Honeymoons

All INCLUSIVE VS. NON-ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGES

All inclusive resorts are a great option. Once you (both) have decided on your destination, consider several resorts and check out what is (and what is not) included.

“All inclusive” options vary and it’s best to know what’s what before you book a package…don’t assume everything is included.

Before you book… the check list:

FLIGHTS… a honeymoon package with pricing too good to be true… most likely the cost of the airfare isn’t included. Be flexible with travel dates and travel times to get the best flights. If you’re looking for only nonstop flights, pricing may be higher than booking two flights each way. Check availability for a few dates and various times of day… could save you money.

RESORTS… all inclusive option, is all food and drink included?  Are there additional fees for specialty restaurants?  Local and international brands offered for drinks? Are drinks unlimited?  Wine with dinner included? Drinks by the pool, included?

MINI BAR….is it included and regularly stocked?

ROOM SERVICE…. is room service included, offered 24 hours?

TRANSFERS…. airport to hotel and back, included?

TAXES AND TIPS…not always included.

CAR RENTAL…. taxes, may be payable when you pick up the rental..

WATER SPORTS, USE OF GYM, TENNIS, GOLF ….included?

CASINO, DISCO….entrance and drinks included?

An all inclusive honeymoon, when truly all inclusive, can save you money.

Work with a travel agent who will search for several options to find the best package for the two of you. A travel agent will look for airlines offering best flights and pricing. Your agent will advise you of special offers such as room upgrades, free hotel nights, free spa treatments and/or resort credits.

NON – ALL INCLUSIVE HONEYMOON PACKAGES

Packages will usually save you money. For those not interested in an all inclusive package (with food and drink included), a package with flights and hotel only with transfers is a good option.

Your travel agents will be able to check out flight options for you and will include your resort choice and transfers to and from the resort. Consider a few airlines to determine the best flights and pricing… and be flexible with your travel date and flight time if possible.

With a non-all inclusive package, you will pay as you order for all food and drink, taxes and tips. Check if breakfast is included, depending on the resort, daily breakfast could be included.

Some destinations and resorts may offer a meal plan, such as breakfast and dinner and/or lunch or a dine around plan for additional costs.  Your travel agent will be able to provide you with available options.  Ask if “wine with dinner” option is offered.

Be sure to purchase the best (optional) vacation protection for your package… several plans are available.  Review all plans and be aware of what is and is not covered and/or protected.

A travel agent will work with you to arrange your honeymoon package….and most agents will not charge a fee to assist with planning or to book your honeymoon package.

If available, arrange a gift registry for family and friends to give a gift such as a tour or dinner on the beach etc.

Before you book your honeymoon, check out both all inclusive and non- all inclusive packages.

Drinks and dining can be expensive when traveling….consider the options and review what’s included to help you with the decision on which honeymoon package is for you.

From tropical destinations, with seductive beaches, offering tempting cuisine, luxurious suites and relaxing spa treatments, to destinations offering history, culture or adventure  for that ultimate experience. The options are there, the choice is yours!

It’s your time together…make it special, make it …..Unforgettable!

……Ellen Kettle ~ Kettle Travel, www.KettleTravel.com

Honeymoons & More

Best Man Mistakes

Mistakes are meant to be made, but not by your Best Man.

Sometimes it is best to not have a raised wedding location when are outside….so many things can happen that you just might want to consider (or should I say reconsider).

Just watch this video and tell me if you can find anything wrong with what the best man does!

He manages to make a huge mistake…but can you tell what it is?

Wedding Pies

Fruit pies or tarts (pasties) where probably first made in the 1500s. English tradition credits making the first cherry pie to Queen Elizabeth I.

Fruitcakes have been holiday and wedding cakes which have a very heavy fruit content. The name “fruitcake” can be traced back only as far as the Middle Ages. It is formed from a combination of the Latin fructus, and French frui or frug.

I remember as a child that having a wedding cake was the cake of choice…much like the Christmas cakes that were baked. My aunt was a wonderful fruit cake baker and was called on to make the fruit cake for many Weddings. I always hoped I would have one..in my dreams as a young woman. (No I didn’t get one, she died before I got married)

Times have changed along with the idea of no longer having a fruit cake to cakes and now Pies have been seen as the trend setter for weddings; including Grooms pies and many other occasions.

The phrase “As American as Apple pie” is thought to have been invented by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. Pies, have been traditionally known as hardy food staple in many countries, which have been were more known as savory and sweet.

As years and centuries have moved along many traditions have changed as well. The Groom’s cake is a fairly new tradition.

