Wacky Wedding Planner

Costa Rican Rentals

I posted briefly about my upcoming trip to Costa Rica in early November but haven't followed up with details or photos because I was anxiously awaiting receipt of the professional photos of the talented Corbin Gurkin. First off my sincerest thanks to our host, Heather Mahaffey of Costa Rican Rentals and Lisa Light of Destination Bride who made this trip possible.

Planners from various parts of the US met in Costa Rica to tour the private luxury villas of Costa Rican Rentals and to learn about the Guancaste Region of Costa Rica. Ashley Baber of Ashley Baber Weddings in Atlanta, Annie Lee of Daughter of Design in New York, Ivy Robinson of Ivy Robinson Weddings & Events in North Carolina and of course Lisa and myself all met at Villa Presciosa one afternoon for a little friendly tabletop design challenge. We were to design a table that could be used for a wedding in Costa Rica.

Lisa Hoffman Johnson of CC New York provided the inspiration for our tables by donating exquisite invitations, menus and place cards she had created for clients. We worked with local florals and decor to completely customize individualized theme tables and although we had to take a break for a few rain delays, the results exceeded my expectations.  

Here are some of the images from my table created from sea glass.  To see images of all the table tops, check out Corbin's website.

Destination Wedding Tips from the Planners Perspective

Recently I was asked to speak before our local Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) about destination wedding planning.  I prepared my first ever PowerPoint presentation and was pleasantly surprised at how easy and enjoyable this experience turned out to be.  Even though the night of the meeting was cold and rainy, attendance was higher than usual.

The meeting was held at the Westin Galleria in Edina and our gracious hostess, Julie Broder helped to make the evening perfect with fabulous foods and pleasant accommodations.  I learned quite a bit about their new hotel and have it on my radar as a preferred venue.

Since 2006 Fete Perfection has steadily grown in the destination wedding market having successfully planned and coordinated our first destination wedding at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, MN - yes Grand View qualifies as a destination since the distance is over 150 miles which required 3 hours of travel, plus everyone was from out of town.

Since that very first wedding we have learned an awful lot about destination weddings and hopefully what I have to share will inspire you to either jump into this growing market or if you are a bride, plan your own destination wedding - with the help of Fete Perfection, of course!

Here is my best advice which applies to brides as well as planners:

1. Scouting locations is a must.  Don't rely on websites - they are biased and don't tell the whole story.
2. Contact the local Convention and Visitors Bureau for venue recommendations, assistance in securing discounted accommodations during your travels, member contacts who want your business and even personally guided tours while you are visiting locations.
3. When conducting your scouting trip, stay at least one night in each hotel being considered as your "host hotel" to observe the hotel from a guest perspective rather than just a 30 minute walk-through.
4. Read online reviews of the properties being considered.  Trip Advisor and Hotels all have reviews on their websites.  Trip Advisor tends to have more comprehensive reviews, but check out both.
5. Contact a trusted travel agent for their first hand experience - part of their business as a travel expert is attending Familiarization Tours of dozens of properties every year. They also have access to special airfares the general public does not.
6. Contact a local ABC member for advice and recommendations.  Other ABC members are usually very cooperative with each other and willing to share information with colleagues.
7. Consider a mid-week wedding - rental fees and minimums are less expensive than on Saturdays, the most popular day to marry.
8. Consider bringing a local photographer to your destination wedding, especially one who is trying to break into the destination market. Your photographer may be wiling to discount their usual pricing since they do not usually shoot mid-week weddings.
9. Buy wedding insurance - Wedsafe is a trust company offering reimbursements should almost any disaster strike -if the wedding is called off, however, there is no reimbursement for deposits and payments.
10. I've saved the best for last - consider Fete Perfection, your destination wedding specialist for all your planning needs - we even conduct site inspections for couples who are too busy to travel.

I hope this helps and if you have tips not mentioned, feel free to comment - we love your input.

Wedding Inspiration & Designs

The week of November 1 I will be traveling to Costa Rica for site inspections and to participate in a tabletop design photo shoot. I was immediately interested but worried about the logistics of decor and accessories being available, however after having about ten days to mull it over, tear through wedding magazines, books and online images I did agree.

