Win a free Engagement/Anniversary Shoot!

One of the most important wedding vendors you could possibly choose would be your photographer.  They are responsible for capturing the special moments of your day – one of the only tangible reminders you’ll have after the wedding is over, so choosing a great photographer is imperative.

Precious Nuptials & Destinations is teaming up with MFL Photography to bring to you a fantastic giveaway – a photo shoot captured by MFL Photography and styled by us!  We are excited to be working together with Prashant, the owner and head photographer, who is full of creativity, fresh ideas, and passion for the wedding industry.

CONTEST DETAILS:

This contest is open to any couple who will be available in the Houston area on the afternoon/early evening of Sunday, September 26, 2010.  You can be engaged or married, as this shoot will be either an engagement shoot or an anniversary shoot.  The prize will be a one-hour photo shoot captured by MFL Photography and styled by Precious Nuptials & Destinations, along with 20 digital images and two 8×10 prints.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. We want to hear your story!  Email me at dionne@preciousnuptials.com in 250 words or less either how you two met or how he proposed.  Make sure that in the Subject Line of your email you put “Photoshoot Giveaway”  and then both your names (eg. Photoshoot Giveaway: Alexandra & Jason) or your entry might not be included.

2. Please also include a brief sentence or two about your personal style and tastes so that we can start thinking about how we’ll style your photo shoot if you win (eg. “we both like bright colors, the beach and picnics, and quirky movies”).

3. Also make sure to attach a photo of the two of you together.

4. “Like” Precious Nuptials & Destinations and MFL Photography on Facebook.

CONTEST DEADLINE:

The submission period ends Tuesday, August 31st 2010 at 12 midnight.  Any emails received after then will not be entered into the contest.  Then from there we will review each story received and pick our three favorites, and then post them here on the blog and Facebook for the world to see on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010.  At this point, the contest is in the hands of blogland.  Readers will have one week to vote for their favorite story by “liking” the couple of their choice’s post on Facebook, or by emailing me at dionne@preciousnuptials.com with the couples’ name as the Subject Heading (i will repost how to vote when we get to that stage).  The winner will be emailed and announced here on the blog no later than Friday, September 17th, 2010.

Good luck!

FUN Find Friday!:: Wonder File

I have an awful habit of sleeping with the television on. Depending on the channel’s location, I’ve been known to wake up to an infomercial/paid programming for time to time. I never order and always find myself waiting for it to hit the local “as seen on TV” shelves.

The Wonder File actually looks like a must try! I, of course, would order it in black and make it into a Precious Nuptials’ couture original. It’s a perfect wedding planning work station that you can fold right up and take with you. You’ll find slots for your inspiration pages, checklists, notes, fabric samples, receipts, check book, calculator and more. Wouldn’t this be a functional wedding planning organization station?

Texas Destination Wedding Planner

Themed-up Thursdays: A Long-Distance Themed Wedding

One of my favorite things about Weddings is how personal they are.  The most memorable weddings to me have always been the ones where you can really see the personality and background of the couple in all the details.

To kick off Themed-up Thursdays, I thought it would be appropriate to get the ball rolling by talking about a theme close to my heart – Long-distance themed Weddings.

My husband and I had a 2-year Long-distance relationship before we got married, so we really wanted to reflect that in our wedding details.  Some ways that we made that theme clear was to have our flower arrangements sprouting out of suitcases (the suitcases symbolized all our traveling back and forth), a quirky suitcase wedding cake, guests threw paper airplanes instead of confetti or rice, and our wedding invitations also carried the long-distance theme saying “Brian & Dionne’s ‘Kiss Long-Distance Goodbye’ Wedding Celebration”.

Everyone at the wedding commented on the theme, and said it was one of the most memorable weddings they’d ever been to.

When planning a long-distance themed wedding, think about items that remind you of that.  Items like vintage telephones, letters, postcards, passports and luggage tags are all great ways to punctuate your wedding with this theme.  Other decor elements like world globes and maps would add an interesting, unexpected element to your decor.  Remember, not everything needs to be white and frilly.  Today’s weddings are more about the couple themselves, not traditional frills and lace.  You want to make your wedding be recognizable as your day instead of a generic wedding that could be for any couple.