In the southern states this new tradition began to give the groom his own cake, a special edition to make his presence known. In a lot of weddings the bride does everything and plans everything, so the groom is often left only a small part of the actual wedding. So the tradition of having a cake that in some way symbolizes what the groom is interested in or likes came about to make a special tribute to him. Some have cakes designed like baseballs, some have it in the shape of an animal (remember Steel Magnolias?).

Every origin has it’s own tradition when it comes to weddings and what Brides want to serve.

Fairly recently, some bridal parties are choosing to have something different instead of cake at the wedding. Mostly people would rather have something else and why not? Just because you get married, and cake isn’t your cup of tea or favorite choice of dessert, why not start your own tradition?

One of the latest trends is serving pies or tarts rather than cake. As we get older, I am finding that people would rather have pie than cake at a wedding. Some people don’t even like cake and decide to adopt something different. Groom’s pie is served usually at the rehearsal dinner.

When a Bride and Groom slice the pie together at their Wedding it’s symbolizes they both share the responsibilities of their marriage, to have a long life, of love and prosperity together.

There are a few bakeries like Sedona Pies that are offering pies as a delicious alternative for your Wedding or any other celebration you are having. As far as toppers, decorating the pies can be created just like a cake is. What most bakeries are seeing ..traditions are changing bridal parties want to have a choice.

Have your Pie and eat it too!

Written by Mari-Lyn Harris of Sedona Pies aka The Pie Princess, she can be reached at: 510-564-7880 or visit http://sedonapies.com “Serve your Wedding Guests with Exquisite Pies.”

Planning Your Wedding

The average working person does not have the time to devote to planning and organizing an event.

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life.  You have imagined and watched it in your head like a really good old movie since you were a little girl. For some, it’s a wedding on a resort beach with just your closest family and friends; flip flops in hand, sand in your toes, carefree and laid back, perhaps in a sundress.

For others, including myself it was always the fairytale.  A church ceremony with hundreds of guests all awaiting my arrival.  The wedding dress, ballroom style with a cathedral style veil trailing far behind me.  The reception venue covered with flowers and candles.  The gold plated china and napkins placed just right.  Every place card and favor lined up, the lights dimmed, the music low, the venue overflowing with ambiance…. Large or small, every detail should be perfect.

For some, the decision to hire an event planner is an easy one because they see the value even before it’s spelled out.  The right event planner can deliver you an experience you and your guests will never forget all while taking the stress and the guess work out of the planning.  The biggest benefit of hiring an experienced event planner is that they should help to make you feel like a guest at your own event.

Event planners can be booked several ways.  Most common amongst event planners is to offer packages. The benefit to a package is that you get exactly what the package offers and there are no questions as to what you are getting for the price you are paid.  Sometimes the planners will offer a deal if you go with a package.  However; with a package you may get services you are not interested in and the event planner may not be willing to deviate from the package.
Another option is to charge an hourly fee and then bill their clients based on the amount of work they have put in.  This way, the clients can tailor services to their specific needs.  The key here is that no two events are exactly alike and everyone wants something different.

When looking for an event planner the most important quality you should look for is someone that can see your vision for the day at the end of the tunnel and not their own.

Secondly, you should look for an event planner that has had experience hands on and that can offer referrals.  Having just gone to school for event planning is not enough.  Do some research about the event planner, call their reference, ask around or perhaps look them up online.  Get a feel for their personality and make sure that you will work well together.  Chances are you are working with them on what could be the most important day of your life.

Michelle Rattanavong
Precise Event Planning
michelle@precisevent.com
978-407-5778

Sacrebleu Wine Pie from Sedona Pies

They have an image problem. Why? Because most pies are so full of chemicals that whenever I have picked up a pie from the store shelf, all you just need to do is read the ingredient list (I read all ingredient lists). It amazes me why bakeries or manufacturers’ need to put all that crap in the pies. What’s with that?

How can pies be set right? Ok, pies aren’t a valuable ingredient to one single recipe; it’s from the flavors of the fruit or nuts or cream and all the various things that make up a pie which makes it essential. As my friend Ray says “If you got the crust flaky and tasty then that’s half the recipe right there.”

To evolve and return the kind of pies our grandmothers used to make, we need to eliminate the high glucose sugars and all the added chemicals, just to return pies to its splendor. I remember making apple pies with my Grandma from freshly picked apples from her trees. We all I am sure have stories to share from our childhood that we can share. From peeling the apples and my Grandma was great making the pastry – oh they were so good, fresh from the oven. Grandpa and I used to pour cream over the apple pie or cobblers.

