The vows have been said, the toasts offered and the last photographs snapped. There’s just one more thing for the happy couple to do: Party for two, please…let the honeymoon begin. C’est l’amour. But where?

North America

Vancouver, Canada
Can you do any better than Honeymoon Bay? Not likely. The small town on Vancouver Island in British Columbia is as picturesque as it is quaint, with a backdrop of mountains and lakes. The shops, golf and beaches will delight.

Stay in the heart of Vancouver at the Shangri-la Hotel, which prides itself on having the latest innovations, such as automatically-closing drapes and centrally-controlled lighting. It also features a heated pool, sauna, steam room, spa and excellent restaurant.

South America

Buenos Aires
The Four Seasons is where you want to be. Your stay will be inspiring. Just imagine champagne breakfasts in your suite, romantic candlelit dinners in the hotel restaurant, Le Mistral, relaxing massages, picnics for two – and all the trimmings.

Best of all, The Four Seasons’ staff is at the ready to craft your honeymoon to your specifications. In fact, the destination setting has itself been the scene of hundreds of weddings.

Brazil
The beaches of Brazil are many, gorgeous and varied. Explore Buzios, 120 miles east of Rio, where you’ll find exciting nightlife, great shopping, water sports and easy accessibility.

The beach city sports many small inns, but choose Casas Brancas Boutique Hotel and Spa for its amenities, proximity to the beach, attention to detail and exotic food. Europeans buy vacation homes in Buzios, so you know there’s a lot to do both before and after the sun goes down.

Europe

Montenegro
Small but astonishingly beautiful, Montenegro lies on the Adriatic Sea in southeastern Europe, in part of what used to be Yugoslavia. The busy town of Budva on the coast is a lovely old village filled with quaint restaurants and interesting shops.

Enjoy your own private beach at the Hotel Splendid just outside Budva, which lives up to its name with restaurants, bar/lounges, outdoor poolside bars and an indoor pool. Book a room and they’ll give you free access to the hotel’s Spa Becici.

Budapest, Hugary
A honeymoon in Hungary will immerse you in the country’s rich heritage of art, architecture and music. More than 1,000 lakes decorate the country – the largest, Balaton, is strewn with thermal springs.

The lively scene in Budapest includes almost-weekly festivals and sports events. The city’s newest all-suite luxury hotel, the Queen’s Court, bathes guests in sumptuous refinements, all within short walks of the city’s most famous landmarks and great restaurants.

Prague, Czech Republic
Located by the river Vltava in central Bohemia, Czech Republic, the fairytale city of Prague is loaded with Gothic architecture, relaxing cafes and intriguing museums – with natural scenery and lower-than-elsewhere prices thrown in as a bonus.

Two good honeymoon hotels in Prague are Mars Hotel and Hotel Maximilian, but instead, choose the President Hotel: 24-hour room service, health club with massage and treatment amenities, in-room refrigerators and mini-bars, blackout drapes and satellite TV.

Asia

Istanbul, Turkey
Straddling the line between Asia and Europe, Istanbul is a feast for the senses. Visit the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, bargain for good prices at the Grand Bazaar, go to a Turkish bath house and then roam Istanbul’s many enchanting shopping neighborhoods and museums.
Stay in the heart of the city at the Uyan Hotel – historic but restored with white painted wooden doors, wrought iron balconies, 24-hour room service and deluxe accommodations.

Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian culture is unexplainable – it’s sexy, mysterious and romantic all at the same time. Consider Bali. The hotels are memorable, service with a smile, always, and the culture of Bali is diverse and exotic.

One more suggestion: Luang Prabang, Laos and the Santi Resort & Spa. The buildings sit among lush rice paddies and gorgeous hills with tranquil streams meandering through the extensive grounds.

Africa

Spot the Big 5 on the Serengeti: lions, African elephants, rhinos, Cape buffalo and leopards, or get away from it all and enjoy a more intimate safari experience – whatever your choice, climate-perfect Tanzania deserves consideration.

