Planning: It's a Destination Mon!

Recently, one of my girlfriends said "St. Lucia is the #1 country for Destination Weddings". STOP THE PRESS...WHAAAAT!!!!! (remember she's a Lucian talking to a Jamaican so of course I disagree...biased yes I know). I asked her where she saw that little tidbit. She told me everywhere.  I visited St. Lucia for the first time this year and LOVED IT! So much so I tried to "convince" a 2014 destination couple to get married there, but I lost that battle. But #1 island for destination weddings? Hmmmmm, this I have to investigate.

So I spent a few hours on Sunday...like a lot of few hours...perusing the Internet looking for this magical "everyone" person that my friend was talking about. And what I found did not shock me one bit. Every site I checked, every expert that spoke, every frequent traveler that had something to say had a different answer.  Which leaves me to believe, the #1 country for a Destination weddings is...(drum roll please)

Wherever You Damn Well Choose To Get Married!!!! 

What works for you will NOT work for everyone else. What appeals to him, may NEVER appeal to her. So worry less about the #1, #2 or #3 choice and choose what best suits your needs. I am not saying don't entertain the "experts". But take from it what you will. Make your decisions based on what you and your fiancée want most out of the occasion and location.

BUT! just in case you wanted my "EXPERT" advice... go ahead I dare you to roll your eyes at expert, here are some of my faves:

Tobago:
I am a frequent traveler to Trinidad (every year for the past 7 years for Carnival) but 2013 was the first time visiting Trinidad's sister island, Tobago. I FELL IN LOVE... ahhhhhhhh. The beauty of the island, the warmth of the people and the SEA.  Perfect place for a beach front wedding.

Check out Magdalena Grande and Coco Reef. Yeah...pretty right!

(Magdalena Grande)

Barbados:
This small but beautiful island captured my heart 4 years ago and it hasn't let go since. Small in size but LARGE in beauty. The sea here is STELLAR STELLAR STELLAR! In comparison to some of the islands I've visited I find Barbados to be more modern than most without losing it's island vibes and cultural appeal. I just love this place.

Check out the Crane Hotel if you want to explore more. Trust me you will love it. - and ask Tony to double spike your freshly picked jelly coconut.

(The Crane)

Anguilla:
I have never been to Anguilla (YET) but recently while researching destinations I fell in love with the possibilities of potentially getting lost on this island. Something about this island appeals to me.

Take a look at The Viceroy which has quickly been added to my bucket list.

(The Viceroy)

*notice which island I haven't mentioned...YET...we are getting there though. just one second*


St. Lucia:
As I mentioned before I visited for the first time this year and was extremely pleased. I love a hilly island with beautiful scenery and lush land. And St. Lucia fits the bill.  A beautiful island get-away. This location will be specifically exciting for your guests as there are sooooo many things to do in St. Lucia. So if you choose this option make sure your guests stay for an extra couple of days ( or 3).

Check out Sandals Grande and Jade Mountains yeah...thank me later:)

(Jade Mountain)

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Jamaica (oh island in the sun):
My home, my land, the country of my birth. I LOVE MY COUNTRY and you will too. The Land, The Sea, The Air. The People, The Places & The Things. Also another great destination for you to turn your wedding DAY into a wedding weekend extravaganza. The lush landscape and the calming sea make this a toss up for me. Is it it best for an ocean side wedding, or something secluded up in the hills. Either choice is the right choice. You can't go wrong. Fill up on fruits and seafood, eat jerk EVERYTHING, and enjoy the sweet sounds of reggae music. Have I rambled enough?

Because I am so close to this island I have so many choices for venue options but to throw just a few out at you try The Rockhouse Hotel , Strawberry Hill , Trident Port Antonio, and Geejam Hotel. Thank me later (with some juneplums)

(Geejam Hotel)

Some great options for you to start your search so renew your passport, pack your sun screen and put the phone on silent. There is FUN waiting for you.

Pretty Little Things: What I'm Pinning

Are you on Pinterest? We are...SEE. And look at cool now finds we've pinned:

Pinned to JunePlumm Events "Gowns" Board

Pinned to JunePlumm Events "Centerpieces" Board

Pinned to JunePlumm Events "Decor" Board

Pinned to JunePlumm Events "Beauty" Board

Pinned to JunePlumm Events "Yummies" Board

Pinned to JunePlumm Events "What to Wear" Board

What are YOU Pinning?

Planning: If the Pants Fit Wear'em

Can we talk here...

Once upon a time brides used to look the same...Stuffed and Fluffed. But as we continue to evolve designers take more and more risks. Now some of these risks should have been buried in the designing room trash can but overall I applaud the style, variations and new trends we are seeing.

