When it comes to planning a destination wedding or honeymoon, you’ll need more than a ticket to leave the United States. You need a passport too. A passport is an official document issued by a country’s government to an individual certifying that person’s identity and citizenship to said country. If you are a U.S….
Wedding flowers are one of the prettiest parts of planning a Tampa Bay wedding, but with so many options and price points, it can also be one of the most confusing. How do you know how much to spend? How do you know how to achieve your vision, while also staying on budget? When…
Tampa Bay is one of the top cities for destination weddings in the U.S. and especially attractive for international couples looking to wed in Florida. Getting married in the States can have its challenges if you’re not familiar with the laws, customs, and expectations of an American wedding. With Florida located in the southern…
Amidst all of the excitement of planning your Tampa Bay wedding, it’s difficult to imagine that something could go wrong in the weeks leading up to or even on the day of the wedding. In reality, hiccups are possible, no matter how meticulously detailed you were in the planning process. Unplanned life events including…
Selecting your destination wedding or honeymoon hotel can be a daunting task because when you enter “all-inclusive resort” into Google, you’ll easily get thousands of matches. And, of course, they all look fantastic with white sand, blue water, and pristine beaches. But don’t be easily fooled. Be savvy enough to know that what is…
Customization is key to making your Tampa Bay wedding stand out, and your first dance song can truly reflect you and your soon-be-spouses’ personalities. Whether you choose a classic Ed Sheeran ballad or a timeless Ray LaMontagne tune, your dancing shoes better be ready! We asked the top Tampa Bay DJs and live musicians…
Choosing your Tampa Bay wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your wedding day as it sets the tone for the atmosphere, can dictate which vendors you hire, and takes up half your budget, so it’s important to select one that is the perfect match. Price can often be a sensitive…
You think planning a wedding is stressful? Try organizing a destination bachelor or bachelorette party with flights, travel deposits, and trip itineraries. It can be like herding cats! I’ve had maid of honors give me less than a month to book an international flight and heard horror stories about groomsmen booking dangerous excursions that…
What is the secret to making your Tampa Bay wedding day memorable for your guests? Good food. As much as your friends and family will ooh and ahh over the decor, if you leave them hungry, that’s what they will remember about your wedding night. Every couple wants to make their wedding unique and personal,…
At the end of every real wedding feature, we ask couples their advice for other soon-to-be weds and hands down we hear the same reply: hire a wedding planner. If you ask any wedding vendor if you should hire a wedding planner, the will always answer yes, because experienced wedding planners are worth their weight…
Hiring a Tampa Bay wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make during planning. Some couples experience sticker shock when initially searching photographer, but you’ll also quickly realize this is one area in your budget that you don’t want to skimp; it’s worth the investment. When you hire a wedding photographer, you’re…
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may be thinking about giving your special someone more than just a box of chocolates. If you’ve ever considered getting a little saucy, now is the perfect time to think about doing a boudoir shoot. I’ve scrolled through boudoir photos and thought, “Wow, I wish I had…
If you ask most weddings guests what they remember about their experiences, they’ll often comment on the food and entertainment. However, your Tampa Bay wedding day music goes beyond hiring a DJ for your reception. Your entertainment selections set the ambiance for your wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. There’s a whole lot to be…
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in your life. Though, with the celebration comes big responsibility. Your wedding day is a milestone and one of the most memorable days of your life. The first set of decisions you make over the next few weeks will set the tone of your wedding: budget,…
I was recently speaking to a newly engaged couple, and they asked me what advice I had for them. I told them what I tell EVERY couple…hire a seasoned wedding planner. Hands down, there is no better investment you can make for your wedding. “Hiring a wedding planner can relieve stress, provide options, create…
Every year, we hear of a wedding venue or retailer go out of business. It’s inevitable in any industry. When you give someone a deposit six months to a year in advance, you really have to trust that months later they’ll still be around. But anything can happen, even to the most trusted wedding professionals:…
The first questions people ask the newly engaged are: When are you getting married? Where are you getting married? And then, Where are you going on your honeymoon? There is just as much pressure to get the honeymoon “right” as there is to get the ceremony and reception “right.” As the owner and a…
THE EXPERTS: What should brides know about choosing a hair and makeup artist (HMUA) that fit their style? Priscilla Charite, owner of The Destiny & Light Hair and Makeup Group by Priscilla Marie, adds: “You get what you pay for. However, that doesn’t mean you need to book the most expensive artist in your area….
I was a traveler long before I ever became a travel agent. In fact, probably like many of you, I didn’t even know what a travel agent really did anymore. We can go online and book anything at any time, day or night, all by ourselves. Why would I need a travel agent to…
THE EXPERTS: What is the average cost of hiring a professional wedding caterer in Tampa Bay/Sarasota (not including the venue)? Paulina Nicka from Amici’s Catered Cuisine estimates: “If you have 100 guests then you can expect about $30 in only food costs at Amici’s. That doesn’t include service and other costs. Average costs for a…
Forecasters are predicting this year to be one of the worst hurricane seasons for the Atlantic, putting Florida weddings at risk. With flooding, damage and cancellations from Hurricane Irma still fresh in our minds, we wanted to learn more about how couples can protect their wedding investment, so we reached out the wedding insurance…
THE EXPERTS: What factors go into the cost of professional wedding photography? Carrie Wildes, owner of Carrie Wildes Photography, who just celebrated 10 years in business shares: “Having a professional photography company has all the same costs as a normal business (marketing, equipment, insurance, second shooters, product cost, etc.,), so there is a…
If you have a sweet tooth like we do, one of the best parts of planning your Tampa Bay wedding is choosing the desserts and cake. Wedding cakes are some of our top liked posts on Instagram and Pinterest, because not only are they truly pieces of art, but knowing you get to eat…
Wedding videography has come a long way since the 90s, when videographers would show up with a camera on their shoulder, a huge bright light shining in your face and the grainy, boring videos that most likely your parents have that are now sitting on a shelf collecting dust. Nowadays, wedding films are engaging,…
When planning one of the most memorable days of your lives, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of wedding inspiration pins, however, you have to be realistic when it comes to planning a wedding that you can afford. In the Tampa Bay area, we find that $30,000 tends to be a good…
