Wedding Planning | Event Coordinating | How To
How To Plan the Perfect Honeymoon...
So you have started planning your wedding and now you're thinking about a honeymoon. A honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by a newly married couple to celebrate 
their marriage in seclusion. These trips usually involve going somewhere exotic or special or romantic. It's a time for both you and your fiancé to relax, unwind, explore and enjoy each other. Your dream honeymoon will take some time and effort to arrange. But your vision can come to life if you do the 5 musts for your Perfect Honeymoon.
1) Budget. Surely, you two have discussed how much you plan on spending on your wedding day. That task was daunting, I'm sure. This decision is no less important as your previous discussions. But you must come to a consensus now. You need to take into consideration not only the costs of travel, but the cost of accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment. You'll need to check with a travel specialist. Many companies also now offer honeymoon registries, which allow your family and friends to assist in paying for this occasion.
2) Destination. You two need to decide what type of honeymoon you want. Are you "adrenaline-holics" (you know bungee jumpers, zip line flyers or helicopter divers?) Or are you eco-adventurers (people who want to explore white-water rapids or watch whales frolic up close and personal, or would you enjoy spying sea lions on a rocky shoreline, or bald eagles soaring, or glimpsing blue herons in a photographer's paradise?) Or could you two be serious romantics looking forward to relaxing next to a calming sea, discovering historic sites and reveling in an afterglow of your festivities on a white sand beach?
You are also going to have to decide on your accommodations. The choice will probably be between a resort, a cruise, a hotel or a B&B. An all-inclusive resort will include meals and many options of activities; it may also include any bar bills you incur. This is a great option, if you think that bill might be high. But if not, you are paying for those drinks regardless. A cruise will cover all meals as well as most activities, although shore excursions are usually extra. But that doesn't mean that you two can't just leave the ship and explore on your own. Also, on most cruises, your bar bill is extra. A hotel may include an evening and/or breakfast but that is highly unusual. And, of course, you are on your own as far as activities go. And at a B&B it's just that-- you will pay for a bed and a breakfast. Everything else will be extra. Or you two may decide to take a tour--visiting historic sites in Israel would qualify. Or perhaps taking an African safari would be more to your liking. You should realize, however, that you will spend a lot if time grouped with the other folks on the tour. Depending on your couple style, you may opt to go hiking and camping. Of course, you won't have many champagne breakfasts in bed here. Just remember, this is a time when you want to get the most out of your dollar without over spending.
3) Duration. Most couples take from 5 to 12 days for a honeymoon. Depending upon how many days you require before your big day, it will determine how much time you have to spend on a honeymoon. But remember, you two don't need to depart the day following your nuptials. As a matter of fact, more and more couples are holding off on their honeymoon from a few days to a few months. This allows them to pay for their perfect honeymoon as well as have the time to enjoy it. You know how much time is realistically available for this fantastic holiday. Plan, plan, plan.
4) When to Go. Dependent upon your destination of choice, you can always opt for the prime season. For the Caribbean that means mid-winter. For Europe high season is definitely summer. If your ideal destination is Alaska or southern South America, that too is mid-summer. The issue in traveling to these places during their primary season is, that is when the prices are the absolute highest. Any agent can tell you when the cusps of the season begins and ends. You may decide to go then but you will have the advantage of understanding the differences in costs. Going during shoulder season, as this time is called, may allow you to shrink your costs by as much as 25%. Or it may allow you to do more on your honeymoon than you would otherwise be able to do. Your agent can tell you the most cost effective time to travel to your desired destination.
5) Assistance. At this point, you need to contact a professional. Most agents do not charge for their services. So do not be deterred from contacting someone who can truly help you. By all means surf the internet and check out the possibilities; everyone does. It will help your agent to know that you have done your homework and are ready to make some decisions. An agent knows all the ins and outs of resorts, B&Bs, cruise ships, and available activities.
Their experience is worth its weight in gold. Additionally, oftentimes, they have deals, discounts, upgrades and amenities that just aren't available to the public. (One couple I worked with really wanted a balcony stateroom, but their budget just wouldn't handle it. I am always on the lookout for upgrades available until the last moment before departure. Then about 2 weeks before their departure, I was able to get them an upgrade at a tiny fraction of the original balcony costs.) This doesn't always work but most travel professionals really do work hard to get you what you want at a price you can afford..
Planning your perfect honeymoon is not unlike finding your perfect wedding dress or coming up with a perfect signature cocktail for your reception. You need to decide how much to spend and where to go, then speak to a travel professional in whom you have confidence. Having your dream honeymoon is as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her.
