How is working with a travel agent beneficial when booking a destination wedding?

When you book a block of hotel rooms directly or with an online travel site, you always pay the full fee upfront. When you work with an agent, s/he can negotiate a group hotel rate, and then renegotiate as your date gets closer, when hotels know more about their occupancy levels. Low occupancy equals deals! With an agent, final payment sometimes isn’t due until a month prior, which gives you extra time to firm up your guest list.

Are there discounts for group air travel?

Yes! For example, American Airlines will create a savings code — usually 5 percent off –if you have at least 10 people traveling their airline . They do not need to fly from the same airport.

How can newlyweds get upgrades?

When making a reservation, let your hotel know it’s your honeymoon! They’ll often give you a little something extra like a welcome bottle of Champagne, breakfast in bed, or even a nicer room at no extra charge. (Note: adults- and couples-only resorts don’t normally offer extras, as they cater almost exclusively to honeymooners.)

Any tips for arranging flights?

September us generally a cheap travel month as kids in the U.S. are back in school, Europeans are home from summer trips, and it’s hurricane season in the Caribbean and Mexico. Midweek flights can be cheaper than weekends. If you’re making numerous stops, consider a “circle trip,” which many airlines offer. It starts and ends at point A, but includes stops in between. This should cost less than buying a bunch of one-way tickets.

What  important issues do travelers often overlook?

Some airlines charge luggage fees. Some, like Delta, give you one free bag on international flights.  You also need to check visa requirements; many cruise lines leave it up to you to arrange visas for their ports of call.  And don’t forget to make sure your passport is valid. For countries like Costa Rica, your passport must be valid for 30 days after arrival, but others, like Fiji, count three months past departure date.

What are some necessities for long flights?

A blanket that comes in a bag is handy– you can use the bag to cover the airplane pillow!  Healthy snacks, like trail mix, are a must, since airplane food is either prepackaged or pricey. And DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are great for studying up on your destination.

Any advice for those who don’t use an agent?

If you can, book well in advance. Sign up for airline and hotel e-blasts, and monitor their Facebook and Twitter pages for deals, too.

One of the greatest types of credit cards available to the millions of people who apply for them and use them is the Travel Rewards Credit Card. Travel rewards credit cards offer many advantages for using them over and above using a regular credit card; normally, you have to have good or better credit in order to achieve one. Thus, the ‘rewards’ part in the title. They’re like rewards given to those who can control their spending habits and keep their monthly balances paid off on time.

Travel rewards credit cards are very close to airline credit cards, except that airline credit cards give you points for every dollar you spend on airfare. Travel rewards credit cards give you points for every dollar you spend on traveling; this means flying, hotels, rental cars, sometimes even restaurants, depending on which card you choose to get. Another great thing is you can get discounts at hotels and rental agencies, as well as use your points you’ve earned from spending your dollars to get free things, such as a free vehicle rental for a day.

Most travel rewards credit cards have something called “flights” or “nights”. This lets you use your points for airfare (flights) or hotel specials (nights), since a lot of people have different preferences on what to spend their travel rewards points on.

There are three very good reasons to get a travel rewards credit card:

1. Points you receive from spending money (which you’re doing anyways, before you get the card) are usable at hundreds of hotels (very good quality ones, too) and can be used for a vast number of airlines to buy tickets.
2. You can receive frequent miles, and even get awarded bonus miles when you get a frequent flier account.
3. The easiness and availability of travel rewards credit cards make them a great choice when considering vacations for you or the family, and trips for work.

Quite a few travel rewards credit cards give you really good bonuses for signing up or even shopping – almost as if showing you how it feels to be rewarded! How would it feel to get bonuses and rewards for doing your normal shopping? One example that we looked at gives you 6,000 reward points in your first membership year.

Some other travel rewards credit cards will give you double points (double of what you would normally get) when you make your normal, everyday purchases – grocery stores, some retail stores, gas stations, U.S. Post office, gas stations and even your cell phone bill. All this stuff you’re doing regularly now for nothing, when you can get rewards for doing it.

Travel rewards credit cards can benefit anyone: families, business owners, employees, customers, even just single people traveling for work: think of the benefits you could receive for this. Reward yourself.

Honeymoon in Paris photo from 10 Best Travel Guide

Rustic homespun details

Outdoor weddings — on a farm, in a vineyard, or even in the backyard — are huge right now, and t’s really no wonder: An outdoor setting makes for a fun, laid-back vibe and the decor options are limitless. So what kinds of details are in store? Vintage vases filled with fresh-from-the-garden flowers, mismatched china in bright colors, and homemade wooden signs to direct guests. Even catering is in on the action with in-season ingredients paired with local wine.

