Bask in a world of luxury with a honeymoon at one of Sandals’ all-inclusive resorts. With thirteen locations throughout Jamaica, St. Lucia, Bahamas, and Antigua, each Sandals resort offers a lavish set of amenities guaranteed to ensure a romantic honeymoon. Beautiful beaches, luxurious accommodations, private dining, and live entertainment are just some of the quality inclusions that you can expect when booking your Sandals honeymoon. Not to mention your complimentary honeymoon arrival gifts that include sparkling wine, flower petal turndown service, floral arrangement delivery, and breakfast in bed!

Now the question arises as to which Sandals resort is perfect for your honeymoon. With such a wide variety of resort types, the decision really depends on the desired ambiance for your honeymoon. Sandals Royal Plantation and Royal Caribbean are perfect locations if you desire a quiet private beach for your honeymoon. Sandals Royal Bahamian, Montego Bay, and Grande Riviera are excellent locations if you are more interested in a lively and social location with active nightlife. Narrow your choices by feature, mood, and location with the Sandals planner (www.sandals.com/planner) to determine which Sandals is right for your dream honeymoon!

For week four of Monday Mixer Madness, Big Apple 2 Big Easy Bartending brings us the recipe for the Grey Goose Vodka Wedding Punch. This thirst-quenching beverage will definitely have your guests coming back for another glass!


Ingredients:
20oz Green Tea
5oz Grey Goose Vodka
5oz Lemon Juice
3oz Simple Syrup
1 Bunch of Mint

Directions:
Stir all ingredients over ice in a punch bowl. Garnish with blueberries, cucumber, and slices of lemon.

Stay tuned for Big Apple 2 Big Easy Bartending’s final cocktail recommendation for week five of Monday Mixer Madness.

The David’s Bridal Exclusive collection has introduced its own version of the Royal Wedding gowns:

The Royal Wedding Bridal Gown has a V-neck bodice that features elegant lace sleeves with a full ball gown skirt that creates a dramatic look for only $849. Available in white or ivory, this Kate Middleton inspired gown is now being sold at David’s Bridal stores. Make a note to call ahead to ensure that your local store has the dress in stock. 

The Royal Wedding Bridesmaid Gown is not available until August 2011, but is still available for online preview. This soft A-line gown features a cowl neck with lace detail and a series of stunning buttons that line the back of the gown. This Pippa Middleton inspired gown will be offered in ivory for $199 at David’s Bridal stores. Keep an eye on the David’s Bridal website for the exact launch date.

The long-awaited White by Vera Wang Fall 2011 Bridal Collection is finally here! The collection includes seven new gowns with looks ranging from the strapless taffeta ball gown to the mermaid gown with a bubble pleated skirt. The collection also introduces bridesmaid’s dresses, shoes, and accessories for the bride and her bridal party. And with price tags featuring such affordable prices, this new collection is definitely worth checking out at David’s Bridal!

And a fabulous destination wedding it was at the breathtaking Sandals St. Lucia Resort. Wishing you all of the best in your new lives as husband and wife!

A crochet hook is a must have for wedding gowns that feature a series of buttons lined down the back. Hooking each and every button by hand can be time-consuming while also causing sore fingers and buttons to loosen if one encounters continual failed attempts. Make the process much easier by using a crochet hook to simply grab the elastic hole and pull it over the button. Crochet hooks are sold at most craft stores including Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics. For just a few bucks, this handy tool is definitely a wise investment for your wedding day!

We enter week three of Monday Mixer Madness with Big Apple 2 Big Easy Bartending’s recommended recipe for the Tom Collins cocktail. This fresh classic is definitely one that will gain instant popularity with all of your wedding guests!

Ingredients:
2oz Tanqueray Gin
3-4oz Sour Mix
A Splash of Soda Water

Directions:
Shake gin and sour mix together and serve over ice in a highball glass. Add a splash of soda water and garnish with a lime or cherry.

Check back next Monday to see what cool and refreshing cocktail Big Apple 2 Big Easy Bartending has in store for us!

Kudos to Ken Marino of Fabulous Flowers for creating these beautiful arrangements for the Who's Who In "I Do" Bridal Show last weekend at the Westin. Ken's sense of creativity never ceases to amaze me!

Wedding gown preservation is a must-have if you plan on using the gown as a family heirloom or if you simply want to keep it intact as a memory of your special day. Your gown will be neatly packed into a beautiful window box that allows you to admire the beauty of the gown while also saving ample closet space!

BridalKare International and David’s Bridal are my two top picks for wedding gown preservation. BridalKare International charges $179.99, but you can snag the $99.95 special if you have an existing registry with JCPenney. David’s Bridal sells their preservation service for $189.99, but also offers discounts to those brides who purchased their wedding gowns from David’s Bridal.

Check out the BridalKare International and David’s Bridal website for more information:
BridalKare International Website: www.bridalkare.com
David's Bridal Website: www.davidsbridal.com