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Caverswell Castle, England - fairytale venue

Wendy Davidson — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Receptions

For an idyllic and fairytale wedding venue you can't beat Caverswall Castle in Staffordshire, England. Built in 1275 by Sir William-de-Caverswall (who is mentioned in the legends of King Arthur's court) this is a location that will suit brides with a taste for romance, drama and splendour.

Available on an exclusive basis only, the castle is licensed for civil weddings and can accommodate up to 70 seated guests. Your reception can be held in the Dungeon rooms, which can hold up to 90 people, or for a smaller group the dining room can seat 22 people. There are also loads of gorgeous settings for magnificent photographs, including the castle battlements and an olde-worlde moat.

Your day doesn't have to end when the reception is over. Make like a medieval Princess and sleep over. There is accommodation for 22 people, including four turret cottages and seven superbly designed bedrooms, beautifully furnished in period style.

Rates for a days exclusive use range from around £3000 to about £5000. Contact the castle for more detailed information.

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Drakensberg, South Africa - Destination Wedding

Wendy Davidson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Destination Weddings

For couples who are looking for a destination wedding venue that combines spectacular beauty, adventure and value for money, the Drakensberg region of South Africa is an excellent choice. The Drakensberg (which means Dragon Mountain) is also known in Zulu as uKhahlamba (Barrier of Spears) and is one of the best eco-tourist destinations in South Africa, as well as being a World Heritage Site.

The awesome mountain range would make a stunning backdrop to a wedding. The area is steeped in history, stretching from the Stone Age through to the 19th century struggle to gain independence from the British. The Berg, as it's known locally, offers a myriad delights to visitors: peace and tranquility in splendid, magical surroundings, amazing outdoor activities, luxury accommodation and eating experiences that rival the best the world has to offer.

Because it's a mountainous area the weather can be extremely unpredictable and it's best to be prepared for diverse weather conditions. Snow has been experienced even in summer! Generally, though, summer (December to February) is very hot with ferocious, late afternoon thunderstorms. Winter (July-October) can be icy cold with snowfalls. Autumn and Spring are, of course, milder. Rain and mist can abound all year-round.

Gallery: Destination Wedding: Drakensberg, South Africa

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Getting married in Hawaii? Make sure you have your permits!

Kristen Seymour — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Negotiating Speed Bumps

The state of Hawaii is cracking down on beach weddings and, beginning August 1, will require all commercial weddings (meaning somebody is making a profit) to have proper permits. That means wedding planners, officiants, musicians, and others will need to have a permit in order to work your wedding.

People within the Hawaiian beach wedding industry are appalled, and concerned that the need for permits might take smaller companies and individuals right out of business. Beach weddings have been on the decline for the last year or two, and they fear this could be the nail in the coffin. There is a universally acknowledged need to work toward preserving the islands and the beaches, but the permits can be cost prohibitive because they aren't issued without proof of liability insurance plus the minimum $20 fee.

The government has stated that it will not halt any weddings as they are in progress, but it would still be a smart idea for anyone planning a Hawaiian wedding to double check with their vendors to make sure all bases are covered.

Gallery: Hawaiian Beach Weddings

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Destination Wedding: Vancouver, British Columbia

Meg Massie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Destination Weddings

Lots of American couples think of going south of the border for destination weddings and honeymoons, but it's just as lovely to the north -- maybe even lovelier in the summertime.

Vancouver, British Columbia is a popular tourist and wedding destination. It is the largest city in Western Canada, and certainly one of the most beautiful. It's also one of the most expensive cities in the world, so make sure your budget can handle it before you dive head first into a Vancouver wedding.

Compared to the rest of Canada, Vancouver has a relatively temperate and warm climate. Winters are chilly, sure, but rarely bitterly cold, with temperatures hardly ever more than a few degrees below freezing and very little snowfall. Summers are sunny and dry with moderate temperatures and calm sea breezes -- gorgeous wedding weather.

Gallery: Destination Wedding: Vancouver, BC

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Destination Wedding: Mount Rainier

Meg Massie — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Destination Weddings

The first time I ever saw Mount Rainier, I cried. I cannot imagine a more beautiful landscape than a giant, snow-covered mountain towering above a green valley below. The contrast is stunning, and I could stare at it all day.

You don't have to be a skier or a mountaineer to enjoy mountains (I am neither), and you'll find lots to enjoy at Rainier. At 14,410 feet, it is the tallest mountain in Washington and one of the tallest in all of North America -- and a lovely place to host a destination wedding.

