Kristin Vanzant Photography

According to The Knot’s 2012 Destination Wedding Survey results, “nearly 1 in 4 couples (24%) had a destination wedding in 2011, a significant increase from 20% in 2009. Not only were there more destination weddings, but there were significantly more weddings hosted in the continental U.S, which is great news for U.S. wedding venues and the weddings industry at large. In 2011, 70% of couples who hosted a destination wedding chose a venue in the U.S. compared to 60% in 2009. The top domestic wedding destinations include Florida, California, Nevada, North Carolina and South Carolina.”

The survey also concluded that 51% of destination wedding couples use a wedding planner and it’s no wonder. When planning from afar, you’re likely only able to make a handful of trips to your destination wedding location in preparation for the big day. Hiring a wedding planner allows you to have a local “in” on finding all of the best vendors and venues, without sacrificing any of your precious time researching.  With all of the benefits of hiring a planner, it’s well worth every penny you’ll spend. Make it the first thing you do in your planning process and you’ll have a joyous and stress-free planning experience. Remember, peace of mind is PRICELESS!

Here are some more findings from the survey. To see the complete press release, click here.

2012 DESTINATION WEDDINGS STUDY: TOP 10 STATISTICS

1. 350,000 destination weddings take place annually, representing 24% of all weddings
2. The average destination bride is 30 years old
3. Destination weddings have an average of 86 guests
4. 70% of destination weddings take place in the continental US
5. Florida, California and Nevada are the top three destination wedding locations in the continental US
6. 30% of destination weddings take place outside the continental US
7. The Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii are the most popular wedding locations outside the continental US
8. 51% of destination wedding couples use a wedding planner
9. 69% of destination weddings are held outdoors
10. 10.86% of couples still plan to take a honeymoon after their destination wedding

xoxo
Jen
——–
Embellished Events
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Hilton Head Island, SC Wedding Planner
Savannah, GA Wedding Planner
Beaufort, SC Wedding Planner
Charleston, SC Wedding Planner

Uriah Baet Photography

1. Make sure you have plenty of time to order a dress. Since wedding dresses typically take 6-8 months to come in after ordering, dress shopping should be one of the first to-dos on your list.  Don’t forget to also take about 2-3 months of alterations into consideration. Purchasing a sample dress off the rack is an option at some stores, but this will limit your selection.
2. Have an open mind. You may have a specific idea in mind of what style wedding dress you want, but you never know what other styles might also flatter you until you  try them on. Try on a variety of styles, and narrow it down to what you feel and look best in. After all, trying on dresses should be a special, once in a lifetime experience. Have fun with it!
3. Be practical when making a final decision. If you are having a hard time deciding between two, three, or even four dresses that you are in love with, choose the most practical dress. Is your wedding inside or outside? Will you have a fall, winter, spring, or summer wedding? Is there a particular theme you are incorporating? The last thing you want to do is look like you are showing up to the wrong wedding.
4. Bring close family and friends with you, but not too many. Too many opinions can be overwhelming and might distract you from getting exactly what you want. It is YOUR day; therefore, the dress should be completely YOUR choice.  An ideal amount of people to bring would be 2-4. The last thing you want is for this to be a stressful experience because you cannot please everybody.
5. If you have a budget, know exactly what it is before dress shopping. Decide how much of your wedding budget you want to spend on your dress. Let the bridal stylist know what your budget is and that you do not want to try on dresses over your budget. The worst thing would be for you to fall in love with a dress you cannot afford. If the price is too high, ask for a similar style that is in your price range. Keep in mind that alterations, accessories, and customizations add a lot to the price of the dress.
6. Bring appropriate undergarments. It’s hard to envision exactly how the dress will look if you can see bra straps and panty lines when trying it on. Bring a strapless bra, appropriate underwear, and maybe even spanks to your appointment so that you can get an accurate picture in mind of what the dress looks like. Some bridal stylists will also help you in and out of the dresses, so make sure you are in undergarments that you are comfortable with being seen in.
7. Take pictures if you can. Some bridal salons do not allow pictures, but if they do, take them! Pictures will help you remember and compare your favorite styles without having to try on all of the dresses a second time. Also, dress is shopping is an experience you’ll want to remember and be able to look back on.
8. Choose the right size. Keep in mind that wedding dress sizes typically run extremely small. Trust the professional taking your measurements and advising what size to order. Even if you plan on losing weight, order the size you are in now. It is much easier to have dresses taken in rather than out, and most stores have a strict no returns or exchanges policy.
9. Keep an eye out for sample sales and trunk shows. Call bridal salons in the area where you will be dress shopping and ask when they will be having sample sales or trunk shows. This is a great way to save money and a good solution for if you are crunched for time.
10. Be aware of the terms and conditions when purchasing a dress. Most bridal salons have a set of policies that you should carefully look over before purchasing. If there are any questions or concerns, make sure you understand everything clearly before signing or paying for anything. Key points to look for are cancellation policies, returns and exchanges, alterations, shipping information, and when the dress is expected to come in. Make sure to also double and triple check that they have all the correct information for you such as measurements, size, wedding date, and dress style/color.

