Crystal Blue Planning Tips :: Cayman Islands Ceremony Locations

So you’ve decided to get married in the Cayman Islands and now you are looking for a venue.  Well, first of all, you’ve started in the right place by coming to Crystal Blue Weddings!  Aside from the fantastic venues we recommend (see our preferred providers list), there are also a number of “public” venues in Cayman that are available to you for your wedding ceremony.  This is the first in a series to tell you all about these spots!

I’ll start with one of my favorites, Smith’s Cove.  This cute little beach is located on the southern end of  George Town close to the South Sound district.  As a public beach exclusivity is not an option, but for the most part, this beach is quiet and there are so many little nooks, you can easily find a nice spot for your ceremony.

I do only recommend this spot for smaller ceremonies since there is just not enough guaranteed room for parties of 20+.  It’s just a tick down the road from Grand Old House where you can go to enjoy a reception lunch or dinner, or if you are coming in on a cruise ship close enough to not have to worry about getting back to the ship on time.

photo credit :: Aaron Rebarchek Photography

Crystal Blue Planning Tips :: Getting the dress there

One big concern for destination brides is about the dress.  How to get it to the destination safe, sound and wrinkle free.  Here is some advice…

::  Do not ship it.  Have you ever seen the movie Castaway?  Packages go missing (even if you can track them) and isn’t that the LAST think you want/need?

::  Call your airline ahead of time, to see if they will put it in a closet for you on the flight.  Many airlines will say “no” up front, unfortunately, but don’t fret.  When you get to the plane, play the “I’m getting married” card and most will be ever so helpful.

::  Pack a travel steamer.  No, this will not help if you have completely crushed your dress up into a ball, but for the odd wrinkle or two, that’s all you need.

::  Take turns carrying it–not folded over your arm.  This is a two-fold bonus…wrinkle free dress AND an arm/shoulder workout.  My mother, father and brothers can all attest to this.  They all took turns carrying my dress from New York to Italy and when it arrived there was not one little bitty wrinkle.  Also, their arms were all a little bit more toned!!

::  Talk to your coordinator.  He/she should have a local connection that, if need-be, they can take the dress to the local cleaners/dress shop/seamstress for a good steam or iron. 

Hope that helps!  Planning your destination wedding and have questions?  Let us know–we’re happy to answer them for you!

Crystal Blue Planning Tips :: Hair and Makeup

If you are a destination bride, you may not visit before the week of your wedding.  So many think that a few days is not enough time before the wedding to have a hair and makeup trial.  Well, no, it’s not ideal, but it’s definitely do-able.  Schedule your trial for the day you arrive (or the day after if you’re getting here late in the day). 

Be prepared for your trial.  What do I mean by that?? 

                    ::  Have some sort of clue of what you want your hair and makeup to look like. 

                    ::  Bring pictures of examples

                    ::  Bring a photo of your dress

                    ::  Bring any hair accessories you intend on using

                    ::  Have your hair dry and your face clean when you arrive to the appointment

Talk to your stylist(s), be open, candid and honest about what you want.  Remember they are professionals but it’s YOUR day so if something is not as you like it, speak up!!  The trial is the time to practice, tweak and make you feel comfortable on the day. 

Another tip–bring a camera.  When you’re finished, have someone take photos of you from every angle.  That way, on the day, if there is any question about what is to be done, you can just pull up the photos.

Looking for hair and makeup artists in Cayman?  Have a look at the beauty section on our preferred providers page!

Cayman Island Wedding :: How much does it cost?

Today I wanted to address a question I get on a daily basis (usually  more than once a day) ::  “How much does it cost to have my wedding in the Cayman Islands?”  

No, I’m not going to just throw out a number for you or give you the “magic” answer, but I will give you a few things to consider and steps to take when beginning your planning. 

1::  It is important to think about, talk about and visualize your wedding.  You don’t need to know the details EXACTLY but you should have a good idea about the level of formality, your “must haves”, your “must not haves” and general ideas you would like to explore.  There are a million sources out there–blogs, TV shows, magazines, friend’s weddings, etc.–it can get very overwhelming.  So, first and foremost, think, talk and visualize. 

2 ::  Develop a cost expectation.  You can do this by researching on your own or talking to a planner.  When couples contact me, after their initial consultation, I send them a preliminary cost breakdown.  This is just a starting point (since the actual decisions are not yet made), but at least it helps develop an expectation of what things actually cost here in the Cayman Islands. A cost expectation should be established before the budget of the wedding.

3 :: Research.  If you would like to do some research, you are in the right place.  Crystal Blue Wedding Studio was developed to help you do this.  Visit the Crystal Blue Vendors page to “meet” the top quality wedding vendors in the Cayman Islands.  Many of our vendors have pricing on their websites and if you can’t find what you are looking for, feel free to contact them.  They are here to help!

4 ::  There are tools out there that help determine the industry standard breakdown of your budget.  Those are a good starting point but you will also need to have some flexibility when it comes down to line item amounts.  These breakdowns are not specific to the Cayman Islands and the pricing will vary. 

5 ::  Money saving tip….You will NOT save money by buying everything at home and shipping it down.  The actual item may bear a less expensive price tag, however you should also take into account shipping, duty, customs clearing fees, storage and shipping the items back.  It all adds up! 

That’s just my two cents (no pun intended!) and something for you to think about. 

I’m curious–how did you develop the budget for your wedding?

