Saying "I do" just became easier for couples - British Virgin Islands (BVI)

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, September 13, 2012 – Saying, “I do” just became easier for couples heading to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for their nuptials: Brides and grooms can now get married 24 hours after arriving to the Territory!


On September 3, the BVI Government made significant changes by amending the Marriage Act (Cap 272): Residency requirements for ‘Special Licence’ were shortened from three (3) days to one (1) day, a new fee schedule was introduced, and the steps to obtain a licence were all transferred to the Civil Registry for a
‘One Stop Shop’ process.


Couples even have the choice of beginning their wedding application online before arriving in the BVI, by submitting their information through the Government’snew Civil Registry Information System (CRIS) at www.crisvi.gov.vg.


Prior to the improvements made to the Act, couples were tasked with stopping at three different locations to obtain the necessary documentation for the marriage licence application. Through these new changes, couples can complete the entire process at the Civil Registry where they will provide proof of their identity (passport) and marital status (original certified copies of Decree(s) Absolute for divorced spouses or original Death Certificate(s) of deceased spouse(s); apply for their licence, obtain a marriage certificate and present two witnesses.
The Special Licence fee is $220 and the Ordinary Licence is $120.
Additional fees are applicable based on the bride and groom’s wedding specifications: $220 for the Registrar-General or marriage officer to perform the ceremony, $120 for the ceremony to be held in the Civil Registry building and $2 for a certified copy of the marriage licence.


In the BVI, couples have many options for getting married and locations abound for conducting wedding ceremonies that are representative of the couple’s personality and style. The stunning group of islands and cays offer idyllic backdrops such as beaches, churches, yachts, hotels, villas, resorts, private islands, historic
ruins, national parks, the Civil Registry, and many more to suit their tastes.


There are also many experienced wedding, and event planners available to supply their requests. (For additional information visit the BVI Tourist Board website www.bvitourism.com) To apply in person for a marriage licence or any service surrounding the subject of marriage, please visit the Civil Registry and Passport Office, which is located upstairs of Burhym Electrical Services in Wickham’s Cay, Road Town, Tortola.


The office is opened Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or telephone (284) 468-3442 for more information.

Japanese magazine promotes Dubrovnik as perfect wedding destination

See for yourself the amazing selection of destination weddings we offer in Croatia - http://www.weddingsabroad.com/#/dubrovnik/4567235002

Japanese magazine promotes Dubrovnik as perfect wedding destination - Travel News - Croatian Times Online News - English Newspaper

Design your own wedding shoes!!

This weeks fabulous find - perfect for those weddings abroad or closer to home.....bespoke bridal shoes...design your own wedding shoe...how amazing is this concept?  Read a little about the Milk & Honey Shoes website below...if you do order any please pop back here and let us have a sneak peek!

Milk & Honey Shoes

You found your soul mate, now let us help you with your sole mate! It’s your wedding day and you are the bride. Shoes that fit your unique style and match your vision of your perfect day are just a click away. And with our custom-designed bridal shoes, you can even choose to have blue insoles to make your shoes extra special.

Your bridal shoes should be beautiful, comfortable, fun and unique – just like your fiancée.

Create your Own Bridal Shoes

If you don’t see your perfect pair of shoes here, please go to our shoebuilder to create your very own ideal bridal shoe. Whether you’ve been dreaming about a particular shade of bridal pumps, height of wedding sandals, comfortable bridal flats you can wear all night long or style of bridal wedges, your bridal shoes should be exactly what you want, from style, to color to heel height.
Remember, the only thing that makes a shoe worthy of the title “bridal shoe” is that you wear it on your wedding day – don’t feel pressured to get “traditional” shoes. We see brides wearing all different amazing styles of bridal shoes for their big day. Since you’ll never be able to wear your dress again, think about ordering shoes that you’ll get a lot of use out of. You can design your shoes in rich metallic’s or shiny, fun glitter. All of our shoes are made to order, so there’s no doubt you’ll have the bridal shoe that is exactly what you want!

Perfect Union of Design and Quality

With Milk & Honey™, it’s not just about turning your dream bridal shoe into reality. It’s about pulling out all the stops and making bridal shoes that are made from the finest materials. From glitter bridal shoes to elegant ivory or a fun animal print, we can ensure you have a shoe fit for a bride as unique as you. Our bridal shoes have genuine leather soles and extra padding to make sure you stay comfortable long after your first dance as a bride.

