Kelly and Jeff were married in November, 2008 at Old Bahama Bay Resort on Grand Bahama Island surrounded by 50 guests! Following the ceremony they had a sit down dinner and dancing by the resort’s pool and the night ended with a late-night bonfire on the beach. Photos by Kara Pennington Photography

Isabelle, 43 & James, 31

New York City

Wedding Date: October 17, 2008

Number of Guests: 15

Wedding Cost: $25,000 

Wedding Ceremony Location: Central Park – North Garden

Wedding Reception Location: Gilt Restaurant

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

I wanted to elope and have just my husband and I, but James wanted a bigger wedding so we compromised that way. We were also thinking of cost. We were either going to have a regular wedding and invite more people or have a spectacular wedding and go all out and have fewer guests. We also wanted to do it in NY because it is our favorite city and we knew that a lot of people could not afford to come. We would not change a single thing. It was the best day of our lives and all our guests said it was the best wedding they have ever been to. We did everything based on the fact that we wanted our guests to live this moment with us and remember it forever. We wanted this to be as memorable for them as it was for us.

Continue reading Real Weddings: Isabelle & James’s NY Destination Wedding

I used to be quite smitten with Richard Gere, which is the sole reason I went to see a movie called Autumn in New York almost ten years ago.

I don’t remember much about the movie. I don’t even remember if I liked it. But I do remember that it filled me with desire; not just for the yummy leading man, but for the Big Apple itself.

 The movie’s breathtaking scenes of New York’s colorful tree lined streets and parks left me pining for it in a big way. 

When I heard about Elope NYC, I had instant flash backs of those gorgeous NY scenes. I got thinking about all of the brides out there who are looking for an inexpensive and romantic way to say ‘I do’ and I couldn’t help but think how incredible it would be to have an intimate, autumn wedding in NYC? One that was big on charm, but small on stress. Heck, any time of year would be fabulous to tie the knot in NY.

Whether you love the idea of having a destination wedding in NY, or you are a New York resident who is keen on a NY small wedding, you’ll want to check out Elope NYC.

Elope NYC is comprised of a husband and wife team (Liam’s a photographer and Judie is an officiant) who specialize in informal, intimate weddings. Most have less than 40 guests – but many have no guests at all.

“Most of our couples select a favorite park, B&B, restaurant, hotel, or private home for their ceremony, wedding portraits, and post-nuptials celebration.  These sites are far more romantic, beautiful, and even quaintly old-fashioned than traditional wedding venues,” explains Judie.

And no matter what type of ceremony you’re after (civil, spiritual, or non-denominational), Judie is your gal. Interested? Check out ElopeNYC.com for more info.

Photo One: Kiamoy.com; Photo Two – Five: ElopeNYC.com

Genesis, 28 & Kevin, 40

Paris, France

Wedding Date: December 31, 2008

Number of Guests: 2

Wedding Ceremony Location: Courtyard of The Plaza Athenée

Wedding Reception Location: The Plaza Athenée – Marie Antoinette Room

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

At the beginning of the wedding-planning process, we agreed that above all, we wanted our wedding day to honor our love.  We wanted to make sure we kept the day about our commitment to each other and about the love that we have for one another.  We wanted the day to be joyous and stress-free!  We wanted to combine both of us into the day and to have each moment of our day build upon the moment before; a blank canvas becoming our own little masterpiece. 

We began by planning a traditional wedding, but it didn’t take long for us to realize that we had lost sight of our above-mentioned goals. It was then that we refocused and decided that it would be best for us to have a private ceremony.

Continue reading Real Weddings: Genesis & Kevin’s Petite Wedding in Paris

Despite the recession, destination weddings are on the rise, says a recent National Post article. Why?

I was recently asked this question by a journalist for an article on destination weddings.

It’s pretty obvious that the biggest reason weddings away are taking off is the budget factor. Generally speaking, destination weddings cost less because there are less  guests. (The average amount of guests at a destination wedding is 48.) Less guests = less money. Plus, couples usually combine their wedding with their honeymoon which saves money.

