Weddingbee Blog

Ever since the hubs brought a book home on this little island I have been hooked. This would definitely be my first choice but we shall see.

::: M A U R I T I U S :::
Population: 1.3 million
Language: English (official) / Creole / French (Official) / Hindi / Urdu / Hakka / Bhojpuri
Currency: Mauritian Rupee
Capital: Port Louis
Things To Do: Botanical Garden / Swimming / Snorkeling / Hiking / Shopping / Diving / Water Falls
Time: 8 hours ahead of EST
Weather: Best time to visit is from May-December (According to Lonely Planet but I’ve read different things on a lot of sites)
Facts: This is where the dodo birds used to live

Read more…

Cruising Part I

Paul and I went on a lovely 9 night cruise to St Thomas, St Maartean, Puerto Rico, and Labidee, a private island owned by Royal Caribbean, for our honeymoon. Since the ship we took was the sister ship of the one we went on last summer to Bermuda and are basically the same, we didnt take many ship shots. We enjoyed ourselves so much again, we booked our next cruise for Summer 2008. We are hoping to go on one last long cruise with all our friends before the babies come.

Bye NY

Bling

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For all you Hawaiian honeymooners, Fodor’s has a list of places to stay in Maui and Oahu that are supremely romantic, but not as obvious.

Check them out here.

My husband Paul and I first discovered cruising about a year ago when his parents took the entire family to Bermuda on a cruise. Paul’s parents are avid cruisers and after going with them to Bermuda, we can see why! Being on a cruise ship is literally, in some ways, like being on a floating palace. You sometimes totally forget you are even at sea!

For our honeymoon, Paul and I went on a lovely 9 night cruise to St Thomas, St Maartean, Puerto Rico, and Labidee, a private island owned by Royal Caribbean. We’ve only traveled on one cruise line so far, Royal Caribbean, because the general consensus from family and friends who have cruised on different lines is that Royal is the best one out there. They’ve served us well these past 2 years and we belong to their Crown and Anchor Society, which is their customer appreciation program. It’s free to join and every cruise you go on with Royal Caribbean adds to your membership benefits - the more cruises you go on, the better things you get.

As second time cruisers with Royal this year, we received two picture frames with the Royal Caribbean logo. Last year Paul’s parents received tote bags. We also each received a coupon voucher book with coupons varying from the picture studio, to Johnny Rockets, to the casinos. And we got invited to their welcome back party for members only with free alcohol, appetizers, and desserts as well as hearing about what future itineraries Royal is coming out with. As an additional note, I do believe most, if not all, cruise lines have some kind of similar rewards program.

I’m going to try to break this up now into various sections to make this easier to read. I am no expert though so some of you may know a lot more than me, but this is my take on my cruising.

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While the guests were eating the yummy cocktail hour food, we took family photos and then Mr. Firefly and I went off to take pictures on our own. I originally want to drive around the city to get some urban photos, but ultimately, was a bit scared of getting caught in traffic and being late to our own reception! Instead, we drove down to South Street Seaport and finished off the photos in Battery Park. We got a few nice pictures at the Seaport, but I almost wish we just stayed in Battery Park and enjoyed a portion of the cocktail hour.

Don’t worry, I won’t post a bazillion family photos. This is the entire family and bridal party… not a very large group.

While Leah was taking group shots, her assistant took some great closeups:

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Here’s another place I researched that we’re not going to. Such is life.

::: C O O K I S L A N D S :::
Population: 18,000
Language: Maori / English
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
No of Islands: 15
Capital: Rarotonga
Things To Do: Hiking / Snorkeling / Diving / Shopping at local markets / Lagoon cruise / Visiting a local church (recommended by tourists) / Biking / Fishing
Time: 5 hours behind EST
Weather: Summer: December - April / Winter: May - November
Facts: Driving is on the left side of the road

We decided that this trip would be WAY over our budget. Maybe some day.