The Tides Lodge sits on an enticing beach on the Swahili Coast, voted “One of the Top 6 Secret Beaches of the World” by the Sunday Times. The lodge pampers with spa treatments, fine beachside cuisine, glorious sunsets and early morning tea.

Antarctica

Unlikely as it may seem, Antarctica might be the honeymoon of your dreams. Especially if you take the M/V Plancius, the latest vessel to join the Oceanwide fleet.

Sail out of Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego in Argentina on this former oceanographic research ship, now outfitted with 54 cabins, including 10 spacious suites. Onboard, enjoy the restaurant, lounge, bar and library; but the real fun is the unparalleled opportunities to view spectacular scenery and wildlife.

Australia

Snorkel azure seas, then kick back in hammocks built for two while your wine is poured on Wilson Island, a dot of tropical paradise on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Your luxury “tent” is surrounded by white sand, palm trees and seclusion.

Or check into The Richardson, a striking new boutique hotel in West Perth near the exquisite Kings Park and Botanical Gardens and also close to the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Subiaco.

Formal

Tuxedo Cocktail
Nothing says formal like a tuxedo, whether it be drink or suit. The Tuxedo cocktail begins as a wet martini brightened and sweetened to great effect. The addition of marsachino liqueur and an anise liqueur, such as Pernod, Ricard or Pastis, change it into something else entirely. It is a sophisticated-looking cocktail that suits a formal event well.

1 1/2 oz. dry vermouth
1 1/2 oz. gin
1/4 tsp. maraschino liqueur
1/4 tsp. anise liqueur
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied or maraschino cherry.

Cold Weather

Wedding Belle
As someone who wed on chilly night in fall, I can attest to how memorable a wedding in the off-season can be. However, it calls for a drink of a different color. The Wedding Belle uses Dubonnet Rouge and Cherry Heering, both of which are herbal, sweet and heavy-bodied spirits that, along with their color, make the Wedding Belle perfect for an autumn or winter wedding.

1 oz. gin
1 oz. Dubonnet Rouge
1/2 oz. Cherry Heering
1/2 oz. orange juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Destination

Planter’s Punch
Planter’s Punch comes in all shapes and varieties. Most versions call for at least two types of rum and two types of juices and then spiral out into various and sundry forms of weirdness from there. This version has the traditional red hue associated with Planter’s Punch, and if your wedding is at a tropical destination, these will fit the scene and make for a remarkable vacation for all.

1 1/4 oz. orange juice
1 1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
3 tsp. grenadine
1/2 oz. dark Jamaican rum
1 1/4 oz. light rum

Shake everything except the dark rum with crushed ice. Strain into a tall glass over crushed ice and float the dark rum on top. Garnish with whatever fruity pieces of flair are at your disposal.

Summertime

Frizzante Mojito
Summer weddings demand refreshing and cool drinks. The Frizzante Mojito is delightful on a summer day and marries a traditional summertime drink, the Mojito, with that classic fixture of weddings, champagne. Also an easy drink to batch and serve in punch bowls, this will have your guests feeling refreshed and ready to dance.

6 fresh mint leaves
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. simple syrup
1 1/2 oz. light rum
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 oz. chilled sparkling wine

Muddle the mint, lime juice and simple syrup in a mixing glass. Add the rum and bitters and shake with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with sparkling wine.

Casual

Bellini
If you’re looking for unfussy and delicious, this is the ticket. The Bellini is the rare classic cocktail whose origins are undisputed. It was created at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, and uses the white peaches seasonal to the area. Yellow peaches will suffice, but white peaches make this cocktail transcendent.

1 part white peach puree
2 parts Prosecco
sparkling wine

Add peach puree to a champagne flute and top with Prosecco.
 

A bride needn’t break the bank when adding glamorous flair to her wedding day.

Inexpensive, do-it-yourself types of things – like tying vintage brooches to bridal bouquets or adding them to place settings – can pack a powerful, yet subtle and classic, punch.

“Today, adding old things to new things is considered glamorous. It’s the sign of the times. We like to mix and match things like that. What might have been considered unstylish or tacky before can be reborn into something fresh and new,” says Dallas-based wedding planner extraordinaire Donnie Brown.

