Finding Your Glass Slipper

What to Look for in Wedding Shoes
Just like your wedding day, you'll want your wedding shoes to be absolutely perfect. Here are a few things you might want to consider when shopping for shoes for your wedding.

Comfortable Wedding Shoes
The perfect wedding shoes will need to be many things, but mostly, they must be comfortable. Keep in mind, you'll be walking down the aisle, posing for photographs, greeting guests, cutting the cake, and possibly dancing in these wedding shoes. This could add up to hours and hours on your feet, so be sure, above all else, that you choose shoes that are comfortable for your feet.

Heels of Wedding Shoes
The heel height of your wedding shoes is of utmost importance. Your dress will be fitted to accommodate the height of your wedding shoes, and if you're not comfortable in some of the higher heeled shoes, wearing them on your wedding day might not be the best time for this idea. If you want a bit of added height, but are not comfortable in stilettos, consider platform heels, or lower kitten heels, remember the very newest look with ultimate femininity and style, ballet slippers. They could be the answer to all of your questions and needs.

Fabric Choices for Wedding Shoes
Silk or satin are traditionally the two most popular choices for wedding shoes, but of course, your wedding dress and personal taste should have the greatest impact on the shoes you choose. If you're wearing a non-traditional wedding dress, consider sparking up the entire look with a not so traditional shoe as well. Look at some of the new strappy/clear heels that are looking at being the hottest shoewear item this fall.

Wedding Shoes to Suit Your Style
While your shoes should be a good match to your dress and the setting of your wedding, they should also reflect your personal style. For example, a funky, trendy bride might consider bridal shoes with chunky heels; while a romantic at heart might love a pair of lacy white "granny boots" as her bridal shoes. Your day, your style!

Trying on Wedding Shoes When shopping for wedding (or any) shoes, be sure to shop toward the end of your day. Our feet swell over the course of a day, and you'll want to try on shoes when your feet are largest. Also, if you'll be wearing hose on your wedding day, be sure to wear them when trying on your bridal shoes.

Breaking in Your Wedding Shoes
To be sure that on the big day your wedding shoes aren't killing your feet, you'll need to break them in. Starting a few weeks before your wedding, try wearing your bridal shoes around the house (not outside!) for a small amount of time. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, increase the amount of time you wear them. Be sure to walk and stand a lot in them, until you're certain that you can wear them comfortably for at least 4 or 5 hours.

Extra Shoes for Your Wedding
You may decide that for your reception, you'd like to wear a more comfortable pair of shoes. If this is the case, be sure that your second pair of shoes have the same heel height as your actual wedding shoes. This will insure that your dress doesn't drag the ground while you're dancing or socializing.

Wedding Shoes and Floor Surfaces
The aisle you'll be walking down may be carpeted, or you may find that the reception hall has slick floors. Either surface can be difficult to walk or dance on, especially in your wedding shoes. To add some traction to your shoes so you do not have to worry about slipping – lightly sandpaper the soles to negate worrying about it.

Ultimate tip! The most important tip: comfort, comfort comfort. With the endless choices in shoe styles you do not have to compromise style to gain comfort. You can easily have it all!

New Openings At Southcenter

Last week, Southcenter Mall introduced three new and one made-over stores. Get our take on what's hot and what's not.

Forever XXI
One of the fastest growing retailers specializing in teen and young adult fashions, is a familiar name to Westfield Southcenter shoppers. The new flagship Forever XXI occupies two floors, covering 26,500 square feet, and features a variety of clothes from designer collections to casual; creative designs and accessories for the style conscious and trend-savvy shopper. Some of the clothes are made better than others so you'll need to weed through the piles and piles of options. It's a little crowded now since it just opened, but the visuals are great and we definitely like the prices. Our grade: B+


Gilly Hicks
Gilly Hicks is a newly launched subsidiary brand of Abercrombie & Fitch that focuses on intimates and loungewear such as bras, panties, boxers, boxer briefs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pajama pants, summery tank tops, and swimsuits, as well as personal care products. The lifestyle brand is new to the west coast and will appeal to younger consumers inside the store’s approximate 10,000 square foot space. Good luck finding anything though, the room is super dark and finding the right look can be little tricky especially when you can't see yourself in the mirror. Our grade: C+ until they turn the lights on.