Another reason for the increase is that the options for destination weddings have exploded in recent years . Many venues offer complete package deals that make life easy for couples who don’t want to invest the time in planning a wedding from scratch.

Also, couples love the idea of treating their guests to a good time. What better way than a destination wedding? Weddings away are big on fun and they allow couples to spend quality time with friends and family members in a shared experience that’s remembered for a lifetime.

Photo: Photography by Stacey, Amanda and Ben’s Cottage Destination Wedding

Want a contemporary NY wedding with lots of flair? Want an intimate NY wedding in a ‘wow’ setting? New York has plenty of ‘raw spaces’ that can be magically transformed for your wedding day.

Check out these unique NY wedding venues:

The Foundry

In the 19^th Century it was a foundry, now it’s on the list as one of the most interesting NY wedding venues. One look at the photos and you’ll see that it has been meticulously restored to retain its industrial character. Stunning proportions, adaptable to many uses, and available to rent for weddings up to 125 people for a seated meal.

The Foundry also has an adjacent courtyard, as well as a terrace, which features views of the Queensboro Bridge and Manhattan skyline.

Scandinavia House

When it comes to unique NY wedding venues,  Scandinavia House has of the most ideal settings for an intimate event.

Designed by the celebrated American architect James Stewart Polshek, Scandinavia House is a stunning modern building that puts Scandinavian culture on display with design materials and furnishings representing the five Nordic countries. Detailed with exquisite care, the cultural center reflects Scandinavia’s reputation for excellent craftsmanship and sophisticated design.

The building is located in mid-town Manhattan and is close to major New York landmarks.

Scandinavia House has a list of preferred caterers including Smörgås Chef, which manages a full service restaurant on our main floor.

Brooklyn Artists Gym

Brooklyn Artists Gym is an artist studio and gallery facility in the Park Slope/Gowanus area of Brooklyn, New York. The Brooklyn Artists Gym Gallery is available to rent for small weddings. The Gallery is approximately 900 square feet, with over 125 running feet of wall space.  There are over 60 adjustable lights, and the ceiling is 11 feet high.   There is also an adjacent 500 sq. ft room that can be used along with the gallery space for weddings.

Galapagos Art Space

This art space, located in Brooklyn has 1,600 square foot lake complete with island seating on the lake, a wrap around mezzanine with operatic ‘box-style’ seating is as romantic as they come.

Winner of a 2009 Building Brooklyn Award, and current nominee for the Municipal Art Society’s MASterwork Award, Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO is on target to become New York City’s first LEED certified ‘green’ cultural venue.

Spoke the Hub Re:Creation Center

Spoke the Hub Re:Creation Center, located in the heart of residential Park Slope, Brooklyn, serves as the company’s headquarters and main teaching center and its available for weddings.

Occupying two full floors of a typical Brooklyn brownstone, the main studio is approximately 16′ x 38′ and sports a sprung maple hardwood floor, mirrors, ballet barres, and a sound system that accommodates CD’s or iPod.

Ramscale

Ramscale is a 3,500 square ft. penthouse loft with a terrace that overlooks the Hudson River. It has 12 9 ft. x 4 ft. windows that offer breathtaking views of the harbor and lower Manhattan.

Divine Studio

If you’ve been looking for NY wedding venues that will wow your guests, check out Divine Studio. Divine Studio is a 300 square foot studio in the heart of Noho. The white expoxy floors, floor to ceiling arched windows and south and west daylight exposure make it a magical setting for a wedding. The space is like a blank canvas and can be transformed for intimate events.

Corey, 28 & Christopher, 33

Whalehead Beach in Corolla, NC

Wedding Date:  August 17, 2007

Number of Guests:  43

Wedding Cost: $25,000 (This does not include the cost of rental houses that were rented for all of the guests for the week). 

Wedding Ceremony Location:  On the beachfront in Whalehead Beach in Corolla, NC

Wedding Reception Location:  The Saltaire Event Home in Duck, NC

Why did you have an intimate wedding? 