• See photos from at-home real weddings
• Get hundreds of reception ideas

Jewel tones

Say good-bye to pale pastels and bright poppies. Rich gem colors like navy, plum, and amber are going to be hot. And instead of chocolate brown, look to a soft creme brulee hue, bronzes, coppers, and black. Yes, that’s right — black is back too. Yay!

• See hot color combos
• Search reception details by color

Patterns that pop

Gingham, checkered, polka-dotted, paisley, toile, damask — you name it, colorful patterns are in and in a big way. Add patterned overlays to your tables to instantly perk up the room… find an off-the-rack patterned dress for your bridesmaids… have your invitations and envelopes lined with colorful designs. The best part about this trend is that it lets you throw around a lot of different hues and still keep a cohesive look and feel.

• Get more decor ideas from our wedding style blog!

Ball gowns are back

The full A-line silhouette will make a huge resurgence down ceremony aisles this year. And you don’t have to have a ballroom wedding to pull it off either — the key is in the fabric. Find one with layers of airy tulle or even cotton for an outdoor spring or summer wedding; get a silk satin ball gown for a more formal wedding; or go for ultra-soft suede for a wintertime wedding.

• See hundreds of ball gowns
• Search 1,000+ dresses

Two-tiered wedding cakes

While cupcakes and dessert bars have been popular for the past few years, wedding cakes are making a comeback — but not in tall towers anymore. Now just two tiers is enough to make a statement! Order several small cakes and put them on each table as a centerpiece, or set up a table of tiny wedding cakes mixed with desserts, cookies, pies, and more. And vintage cake toppers are in too. Find one online at a site like Etsy.com, commission one from a local artist, or borrow your parents’ or grandparents’ to make your cake extra-memorable. And of course, you can always make your own!

• Search 1,500+ wedding cakes
• See 60+ dessert display photos

New centerpiece vessels

The classic floral vase has given way to mix-and-matched clusters of vintage pitchers, vases, jars, and galvanized buckets. Other ideas: apothecary jars with colorful rocks, sand, or even candy; uniquely shaped glass vases featuring fresh fruits like raspberries and blueberries; and mason jars loaded with fresh flowers like daisies and dahlias. To throw extra color or texture into the mix, line your flower-filled vases with patterned paper or even fabric. For a wintertime fete, get knit and sweater-like coverings to line your vases and complement a cozy decor.

• Get 800+ centerpiece ideas
• See our guide to wedding flowers

Chandeliers and creative lighting

Lighting designers are turning out impressive designs, projecting chandeliers, large trees, flowers, and even city skylines right onto the walls. When it comes to your space, hang chandeliers in different sizes, add colorful lamps and shades to the tables, line the room with strands of twinkling lights, and don’t skimp on the candles.

• Get lighting ideas from real weddings

The updated photo booth

Renting a photo booth has been growing in popularity over the past few years. The updated version? Entire photo sets with fabric backdrops and props. Set up a photo area at the reception that’s big enough for a group shot. Drape the background with fabric and add couches, chairs, and plenty of props (think easy-to-throw-on hats and scarves). You may be able to have your photographer or an assistant man the station, or ask a trusty friend to be on hand with a digital camera.

• See photo and video basics

US honeymoons

This year, newlyweds will prove that you don’t have to travel halfway around the world to find an amazing honeymoon spot. Many will be looking to book a honeymoon right here in the US. And there’s no shortage of domestic honeymoon-worthy options — from a romantic winery in Sonoma County, California, to a hot hotel in Miami, Florida, to a cozy lodge with a stunning view in Juneau, Alaska.

• See our top US honeymoon picks

Themed rehearsal dinners

Couples are getting more creative with their rehearsal dinners and making them extra-meaningful. Invite your guests to the local pizza and beer joint down the street where you shared your first date and rent out the back room. If he proposed over champagne and strawberries, serve them for dessert. Going to Mexico for your honeymoon? Have fajitas for dinner.

• Get rehearsal dinner basics

Tousled up-dos

Hairstyles will get a lift this year in the form of sweeping undone updos. Get a modern twist on a beehive hairstyle with a tousled look and added barrettes, or ask your hairstylist to give you a slightly undone, pulled-back chignon.

