Save up to $600 at Hedonism Superclubs Resorts

Don't miss the Spring & Summer Super Savings at Superclubs Hedonism Resorts if you book now through March 25, 2009.

Destination Weddings Expo in NY!

Worldwide Group Travel is excited to announce its new venture - Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Expo. They have partnered with the Jamaica Tourist Board for the very first time to produce a "Jamaica Only" Destination Weddings and Honeymoon Expo. This event will be held at the Holiday Inn Westbury in Carle Place, New York on Sunday, March 29, 2009 from 12 noon until 4:00 p.m. Worldwide Group Travel,has found that in this challenging economic climate, it is still possible for a bride to have the wedding of her dreams! The lush, breathtaking beauty of Jamaica provides the perfect combination of a luxury wedding location, romantic honeymoon destination and affordability that today's bride is seeking!

The Jamaica Tourist Board has partnered with Worldwide Group Travel as the Exclusive Sponsor of the event, the first of its kind in the Tri-State Area. At this premiere event, the Jamaica Tourist Board joins Gold Level Exhibitors Caribbean Bride Magazine, Sandals All-Inclusive Resorts, Half Moon Resort, Air Jamaica, and a host of other Exhibitors.

Brides, their fiancés and bridesmaids will want to spend an afternoon at the Expo and visit suppliers of wedding related vendors such as traveling photographers, hair stylists, make-up artists, creators of wedding favors and invitations, and a web designer who will help brides create personalized wedding websites. In addition to the many wedding related services, couples can also explore options for honeymoon resorts and activities. The Expo is expected to attract not only those planning Destination Weddings and/or Honeymoons but also those people within the New York Tri-State area who are interested in planning a family reunion, a group trip, or vacation.
During this event, attendees will be entertained by a live reggae band, free Jamaican food and a fantastic Bridal Fashion Extravaganza where the latest trends in bridal gowns, bridal party attire and resort wear will be showcased. One lucky bride will leave with an amazing Grand Prize of a Jamaica Destination Wedding or Honeymoon, including airfare.

Please visit the website www.destinationweddingsexpo.com

The secluded luxury of Balliceaux House

Balliceaux House (pronounced “Bali-so”) is a three bedroom villa which sits perched above crown point and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, Spring bay, and the islands of Battowia and Balliceaux.

The villa is completely open and aptly designed for the tropics. Constructed primarily of Brazilian greenheart and Bequia stone, the style is warm and contemporary with a mix of antiques and vintage furnishings.

The grounds are extremely private and well insulated by lush terraced gardens. There is separation of the main house and guest wing making it ideal for couples to share the villa. Indoor and outdoor dining tables are available, and the kitchen is equipped with a thermador gas range and outside grill. The atmosphere is pristine and windswept with regular trade winds off the Atlantic. Large ocean views are consistent from nearly every part of the villa.

Contact them at lainiegratz@gmail.com for more details.

www.balliceauxhouse.com

Vday

Happy Valentines Day!
Love is in the air and if our statistics are correct there will be a whole new group of brides-to-be before the end of the weekend. To those fortunate ones we say congratulations! Now the fun begins...the planning. As you begin this enjoyable, and sometimes emotional journey ahead really focus on the true meaning of the wedding day; the celebration and joining of lives, families and friends. First let the emotion of the engagement subside and then really sit and decide on what vision you want for your wedding day, where you want it to be and who you want to be involved and please remember to set your budget early.

We will continue to offer you the latest information on trends, fashion and general ideas on planning your event and feel free to send us any questions you may have. Hopefully we will be able to make your planning a bit easier.

A special congratulations to those of you who turn out to be Caribbean Brides!

Re-Discover the Caribbean

The region's only event entirely dedicated to growing Intra Caribbean Travel takes place on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th April - 2009 at the Sandiford Conference Centre - BARBADOS

Over 100 exhibitors including national tourism offices and associations, individual and group hotels, attractions, activities, car rental companies, yacht charters, event planners travel agents, tour operators and airlines representing 20 Caribbean destinations.

Contact information:

Adrian Loveridge
T (246) 428 2129
re-discover@caribsurf.com

www.re-discover.com

Get Groomed!