PINK
A stand alone retail concept and collection from Victoria’s Secret, makes its debut in the Seattle area at Westfield Southcenter featuring a lineup of loungewear, sleepwear, intimate apparel and accessories such as bags, bedding, and flip-flops. Geared toward the 18-22 year old female with a fun, fresh and free-spirited approach, PINK has attracted a loyal following since its initial launch in 2004. The clothes are fun and flirty but don't necessarily fit everyone as well as the mannequins or the models. Our grade: B


Love Culture
Another new retail name to the Puget Sound, showcases a unique style on women’s clothing, jeans, blouses, jewelry, accessories and shoes. You'll see alot of the same clothes as at Forever XXI, but since its smaller it has less clothes, which means finding the right size may be a little tricky. Our grade: B

We Think You'll Love...

We think you'll love the DIY website creator, Wetpaint. Wetpaint lets you build a rich, online community around whatever-it-is that you’re really into. Utilizing the best features of wikis, blogs, forums and social networks, Wetpaint mixes everything you need so you can create, collect, and organize content on your own social website. The best part is you can create a completely advanced and sophisticated website and it's all FREE. What better way to chronicle your nuptials than to build a community around your pre-wedding planning?

If you don't feel like building your own website, you can also join a pre-existing site that is already created by another bride-to-be. Just use the search box up in the top right-hand corner and see who’s already started a page around any particular topic you would like to get involved in. Wetpaint is a great way to connect with other brides and share ideas and experiences.

Click the video below to learn more about Wetpaint...

From This Day Forward

Over the weekend, the grandparents of one of our staff members celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. That's right...67 years ago, Russ and Rosalie stood before their friends and family and vowed to love, honor and cherish each other, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, as long as they both shall live. We can't think of too many things in life that has lasted 67 years. It is incredible to imagine them on that day, almost seven decades ago, promising the same vows that you will soon recite to your partner. We are reminded that although the phrases are simple, the sincerity and the honor of that promise should never be taken lightly. In the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding it is easy for the event details to overcome your thoughts and energy, but at the end of the day your wedding is about the commitment you are entering together.

Now, looking back on their 67 years together Russ and Rosalie have a greater understanding of the vows they made as young adults. They have certainly had their moments of good times. They have witnessed weddings and births of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But, they have also had their share of bad times too, particularly at the death of their daughter. They realize, that a marriage isn't only about the day a couple says "I Do," but more importantly about the days when they continue to say "I Do" even when life's obstacles make it much easier to say "I Don't."

In February, Russ and Rosalie will watch as their youngest granddaughter marries her future husband. And we can almost be certain that on that day, they will be reminded of the incredible example they have set for their family by cherishing each other and the vows they made so many years ago.

Ask Lucky: How Do I Deal With My Blended Family?

Dear Lucky, My parents are divorced and I'm not quite sure what the proper ettiquette is when dealing with blending families. Can you help? Sarah, Bremerton

Dear Sarah,

Dealing with divorced parents may add a complication to your wedding plans, but if handled well, everything can still work out just the way you planned. The key is to provide separate places of distinction at the ceremony, in the receiving line, and at the reception to ensure their happiness and enjoyment of the day.

