Tweet Up!

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism recently hosted an elegant event at the chic Sassafraz restaurant in Toronto. The event called ‘An evening of Tweets and Trends’ was an interactive seminar where guests were encouraged to send in questions about the islands and the destination wedding industry via Twitter. After the welcome remarks by Paul Minich, Country Manager for Canada the highlight of the evening was a presentation by wedding industry guru Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts. Rebecca presented destination wedding trends for 2010 and information on the offerings of the Cayman Islands. She explained that the Caymans Islands is very focused on offering eco-friendly weddings and honeymoons and pointed to current practices at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman as a glowing example of this.

Laura Johnston of Fathom Communications who produced the event explained this was a way of incorporating social networking technology to reach out to a large market of qualified professionals. During the event Rebecca took questions via Twitter from people who tuned in from around the world.

Some of the trends identified for 2010 are:
The two dress bride- Brides changing off into a second gown at the reception
Going green- Having an eco-friendly wedding
DIY DJ- Couples using their MP3 player to be their own deejay
Custom maps- Having custom maps done where you can give the location of the different venues to your guests
Trash the dress- Putting on the gown after the event for pictures when you don’t mind it getting wet or dirty

This was a beautiful event where wedding professionals got to learn more about the Cayman Islands, catch up on trends for the year and network with each other. On a cold evening in Toronto we all wished we could be on a beach in the Cayman Islands.

For more info see:
www.caymanislands.ky
www.engagingconcepts.com

Cayman Islands launches a fabulous site!

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has launched a new web site, www.caymanvows.ky. Designed to showcase its wide range of wedding experiences, connect couples with service providers and inspire them to find their own unique wedding style, the site is infused with numerous interactive elements and a gallery of over 900 photos to date.

A ‘Find Your Wedding Style’ quiz helps couples narrow in on their unique taste preferences and a ‘Real Wedding Stories’ section not only tells the story of couples married in Cayman, but provides an extensive photo gallery for each, with the on island suppliers they worked with to make their dream day a reality.

“Images play an enormous part in helping a bride to determine what resonates with her and her sense of style,” says Rebecca Grinnals, founder of Engaging Concepts, an expert consultancy to the wedding industry that helped develop the web site. “Brides get inspiration from other brides and so the site is very image laden and interactive so couples can truly get a sense of what’s possible, while identifying the look and feel that best represents their relationship.”

There’s even a section dedicated to the needs of wedding guests, with information on accommodations for all budgets, how to get to the destination, activities and attractions, on island transportation options, shopping, spas and telecommunications information. In addition, legal requirements, a special section on honeymoons and a wedding blog featuring guest entries from on-island service providers, add to the mix of content.

“The Cayman Islands offers some of the most talented wedding service providers I have ever worked with,” says Grinnals. “So we have included an extensive section on venues, florists, wedding planners, photographers, cake designers and more. There’s also an explanation of what a traditional Unity Sand ceremony entails, a popular choice for those who get married on the beach.”

Plans are underway to further increase the content including a section on unique destination wedding favour ideas, “must shoot” photo lists and even a behind-the-scenes look from wedding expert insiders. Grinnals says the site will be refreshed on a quarterly basis so brides will always be able to peruse a new selection of images which reflect the latest trends, colours and design elements.

For more information on booking a wedding in the Cayman Islands visit www.caymanvows.ky or email caymanvows@caymanislands.ky. In Canada, contact the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism at 416-485-1550 or toll-free 1-800-263-5805.

Caribbean Wedding Vendor Profile

Brian Nejedly is a destination wedding photographer based in Jamaica.
www.briandesign.com
876.355.8036


How long have you been a photographer?
I have been a professional photographer since 2001. I have been taking photos since I was 12 and worked closely with many photographers in my former career as an art director.

What are some of your accomplishments and experiences as a photographer in the Caribbean.

My accomplishments are nothing more than the images I take and the satisfaction my clients get from my work. Their positive feedback is very rewarding. I also love that, like any creative pursuit, always allows you to grow and improve. Every shoot is an opportunity to make something beautiful.

What do you enjoy most about being a photographer in the Caribbean and why?
The light and colour are the best things about being a photographer in the Caribbean. It's not hard to get the rich, saturated colours I like. I love to include the landscape and surroundings in my photos. That's what couples travel to Jamaica for. I like weddings here because they are more relaxed than typical weddings. People choose destination weddings to minimize stress, and less stress equals more fun.

Who is your most memorable Caribbean bride and why?
I photographed one bride who's brother died at the resort the night before her wedding (natural causes). She went on with the wedding, but not the party. She still managed to be joyful on her wedding day and I was able to capture a wide range of emotions that day. Despite the loss, it was still a wonderful day, and she knew her brother wanted it that way. Her strength and poise was an inspiration to everyone.

Happy New Year!