You do it once and you’re never expected to do it again so there is no learning curve here.

That’s the point isn’t it? You’re committing yourself to a life of selfless mutual consideration and commitment to the one you love, so if in your society the wedding is the deal, then it would make perfect sense to make it memorable, but memorable that does not grow old in five years. CB has decided it is time to wean ourselves from our barely instinctive macho-chisic ways and embrace our role…if it would prevent another groom from walking up the aisle with a peach satin tuxedo shirt to match the peach table clothes at the hall, then our job would be complete. Take these two points of advice from us, they could make you a better man and a better groom.

Your tux or suit
Whatever your choice, stick to traditional looks. All of you know one guy who got married in the 20 button suit with tails and a cravat. Nothing ages faster than the trendy wedding looks – this lifetime commitment deserves a prudent choice; one that compliments your beautiful bride, and respects time and its cruel judgment to fad choices.

No responsible gentleman should leave the choice of any element of his wedding suiting to his wife to be – your choices vary between black, negro and noir suits or tuxes, with the occasional variation for the wedding on the beach during summer, in which case you can play with whatever theme you wish – within good taste.

There is also no obligation for you to attempt to match your shirt, or vest, or tie, or shoes, or even pocket square with anything to do with the bridesmaids’ dresses, the flowers in the church, or any other piece of decoration.

The speech
This may be the only time in your life that you would have an audience that is primed to hear you speak. Possibly the only time your words would be deemed significant or memorable. If the only advice you take from us is this, prepare well for your speech; research and understand your role with regards to the traditional groom’s address.

Come on guys, embrace your role not out of obligation, or by sentence, but understand that if society expects you to adopt the traditional reluctant figure of the groom, then you should also expect to do other ancient things like present the soiled bridal trousseau to your mother to prove your wife’s chastity before the wedding night.

And one final note...keep tight reins on your best man and the freedom he is allowed. There are many cases where a best-man can ruin a perfectly good event with an incorrect expectation of the need to be comedic or embarrassing.

AK

Romantic Wedding Location

For couples ready to make the leap, a Caribbean wedding can make that most memorable moment exotic and exceptional. On idyllic Nevis, Nisbet provides the perfect setting for a totally uncommon and unhurried experience that special day.

This acclaimed, intimate Caribbean resort includes 30 acres of coconut palms and tropical flowers, a stately Great House and friendly staff. General Manager Jamie Holmes says, "Nisbet is proud to be the place couples choose to begin their lives together. Known for its famed Nevisian hospitality, the staff works tirelessly with couples throughout the planning process to ensure their wedding is seamless."

According to TheKnot.com, Nisbet Plantation is one of the "Top 10 Romantic
Resorts" in the Caribbean with the "most dramatic setting."

http://www.nisbetplantation.com/romance/wedding/

Couples who marry at Nisbet can plant a coconut palm on the property to commemorate their Caribbean wedding and enhance the environment, as well. As their marriage grows, they can return to Nisbet to celebrate their anniversaries and see how their palm has grown, too.

To make this destination wedding decision as fuss-free as can be, Nisbet
offers Wedding packages and provides a Wedding Planner filled with details about beautiful weddings at romantic Nisbet Plantation.

Jena & Ramon

On December 20th 2008 Jena Hunte and Ramon Miller became husband and wife infront of friends and family at Golden Groove Great House in Barbados. The two, both car enthusiasts, meet at a rally event and although their accounts of the meeting is drastically different they both agree there was a mutual attraction.

On the day Jena wore a diamond white gown with embroidery, crystal beading, sequins with pickup skirt by Alfred Angelo while Ramon wore an ivory suit by After Six. Sanojah catered the cocktail reception that included herb stuffed flying fish, fish cakes done on the spot, spinach quiche, cheesecake with two choices of fruit topping, and bread pudding. The wedding cake was done by Maureen Hollaway and had three tiers; chocolate, red velvet and vanilla. There were also three tiers of cupcakes all different flavours and guests were given traditional bajan black cake to take home as well.