Of course the tabletop design has to be wedding related and pertinent to weddings in Costa Rica. I did not want the obvious or "Clichéd" themes of shells, sand, flip flops etc so started researching Costa Rica and its culture.  Several broad ideas came to mind such as Rain Forest, Eco-System and native birds such as the Macaw.  My initial choice was then narrowed to the macaw and creating a table full of lush vibrant colors such as ocean blue, red and lime green seemed fairly simple.

While it is easy to see ideas in your mind, creating the idea in living color with texture and dimension is much more difficult.  I worked several days on pulling the Macaw theme together but it always boiled down to the one final element that said "Macaw" and unfortunately that meant a fake bird.  While the table linens, base plates, napkins, candles and other details were great together, adding the fake bird made everything look like a circus. Here's a photo of my initial inspiration.

Frustrated, I was ready to give up but as luck would have it, I came across a story in the travel section of our Sunday paper about sea glass.  That sparked new interest and design ideas and after additional research, shopping trips and consultations with my graphic designer, I think I'm ready to head to Costa Rica. Getting there is going to be interesting, especially since I'll be bringing an entire suitcase filled with colored glass, decor, centerpieces, linens and votives but I'm hoping my frequent flyer status on Northwest will get them to look the other way when it comes to an over-sized luggage.

So the moral of the story for anyone who may have hit a design block, stop looking at wedding inspiration boards, wedding blogs and wedding books.  Inspiration may hit where you least expect it.  Here is my inspiration found by reading the news.  Good luck and let me know if Fete Perfection can help you get over your design block.

. Photo courtesy of Sea Glass Blog - thank you.

Destination Italy - part II

My travels to Italy were a resounding success having located three venues for the three events my destination couple is hosting next September, 2010.  We specifically looked for a restaurant for the first evening event which we call the "welcome to Italy" dinner.  The following afternoon we're off to wine tasting in the Chianti region and finally the main event, their wedding in a castle dating back to 1000 AD - wow, what a dream venue.

We concentrated our search to only two medieval towns in the Tuscany, Siena and San Gimignano and ended up in the San Gimignano area. 

Here's the view of San Gimignano from my hotel room.

This is another view from my hotel room on our last day.

Their version of a farmers music right in the central square of San Gimignano.

Here's one of the castle's we considered but didn't book.
And here is the castle that will be the wedding venue next September, 2010.

Enjoy the photos and please let me know if you are considering a wedding in Italy or other European country, Fete Perfection can help you locate and plan the destination wedding of your dreams.

Weddings in Italy

I recently returned from touring wedding venues in Siena & San Gimignano, Italy and want to share my experiences for wedding planning in the Tuscany Region.  This was an incredible experience for not only me, but the couple who is planning their 2010 wedding.  The advantages are limitless and the options are many. 

1. History and architecture in most of Italy which cannot be found in the U.S.
2. There are very affordable yet exotic venues such as villas, castles, wineries, private estates or hotels and restaurants with character and ambiance.
3. Family owned properties versus corporation owned means personalized service and attention.
4. Breathtaking scenery
5. Affordable, delectable menu options
6. Fabulous wines and olive oils
7. Friendly people who speak the most beautiful language in the world
8. Numerous options for accommodations
9. Less need for elaborate designs and decor since the setting itself is dramatic and stunning
10. A wedding in Italy will be an event to remember for couples and their guests

I'll post some of my favorite photos in the next post but in the meantime, if you have ever considered a destination wedding in Italy, contact me, Amy Rubins Certified Destination Specialist at Fete Perfection.

Destination Weddings in Europe

Fete Perfection is pleased to announce the expansion of our destination wedding planning to Europe.  Over the past three years we have focused our services in the areas of Mexico, the Caribbean and United States however due to an increase in popular demand we have decided to officially explore new territories and "boldly go where no man has gone before"...wait, isn't that science fiction...anyway for us it is a bold new adventure and we are welcoming the opportunities that lie ahead.

