Offering dramatic outdoor views of midtown Manhattan, overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 620 Loft & Garden is a serene piece of paradise. Imagine your wedding ceremony on this roof top garden, or guests mingling in the garden during cocktails.

The adjoining loft space has a crisp, clean design revealing a blank canvas on which to create your own experience. The space can accommodate cocktail receptions for up to 165 guests and seated dinners with dancing for up to 100 guests.

PS. If you want to book this New York venue for your wedding, ask how I can save you 25% on the venue rental fee for 2010 & 2011 weddings!!

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

The cutely branded shop had a steady line up on this warm spring day. Located in Ghirhadelli Square in the heart of San Francisco, these cupcakes are known throughout the city.

I decided (after much careful deliberation) to enjoy a Lemony Lemon cupcake and a Banana Caramel cupcake. OMG – heaven is the only word that came to mind, and now I’m trying to figure out how to get fresh cupcakes home LOL.

The banana caramel cupcake was so heavy, rich and decadent. The cream cheese icing and the melty smooth caramel filling really made this a wonderful cupcake.

The lemony lemon cupcake was definitely much lighter and refreshing – the perfect compliment of lemon cake with lemon filling and buttercream icing!

I love that they also now offer gluten free cupcake options too.

If you are considering cupcakes for your San Francisco destination wedding, then definitely consider getting them from Kara’s cupcakes.

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

Keep your Plans Organized
If you are planning from afar, you’ll have a lot of email communications to keep straight. With Nuance Occasions, all our couples get an online workroom…it allows them to post their thoughts, inspiration photos to us, and allows us to post thier contracts, timelines, checklists, & updated vendor payments in one spot for them to access from any computer at any time.

“We loved how Nuance Occasions were opened to listening to any ideas we had and helping us to make better decisions! The online workroom was a huge asset, since we were planning our wedding in Edmonton from California” ~ Mackenzie & Joshua (August 2009)

Although our online workrooms are popular for all our couples – it’s our out of town couples that really appreciate this system for keeping up to date on their wedding and planning details – across the time zones, sharing of ideas & new developments happen around the clock – effortlessly!

Plan your Trips Wisely
If at all possible, schedule a couple trips to your wedding city – but plan them well in advance. When our couples come into town for a week, we usually try to schedule two days as wedding days – and fit as many of the vendor appointments and meetings into those days. We know you have other people to visit or things to do in our region and want you to enjoy all your time near, and not drown you in wedding plans.

Get a Wedding Planner
A wedding planner in the region will be familiar with the average costs, legalities regarding your event (insurance, alcohol policies, marriage requirements, etc), and most importantly save you research time. We often are visiting vendors, taking pictures or getting swatches and sending the info back to our couples for review until we have details just right.

Planning a wedding from afar is a bit challenging, but all the challenges are easily overcome with the use of technology and some professional support!

Jolyn | Lifestyle Wedding Planner & Designer
Nuance Occasions
780.628.6457

{photo credit :: Sandals.com}

From the press release I received from Sandals today …

“Martha Stewart Weddings at Sandals Resorts — available in five themes — will leverage MSLO’s expertise in wedding planning and Sandals Resorts’ reputation as the leader in the luxury all-inclusive resort arena. A la carte items or “extras” — such as personalized cake toppers, welcome gifts and candy buffets — will also be available for couples to make their weddings unforgettable.”

Bookings for 2010 destination weddings are on the rise, so if you are considering a fall 2009 or early winter 2010 destination wedding at Sandals or Beaches resorts in either Jamaica, Antigua, Turks & Caicos or Bahamas, I’d love to help you coordinate and plan your dream wedding day.

Contact me to arrange for a complimentary quote from your perfect island resort – for your destination wedding or your luxury-included honeymoon….watch for more updates of the exciting new designs coming this fall!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Certified Sandals Specialist
Nuance Occasions

PS. If already booked at a Sandals/Beaches resort for 2009, you still have the Preston Bailey collections available. As of January 1, 2010 the Preston Bailey collection will no longer be available.

PSS. Only 3 days left to book a many Sandals & Beaches resorts at nearly 65% off!!

Nuance Occasions is an authorized reseller of Sandals & Beaches.