GUIDELINES FOR DIVORCE PARENTS

• Invitations: Invitations are usually issued by the parent you have lived with. If both parents have contributed, then both names and stepparents can be mentioned.
• Ceremony seating: For seating at the ceremony there are two options: if parents are friends and have not remarried, they can sit side by side in the front pew. Otherwise the parent you have lived with would sit in the front pew with his or her spouse, and the other parent sits in the second or third pew with his or her spouse.
• Photographs: Each set of parents will most likely want to have a photo taken with the bride and groom; it is important to spell this out to the photographer earlier. This can take longer for photographs so appropriate time needs to be allocated.
• Down the Aisle: Walking down the aisle can be more than just a scary walk when trying to decide whether your father or stepfather should escort you. Consider whether you have remained close to your father and if you want him to fulfill this traditional role; or if your stepfather has filled the role of your father you may decide this is more appropriate. If your father and stepfather get along, you may ask both. If the decision is impossible, choose neither and ask your mother to walk you down the aisle.
• Receiving Line: For the receiving line and reception, customarily the parent who is paying for the wedding greets the guests with you. The other parent can be mingling. At the reception a good solution to feuding families is to have two different parent tables.

Receiving Line
Usually held at the beginning of the reception, this event allows parents and the wedding party members to greet guests and receive their good wishes. The line traditionally begins with your mother, followed by the groom's mother, the bride and groom, your maid of honor and the rest of the bridesmaids. The fathers can join in and, if so, should stand to the left of their wives. If your parents are divorced, your mother stands alone or with your stepfather, while your father circulates among the guests. Or, to avoid confusion, decide not to include fathers in the line. The important thing is to avoid hurt feelings or misunderstandings. Another alternative is to have your father and his new wife stand on the other side of the groom. If orchestration becomes difficult, it is perfectly acceptable to mingle and greet your guests during the reception rather than have a receiving line. Whatever works well for your situation is fine.

Seating Arrangements
The bride's table, which should be the focus of the reception, can be of any shape and is sometimes elevated so everyone can see the wedding party. The groom usually sits to the bride's left with the maid of honor on his left. To the right of the bride is the best man, and the rest of the bridesmaids and ushers sit at the table male, female, male, female. If it's a small wedding party, the officiant and husbands and wives of the wedding party may also sit at the bride's table. Otherwise, a separate table for parents is set where your mother heads the table and the groom's father sits at her right and the wedding officiant sits at her left. The groom's mother sits on your father's right. However, if your parents are divorced, consider arranging a separate table for each set of parents.

We wish you all the best!

Have a question for Lucky In Love, email us here.

Sweet And Flirty Babydolls

Lingerie can be a tricky thing. Just walk into any intimate apparel shop and browse the racks. Finding something cute and comfortable is often an impossible task. That is why we like the babydolls by Betsy Johnson. Betsy definitely knows how to create feminine apparel that emphasizes a woman's fun and flirty side while still giving her something she can actually wear and feel comfortable in.

You can buy Betsy Johnson intimates directly from a Betsy store or online. Nordstrom also carries the Betsy brand and a great tip for finding the best Betsy deals is to head to your nearest Nordstrom Rack. The Rack carries the previous season's intimates for almost half the price. Who cares if it came from last season? You're wearing it in the privacy of your own home and trust us, there is no way your groom-to-be will mind if you got it on sale! He'll just be glad you got it at all.

For The Love Of Our Pets

Today we have a completely non-wedding story for you all -- just for fun. We at banquetevent.com love animals (as most people living in the Northwest do) so when it comes to one our own pets, we basically consider them family members. This week, one of our staff members, Alexis, went through quite an ordeal with her cat, Gus, also known as "The Fat One." Gus was staying at a friend's house for the week, because Alexis is selling her house and she was worried he might sneak out during an open house. This is where our story begins.

Alexis' friend, a city dweller, lives in a 4-story condo unit on a very busy street. She also lives on the top floor. (See picture below). When she returned home she saw that her window, which she had left about a foot open, was missing its screen. That wasn't the only thing missing. Gus was gone too.


In a panic, she called Alexis and her husband and asked them to hurry over to start looking for Gus. When they arrived, and to make matters worse, Alexis' car broke down and at 10 o'clock in the evening they had to get it towed across town. After a few hours, and to no avail, Alexis and and her husband returned home, Gus-less.

For the next four days, "missing" posters were placed around nearby blocks, the shelters were notified, and the veterinarian offices were contacted, but still no Gus. By the end of the week, they were pretty much certain Gus was gone.