Our first official destination is to the romantic Tuscan region of Italy where we will be exploring Siena and San Gimignano, two medieval cities known for their history, architecture and hospitality.  We are fortunate to have many connections to this area through our colleagues in ABC (Association of Bridal Consultations) and will look forward to their guidance and friendship in the years to come.

Here are a few photos from the area which I borrowed off the internet, however when I return in October, I will post my own photos which hopefully will look as amazing as these.

For anyone considering a destination wedding in Italy, France, Ireland or any other European country, give Amy Rubins at Fete Perfection a call.  We would love to see how we can help you realize the destination wedding of your dreams.  

These images are of parts of San Gimignano

These images are from Siena, Italy

Destination Weddings - Budget Saving Tips

Why do destination weddings typically cost 40% less than the average local wedding?  Because, guest lists are typically much lower than local weddings.  I've had couples invite 150 guests but have 48 to 60 attend. Destination weddings by nature are smaller, intimate affairs and even though there are several events associated with the wedding, the savings can still be substantial.  Here are my suggestions for additional savings:

1. Plan your wedding in the off-season. Hotels and resorts greatly discount rooms to keep occupancy up. Personally, I love summer in the Caribbean because beaches are less crowded, the water is warmer and airfares are drastically reduced.  Great properties are willing to offer complimentary room upgrades as good public relations and wedding couples will often receive VIP treatment.
2. If you really want to leave the cold and snow be flexible with the month and week of your wedding.  For example, once you have narrowed your search down to two or three venues, make sure you let your sales managers know that you are willing to have your wedding during their slower weeks. Spring break or Easter is not slow time for destinations, but shortly after New Years, many resorts see a drastic decline in occupancy. 
3. Have a mid-week wedding.  Why not arrive on Sunday, get your legalities finalized on Monday, host a welcome reception on Tuesday, take a day off and then get married on Thursday?  Room rentals may be lowered or waived and food and beverage minimums are drastically reduced making your dream venue affordable on Thursday but out of reach on Saturday.
4. Use simple local decor for centerpieces - afterall isn't the ambiance for your wedding, the destination itself?
5. Hire live local entertainment.  Typically they charge up to 75% less than bands at home.
6. Make your food and beverage a cultural experience.  Find out what foods & beverages your destination is known for. Both will be more affordable, if it's abundant and easy to prepare.  It certainly will be fresher and offers a genuine local experience to your guests.
7. Wedding groups means revenue to properties.  Negotiate complimentary breakfasts or cocktail hour as an add-on for your guests.
8. Most couples host their wedding at the venue in which they are residing, therefore no transportation costs.
9. Bring your own photographer.  There are many excellent photographers wishing to break into destination weddings and will charge minimal fees or ask that their expenses are paid in order to gain experience and add to their portfolio.
10. Work with an experienced destination wedding specialist who already has all the resources and contacts at their fingertips.  This will save numerous phone calls and frustrations especially if you aren't used to "island" time. Also, they will have researched and read reviews of area destination weddings and can sort out "cookie cutter" weddings from those that truly are one-of-a-kind.
11. Contact the local Department of Tourism or Convention Bureau.  They can provide complimentary maps, entertainment guides and gifts for you to provide to your guests in their "welcome to our wedding" bags.
12. Consider VRBO or Vacation Rentals By Owner for weddings of 10 to 35 guests.  They offer fantastic, private accommodations usually under one roof, complete with housekeeping and private chef services.  These are private luxury homes or villas found all over the world.  I am a big fan of VRBO and have used this resource for my own family vacations.

Most guests appreciate the opportunity to plan their budget so they can make your destination wedding a vacation, so send Save-the-date invitations as early as possible and start working on a timeline.  What's a destination timeline like?  That's next...

Sherwood Forest and VADA Photography

My team from Fete Perfection and I were fortunate to be able to plan and coordinate another beautiful wedding at Sherwood Forest in Nisswa, MN.  Sherwood is the fine-dining restaurant owned by Grand View Lodge.  It's close to one hundred years old and so stunning with all its rough-hewn-peeled-log architecture and hand-laid two-story fireplace.