Both my husband and I didn’t want the crowd of people that we’d be forced to invite if we stayed home and had a wedding.  We both wanted a small private affair with our closest friends and family.  My father had died a year before the wedding, my father-in-law also died the month before, so we were both glad that we planned it this way in the end. 

Continue reading Real Weddings: Corey and Christopher’s Beach Wedding in NC

Amanda, 24 & Ben, 26

Wedding Date: August 31, 2008

Number of Guests: 52

Wedding Ceremony Location: Family cottage, Lakeside Fairholm Island, Lake Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

Wedding Reception Location: Family cottage, also on Fairholm Island, Lake Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Before the wedding, I thought it was because of the budget and the size limitation of the venue. Looking back, though, the connection with our guests should have been the biggest reason. Even if money and space hadn’t been an issue, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

Most of the challenges were related to the fact that we were using a non-traditional venue. The cottage {it’s been in the bride’s mother’s family for more than 100 years!} just wasn’t set up for a large party. Also, it’s on an island, so everything (food, chairs, tables, dishes, staff, guests, decorations, and a rather large grill) had to be brought in by boat, which was no small task.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Yes and no. Yes, because of course there are people we would have liked to invite and couldn’t. But also no, because we were having a destination wedding (we live in Pennsylvania), so there were people who just would not have been able to make it.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Actually, we didn’t have many problems at all. We explained to our relatives early on in the planning process what guidelines we had set out – close friends and family only. Nobody really seemed to have a problem with our approach.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Ben’s vows. We had decided to write our own, and he absolutely blew me away. That, and the reaction of my youngest sister, who was one of my bridesmaids. She was apparently so overcome with emotion that she cried through the whole ceremony. Happy tears, though! Towards the end of the ceremony my father had to throw her a pack of tissues. Our videographer caught that moment on tape and it cracks me up.

What were the highlights of the reception?

A few things come to mind. Ben was intent on picking our first dance song and keeping it a secret. He surprised me with a compilation of ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and ‘Grow Old With You’ by Adam Sandler, from the movie ‘The Wedding Singer.’ It was sweet, silly, and perfect.

We used an mp3 player for the reception, and unfortunately had some technical difficulties when it came time for the father daughter dance. I was heartbroken that ‘Little Miss Magic’ by Jimmy Buffet refused to play. My twin sister came to the rescue as impromptu DJ and selected – of all things – ‘Sweet Emotion’ by Aerosmith. We ended up ad libbing and doing the mashed potato and the sprinkler instead of something more traditional. It was a great spontaneous and funny moment.

My favorite part of the reception, though, was the speeches. In addition to the usual best man and maid of honor speech, the microphone was passed around the room to many of our guests, who had touching stories and advice to share.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Being able to spend quality time with our closest friends and family, without running around and missing the chance to savor the occasion. It was amazing to have so many important people in our lives together in one place. We had everyone over the night before the wedding for a rehearsal dinner barbeque, where my grandfather gave a moving speech welcoming everyone to the island. Everyone got to meet and spend some time together before the wedding. Between the rehearsal dinner and the reception, I tried to spend as much time as possible with everyone, and I still could have used more time. I have no idea how people get to see anyone at large weddings!

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

You might get some flack for not inviting everyone you’ve ever met (and maybe some you haven’t met), but you won’t regret it. I know I don’t. That’s not to say that large celebrations are bad — if you want to have a huge wedding, go for it! Only you will know what kind of wedding you really want to have. Don’t let yourself get talked into inviting half the world if that’s not what you want.

Vendors:

Photographer: Photography by Stacey

Videographer: Starshine Videography

Catering: Dempsey Fine Catering

Muskoka Party Rentals

All Seasons Weddings

Photos: Photography by Stacey

Read more about this fantastic wedding over at dellastella.

This is the most detailed real wedding story I’ve received to date – and it was submitted by the groom! How refreshing! I detect so little groom involvement in the world of wedding planning – it’s so great to have a guy share so many thoughtful details about his wedding day.   I really appreciated that he took the time to provide lots of helpful insights and tips on planning a destination wedding. This is a great read for anyone planning a wedding away!  