Contributing Writer: Nicki Walker, Bridal Stylist for Vocelle’s Bridal Shop

Shana and Chris brought Embellished Events on in the very beginning stages of planning their wedding day and dreamed of holding their Big Day in the location where their love first started, their family’s vacation home on Hilton Head Island. When I first saw the site, I thought what a perfect location it was for a wedding! The overly spacious back lawn featured two separate areas, which were perfect for hosting the ceremony and reception. The reception area was nestled underneath the most beautiful canopy of interlocking oak branches, draped in spanish moss. It allowed the perfect amount of sunlight in and really could not have been more perfect for the bright full moon they danced underneath all night.

Both the bride and groom had an eye for creativity and had a great appreciation for the unique and modern details Embellished Events likes to incorporate into our events. Their color palette was clean, but edgy: creamy hues paired with apple green and black. I started the design process with a rendering of how I envisioned their wedding:

and we ended up with this:

From the crisp springtime air and beaming full moon to the surprise wedding vows and personal details throughout, every aspect of Shana and Chris’s wedding day was perfect. It would not have been possible without the fabulous team of vendors we had on board that day who worked so hard to make this sweet couple’s wedding dreams come true. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek into Shana and Chris’s wedding day as much as we enjoyed working with them and bringing the vision to life!

Gallery Error : Unknown Error Please try again later

Photography: Photography by Anne
Floral Design: A Floral Affair
Cake Design: Publix
Rentals: Amazing Event Rentals
Hair: Salon 5200
Entertainment: First City Events
Catering: Christine’s Catering
Design and Decor: Embellished Events

xoxo
Jen
——–
Embellished Events
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Hilton Head Island, SC Wedding Planner
Savannah, GA Wedding Planner
Beaufort, SC Wedding Planner
Charleston, SC Wedding Planner

I’d like to wrap up this beautiful week with a video montage created by Hilton Head Video of Leslie and Kurt’s picture perfect wedding at Fripp Island Resort! Enjoy!

Cover photo provided by Kristin Vanzant Photography.

xoxo
Jen
——–
Embellished Events
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Hilton Head Island, SC Wedding Planner
Savannah, GA Wedding Planner
Beaufort, SC Wedding Planner
Charleston, SC Wedding Planner

Sweet words like this are the greatest reminder of why I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do!!! Thank you Geneva and Luke for sharing your wonderful planning experience with the rest of the world on Wedding Wire!

Suggs Photography

“Jen Leiti of Embellished Events helped us create the wedding of our dreams. When I say that I could not have done this without her… I mean it in all seriousness. Her vision and enthusiasm was present from day one until the last moment of the wedding day. She was bursting with fresh ideas but always listened very carefully, and provided just the right amount of guidance and suggestions. She took my ideas to a whole new level!! Jen was incredibly professional, both with me and with all of the vendors she came in contact with. She was a tremendous resource and helped us choose the PERFECT location for our rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception! She was exceptionally organized, and helped to keep me on track throughout the entire process. On the day of the wedding she was flawless, and along with her team orchestrated a phenomenal event. My husband (!!!) and I could not have been more pleased with our investment in Embellished Events. Thank you so much Jen for all that you did to make our day so special!!!!”

xoxo
Jen
——–
Embellished Events
Phone: (843) 757-7762
Email: Info@EmbellishedWeddings.com

Hilton Head Island, SC Wedding Planner
Savannah, GA Wedding Planner
Beaufort, SC Wedding Planner
Charleston, SC Wedding Planner