Wedding Advice From Majestic Studios Photography & Videography
Jeff and I met Mark Greenstone and his lovely assistant Kat from Majestic Studios for lunch at the Beechtree in Poughkeepsie, NY. Actually, there's a good chance you've already met him. If you've been to a few Hudson Valley weddings, he's probably been at at least one of them; with over 20 years shooting photography and videography in the Hudson Valley, he's been around. He's the photographer who looks like Jon Stewart. Yes! That's Mark.
Mark arrived early, so his hands are folded over his menu when we join him and Kat at the table. He's as meticulous about his food as he is his photography, so I tease him about his, "picky food things."
"That's why I wanted to come here. Otherwise I would have had to call ahead to check out the menu," he jokes.
I dive right into the interview. "Mark," I ask, pen poised over my notebook, "if I'm looking for a wedding photographer, what questions should I ask?"
Mark looks thoughtful. "Couples are mostly asking the right questions," he says. "But there are some questions they should ask themselves before they interview a photographer."
1) What is most important to you on your wedding day?
"When you create a budget, what number do you base that on? Is it some recommended percentage found on the internet?" Mark asks. "Figure out what is most important to 
you and spend your money on that. I've known brides who only wanted to spend $1000 on photos that should last a lifetime, but they spend $1800 to rent a Hummer for two hours."
Mark explains that your photographer and videographer are the only vendors who provide a service that lasts beyond your wedding day. Most little girls grow up looking at their mother's wedding album. But for modern brides opting for inexpensive or do it yourself albums, chances are their albums won't be around to share with their kids. They'll be tattered, faded and falling apart.
"It's the experience you're hiring. Someone who answers the phone when you call, who cares enough to get back to you immediately," Mark says.
"When you love what you do, you're obsessed with it," Kat chimes in. "I like to work late and I'll send Mark an email at 4am. And he'll respond!"
2) What kind of experience do you want to have on your wedding day?
"Your photographer will be with you when you're getting ready at home, at the church, at the reception and afterward you'll be interacting with them to go through pictures and design your album," Mark says. "They are the vendor you need to invest the most time in."
Just about everyone knows someone who has been burned by a photographer. You've probably heard about the photographer who yelled at the wedding guests. When you interview photographers, imagine if you'll like working with them. You want to hire someone who will help you create the wedding day experience you want.
3) How do you want your photographer to interact with you?
"Understand the difference between styles," Mark says. "There's photojournalistic, candid, formal...We tend to be more traditional with your family photos and more 
contemporary and modern with you."
In Mark's experience, most couples don't know exactly what they want until they see it. That's pretty normal, considering that many have never planned a wedding before! Have potential photographers show you the difference in styles and you'll know what you want.
4) Are you hiring a photographer or a wedding photographer?
Kat stops munching her baby spinach salad. "A wedding photographer knows the flow of a wedding; they have experience and knowledge. Someone who's just starting out in weddings doesn't have that experience."
Mark describes a meeting he just had with one of his couples who had booked him for a short period of time. They wanted to have a receiving line after the ceremony and didn't realize that this particular church doesn't allow any photos at all during the ceremony. They were going to have to go back inside and restage them.
"I told them it's just not going to work for what you want to do." Mark smiles. "I'm going to tell you the reality of your day. I'll even share some things that you may not have considered..."
In this case, Mark offered to take photos separately before the ceremony, since he and Kat would both be there. If a couple is having their ceremony and reception at the same venue, he'll suggest the idea of taking photos before, so that they can enjoy more of their day, but he will always respect their choice. It's their day!
"A weekend warrior just taking photos on the side won't know to make those suggestions," Kat says. "Photos are only a portion of what we do."
"I've had a handful of brides and grooms come back and ask me to photograph their second weddings!" Mark smiles and shakes his head. "It's certainly an honor when I get those calls. They say, 'There was nothing wrong with what YOU did,' or 'That was just the rehearsal wedding.'"
"That's the kind of relationship you want to have with your photographer," Kat says.
So now it's time to get goofy. I didn't bring Jeff along for nothing.
"Tell me something no one knows about you, Mark." I smile at Jeff.
What You Don't Know (Yet) About Mark
Mark hesitates. "I was born and raised in Brooklyn?" 
"Mark doesn't just look like Jon Stewart, he's actually distantly related." Kat pokes Mark in the arm.
"She's kidding," he says. "Actually, he looks like me, because I'm older."
"What's your favorite movie?" I ask.
"Pope of Greenwich Village," Mark says quickly. "And no one would probably guess that my favorite band is AC/DC."