Becky, 31 & Ryan, 32

Santa Catalina Island (aka Avalon, CA)

Wedding Date: August 12, 2008

Number of Guests:  71 at Ceremony & Reception; 58 on cruise

Wedding Cost: $20,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Landing (in the courtyard)

Wedding Reception Location: Ristorante Villa Portofino

Why did you have an intimate destination wedding?

Becky and I choose to have a destination wedding, and it goes without saying that having a destination wedding will result in an intimate wedding due to the fact that once travel is involved (at least in our case) many family and friends may just opt out of attending the wedding.

One of the reasons we opted for a destination wedding is that both Becky and I have been blessed with large, loving, kooky, fun families. And while both of us had met and developed relationships with each other’s family, none of our family members had met each other prior to the wedding, aside from my parents who had met Becky’s mom.

 Even though the time that we each spend with our own families is oftentimes quite limited, we both love and appreciate everyone and we wanted to share the most important people in our lives with our respective new families.

 Another reason is that Becky and I are at the age where we go to quite a few weddings each year. We see the same thing happen at so many weddings. Guests show up, head to the reception with a gift, eat and drink, and do the cake thing. Then they start asking themselves: “Do I stay for a dance or two or run home?  I have a baseball game tomorrow, a fishing trip, or yard work to do, etc.”

 What I am getting at is that we all have busy lives and oftentimes find ourselves counting down the minutes or hours, checking out our wrist watch over and over, until we leave the wedding reception.  With our minds consumed with our busy lives and schedules, do we really get a chance to enjoy and absorb the special moment?

I imagine many a time the bride and groom have trouble recalling who came and who didn’t until they check out their guest book and open wedding presents. We didn’t want that to happen to us!

 In fact, Becky and I are very blessed and have almost every “thing” we need.  In all actuality we didn’t want wedding presents. 

 Having our closest family members and friends “present” would be the greatest “present” we could ever ask for or that our family and friends could ever give!  We wanted the chance to spend time with each and every one of our guests.

 My  family has always been big into the holidays, having a big meal and spending time together. As I get older, (and yes, maybe more mature) I realize these are the things I cherish the most when I look back at my life.

 While I have received many a Christmas or birthday present over the years, I would be hard pressed to remember what they were or even who they were from.  What I do remember is all the laughter, the food, the conversation, and the hugs goodbye at the end of the night. Our lives may go their separate ways, but those hugs are always heartfelt and they mean the world to me.

  ”Things” break, rust, fade, and get lost, but the memories we make with family and friends are truly the only possessions we ever have that will last a lifetime.

 Becky and I wanted to make memories with each and every guest, with both our family and our friends that will last a lifetime.

 In the process of making us extremely happy, we wanted our guests to give themselves a present! They all deserve a treat, a vacation, or just a break from it all once in a while, and we wanted to help make sure that all of our guests got just that.

 So we said to everyone we invited: “Come vacation with us, attend our wedding, and make your own memories that will last a lifetime!”

 We really did put a ton of thought into our wedding event!  I think we found a way for everyone involved to share in the excitement of our big day, as well as have an exotic island adventure together in a very affordable way (less than $1000 per person for everything).

 As Becky and I sealed the deal, we really hoped that our wedding guests would consider stepping outside of their normal comfort zone, take a vacation with us, get to know all our wonderful family and friends, and make our wedding an adventure that we could all remember as one of the greatest vacations we’ve ever had.

 What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate destination wedding?

Getting 70+  people to plan for, to save for, and to book plane tickets and rooms/cruise reservations for a destination wedding will most likely take as much time and work as all of the rest of the wedding planning combined. 

Make sure you send out invitations as early as possible!

Becky created a personal website for our wedding 18 months prior to our big day. We sent monthly reminder emails for the 18 month duration to everyone who was invited. The emails provided helpful info to assist our guests in their travel plans. Getting everyone to secure their US passport in time for the wedding was another story all together.  We also worked very closely with our travel agent to come up with payment schedules, group pricing, as well as all the small travel details which we included in our monthly reminder emails. 

