The Cayman Islands :: Honeymooning

We’re declaring October Honeymoon month!  Why?  No reason except that it’s a fun and not often blogged about part of the wedding!

Gorgeous sunsets + fruity drinks + a whole lot of fun = The Perfect Honeymoon.   Here’s Crystal Blue Wedding Studio’s top 10 for honeymooners…

10 :: Go for a helicopter ride and get dropped off at  Pappagallos where you can enjoy an amazing Italian meal in a natural Caribbean setting.

9 ::  Book a couples massage at the spa

8 :: Take a trip to Stingray City…an experience you will not find anywhere else!

7 :: Visit Boatswain’s Beach and the Turtle Farm for a day filled with uniquely Caymanian experiences.

6 ::  Listen to some live music at Camana Bay’s “Live on the Paseo” and “Pan on the Paseo”

5 ::  Go diving on Bloody Bay Wall (Little Cayman).

4 ::  Test your talent at karaoke on Friday night at Little Cayman Beach Resort .

3 :: Explore the caves, wildlife and breathtaking views from the bluff on Cayman Brac.

2 :: Take in the absolutely gorgeous sunsets on any of the three Cayman Islands

1 ::  Grab a beach chair and sunblock and just RELAX!

Cayman Islands Wedding Venue :: Ristorante Pappagallo

I’m a little hungry as I write this, so just the thought of this place makes my mouth water…If you’ve been there, you know.  If not, get there NOW because you are missing out!

Pappagallos has the whole package.  A unique venue tucked away in the district of West Bay, you will find this amazing Italian-meets-Caribbean fine dining restaurant.  This thatched roof restaurant has three different dining rooms, so can accommodate parties of small or large.  The menu is beautiful and the wine list extensive.  Of course let’s not forget the amazing service you will receive.  Vico and Franco, along with the rest of the team, will take great care of you and give you an unforgettable experience.  Oh, and let’s not forget Humphrey Bogart…he will meet and greet you at the door and make you feel welcome.  P.S.  HB is a parrot.

Find out more about Pappagallos by clicking here.

Cayman Islands Wedding Venue :: LUCA

You have seen it featured in many of our real weddings and we just wanted you to get to know LUCA a bit better!  One of Grand Cayman’s most popular wedding venues, Luca combines amazing Italian cuisine with a contemporary atmosphere, just a few steps to the Beach.  Located on the ground floor of the Caribbean Club, LUCA is a fabulous location for any wedding reception! 

Not only are the owners and staff downright awesome but the chef is truly talented…anything you want, they will make.  I had a client that requested a mudslide cake for their wedding cake and let me tell you, that was one of the BEST cakes I have ever tasted (and as my Mom says, I’m not a cake person)! 

As you can see, Luca has a large wine room with wines from all over the world.  The setting inside is contemporary with beautiful art work, dark wood furniture and gorgeous ambient light.  The patio outside is perfect for dining as well, overlooking the beach and Cayman Sea!

Are you having your wedding at LUCA (or did you have your wedding there)?  We would love to hear about your experience!  To learn more about LUCA, click here.

Crystal Blue Providers :: Mise En Place and Sunset Bay

We hope you’re hungry because today we are featuring one of the Cayman Islands finest professional catering companies and their exclusive venue.  Mise En Place (pronounced meez on plahs) was created in 2002 by Chef Sean Collins.  Taking your meal and event to a new level, Mise En Place creates not just food, but exquisite dining experiences to stimulate your senses. 

In addition to culinary delights, Mise En Place now offers an exclusive venue, Sunset Bay.  When I tell you this venue is beautiful, that doesn’t even come close to describing how amazing it actually is!  Water, beach, and garden all in one…what more could you want??

So, I had a few questions for the team at Mise En Place and I thought I’d share them (and the answers) with you…

Crystal Blue:  Describe your process with a couple.  How do you create these dining experiences?

Mise En Place:  We meet with the couple (either in person or by phone) and discuss not only the kind of food they like but the style of their wedding, their vision and their overall personalities.  From there we create a menu which includes the food items as well creative service and display ideas for them to review.  After they review it, we can tweak it however they would like to suit their needs and their vision.  It’s important to us that the food fit in with the overall flow of the event.

Crystal Blue:  What do you mean when you say service and display ideas?

Mise En Place:  There are various ways to serve a meal–buffet style, station style or a plated meal, to name a few.  We need to figure out, with the couple, the best style of service for their wedding.  Also, we like to get creative and display our food in different ways–not just on plates.  It allows us to reflect the couples personality and vision to make the entire dining experience personal.

Crystal Blue:  Tell us more about Sunset Bay!  What a gorgeous property!!