Here are two great Long-distance themed elements online.  A set of recycled map envelopes from Picklehead, along with a lovely vintage telephone from Tessimal.  If you have any great ideas for Long-distance themed items, feel free to share them with our readers in the comments!

Where 2 Wednesday? :: Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Honeymoon and Romance Vacation Ideas

As you write the chapter to your next adventure, this week on Where 2 Wednesday, we invite you to take a close look at Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort in Rivera Nayarit Mexico.  As a member of The Leading Hotels of the World®, you can count on a true luxurious experience and unparalleled service.

  • Grand Velas All Suites Spa Resort HoneymoonRiviera Nayarit Mexico40 miles from Cancun International Airport (CUN)
  • EST. Nov. 2008
  • Minutes away from Xcaret and Xel-Ha (two of the area’s most beautiful ecological and water parks)
  • 496 luxury suites with dedicated concierge service
  • Adult only section — 96 Ambassador Suites
  • Luxurious spa situated in the middle of a tropical jungle

Take a look at a few of the images we captured during our visit last year!

Grand Velas Riviera Maya Entrance

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit Grand Entrance :: Your driver will slowly enter this jaw dropping stone wall entrance into clear glass opening gates. Brace yourself... your jungle tropical oasis awaits you!

King Suite offers sliding doors to expose bath area

Beautiful wood work and hand stone work graces this property perfectly. Opt for a personal plunge pool! You won't regret it.

Enjoy a clean eating experience. Pictured are the different offerings, a Grand Vela chef making his evening dinner catch and dinning room options.

The jungle location of the spa certainly sets the tone for total relaxation!

Our amateur images can’t do Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit justice!  We invite you to click virtual tour and photos selections below take a tour.  Once you’re done, immediately begin your honeymoon planning.  We know you won’t be disappointed!  If you have any questions, feel free to email our travel concierge directly at margaret {at} preciousnuptials {dot} com.

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Texas Destination Wedding Planner

A Special Addition to the Precious Nuptials & Destinations Family!

Here at Precious Nuptials & Destinations, we have been very fortunate to have a fabulous family of workers that we can totally depend on to make your wedding day every bit of spectacular.  We work hard to make sure your wedding day is everything you thought it would be… and more!  One this note, we are super excited to introduce to you our newest family member : Dionne Christiansen.

Dionne is originally from Australia, but moved to Houston from California this past year.  She brings to the industry an awesome ability to create unbelievable designs from basic details to vintage eye catchers.  You will come to know Dionne as a must have in your wedding planning and design experience.  She’s original, fun and loves to make her mark on weddings!  With out further ado, I present to you Dionne Christiansen!  {Crowd Cheers}

Houston Wedding Planner

1. What do you love most about weddings?
I could say that I love that it celebrates the joining of two people in love, and that they get to celebrate with all the special people in their lives – but that would only be half true.  The other half would be that it’s the most detailed, personal, lovely party you’ll ever have!

2. What inspires you?
Unusual color combinations – when I see colors put together that I normally wouldn’t see together, it gets my brain thinking about other possibilities.
My husband – Brian is completely humble and selfless, and the way he lives his life is such an inspiration to me.  It’s that humble spirit that drew me to him in the first place, and he is always inspiring me to be a better person.  It sounds cheesy, but it’s so true.
My mother – my mum is the best cook ever!  Everything she cooks turns to gold.  She is known in her town for being a great cook, and people are always hoping for an invitation to Connie’s house for a yummy meal.  She is definitely my Cooking Muse!
Children – their innocence and unbridled creativity really is a marvel.  The things they say and the things they dream really spur me to be broader and less inhibited in my own plans and dreams.  I don’t have children of my own yet, but when I do, I am sure I will be inspired by them on a daily basis.

3. What is your background? (eg. education, training, etc)

I have a double Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and Marketing.  I was a graphic designer for 5 years, and my favorite thing to design was always wedding invitations.  I am such a romantic at heart.