This was a great wedding in that the brides mother had fabulous instincts and design ideas that pulled together beautifully.  We brought linens from Linen Effects with us along with over 600 white chargers and red salad/dessert plates from Aarcee Classic Events. We used granny smith apples and lots of wrought iron and candlelight to pull everything together to complete the look of timeless elegance.

The couple was very adventurous and had all sorts of plans to depart the reception which, unfortunately, dampened the day but not their spirts.  They left in a small float plane immediately following their afternoon reception and flew off into the wild blue yonder.

The best part however was working with  one of my favorite photographer Biff Ulm of Vada Photography.  Biff has an eye for capturing details, emotion and personalities like no other. Click here to see the sneak peak of photos posted on Biff's blog.

We so enjoyed every element of Carolyn and Jeremy's wedding, thank you to the family for giving up the opportunity to be a part of such a special day.

Site Inspections - Puerto Rico

Planning destination weddings is not without it's challenges - but one of the best and most rewarding aspects is successfully conducting site inspections with great new couples and locating their perfect venue.  A venue that meets the needs of both bride and groom. 

I just returned from Puerto Rico after scouting locations in and surrounding the San Juan area and want to share a surprisingly affordable, yet incredibly romantic location in Old San Juan the El Convento Hotel a member of the Small Luxury Hotel Collection of the World.

El Convento began as a Carmelite Convent over 350 years ago and now houses 58 luxuriously appointed rooms, four restaurants, an open-air European-Style slate courtyard and seven unique and versitile meeting spaces. If the surroundings don't wow you, the menu options and pricing will.  Everything El Convento has to offer completely meets the needs of my couple so we are all feeling like...mission accomplished.

Check out their website or give me a call for more information.

Do You Have What it Takes?

I've been following Alison Events blog for quite some time now enjoying her travels scouting new and exciting locations for weddings. You see  Alison Events specializes in Destination Weddings as we do at Fete Perfection.  While I would love to travel for the sake of travel, I usually have a purpose for my trips which is to attend educational conferences or scout new locations or if I am especially lucky, both at the same time.

Alison recently posted "Are you Destined for a Destination Wedding?" and I think it deserves re-posting so here goes for those couples on the fence about a destination wedding...

Are You Destined For A Destination Wedding Quiz:


When it comes to travel:
a) I can take it or leave it; I usually just travel for work or fly home to visit my parents.
b) It’s a lot of trouble, but it’s almost always worth it.
c) I’ll go anywhere, anytime: What’s life if not an adventure?

When it comes to my wedding, I want:
a) Perfection over adventure; everything should go off without a hitch.
b) Something more unique, even if it means sacrificing control.
c) An event that people will remember forever—a real adventure!

When I picture who will be at my wedding:
a) It’s my special day, and I want to be surrounded by tons of friends, family, and co-workers.
b) I have a list of must-have guests, and the rest are just icing on the wedding cake.
c) I want a small, intimate wedding with a select group of people we’re closest to.

My family and my fiancé’s family:
a) Get along great and live in the same state or even town.
b) Have met before and live in the same approximate part of the country.
c) Don’t really know each other and live a million miles apart.

Which of the following describes your feelings:
a) It’s important to follow tradition if you want your wedding to be meaningful.
b) It’s important to strike the right balance of respecting tradition while doing your own thing.
c) It’s important to be unique if you want your wedding to be memorable.

I want my wedding to be:
a) A one- or two-day event where I can visit with people at the reception, then get on with my honeymoon.
b) A several-day event where I can have more than one opportunity to visit with my guests.
c) A group vacation where everyone can really get to know each other and I can spend quality time with everyone.

For my honeymoon, I’d rather:
a) Sneak away where no one has any idea where we are or how to find us.
b) Have the option of seeing other people if we want.
c) Hang out with my friends and family and still be able to sneak off at the end of the day.

My guest list is made up of people who:
a) Are elderly, don’t like to travel, are on a fixed income, and have to be there or my day will be ruined.
b) A lot of friends, but also a lot of people whose feelings I don’t want to hurt.
c) People who will come no matter where I have the wedding.