Vegan Bridal Shoes

If you are looking for bridal shoes that match your values, we also offer vegan bridal shoes. Using all animal-free materials we will handcraft your shoes using only the finest animal-free materials. From faux leather and faux patent to velvet and glitter, our animal-friendly materials create the look you want without sacrificing fashion for compassion. Soles are rubber instead of leather, and the insole is lined in a high-end, non-leather alternative.

Uniformity, not Conformity, for Bridesmaids

Our bridal shoes are also ideal for your bridesmaids. Milk & Honey™ is a great way to coordinate your bridesmaids’ shoes without sticking your friends with shoes they’ll never wear again. You can select the material and color and let each of your girls design their own shoes. It’s the perfect way to get uniformity without conformity!

For further information....click here to visit the Milk & Honey Shoes site.........

*New* Weddings Abroad - Dubrovnik Weddings

Dubrovnik, Croatia

 Couples in search of romance are flocking to this wondrous city on the southernmost stretch of Croatia’s coast, as enchanted by its beauty today as the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who once proclaimed, "If you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik." 

The city has been magnificently restored to its former glory to emerge as one of the most fashionable vacation spots in all of Europe. Dubrovnik's resurgent popularity should come as no surprise, however – this “jewel of the Adriatic,” as the coastal resort town is often referred to in tourist brochures, is breathtakingly beautiful and a magnet for dreamy-eyed lovers in search of a romantic getaway. 


The city's fortified old town overlooks the dazzling Adriatic from a shelter of limestone cliffs and its marble-paved streets are lined with marvellously preserved churches, stately palaces, squares, and terracotta-roofed townhouses. Meanwhile, down below, along the seaside coast, fine beaches beckon – as do a slew of offshore islands – making Dubrovnik uniquely appealing to just about any taste. - Source Shermans Travel




Click here to see our new selection of destination weddings in Dubrovnik from WeddingsAbroad.com

The longest bridal train in the world: Record-breaking wedding dress stretches over TWO MILES of Italian church steps

Brides seeking a showstopping dress to ensure all eyes are on them for their big day need look no further.

This incredible silk and tulle concoction, designed by Gianni Molaro, boasts a record-breaking train measuring almost two miles in length.

It was modelled today on the steps of Rome's Trinita dei Monti in Italy to celebrate the opening of Molaro's new workshop, the sheer white material rippling out over the Renaissance stonework to complete the fairytale effect.

Tourists snapped away as three spectacular looking brides posed on the Spanish Steps in front of the Fountain of Four Rivers.

The incredible cream veil was worn by Elena De Angelis for her wedding in the Naples village of Casal di Princice last September.

 

Her train - which was around 28 times the length of Manchester United's Old Trafford pitch - was carried by an army of volunteers as Miss De Angelis was driven through the streets in a vintage car.

Around 20,000 people attended her wedding to Ferdinand Pucci last year to see the outfit that took dozens of seamstresses months to make.

Made from 1.86-mile (three kilometres) of tulle bordered by six miles of silk, the endless train is apparently tied for the title of world's longest with a design by Andree Salon for this year's Wedding Fair in Bucharest.

A model wearing the silk and lace gown took to the sky in a hot-air balloon in March, allowing the gargantuan train to billow out over the Romanian capital.

Mr Molaro said of his creation last year: 'I was really grateful to be asked to design this veil. I met tens of thousands of people on the way to the church who complimented my idea.

'I wanted this veil to symbolise peace and hope and I think we have achieved this.

'This has been one of the biggest moments in my career as a designer.'

There would be no making a dash for it at the altar in this supersized outfit.

Experts estimate it would take Usain Bolt almost five minutes to run its full length, running at blistering world recording pace.

Click here to read the entire article

Autumn Weddings in Italy - Limited Availability

Getting married this coming Autumn season 2012 in Italy will be the most beautiful time of the year! September and October are the months of the wine harvest, when the Italian countryside is full of the most colorful Autumn landscape.
It is the best time of year to experience the areas of Tuscany, Piedmont, Cinque Terre, Puglia and Sicily.
The backdrop for your wedding can be vineyards in full bloom and rolling hills filled with the beautiful gold’s, red’s, oranges and yellow’s, making for a true Italian romantic dream wedding!
You and your guests can take part in the wine harvest and enjoy the wine tastings to the fullest on properties with the richest vineyards in the world!

Here are a few of our speciality wedding locations in Italy:

Perugia Town Hall

The monumental walls and bristling crenellation of Palazzo dei Priori mark it as Umbria's finest public building. The facade is decorated with symbols of Perugia's past power: the griffin is the city's symbol and the lyon denotes Perugia's allegiance to the medieval Guelph (papal) cause. Among its finely decorated rooms is the Sala dei Notari (1295), originally an assembly hall for the people of Perugia, which is frescoed with scenes from the Old Testament by Pietro Cavallini.