“Twenty years ago, if you told a bride to use an old brooch or hang twinkle lights, she’d have said, ‘What? Are you out of your mind?’ But actually seeing the way it can be done now makes all the difference.”

Brown suggests taking a focal point, such as the head table or entertainment stage, and hanging sheer white drapery behind it. From the poles where they hang, fix white-corded twinkle lights from the top and run them straight down in strips.

“What this does is give off a soft, ethereal glow through the drapes. It’s really pretty. I always tell people that they want to take care of their guest’s senses. You want to pay close attention to anything they can see, taste, hear and touch,” he says.

For even more visual stimulation, the use of metallics – or anything sparkly – in centerpieces reflects light and shows new dimensions to décor, while a timeline of photographs of the bride and groom at each table can add a personal touch.

Spending a little less on the venue and a bit more on décor can also go a long way – but, Brown adds, just make sure you are at a venue where the food and beverage is good.

“You can go to a venue that’s not quite as nice as another venue and drape the walls and light the room to make it look just as nice as if you went to a Ritz Carlton or a Four Seasons,” he says. “Décor has become so much more complex than it used to be, but you can cut back on a lot of that stuff by focusing on small details.”

Brown prefers the look of set tables at a seated dinner to a buffet style set-up, but advises the compromise of a set table with a plated salad followed by a buffet dinner.

“The first impression you get of a wedding reception is when you walk in and take in how everything is set up, including all of the details that go along with it,” he says. “You need to really read between the fine lines when looking at catering packages. Often it seems like a seated dinner is more expensive, but it really isn’t.”

For more inside tips, check out Donnie Brown Weddings: From the Couture to the Cake, which includes a list of the industry’s top 10 most hidden wedding costs.

In the midst of planning the flowers, location, cake and the dress, sometimes the most important item can get neglected – the bride. All the beautiful flowers in the world or the best designer dress won’t cover up a tired and worn out bride. We’ve talked to experts to give brides some helpful hints on ways that they can feel and look great, inside and out.

Getting Into Shape

Brides may tend to put this off until it becomes crunch time where crash diets and crazy exercise routines can often lead to counteractive results.

Amy Ory of Amy’s Fitness Company encourages brides to start the health and wellness journey as soon as they get the ring on their finger.

“Getting healthy and in shape is not a mad scramble,” says Ory. “With health and wellness, there is no finish line; you want to adopt a healthy lifestyle, one that will last long after the honeymoon is over.”

Ory is an advocate of strength training because it burns much more fat that cardio alone. Pushups, squats, sit ups and lunges are all exercises she recommends that require no equipment, gym or even a huge amount of time.

“These can all be done in between errands, while you are watching the news or talking on the phone,” says Ory. “There is no need for fancy equipment or gym memberships, and you can still get into great shape.”

Skin and Makeup

Stress doesn’t even begin to decribe the pressure most brides put themselves through. Most likely, the dress, venue and flowers are top priorities. However, a bride can never plan too early for her bridal look. That doesn’t just mean makeup, either. Many factors contribute to that perfect look.

Bonnie Montgomery, licensed aesthetician and owner of The Skin Boutique, offers a few helpful hints.

Plan for your skin care preparations by booking an appointment with an aesthetician at least three months prior to the occasion. When considering an aesthetician, look for those who offer:

• Complimentary consults. This is the time to have your skin analyzed so that your goals can be determined. A professional aesthetician will prepare a skin care protocol based on professional services needed as well as at-home care. This appointment should also be used to book the necessary appointments needed for treatments.  

• Waxing. Book a consultation appointment at least four weeks prior to the ceremony. Based on the client preference and needs, this service should be performed two days prior to the ceremony. This will allow plenty of time for skin that might have been irritated to heal. If waxing the face, eyebrows or lip, always remember to apply sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 to the area that has been waxed. Waxing is an exfoliation process, and the exposed skin is prone to sunburn.