Then at the one year mark, we sent out our official wedding invitations and by this time we had a rough idea of who was serious about making the trek and who wasn’t

The key to it all is to remind your guests frequently about the wedding. Guests will procrastinate until they are scrambling to book their trip; to secure last minute funds; to find a roommate; to get their passports. You name it – if they can put it off until the last moment, they will.

Getting your guest there is half of the planning; the other half is all the details of the wedding and reception event.  Since we planned a destination wedding, we hired a wedding coordinator from the Catalina Island area.  She helped keep us on track. She gave us suggested vendors to work with, location advice, as well as helped us to create a general timeline for the wedding ceremony and reception.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It wasn’t as hard to pare down the guest list as we initially thought it would be.  First, we decided on how many people we could afford to have at our reception.  Then we made a list of all the relatives and friends we had to invite. On a separate list we wrote down the names of  friends and family members who we wanted to invite.

Like I stated earlier, when planning a destination wedding one can assume that many family and friends will opt out of attending.  Some of the guests we had to invite declined, so we were able to send out invitations to others that we wanted to invite.

It’s important to realize that some family members or friends that you really want to be there might not make the effort or plan to come to your wedding. One should be prepared to be a bit disappointed. But the way we looked at it is that those that were truly MEANT to be there were there.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Not really.  Our biggest issue was that some family members wanted to know why we had to be so different and have our wedding somewhere other than where we live.  We had to explain that while having the wedding in Seattle would have made planning for, or just attending the wedding easier and more accessible for those living in WA, we still had more than half of the invitees that would have had to travel from several states away as well as find lodging etc, which would cost more per person than the airfare and the cruise combined to our destination wedding.  We decided instead to make it fair: everyone that was going to attend our wedding event would have the same basic costs to plan and save for, and as I pointed out earlier, we made it known that we did not want wedding gifts from those that attended our wedding.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Well, firstly, it was just absolutely beautiful.  Our coordinator was invaluable in helping us pull together all the necessities for the ceremony.  And Becky planned out all the unique details. It was amazing!  Whether it was the parasols for all the ladies (which they loved especially in the sunny August weather), or the white silk lily clips scented with lily oil for all of the attending women’s hair (Becky and Blaze, a bridesmaid, made them), or the homemade Spanish themed handheld fans available for all the guests (another great addition for a hot day), all these small details and personal touches made the event extra special. But the highlight looking back was the two of us saying our own vows which we wrote ourselves. Not a dry eye in the crowd!

What were the highlights of the reception?

Once again, everything could not have been more perfect.  Other than the wedding party, there were no assigned seats, so guest could sit down with family or their new friends and have a wonderful dinner, along with an open bar.  There was an excellent acoustic guitarist playing flamenco style music to set the atmosphere as well. However, the most memorable part of the reception was just after the maid of honor and best man gave their toasts, and friend after friend, family member after family member, asked for the microphone. It was amazing to hear just how much of an impact we have made on our friends and families lives and how much we truly mean to them. It was a fantastic memory that Becky and I will always keep close to our hearts!

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing for us in having an intimate wedding was that we accomplished our main mission – which was to spend time with each and every person that came to our wedding.  While we would have loved to spend more time with many of the guests, we did get the chance to spend some personal time with each and everyone who attended our wedding event.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Have fun. It’s your day, so make yourself happy.  Do not worry about what other people want. In the end, doing it your way will be the most rewarding way to plan a wedding, and when you look back at your big day, it will have happened the way you dreamed it would.

Also, do not be afraid to cut costs.  We did not have a big bouquet of flowers on the tables; instead we opted for rose petals and candles. Also, Becky found a bargain dress and we had a cupcake tree instead of a large wedding cake.