Are you considering a Rocky Mountain :: Lake Louise wedding? Then be sure to contact me next week to learn exactly what this mountain jewel can provide to ensure your wedding day is unforgettable.

As always, calls and emails will be returned next week upon my return.

Have a great weekend!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

If you and your BFF or your wonderful maid of honour, need to escape and cause a little debauchery in a tropical location – then you may want to check out this incredible offer by Sandals!!

As a certified Sandals specialist, I’m excited to be able to ensure your and your BFF has the best tropical escape!!

Your BFF adventure will include:

• Private Welcome Cocktail Reception
• sunset Catamaran sail-away on the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea
• beach yoga and seaside Pilates
• “spice up the mood” Caribbean cooking classes
• “Wine”-ing allowed food & wine tasting sessions
• island dance classes
• snorkeling
• and much, much more!

Enjoy five days and four nights of hanging out and hanging tight with all that’s already part of a Beaches Resorts Luxury Included® vacation (from scuba diving to delectable dining) for only $1,199 USD per person!

You and your BFF will also enjoy a welcome bag filled with goodies; a 10 percent discount at the resort shop; a free 5×7 professional resort photo of you and your girls; and a $200 Red Lane® Spa voucher at Beaches Resorts’ exclusive spa retreat.

All that’s left is to choose your dates of luxury!

• Beaches Turks & Caicos April 30 – May 4, 2009
• Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages October 15-19, 2009
• Beaches Negril Resort & Spa January 21-25, 2010
• Beaches Turks & Caicos April 29 – May 3, 2010 or October 14-18, 2010

To book your Beaches Resorts B.F.F. Girls Getaway package today, contact Jolyn at jolyn@nuanceoccasions.com or call 780-486-5310 and refer to promo code: MyBFF

Hanging out with your girl friends has never been so glamorous!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Nuance Occasions is an authorized reseller of Sandals & Beaches.

To continue with Destination December, I’d like you to let your mind wander to the warmth of the sun and sandy beaches of Antigua. Antigua is often overlooked for honeymoons – which actually makes it a favorable island to visit. You’ll enjoy a more serene experience for this less dense tropical island.

My top pick for this island is the Sandals Grande Antigua Spa & Beach Resort. This resort has won the covetted ” Worlds Most Romantic Resort” making this a true gem for your honeymoon or destination wedding. The white silky sand beaches and privacy of Dickenson Bay make this an incredible get away for you two lovebirds!

Location: Dickenson Bay, Antigua
Number of Restaurants: 9
- outdoor international dining, italian antipasto bar, caribbean cuisine, gourmet seafood grill, sushi bar, ocean-view western grill, traditional british pub, bistro and teppanyaki-style cuisine served ocean-side
Number of Pools: 5
Spa Services: 5 star luxurious Red Lane Spa
Local Tours & Activities: circumnavigation cruise of Antigua, catamaran tours to Barbados, picnic at famed Bird Island, island safari eco-kayak tour for the ultimate adventurer and many more activities await you on this lush tropical island.

Antigua is perfect for you if…want to experience the ultimate in romantic tropical islands. Whether you want to lounge by the plunge pools, or kayak around the island, you’ll find many unique opportunities await you. Select this romantic island for the ultimate honeymoon experience.

Special Offer: if you are interested in this tropical resort for a honeymoon or destination wedding, I will have a wedding concierge call you at a convenient time, and help you decide if this is the best location for your honeymoon or destination wedding, and provide you with a best price quotation suited to your travel budget. Contact Jolyn at 780-486-5310 or email jolyn@nuanceoccasions.com to arrange this complimentary call to learn more about this unique destination!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Nuance Occasions is an authorized reseller of Sandals & Beaches.

Import tax you say? Many couples are unaware that any goods or products you bring into most countries, will require you to pay a import tax – even if your guests will be taking those items back home with them.

Advance planning can ensure you are not caught off guard with this detail as you pass through customs, but every year, many couples are caught by this unexpected expense.

Once your destination is determined, find out what import restrictions your destination country has, and what it’s tarriff rates for taxation are? Athough it’s usually not an obscene fee, it can be if you are bringing in not only your own favours, but chair covers, chair ties, table linens and more! It can add up quickly.

