How could we not feature one of our own LUXE weddings on our blog – our very own Amanda Morris (nee Brown) is now a Mrs!! She had a beautiful wedding just west of Toronto in a beautiful sunken garden for an intimate group of loved ones. Amanda counted the days down to her wedding and was so excited to see her vision come to life. We were all equally excited for her. She was honestly a stunning bride, glowing from ear to ear, and her husband Matthew is one lucky man! Here are some photos care of the very talented Selina Whittaker. More about Selina below…

Amanda absolutely loved working with Selina! And here’s why:
Selina has consistently demonstrated a unique ability to document “your special day” in a candid and professional manner. Drawing on her considerable experience in event photography, Selina easily adapts to different situations with a spontaneity that is reflected in her images, while remaining non-invasive and personable. And yet she also realizes that communication and organization are key elements to a successful shoot. In short, she’s fun to work with and easily makes people feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Family shots and not-to-be-missed moments are all discussed beforehand with the couple. Selina’s goal is to visually relate the whole story from beginning to end. She also knows that all couples are different and so her wedding packages are completely customizable – engagement sessions, photo printing, and wedding albums are just a few additions that can be added to any package. She travels all over, from Italy to Toronto and everywhere in between.

Yay for Amanda!

What better way to express yourself than through music. From ceremony to reception, the music you choose sets the tone for your entire wedding day. There are many ways to personalize your wedding through the music you select.  For example, many brides are opting not to walk down the aisle to the traditional wedding march but rather, picking a song that best suits their personality. Make sure to choose a song that captures how you feel about your significant other. Something that represents your relationship and, most of all, makes you feel good about yourself.

Some of the most popular 2010 processional songs include:

“I’m yours” – Jason Mraz

“Come Away With Me” – Norah Jones

“By your Side”– Sade

“Such Great Heights”– Iron and Wine

“You and Me”– Dave Mathews Band

Alternatives to live bands and DJs is becoming your own DJ. This has become a very common practice for our destination wedding couples, as they like to infuse their own musical touch to their big day. It may seem like a daunting task but can be a really fun and enjoyable project for you and your fiancé. If this seems overwhelming, you can always request the help of your wedding party. By creating your own personal playlist, it ensures that you and your guests can dance the night away to all of your favorite tunes.

Another popular trend is to create a CD of the most memorable songs from the wedding to hand out as favors. You can customize a monogrammed label or stylish CD case for a unique and personalized look. Your friends and family can enjoy this gift for years to come. It is also easy to transport for those of you having a destination wedding!

CeciStyle’s latest issue, Color Me Mexico, features Tara Soloway as the Mexico Destination Wedding expert. Read below to read our Mexico wedding tips…

What Ceci says about LUXE Destination Weddings:
“There is so much stress and emotion in planning a wedding or even a big vacation or your honeymoon. Especially for destination weddings, you’re taking on a whole different level of responsibility and commitment as you enter into this unknown territory. To me, it’s most important to work with a planner that understands your location and can expertly take over and guide you seamlessly through the entire process. Tara and her team at LUXE Destination Weddings are a rare combination of highly professional meets exceed-your-expectations courteous. They are warm, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. And best of all, they always know how to plan a great trip no matter where you want to celebrate in the world!” – CECI JOHNSON

Mexico Destination Wedding Tips by Tara Soloway:

1. Brush up on the legalities: If you are having a civil ceremony, make sure you are aware of the specific requirements. For example, a blood test is mandatory for marriage in Mexico (and the test must be done locally).

2. Serve traditional, local Mexican cuisine: If you’d rather something more traditional for the main meal, incorporate Mexican flavors into your cocktail party hors d’oeuvres, or maybe a “late night” taco stand to spice things up! And request local ingredients like cilantro and avocado, for the freshest tastes.

3. Think bright colors: As red is a traditional Mexican wedding color, consider incorporating the hue into your color scheme from day one. And why not change into a beautiful red dress for the reception to really make a statement!

4. Treat your groomsmen to Guyabara shirts for their ceremony attire: While it’s debatable whether these shirts originate in Cuba or Mexico, one thing for sure is that they make great gifts and look good for beach weddings.

5. Consider hiring a flamenco guitarist for the ceremony: What a dramatic way to have your wedding ceremony begin to the sounds of this punchy guitar.

6. Host a tequila tasting for your guests as a fun welcome event: As fine tequila is readily available all over Mexico, it is the perfect way to celebrate with friends and family and get the weekend festivities started on the right note.