Castle in Tuscany

This property is situated in the Tuscan countryside and is a cluster of Tuscan farmhouses forming a small village on high ground with a spectacular 12th century castle. You can marry and have your reception at the castle and stay in the accommodations.

To find out more about our Italian Weddings Abroad please email info@weddingsabroad.com

 

11 Couples To Tie The Knot At Disney World On 11/11/11

Couples Find Special Meaning In Unique Day

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Dozens of couples will tie the knot on Friday, 11/11/11, at Disney Parks destinations around the globe.

If the 11/11/11 number isn't uncanny enough, there are exactly 11 couples who plan to say their vows on Friday at the Walt Disney World Resort, a number that the worldwide marketing and business development director for Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons, Korri McFann, says is purely a coincidence.

McFann says her staff didn't even realize the similarity until they started counting the weddings planned for Friday. Needless to say, it's going to be a busy day.

"You will be hard pressed as a regular day guest at the Walt Disney World Resort not to see a couple somewhere," McFann said.

Friday's weddings will take place at a variety of locations around the resort, including Disney's Wedding Pavilion, Epcot, Disney's Boardwalk and Disney's Polynesian Resort.

McFann says each of the couples has a unique explanation for why they wanted to get married on such a unique date. A Jacksonville couple has made a wish every day at 11:11. For a couple from Pennsylvania, Nov. 11 is the date of the groom's grandparents' 56th wedding anniversary. Another couple from Hawaii took the date more symbolically.

"They thought the 11/11 looked like two people coming together. People are deep!" McFann said. "People really want something meaningful behind their weddings. They want something to remember it by. If you can have a clever date, why not?"

Several of the couples were engaged at Disney. Another, a local Orlando pair, actually met when they were working at Disney's Hollywood Studios together. But not every one of the thousand weddings that Disney helps plan each year started with a mouse.

"A lot of people who may have never been to Walt Disney World travel here. We're known in the destination weddings business of being able to handle absolutely everything," McFann said.

With Florida's weather, McFann says, couples travel here year round to say "I do."

On Friday, four couples will say their vows on board the Disney Cruise Line, three will get married at Aulani, Disney's new resort in Hawaii, and eight will mark the occasion at the Disneyland Resort in California.

In all, Disney says 40,000 couples have married at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and on the ships of the Disney Cruise Line.

And as for 12/12/12? McFann says the requests are already rolling in.

To read the entire article: http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/29738414/detail.html#ixzz1dNb4olfg

Here comes the bride and her TWO MILE train: Italian village brought to standstill by record-breaking wedding dress

This bride went a tiny bit over the top with her wedding dress with a train that takes some stopping.

They say it’s a day you should never forget – and that’s certainly the case for Italian bride Elena De Angelis and the village of Casal di Princice.

She has broken the world record for the longest wedding dress by arriving to the church with a mammoth, 3km (1.86 mile) long veil.

Hundreds of schoolgirls and their mothers turned out to help the bride-to-be along the streets of her village.

The Gianni Molaro designed cream dress, which is made from 6,000 metres of silk chord, is expected to be confirmed as the world’s longest by the Guinness book of Records.

 

It’s apparently 28 times the length of Manchester United's Old Trafford pitch and would take Usain Bolt running at blistering world recording pace almost five minutes to run its full length.

Driven to the church in a vintage car Elena was applauded by the entire village.

The veil literally stretched for miles and had to be carefully collected by designers after Elena arrived in the church.

Click here to read the article in full.....

A mob of 49 dancing carrots take the cake when it comes to wedding proposals

We have all heard about unusual marriage proposals, but this one takes the (carrot) cake.

At the weekend Pang Kun and 48 of his friends took to the streets of Qingdao in east China's Shangong province dressed as carrots and he proposed to his girlfriend, Zhang Xinyu, who was out on a shopping trip.

The wacky Chinese man danced away in a square in the suit, which was orange - his girlfriend's favourite colour - and when he finally did get down on bended knee, she gladly accepted his proposal.

Saturday August 6 was the Chinese version of Valentine's Day, and so Pang put some special thought and attention in to planning the proposal.

In all, the idea took three weeks to perfect and execute, and cost him over £9,300.

Pang, who had installed a microphone into his costume, began jigging and then caused shoppers - including his girlfriend - to become bemused by recounting the couple's first date, six months previous.

'Six months ago I met you,' he said as he danced. 'I still remember your shyness on our first date, my longing for the next date, and my excitement the first time I held your hand at the movie theatre.'

And when he began peeling off his costume the crowd chanted to his girlfriend 'marry him, marry him', which she promised to do so.

His proposal has led him to become an Internet sensation, and online users have nicknamed him 'carrot boy', which has temporarily become one of the most searched terms in China.

To read the entire article - click here

Weddings Abroad - Tip of the Day - Outdoor Wedding Weather

Outdoor Wedding Locations

There are many lovely outdoor wedding locations - beach weddings, lakeside weddings, rainforest weddings, mountain weddings, garden weddings...the options are endless! With any outdoor wedding, it is vital that the bride and groom work with their wedding planner to establish a backup plan in the event of bad weather. If the wedding location is in the grounds of a hotel, coordinate ahead to have a room ready for you in the event of inclement weather. This option may cost a little more, but it will save you worry and potential heartache later! Another option is to plan to have only the ceremony outdoors and the reception inside (or inside with an outside section). In the event of inclement weather, you can simply hold the entire event in the room you planned to have the reception in - without incurring extra costs! 

Films to Inspire a Destination Wedding

Roman Holiday (1953) – Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck set in 1950’s Rome

Mamma Mia (2008) -  Film adapted from the West End musical based on the songs of ABBA. Most of the filming was done on the small Greek island of Skopelos.

A Room With A View (1986) – A Victorian love story set in Florence - a well executed intrigue set in 1907 and blended from a book by E.M. Forster.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin ( 2001) - When a fisherman leaves to fight with the Greek army during WWII, his fiancée falls in love with the local Italian commander.

Casanova (2005) -  Heath Ledger plays the fabled romantic as a man who, after failing to win the affection of a particular Venetian woman, strives to discover the real meaning of love.

French Kiss (1995) - A woman flies to France to confront her straying fiancé, but gets into trouble when the charming crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling. Romantic comedy with fabulous soundtrack

Amelie (2001) - Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love. A romantic French fable set in Montmatre

You are the air that I breathe: Divers have marriage blessed at London Aquarium

While many use Valentine's Day as an annual excuse to splash out on a bunch of roses or a nice dinner, some couples take the celebration just a little bit further.

James Oliver and Kathryn O'Connor celebrated February 14 with an underwater blessing at the London Aquarium.

Kathryn wore a flowing white gown under her diving apparatus while James accessorised with a sea-blue tie.

Giant green sea turtles, cow-nose rays and shoals of colourful tropical fish swarmed around the couple during the blessing. 

Valentine's Day has traditionally been the day for romantic gestures since the 14th Century and is celebrated all over the world in increasingly inventive ways.

London also saw people queuing up to give Bruce Willis a kiss - his wax model that is.

Madame Tussaud's let the public choose who they wanted as their Valentine's 'Heartthrob.'

The Sixth Sense actor came top of the list. Closely followed by BAFTA winner Colin Firth and Brokeback Mountain star Jake Gyllenhaal.

In New York, Stephanie Hull and Air Force Captain John Wu - both from Louisville, Kentucky - got married on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building.
The pair were one of 14 couples from all over the United States who got married in one of New York's most famous landmarks.
They had all competed for the prize during the17th Annual Empire State Building and TheKnot.com Valentine's Weddings Event.

Fourteen competitive couples in Pattava, South Thailand, all tried to break the record for the World's Longest Continuous Kiss.

The pairs were clearly taking the challenge very seriously, they were dressed as if they were about to go to an exercise class and even had little steps to stand on if there was a big height difference between the two smoochers.

Seven of the pairs broke the previous record of 32 hours, 7 minutes and 14 seconds which was set in 2009 by a couple in Germany - although one participant fainted just 34 minutes into the competition.

Rules stated that couples were not to sit, sleep or leave the venue while kissing. They were allowed bathroom breaks every three hours but had to continue kissing while using the toilet, accompanied by staff to verify the fact.
And they were allowed to eat and to drink water, coffee, milk or juice - but only through straws while keeping their lips firmly locked together.

Kissing en-masse was also on the cards in Beijing's Happy Valley amusement park.

Couples get two-for-one entries into the park from the 14th to the 17th of February. Happy Valley holds kissing and singing games for enthusiastically loved-up pairs over the romantic period.

It wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a couple of mass weddings.

In Palawan, western Philippines, at least 150 couples defied the rain by getting married and planting mangrove trees at a 'Love Affairs with Nature' themed mass wedding.

Back in Thailand, couples took to the skies to make their wedding vows.

Sontaya Tiemjun and Praputson Mahavong were one of the couples who hung from rappelling ropes during their mountainside ceremony.

Getting married in mid-air is a popular way for thrill-seekers to tie the know in Thailand's Prachinburi province.

