The Top 10 Lists!
Top 10 List of hotel and resort terms to know for planning your honeymoon
Your honeymoon might be the most extravagant vacation you’ve ever planned, so you’ll want to know the common lingo that you’ll run across as you research your different hotel and resort options.
1. All-Inclusive Resort: By definition this means “includes everything”, however in resort terms, what is actually included varies widely, so be sure to check the fine print. A basic all-inclusive package typically includes at least your accommodations, meals, and some activities. Also, some all-inclusive resorts are for adults only, and others are family oriented and allow children.
2. American plan (AP): A hotel rate that includes accommodations and three meals daily. Often used by resort hotels where no other dining alternatives are available. Sometimes called “full pension” or “full board” in Europe.
3. Amenities: An “extra” service or product given to guests by the hotel, typically at no extra charge. This term is broadly used to describe the toiletries and other products left in the guest room’s bathroom for your use. Amenities can also refer to services like a station to print your boarding pass in the lobby, WiFi, or free parking.
4. Boutique Hotel: A smaller hotel, sometimes in a historic building. Although there is no hard-and-fast rule, a boutique hotel will generally have fewer than about 100 guest rooms. Boutique hotels are known for offering a more unique guests experience than the typical large, corporate chain hotel. They can be a good compromise between a large hotel and a bed & breakfast.
5. Presidential Suite: The most expensive suite in a luxury hotel, also sometimes called the Royal Suite.
6. Butler: Generally assigned to no more than three rooms at a time, butlers are the first line of service when it comes to meeting your expectations at a resort. They can handle in-house or off-site arrangements such as dinner and spa appointments, or excursions. Butler service is complimentary, although gratuities of about 5% of the room rate are customary, more for stellar service.
7. Concierge: Like a butler, but concierges tend to be available to all guests, and they rarely escort guests to resort appointments as butlers do. Recently, specialized concierges have been making a big splash, with resorts offering beach, bath, romance, and even pillow concierges! They are typically tipped $10 – $20 for each provided service. Concierges will also be found at most hotels.
8. Valet: In some cases a valet does more than park your car. Dry cleaning, shoe shining and personal laundry may fall into this job description.
9. Porte Cochere (pôrt k -shâr): The area just outside the main entrance (usually covered), where you’ll find your transportation to and from the airport as well as for excursions. Also where you’ll look for the Valet if you have a car that needs to be parked or if you need a taxi.
10. Not just a Bartender: Mixologists shake, stir, and mix delightful, artisan or standard cocktails. A sommelier is someone who has training in all things pertaining to wine. And taquilleros are well-versed in the world of tequila.
And if you’d rather just speak regular English to describe what you’re looking for in your honeymoon experience, you can always contact Divine Destination Weddings and Honeymoons. They are the honeymoon travel experts and know honeymoon resorts and hotels! They’ll help you plan the honeymoon you really want, and will explain all the options and details in plain English so you’ll know what you’re getting for your money.
Happy honeymooning!
You’re Engaged! Now What?
Congratulations! Here is our list of the first things to do after you get engaged, with links to all the FREE planning tools on the Perfect Wedding Guide web site.
- Check the Sacramento Bridal Show calendar at sacramento.pwg.com. It’s not that attending a bridal show is the most important thing, but the most bridal shows are taking place between now and the end of April, with varying locations, so you won’t want to miss the one that’s most convenient or that you’re available to attend.
- Get a wedding organizer. It can be a binder, book, or app, but you’ll need a place to keep track of all your ideas and decisions! You can get started right away with our FREE downloadable wedding workbook. Find the page that has the planning timeline so you can relax and see that everything doesn’t have to be done right now!
- Choose a date (or 2). The more flexible you are with your date, the better chance you’ll have of booking the Sacramento wedding venue or Tahoe wedding location you really want, but you’ll want to at least pick a month. Keep in mind that you’ll save money by choosing any date that is NOT a Saturday.
- Set your budget. Who’s contributing? How much? Add it up for your total. It’s a good idea to set aside at least 5% of available funds for last minute additions, cost overruns, or something you just can’t live without. Track your budget with our free wedding budget calculator.
- Start the guest list. Don’t forget to get a list from your parents as to who they’d like to see invited. Then see if your guest count works with your budget. If not, make some changes to one or both. The quickest way to reduce your costs is to reduce your guest count. Keep track of your guest list here, and later use our free drag-and-drop seating chart!