I have decided that once our kids graduate from college and get decent jobs, they will be forced by moi to chip in and send the hubs and I here. This is the only reason I’m thinking of having children. I keed! Sike, no I’m not.

Future Child: But mom I’m too little!
Me: Stop making excuses just because you only 8! Get a job, save up for this trip for me and your dad, and then you can quit!
Future Child: But what about school?
Me: Fuck school son. I’ll teach you how to add and subtract.
Future Child: Mom you’re smart.
Me: Please son. Tell me something I don’t already know.

Ok you can put your phones down right now if you’re thinking about calling some child abuse helpline. Hell I’m not even pregnant. Check back with me in about 23 years. I’ll give you my number then. And don’t think about ratting me out to the husband. I guarantee you he will be all for abusing our children to get what we want. So you can fogeddaboudit!

::: M A L D I V E S :::
Population: 270,000
Language: Dhivehi / English is widely spoken
Currency: Rufiyaa / Laaree
Time: 10 hours ahead of est
Capital: Male
Best time to go: November - April
No of Islands: 1200. Only 200 are inhabited. 88 are developed for tourist resorts. The remaining are inhabited by locals. It’s a government ruling that the 2 can’t be combined.
Things To Do: Night Fishing / Snorkeling / Diving / Biking / Sight Seeing

by: Nanette, Knottie Nannersp

Because my husband and I already had an established home (we’d lived together more than two years), we decided to have a honeymoon (HM) registry for our wedding.

Prior to setting up the HM registry I asked my friends their opinions, knowing that it’s an untraditional option. They thought it was a great idea! They understood that we wouldn’t need much else to stock our kitchen, etc. As one friend noted, she’d rather give us money to go to China than actual china. Heh!

We used TheHoneymoon.com and they were great! The “catch” is that they charge a fee for your guests to use it, but in my opinion, it’s nominal (typically around 7%) and not unlike the tax, shipping and handling that guests have to pay when they use traditional registeries.

They sent us a check about three days before our HM and another one about a month after our wedding. You can close the account earlier, if you’d like, but they suggest keeping it open in case someone decides to give you something after the wedding.

We had this registry in addition to two traditional registries, so there were options for all of our guests. Most of the HM registry gifts came from our peers, as opposed to older family members who are more traditional.

