VIP Wedding Planners Trip to Barbados

I must share how honored and privileged I feel to have been 1 out of 5 wedding planners nationwide to have been selected to visit the absolutely gorgeous island of Barbados. At first, I must admit, I thought it was another hoax. I mean come on, how often do you get to travel completely for FREE to a land of paradise?

The purpose of this trip was to see the island firsthand in order to be able to sell it as a magnificent destination wedding location. We were taken to the best restaurants and locations on the Island and experienced a true royal treatment.

Most of the pictures you will see are in the order of which each location was visited.

Day 1 Wednesday May 13, 2009
Well, I honestly did not believe it until I was on the plane! On Wednesday May 13 at 9:45am, my plane took off from MIA destination Bridgetown Barbados! Upon my arrival I was greeted by a Barbados Tourism authority representative and gathered with my FAM group. We were then escorted to our fabulous hotel (Colony Club hotel http://www.colonyclubhotel.com/) Once we all settled in, we were then take to the Coral Reef spa for some R & R! For dinner, we were taken to the Fairmont hotel where we met with the Catherine, the catering manager. Catherine was wonderful and answered all of our questions without any hesitation.

Day 2, Thursday May 14, 2009
Our day required an early wake up call as we headed to the famous Sandy Lane resort for a 5 star breakfast buffet. From specialty made omelets to fresh fruit smoothies our palates were going wild! We then toured the amazing properties and were then taken to the Country Club Golf course. This is where Tiger Woods got married. The view is so amazing and serene it makes you want to stay there and enjoy nature all day long! We then moved along and visited several properties on Sandy Lane. These multi-million dollar privately owned homes are rented out for private events. It is surprisingly affordable and some homes even come with a personal butler and chef!!!!! (http://www.aaaltman.com/).

After we visited the properties, we were taken to Lonestar restaurant. The view here is breathtaking (as in most places we visited) and we were fortunate enough to meet Corrie Scott a local socialite that enchanted us with her graciousness and surprised us all with a personalized piece of art! We then moved along to visit the other properties owned by Elegant hotels (http://www.eleganthotels.com/) and headed back to our hotel for a quick shower! In the evening we had cocktails at the Cliff restaurant. This location is absolutely amazing!!!!!! In order to properly appreciate it, it is only opened for dinner and private events. It is surrounded by gas torches which give this property the ambiance you immediately feel by just entering the door. It is independently owned and very highly recognized all over the world. You can find more information at http://www.thecliff.com/. After some really yummy appetizers and champagne, we were taken to Daphnes for a very formal dinner. Here we had the opportunity to meet some very important people from the Island. Among them was Emma from Events Unusual, the event planner that worked closed with Sandy Lane in planning Tiger Woods wedding. We had a fabulous dinner with excellent company!

Day 3, Friday, May 15, 2009
We had an early drive to the East coast. We visited the pristine resort called The Crane. This is a resort in which once you check in, there is absolutely no reason for you to leave (until it's time to head back home of course). Here we were presented with a panel of very interesting people. We met a local photographer, employees of the magistrate and Avril from the BTA. We were able to ask may questions on civil weddings, local vendors and how they operate on a daily basis. They were kind enough to set up a mock up wedding so that we could experience what a wedding at their resort would look like!

Once our time at The Crane was up, we were taken to other areas in the island that were of interest. Among these, was an abandoned house once owned by Harry Smith. This house was once amazing and must have been a very secluded area to live in. One of the cool spots we were taken to was Bathsheba. Surfers come from all over the world to surf these waves! For lunch we were taken to the astonishing, Hunte's Gardens. This location almost resembled a natural dollhouse. We were greeted by the owner, Mr. Hunte and taken to his "green house" for a catered lunch. We then toured the property and enjoyed some delicious English tea. After lunch we toured St. Nicholas Abbey. This is a rum distillery that was built in 1660 and located in the northern parish of St. Peter and owned by architect, Larry Warren.

After a very long day of long distance driving and sightseeing, we then headed back to our hotel for a quick shower and prep for dinner at the Tides. The tides offers a wonderful array of seafood in a very romantic and quaint setting!