That afternoon, however, Alexis' friend got a call from a neighbor in her building saying they had found a black and white cat nearby and had placed him in the building's large recycle bin so he wouldn't escape. Alexis' husband hurried over and sure enough, sitting in a pile of filth, was Gus, the flying wonder cat.

Now, anyone who knows Gus, knows he's a tad (okay, alot) overweight, sweet but not active, and would much prefer lounging the days away sitting in the sunshine, rather than jumping out of 4-story buildings and cruising around the city for a week. It's most likely that he fell or slipped and suddenly found himself on the outside looking in. We're all just amazed that a cat could fall that far and survive, but animals are amazing creatures.

After taking him home and giving him a bath, Gus seems to be very happy to be in the safe compounds of his own domain, and we're pretty sure, he's been sharing his adventure, in cat language of course, to the other household pets. It all goes to show you the animals we consider to be our little angels must have angels of their own.


We're not here to debate whether cats or dogs are better than the other, because quite frankly, they are both delightful in their own way, but here is a little perspective on the difference between how cats and dogs see the world. This Diary was sent to us a while back and we hope you get a kick out of it as much as we did.

Dog Diary & Cat Diary

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of, however, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Jerks!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

Choosing The Right Seasonal Cocktail For Your Wedding

For your wedding, one of the best ways to save on money all the while adding style and sophistication to your event is to choose one coordinated cocktail to serve rather than providing an open bar. We still recommend serving wine with the meal, but a festive well-chosen cocktail can set the mood for your entire wedding. Plus, it also controls the amount of alcohol people are drinking, by limiting one or two cocktails per person.

Here are some of our picks for the best cocktails year-round...

IN SUMMER

Starlet Cocktails

Ice cubes Sugar
1 1/4 cups orange juice
3/4 cup peach schnapps
3/4 cup vodka

Directions:
1. Wet the rims of 6 champagne flutes and dip them in sugar. Fill a pitcher with ice cubes and add the orange juice, schnapps and vodka. Stir until chilled, then pour into the sugared flutes.

IN FALL

Ginger Punch

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Orange Ginger vodka, chilled
Juice of 1 lime, plus 2 lime wedges for garnish
1/2 cup ginger beer, chilled

Directions:
1. In a small pitcher, combine the Orange Ginger Vodka and lime juice. Pour into 2 rocks glasses filled with ice and top with the ginger beer. Garnish each with a lime wedge.

IN WINTER

Pumpkin Pie Martinis

Ice cubes
2 ounces (1/4 cup) vanilla vodka
2 ounces (1/4 cup) crème de cacao
1/4 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Whipped cream, for garnish

Directions:
1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes. Add the vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, heavy cream and pumpkin pie spice and shake well.
2. Dip the rims of 2 martini glasses into a bowl of whipped cream. Strain the cocktail into the glasses

IN SPRING

Mint Julep

1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
5 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish
1/2 cup bourbon (4 ounces)
Crushed ice

Directions:
1. Add the sugar, the mint leaves and a few drops of the bourbon to a chilled glass. Muddle or crush the mint with a spoon to create a thick paste. Add a handful of crushed ice to the glass. Place a straw so that it reaches the mint paste at the bottom of the glass. Pour the remaining bourbon over the ice. Add more crushed ice, making a mound that reaches to the top of the glass and leaving about 1 inch of the straw peeking above the rim. Garnish with a mint sprig.

All recipes from Rachael Ray Magazine.

Complete The Look Without The Help Of A Mini-Makeup Artist

Do you ever wish you could carry around a little makeup artist in your back pocket and pull her out whenever you need a fresh new, evening or everyday look? Well we may not have a little mini-makeup artist for you, but we may have the next best thing. Available now at Sephora.com are video tutorials to help you complete a look. Currently the videos focus on eye makeup. Some are outrageous, yes, but others present simple how-tos to make applying your own makeup a little more simple. Plus, they provide you with the products they used so you can start with the same tools the artists are using.