Mise En Place:  Sunset Bay is a private residence in the Prospect area of Grand Cayman.  We have been fortunate enough to have been granted permission to use Sunset Bay as a venue for weddings and other special events.  The property overlooks the water, has a beautiful garden as well as a beach and, as the name implies, has gorgeous sunsets! 

Here are some photos of the creations of Mise En Place as well as Sunset Bay.  To find out more about Sean and his team, click here.  To see what Sunset Bay has to offer, click here.

photo credit::

Cake:: David Wolfe Photography

Ceremony::  David Wolfe Photography

Sunset Bay at night :: David Wolfe Photography

Cayman Islands Inspired Story Board :: Starfish

Did you know you can find starfish in the Cayman Islands???  There is a place called Starfish point where you can find  orange starfish on most days.  Absolutely gorgeous animals these starfish are and today, they have inspired my board.  You will obviously see I didn’t go with the Cayman orange starfish, but but the white starfish people tend to use more for weddings.

What inspires you??  We would love to know!

Cayman Islands Real Wedding :: Alexis and Elliot, Part 2

I am so in love with this wedding (if you couldn’t tell already!).  Almost next door to the private residence where they had the ceremony is the Reef Grill, where they had their reception.  Afterwards everyone partied the night away at the Royal Palms complete with a trunk full of fun costume dress items. 

What’s that you say?  You want to know more??  Here you go…

Crystal Blue ::  Tell me more about it.  Where did you stay, what were your favorite moments, etc. 

Alexis ::  We all stayed at the Sunshine Suites down the road from the private home.  It’s a great little place, very convenient and just across the road from the beach.  Favorite moments…it’s hard to pick one or two moments from the day.  Just looking into Elliot’s eyes and realizing that our dreams were happening. Every moment that we locked eyes from the vows, to the photos, to our first dance. Each time I felt so safe and so at ease, nothing made more sense than being in that moment with him. 

Crystal Blue ::  That’s so romantic and very sweet!!!  I love all of the personal touches of your weddings and how you designed and made almost everything yourself.  What was your favorite design element?

Alexis :: It’s a toss up between my dress and my invitations!  The dress was only the third or fourth I tried on–I just knew!!

Crystal Blue ::  Well it is absolutely stunning!  Thank you so much for sharing your day with us!!! 

Vendors who made this day happen ::

Coordination ::  Celebrations

Photography ::  Rebecca Davidson Photography

Reception venue ::  The Reef Grill

Cayman Islands Real Wedding :: Alexis and Elliot

Good morning lovelies!  I hope you had a nice weekend and are ready for some fun today.  I was digging in the Crystal Blue Archives and came across this Grand Cayman wedding we featured back in our early days.  I loved it then and still love it so much now!  This is just part one, come back tomorrow for part two!!

Alexis is a designer so almost all of the elements you see she’s designed and made, including the gorgeous bridesmaids bouquets, invitations, escort cards, and table decor. 

The ceremony was held at a private home on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.  I have to tell you,  I walk by this home at least once a week and it always catches my attention.  It is absolutely gorgeous in an un-pretentious way and just the perfect place for this fun couple! 

Don’t you just L-O-V-E everything about this wedding???  I do!!!

Back in a bit with some more for you!

photo credit ::  Rebecca Davidson Photography

Crystal Blue Top 10 :: Excursions to plan for your guests

So you’re coming to Cayman for your destination wedding and you would like to plan an excursion or two for you and your guests.  What to do, what to do…here are our top 10 ideas for you!

10 ::  Without a doubt, Stingray City.  We mentioned the place earlier today and it’s a must-do.  No, you can’t have lunch there or do any shopping, but you can play with the stingrays, feed them, hold them and love them.  It’s all natural habitat, but they are the sweetest stingrays in the world!

9 ::  Nighttime Kayak Tour.  Cayman Kayaks takes you to Cayman’s Mangroves, you hop in a kayak and explore.  Because it’s nighttime, your movement awakens the bioluminescence for an amazing aqua blue glow.  It is a truly one of a kind experience!

8 ::  Red Sail Sunset Cruise.  Whether you charter one of the lovely Red Sail Catamarans or join in with another group, this cruise is sure not to disappoint.  Sail while you watch the gorgeous Cayman Islands sunsets, enjoy a lovely beverage and let your guests get to know each other.

7 :: Deep Sea Fishing.  Charter a boat and take your guests deep sea fishing.  Added bonus…you get to keep and eat anything you catch!!!!

