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You will soon be able to get married at sea on Norwegian Cruise Line starting this fall. The legal ceremonies at sea, which will be performed by the ship’s captain, are available on Norwegian Breakaway, Getaway, and Escape, according to company President and COO Andy Stuart. The company had initially offered legal wedding ceremonies only while the ship is docked in its embarkation port or in various destinations. All NCL weddings include a wedding planner and on-site coordinator. Legal same-sex ceremonies are also available at destinations where they are legally recognized. With starting prices at $2,199, the new wedding package includes the ceremony, bouquet and boutonniere, cake, champagne toast, bistro dinner for two, three bottles of wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, canapés delivered to stateroom, priority tendering and debarkation, and one hour of photography services, according to TravelPulse.com. Packages for onboard symbolic ceremonies conducted during days at sea are priced from $1,799 and includes the ceremony, bouquet of 12 ivory roses and matching boutonniere, pre-recorded music, six-inch cake, bottle of sparkling wine, champagne toast, an 8x10 photograph in engraved frame, keepsake certificate, and canapés and chocolate-covered strawberries delivered to stateroom, the website added. Couples can also partake in vow renewal ceremonies starting at $499, which include the ceremony performed by a ship’s officer, a red rose, a cake, champagne toast, an 8x10 framed photograph, certificate, and bottle of sparkling wine, chocolate-covered strawberries and canapés in stateroom. Click here for more details on Norwegian’s wedding options.

We tossed around the idea back and forth -- do we do a money dance at our wedding or not? Ironically it was my parents and my aunts and uncles who strongly said, "Yes, it's a tradition!" My family urged me that it was a custom at Filipino weddings. Of course, my hubby-to-be didn't balk at the thought of being pinned with bills by our guests. You get decorated with bills just for dancing with your guests? Heck yeah, he was all for it LOL. But there was always a feeling of guilt when we thought about the money that our guests were already spending (travel, lodging, vacation expenses, etc.) just to be a part of our special celebration. (By the way, I've dubbed these guilty feelings as "Destination Wedding Expense Guilt" aka DWEG syndrome -- it exists I tell you in the minds of brides and grooms, the struggle is real!) In the end, we decided to go ahead and do the money dance. But guess what? When it came down to the night of our wedding reception, we didn't do it. Why? Not because we let DWEG get to us, but rather, we were having so much fun just enjoying the night, we nixed a lot of wedding traditions -- no bouquet toss, no garter toss and no money dance. Instead we danced, drank and celebrated the night away. And ... IT. WAS. AWESOME! I say all this because sometimes we stress over every little detail that comes with the Wedding Day. And in the end, I promise you, none of it really even matters. What is ultimately important is that you celebrate the day and fill it with love, laughter and moments you'll always remember. Love your Wedding Day and enjoy it to the fullest -- this is the only tradition that truly matters Are you planning to do a Money Dance at your wedding? - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

Loverly and Splash have teamed up to offer brides free wedding websites designed to help keep them organized while also making wedding planning easier and fun as they approach their Big Day. The websites offer the ability to post wedding info, collect guests' addresses, take RSVPs, food orders, and share the couple’s love story. After the wedding, the platform can pull Instagram photos from the couple's designated hashtag so that the celebration's images can be found all in one place. The mobile-friendly, customizable websites are offered in five themes, keeping specific bride types in mind: modern, boho, vintage, classic and elegant. Brides can also add extra features to their sites by paying for upgrade options. To get started on a wedding website, powered by Splash and Loverly, click here.