Grab Your Girlfriends For A Wedding Chick Flick

If you are looking for a lighthearted, leave your brains at the door, good ol' fashioned chick flick which happens to revolve around a wedding, check out Mamma Mia!, opening this weekend and starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski. Based on the smash hit musical. If you saw the broadway version, you know this story is a feel good, get out of your seat and do the happy dance kind of musical. We're not sure if the song and dance numbers will translate as well on the silver screen as they do on the stage, but if it's even half as fun you're sure to enjoy it.

Bachelor Party Idea: Hit the Car Show

If your groom-to-be and his pals are looking for some guy bonding time for his upcoming bachelor party, let them know about the Lemay Car Show. LeMay – America’s Car Museum® will hold the 31st Annual LeMay Museum Car Show & Auction, presented by AAA Washington, at the Marymount Academy and the LeMay grounds in Tacoma, WA on Saturday, August 30, 2008 from 9am to 5pm. Visitors will be able to see over 1,000 vintage, classic and specialty automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles from the LeMay Collection, plus hundreds of unique, local collector cars and other vehicles. In addition to the cars, there will be many interesting vendor displays, including our ever-popular "Flintmobile" photo car which makes for a memorable snapshot to take home! There will also be a classic car auction hosted on-site by Mathers Inc. Auctioneers. Entry donations are $10 for adults, $20 for a family of 4, $5 for children under 12, and $5 for active-duty military. Free parking will be available offsite with free shuttle bus transportation between the parking lots, the Marymount Academy and the LeMay grounds. For more information call (253) 536-2885.

Date & Time:
August 30, 2008
9 am. to 5 p.m.

Location:
LeMay's America's Car Museum
325 152nd St. E, Tacoma WA 98445
Contact Info:
Phone: 253-779-8179
Contact Person: Trudy Cofchin
Email: trudy@lemaymuseum.org
Website: lemaymuseum.org

Give Me The Simple Life

If you pride yourself on your classic and simplistic style, we have a table and dinnerware registry base you're going to love. Meet Heath Ceramics. Heath Ceramics is one of the few remaining mid-century potteries still in existence today, but just because they've been in the business for over half a century doesn't mean that anything that comes out of their shop is outdated. In fact, the reason they have been in the business so long is because of their timeless craftsmanship and their superior designs.

Heath Ceramics offers table and homeware including hundreds of color options in tile selection for you to create a sophisticated oasis in your home's bathroom. Heath Ceramics also offers an online bridal registry so no matter where you live, you can make selection from their store and have them shipped directly to your door.

View just a few samples from their wide stylebase below.

Diamondless

While browsing the online store of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) we came across a unique find that we'd like to share with you. Take a look at the below silver diamondless ring designed by Alissia Melka-Teichroew. There are no diamonds in Alissia Melka-Teichroew's rings, simply a thought-provoking silhouette imitating the conventional Tiffany setting. Wearers create their own traditions, meanings, and stories. The Diamondless ring retails for $125 and is made of sterling silver. But, if silver just isn't your thing, the same style is also available in acrylic.

Fall Preview: Patterns Are Hot

We realize it feels like summer just arrived, but to retailers, fall is just around the corner and home decor items for the new season are popping up in window storefronts all the time. An extremely evident trend is the use of patterns in serving and dining ware and home furnishings. Patterns liven a room, especially in spaces that otherwise hold clean and simple lines, muted tones and other solid furniture pieces. A brightly colored patterned chair or ottoman brings distinction and style to any room. The key to using patterned furniture; however, is to only choose one strong accent piece per room. Accent pieces make the best choices for patterned designs because they can be easy moved, altered or even removed if you ever feel yourself tiring of the piece. But, in most cases, as long as you only choose one pattern accent piece per room, you will never tire of its placement in your space.

If buying a patterned chair or larger piece of furniture scares you a little, try added patterned accent pillows to your existing chairs and sofas. That way you can complete the look without being committed to a particular color or style.

See some great patterned accent pieces for your home below.


