE A GUEST LIST
The size of your wedding party will determine many elements of your wedding Sitting down as a couple and making the easy and the tough decisions will spare both of you unnecessary disappointment.
SAVE THE DATE, RESERVE THE VENUES
Once you?ve chose a wedding date, now?s the time to choose the venue
or venues (if the ceremony and reception are separate venues) If the venues aren? t local, factor in travel and be sure your guests are willing and able to make the special trip with as much advance notice as possible.
BOOKING THE VENDORS
The people you choose to serve and host your wedding will play a huge role in the celebration. Choosing professionals in each category ? from the caterer to the florist, the officiant to the band or DJand photographer or videographer ? as early as possible and with the proper amount of diligence and investigation will ensure your wedding day goes off as planned without a hitch, so to speak
IN THIS ORDER ? Purchase the dress. Register. Select and purchase the invitations. Plan the honeymoon. Book the rehearsal venue and dinner. Order the cake. Purchase the rings. Send the invitations. Have a party. Get your wedding license. Purchase gifts. Choose or write your vows. Stay calm. The Big Day is at hand. Congratulations ? you?re married!
Get Creative with Favors
Wedding favors of yore were almost always consigned to the bottom of a drawer or, worse, the trash bin The new trend is for usable, creative wedding favors. Keep reading for some great ideas
COFFEE, TEA, CANDY AND MORE There is no better usable gift that one you can eat. Or drink Even better if it has a sense of place. Does the town where you met or married have a great coffee shop?Order up some bags of beans, personalized with your special date. Same with tea bags, candies, beer or anything else
GROW THE LOVE Bags of wildflower seeds, tiny pots of succulents or a transplantable native plant all make perfect wedding favors that also give back Bonus points if you used whatever plants you?re giving out in your arrangements.
TO-GO SNACKS This is an even better idea if you expect your party to go late into the night Ask your caterer to set up boxes of
snacks for your guests to take with them on the way out. Chocolate chip cookies, macarons, homemade chips ? as long as it?s portable, it?s a possibility
FOR THE KIDDOS If there are going to be little ones at your ceremony, have special favors just for them A bag full of toys, a pack of crayons and a table covered in paper tablecloths ensure little hands stay busy.
SUN?S OUT Keep your guests cool in the shade with favors they can use to beat the heat at your summer ceremony. Sunglasses, parasols, paper fans and water bottles all rank high on this list, and are easily customized and good for the bottom line
CHARITY DONATIONS Here?s one that?s sure not to end up in the trash bin Take the money you would?ve spent on favors for your guests and make a donation to your favorite charity instead. Leave room in the budget for printing cards to place on tables explaining your donation.
