Wedding Planning | Event Coordinating | How To
Planning the Perfect Honeymoon...
Cruise lines originally offered an incredible value in an all-inclusive vacation. Over the years, in an attempt to increase on board spending, they are presenting upgraded and additional items to entice you.
Remember, once on board a cruise ship, you exist in a cashless society. When you purchase an item not included in your fare, your key card is swiped and your signature taken as proof of purchase. These purchases can include a baseball cap or shawl in the boutique, a massage in the spa, or a bottle of Dos Equis in a lounge.
Spending money is very easy when you are not using cash. Of course, you can dispute any charge you really haven't made, but the object here is to refrain from purchasing these items in the first place.
First, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages all day long.
Cocktails, wine and beer on board cruise ships are very easy to consume plus there is a 15% service charge added to those bills. From 10 am on the Lido deck by the pool, the waiters are offering you the Drink of the Day.
What most people don't know is that those specialty drinks in special glasses cost more but are also refillable at a reduced cost. So although you might spend more, the next time you order, it costs less. Most passengers just leave them on a table--therefore not taking advantage of the available savings.
The bucket of beer offers are interesting but they don't have to be consumed all in one sitting. The bucket can be taken back to your stateroom and enjoyed over the week at your convenience. Your cabin steward will even keep them on ice for you. Or if you would like to have a bottle of wine with dinner, you don't have to finish the bottle before you exit the dining room. This gives you a drink at dinner and one later in the evening. If you do drink, please do so responsibly.
Second, you may be seriously addicted to sodas; consider changing to fruit juices while on your honeymoon.
Sodas can cost up to $2 each. On board cruise ships, juices are free. (I've noticed some ships don't keep the juices available all day in the buffet.) But juice is always available from the room service menu. And on most cruise lines, room service is free all day and all night.
If you really need soda pops on a daily basis, review the cost of a "soda card." On some cruise lines, a card for 7 days of unlimited sodas will run you only about $25. But if the card is going to cost you over $40, it may not be very cost effective. The only way to know is by doing the math.
Third, do not use your cell phone on board.
Roaming charges from the middle of the Caribbean or Mediterranean Seas are exorbitant—these are some of the highest telecom fees in the world. Since you are on your honeymoon, are there really people you need to be in touch with while you're away? Certainly, you can leave your respective families with the ship's phone number in case of emergencies, but don't call anyone just to say how sweet your cabin is.
Fourth, you should pack enough clothes for your entire honeymoon and be prepared to take dirty ones home with you.
Your cabin steward may suggest you to fill a bag with your laundry. He or she can have it cleaned and back to you in less than 48 hours. And everything in the bag will be cleaned for one flat rate.
You have two choices here. Either find the self-service laundry (if there is one available) or take your dirty laundry home with you where it will cost you much less to clean. If you opt for the former, you may have to ask more than one person--your steward, someone at the front desk, and possibly other cruisers—for the location of self-service laundry. But this will allow you to avoid the overpriced bag of laundry your steward is pushing.
Fifth, take a camera with you onboard to capture your holiday.
The cruise lines have several photographers on board per sailing. These photographers start snapping photos of you before you actually board the ship, while you are on the gangplank boarding. Every time you stop, in the pool, during dinner, in the lounges and on shore excursions, cruise line photographers are taking your picture. On average these photos run about $10 each. That can certainly add up over 7 nights.
One of the best things you can do is to have your travel agent or cruise specialist look for a ship board credit. This is money that either the cruise line or your travel company gives you as an incentive to book. It appears as funds in your account upon boarding.
These credits are usually dependent upon the length of your cruise as well as the category of cabin you purchase. A ten-night suite usually gives a larger shipboard credit than a 3-night interior cabin. These credits can help defray the cost of your wine with dinner.
Also, most passengers don't realize that they can go to the front desk anytime and ask for an up-to-date accounting of their bill—this can be done as often as you want to check. On some cruise lines, you even can review your account on the in-room television. This way, there are no surprises. You can control the amount of on board expenses you amass during your honeymoon and come out painless while enjoying your "almost" all-inclusive.
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her.
How To Plan the Perfect Honeymoon...
There are a few ways to ensure that you maximize your honeymoon enjoyment while you minimize your spending. If you are planning the optimum wedding day and are on a tight budget, you
may want to take your honeymoon the following year. Your honeymoon can be taken up to a year or two after your nuptials. And if you are actively planning your honeymoon, you can always say exactly where you are going and when anytime someone asks. That is the recommended way to plan it.
This way, you have your itemized costs and can make payments over a period of time just like with your vendors. (It's very possible that air arrangements can not be made over 365 days before departure. But you will still have an idea of what those costs will be.)
1. Plan An Off Season Honeymoon. The quickest way to save money on your dream honeymoon is by opting for the off-season in your "dream" locale or on its shoulder season.
Shoulder season is actually that time between off-season and high season, which is usually when most people want to visit your dream spot. High season is always the most expensive time to visit a particular destination. It's prime time for the area or region you plan to visit.
Now depending on where you are looking to honeymoon, shoulder season weather just may be a few rainy days. But if you can overlook the downfalls, you may get a fantastic honeymoon rainbow at a fraction of high costs.
2. Go All-Inclusive. If your idea of a dream honeymoon is resplendent with beaches, exotic named drinks with umbrellas and being constantly catered to, then an all-inclusive—a resort or a cruise is definitely the honeymoon choice for you.
Sure, rather than a Caribbean resort, you may prefer a lodge in Aspen or a transatlantic cruise to England's South Hampton. But if you want luxury with a 2 to 1 staff to client ratio, an all inclusive honeymoon is the one for you.