One of my FAVORITE new trends are PANTS!!!!!! Yes...O-M-G pants...bridal pants. I'm a girly girl and love my dresses and would never miss the opportunity to walk down the aisle in a beautiful gown, but I know soooo many women that eat, sleep and breath pants. Ask them to put on a dress and it's like you stole their man and ran off to Taiwan with him.  NOW those women have so many options: sheer, jacketed, dramatic, casual but all maintaining femininity. Just LOOK at some of the options:

* I am ALL over this! LOVE

Would you wear pants to your wedding?

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Planning: It aint no fun, if the homey can't stress some.

At a wedding not so long ago, a friend acted as first assistant to the JunePlumm Events team. Though she is no stranger to weddings, she has never been on the "other side". For a first timer, she was pretty darn amazing. She assisted the JPE team and the bride on her very special day and I thank her immensely. After I thanked her for the millionth time she responded by saying "WOW...I NEVER knew it was like this. I mean it always looks so pretty and easy but I never realized all of this happened behind the scenes". I simply said YUP!

Events are no easy task. It takes a lot of hours, time, patience and stamina to get the job done. But some people think it is as easy as uno, dos, tres'. Which brings me to today's post...Today I am going to give you a peak into Pandora's box. Just so you are a little more aware of what it's really like to be a Planner.

DISCLAIMER: The following is not only from my perspective, most of these apply to some of my planning buddies who have shared their stories. So former and present clients please don't give me the side-eye and plot my slow painful "accidental" death. I puffy heart you all:).

Now for the good stuff:

• Planners never always stress about an event. We too want it to go perfect for you. We want everyone to show up on time, all the centerpieces to look just as planned and everyone to be happy happy happy. But you know what they say, "it ain't no fun if the homey can't stress some"- wha, you haven't heard that before - where have YOU been.

• Planners and clients always see eye-to-eye sometimes disagree. Let's face it, we are planners not psychics. We make suggestions and recommendations based on what we think is best for the client's vision of their event. It doesn't mean they will love everything and that's okay. But if they hate everything...Houston, we have a problem.

• After an event, planners and clients always sometimes stay friends. Lets face it some clients are crazy and we can't wait to get rid of them. Yes it may sound harsh but bridezilla's (or as a colleague puts it..exorcilla...aka exorcist + bridezilla = exorcilla) is not only a show, it's real life. THANK GOD I have personally not had to deal with any but some of my friends can tell you stories that will make your head spin and then quit the business. The great part is, for every one bridezilla there are 100's of amazing clients that you would love to remain social with. But sometimes, someone will make you want to help them pack and hold the door open so you can slam it really hard when they walk through it. 

• Event Planning is fun and glamorous hard work and not as glamorous as it appears on TV. It can take 190+ hours to plan ONE event. The day of the event you suddenly become a mighty morphing power ranger and have to morph yourself into multiple personalities and be in more than one place at a time. All while looking like you have EVERYTHING under control and your heart is not racing a110 mph.

• Event Planners have all received extensive training in the fine art of magic are not magicians. Yes we can poof-be-gone most event day mishaps, blunders and snafus. However, we simply cannot do anything about a hurricane on your wedding day, your groomsmen that show up drunk, or your orange bridal portraits from your aunts uncle's sister's boyfriend from round'da'way whom you hired to shoot your wedding because he has a "good camera". We can't do diddly squat about that.

• Event Planners work 5 days a week between the hours of 9-5  9-5, 8-11, 7 -12 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. No I'm not saying 7 days a week 24 hours a day. But our hours vary depending on the event and the client/planner relationship. And since most special events happen on the weekend...you can kiss some of those good-bye. Oh and while your at it, some clients feel that 2am is an appropriate time to ask their planner to clarify the difference between cream, eggshell and off white...oh and to be chipper and AWAKE while doing it. Sleep...puh-lease, who needs that.

• Everyone LOVES an event planner. Some people can't stand us. Brides, grooms, dj's, catering hall managers, musicians, florists...other planners, need I go on? Don't let me get too overly dramatic-too late huh. What I mean is we have some high bridges to cross. Some feel we are not worth the money, some feel we are not needed, some feel we are a road block to a signed contract because we always want to negotiate, some feel we don't know what the heck we are doing and some feel we are all crooks and will run away with your money. Sigh... it's all true, some of us are all of that and then some. But that is only SOME. Because of the few bad apples, some planners have to deal with allot of scrutiny before the respect starts to roll in. It comes with the territory.  

Still think it's all peonies and bling? Well it isn't BUT...it is all worth it (to me at least). The look on a clients face when they walk into the room and see that everything looks amazing. The sigh of relief you hear when your client realizes that they just had the BEST DAY EVER and had absolutely NOTHING to do with it. The smiles, thank you's and OMG you are so amazing, you receive from friends, family, clients and on lookers. The feeling of gratitude that you were welcomed into the hearts and lives of a complete stranger who trusted you with such an important day and everything turned out A-O-K.

So no, it's not all peonies and bling..but for most of us it is TOTALLY worth it!