• See 150+ hairstyle photos

Navy is the new “something blue”

Light blue is cute, but the new sophisticated version of “something blue” is navy. Wear a pair of navy shoes for the reception, don a navy necklace or earrings, or wrap your bouquet in navy lace.

• See our navy accessories slideshow

Going-away dresses

The grand exit at the end of the night is coming back in style; more and more couples are skipping the post-wedding brunch and leaving straight for the honeymoon. An exit like this calls for a going-away outfit, like a blue dress and flats or another white dress with a higher hemline.

• See dramatic exit photos from real weddings

Bright eyes

Makeup artists say that more and more brides are asking to emphasize the eyes, keeping the look natural, dewy, and glowing. Try sheer pale eye shadows in peaches and gold, adding a few lash extensions to the middle of your lash line and using a little eyeliner in violet or dark gray.

• Get our top makeup tips

At-home workouts

Beyond the gym, brides are enhancing their workouts at home with yoga moves and virtual personal trainers, like Wii Fit and The 30-Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.

Researchers found that after second wedding anniversary, men are far more likely to leave dirty washing on the floor and the toilet seat up, while women stop wearing make-up, slouch around in pyjamas and hog the TV remote control. By the third anniversary… 83 per cent say they can’t even be bothered to celebrate the occasion…

Does this sound like you? Don’t worry, you’ve just fallen into a bad habit and need to reevaluate your relationship and make a commitment to give your partner more attention. Remember when romance was always in the air? You can get those good old days back if you’re willing to put in some effort!

“The odd romantic meal would probably be all many couples need to spice things up a bit. And small gestures such as tidying up, helping with the housework and relinquishing control of the TV remote would go a long way,” the rep added.

Newlyweds can take this advice to heart as well. There’s no need to wait til the romance wanes! Get into good habits and resolve to keep them up! Some tips to keep your marriage fresh include:

• Write love notes and leave them in odd places your spouse is sure to find them. It only takes a minute!
• See something he/she likes? Buy it as a surprise gift. It doesn’t have to be something big– a small bouquet of her favorite flowers, a new book by his favorite author– just to show you care!
• Make date night once a week or once every other week. Go out for dinner, see a movie, or order take-out and eat it by candle light.
• Send a sexy email. Your spouse might be putting in a hard day at work, but you can give him/her something to look forward to when he/she returns home!

How do you keep your marriage exciting and passionate? Drop us a comment and let us know!

As people who sell wedding insurance like to point out, the average wedding in the USA costs $27,000, and in such a case wedding insurance would become a necessity (and a mere drop in the bucket, too).  If you are having a less expensive affair, you may decide to forgo the insurance. You can also get a less expensive policy that covers a specific risk (such as your luggage getting lost en route to your destination wedding; in such a case wedding insurance would cover the cost of quickly replacing your gowns and tux’s.)

About.com lists the following things that Wedding Insurance typically covers (Be sure to read the fine print of your policy to make sure they cover these things!) :

• Weather If your celebration has to be postponed because of rain or other bad weather, your policy should cover the cost of rescheduling.
• Illness or Injury If essential people get sick or injured, causing the wedding to be postponed, the expenses involved are covered.
• A Missing Officiant If your minister, justice of the peace, rabbi or other celebrant doesn’t show up, you’ll recoup some of your costs.
• Missing vendors Similarly, if your caterer, florist, photographer, or other key vendor is missing in action, you’ll recover some costs and possibly the costs of rescheduling the whole thing. (Er, can’t imagine rescheduling my whole wedding because the florist didn’t show up, but to each his own…)
• Your Location If your ceremony and reception sites don’t already carry their own insurance, your wedding insurance policy can cover damage to the site, fire, electrical or mechanical problems, or going out of business that causes you to lose money or have to reschedule.

You can also purchase additional riders, such as:

• Military Service Should the bride or groom be in the military or active reserves, you’ll want to be insured in case they are called to duty suddenly and everything has to be postponed.
• Your Gowns and Tuxedos including stores going out of business or damage.
• Gifts If your homeowners or renters insurance doesn’t cover them, you may want to protect against theft or damage of gifts.
• Liability Most sites carry liability insurance, but if you’re having your wedding at home, you’ll want to be protected in case a guest gets hurt or hurts someone else.
• Honeymoon Protect yourself against having to cancel your trip due to illness, bad weather or other unfortunate circumstances.

In case you had the same question lingering in the back of you mind… canceling because one person gets cold feet, or ditches the other at the alter doesn’t qualify!

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