- Get an idea of your wedding style. You don’t have to make firm decisions now, but you will want an idea of the type of wedding you’re looking for: winter/summer, indoor/outdoor, casual/formal, large/intimate. This overall style will help guide you in your choice of venue (and everything else).
- Decide if you’re going to hire a wedding planner. If you are, then you’ll want to find that person before you do much else, since she’ll be helping you with all the planning to come.
- Choose a venue. Once you’ve chosen your venue, you’ll know a lot more about what your next steps will need to be, as well as the direction for your wedding style.
- Start shopping for your wedding dress. Yes, it’s true – wedding dresses can take many months to arrive, not to mention that it can take a long time for you to decide on one, so the dress goes near the top of the to-do list. Sacramento wedding dress shops carry very different selections of gowns and designers, so if you don’t find the perfect one right away, don’t fret. You might even WIN your wedding gown if you enter Perfect Wedding Guide’s Great Gown Giveaway!
- Enjoy being engaged!
Celeb-Style Weddings on a Real-People Budget
From the new Brides magazine, blogger Anne Chertoff shares her top 10 tricks for throwing a celeb-style wedding on a real-people budget.
10. Have a Pal Officiate. New Mexico governor Bill Richardson did the honors at Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart’s I do’s. Ask a friend to get ordained online.
9. Do a Quick Change. Slip into a fun party dress after the ceremony, as Nicole Richie did when she married Joel Madden. Make the second one one you’ll want to wear again after the wedding.
8. Dress Up Your Pup. At Carrie Underwood’s wedding to Mike Fisher, her dog wore a pink tuxedo. If yours doesn’t do pomp, try a blingy collar.
7. Pass a Signature Drink. Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had two, including a pomegranate martini with Nerds and elderflower champagne with edible gold-leaf garnish. Budget tip: Skip the full bar, and just serve a custom cocktail, along with beer and wine.
6. Hire a Planner. Celeb event designer Mindy Weiss put together Katy Perry and Russell Brand’s bash. To save money, call in a day-of coordinator.
5. Get a Slam-Dunk Cake. Carmelo Anthony and Lala Vazquez had a five-tiered confection. Three tiers are just as nice – and cost way less.
4. Monogram Napery. Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie put their letters on all their linens. You can do just you and your guy’s napkins.
3. Borrow Jewels. Kendra Wilkinson did for her wedding to Hank Baskett. Ask your mom or grandma if they have gems you can borrow.
2. Go Monochromatic. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky went all white with their decor, opting for classic touches like a white isle runner and white flowers. The minimalist look kept the focus on the bride and groom.
1. Say “I Do” Abroad. As Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem did in the Bahamas. (Psst: Destination vows can save serious cash!)
Top 10 Romantic Getaways
Looking for ideas of where to go on your honeymoon? Islands magazine has just published their Top 10 List of Romantic Getaways… for this list they sought islands that offer romantic ideals beyond the expected. Here’s the list in brief. If something sounds good, you can come read the whole article at Engaged Wedding Library!
10. One & Only Ocean Club, Bahamas
Romance is traveling simply. Leave the five pairs of shoes and first aid kit at home. Grab your bathing suit, sunscreen, coverup and significant other. And just go. oneandonlyresorts.com
9. Cruise Through a Picture, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Romance is cruising through a scene that you’ve only seen in movies or magazine covers. buffalotours.com
8. Likuliku Lagoon Resort, Fiji
Romance is a never-ending couple’s massage along a Fijian lagoon. likulikulagoon.com
7. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Romance is having no fourth wall, no doors, no windows – and no distractions – separating you from one of the world’s most iconic views. jademountain.com
6. Ani Villas, Anguilla
Romance is having a personal chef in your private cliff-top villa. anivillas.com
5. Shotover Canyon Swing, New Zealand
Romance is a shared leap of faith – literally. canyonswing.co.nz
4. Easter Island
Romance is standing before Easter Island’s iconic statues with a loved one. explora.com
3. Hanelei Colony Resort, Kauai
Romance is watching an uninterrupted Hawaiian sunset from Ke’e Beach at the end of the road. hcr.com
2. Le Meridien, Bora Bora
Romance is waking up in a dream. You’re there, in Tahiti, in one of its signature enclaves hovering above the lagoon of Bora Bora. lemeridien-borabora.com
1. Little Palm Island, Florida
Our Number One Romance is not needing to leave the mainland to feel like you’re in the Pacific -Â Florida Keys style. The Polynesian details and thatched roof huts will fool you. littlepalmisland.com
Want to know more details? Want to find out if any of these destinations really fits what you’re looking for? Want to know if you can afford it? Contact Engaged Wedding Library’s travel and honeymoon guru: April, from All About Honeymoons. She can help ensure you end up with the honeymoon of your dreams, whether it’s at one of these destinations or another getaway spot.