It rains frequently at Mount Rainier and the surrounding areas, though July and August are the sunniest months of the year. No matter when you plan your Rainier wedding, be sure your plans can handle a little rain, because there's a good chance you'll get it.

Gallery: Destination Wedding: Mount Rainier

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Salma Hayek's $3.5 million wedding plans

Kristen Seymour — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrity Weddings, Destination Ceremonies, Over-the-Top Weddings, Celebrity

Salma Hayek announced her engagement to Francois-Henri Pinault last year, but rumors about the type of wedding the couple is planning haven't surfaced until now, and it sounds like this is going to be The Wedding to go to!

Francois-Henri says that it took him over a year to convince Salma to marry him, and now that she has agreed, he is sparing no expense. As the French boss of several main fashion houses (Gucci, Yves St. Laurent, and Balenciaga), he certainly has the money to give Salma whatever she wants, and apparently, what she wants is a five-day celebration in St. Tropez.

Gallery: The Many Looks of Salma Hayek

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Destination wedding: Palm Cove, Australia

Wendy Davidson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Destination Weddings

Australia is a wonderful choice for a destination wedding if you have a couple of weeks to enjoy at least a small part of this stunning country. Getting far, far away from everything can be very appealing for some couples, who want nothing more than to get married quietly, in an intimate and private ceremony, yet also somehow combine that with a bit of adventure.

Encompassing miles of pristine beaches, coral reefs, wild and untamed desert, modern cities and mysterious rain forests, Australia is an enticing playground. The key to making your time in Oz special is to select one area to visit and restrict yourself to it. The country is simply too vast to do everything at once, unless you can take at least two months out from your normal life, which will allow you to sample some of the highlights of the country.

Over on the East Coast you'll have a great chance to explore and experience the marvels of those fabulous beaches and the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Tropical Queensland's best kept secret is Palm Cove. It's a gorgeous beach front town that is perfect for weddings and honeymoons.

You could exchange your vows on a beautiful beach, shaded with exotic palm trees or take a deep breath and have an underwater wedding, or let go and fly high with an exciting hot air balloon ceremony. The weather is glorious and it's a peaceful, idyllic setting and you just cannot beat it for a destination wedding. It has everything.

Gallery: Destination Wedding:Palm Cove, Australia

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Jermaine Dupri wants Janet Jackson to commit

Kristen Seymour — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Celebrity Relationships, Celebrity

Janet Jackson has been dating producer Jermaine Dupri since 2002 with no thoughts of marriage -- she's been divorced twice already. However, Jermaine feels differently about getting legally hitched, and while he's not demanding marriage of Miss Jackson (assuming he's nasty), he has let her know that he's unhappy with her lack of commitment.

The singer has realized how important getting married is to her diminutive darling, and has agreed to focus on planning an intimate wedding when she finishes her tour this fall. A source told the National Enquirer, "They want a very simple wedding in Paris with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop. The wedding won't be extravagant, but they do want their families and friends to be there." You know, since Paris weddings with a major landmark as a background are never extravagant.

We're not sure we actually believe the rumors, but we do love Janet, so rest assured that if more comes of this, we'll let you know!

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Have an Old World wedding in Huntington Beach

Caroline Humphreys — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies

If lantern-lit cobblestone streets and quaint German village-style buildings is the perfect setting for your romantic wedding, consider the Old World village church in Huntington Beach, CA. About 5 miles from the coast, this beautiful Christian church welcomes up to 120 guests for your small wedding. Silk flower and altar decorations as well as a unity candle are provided. The Old World restaurant can provide the inside venue for a casual reception, or you can opt for the lovely outdoor gardens. The restaurant can also provide everything edible from hors d'oeuvres, to buffet or sit down meals, to the cake.

Gallery: Old World Village

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Footwear for your beach wedding weekend

Jennifer Canzoneri — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Destination Ceremonies, Bridal Beauty, Theme weddings

Even more than fruity drinks with paper umbrellas or sun-kissed skin, images of summer flip-flops are conjured in my head when I think of the beach. And what's a better accessory to pack in your suitcase than the perfect pair of flip-flops when you're traveling to a fun, beach wedding. Wherever the nuptials are being held -- from Fiji to Mexico to Cape Cod -- there will hopefully be sand to bury your toes in and a full weekend with which to enjoy the warmer weather and the flip-flops you brought along with you.