What can you do to be prepared? Research the import rules of your destination country, bring receipts of your favor or decor products so there is no price arguments, separate products into different guest luggage if each person is given an safe dollar amount to bring in, and be sure to have extra funds in your account to accomodate the charges or try to purchase as much in the country once you arrive. A little bit of research can prevent some big headaches as you arrive in your wedding destination!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

St. Lucia is a gorgeous and lush island…a perfect get away for a honeymoon or an incredibly romantic destination wedding.

My top pick for this island is the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort. This resort, nestled on it’s own pennisula allowing nearly every room to have an ocean view. The unique beachfront Rondovals give a private cabin and pool experience to each couple.

Location: Castries, St. Lucia
Number of Restaurants: 5
- a la carte international, london pub, italian fine dining, carribean grill & a french creperie
Number of Pools: 5
Spa Services: 5 star luxurious Red Lane Spa
Local Tours & Activities: complimentary golf at neighboring resort (9 holes), rainforest canopy tour, horseback ride & beach bar-b-que, waterfall cycling adventure, tropical jeep safari, dolphin & whale watching, volcano tour, historic colonial tour, catamaran tours and much more!

St. Lucia is perfect for you if…want a lush tropical getaway, where you can receive the ultimate in adventure by day or the ultimate in spa pampering and sleep under the stars where you can hear the ocean waves lapping at the white sandy beach.

Your honeymoon or destination wedding is sure to be a treat if you select this tropical rainforest island!

Special Offer: if you are interested in this tropical resort for a honeymoon or destination, I will have a wedding concierge call you at a convenient time, and help you decide if this is the best location for your honeymoon or destination wedding, and provide you with a best price quotation suited to your travel budget. Contact Jolyn at 780-486-5310 or email jolyn@nuanceoccasions.com to arrange this complimentary call to learn more about this unique destination! And if you book within 10 days after speaking with my Sandals concierge, I’ll provide you with $500 complimentary planning services towards your destination wedding – a beautiful destination wedding and FREE wedding planning services – you can’t beat that!

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

Nuance Occasions is an authorized reseller of Sandals & Beaches.

Wedding websites allow your guests one-stop shopping when it comes time for them to arrange their travel plans as well as other details. You can be as specific as you wish and link your website directly to the hotel reservation pages that you would like to recommend to your guests.

You will find that having a website is not only a time-saver but a budget-saver as well. The multiple mailings that can sometimes become necessary to communicate with your guests can easily eat up a good portion of any wedding budget. Allowing your guests to RSVP online will also cut down on your wedding expenses. No need for RSVP cards! However, you can always order just enough for those guests who may not be web savvy.

Destination weddings have definitely become a way for couples to express their style in a less traditional way. If you choose to have your wedding in a destination location, try to make it a fun experience for you and your fiancé as well as for your guests.

Destination Wedding Tips

1. Location, Location, Location. When selecting a location, choose one that appeals to your tastes and wedding style. Keep in mind, however, that because it won’t be as easy as going down the street to the local church to attend your wedding, you’ll have to assume that your guest list may be smaller. You’ll need to get a good sense about the number of attendees you wish to have before selecting your event facility so you can be confident that it will be appropriate for the crowd.

2. Less is More. Destination weddings can be expensive not only for those getting married, but also for those attending. Try to be mindful of that when selecting your wedding site so those who are closest to you can afford to attend. Consider having your wedding during the off-season so costs will be lower. Traditionally, accommodation expenses are covered for the bridesmaids by the bride’s family and for the groomsmen by the groom’s family. All other guests should be responsible for their own expenses. Most hotels will work with you to offer group discounts.

3. Assist your Guests. You may know the location that you will be flying off to for your dream wedding like the back of your hand, but most of your guests will not. Your wedding website can be a tool to help you educate your guests about the area, local attractions, accommodation ideas, the weather and directions. Making their job easier will only amount in a larger turnout at your wedding. Use your website to remind them of the things they may not consider such as a passport if required for your chosen location.

Jolyn | Luxury Wedding Planner
Nuance Occasions

© 2008 Wedding Window. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Nuance Occasions is an authorized affiliate of Wedding Window.