HM registries are not for everyone, but it worked for us. I highly recommend it, if your guests seem open to it.

~~~

Do you have an idea for a guest blog? Tell us about it at bee@weddingbee.com.

Paper Products: I ordered program covers, menu cards, table numbers and place cards from White Aisle. The plan was to go the DIY route until I realized that I was designing in 3-colors (rgb) and most printers print in 4 colors (CYMK). What looked like chartreuse green on my screen and print-outs turned into a drab olive when I got it back from the printers! I was bummed.

With 3 weeks to go, I turned to Rebecca at White Aisle. She turned around some fantastic designs within the day and I was good to go. The program covers (I printed the insides at Kinkos to save time) and menu cards came out beautifully. Ribbon is from M&J Trimming. The table numbers were ok — the flower design was very light and didn’t really get picked up in pictures.

The place cards were… all wrong! There were some cards with 2 or 3 completely unrelated names. It basically looked like she didn’t bother to check them. Of course, I didn’t check the place cards until 2 days before the wedding (I received them around a week before the wedding).

To be fair, I never contacted White Aisle because perhaps they could have sent me new cards in time… instead, I ran around my neighborhood and found the best thing I could — not-so-micro perforated sheets of place cards at Staples and little flowers to decorate. They turned out okay, but I was disappointed. I always meant to contact White Aisle to get the money for the cards back, but never bothered.

Program Covers/Menu Cards: A, Table Numbers: B, Place Cards: D

Last minute DIY place cards — I think they look better in photos than in real life. But I’d give myself a B+ for the last minute job.

Garter and Ring Pillows: The woman who runs Gartermaker is a former knottie (website seems to be down). The garter was very pretty — but I have no pictures! The ring pillows are below. They were super cheap — around $11 each and I added the buttons and rings myself. A

Some more details…

Children’s set-up

Bird cage

The Fireplace

Wonderful cocktail hour that we missed (taking photos) :(. I wish the photographer had gotten more photos of the food!

… to be continued.

Weddingbee reader Gellibelly is having a hard time deciding between three different honeymoon destinations. While she loves the idea of relaxing on a beach after the the hoopla of the wedding, she’s concerned that she might get restless and a week just might be too relaxing.

For those of you who have been to any of these destinations, what was your experience like?

Starwood Hotels has teamed up with the Wedding Channel to offer a free honeymoon registry for 100 of their most romantic and luxurious destinations worldwide.

You set the amount and guests gift you “honey money” towards the cost of the honeymoon. The honey money is even valid for up to 2 years so you can take a minimoon now, and a honeymoon later or you can even use it towards your first anniversary.

The process is as easy as 1, 2, 3… and 4.

1. Search the Starwood honeymoon site for a destination, or call the honeymoon concierge at 1-800-503-7800 for help.
2. Choose your dates and rooms. Book thru the Starwood honeymoon site, any other Starwood hotel website, the honeymoon concierge, or by contacting the property directly.
3. Visit the Starwood Honeymoon Registry on weddingchannel.com. Enter your reservation number, hotel name, and the amount you want to register for.
4. Direct your friends and family to your wedding channel registry to start earning honey money.

If you already have a home full of wares, this might be an ideal registry alternative for you. Wedding Channel will even make a donation to a charity of your choice every time someone makes a purchase your registry.

Some of Starwood’s properties include:

St. Regis, Bora Bora

Princeville Resort, Kauai

Blue Palace Resort and Spa, Crete

Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar, Cabo San Lucas

Le Meridian Fisherman’s Cove, Seychelles

W Retreat and Spa, Maldives

How happy would you be at any of these destinations?

Are you in the market for a snazzy new camera for your honeymoon? I certainly am!

Ok so I’m not actually going on a honeymoon, but I’ve been in the market for a digital SLR camera for a long time. Mr. Bee bought me a Sony DSC-T1 for Christmas right before our wedding, and it served us very well on our honeymoon and since. I’ll still use my ultra compact Sony for convenience, but I want a big bad camera to record special events like birthdays, weddings, and vacations.