There are plenty of perfect flip-flops to match the sunny beach wedding at retail stores such as J. Crew and Ann Taylor and online shoe mega-stores like Zappos.com. Choose your favorite style, your favorite color and throw them in your carry-on to slip on as soon as you set foot in the beach town you're heading to.

The great thing about flip-flops is you can slip them off as soon as the sand is too tempting and throw them into any beach bag or purse. They are compact and perfect for carrying on your arm or donning on your feet. The choice is yours but with the fun styles in the gallery, it'll be impossible to resist the lure of summer's greatest footwear completely.

Gallery: beach wedding flip-flops

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Coleen and Wayne Rooney: Wedding of the decade?

Kristen Seymour — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrity Weddings, Destination Ceremonies, Over-the-Top Weddings, Celebrity

Well, if you've been keeping tabs on the wedding world at all, you've undoubtedly heard that Manchester United star Wayne Rooney married his high school sweetheart, Coleen McLoughlin this weekend in an amazingly elaborate wedding in Italy. Some are calling it the wedding of the decade, but not everyone is so impressed.

Many residents of elegant Portofino were outraged at the way the young couple came in and flashed their cash (and it was a lot of cash). And, at a time when many of their fellow Brits are having a hard time filling up a tank of gas to drive to work and back, folks felt that the couple should have held back on the excesses a bit.

Still, you have to be curious about the gowns. Yes, gowns, plural -- Coleen had three of them for her big day. But, since the couple signed an exclusive deal with OK! Magazine for the wedding photos, we won't get a good look until they're released online (unless we want to go to the grocery store and pick up a copy, but we're not that anxious).

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Destination Wedding: Cancun

Meg Massie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Destination Weddings

Cancun, Mexico is known for its beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and of course, weddings.

For now, Mexico is one of the few places left on Earth where the dollar is still relatively strong, so having your wedding in Cancun might even save you money as an alternative to a stateside wedding.

The Cancun climate is temperate year-round, with average temperatures in the 70s and 80s whenever you visit. Rainy season is from May through October, so plan for wetness and high humidity in these months. Winter months are generally more comfortable for travelers.

Gallery: Destination Wedding: Cancun

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Beach Wedding Decor: So many choices!

Kristen Seymour — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Destination Ceremonies, Flowers, Favors, Theme weddings

If you've decided to have a beach-themed wedding, you might think the tough decisions are behind you. After all, once you choose a theme, all the decorations should be easy peasy, right?

Here's the thing -- within the beach wedding genre, there are a plethora of sub-themes to choose from. You could opt to go with any one of them, or, in some cases, combine a couple of them to make your wedding uniquely yours. But first things first -- you have to decide which sub-themes best suit your personality.

As always, we're here to help. Just click the "Next" button to see some samples of different beachy themes. Before you know it, you'll have your wedding all planned!

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Let the destination trim your guest list

Jennifer Canzoneri — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Negotiating Speed Bumps, Relationships, Invitations, Budget Advice, Etiquette, Receptions, Ceremonies

One of the greatest stresses for any bride and groom is the matter of the guest list -- who to invite, who to leave off and who to constantly bump heads over. Capping the guest list is a wise financial choice as the headcount dictates the cost of many things. Just a few examples: most venues charge you for dinner (either sit-down or buffet) by the headcount, the cake is quoted to you by the headcount, the favors, the save-the-date cards and the invitations are all ordered with the headcount in mind. If you keep your guest list to a set amount, the costs will be cut across the board. It makes logical sense, but that doesn't make it any easier.

You want to invite everyone in your mutual address books, and sometimes just the families alone can add up to 50+ people. How do you make the hard decisions over who to include and who to, well, exclude?

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Beach Wedding Decor: Exotic and Tropical

Kristen Seymour — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Theme weddings

An exotic, tropical feel is especially perfect for anyone planning a destination beach wedding -- you and your guests have traveled quite a distance to not only have a beach themed wedding, but have a full beach experience.

Tropical fruits and flowers are the first step -- think of orchids, coconuts, and pineapples. Rich, bright colors and flowing fabrics will help to complete the look. If your wedding or reception is at night, consider using candlelight and landscaping lights to make it feel like you and your guests are in your own little world.

If you're really going for a tropical feel, make sure it comes across in your cuisine. Asian fusion is extremely popular, but you can also easily go more in the direction of Caribbean fare. And don't forget the tropical drinks -- yum!