Day 4, Saturday May 16, 2009
Our day began early as we headed to St. James Parish Church. Here we were able to experience a wedding about to take place. It was decorated with orange fabric and a beautiful display of pew decorations. We then visited Fisherpond House. This home is owned by Mr. John Chandler (the Preston Bailey of Barbados). We were warmly greeted by John's wife, Rain Chandler. She gave us a tour of the estate and shared wonderful stories of all the celebrities that have visited her home. Among them are Prince Harry, Prince William, and Tony Blair just to name a few! After a cup of rum punch we then said our goodbyes and moved on to downtown Bridgetown. We did some shopping and went to visit the ONLY Synagogue in Barbados. After learning about it's history we then went to have lunch at Champers. An absolutely beautiful restaurant with the ocean as it's backyard. Voted number 1 in the 2009 Barbados guide.

After about a 40 minutes drive back to the hotel, we had the afternoon to our leisure. I actually relaxed by the ocean and had a seaside massage! In the evening we then headed over to a very casual dinner at Groots! That was definitely a great "local" experience. This restaurant reminded me so much of Key West! We actually got to write on the walls like back in my middle school days!!!!! After multiple rum punches and hours of laughter, we headed back to our hotel and called it a night!

Last day in Barbados, May 17, 2009
We actually got to "sleep in" and had breakfast in our hotel. We had to pack our goodies and head out to the airport. Before we began our 40 minute drive to the airport, we stopped at Cove Spring. This is were Mariah Carey recently got married to Nick Cannon. This private property is absolutely breathtaking. It is known for hosting spectacular weddings and has a guest list which includes Oprah Winfrey and Simon Cowell.

As we all rode in very quietly (and saddened to leave) in the bus, I had a vision of what my first wedding here in Barbados would be like. I envisioned bringing to life a little girl's dream of a picture perfect beach side wedding to the man of her dreams in a picture perfect place!

Thank you so much for allowing me to share this wonderful experience with you all and I look forward to returning to Barbados in the very near future, hopefully with one of you!

Indian wedding at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

On April 26 K and V (the couple requested their names to be kept private) tied the knot in a traditional Indian ceremony. The groom arrived on a very well trained gray horse to the sound of a beating drum. as the bride's family greeted him at the hotel lobby. They were then all escorted tot he lawn area where the Mundaap awaited them. The ceremony was simple and picture perfect and incorporated all the traditional Hindu rituals. After the ceremony the guests were asked to join the couple at the cocktail hour and then escorted to the ballroom where they served traditional Indian food. This couple was great to work with as they were both relaxed throughout the planning process and enjoyed their evening to the fullest!

Arias / Shah Ethnic Wedding

Melissa and Aram came to me well over a year ago to help them plan their intercultural wedding. They each had a clear vision of what they wanted and what their expectations were. Melissa was very detailed and precise and great with making decisions. Aram's only request was that the barat (entrance of the groom) was to be on an elephant! After much research and leg work, the elephant task was accomplished and my team and I moved on to the next item on our checklist.... permits from City of Miami in order to allow the elephant to lead the procession!

Their celebration began on April 3, where Melissa and Aram wed through the Catholic church. The intimate ceremony took place at their local church in Miami Lakes and was attended by 30 family members.

On Friday April 4th, the Mendhi program took place. Prior to the official festivities, there were several prayers and ceremonies that took place at the Shah residence. In the evening, the celebration continued at the Pembroke Falls Country Club. The bride and groom were greeted by their family members and chanted to many dances and rituals. There was traditional Indian food served and the ladies had their henna tattoos placed on their hands and feet.

On Saturday April 5th, the traditional Indian ceremony took place. The barat began promptly at 10am at the parking lot of the Woman's Club on Bayshore Drive (parking lot next to the Grand).
The streets were closed as the off duty officers took their place in order for the procession to begin. As "Judy" (the elephant) paraded down the street towards the Biscayne Bay Marriott, the ladies danced and sang their traditional Indian chants. Once the bride arrived to the hotel, she was brought in through the back so that no one would see her. She was then taken inside the hotel and placed inside a "Dolley". Once everyone took their seats and places onstage, Melissa was introduced to the ceremonial altar. This part of the ceremony was very emotional for both Melissa and Aram as they saw each other in their traditional attire for the very first time!