• Makeup. If hiring a makeup artist/aesthetician, begin the interviewing process at least six months in advance. It is extremely important that you take your time with this process and make the best selection for you. This is your day, your look. Most professional makeup artists/aestheticians will offer a complimentary consultation, but always check individual or company policy. If on-site services are needed, an up charge may also apply.

Hair

Shawna Burroughs, a hair stylist with Jara Herron Medical Spa & Hair Salon, specializes in bridal hair. She suggests coming in at least three months early for a consultation and either bring the dress or a picture of the dress so you can both decide the best look.
Burroughs also suggests doing two trial runs before the big day, and one of them should be on the same day as the dress fitting.
The more detailed the dress, she suggests a very sleek and simple look for the hair, either in a high bun (which is a new trend) or pulled back in a low ponytail.

If the dress is a halter-style, Burroughs suggests wearing the hair down, but tucked behind the ears for a very clean look that accentuates the halter.

And for a simple dress, add more detailing to the hair, such as soft curls or braids. She also mentions that more brides are choosing a hairpiece to wear in their hair after the veil is taken off, anything from a flower or a feather to something more intricate.

Bottom line, Burrough says, to do what feels most comfortable. If a woman wears her hair up most of the time, then she should do an updo and vice versa.

It’s time to begin planning the perfect wedding reception friends and family will never forget. Wedding receptions have truly become a main event in Oklahoma, and now, with the help of three of the state’s most talented and professional wedding planners, brides will learn how to give the wedding reception of the year.

Robyn Martin, owner and operator of the Wedding Belle in Oklahoma City is an Accredited Bridal Consultant and member of the Bridal Consultant Association. She’s been a professional in the field since 2000, and she’s dedicated specifically to wedding planning and design.

Talmadge Powell, owner and operator of Talmadge Powell Concepts, started out planning corporate events, political fundraisers and dinner parties and has worked his way to weddings.

“My main goal is making the look and feel of an event consistent,” says Powell

Arin Zinke, of Arin Zinke Design in Tulsa, founded her own event design and production company with her sister, Jessie, in 2004 and expanded to include weddings. Her company has garnered a huge following, and her weddings, balls and galas are always received with great acclaim.

With Oklahoma’s classy venues, spacious parks and artsy spaces, the sky’s the limit, but to keep it simple, Martin, Powell and Zinke focused on three main types of weddings.

The Afternoon Wedding

Venue: The reception can be indoor or outdoor; however, brides need to be prepared for problems with outdoor receptions.
“If a bride wants to do an outdoor wedding, the most important thing to have is a weather contingency plan,” advises Martin.
Zinke recommends Oklahoma’s luxurious mansions like the Dresser or McBirney mansions in Tulsa.

“The mansions have many windows, which can create some great natural lighting for photography opportunities,” she explains.
Food and drinks: Martin recommends pairing light hors d’ouevres with either a wine tasting bar, a beer garden or an old-fashioned lemonade stand.

Music: Zinke and Powell prefer an intimate reception, and this can be accomplished with live music.

“I really recommend something like a casual acoustic group,” Powell says.

Favors: Though certainly not necessary, there are many popular options for afternoon wedding favors. Powell and Martin prefer natural items, such as bookmarks with seeds in the paper or small live plants.

The Formal Wedding

Venue: Powell recommends a large, grand event space like The Mayo Hotel, and Zinke suggests the Philbrook Museum, both in Tulsa.

“The more luxurious, the better,” Powell explains. “Create a really formal experience. Opt for elegance with lots of flowers and candlelight in the space.”

Food: A formal wedding set after 6 p.m. dictates a dinner is served. This can be a multiple-course buffet-style meal or a plated and served meal with wine pairings.

“Most people think plated meals are stuffy. However, that’s the most efficient way to feed guests,” says Martin. “For 200 people, it takes 45 minutes to serve. If you have a buffet line, it takes an hour and a half.”

Drinks: According to Zinke, brides can serve an array of spirits.

“Try creating a specialty cocktail to be served before the meal,” she advises. “Then guests can have wine with dinner, and then during the evening’s activities, guests can enjoy drinks at a full bar.”

Music: If brides choose a large venue space for a formal wedding, opt for a live band with 6-12 pieces, like a small jazz band. They provide ambiance during the meal and dances.