One of the most important pieces of advice I have is to get the photographer you really want!  Our wedding photographer was by far our best and most important investment in our wedding.  We hired our photographers (www.geraldpope.com) and took them with us on our destination wedding cruise.  It wasn’t cheap, but they were definitely worth their weight in gold.  Becky and I get to look back at our pictures, moments forever captured, and relive that wonderful day again and again – not to mention they made us look like rock stars in all our pictures.  So our best advice is to cut costs everywhere you can so that you can afford to hire the photographer whose work you really connect with most.  Your photos are the one thing that you and everyone else will see and remember your special day with for the rest of your life.  Trust me – Auntie Jane might be trigger happy with her brandy new Canon Rebel, but she won’t take the same quality pictures as a professional.

Vendors:

Flowers: Bloom’s Floral Design Studio

Music: James Moody

Minister: Tim Mitchell

Ceremony Venue: The Landing

Reception Venue: Ristorante Villa Portofino

Videography: Alex Wenger,Happy Weng Productions

Cake: Rossmoor Pastries

Wedding Coordinator: Elizabeth Wenger

Photography: Gerald & Airika Pope

Travel Coordinator: Rod Schepper, Capitol Hill Travel

Bridesmaid Dresses: Moms, Maids & More

 Photos: Gerald and Airika Pope

When we first began planning our intimate wedding, we thought about a destination wedding. Scotland would have been our country of choice. Weddings away have always appealed to both of us. They seemed like the perfect way to combine both a vacation and a major life event.

Although we ended up having a wonderful at-home wedding instead,  I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like to have a destination wedding.

If this is something you are considering, realize that the planning process isn’t always as stress-free as some people in the wedding industry make it out to be. Weddings away don’t come without risk. One thing that wedding specialists suggest is that you make sure you either choose a location that you have already visited – or at least plan a visit before your wedding to ensure that the place lives up to your expectations. But that can be expensive.

If you’ve got plenty of good information on the location – which may include recommendations from other couples or travel agents, and you don’t mind taking risks, you might want to forgo the visit.

If Darin and I had planned a destination wedding in Scotland, there’s no way we would have made a preliminary trip to our chosen location. But I have been to Scotland before, and loved the beauty of the Highlands. We would have based our decision from extensive research via the Internet.

If the thought of eloping with only your nearest and dearest is appealing to you, make sure you start early.

It’s important to nail down a few possibilities early on. Some wedding specialists suggest that planning for weddings away should begin 6 months to one year in advance. The sooner you can start planning your wedding – the better. If you plan well in advance fewer places will be booked up, and you may be able to take advantage of cheaper prices on flights and lodging.

Planning ahead will also give you more time to spend on researching locations. And it will mean that your destination wedding guests will have plenty of notice so they can book vacation time and save up for the trip.

Once you’ve come up with a few possible locations, the next step is to find out about marriage laws in each region. In France, for instance, there is a 40-day residency requirement, whereas Jamaica only has a one-day residency requirement. Several Caribbean islands, on the other hand, have residency requirements from one to 10 days.

If you want to get married in Cancun, you and your sweetie will be required to submit blood tests taken within 15 days of your wedding, as well as copies of birth certificates or passports. Hawaii simply requires a driver’s license.

In the U.S., laws vary from state to state, so make sure you research the location and find out about its requirements. You can get information about what documents and health tests are needed by contacting the county’s marriage license bureau. Make sure you ask how long it will take for the paperwork to be processed.

Many resorts/hotels throughout the world provide wedding co-coordinators that will help you understand the region’s legalities, and some will even assist you in filing the required paperwork.

If you aren’t working with a wedding planner, you can find out information on your own by contacting the location’s tourist office, the country’s consulate or U.S Embassy. Some government websites also offer this information. Travel agents are another possible source.

The following are questions you should have answers for prior to deciding on a location for your destination wedding:

What types of documents are needed? Will they have to be translated and notarized? Are originals required, or are copies okay?

What type of proof do you need if you are divorced or widowed?

Is there a minimum residency requirement?

Are there any other waiting periods?

Are blood tests or other medical tests required? If so, does it matter if your own doctor takes them, or do you have to have them done in the country of marriage?

How many witnesses are required?

Are religious ceremonies considered legal, or must they be preceded by a civil ceremony? 

Photo: Kate Harrison Photography