Flagrantdisregard lists the top 100 cameras being used on Flickr every single week, so you can see what cameras people are actually using right now. This is a great way to scope out what’s hot if you’re in the market for a digital camera.

Here’s the top 10 list for the week of August 21st:

1. Nikon D50
2. Nikon D70
3. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
4. Canon EOS 20D
5. Canon EOS 350D Digital
6. Nikon D70s
7. Cybershot
8. Canon PowerShot S2 IS
9. Canon EOS Digital Rebel
10. Nikon D200

Are you in the market for a new digital camera? What camera do you currently use?

(via Lifehacker)

If you’re boarding a flight for a honeymoon or to anywhere soon, you should be aware of what you can and can’t take on a flight.

(image via javacafe)

Basically you can’t take any form of aerosols, liquids, gels, creams, lotions and items of similar consistency in your carry-on luggage.

You can bring:

• Small amounts of Baby formula and breast milk if a baby or small child is traveling
• Liquid prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket
• Up to 5 oz. (148ml) of liquid or gel low blood sugar treatment
• Up to 4 oz. of essential non-prescription liquid medications including saline solution, eye care products and KY jelly
• Gel-filled bras and similar prostethics
• Gel-filled wheelchair cushions
• Life support and life sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs carried for medical reasons

Gel filled bras?! That could be potentially embarrassing. You may however, bring solid make-up products like chapstick and lipstick.

(TSA via Lifehacker)

Ok here we go ladies!

::ISLANDS::
Top 10 Islands Overall
1. Bali
2. Kauai
3. Maui
4. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
5. Mount Desert Island, Maine
6. Tasmania
7. Hawaii
8. Galapagos Islands
9. Santorini
10. Phuket, Thailand

Top 3 Asia
- Bali

1. Bali
2. Phuket, Thailand
3. Borneo

Top 5 Hawaii
- Kauai

1. Kauai
2. Maui
3. Hawaii
4. Oahu
5. Lanai

Top 5 Continental U.S. & Canada
- Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

1. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
2. Mount Desert Island, Maine
3. Vancouver Island
4. Prince Edward Island
5. San Juan Islands, Washington

Top 3 Australia, New Zealand, & The South Pacific

1. Tasmania
2. Great Barrier Reef Islands
3. Bora-Bora

Top 3 Mexico, Central America, & South America
- Galapagos Islands

1. Galapagos Islands
2. Easter Island, Chile
3. Los Roques, Venezuela

Top 5 Europe
- Santorini

1. Santorini
2. Sicily
3. Cyclades, Greece
4. Dalmations, Croatia
5. Ionian Islands, Greece

Top 5 The Caribbean, Bermuda, & The Bahamas
- Saba

1. Saba
2. Virgin Gords
3. St. John
4. Bermuda
5. Anguilla

Top 3 Africa & The Middle East
- Seychelles

1. Seychelles
2. Mauritius
3. Zanzibar

::CITIES::
Top 10 Cities Overall
1. Florence
2. Rome
3. Bangkok
4. Sydney
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
6. Cape Town
7. Buenos Aires
8. New York
9. Beirut
10. San Francisco

Top 5 Europe
- Florence

1. Florence
2. Rome
3. Venice
4. Istanbul
5. Krakow

Top 5 Asia
- Bangkok

1. Bangkok
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
3. Kathmandu
4. Kyoto
5. Hong Kong

Top 5 Australia, New Zealand, & The South Pacific
-Sydney

1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. Queenstown, New Zealand
4. Christchurch, New Zealand
5. Wellington, New Zealand

Top 5 Africa & The Middle East
- Cape Town

1. Cape Town
2. Beirut
3. Jerusalem
4. Marrakesh
5. Fez, Morocco

Top 5 Mexico, Central America, & South America
- Buenos Aires

1. Buenos Aires
2. Oaxaca, Mexico
3. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
4. Cuzco, Peru
5. Rio de Janeiro

Top 10 U.S. & Canada
-New York City

1. New York
2. San Francisco
3. Chicago
4. Charleston, South Carolina
5. Santa Fe
6. Vancouver
7. Quebec City
8. Victoria, British Columbia
9. Montreal
10. Seattle

This month’s Travel & Leisure Magazine featured World’s Best Awards for 2006, picked by readers. I’ll list the Top 10 on each list. I also want you to know that it took me F O R E V E R to type this so you had better be grateful. Hope this helps when planning your honeymoon.

Tomorrow I’ll post best islands and cities.

::HOTELS::
Continental U.S & Canada
- The Aerie

1. The Aerie, Malahat - Vancouver Island
2. Sooke Harbour House - Sooke, Vancouver Island