Let’s make pies popular again. Revive them. They are their whole own category a new dessert, which will lead to serving pies not only at Weddings also at Special occasions and at our dinner tables. A good excuse to have family dinners again.

The “The Boomers” fancy pie much more than cake. Why? I think it’s’ just because we all grew up with pie for dessert. American as apple pie. Remember the Chocolate pudding pies? Or how about Rhubarb and Strawberry pies? We all have our favorites…cream pies too! What’s your favorite?

If you are wondering how you would serve Pie at your Wedding or any other Special Occasion here are 10 ideas in how you can serve pie:

• The pie display is the same as the cake display either on your head table or on the cake table, very elegantly.
• Serve tarts rather than cupcakes
• Serve a slice of pie rather than a slice of cake
• Have your pie’s flavor designed to your wedding theme and colors
• As a Groom’s pie for the rehearsal dinner or anniversary
• Serve tarts during and at the midnight lunch
• Have a selection of desserts that include pie and pastries so your guests can choose from a selection. (This way your guests can choose and you don’t have to)
• Serve pie with a scoop of ice cream, with chocolate or Carmel sauce. One of my customers’ said “Chocolate sauce with Pinot Noir” was great with my “Sacrebleu pie”. (made with Cabernet and Blueberries.)
• With whipping cream, a little tab will do you, or cover the whole slice or the whole pie
• Serve warmed or cold

You gotta love this!

Written by Mari-Lyn Harris aka The Pie Princess of Sedona Pies. For more information about serving pies at your Wedding or Special Occasion contact me at 510-564-7880 or http://sedonapies.com. From every pie that is sold $2 goes to feeding the hungry at local food banks.

Setting up your new house or apartment with your spouse is an important part of starting the next stage of your relationship together.  The goal is to have living quarters that are comfortable, functional and conducive to your own living habits and preferences as well as your spouse’s.

The worst mistake most new couples make is not listening to the other person.  Both individuals should give and receive opinions openly and be willing to compromise on non-essential preferences. Organization is a very personal thing, often molded to our own unique habits and lifestyle choices.  Working together, you can build systems that are easy for both of you to follow and maintain.

Sit down together and discuss the different rooms in your home, and determine how each of you thinks they should be used.  Consider the activities you do or want space for, and assign these activities to the room(s) you think will best accommodate them.  Be creative; for example, a bedroom could be your craft area or second den.  Then think about the furniture you want to use as storage. Ensure that it fits what you want it to hold, and that it will make sense in the room in which you would like it to reside.  Storing items by how they are used, grouped or categorized into specific spaces is the easiest and most efficient way to find things.

If you both lived on your own previous to living together and have two households to combine, remember that you do not need two of everything.  First, decide what non-duplicate items you would like to keep.  Ask yourselves if it is useful to your lifestyle and if you want it.  Then tackle the duplicate items.  First look at the space you have to work with.  While having two sofas is nice, your living room simply may not be large enough.  Ask yourselves if you really need, and will use, two sets of utensils or dishes.  Don’t always expect your spouse to make the tough call all the time.  Be willing to let some of your personal belongings go.

If you decide to keep more duplicates, consider storing the second item in a basement, attic or closet if it is not going to be used frequently.  You will leave more space for things you are going to use on a regular basis, and cut down on clutter in high traffic areas.

Starting fresh with the registry gifts you receive and items you buy together can be easier.  However, there will always be a few gifts that weren’t really what you were looking for.  Do not be afraid to return things that you do not need, will not use, or do not want.  Your guest would prefer that the gift be used and wanted rather than sit in a box because you did not want it.  Replace the item with something else you need or have not yet received.

Finally, create a simple filing system for bills, statements, personal information and household information.  Mail and paper can become overwhelming.  Catalogs, bills, invitations etc should all have a place once they cross the threshold of your home, like wall mounted mail sorters or nice baskets.  Any papers that need to be kept should be in a filing cabinet with all papers in clearly labeled, hanging files.  Long term or archive storage can be in bankers’ boxes or plastic file bins in the basement.

Remember to always ask yourselves if you need a document you are about to save.  Can you condense the information elsewhere?  Are you ever going to refer to it again? Do you really need it for tax purposes?

By following these suggestions, you will ensure a smooth transition into creating a manageable and organized household with your spouse!

Rebecca Osborne, A Spacious Place™, helps residential and business clients reduce clutter and love their spaces.  For more information go to www.TheSpaciousPlace.com.