Gallery: Beach Wedding Decor: Exotic and Tropical

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Two more airlines to charge for checked bags

Meg Massie — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Honeymoons, Destination Ceremonies, Budget Advice

Following American Airlines' lead, US Air and United Airlines have announced new fees to check luggage. Each of the airlines will charge $15 for the first checked bag. Most airlines have already instituted $25 fees for the second bag, and as of July 1, Southwest will be the only airline to allow two checked bags for free.

Airline industry experts expect to see more charges in the future as airlines struggle to keep up with rising fuel costs. In addition to the baggage fees, US Air will begin charging for all beverages served on its planes: $2 for all non-alcoholic drinks, and $7 for alcohol, which is up from $5.

As you prepare your wedding travel budget, be sure to figure in these extra fees. Pack as lightly as possible, bring some extra cash to cover any unexpected charges, and bring your own snacks.

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Wednesday wedding wrap-up: June 11, 2008

Kristen Seymour — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Honeymoons, Destination Ceremonies, Do-It-Yourself, Flowers, Music and Entertainment

Wednesday Wedding Wrap-up is a weekly roundup of highlights from the past week, covering wedding blogs and websites, reality TV, even particularly hot scoop right here at AisleDash. Think we missed something? Leave your favorite highlight in the comments!

Manolo for the Brides evaluates the pros and cons of a destination wedding. What, you thought getting married in an exotic location was without its flaws?

Bridalwave tosses around some alternative first dance songs, none of which made the cut for the couple in question, but it might give you some ideas.

Hostess with the Mostess has a fabulous idea for centerpieces -- blumeboxes with ribbons. You can personalize them in lots of different ways to ensure they're perfect for your wedding (and they're affordable and reusable, so give them to guests or take them home at the end!).

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Destination wedding: Gibraltar

Wendy Davidson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Destination Weddings

Usually, planning a destination wedding in a European country can be a bit of a headache. Often, there's a need for at least one of the bridal couple to establish residency, even if it's only for a few days. There may be also whole bunch of complicated legal requirements, documents might need to be translated into the country's language and then there's the language barrier itself. If it's stressful arranging a wedding in a language you speak, imagine how much more frustrating doing it in a language you barely speak.

But there's at least one European hotspot that is actually very appealing as a destination wedding venue, and that's Gibraltar. Located at the southernmost tip of Spain, Gibraltar is a British protectorate and as such, it's an English-speaking country. Which is a huge plus in it's favor.

Furthermore, there are no residency requirements for a wedding. In theory, you could request your wedding date only 24 hours in advance. Reality though, requires more time simply because it's a popular destination and as such, is booked up quite far in advance.

It's a lovely place for a wedding. So beautiful, in fact, that this is where John Lennon and Yoko Ono tied the knot, as well as Sean Connery and novelist Frederick Forsythe. A major advantage is that you could probably arrange the wedding yourself, without the need for a wedding planner. There are a few hotels that offer a wedding package, including the ceremony, so there wouldn't be too much for you to do, apart from organising the paperwork, which really isn't complicated.

Gallery: Destination Wedding:Gibraltar

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Jason Biggs planning second, not-so-secret wedding

Kristen Seymour — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrity Weddings, Destination Ceremonies, Celebrity

Over a month ago, Jason Biggs (the actor who did the unthinkable to an apple baked good in American Pie) married his girlfriend, Jenny Mollen, in a super-secret ceremony. Super-secret, meaning that not even the couple's families were invited to the City Hall nuptials.

The couple is reportedly planning on holding a second vow-swap later this year, this time in Napa Valley, surrounded by friends and family. Biggs' American Pie co-star, Alyson Hannigan says she's hoping to make it to the event. She seems happy to be invited, seeing as how she found out about his newlywed status via text message.

Jason and Jenny are expecting their first child this summer.

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Stylish beach wedding outfit by Karen Millen

Wendy Davidson — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Destination Ceremonies

If you've been invited to a destination beach wedding this summer, and are puzzling over what to wear then here's a nifty little number (£140) by Karen Millen that would work very well.

Made of printed jersey with a fun feather pattern, this is the perfect, crease-free solution to your packing and travelling dilemma. Not too dressy, with a funky, fun element, the dress features soft draping that gives it a subtle elegance. Team it with a stylish, dark green patent leather clutch purse and matching sexy sandals.

If the ceremony is being held on the beach itself, then either go barefoot across the sand or wear a pair of pretty flats, keeping the killer heels for the reception.

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