Words of advice from the couple:
Bride- Enjoy the planning process and remember that it’s YOUR wedding, don’t be bullied into things that you don’t really want and shop around for good vendors. A good vendor does what they have to do to make it fit into your budget and into what you have always wanted your day to be.

Groom- Have fun! It will be over before you know it, so set aside a big part of your budget to get a good photographer because after the flowers and the food is gone it’s what you’ll have to relive your memories.

The couple honeymooned at Golden Grove Great House and then the Crane Resort both in Barbados.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Photo: Jason Lewis

Valentine's Day Gifts From Red Envelope

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but there's still time to buy a great gift for your special someone. Visit Red Envelope for an array of unique and personalized gifts from beautiful jewelry to office and home gadgets to clothing, flowers, goodies and more! Red Envelope has a gift for all occasions.

Row 28

For some reason I always have a great story to take from each plane ride and this one yesterday definitely gave me great fodder for my travel memoirs.

It is an early morning flight and I am lugging down the aisle looking for 28E. As I walk I see a man with a pendant the size of our magazine, then there is a man standing with a stop watch around his neck...timing something...then there is a woman sitting with her small bag squeezed tightly to her chest and she gives me the evil eye.

15, 16, 17. To my chagrin I am stuck in the middle seat on a crowded plane. On my left is a mature lady who we will call 'Low Talker'. Each time the hostess would ask a question they would have to say excuse me, pardon me, excuse me and have to lean right down into whispering range to hear what was being said from my neighbour. On my right is a man in spectacles and his name is 'Oscar the Grouch'. This man is an odd fellow. He is middle aged, constantly irate, grumbling, and intermittently burping. He is very annoyed that he is asked to buy a sandwich by the hostess for $6. He is tossing his hands in the air and storming from his seat to the back of the plane because the happy couple in front of us bought the new CK perfume and had the audacity to spray it in flight. He hears a conversation behind us where the passenger states he is from Bermuda so he spins around to ask "Do you know Philip Small the policeman, he is about the complexion as this fella next to me?” 29F looks cautiously at the person he is speaking to and then says no. Oscar gives me a look that says 29F is definitely not from Bermuda if he doesn't know Philip. In the middle of the flight be pulls out a large plastic bag with two sandwiches and six tangerines and polishes them off in a hurry.
"Can you believe she has her behind in my face?" referring to the hostess leaning over to talk to someone on the other side of the aisle. He motions to slap her across the offending behind. By this time he is wearing airphones and having quite a party in his own world.

Low Talker leans over to me and says "?????" I say "Pardon me?" She repeats "???abc" I repeat the same refrain. We continue this cycle a few more times before I find out that she wants me to fill out her immigration cards and hands over a pen and her passport. I feel oddly embarrassed and uncomfortable but I am questioning why I should feel this way. So...I proceed, NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, SEX, I pause to ask marital status and occupation as I don’t see it in the passport. Oscar looks over and mumbles something and makes a gesture with both hands and I pretend not to see. I race through this as fast as I can and then do the customs section.
"Are you carrying any firearms?" trying to imitate the usual warmth and inviting tone of a US border entry guard.
"Have you been on a farm in the past six weeks?"
"Are you carrying more than $10,000 in cash?"
Due to a confidentiality agreement she made me sign I cannot divulge her responses.

We finally land and Oscar the Grouch jumps up first and promptly instructs everyone behind us that the rear doors will be opening so turn to the back as it is faster. The last time I see him he is telling someone “Watch it buddy with that bag!” as he forces past an elderly gentlemen cautiously taking luggage from the overhead bin. Low Talker drifts silently into the crowd to wait for her connecting flight at 7:40 in the evening.

I love flying.

The couple with the white garment bag

As I sit in the airport waiting for my flight I see a couple lugging a big white garment bag to their gate. It is the destination wedding couple. This attractive couple in their twenties will be in a matter of days husband and wife. Seeing them in shorts and matching t-shirts always makes me smile.

They are happy, in love, and eager to start their life together. On my way to board as I walk by I give them my congratulations and they smile and cheerfully say "Thanks!"

Good luck to all of you getting on planes with a big white garment bag soon.