Destination Planning Tips for your Cayman Islands Wedding :: Visit!

It amazes me how many people plan destination weddings site-unseen.  Yes, with today’s technology it is definitely easier to “see” locations from afar but if you have the opportunity and the means, your stress level will thank you for coming down for a visit in the early parts of the planning stages. 

Before you visit, do some research and make appointments. 

     ::  Narrow down the locations you would like to see for your big day and other wedding related events. 

     ::  Scour the Crystal Blue Provider Page to learn about all of the spectacular wedding service providers on the island

     ::  Make appointments with coordinators, photographers, venues and all of the rest to ensure you are getting the most efficient use of your time while you are here (and of course, allow some “reflection” time–preferably on the beach with a daiquiri in hand).

While you’re here, get a lay of the land.

Your guests will be asking you a million and one questions.  How far is X from the airport?  How do we get from A to B?  Where do we go for dinner?  Can you eat lunch at Stingray City? 

Since you are the hostess with the mostess you’ll want to make sure your guests are happy and comfortable and have all of their questions answered so make sure you check things out while you’re here! 

Nearly-wed mini moon

One of our providers, TheReef, has a great offer for you.  Whether you are getting married at the Reef or elsewhere, it’s worth checking out their nearly-wed mini moon package for your planning visit.  Learn more about it here.

Do you have questions about your planning visit or need other planning guidance?  Let us know!

Crystal Blue Planning Tips :: Wedding Website

I cannot tell you how many people have asked me, “Should I have a website for my wedding?”  My answer…absolutely, YES.  There is no question about it if you are having a destination wedding and even if you’re local, it helps you in the long run! 

Here are the reasons why…

::  Some of your guests may not know you.  Sounds weird, I know, but friends or family of your partner that live elsewhere may have never had the opportunity to meet you.  A wedding website is a great way to “put a face to a name” and learn a little more about you.

::  Informational purposes.  Of course this is one of the main reason for having a wedding website–especially if you are having a destination wedding!  Your guests need info!  How to get there, where to stay, renting a car, etc. etc.  They will still ask you these questions (trust me) but instead of sounding like a broken record, you can just tell them to have a look on the website for everything they need to know.

::  Insight into your planning process.  I’ve worked with couples who have blogged about their planning process.  If done right, it’s fantastic!  The updates make your guests feel like they are part of the entire wedding instead of just guests on the day.  It gets the excitement going for everyone, not just the bride and groom.  Be careful, though…don’t make it a daily blog about the gripes of wedding planning.  No one wants to hear from a negative Nelly.

::  Introduce your wedding party.  The website is a great place to show off your maids and men!  Photos, bios and some funny stories are great for guests to read and find out more about who these people are standing up for you on the big day!

::  R.S.V.P.  Many folks are opting for people to R.S.V.P. via their website instead of the traditional reply card that comes with the invitation.  This is definitely a personal choice, but keep in mind those who may not be Internet savvy.  You need to ensure that each person invited is able to R.S.V.P.  If not, you’ll be making a lot of calls to find out if their coming!

There are so many wedding websites out there for you to use.  Some free, some not.  For my wedding I used Wedding Window and found it really easy to use and set up.  There are also free website templates on The Knot and Wedding Channel for you to check out! 

Are you using a website for your wedding?  How is it working for you and what website company are you using?  We’d love to hear from you!

Cayman Islands Planning Tips :: Officiants

Many of my past couples have asked friends or family members to perform their ceremony.  I always love this because the ceremony becomes extremely personal–not just for the couple but for everyone attending the wedding.  In order for the ceremony to be legal, however, you must have a Cayman Islands Marriage officer present at the ceremony to witness that the ceremony has taken place as well as ensure the appropriate paperwork is signed.  Without a Cayman Islands Marriage Officer, your ceremony is not legal in the Cayman Islands. 

With that said, in Cayman there are some fantastic marriage officers who will also make your day extra special!  They are more than happy to work with you leading up to the day to create a ceremony that is personal, reflects your style and is also legally binding. 

Any questions or any planning tips you need help with?  Let me know!

Crystal Blue Thursday Tips :: Local Flowers

Today’s planning tip is about flowers.   Many bride’s have asked me what kind of flowers are local to Cayman that they can use in their wedding.  My answer…none.  Sorry gals, but it’s just not happening down here.  Granted, we do have a couple of flowering plants that you MAY be able to use for SOME aspects of your wedding, however, flowers (from flowering plants) do not love when they are removed from their plants so don’t count on them lasting for too long.

Bougainvillea is the most commonly use flower from a flowering plant.  I’m not saying I recommend it, but some do use it.  It comes in a variety of shades and the flower is really beautiful, just not exactly what you would call robust.  If you are going to use Bougainvillea in any area of your wedding, you must soak it (and I mean soak it) for a few days before use.  Also, do not use it in your bouquets, boutonnieres or hair flowers–by the time you get down the aisle, all of the petals will have fallen off or wilted. 

How do we get flowers?  Our lovely florists import them for us (isn’t that so nice of them??).  They work with floral farms all over the world and receive shipments about twice a week.  Chat to them about what is in season and what they recommend for your wedding–they will be sure to have a ton of ideas and are always happy to help!  Do not leave this until the last minute, though…orders need to be placed well in advance.

I hope that helps!  Is there anything you are wondering or need help with?  Let me know!

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