Happy Easter to Everyone!  This day marks the start of the Wedding Season.  It brings spring into clear view and establishes a sense of urgency for those Spring weddings.  Many people provide their children with Easter baskets at this time of year and usually those are filled with candy.  Here is a list of the top candy to put into your child’s Easter Basket:

Here are the top 10 brand preferences of kids 6-11 who eat candy!
1. M&Ms (60%)
2. Skittles (57%)
3. Hershey’s Kisses (56%)
4. Kit Kat (54%)
5. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (53%)
6. Starburst (51%)
7. Ring Pop (50%)
8. Laffy Taffy (48%)
9. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (47%)
10. Push Pop (47%)
Source: Experian Simmons National Kids Study Fall 2006

Remember, it’s always best to buy Hershey’s…because when you do you support Milton Hershey School.

Overwhelmed Bride to Be

Weddings are an exciting time for everyone associated with the couple. The excitement becomes contagious throughout the two families. A bride and groom can feel trampled on rather than helped with all the details.

All the details are overwhelming and the input from so many well meaning relatives gets to be even more stressful. What can you do with all the good intentioned relatives and relatives to be?

How do you handle both families without lashing out at each other?

Making a list of things that need to be done is a good start.  Ask the ones who really want to help make your day special what they would like to do from the list to help you out. Put their name next to the task they are willing to help you with.  Check on them to make sure they haven’t forgotten that they have committed to do a particular task.

Here are some suggestions that you can use for your helpers;

• A seat placement chart for reception
• Seat placement cards for reception
• Filling out invitations for wedding
• Making a address book with all the addresses from each family
• Make an evening out of it… have a group help make party favors for the wedding
• Making center pieces for reception
• Hot gluing flowers on combs for the girls in the wedding
• Filling out the envelopes for the thank you cards
• Picking up flowers for the wedding
• Picking up balloons or balloon arch
• Passing out balloons or bubbles following ceremony
• Making extra bakery for the reception
• Making a sign with streamers for the bridal car
• Picking up cake or being there to make sure it is delivered and set up correctly
• Setting the party favors at the tables before reception begins
• Setting the center pieces on the tables before the receptions begins
• Making a punch before reception (one with alcohol and one without alcohol) Place a card before each one labeling them
• Traying the extra bakery and setting it out before reception
• Placing disposable cameras on the tables before reception
• Picking up disposable cameras after reception
• Take the left over alcohol to your home or a designated home
• Bring the leftover food and bakery to designated home or homes
• Bring the left over center pieces home
• Take left over center pieces to an area nursing home or church or charity
• Make sure all the tuxes are returned and return the bride grooms tux
• Return anything that needs to go back to the bakery (fountain pieces ect.)

Listing what needs to be done can put your nerves to rest.  Use the help of all those around you that want to support you and give you their help. Everyone loves a wedding!  Helping makes them apart of this special moment in the couple’s lives. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?  Rather than drowning in all the helpfulness…direct it so that it is a positive step in your planning rather than a stumbling block for you to overcome.

Now that you have your helpers on the job and on task make time for yourself. Eat healthy and get enough rest. Don’t burn the candle at both ends. Take time to give yourself attention. Make a date to get to the gym and firm up for the big day. Take brisk walks out side to get the cardio and fresh air to help you expel some of the nervous energy. If you enjoy message or meditation do it. Make an appointment for that message or enlist the help of the hubby-to-be to give you a message. Don’t let all the details and stress take away any of the joy you are entitled to during this tremendously special life changing experience.

Robin Oliverio

Hello Mello Pie from Sedona Pies

Fruit pies or tarts (pasties) where probably first made in the 1500s. English tradition credits making the first cherry pie to Queen Elizabeth I.