The ceremony took over one hour and a half. The Indian culture has a lot of rituals and ceremonies within the ceremony. Once it came to its conclusion, the guests were lead to the ballroom level for a buffet style lunch. After the lunch the guests were then chartered back to their hotels for some relaxing time off. Later on in the evening, the guests returned back to the Marriott for a very formal dinner reception. There were dances and speeches that entertained the guest throughout the night. In the evening the choice of food was traditional Punjabi delights and a delectable display of Indian desserts. The evening was filled with happiness and joy for the newlyweds!

On Sunday April 5th, the celebration continued with a civil ceremony at the very beautiful and historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The ceremony began at sunset and Melissa looked absolutely amazing dressed in her traditional American wedding dress. Melissa resembled a princess as she glided down the aisle alongside her uncle Frank. After the ceremony on the casino mound, the guests were escorted to the cocktail area. There was a flamenco dancer and guitarist entertaining the guests while the bride and groom were whisked away to take their formal portraits. Once the cocktail hour was over, the guests entered the amazing tent on the east side terrace. The blue lights and chandeliers had the tent glowing. The centerpieces were amazing and the overall details and decorations were impeccable.

Each celebration had over 350 guests in attendance and with much love and support were all a great success.

I am eternally grateful to everyone that participated in this glamorous and exciting event!

Cancer and Weddings dont mix...but this is a must read!

Britta Aragon, past client forever friend, has experienced some roller coaster emotions throughout her life. She is a cancer survivor and while planning the wedding of her dreams, lost her dad to the horrible disease. This was a very tough time for her and her family but fortunately her spirits remained positive and her ambition to live allowed her to move forward. She has dedicated herself to research and helping cancer patients through tough times.

Britta has created a website called Cinco Vidas, (Five Lives) in memory of her dad. This BLOG lists information on how to ease the pain that is accompanied by cancer and is a great source for finding answers that may not always be available from your doctor.

Take the time to read www.cincovidas.com the beauty of cancer survival ,and please share with others!

Wedding Dress FOR SALE!!

The Tara Keely Collection represents the bridal industry's hottest styles and enchanting fashions. These gowns are ultra chic with delicate crystal accents, offering eye-catching
use of color and luxurious silk fabrics. The Collection also combines an alluring array of
silhouettes from sleek A-lines to elegant sheaths. The Collection inspires glamour and sophistication for the Tara Keely Bride. The Tara Keely Collection is a division of JLM Couture Inc. Blush Silk Satin modified A-line gown. Sleeveless draped V-neckline, crystal brooch detail, double thin straps, front and back draped dropped waist bodice. Covered buttons at back bodice, inverted pleat at back skirt, chapel train. Material: Silk Satin Size/Color: 12 / Blush
Condition: Brand New and Unaltered – still @ store waiting for pick up!

Gown Measurements: Bust 37.5" Waist 29.5"
Hips 39.5"
Original Price: $2,550.00
Asking Price: $2,200.00 o.b.o.
Email: WEDDINGDRESS@ME.COM
WEB: www.sarayandjuan.com

So... you want to be a photographer????

As some of you may know... I absolutely LOVE the camera. I love taking pictures and having fun while I am at it. Yesterday the very talented and good friend, Martha Ramirez (http://www.udsphoto.com/) had her monthly photography seminar and asked me if I wanted to model for the students. I probably said yes before she even asked me....

The students only had 5 minutes to take as many pictures as possible. They had to be creative (I must admit I know my better angles so I helped them out) using different poses, chairs and backdrops. Here are some of my favorite shots they took!

If you are interested about learning more about this seminar please contact Martha Ramirez or Oly Trigo at 305.668.7171. Their magnificent and cozy studio is located at 6321 Bird Road and their breathtaking website is www.udsphoto.com. Please tell them I sent you and always remember to have fun and most importantly LAUGH!!!!

Mansion in Fort Lauderdale

This morning I received and invitation to a networking event at a new location and I thought it would be a great idea to share with you all! I frequently receive calls from out of town brides wanting to have their wedding at a private home with an ocean view. This (from past experience) has been a major challenge. Either some locations have a lot of restrictions or noise ordinances or just want way toooooo much money for the rental.