6 ::  Cayman Safari.  If you’re not into the water thing, take your group on a Cayman Safari.  This fun tour covers a number of Cayman landmarks like Pedro St. James, the Botanical Gardens and more.  Enjoy a Cayman Style lunch as well!

5 ::  Organize a Rum tasting.  The Caribbean produces some of the finest rums–why not try them?  Jeremy from Blackbeards would be happy to work with you and organize a rum tasting for you and your guests. 

4 ::  Explore the caves!  If you’re in Cayman Brac, this is something you do not want to miss.  There are several to check out–make a game of it!!

3 :: Go snorkeling.  Cayman boasts some of the nicest reef in the Caribbean and if you don’t dive, you must at least try snorkeling.  Bloody Bay wall off of Little Cayman is one of the best most gorgeous spots I’ve ever been–not to be missed!  You can charter a boat for your group, or go along with others.  You’re sure to spot some beautiful treasures regardless of which island you’re on and what sites you see.

2 ::  Cockails and live music on the Paseo.  Throughout the week this main street of Camana Bay entertains with various different local musical artists.  Take your group here and have some cocktails, nibbles or dinner at Ortanique  .  You all will be sure to enjoy!!

1 ::  Beach Barbecue.  You’re at the beach, so you might as well!  The team from Mise En Place can create a fun and yummy menu.  Pair that with some tiki torches, a steel drummer and a fire dancer and you’re in business!

Cayman Islands Real Wedding :: Rosani and Jerome

Welcome to today’s real wedding of Rosani and Jerome!  I absolutely loved this pink affair and when I say every detail was carefully thought out, I mean EVERY detail!  This wedding is your classic fairy tale wedding from the beautiful gown to the amazing head table.  Combined with fantastic lighting, crystals and amazing floral design, you can’t get much better than this wedding!

Rosani and Jerome are from Cayman, but when they got engaged they started planning a destination wedding in Hawaii.  They stopped those plans and “returned” to Cayman for two reasons…First, ALL of their friends and family could be there to support and celebrate with them.  Second, they knew they could not find a location more beautiful than Cayman!!  (True, true!)

Oh, the crystals, the flowers, the beautiful pink lighting…I just can’t get enough of it!!!  Even the cake cutter was bling’d out!!

Providers who made this day happen :: 

Cake ::  Treats

Coordination, design, equipment rentals, floral ::  Celebrations

Photography ::  Better Angle

Venue ::  Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort

Transportation ::  Grand Limousine

Videography ::  VIP Productions

Crystal Blue Vendor Feature :: Fireworks Limited

Let’s start this day with a BANG!  Sorry, had to do it…  Today we would like to introduce you to Fireworks Limited.  Want to really punctuate your wedding?  What better way than a breathtaking fireworks show! 

Crystal Blue :: Describe your company to us.

Fireworks Limited ::  We are a full service commercial pyrotechnics display company.  We have a pyrotechnician on staff to design and produce our shows so they are always creatively arranged and designed to work with our client’s budget and design criteria. 

Crystal Blue :: Describe the process that you go through with a couple.

Fireworks Limited :: We work with our clients in conjunction with their venue or wedding planner.  Working with a couple or venue we first expectations the client has and the amount they are expecting to spend.  We talk budget not to work to ‘spend it all’ but rather to more accurately produce a proposal that balances show length or artistic expectations with the budget.  Once the budget and design expectations are addressed we generate a proposal with an outline of the show description and execute a booking contract with the client.  From the booking we take care of all other details for example securing all fire department permits, civil aviation permits, insurance coverage (with specific named insureds if requested), and arrange the safe shoot location including barge if water based as most shows in Cayman tend to be.  All that is left for the client is to enjoy the show!

Crystal Blue ::  Tell us something that we wouldn’t know just by looking on your website.

Fireworks Limited :: You don’t have to be locked into the ‘typical’ show of 5 minutes with an opener, a body section and a grand finale.  We love to get creative and welcome working on alternative concepts for shows such as all colour specific (white’s and blue’s only for example), or taking the P-Diddy White Party approach and shooting one firework every minute…all night long…  We are only limited by imagination!

Crystal Blue :: If you could give one piece of advice to couples, what would it be?

Fireworks Limited :: An intense and artistic 1-3 minute show is far more memorable than a ‘thin’ 5-8 min show produced against the same budget.  Always focus on the product going into the sky than the amount of time from start to finish.  You will end up with an incredible show!

Thank you guys for taking the time to “speak” with us today and introduce yourselves to our readers!!!  I  personally think that a fireworks show makes an incredible and lasting impression on all of your guests and if the budget allows, go for it!! 

See more about Fireworks Limited here.

photo credit ::  David Wolfe Photography

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