7. Serve sangria as your signature drink: Everyone likes sangria on a hot day, and it looks beautiful filled with fruit.

8. Make your guests feel truly welcome: Fill your welcome baskets with local goodies like a bottle of tequila, maracas, salsa verde, hand blown glasses or local art.

Get CeciStyle! sign up for Ceci Johnson’s weekly style magazine – it’s free and full of inspiring ideas – www.cecinewyork.com/subscribe

A bit of a blast from the recent past, LUXE would like to congratulate Raeann & Garrett who got married at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda, in the Riviera Maya this past February, 2010! There’s no mincing words when it comes to these two: Raeann is just a gorgeous soul both inside and out. She exudes positive energy and warmth to those around her, while Garrett is the epitome of cool; down to earth only begins to describe his relaxed attitude.  We got a bit creative on this wedding and moved the ceremony to the VIP area of the beach last-minute (where they don’t normally do wedding ceremonies) because it is a bit more private… it doesn’t hurt to have your wedding planner on site to pull some strings for you! The wedding day was bright with blue skies and high spirits; everyone had a phenomenal time! Enjoy the photos and best wishes to this lovely couple.

Occupations: Rae (Finance/Sales Manager for Crocmedia News) Garrett (Art Director for High, Wide & Handsome)
How they met: We lived in the same dorm Freshman year
What attracted him to her: everything about her, from her big brown eyes and beautiful features to her smart sense of humor and big heart.
What attracted her to him: His attentiveness and ability to make me feel like I was the only person in the room.  He’s pretty funny, oh and hot too.
Engagement story: We drove up the coast of California from Venice to Portland Oregon over Thanksgiving break, as we made many stops along the way we stopped in Big Sur.  The day weather was crystal clear, the water a gorgeous blue and as we sat on the bluffs Garrett said “I know what I want for my birthday, I want you to be my wife”, to which I turned around and he had this gorgeous ring sitting there for me.  It was perfect!

The Wedding Day
Wedding date: February 27, 2010
Number of Guests: 96
Her most memorable moment: When Garrett gave a speech at the rehearsal dinner, it was so touching I couldn’t stop crying, and when I first saw him standing at the alter waiting for me and having my Father, Daughter dance, it was so lovely.
His most memorable moment: When I was waiting for you at the alter.  That was pretty memorable. Or during the rehearsal dinner when we were all giving speeches and crying. Advice to others: After all the planning just go with it, let things fall where they may, remember each moment and take time to look around the room.
Wedding song: It Had to Be You
Fave wedding detail: the beachside wedding setup, my bouquets, the cocktail hour around the outside bar.
Signature Drink: Correlejo Tequila
Most unexpected moment: When my entire family let loose and had just the most amazing time.
Honeymoon: Kaua’i, Hawi’i
The day in three words: Best Wedding Ever!

Wedding Info:
Ceremony location: Beachside at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda
Reception location: Open air restaurant at the Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda
Bridal gown: Sophia Tolle
Bridal party attire: Bridesmaids – Navy Blue dresses, Grooms – Tan suits
Groom’s outfit: Paul Smith Navy Blue suit
Favours: Open heart wine stoppers
Music: 3 string quartet, mariachi band & DJ
Flowers: yellow and white

Fun Stuff
Type of Ring: Garrett – gold, matte thick band, Raeann – pave, diamond band
Wedding Colors: Navy, hot pink, yellow
Bride’s Shoes: Nothing special we had a barefoot wedding
What was borrowed? My Nana’s hankerchief
What was new? My Mom gave me diamond drop earrings
What was blue? the bustle string to my dress was blue
What did you put in gift bags?: We put our gifts in monogrammed cotton bags and included Lei’s, candy, water, Tylenol, hand wipes, pens, snacks.

COMMENTS ABOUT LUXE: Amanda Brown did a fabulous job making sure all the guests were accounted for with travel and accommodations. Rebecca is the cutest wedding coordinator I’ve ever met, fell in love with her and she is now one of my friends I keep in touch with from time to time.  I’m trying to get her to come visit us in Los Angeles.

Congratulations to Ashley and Michael, on their recent wedding at the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Hawaii last month.  Filled with the elegant sounds of a String Quartet, Ashley and Michael said their “I do’s” in front of an intimate group of close family and friends. All of these gorgeous photos were taken by Stephanie and Anna Reidel of Absolutely Loved Photography.