You may want to check out this absolutely beautiful mansion located in Fort Lauderdale (about 30-45 minutes from South Beach). It has a great intercoastal view and luxurious space for an event. www.flmagicalmansion.com. Dreams can come true and maybe having your event at this mansion will help!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Professional pics from Key West December 2008 Wedding!!

Shan Renee from Addison, Texas, did a fabulous job capturing Cara and Chris's exciting day. She was also nice enough to provide me with absolutely stunning pictures for my BLOG and website. You may also see some of her work in a very well known magazine.. but.... that is yet to come! Enjoy some fun shots here and look on my site for additional "Captured" moments!

How adorable is this text???

After all (it rained in the morning) it was such a glorious day!!

This was one of favorite things... the guests threw paper airplanes at the couple while dancing their first dance!!!!!!

Wedding Planner gets quoted on the Palm Beach Post!

This wacky and crazy economy has everyone on their tippie toes, however I find that events and wedding are still going on! Most of my clients are still having the wedding of their dreams but at a smaller scale. They have modified their guest count, rearranged their menus and settled for a low key decor package in order to still enjoy their special day. I am also finding that the planning has been cut down to a couple of months instead of years! I often get phone calls that sound like this "Ohh by the way I am getting married next month"!

The Palm Beach post recently wrote an small article and quoted me.. Check it out!


http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2009/03/24/a6b_weddingbiz_0325.html

Richelle and William Pena

I had to wait a little bit (a year and 3 months) to receive these absolutely gorgeous pictures from In Focus studios but they were well worth the wait!

Richelle and William became husband and wife on December 15, 2007 at the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral in Miami Beach followed by a dream come true reception at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

During the wedding planning process, this couple moved from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. I mostly planned everything with Tessy (MOB) and constant email with Richelle. This family was absolutely great to work with and made sure their daughter got the wedding of her dreams.

Please be sure to view more pictures of this fabulous wedding on my gallery page!
Enjoy!

Winter Delight at the Mandarin Oriental Miami

On January 17, 2009, the Mandarin Oriental Miami was transformed into an absolutely beautiful winter delight wedding location! The Schultz and Perkins family united underneath a beautiful chuppah covered in orchid garlands and hanging crystals, while the aisle was adorned with stunning white clustered callas. It was a dazzling night with a spectacular city view!

While the ceremony was taking place under the stars, the final details were being added to the main ballroom. The floral centerpieces were an overjoyed delight of phelanopsis orchids, a variety of roses, hydrangeas and cymbidium orchids to name a few. Each place setting included a detailed menu of the very carefully selected meal and cymbidium orchid to compliment the tablescape.

The florals for this event was carefully orchestrated by the very talented Gil Sosa. My expertise was used in coordinating the elements that made this event turn out fabulous along with the collaboration of Jackie Ohh Events and her staff.

To view this event please go to PAGE 3 on my galleries. May your eyes enjoy their journey!!!

Wedding Planner receives recognition!

Alice K. Villar has been recognized by the Wedding Planning Institute for being a contributing editor, for being an expert in the industry and for teaching the class. Alice originated the class in South Florida and continues to teach it at Miami Dade Community College. Please see note below from the Director of Certification, Raquel Madson.

"I would also like to bring your attention to the 2009 version of our textbook, "Professional Wedding Planning". You will notice your name listed as a contributing industry expert on the acknowledgement page. We appreciate your feedback in 2008 and look forward to your continued contribution to the industry as you continue to instruct aspiring new wedding planners through your college classroom"
Racquel Madson
Director of Certification
Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute

Kelly Maragni and Damian Aguirrechu

Check out Kelly and Damian's Dream wedding

www.ligaphotography.com/slideshows/aguirrechuwedding/

Kelly and Damian united in marriage on Saturday, December 13, 2008. Their ceremony took place at the beautiful St. Patrick's Church in Miami Beach, Florida. The walk down the aisle was filled with excitement, wild nerves but most important love. The expression on each other's face when they saw each other for the first time was truly priceless.

Their reception was held at the historic Alfred I. DuPont building in downtown Miami. The guests arrived to the flashing lights of a paparazzi style photographer where their photo was taken on the red carpet. They were then directed upstairs to the cocktail hour where they were greeted by chilled champagne and friendly waiters. The cocktail area displayed pictures of both the families and a dazzling monogram of their initials.