"Is there anything else you'd like to add?" I ask.
Mark looks off, thinking. "I wanna have fun at your wedding. We have as much fun as you do. It's that energy, that chai."
"You mean chi," Kat says. "Chai is tea. That is so Mark! He's always mixing up words like that."
"Yeah, I noticed he invited us to lunch at the Peachtree," I tease. We're all laughing now.
"But seriously," Mark says once he stops laughing. "Once that chemistry develops, it shows in the pictures. We develop that 'chai/chi' that works so well."
Majestic Studios offers both photography and videography for weddings, combining tradition, style and passion to create results that become keepsakes.
fountain. It's been almost 10 years since our first Christo's wedding and it is consistently clean (not just normally clean, we're talking eat off the floor clean!) well-kept and elegant. When wedding season kicks in every year, we've grown accustomed to looking for the newest renovations, since there is always an improvement put into place over the winter season.
As impressive as the facility may be, it's owner Chris Kyriacou who makes it all run so seamlessly. With over 35 years working in the restaurant, he was practically weaned in the kitchen. Tall, with a commanding presence and a wry smile that comes easily once you win his hard-earned trust, who better to call for wedding advice?
I telephone Chris to pick his brain about choosing the perfect wedding location. "What questions should couples ask when visiting a location?" I ask him.
How many weddings do you do in a day?
"The best answer to this question is ONE," Chris tells me. "Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event; you want someone to spend time on you exclusively, which is why we only host one event per day. Some locations have one wedding after another and that's okay, but you shouldn't see another bride walking around. You should feel special on your wedding day."
Who is the owner?
I'm talking to him! Chris has been present from start to finish at every Christo's event we've had in 10 years.
"A lot of times you'll speak to the manager and not the owner. Find out how long they've been working there," Chris advises. "Chances are if it's not too long he might not be there by the time your wedding comes."
Chris urges couples to get everything in writing. This way if a new manager takes over your wedding planning, you know exactly what was promised and you can hold them to delivering it. "There should be no second guessing," he adds. "Everything is laid out at that first meeting so you can have peace of mind."
I can't even imagine Christo's without Chris. I've heard stories of musicians and djs not showing up for the wedding (heaven forbid!) and Chris has been able to fill in at the last minute. It's a privilege that comes from 35 years of networking in the community.
How long have you been in business?
A facility might be beautiful, but if they haven't been in business very long it means they likely don't have as much experience.
How much turnover do you have with your wait staff? What is their average age? Are they part-time or full-time?
"A lot of catering facilities hire part-time help, young kids." Chris pauses and I imagine he's shaking his head. "I keep full-time wait staff who have many weddings under their belt and lots of training."
How many weddings do you do per year?
If a location only does two or three weddings per year, it's a sign their reputation may not be as good as they claim. To give you a comparison, Christo's hosts 70-75 each year, which is a huge number considering the limitation of one event per day.
Is the food made on the premises? What is the quality of the meat and fish?
You're paying a lot to feed your wedding guests. Be assured of the quality of the meal. Christo's does their own in house butchering, filleting and never uses pre-packaged ingredients.
"Look at the lights, the ceiling tiles, look at the small details. Are they taken care of? Are there spider webs in the corners?" Chris says. "You might even look at the kitchen."
"You've let people into your kitchen?" I gasp.
"Oh, yes," Chris laughs. "I have no problem with that."
What does the package include? Is top shelf bar included? Are tips for coat check, maitre'd and bar included? Are there any additional fees?
You should know exactly what your event will cost to the penny and what it includes when you leave that caterer.
"Our price includes the linens, cake, flowers, food, bar, taxes and tips," Chris says. "We can even help you find a photographer, limo or DJ. I want every bride and groom to have total peace of mind, so you can just relax and have a good time on your wedding day. If you leave the meeting with a location confused, it's probably not the place for your wedding."
Chris' Advice
"I tell every couple the same thing: every caterer you visit will say they are the best. Go out and ask the public. Ask around and they'll tell you the truth."
"Chris, tell me something no one knows about you," I say, smiling.
He is quiet for a moment. "You know, I've never actually been a guest at a wedding. I've been here for every single Christo's wedding in 35 years. Never missed one."
"You're kidding me!" I exclaim. "What about your own?"
"Okay, I was at one wedding," he laughs. "I got married on January 7th in a snowstorm and we had a party at Christo's the next day."
Christo's Catering specializes in creating outstanding Hudson Valley weddings, providing peace of mind and amazing results. Christos: Elegant. Intimate. Impeccable. *Photos in this blog post courtesy of Majestic Studios Photography.
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