When things go wrong:
a) It ruins everything, including my day.
b) I’m pretty good at rolling with the punches.
c) I think, “This will make a great story someday!”


There are no right or wrong answers, but, generally speaking, if you have:

Mostly A’s:

Proceed with caution. Odds are, you’re inspired more by a particular location than just the idea of a destination wedding. To pull it off, you might have to make some sacrifices; this book can help you decide whether the rewards will outweigh the drawbacks.

Mostly B’s:

There’s a good chance you’ll love having a destination wedding. There might be a couple of trade-offs, but in the end, it will be absolutely worthwhile.


Mostly C’s:

Start packing! You’re the perfect candidate for a destination wedding!


By the way, the book she references is her own recent publication called "Destination Weddings; The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding from Afar" - looks like a new book I'll be purchasing for my own library.  Thank you Alison for this informative and insightful tool.

I was Invited!!!

I received a special invitation to The Wedding Salon 4PM Events in New York and since I'm starstruck by Colin Cowie AND David Tutera, I accepted their invitation.  Granted it's a turnaround trip; in one day and home the next but I plan on making the most of every thrilling minute.  Hmmm wonder where Carrie lives???

The Wedding Salon is the world's first luxury wedding showcase featuring must-have products and services for the sophisticated bride and groom.  I had the good fortune of hobnobbing with these uber- talented folks when I attended Engage:08 The Encore symposium last fall and apparently they remembered me!  I'll have a chance to say hi to my old friend Sylvia Weinstock whom I also met last fall - OMG all this namedropping...for shame...for shame.

The event will feature every aspect of a wedding, including ceremony area, live music, and ballroom dancing. Guests can sample dishes from leading caterers in a true wedding-reception environment. Tables will be set by the finest florists, designers, and tableware companies. The Bridal Suite will feature gowns, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories, while the Groom's Lounge will offer categories of interest to grooms.

Gotta go shopping NOW!  JJill just won't cut it in one of the fashion capitols of the world.

Pro Pic's from Puerto Vallarta

At long last the photos from Laura & Peter's wedding in Puerto Vallarta {Vallarta} as the natives call it, are in.  Although there are tons of great photos, these are some of my favorites.  Thanks to Laura and Peter for letting me post these and more importantly for giving me the opportunity to help them plan and coordinate their wonderful wedding for those several days in January, 2009.

Special thanks to Paulina Ulloa for the great photos, Rocco Troyani for the beautiful floral and decor, Abigail Duenas of the Westin for all her patience and friendship and  to the family and friends of Peter and Laura's who made me feel at part of their family.

I love Disney Weddings

I have been in Orlando this week for the third of four planning meetings with the wedding pros at Disney Weddings and just want to spread the word that I LOVE LOVE LOVE working with the happiest folks on earth at the happiest place on earth.

We have had three tastings this week for each of the major events, the welcome dinner Luau party, a girls only Tea Party and of course the main event, the wedding reception.  Every bit of food is a work of art with careful attention to presentation as much as taste and flavors.  The Executive Chef and his talented team of assistants join us for questions, suggestions and other menu ideas.  We've also had some fun with the Executive Pastry Chef designing a theme cake.  With every suggestion or change to the menu, the staff enthusiastically makes the change or special request.

We've also met with the design team putting together the David Tutera Couture Collection for the wedding day.  These wonderful ladies clearly love what they do and it shows in their smiles and warmth.  They have a knack for capturing the brides vision along with her dreams and turn these dreams into reality.

Disney has a team for every aspect of weddings including entertainment.  Our couple wants various Disney characters to make an appearance at many of our events, so we have also been meeting the entertainment team for options and schedule coordination.  I can't wait to see this all come together in just a few more months.

None of this would happen without the help of the entire team of planners at Francks Studio... yes, Francks of the Disney movie Father of the Bride. They've all been wonderful to work with and makes wedding planning look so very easy.  Pinch me, I must be dreaming.