Top Left: Aqua Surya Table Runner from Plum Party
Top Right: Chartruese Surya Placemats-Pack Of 4 from Plum Party
Bottom Left: kate spade "Gwinnett Lane Crème" Collection available at Macys
Bottom Center: kate spade "Bonita Street" Vase Collection available at Macys
Bottom Right: Luna Cloth Table Cover - 60" X 60" from Plum Party


Top Left: Brooks Slipcovered Chair from Pottery Barn
Top Right: Pattern pillow covers from Pottery Barn
Left Center: Calandria Chair, Mod Garden from Anthropologie
Center Top: Peacock Plumes Frame, Medium from Anthropologie
Center Bottom: Far Afield Dinnerware from Anthropologie
Center Right: Spotty Salad Servers from Anthropologie
Bottom Center: Flares And Fountains Fabric Letters from Anthropologie
Bottom Left: Antwerp Chair, Bloom from Anthropologie
Large Bottom Right: Jacoby Bench, Papillon from Anthropologie
Small Bottom Right: Mamello Chaise, Martine Toile from Anthropologie

Some Dream Of Prince Charming, Some Dream Of Cakes

We've been in the wedding business a long time, but there is something about cake designers that seem to surprise and delight us all the time. In the last decade or so, bakers have transformed into artists by creating designs so intricate and imaginative that they no longer look edible. But that is exactly what they are.

We recently found a cake designer out of San Francisco that truly amazed us. I Dream Of Cake, started by artist Shinmin Li, understands the personality of icing and the relationship between ingredients allowing her to create masterpiece after masterpiece. Their studio is truly set up like an art gallery, and why ever not? After all, each design is sculpted, painted, molded, and shaped into a true work of art. Just check out some of her delicious creations below.

Real Life Paper Dolls

Did you ever play with paper dolls as a child? Well this takes the art of paper dolls to a whole new level. Jolis Paons, an amazing artist, handmade a couture dress made purely out of phonebook paper. Talk about using your resources...

Paons says of the paper dress she designed and created for her Creative Processes class, “I pleated, stuck, sewed, and glued everything by hand.”

And the most incredible part is we could actually see this dress being worn out on the town. It's pretty cute.



Another designer named Violise Lunn out of Copenhagen, Denmark also created couture gowns made from paper (see below). Obviously, these designs are more for display than anything else, but we are impressed by the level of intricate detail and creativity that went into creating such masterpieces. Bravo, we say!




Source 1
Source 2

Welcome With Open Arms

A wonderful thing to prepare if you have out-of-town guests coming to your wedding is to create a Wedding Welcome Basket, full of local goodies so they can acquaint themselves with the area and feel right at home. After all, your guests are paying a lot of money to attend including airfare, hotel accommodations, pet boarding fees and maybe even more. So, a gracious thing to do is put together a token of your thanks and have it ready for them when the arrive in their hotel room.

Here are some items you may want to include in your welcome baskets...

• A bottle of a local wine or beer
  
• Local candies or gourmet treats
• Maps of the local area
• A book of "Things to do in Seattle" or in your wedding city
• Tickets to a local attraction like the zoo, Space Needle, aquarium, museum, etc.
• Weather related items like an umbrella in the fall or warm socks in the winter
  
• Mini travel accessories like a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, etc.
• Also include a thank you note reminding your guests how honored you are that they came to share in your wedding festivities
  

Here are some samples of charming welcome baskets from Brides Magazine.

Honeymoon Destination: St. Croix Virgin Islands

One of our staff members recently took a trip to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Croix is the ultimate honeymoon hotspot because it is not as well known as some of the other Caribbean Islands like St. Thomas or St. John, making it less populated and more secluded. With hundreds of incredible beaches to choose from, you can literally be the only person on the beach for an entire day. The Caribbean's warm, clear waters make it ideal for snorkeling and diving. Although the island embodies many European influences, the island is part of the U.S. territory, making it simple to travel to without the need of a passport.

If St. Croix sounds like a place you'd like to explore, here are some must-see locations to visit during your stay.