3. Charlotte Inn - Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard
4. Inn at Little Washington - Washington, Virginia
5. Wickaninnish Inn - Tofino, Vancouver Island
6. Inn at Montachanin Village - Montchanin, Delaware
7. WaterColor Inn - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
8. Four Seasons Resort - Jackson Hole, Wyoming
9. Post Ranch Inn - Big Sur, California
10. The Point - Saranac Lake, New York

Africa & The Middle East
- Singita Private Game Reserve

1. Singita Private Game Reserve - Sabi Sands, South Africa
2. Chief’s Camp - Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
3. Mombo Camp - Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
4. MalaMala Game Reserve - Sabi Sands, South Africa
5. Kichwa Tembo - Masai Mara, Kenya
6. Kirawira Camp - Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
7. Phinda Private Game Reserve - KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
8. Cape Grace - Cape Town
9. Chobe Chilwero Lodge - Chobe National Park, Botswana
10. Royal Livingstone - Livingstone, Zambia

Mexico & Cental & South America
- Ritz Carlton (Santiago)

1. Ritz-Carlton - Santiago
2. Four Seasons Resort - Carmelo, Uruguay
3. La Casa Que Canta - Zihuatanejo, Mexico
4. Alvear Palace Hotel - Buenos Aires
5. Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica - Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
6. Hotel Monasterio - Cuzco, Peru
7. Llao Llao Hotel & Resort - San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
8. Four Seasons Hotel - Buenos Aires
9. Blancaneaux Lodge - Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, Belize
10. One & Only Palmilla - Los Cabos, Mexico

The Caribbean, Bermuda, & The Bahamas
- Waterloo House

1. Waterloo House - Hamilton, Bermuda
2. Ladera - St Lucia
3. Cap Juluca - Anguilla
4. Four Seasons Resort - Nevis
5. Curtain Bluff Resort - Antigua
6. Malliouhana Hotel & Spa - Anguilla
7. Biras Creek Resort - Virgin Gorda
8. One & Only Ocean Club - Paradise Island, Bahamas
9. Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France - St. Bart’s
10. Sandy Lane Hotel - St. James, Barbados

Hawaii
- Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai - Hawaii
2. Halekulani - Honolulu, Oahu
3. Lodge at Koele - Lanai
4. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
5. Four Season Resort Lanai at Manele Bay
6. Fairmont Kea Lani - Maui
7. Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows - Hawaii
8. Kahala Hotel & Resort - Honolulu, Oahu
9. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
10. Ritz-Carlton - Kapalua, Maui

Europe
- Inverlochy Castle

1. Inverlochy Castle - For William, Scotland
2. For Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace - Budapest
3. Chateau Les Crayeres - Reims, France
4. Hotel VIlla Cipriani - Asolo, Italy
5. La Colombe d’Or - St. Paul-de-Vence, France
6. Four Seasons Hotel - Prague
7. Bauer Il Palazzo - Venice
8. Four Seasons Hotel - Istanbul
9. Buckland Manor Country House Hotel - Gloucestershire, England
10. Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli - Gargnano, Italy

Australia, New Zealand, & The South Pacific
- Huka Lodge

1. Huka Lodge - Taupo, New Zealand
2. Voyages Lizard Island - Great Barrier Reef, Australia
3. Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa - French Polynesia
4. Rydges Jamison - Sydney
5. Four Seasons Hotel - Sydney
6. Observatory Hotel - Sydney
7. Park Hyatt - Sydney
8. Hotel Bora Bora - Frency Polynesia
9. Crown Towers - Melbourne
10. Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa - French Polynesia

Asia
- Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

1. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
2. Oberoi Udaivilas - Udaipur, India
3. The Peninsula - Bangkok
4. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
5. Oberoi Rajvilas - Jaipur, India
6. Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa
7. The Oriental - Bangkok
8. Taj Lake Palace - Udaipur, India
9. Four Season Resort - Chiang Mai, Thailand
10. The Peninsula - Hong Kong

Small Hotels (100 rooms or fewer)
- Oberoi Udaivilas

1. Singita Private Game Reserve - Sabi Sands, South Africa
2. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
3. Oberoi Udaivilas - Udaipur, India
4. oberoi Rajvilas - Jaipur, India
5. Inverlocy Castle - Fort William, Scottland
6. Taj Lake Palace - Udaipur, India
7. four Seasons Resort - Chiang Mai, Thailand
8. Sooke Harbour House - Vancouver Island
9. Waterloo House - Bermuda
10. charlotte Inn - Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard