Well here we are finding ourselves in the midst of wedding season! So whether you are the bride-to-be, a bridesmaid, friend or family member of the soon-to-be married, you’ll eventually find yourself on the hunt for that perfect summery dress and fun accessories right? What do you plan on wearing to that bridal shower, bridesmaids luncheon, rehearsal dinner, or just night out with your girls?? Well there are lots of options out there (thank goodness) but I thought I’d share one of my favorite stores, Francesca’s Collection. I was super excited when they opened one up here in Gainesville. I’ve purchased several amazing dresses from Francesca’s for other bridal showers I’ve attended and always find them to be super affordable. I love their totes and clutches…would make for great bridesmaids gifts too don’t you think? And I think they have a pretty sweet collection of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets too. I honestly usually find myself lost in their hodge podge of random gifts section of the store…with gifts that may warm your bridesmaids’ hearts and others that will just make them flat out laught out loud!
Here are some picks that I thought were perfect for this spring and summer!
Sailing Through Dress (left); Mint Condition Dress (right)
Sunny Surroundings Dress (left); Plum Pleats Dress (right)
Carnival Ride Dress (left); Ocean Stripes Dress (Right)
Just Peachy Necklace (left); Sentiment Necklace (right)
Web of Love Ring (left) and Rosy Ring (right)
Jungle Clutch (left); Sun Kissed Clutch (right)
Surprisingly other than my own, there is actually only one other wedding that I know of taking place in my “friend circle” this summer. I haven’t started shopping for my own events just yet but plan to get on that asap! Yay!
So what stores are your favs? Have you been invited to a million weddings or bridal events already?
Categories:
Bridal Fashion,
Wedding Accessories,
Wedding Gifts & Favors,
Wedding Planning & Inspiration | Tags:
Bridal Accessories,
Bridal outfits,
Bridal Shower Dress,
Bridesmaids Gifts,
Rehearsal dress,
Wedding Accessories,
Wedding Clutches,
Wedding Day Necklaces
It’s Wednesday so you know what that means? Yup- another {Where in the World: Wedding Wednesday} Vendor Feature! Today we have the lovely Alisha Fuller from Hummingbird Hall, an exquisite and intimate destination wedding venue located on the famous Rose Hall Estate in Saint James, Jamaica (just 15 minutes outside of Montego Bay).
I’m so excited to have Alisha here because she has given us so much great destination wedding planning advice no matter what venue, city, or country you choose!
Please tell us a little about you and your company and how long you have been in business?
I am the Creative Director of Hummingbird Hall – an award winning boutique destination wedding venue in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Hummingbird Hall is a gorgeous mansion located on a 4,000 acre estate complete with waterfall, private beach, historic ruins, botanical gardens, and panoramic ocean and mountain views.
We are the only all inclusive boutique wedding venue in Jamaica and have specialized in gorgeous, one-of-a-kind weddings for around three years.
I lead the team of artists, decorators and designers that create the tear-inducing, oh-my-goodness-this-is-beyond-perfect weddings for which Hummingbird Hall is known.
What location or clientele do you primarily serve?
Though the majortiy of our clients are from the Europe and North America; our clients hail from all corners of the globe.
There is no one particular “type” of client – we host weddings, vow renewals and LGBT blessings – and are committed to celebrating the wonder of love in whatever form it may take.
What do you love most about your job?
Hummignbird Hall is a far cry from the impersonal, conveyor-belt type large resorts. This means I get the privilege of really building relationships with our couples.
Without doubt the best part of my job is the magic of translating the uniqueness of a couple’s love, their stories, joys, friends and family into a cohesive, meaningful and beautiful event. It is incredibly rewarding, and nothing beats the buzz of hearing the couple’s friends and family exclaim about their special day.
What advice would you give couples considering a destination wedding or planning a wedding in Jamaica?
I would remind couples that the large chain resorts that saturate the prime-time airways are not the only option when it comes to destination weddings in the Caribbean. Beautiful though their brochures may seem; there are smaller venues – that really do have it all – a breath-taking location, great experience, uniqueness and privacy. Research is a must!
What are some things a couple should consider or some key questions they should ask when selecting a destination wedding venue?
Do non resident guests have to pay extra? Humming Hall does not, but certain venues, particularly all inclusives variety, require a certain number of wedding guests to be resident at the resort or charge hefty surcharges for each non resident wedding guest.
Are there bad surprises? All too often, couples are seduced by gorgeous promotional photographs – chaivari chairs, tie backs and floral arrangements and all – before realizing that none of the elements shown are included in the standard wedding package (not so at Hummingbird Hall!).
Children? Are children permitted? Are children’s entertainment, bounce-abouts, babysitting and creche services available? Likewise if you do not want children at your wedding, it is important that you ensure that the venue is one in which a child free environment can be maintained. In both cases, the privacy afforded by exclusive venues such as Hummingbird Hall allow couples the opportunity to maintain the atmosphere that they want at their wedding.
Can you see pictures of past events? Are there couples so satisfied with their wedding that they have sent their pictures back to the venue, post wedding, to be shared? If the website only boasts airbrushed models, ask questions!
Will your venue obtain a Marriage Licence for you on your behalf?
Does your venue provide the option of beaming your wedding live and online to guests not attending the festivities? Hummingbird Hall is proud to offer Weddings via Webcam. This allows couples to beam their wedding– live and in real time – to a secure, password protected website for friends and family unable to attend the Big Day.
How many weddings do they have at that location per day? Hummingbird Hall has a strict one wedding per location policy.
What do you think makes your company unique compared to others in the same field?
We are a refreshing change from the cliched tourist “machine” of the chain resorts. All of our weddings are custom designed by my team of decorators, designers and artists. Think gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, detail-orientated weddings – without the need to hire a separate army of florists, venue dressers or wedding planners!
And of course we must know, what do you love most about your city/country?
Where to begin! I love the natural beauty of Jamaica – looking to the ocean and seeing a jumping manta-ray or dolphin, the stunning cloud formations, beautiful sunsets, the diversity of fauna and flowers, the birds that populate the Estate on which Hummingbird Hall sits (we regularly see parrots and owls), balmy starry Caribbean nights..
Jamaica also has an incredibly vibrant culture, delicious local cuisine and locals who embrace visitors.
I am a British expatriot, and fall in love with Jamaica more and more each day!
To see more of Hummingbird Hall and some other great Caribbean inspiration visit here and here! And a big THANK YOU shout out to Alicia for your great insight and for sharing this beautiful venue with us!
The incredible South African wedding photographer, Annemari Ruthven, totally made my day when she agreed to let me share this gorgeous wedding with you! You’re in for some fun wedding decor delights…coral roses, succulents, and cactus centerpieces, big plush pillows used as guest seating, hanging paper lanterns, tea cups and medicine bottles used as vases, and a yummy mix of butterfly petit fours, cupcakes, and cookies! This wedding sent the most amazing casual-elegance vibe my way.
The adorable couple, Debbie and Keith, were married at Rockhaven Farm, a luxury guesthouse found perfectly nestled among orchards, groves of olive trees and lavender in Elgin Valley, located only an hours drive from Cape Town. Breathtaking views of nature, a private dam and surrounding mountains?
Umm…sounds like a prefect wedding venue to me! What do you think?
To see plenty more of this wedding and all the amazing details, go here to see more from Annemari!
Creative Team Behind the Scenes:
Venue: Rockhaven Farm (Elgin Valley) / Photographer: Annemari Ruthven / Wedding Planners: Event Interiors (Cape Town) / Music: Silent Revolution (Cape Town)
Love, love, love everything about Plum Pretty Sugar’s apparel and accessories. When I was introduced to the store not too long ago, I couldn’t help but fall in love with their gorgeously chic flowery prints and soft and smooth styles. Their apparel line includes several lovely kimono robes, tunics, cami dresses, and their pretty little accessories including headbands and jewelry blooms!
Perfect bridesmaid gift idea don’t you think? I’ve had my eye on both their kimono robes and jewelry blooms for my own bridesmaids actually (and um, of course one for myself). Brides and their bridal party have been decking out these cozy threads lately and everytime I see pictures I get slightly jealous. I. Must. Have. One. =)
Pretty don’t you think?
Web design by