Nicaraguans used Valentine's Day as an unusual excuse to promote animal protection laws.

An English Cocker Spaniel dog called Blondie and a American Staffordshire Terrier dog called Katar were given their own wedding ceremony in Managua to raise awareness of the law.

Click here to read the entire article......................................

More Britons going abroad to get married

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Prince William and Kate Middleton may have decided on a traditional British wedding but nearly a fifth of their compatriots prefer to get married abroad, according to new research.

A study by consumer research group Mintel showed on Tuesday that 18 percent of Britons chose to tie the knot abroad last year, a rise in the number of such marriages of 27 percent between 2005 and 2010.

The rise has taken place at a time when overseas travel is cheaper and as the number of weddings at home continues to fall as the price for getting married in Britain remains substantially higher than elsewhere.

An estimated 266,000 UK weddings took place in 2010 marking a 7 percent drop over the five years since 2005. In 2010, the average wedding abroad cost 6,585 pounds ($10,580), while the average British wedding costs just below 20,000 pounds.

"The lower costs of overseas weddings are an important factor for many, with cost concerns influencing the whole market," said Mintel Senior Travel and Tourism Analyst Tom Rees.

"However the various desires to do something different, seek out better weather than can be expected in the UK and to avoid overblown, too-many-guest affairs are attracting more and more couples to the weddings abroad market."

Click here to read the entire article.....

Weddings Abroad - Turkey

Turkey, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, offers couples an exotic locale with modern amenities. With world-class hotels and resorts, endless sightseeing opportunities, exceptional shopping and thousands of miles of turquoise waters, couples can enjoy privacy, history and luxury in a country that offers it all.

Turkey boasts some of the world’s most extraordinary scenes for an ideal wedding or honeymoon. And with weddings on offer that range from intimate and traditional to extravagant and exotic, properties throughout Turkey make that special day, and those following, romantic, convenient and memorable.

We have great experience in this field and we have helped many couples organise the wedding of their dreams in Turkey. As we offer tailor-made services, whether it is just about getting the paperwork done and dealing with the formalities or actually organising the wedding day with all the trimmings, we can offer you the expert help you need.

Click here to view our full selection of weddings in Turkey.....

Getting married abroad on April 29th? - Journalist Request

Journalist Request

A leading UK magazine are putting together a feature on couples who are getting married on 29th April, the same date as Prince William.  If you are planning a wedding overseas on this date please get in touch.

The couple have to be under the age of 30 and be available for a shoot beginning of Feb. A fee will be paid

Please email info@weddingsabroad.com and we will put you in touch....thank you

Cost Conscious Celebrations

When it comes to getting married, usually no expense is spared for what is after all a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Increasingly couples are looking to create a unique wedding "experience" for family and close friends by taking a wedding abroad or wedding away from home. With the affordability of low cost flights to many destinations, the venues in exotic locations, look to gain the most as the move towards destination weddings is yet again on the increase.

In the current cost conscious climate, the increasing popularity of destination weddings, shows that couples and their families are now taking a closer look at wedding costs, and are discovering that a destination wedding ticks all the right boxes, with the wedding, location, travel and honeymoon costing a lot less than the wedding alone at home would cost.

As the economic storm clouds gather, destination weddings are providing a ray of sunshine to the blushing brides and grooms in these uncertain times, proving that when it comes to getting married, brides and grooms are determined the show will go on, whatever the economic climate.

This article was brought to you by International Wedding Planner Karen Thornton-Brown of WeddingsAbroad.com - For information on weddings abroad see www.weddingsabroad.com or email info@weddingsabroad.com  

*NEW* Launched today - Our Selection of Cayman Island Weddings

Our sister site for Weddings in the Cayman Islands was launched today...please check it out... http://www.caymanweddingsabroad.com






Photo Credit:  Rebecca Davidson - Cayman Islands

This week's featured venues

Ibiza Cloud 9 Roof Top - Ibiza

Gentilini Winery - Kefalonia, Greece

Kybele - Bellapais, North Cyprus

All Locations - Koh Samui, Thailand

Today's featured venues:

The Dell - Gibraltar Botanic Gardens - Gibraltar

Weddings with Dolphins - Gran Canaria

Villa Arrigo - Naxxar, Malta

All Locations - Koh Samui, Thailand

Today's Featured Venues - WeddingsAbroad.com

Today's featured venues

Weddings with Dolphins - Gran Canaria

"Kafeneio-Cliff" Yard - Santorini, Greece

Castle in Chianti - Chianti Region, Italy

Villa Arrigo - Naxxar, Malta