Ashley was not afraid of color! The vibrant Fuchsia pink bridesmaid’s dresses perfectly complemented the bold color scheme.  Pinks, corals, oranges and greens were amongst the colors used in the floral arrangements and throughout the entire event.

Guest’s sipped champagne filled with white orchid blossoms before dinning under a magnificent white tent, overlooking a beautiful ocean backdrop. Friends and family danced the night away before showering the bride and groom with pink rose petals, as they left the reception. What a perfect way to end the evening.

We wish Ashley and Michael all the happiness in the world as they begin their journey together as husband and wife. An absolutely wonderful couple!

LUXE Family Vacations is the offspring of LUXE Destination Weddings, founded by husband and wife team Matt and Tara Soloway. Just as their destination wedding business was established on the personal experience of their own wedding in Jamaica, once they had children of their own, the natural evolution of this niche travel business sprouted into a company dedicated to family vacations.

Finding themselves in a similar position to their family and friends with growing families looking for vacation options (but being people who also used to enjoy an incredible travel lifestyle prior to having children), many former nuptials of LUXE Destination Weddings  have also since had children and are now looking for a family concierge travel service. We’ve evolved together so to speak!

Times are changing and modern families are looking for vacations that suit their sophisticated lifestyles, while catering to the whims of the kids making it a memorable and easy vacation. As we all only want the best for our kids, why should our vacations have to be mediocre? In comes LUXE Family Vacations.

LUXE is a group of experienced travel consultants, event planners, graphic and web designers and photographers. Our team is pioneering the family vacations market, equipped with the most up to date resources and knowledge of trends and developments in this growing sector. We are a full-service firm designed to ensure that each family holiday we plan is as unique as our clients.

LUXE specializes in unique family vacations at the world’s most family friendly resorts, with an expertise in the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, the DR, South Beach and Cuba. Unlike a traditional travel company, LUXE focuses solely on said holidays.

Our main objective is to provide our clients with the peace of mind that their family vacation dreams will become a reality. We understand the anxiety and stress involved in planning a family vacation in a foreign country, and our mission is to provide a service that eliminates these pressures. We guarantee LUXE quality service to every client we work with.

And here’s a unique account of the wedding as told by the fabulous, Melinda Le’…

“After an AMAZING night at the Rehearsal Dinner, we woke up rearing to go for what I knew would be a beautiful day on the Mexican Riviera. Instead, what we woke up to was RAIN, RAIN and MORE RAIN!!! There’s one thing that I’ve learned in my tenor of being a wedding photographer and that is YOU CAN NEVER CONTROL OR TRULY PREDICT THE WEATHER!!!

Areej and Noor were calm and collected as they noted the torrential storms upon us. I have to admit, I was probably a little more heartbroken then they were, as I had previewed the GORGEOUS beaches, the day before and had mapped out just where I would photograph their formal portraits but as I said before Mother Nature has a mind of her own and she said RAIN! So the old analogy came back to me … what do you do when you’re given lemons …. MAKE LEMONADE and that’s just what we did!

Areej and Noor had a beautiful ceremony full of color and lively Arabic culture. The procession was moved into the hotels lobby terrace. The reception followed in one of the hotels lovely ballrooms. The couple partied the night away with family and friends and enjoyed the “true essence” of their wedding day. Love, joy and commitment. No amount of rain, storm or sleet can take away the real meaning of a wedding day.”

CECI NEW YORK DEBUTS NEW ONLINE LIFESTYLE DESTINATION
Wor ld-Renowned Invitation Innovator Expands to Lifes tyle Brand

New York, NY (7/29/10) — Ceci New York, the internationally acclaimed invitation and visual styling atelier, announces the launch of its new online lifestyle destination, www.CeciNewYork.com. This new resource marks a major expansion of the firm to a lifestyle brand. Founder Ceci Johnson, who has a celebrity-studded clientele, coveted partnerships with the world’s most prestigious companies such as The Breakers Palm Beach, LUXE Destination Events and GMUND, and a new role as one of WE tv and Wedding Central’s “Wedding Experts,” will introduce new lifestyle collections and an online luxury magazine, CeciStyle. The launch will go live on July 31, 2010.