Just In Time for Valentine’s Day – Our Own Top 20 Romantic Comedies List
Looking for a romantic movie to watch on Valentine’s Day that maybe you haven’t seen before? Our very own movie expert has put together his eclectic list of the Top 20 Romantic Comedies and Light Romance Movies of All Time. Take your pick and enjoy!
1. Some Like It Hot (1959)
2. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
3. Annie Hall (1977)
4. Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
5. It Happened One Night (1934)
6. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)
7. The Lady Eve (1941)
8. High Fidelity (2000)
9. The Princess Bride (1987)
10. Enchanted (2007)
11. Top Hat (1935) / Swing Time (1936) — Tie
12. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) (India)
13. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008)
14. Il Postino: The Postman (1994) (Italy)
15. (500) Days Of Summer (2009)
16. The Awful Truth (1937)
17. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
18. Lars And The Real Girl (2007)
19. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
20. Secretary (2002)
And 5 more for good measure
Manhattan (1979)
Sideways (2004)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Sleepless In Seattle (1973)
The Wedding Singer (1998)
You can find more info about any of these films, including the cast and a brief plot blurb at the Internet Movie Data Base: imdb.com.
Five Rules Not to Break
These days just about anything goes at weddings, but according to the new issue of Brides magazine, there are at least five rules you should still follow. It’s really just about keeping your guests comfortable and making sure you set the scene for everyone to have a great time! Here is the scoop from the article:
1. Make sure there’s no more than an hour of downtime between the ceremony’s end and the start of the reception. It’s not nice to force out-of-towners to kill the better part of the afternoon in donut shop.
2. Keep guests in the loop. That means having the DJ or MC explain anything unusual (e.g. that you and dad are shooting hoops at the reception instead of having a first dance).
3. Be hosts. Greet all of your guests, even if you don’t know some, either on a receiving line or by going table to table, and don’t ask anyone to pay for anything. (No cash bar!)
4. Throw a wedding, not a business conference. Avoid long speeches, longer slide shows, and anything that smacks of sponsorship (“Flowers provided by PayBack Gardens”). Your guests are there to have fun.
5. Make guests’ comfort your priority. Inviting and elderly aunt? Don’t make her scale a small alp to get to the ceremony. Tying the knot at a farm? Let guests let know they should leave the heels and ties at home. And duh – make sure there’s plenty of food and drink.
Top 10 Budget No-No’s
The Top 10 wedding spending pitfalls from the new issue of Bridal Guide magazine! (Here’s the key points – you can read the full article at Engaged!)
10. Not Setting Budget Priorities. Start with a realistic overall budget, then list your wedding details in order of “gotta have it”. That way you can put your dollars on the higher priorities, and spend less on what isn’t so important to you.
9. Not Reading the Fine Print. Don’t skip reading anything, and if you have questions, ask immediately, especially about payment terms.
8. Leaping Before You Look. You walk into the first reception venue on your list, fall in love and decide to write a deposit check on the spot. Sometimes that works fine; other times it doesn’t. A week later you may hear about a place that costs less and offers more.
7. Falling Prey to Peer Pressure. Refuse to keep up with the Joneses. Who says copying them will make you happy? Repress the urge to impress other people. Imagine you’re in a safe little bubble where you’re unaffected by others’ choices.
6. Getting Stuck on “Shoulds”. You “should” have this or that.. but consider whether you’ll care about each particular detail in the future. To quote the song, all you really need is love (and a wedding license, right?).
5. Not Knowing What You Both Want. When you’re unsure what you want, you’re susceptible to sales pitches or other people insisting you must have a more expensive choice.
4. Letting Your Guest List Get the Best of You. It’s a simple math equation: more people equals more money. Figure out how many guests you can actually afford. Then split your list among your own guests, you groom’s and your parents’. The have everyone chop from the bottom and create a “B” list. Order extra invitations and send them after the initial RSVPs come in and you know if you have space.