“However,” Martin explains, “no matter what type of music you choose to have at your reception, make sure you have a professional emcee. They, along with the wedding planner, can control the flow of the evening.”

Favors: Powell suggests that with a formal wedding, favors aren’t really necessary.

“If you’re on a budget, utilize that money elsewhere,” he says. “Use it for florals. This adds to the experience, not the favors. If a guest gets up from a table to have a conversation, favors often get left behind.”

The Unique Wedding

Venue: For the bride who desires a wedding outside the box, Zinke recommends loft spaces with big, open areas, or art museums like Living Arts in Tulsa.

Martin reminds brides to ask lots of questions about these venues.

“If you’re going to do a wedding in a museum or art gallery, make sure you ask about adding flowers and candles. Some museums don’t allow them,” she says.

Food and drinks: Zinke and Powell recommend creating food stations for unique receptions.

“American food stations are really popular right now,” Zinke explains. “Guests really like personalized food, like mini burger sliders with fries.”

Martin suggests creating a specialty cocktail.

“Select a signature cocktail and brand the wedding around it,” she says. “Then you can offer a couple’s signature specialty drink along with the couple’s favorite wine and beer.”

Music: “With this type of reception, it’s a good idea to hire both a DJ and a local band,” Martin explains. “There’s a DJ for dancing, and a portion of the evening can be reserved for the band to create ambiance.”

Seating: When renting a space not typically designed for wedding receptions, it’s important to keep seating in mind.

“Bring in specialty seating, like plexi-resin chairs with clean lines. It can give a contemporary feel,” Powell explains.

“If you want to make it funky,” Zinke says, “rent some standard folding chairs, then make chair pads to match the setting. Use fun linens and mix in bistro tables with the venue furniture.”

Nothing professes two individuals’ committed love to each other more than a wedding ring, the age-old symbol of eternity, the unbroken circle. However, since the 18th century, this global icon for the promised eternal love and fidelity between two persons has actually evolved into two separate rings.

Most couples today splurge on a diamond-studded engagement ring and follow up with his-and-hers wedding bands.

And where love is involved, money is no object – within reason, of course. Still, each year couples spend in excess of $11 trillion worldwide expressing their undying love for each other. That’s a lot of love and commitment.

So how does one choose an engagement ring? It’s a little complicated. For starters, the old cliché, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” could not be more apropos. Everyone has his or her own concept of the perfect ring. But experts recommend shoppers start by familiarizing themselves with the four C’s: carat, cut, clarity and color.

A carat is a gemstone measurement of weight equaling 200 milligrams. Each carat is divided into 100 points so that one-half carat equals 50 points or 0.50 carats. Since the size of a diamond’s top facet depends upon the overall shape and quality of cut, there is no fixed size for a specific carat diamond.

What is considered an excellent cut is one not so thick that light incorrectly reflects out the sides and not too shallow that it escapes out the bottom, but ideally proportioned so that each facet is perfectly angled to refract light out the top, creating a full-spectrum, fiery, brilliant diamond. However, a diamond’s shape, anything other than round, also affects its brilliance.

Clarity is one characteristic requiring a closer examination than possible with the unaided eye. Any flaws visible under a bright light with the naked eye would automatically lower the quality rating to either SI (slightly included) or I (included). The top Gemological Institute of America ratings for clarity in succession, F (flawless), IF (internally flawless), VVS (very, very slightly included), and VS (very slightly included) have no flaws visible without a loupe. Even with the F rating, gemologists are quick to state there are no perfect natural diamonds.

Many experts claim color is a diamond’s most important feature, with more being less in the case of white diamonds. The industry uses a color chart ranging from D to Z. Colorless diamonds in the D-F range are very rare and extremely valuable, while the majority of mined diamonds fall in the N-Z categories with increasing amounts of yellow. Diamonds of any other color are rare and considered fancy colored diamonds subjected to a different grading system entirely.

After selecting the perfect stone, it’s time to select the perfect setting.