“As one of the few firms to offer couture services and original artistry, we’re now extending beyond invitations and stationery to include all areas of social and personal style,” says Ceci. “Our new online channel will be a global resource for the latest trends in invitation design, expert etiquette advice and new product launches, as well as an inspiring source for living a beautiful life.” CeciNewYork.com will feature Ceci’s in-demand Couture services and Ready-to-Order invitation collections, along with signature Ceci inspirations for unparalleled bridal and event style. The site will showcase a selection of Ceci’s most outstanding and award-winning invitation suites, many of which have set new trends and standards in invitation design. In addition, she will offer expert advice on invitation planning, timing, etiquette and process.

In addition, CeciStyle will make its online debut. Each issue will share Ceci’s latest passions and discoveries, not just in invitations, but also in the worlds of art & design, fashion, beauty, home décor, travel and more, via visually compelling editorial features, inspiration boards, and Q & A’s.
The site will also boast the launch of Ceci Postage—custom postage stamps inspired by Ceci’s signature designs. This new collection will join the wildly popular Ceci Fine Stationery collection—social stationery sets that feature original artistry in various chic themes, the finest papers and printing methods, and gift-able packaging.

Users will also get exclusive access to national and international retail and industry events, personal appearances, and WE tv broadcasts, online shows and other events that Ceci will participate in. Ceci New York will continue to add new exciting new products and features to the
site throughout 2010, so users will be encouraged to join the mailing list and check back often.

Occupations: Acting & Sales (respectively)
How they met: Working on Disney Cruise Lines. He was a youth counsellor, she was a princess!
What attracted him to her: Persistence and determination
What attracted her to him: Good looks, charming, and funny
Engagement story: (as told by Darren) I took her to the harbour front, in downtown Toronto. It was a sunny, cool Saturday in March. We grabbed some coffee, and started walking along the boardwalk. About halfway into our walk, we sat down and just stared at the water. Amanda started talking about how we met, which was a perfect segue into my next question! After we finished reminiscing, I took out the small bell-shaped box, and put it on her knee. I just stared at her… giving her enough time to ask what it was (with a hint of a smile on her face). With my hand shaking, I asked: “Will you marry me?”… and the rest is history.

The Wedding Day
Wedding date: June 19th, 2010
Her most memorable moment: Reading her vows
His most memorable moment: Seeing her walk down the aisle, with just the slightest bit of rain falling from the sky
Advice to others: If you’re doing a destination with 15+ people, and you don’t want to do ANYTHING except get married and enjoy the resort amenities, you NEED to bring your planner to… (the most time-consuming thing) … organize the people! This includes your friends and family! The wedding stuff was perfect, nothing left to do thanks to LUXE, but if everyone plans to hang out and do stuff together, you need to have ONE person coordinating your group, or else it will be up to the wedding couple, and that’s all you will be doing for the entire trip. We love our family and friends, but we had to remember that it wasn’t a vacation, it was a wedding.
Wedding song: Bandolera, on the album Tropical Fantasía
Favourite wedding detail: The chair coverings, and flowers along the aisle
Signature Drink: Raspberry Mojitos
Most unexpected moment: When the rain let up for the bride
Honeymoon: TBD (most likely a Euro-tour)
The day in three words: Roller-coaster of joy

Wedding Info
Ceremony location: The Gazebo at the Majestic Elegance Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Reception location: Ballroom on the lobby floor
Bridal gown: White, strapless satin
Bridal party attire: Satin dresses in watermelon pink
Groom’s outfit: 3-Piece black traditional tuxedo
Favours: Cherry-blossom fans
Music: Personal Collection
Flowers: Dark/Light pink roses, white orchids, alstroemeria, and greenery

Fun Stuff
Astrological Signs (hers) and (his): Gemini & Pieces
Type of Ring: Engagement – 3 stone, .5 Carat on white-gold band. Her wedding ring – White gold band with 5 diamonds in row. His wedding ring – Thicker, white gold band for him
Wedding Colors: Pink and Green
Bride’s Shoes: White sandals, .5 inch heel
What was borrowed? Sister’s hair pin
What was new? The Dress
What was blue? Garter
What was old? Great-great grandmother’s silk handkerchief
What did you put in gift bags? Cups, sunscreen, aloe, wedding itinerary, assorted sports objects for the beach, leis, thank you card/welcome note, snacks.
Most romantic moment: Swimming in the pool, after midnight, with no one about, just the two of us

What is was like working with LUXE: Rebecca did a wonderful job! All of the wedding day details, as well as pre-booked excursions were communicated well ahead of time so that there was no planning necessary once we arrived.

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