4. What are your hobbies?

I love people and I love creativity, so entertaining, cooking and baking are big hobbies of mine because I get to combine these two loves.  I really enjoy photography too, and pretty much like anything that involves me creating something.  I also like making things out of paper, and collecting tea cups and pretty plates.

5. What is your favorite dessert?

Creme Brûlée.  Hands down.  I love that combination of the silky custard and the hard crackle of the hardened sugar on top.

6. What do you think is the most important thing a bride should remember on her wedding day?

Cherish every moment, and soak it all in – because it flies by so quickly.  And one more tip (this isn’t the most important, but I found it pretty handy on my wedding day) – don’t wear your garter all day, especially if you’re getting married outdoors or on a hot day, because it could get all hot and sweaty for the poor guy that has to catch it later on that day.  Instead, put it on half an hour before the garter toss – no one will ever know, and it will still be fresh and lovely for the lucky guy who catches it!

Dionne will immediately making regular appearances on our blog, local events and through social media.  So when you see her, please be sure to say hello!  You can also email her direct at dionne {at} preciousnuptials {dot} com.

Texas Destination Wedding Planner

Fun Find FRIDAY! :: Sugary Goodness for Your Wedding Coffee Station

Gourmet Sugar Company has gone out of the way to provide an experience at your coffee or tea station.  They offer several organic flavors and even offer a vegan option.  Here are some of what they have to offer:

Rose shaped organic sugar cubes! This is just too darn cute.

Wedding cake organic sugar shapes!

Sea shell shapes! How perfect for your destination wedding?

Sample Pack Gourment Sugar Company

Don't know which flavor to try? Order a sample pack and customize the shape to your needs.

Be sure to visit their website and become their friend on Facebook.  Be sure to tell them you saw it first here!

PS::  A special thanks to Carter Elite Travel for sharing this with us!

Mexico Border Violence and Your Destination Wedding

There’s no doubt that Mexico is an attractive destination for couples desiring an ease of travel for their guests.  With less than two hours flight time, Delta (formerly Continental) offers a direct flight from Houston (George Bush Intercontinental Airport — IAH).  Once you arrive, there are infinite possibilities for your destination wedding.

But…

Before we talk about the beauty, tradition, heritage, the people and the wonderful destination wedding possibilities, let’s talk about the reason many are shying away from a destination wedding in Mexico due to the ongoing reports of  Mexico’s drug cartels violence at the border.  These reports are real and one can’t help but question the possibility of safe travels.  To this I say, “We Houstonians are closer to the border violence than The Yucatan, Mexico (referring also to Cancun and Riviera Maya) is to its own border violence issues.”

We visited our local Fox 26 Houston website and took the last ten reports (as of May 5, 2010) and placed them on a pin map.  What did we find?  Houston is approximately 300 land miles from the border violence.  Yes, it’s that close to home.  Which is understandably why it’s such a  hot topic of discussion.  However, The Yucatan, Cancun and the Riviera Maya is 800 flight miles away.  Depending on drive route, more than double the miles by land (1700+).  For the record, I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind that would attempt a drive through Mexico to get to The Yucatan.

It’s a given, crime can be found globally.  Everyone is responsible for their own destiny.  We can simply testify that during our two trips to this area in the past five months, we didn’t see nor experience  violence-ridden Mexico in the Cancun, Riviera Maya and The Yucatan area that is unfortunately taking place at the Mexico Border.

To visit our interactive map here for details on pin points, please send us your email address.

To your precious nuptial  :: Cheers!

Rain on your wedding day :: a new sexy!

During a consultation with one of our destination wedding couples last week, we began the forbidden “weather” discussion.  We laughed at how our destination bride-to-be’s grandfather enjoyed Molly and Jason’s (ABC’s The Bachelor) downpour at their outdoor wedding ceremony.  At that moment I realized that couples are truly beginning to embrace their wedding day’s events as mother nature means for it to happen.

No doubt, it’s all in the attitude.  We can’t control the weather, but we can certainly control our reactions and overall attitudes to things we cannot control.  If you’re planning a tropical destination wedding, it’s not uncommon for the sky to open up one minute and the sun to peak through the clouds the next.  Embrace this possibility and run with it… the grown and sexy way!