“White metals, 18-karat and platinum are still the most popular with solitaires and halo rings continuing as a major trend in 2011,” says Michele Holdgrafer, store director at Bruce G. Weber Precious Jewels.

“We carry top bridal designers, such as Harry Kotlar, Kwiat, Cento by Roberto Coin, Elara, Precision Set, Scott Kay and Penny Preville.”

When it comes to purchasing the perfect engagement ring, remember that it’s meant to be worn for a lifetime. Take your time and choose the ring that best suits her.

Sometimes wedding etiquette is common sense – don’t wear a white dress unless you plan to say “I Do,” don’t get drunk and gush about the groom’s ex in the toast, don’t stockpile the hors d’oeuvres in your purse – those sorts of things.

But some of what constitutes appropriate dress and behavior at a wedding is a little trickier, and according to Robyn Martin, owner of The Wedding Belle Wedding Planning & Design in Oklahoma City, many of those considerations are lost on too many wedding goers. Here are her tips for avoiding all that’s faux pas the next time you find a wedding invitation in your mailbox.

1: Denim is for backyard barbecues, not weddings.

If you remember just one thing when it’s time to pick what to wear to a wedding, make it to move the skinny jeans and the denim jackets to the back of the closet – out of sight, out of mind.

“Weddings by nature are formal events,” Martin says. “No matter the time of day. Never, ever, ever is denim appropriate.”

Martin’s top tip for deciding what to wear to a wedding is to note what time of day the ceremony takes place (read: break out the fancy wear for evening weddings, stick to suits for daytime ceremonies) and to consider the venue.

2: Répondez s’il vous plaît. (Emphasis on the s’il vous plaît.)

“This rule should be No. 1, in bold letters, in all caps and italicized: Always RSVP,” Martin advises.

But why? Because in the world of weddings, guest count drives practically all other costs of the celebration. When the guest count is off, the hard-earned money of the bride and groom’s families is wasted.

Which brings up another point: Honor your RSVP. Because when the thousands-of-dollars-an-hour venue is half-empty or when the caterer runs out of food thanks to last-minute guests, the bride’s dad isn’t going to be happy. And when the bride’s dad isn’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

And no, it’s not okay to bring a guest unless he or she was listed on your invitation, Martin says. This rule applies to your kids, too.

3: Don’t bring gift-wrapped lawn mowers to the chapel.

What’s a wedding coordinator to do when a guest shows up to a ceremony with a gift – in one case, a lawn mower – in tow? Martin’s not sure, even though she’s experienced exactly that.

“I’m going to make a plea to the public,” Martin says. “Ship your gifts before the wedding. Or, bring them to the reception instead.”

When it comes to what to buy for the bride and groom, guests aren’t relegated to the wedding registry. Martin encourages creativity and thoughtfulness – are the bride and groom practical or whimsical, or do they have special interests? Use the answers to these questions as your guide.

4: A wedding is not your personal karaoke party.

Unless you’re personally asked by the bride or groom, you’re not to volunteer to give a toast or to commandeer the mic at the wedding.

“I know of a rehearsal dinner where 40 of the 85 guests gave toasts,” Martin says. “Many of the guests were angry, and I don’t blame them – it was boring and repetitive.”

By virtue of his title, giving the first toast at the wedding is the best man’s No. 1 job, Martin says. If the father of the bride, the bride or the groom so chooses, it’s fine for them to offer toasts, too.

If it’s your job to give a toast and you’re stumped on what to say, don’t turn to the bar to loosen your tongue. Think ahead; there are several books and online resources that can help.

5: Don’t lose sleep over where to sit.

Breathe a sigh of relief: Wedding coordinators have scrapped the rules about where guests should sit at the ceremony.

“We don’t arrange seating according to bride’s side and groom’s side anymore,” Martin says. “Seating guests in that way was embarrassing to whichever side had fewer guests.”

When it comes to receptions, Martin has seen assigned seating make a comeback, mostly as a way to ensure that guests who RSVP have a seat.

“Etiquette is in place not to be stuffy or formal or over the top. It’s all about consideration, kindness and comfort, both for the couple and their guests,” Martin says.