When you're planning a destination wedding, picking the right kind of wedding favor to give your guests can sometimes be challenging. Here are a few simple but important tips to keep in mind when you're trying to decide the perfect way to let your guests know you appreciate their presence with a present. 1. Pick a favor that is somehow tied to the area where you're getting married. Give your wedding an extra special touch by choosing favors that are local. For instance, if you're getting married Mexico consider giving beautiful maracas from one of the local shops. Or maybe a bottle of hot sauce or tequila to give a nod to the local flavors. Perhaps you're tying the knot in a beach town, how about seashells or starfish purchased from a local vendor? What makes your wedding unlike any other is the location you've chosen, celebrate that uniqueness and think "local." 2. If at all possible, purchase your favors at your destination location. With most airlines charging the extra fees for baggage, buying your favors once you get to your location (or having your wedding planner do so in advance), can save you a ton because you don't have to worry about shipping or traveling with your little trinkets. You also don't have to worry about any hassle when you enter customs if you're coming in from another country. And of course, the locals will love you because you're also helping boost the area's economy, which is always a welcomed gesture! 3. Pick a favor that offers a dual purpose. While I have loved the little picture frames and inscribed gifts I've received as a guest at past weddings, the best favors were always those I could use almost immediately. If your wedding is going to take place in a sunny and warm area, think about gifting a handfan that could also serve as the holder of your ceremony program (extra points for being a super multipurpose example!!). Or perhaps give away flip flops if your ceremony is taking place on the beach so your guests can get comfy -- these will also come in handy for achy feet, during the dancing at your reception! A parasol is another great idea if your celebration is taking place in the hot sun, and I can guarantee your guests will LOVE you for it! Another great gift especially for your female guests is a shoulder wrap to keep them warm if you expect the festivities to carry on deep into the night. 4. Consider an edible favor. I think the one thing every bride and groom hates to see is a favor that is forgotten or goes unused because that's just money down the drain. But if you're gifting something edible, there's a good chance, something that's tasty, won't go to waste. Perhaps your destination is known for its yummy candies or a delicious cookie. For my wedding, the local bakery was well-known for its cakes. So instead of a big giant wedding cake, we had cupcakes made in different flavors along with little to-go boxes and our guests LOVED them! And of course, we didn't mind that there were leftovers because we got to enjoy cupcakes for the rest of our two week stay. (I think my personal trainer back home was the only one who thought this favor was a bad idea hahahahaha ). 5. Last but not least, be practical and don't break the bank. Don't go crazy on wedding favors and stay within your budget. I know as destination brides, we sometimes experience a little guilt that our guests have spent so much time and money traveling to our weddings that we often try to make up for it by giving them the sun, the moon and the stars to say thank you. But remember, if they didn't want to be there, they wouldn't be. Show your gratitude by spending time with your guests, making great memories together and letting them know how much you appreciate them being there. The best gift you can ever give is time. - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. Since 2010, I have been the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

One of the decisions brides often make early in the planning process is choosing their wedding colors. After all, one's color palette plays a huge role in setting the tone of a wedding in terms of attire and decor. Back when I was planning my wedding -- almost 6 years ago -- I remember stopping by Home Depot's paint section and perusing through the color swatches. After basically camping out in the paint section for hours and drowning in swatches, my sweetheart and I chose a very earthy combo of ivory, canary, taupe, terra cotta and accents of red for our Wedding. Luckily couples today can save a trip to the paint section and opt for one of several online tools to create and test color combos to see what works best for their Big Day. Here are a few popular websites that can help you create the perfect palette for your Wedding Day. Colour Lovers Kuler Color Palette FX Big Huge Labs NearlyWeds Wedding Color Chooser Brides.com Color Studio How did you pick you wedding color palette? - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. I am the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife Wedding & Portrait Photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.