Here’s a clip of Molly and Jason’s beautiful rainy day wedding from ABC’s The Bachelor ::

Tell us…

How would you like a wet, rainy wedding ceremony?  I’d totally dig it!  After all, rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck.  [wink]

Until next time!

[Here's to your precious nuptial :: Cheers!]

Precious Nuptials’ Trending Destination Wedding Locations

We’ve been joyously working on this year’s destination wedding clients’ big day!  Not that we haven’t been equally pouring ourselves into our Houston area weddings.  The majority of our destination wedding couples continue to choose Caribbean locations.  Needless to say, there’s plenty of Caribbean wedding possibilities out there to choose from.  We’re going to offer you a glimpse into our clients’ choices thus far (in no particular order).   They also make for easy travel for we Texas visitors.

7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise :: At Sea

General Map Credit :: www.welt-atlas.com

As we illustrated above, about forty (40) guest sailed from Galveston to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel for a 25th wedding anniversary and vow renewal cruise.  Cruising is a growing trend that we’ll talk about next week.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico :: Dreams Puerto Vallarta

Photo Credit :: Dreams Resorts

Photo Credit :: Dreams

Located on the Pacific side of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta offers beautiful sunsets!  That’s one of the driving reasons why our Austin, Texas clients choose this destination wedding location.  Close to fifty (50) of their closest family and friends will join them for a wedding weekend filled with the fun of creating a lifetime of memories.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica :: Sandals Grande Ocho Rios

Photo Credit :: Sandals

Photo Credit :: Sandals

With this couple, they wanted to a beautiful location to serve as the backdrop for their union.  Lush gardens, beautiful beaches and white gloved service made this Dallas, Texas destination wedding couple swoon over their new beginnings.  They will enjoy ten (10) intimate nights in a top level rooming category.  About a dozen guests will join them for this intimate celebration.

Montego Bay, Jamaica :: Rose Hall Resort Spa & Country Club

Photo Credit :: Rose Hall

Breath taking beauty has this Houston couple ecstatic about their upcoming Independence weekend nuptial events!  About sixty (60) guest will take part in the holiday weekend wedding weekend bash venturing from Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and more!

Riviera Maya, Mexico :: Dreams Riviera Cancun

Photo Credit :: Dreams

At just under a year in age, this Dream property is truly a dream.   Our newly relocated Michigan couple is in love with their wedding ceremony and reception location.  This straw architecture will serve as the backdrop for their sunset nuptials.  We can’t wait as I’m sure sixty (60) of their family and friends can’t either!

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands :: The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa

Photo Credit :: Westin

Photo Credit :: Westin

The Westin is know for it’s great service and offerings.  This Houston native destination wedding couple knew this would be the location for their 10/10/10 destination wedding day!  An intimate celebration of about thirty (30) guest will enjoy a sunset wedding and breezeway reception.

7 Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise :: Nassau, Bahamas

General Map Credit :: www.welt-atlas.com

This Houston couple proposed became engaged at a previous destination wedding of ours.  They quickly called us up to begin planning their Nassau, Bahamas wedding at port of a 7 day Bahamas cruise.  They expect about seventy (70) of their closest family and friends to join them.  This is proving to be a fun cruise wedding to plan!

That’s all for now!  Be sure to send us questions about your destination wedding locations.

Until next time…

To your precious nuptials  :: [ Cheers!]


Ana de Roux :: Destination Wedding Stationery

Ana de Roux is a Texas stationer that offers a line of destination wedding stationery that’s sure to set the tone for your up coming nuptials.  When choosing your stationery, it should set the tone for your event while adhering to the level of formality.  Ana’s offerings range from elegant papers to fun designs made to replicate passports and boarding passes.  Here is a glimpse at her passport and boarding pass stationery collection::

To see the entire offerings, visit her destination wedding specific stationery website: Passport Invitations.  Once there, you’ll have access to her other websites as well.

[To your precious nuptial :: Cheers!]