3. Stuffing Your Guests. Rest assured, no one at your wedding will starve. Let you caterer know what your budget is, and what kind of food you want to include in the meal, and then let her work out what she can produce within your parameters.
2. Not Thinking Creatively. Doing exactly what you’ve seen elsewhere may be safe, but it may not be economical. Be imaginative. Choose local blooms in season. Or ask a florist to create one centerpiece that you and your friends can use as a template for making the rest yourselves. You’ll save on the labor costs that the florist would have put in.
And the # 1 Top Budget No-No is… Trying To Do It All Yourself. Okay, so you’re superwoman. But trying to handle every last detail can end up costing you because you don’t have time to do all the research to find the most economical choices. Enlist help! Though wedding planners come with their own costs, hiring one might save you money in the long run. Or delegate jobs to friends and family. Also, many brides who have talented friends ask for their help with decorating, invitations, or flowers. People are usually happy to contribute to the success of a friend’s big day.
And one more Budget No-No from Engaged is…
Spending Hundreds of Dollars on Wedding Magazines. Yes, you can get loads of inspiration and ideas from wedding magazines and books, not to mention they are just plain fun to look through, but the money you could save by reading them at Engaged instead of buying them could pay for your favors, or an extra tier on you cake, or your shoes! Don’t worry, if you do find a picture you want to add to your wedding planning album, we can take a color copy for you. Plus, many of the resource on our shelves you won’t find anywhere else around town.
The Top 10 Things Your Bridesmaids Can Do For You
There is a lot of advice about what tasks a bridesmaid should or shouldn’t be expected to do. Here are some that you can confidently expect, according to the new issue of Brides magazine.
10. Give you honest (but gentle) opinions as you try on dresses.
9. Weep (along with your mom) when you finally emerge from the dressing room wearing The One.
8. Record gifts at your bridal shower (in legible handwriting).
7. Stuff 167 candy-favor bags without complaining or eating one single jelly bean.
6. Start dancing to get the reception crowd up.
5. Spend the night before the wedding at your place to talk, laugh, and calm your nerves.
4. Give your mom special attention at the wedding.
3. Deal with the DJ the second he starts spinning “Who Let the Dogs Out?”, which she knows is song number one on your “don’t play – ever!” list.
2. Run out to pick up last-minute items on the wedding day.
1. And the number one Perfect Thing a Bridesmaid Will Do is… Lend you a shoulder to cry on when the stress gets to be too much.
The Best Island Reefs
The Islands and Budget Travel magazines that we get at Engaged are always filled with dream destinations for your honeymoon (or anytime!), and the newest Islands lists the Best Island Reefs. So if you love to snorkel or scuba dive, you’ll probably want to check out these spots!
BEST ISLAND REEFS
from Islands magazine
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia. 3000 species of fish and about 75 percent of known hard-coral species… the most biodiverse marine life in the world, with many species apparently endemic to the region, found nowhere else on earth.
- Lord Howe Island, Australia
- Bonaire, Caribbean
- Wakatobi, Indonesia
- Palau
- Sipadan Island, Malaysia
- Nihau, Hawaii
- Adros Island, Bahamas
- Namena, Fiji
- Belize Islands
Top Ten Questions to Ask When Hiring a Wedding Planner
From the Shelves of Engaged Wedding Library
Ceremony magazine 2010
10. How do you charge for your services? Typically fees are billed in one of three ways: a flat rate, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the fees you pay to your vendors.
9. Are you able to work with vendors we have already chosen?
8. What items or services will you not handle?
7. What specifically will be your role on the day of the wedding?
6. Can you advise us on issues of etiquette?
5. What is your experience, training, and accreditation?
4. Can you provide references from former clients?
3. What levels of service do you offer? Most planners will cater their services to your needs, from planning everything to simply directing activities on the Big Day.
2. Is there a charge for our first meeting or consultation?
And the number one question to ask when hiring a wedding planner is…
1. How will you save us money, and can you advise us on where to best spend our money? A good consultant will help you stay within your budget and possibly save you as much as, or more than, their fee.
If you want answers to these questions, contact one of the fabulous Engaged wedding planners:
Party of 2, Jen and Deb
Wedding Possibilities, Jane
White Orchid Events, Linda