Places to stay:

The Buccaneer Hotel
Founded in the 17th century and family-run for generations, St. Croix's Buccaneer is the Caribbean's and Virgin Islands' longest running resort. Both historic and modern, the resort blends old world charm with warm hospitality and the amenities expected by today's traveler. More than a hotel, The Buccaneer is a premier destination resort for golf, tennis, water sports, weddings, honeymoons and family vacations.

Tamarind Reef Hotel
Tamarind Reef Hotel boasts one of the Caribbean's most beautiful white sand beaches. Whether to visit the beach for a quick dip in to the warm Caribbean waters or to relax on the beach chairs with a nice book, the beach and its surroundings are very inviting and offer an island experience. Even more, you can even plan a family reunion or your wedding on this spectacular white sand beach, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Places to see:


Buck Island
One of the world's most spectacular underwater national parks, Buck Island Reef National Monument was established to preserve "one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea." The park is one of a few fully marine protected areas in the National Park System. The 176-acre island and surrounding coral reef ecosystem support a large variety of native flora and fauna, including the hawksbill turtle and brown pelican. Just a short boat ride away from St. Croix and you are in another spectacular paradise.

Christiansted
Stroll through this picturesque Danish colonial town starting at the waterfront's grassy lawn, the Christiansted National Historic Site managed by the U.S. National Park Service, an ideal place to learn about the town's 18th century origins. Climb to the top of yellow Fort Christiansvaern for a striking view of the harbor, poke your head in the Scale House, and walk up King Street from the wharf to see the original Government House of the Danish West Indies. Shop, then relax with a cool drink on the boardwalk and watch the seaplanes take off.

Frederiksted
Step up to St. Croix's most historic structure, the handsome, red Fort Frederik, built at the end of Strand Street around 1760. There, on July 3, 1848, enslaved workers demanded their freedom and it was granted at last by Danish Governor-General Peter von Scholten. After touring the fort's historic exhibits, head south along the waterfront to the Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, to see galleries of paintings and changing exhibits housed in an 18th century merchant's building. Have a late lunch at one of several waterfront restaurants and linger for a spectacular sunset.

Cruzan Rum Distillery
The Northwest may be known for its wine tastings, but St. Croix is known for its local Rum Distillery, Cruzan Rum. Sniff and see masterful rum-making in action on a guided tour, the way it has been done here for centuries. Learn how a master distiller brings rainwater and molasses together to end up in fruity drinks with tiny umbrellas—it's the same process islanders have used since the 1650s. At the end of your tour, samples await—savor Single Barrel Estate Rum neat, sip an exotic flavored-rum cocktail, or quench your thirst with a classic rum and Coke. Say hello while you're there to the Nelthropps, the family that has been making these rums for eight generations. They still gather daily at the distillery to taste-test the product before it is bottled. It's no wonder their Cruzan Rum is still considered the world's most honored rum—and a few bottles make a great souvenir to take home, and because it's made locally it's also half the price from what you'll pay in the states (and duty free).

Estate Whim Plantation Museum
Tour the unusual oval great house, dating from 1743, furnished with period antiques that can help you imagine life as it once was here. Walk through fields for a close look at one of those stone sugar mills you've wondered about, as well as the animal and steam mills employed long ago to grind sugarcane. The 11-acre property also includes slave quarters, a cookhouse, bath house, and watch house.

Places to eat:

The Bacchus
Located in the heart of historic downtown Christiansted, Bacchus is upstairs on Queen Cross Street. When you enter, the ambience lends itself to remind you to relax and let us take care of you. Named for the god of wine, it is fitting that Bacchus has the largest and only award winning wine list on St. Croix; many available by the glass.

Kendricks
Kendricks, the island's toniest restaurant, lies in the historic Quin House complex at King Cross and Company streets. Some of its recipes have been featured in Bon Appétit, and deservedly so. You'll immediately warm to such specialties as grilled filet mignon with a port-wine demi-glace and red-onion confit. The signature appetizer is king-crab cakes with lemon-pepper aioli. Another great choice is the pecan-crusted roast pork loin with ginger mayonnaise.

Click here to view photos from a couple who got married in St. Croix.