You and your spouse will be pampered in more comfort than you thought possible. These options also offer additional Romance Packages that can include couples massages, intimate candlelit dinners, and snorkeling, parasailing or horseback riding in the surf.
3. Go Off the Beaten Track. Off the beaten path destinations are a way to ensure a honeymoon filled with excitement and panache. Professional assistance—a travel agent or specialist—can ensure that all the deals available and details required are employed. You'll need to be up front regarding your budget. But rest assured, your dream honeymoon to a remote or unusual location can become a reality if you plan early, take your time, be open to possibilities and clearly define your priorities--level of adventure and activities required.
So whether you long for the isles of Rapanui, a stroll through Giza, or a cruise up the Yangtze, you are sure to book a honeymoon that is intriguing and different with enough time to plan.
One of the best things you can do when planning your honeymoon is not to arrange to depart on your honeymoon the day after your wedding. With the excitement of the wedding and reception, the endless toasts, the all-night dancing, you two are not going to be in good shape for a trip that day.
Plus, there are usually things the need to be completed before you leave. You may want to drop off your gown or bouquet to be preserved. You may still have out of town guests.
One thing you can be assured of is that going at the right time, to a place slightly off the beaten track, and getting as much as possible included will give you the honeymoon you want.
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her.
When you are hiring a DJ for your wedding, you can start with these questions to ask a wedding professional. To find the best specific questions to ask a wedding DJ, I polled my DJ friend
s (and wracked my own brains, since I'm an entertainer myself.) Here is the list of the best 14 questions to ask a DJ so that you can choose the very best for your big day.
Do you have a demo I can view or references I can contact?
Many entertainers may have a video of their performance that you can watch to get an idea of their style and personality. CAUTION: they will likely give you a video that has been edited to look good, so take this with a grain of salt. An unedited video clip is actually a better indicator of their performance.
Photo by Allan Levine Photography
If the DJ does not have a demo, ask for some recent client and/or professional references. Ask them questions such as, “Did he/she deliver everything that was promised?” “How was the DJ’s communication?” “Are there any areas where you were dissatisfied?”
Who will be the DJ at our wedding?
Make sure you know exactly who will be performing at your wedding. Some DJs are agencies with multiple disc jockeys and entertainers. If it is important for you to have a particular performer, make sure their name is written on your contract.
“The words ‘surprise’ and ‘wedding’ rarely go together well,” explains DJ Bri Swatek of Spinning With Style. “You should know exactly who your wedding DJ is and you should have the opportunity to be totally comfortable with him or her well in advance.”
What happens if you get sick?
Make sure the DJ has a backup plan in case they are physically unable to perform for your wedding. This might be another DJ who works for their company, a local network of DJs or a national association they can call for a replacement. Whatever their backup plan, make sure they have one and that you are comfortable with it.
What does your equipment look like?
You spend a lot of time designing the look of your wedding. Make sure the DJ’s setup compliments the setting. If you don’t want a flashy sign announcing the company name, make sure they don’t use one.
Do you use lighting?
This is a matter of preference. Find out the different options available, what is included in the cost and what is extra.
Will you act as our master of ceremonies?
Make sure your DJ is prepared to make any announcements you want during your reception or work with the master of ceremonies you choose to coordinate events.
Do you take breaks? Is there music played during this time?
The flow of music should be uninterrupted through out the night; a DJ can take a break without stopping the music. Make sure you know how this is handled and when these breaks will occur; you don’t want your DJ leaving the room when the rest of your guests is ready to get up and boogie.
Can we give you a Must Play list and a Do Not Play list?
If you have particular songs you MUST have played, make sure you know how many “must plays” the DJ allows and if there are any limitations. Most entertainers also ask for a list of songs you do not want played. This helps them customize the entertainment to your likes and dislikes.
Will you take requests from our guests?
Generally DJs are happy to take guest requests if that is what you like. If you have concerns about what happens if someone asks for a “bad song” or a song on your Do Not Play list, ask the DJ how they handle it.
What will you wear? 
Do we provide a meal for you?
What will you do if our guests aren't dancing?
This is my favorite question! There really isn’t a right or wrong answer here. Basically, the DJ’s response gives you an idea of her preferred style, flexibility and whether they tend to low key or highly interactive.
The best answer will probably start with, “First, that depends on how you would like me to handle it…”
Why did you choose to become an entertainer?
Andrew Nikola of Enriquez Entertainment explains that the DJ’s answer should reflect that he is doing it because he loves people, NOT for the money or some other reason. You want to hire someone who is passionate about what they do.
Do you do this full time?
DJ Bri Swatek suggests that a full-time DJ will likely be the most responsive to your emails and phone calls. You can be confident that your wedding will be the most important event on their calendar that day.
“Imagine doing your own job as a part-time, weekend sideline,” he says. “Would you be able to do it effectively?”
Sue Meloun of Sue the DJ agrees. “Professional entertainment companies work 40-50 hours per wedding including the performance time…Planning meetings, conference calls, meetings, itineraries, planning forms, love story introduction scripts, MC scripts, music coordination and purchasing, equipment purchases, maintenance and storage, and much, much more.”
For some of these questions, you won’t be looking for the “right” or “wrong” answer. You want to hire a wedding DJ you feel comfortable with and asking these questions makes figuring that out much easier. David Nazario of A Perfect Blend Entertainment says their answers should demonstrate that they are flexible and able to adapt to the constant changes that happen at a wedding celebration.
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