The holidays are a big time for engagements, so in honor of many of you getting engaged over Christmas and New Year’s and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner we wanted to put together a quick guide on what to do next. Since you’re here, you have probably decided to have a destination wedding. Congratulations! Now that you’ve made that all-important first step, you may have a ton of questions, like “where do I start?” “How do I choose a resort?” “How can I plan a wedding in a place I’ve never been?” “How can I have a fabulous destination wedding for less than $10,000?” and more. You’ll quickly learn that the internet is going to be your best friend while planning, and to make things even easier, we’ve created a list of the top 5 online resources for planning your destination wedding. From advice to inspiration to budgets, we’ve got it all covered here! Just please don’t blame us if you don’t see your friends or family for a while because you’re having too much fun browsing these sites. 1. Best Destination Wedding Well the good news is you’re already here, so kudos to you for being well on your way to planning the destination wedding of your dreams! This site is an amazing resource for all destination brides, particularly those who won’t be visiting their venue prior to the Big Day. BDW takes the guesswork and fear out of planning a wedding from thousands of miles away by enabling brides to get firsthand experience and advice from other brides. You can share tips, tricks, templates, do’s, don’ts and everything in between. We dare you not to spend hours on here each week. 2. Pinterest/Etsy Confession time: some of us at BDW* started wedding inspiration boards on Pinterest several months before we were officially engaged. Sure, we were worried that our friends would think we were crazy and presumptuous, but that didn’t stop us. If you’re in the same boat, or even if you’re officially engaged, Pinterest is a mecca for wedding inspiration. If you’re willing to put in the time (and you will be, it’s addictive), you can create amazingly curated wedding inspiration boards and plan your wedding to the finest detail. We’re talking dress ideas, photography inspiration for your engagement and wedding photos, stationery ideas, food/menu suggestions, and décor ideas times a million. Plus, BDW has a piece of the Pinterest pie and is now pinning, so don’t forget to follow BDW on Pinterest. Let us now introduce you to Pinterest’s cousin, Etsy. If you see something on Pinterest, the odds are good there’s a vendor on Etsy who sells that particular item. If Pinterest is the inspiration, Etsy is the execution. Search for what you’re looking for or just get lost by starting in the weddings section and seeing where it takes you. 3. Wedding Chicks If you’re planning a destination wedding, chances are you’re going to be DIYing at least some aspects, whether it’s stationery, bouquets or décor. Wedding Chicks offers inspiration and ideas for all of the above plus the usual wedding blog fare like sections on vendors and real weddings. But what we’re really swooning over are the amazing free downloads and printables. Choose from several patterns to create a coordinated suite of paper items including monograms, save the dates, invitations, escort cards, menus and more. Did we mention it’s FREE?! 4. Martha Stewart Weddings You’re not a dummy. You’re probably already familiar with crafting and wedding queen Martha Stewart. Whether you’re getting married in your hometown or on a sandy tropical beach, Martha Stewart Weddings is a staple for brides, and with good reason. We love her ideas, free clip art and templates and just the general Martha-ness of it all, but what keeps us going back is her Destination Wedding section where you can view gorgeous pictures and information from other destination brides. You can even browse by geographical area, so if you’re still trying to choose a location, check out a few real weddings from different areas to help you make your choice! 5.The Budget Savvy Bride Did you know the average wedding now costs over $25,000? With many brides turning to destination weddings as a cost-cutting measure (not having to invite everyone you know is just icing on the cake!), this blog can help you bring down your overall budget even further. They offer several great tips on how to save money through DIY (did you know you can design and engineer your own uplighting? Yeah, neither did we!), tips from former brides who’ve planned weddings on a budget (you can even browse by wedding budget if you have a strict maximum) as well as coupons, deals and discounts that you can use on things you’ll need for your wedding. There you have it—our top 5 picks for online resources to plan your destination wedding. We’d love to hear your input too! Did we forget a site that’s been key in your planning? Let us know! Also, if you have a holiday engagement story, don’t forget to share it in the forums! *OK it was me. And no, none of my friends/Pinterest followers believed that my “party” board was just for parties.

Let's face it, for a lot of people, pets are simply a part of our families. They are part of our every day home life, they are there with you to enjoy the holidays, they are there to share special milestones and they are truly the best snuggle partners when you're having a rough day. But what happens when you're having a destination wedding? It's obviously a lot tougher to make your fur baby a part of your Big Day. Here are a few ways you can make your beloved pet a part of the wedding festivities even when you're thousands of miles away from home. Use your pet in your proposal. Obviously, this is something you have to do before you even start thinking "destination wedding." But consider making your fur baby the bearer of the big question, by having him/her carry the proposal note. (Check out this adorable example!) Include your fur baby in some of your engagement photos. Yes engagement sessions are special because they capture the excitement and love you and your sweetheart share leading up to the Big Day. But why not include your pet in some of your photos? After all, a marriage is the bonding of two families right? Consider doing your engagement session in a location where pets are welcomed. But also run this idea by your photographer first, so if need be, you can make proper arrangements to accommodate your furry model And make sure you have a friend on standby to watch your pet once he/she is done being in front of the camera. Showcase your favorite framed photo of your pet at your Wedding reception. Maybe it's a photo from your engagement session (see suggestion above) or perhaps it's a photograph of your fur baby all dressed up. Put that beautiful photo on display at the party and know in your heart your little guy is there in spirit celebrating with you! Include your pet in your vows. I love this idea from Pawnation.com! "If you want your guests to know how important your dog is to you and your spouse, add a few lines into the vows. This is an easy and touching way to show that the bridge and groom see their pet as part of their special bond." Create a pet-themed Wedding cake topper. Add your dog or cat to your wedding cake by way of a custom wedding topper! Check out these amazing pet-themed cake toppers on Pinterest. Click here for cake toppers that include the bride and groom and your adorable pet! Did you include your pet in your Wedding? Please share your ideas, experience and/or photos with us! - - - About me: I am a former BDW Bride AKA as MarieSam and was addicted to this forum as I planned my own wedding in 2009. I am the proud owner of MarieSam Sanchez Photography -- a husband and wife Wedding & Portrait Photography team based in Southern California and documenting love all over the world.