As the cocktail hour was coming to an end and the group photos were complete, the guests were then escorted through the golden gates into the main reception room. The amber lighting was overflowing creating a romantic look and the floral centerpieces were done to perfection.

As the bridal party was being introduced, Kelly and Damian were anxiously awaiting to be announced. They had a surprise for their guests that only the DJ and I knew about... they had a special salsa dance they were going to perform!

Once the formalities were over, the guests were invited to enjoy the delicious buffet. The aroma in the room was incredible as the plates were being filled with gourmet dishes! The rest of the evening was dedicated to dancing and having a great time.

Kelly and Damian made sure that throughout the wedding planning process every detail was covered and that each guests were well taken care of. Working at the DuPont building was a challenge because of all the requirements and regulations it has, but I must say that it was a wonderful experience and having them as my clients was an ultimate delight!

I wish them both a lifetime full of love and happiness and patience :o)

Cara Collier and Chris Helmrich Key West, December 2008

Check out the link to their slide show here...

http://www.shanrenee.com/ChrisCara/

This past Saturday, December 6, I had the pleasure of working with the nicest couple ever! Cara and I met through the Internet! She is from Florida but living in Texas with the majority of the guests flying in from all over the country. Our business relationship began with an email, then some occasional phone calls and then back to emails!!! She mentioned once or twice that the theme of the wedding was airplanes (in case you are wondering .....the groom is a pilot). I had my doubts until I actually saw the favors! She had already hired all of her vendors and needed me to help her out with all the last minute details.

I began my drive down to Florida's paradise early in the morning after dropping my kids off at school. My hubby and I enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our favorite diner in Key Largo and then proceeded with the long drive (my hubby deserves a medal.. I was on my lap top the whole time and would occasionally say a word or two!!!). Once I arrived, we checked in at the Casa Marina. Our room was beautiful and although it wasn't a full ocean view, we were able to catch a glimpse of the serene and calm ocean.

After settling in, I went to personally meet with my bride. She was a doll!!!! We chatted for a few minutes and then met at the hotel lobby to begin the rehearsal. All of her attendants were very efficient and courteous and were very accommodating. The rehearsal went well and everyone then gathered up to attend the rehearsal dinner.

The next day (Wedding day) we woke up to a very cloudy and wet morning. I checked in with Cara to make sure everything was going well. She was hopeful with the weather as I secretly prayed for the sun to come out... (and it did... yipppeeee!!!). The preparations went well and all the vendors complied with their duties. The room was completely set up in time for me to go and freshen up! As the guests arrived for their sunset ceremony, they were greeted with flip flops and a ceremony program. They were also greeted by the beat of steel drums.

As the procession began, everyone was thrilled to see the beautiful bride walking down the aisle with her two dads (real dad and step father). The ceremony was short and sweet but most of all.. it was perfect! After the ceremony the guests were escorted to the outdoor cocktail as the bridal party was whisked away for pictures.

The bride and groom then joined the bridal party for their formal introductions. Their joy was overwhelming as they danced with each other for the first time as husband and wife. The toasts given by Casey Helmrich (Chris's brother and BM) as well as Carol Hale (Cara's friend and MOH) were heartfelt. The food was delicious and was a mixture of Caribbean, traditional and Key West!!! The guests enjoyed the music played by family friends and overall had a fabulous time spending time with each other and sharing Chris and Cara's love!

Congratulations Cara and Chris....I look forward to a long lasting friendship!

Please excuse my poor quality pictures (ha ha ha ha ), I look forward to receiving professional ones soon which will be posted on my website.

Lilyvania and Thomas Wedding

On November 1, 2008 the very beautiful Lilyvania Gomez married her dream guy, Thomas Mikultski. The lovely couple met on Eharmony and knew that this realtionship was going to be a serious one the moment they officially met!

The religious ceremony took place at Gesu catholic church in downtown, Miami and their reception at the Sofitel Hotel. Their reception reflected a glamorous vintage style era decorated in black and white with hot pink uplights surrounding the ballroom.

The black linen napkins were adorned with pearl necklaces and a mint box as a favor. When the dancing began we distributed black top hats for the men and oversized pearl necklaces for the women along with feather boas. The couple danced until their feet hurt and extended the party until 2am. Everyone had a great time and felt the love these newlyweds had to offer!