Fruitcakes have been holiday and wedding cakes which have a very heavy fruit content. The name “fruitcake” can be traced back only as far as the Middle Ages. It is formed from a combination of the Latin fructus, and French frui or frug.I remember as a child that having a wedding cake was the cake of choice…much like the Christmas cakes that were baked. My aunt was a wonderful fruit cake baker and was called on to make the fruit cake for many Weddings. I always hoped I would have one..in my dreams as a young woman. (No I didn’t get one, she died before I got married)
Times have changed along with the idea of no longer having a fruit cake to cakes and now Pies have been seen as the trend setter for weddings; including Grooms pies and many other occasions.
The phrase “As American as Apple pie” is thought to have been invented by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. Pies, have been traditionally known as hardy food staple in many countries, which have been were more known as savory and sweet.
As years and centuries have moved along many traditions have changed as well. The Groom’s cake is a fairly new tradition.
In the southern  states this new tradition began to give the groom his own cake, a special edition to make his presence known. In a lot of weddings the bride does everything and plans everything, so the groom is often left only a small part of the actual wedding. So the tradition of having a cake that in some way symbolizes what the groom is interested in or likes came about to make a special tribute to him. Some have cakes designed like baseballs, some have it in the shape of an animal (remember Steel Magnolias?).
Every origin has it’s own tradition when it comes to weddings and what Brides want to serve.
Fairly recently, some bridal parties are choosing to have something different instead of cake at the wedding.  Mostly people would rather have something else and why not?  Just because you get married, and cake isn’t your cup of tea or favorite choice of dessert, why not start your own tradition?
One of the latest trends is serving pies or tarts rather than cake. As we get older, I am finding that people would rather have pie than cake at a wedding. Some people don’t even like cake and decide to adopt something different. Groom’s pie is served usually at the rehearsal dinner.
When a Bride and Groom slice the pie together at their Wedding it’s symbolizes they both share the responsibilities of their marriage, to have a long life, of love and prosperity together.
There are a few bakeries like Sedona Pies that are offering pies as a delicious alternative for your Wedding or any other celebration you are having. As far as toppers, decorating the pies can be created just like a cake is. What most bakeries are seeing ..traditions are changing bridal parties want to have a choice.
Have your Pie and eat it too!
Written by Mari-Lyn Harris of Sedona Pies aka The Pie Princess, she can be reached at: 510-564-7880 or visit http://sedonapies.com “Serve your Wedding Guests with Exquisite Pies.”

Isn’t it frustrating to look for clothes in the morning before work and not find what you want?  Swimming through a closet stuffed to the brim creates a claustrophobic feeling that makes you want to run away and leave your clothes in a pile (the same pile, in fact, that they are already sitting in).  Organizing your closet ahead can be simple, fun and always rewarding.

Here are some ways to dive in:

• Begin by sorting out all your seasonal clothing to create more space in your closet.  The process of organizing will be easier if you have less to go through.  Plan to rotate seasonal clothing out every six months.  Purchase sturdy plastic bins that stack for folded clothing and a storage wardrobe for hanging clothes.  Find a dry space in your basement, back room or even attic, and designate it as the clothes area.  It is wise to store your clothing by type if you have the room, but not essential.  Label the bins, and you are all set!

• Next, divide the closet into “his” and “her” sections.  Consider a full length hanging section on her side for dresses and formal wear, and double hanging in his section for shirts and pants.  If you do not already have two rods one above the other, use a space saving rack that attaches to the rod above it and adds another rod for double hanging.  If you can afford it, you may want to consider adding shelves for sweaters, t-shirts and jeans.  Always hang clothes by type (i.e. long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, pants, dresses, sweaters etc.).

• For small items such as socks, stockings and undergarments, use shallow baskets on the shelves in your closet.  You simply reach in to grab the container, and are less likely to lose the items.  If you do not have shelves, look for fabric hanging shelves that attach to your closet rod (often used for shoe storage).

• Rotate shoes by season as much as possible, just like clothing.  Once you have only the current season’s footwear in the closet, think about how you prefer to store your shoes.  Do you like to reach for shoes, or slip them on from the floor instead?  Do you want to store them in containers, or let them sit out?  You can line them up on the closet shelf or the closet floor.  Shoe racks can be put under the clothes, or you can place the rack on a shelf above the clothes to have twice the space.  There are also a variety of plastic and fabric boxes or small baskets that can be used to store individual pairs of shoes.

• If possible, ties, belts and hats should be put in an “accessories” section of your closet.  There are a variety of storage ideas at www.thecontainerstore.com and www.organize.com.

• Purchase hampers for all dirty clothing.  You can find collapsible fabric hampers, mesh hampers, plastic hampers, or solid wooden hampers.  Choose one that fits your style and is large enough to accommodate the volume of laundry you produce between loads.

The most important storage component of your closet is intangible: the discipline to put away clothing after you are done with it.  Ideally, your closet arrangement will make that a quick, streamlined process.  However, you must maintain the habit of using the closet and returning what you use to its proper place for your system to truly work.  Make it a habit and you will have a lovely space!

Rebecca Osborne, A Spacious Place™, helps residential and business clients reduce clutter and love their spaces.  For more information go to www.TheSpaciousPlace.com.