Figuring out what to wear to wedding is one of the most fun – and most trying – parts of being a wedding guest. Sure you can take your cues from the invitation, but what does “black tie optional” or “festive attire” really mean? And what should you wear to a formal daytime summer wedding, or a destination wedding? Here are tips and ideas for what to wear to every type of summer wedding.

Daytime Wedding

If the wedding takes place in a church, mosque, or synagogue, and you are wearing a sleeveless dress, make sure you have a shawl or sweater to cover your shoulders. If you know that the wedding is going to be religiously conservative, skip the short skirt, too. You can wear heels to a daytime wedding (as long as it isn’t in the grass!), but you don’t have to. And you don’t have to break out your bejeweled ballet flats, either. Keep your hair and makeup simple. Nothing too flashy is the name of the game

• Daytime weddings call for color, so look for well-cut dresses in bright hues.
• Length should be at least to the knee or tea length.
• For shoes, stick with wedges so you don’t sink into the grass if you’re outdoors.
• A cross-body bag is perfect for cocktails — it’s hands free!

Destination wedding

• Look for a dress that packs well. This is crucial as you don’t want to show up with a gown that’s bent out of shape. Try lace, jersey or sequins/beading as they don’t wrinkle.
• The two big colors for the season are coral and turquoise.
• Consider a gold-lace dress: It packs up small and light and works perfectly with bold color accessories.

Formal wedding

For a wedding that requests “festive” attire, you wear basically what you might wear to a formal function. Cocktail dresses and shiny fabrics are in order. Jewelry is a matter of preference, but stay out of your cheap, trendy accessories drawer. Imagine what you might wear to a really nice night on the town. Get your hair done, paint your nails, and break out the red lipstick

Classic black is, well, classic. Save some money, too, as you can find some great deals! Just know the fit that looks best on you.

• If you want something that is going to last, look for jersey dresses as they are more durable through dry cleanings, pack well for weddings and give you a little more “wiggle” room to gain or lose a few pounds over the years.
• Antique jewelry is a great way to accessorize a basic black dress without breaking the bank.
• A classic black dress with jewel belt detail is timeless.
• A simple black clutch is all about keeping the look streamlined.
• Chandelier earrings pick up the sparkle on the belt detail and draw attention up to the asymmetrical halter neckline.

It’s easier than ever to lead a greener lifestyle.  From energy saving light bulbs and appliances, recycled products, solar energy to environmentally friendly house products.  Now we can even make choices on what and how we eat….organic produce, meat, well, food in general versus food that was chemically and genetically modified/treated.  We are definitely on the right track and should support the cause by making every effort to participate.

Even more so, I am all for a “green” wedding.  Living in this wonderful destination, I am talking from experience when I tell you that the Yucatan has so much to offer which we can integrate into a more environmentally friendly wedding.  I have even created a “green wedding package” which you can find in our website under “packages”.

Here are some ideas to “green” up your destination wedding.

Use the Light Nature Gives Us

It is not difficult for any wedding planner to propose an outdoor wedding in this area J.   My suggestion is to make as much use as you can of the natural light.  Start your wedding about 30 minutes earlier than you would have and perhaps finish a tab bit earlier at night (save energy).

I know destination wedding brides dream of using candles all over the place (not a bad thought and if you do, ask your wedding planner to get you hand-made, beeswax or vegetable-oil based candles) but being that the wedding reception will most take place on the beach, the possibility of the candles being blown out is high.  Still they sure make great décor on the table.

Use as many tiki torches as you can.  They will kill 2 birds with one stone.  Soft lightning for your wedding area and mosquito “preventer” at the same time.  Add citronella y voila. Bye bye mossis.

Eco Friendly Flowers

Unfortunately Cancun and area is not blessed with a wealth of natural flowers.  You would think so being in the tropics and all.  Hence flowers are being flown in from all over the world.  Our main sources are the huge flower markets in Mexico City followed by suppliers in the US and even as far as Europe.   Not only does this make flowers expensive but I guess you can also say, not very environmentally friendly.

The other day I flipped though a bridal magazine and I found a stunning bridal bouquet made out of curled up palm leaves (which we have here plentiful) and just 2 white calla lilies.  The arrangement look extremely elegant and definitely made a statement for being something completely different.

I stumbled over this bouquet and give it a thumbs up for being unique and original.  Could be even something for your bridesmaids.

I can come up with a wealth of ideas for boutonnieres from using shells, recycled paper to twigs with old bottoms.  I guess though for a destination wedding, shells will come in handy. A few days before your wedding you two love birds can take a romantic stroll on the beach and gather the material needed.  The florist will be more than happy to assemble a very exceptional piece of what you found.

As for centerpieces, I suggest using natural products like coconuts, again palm leaves and plenty of hand- hade candles.  Or use potted plants in place of cut flowers as centerpieces.

What we typically do after the wedding, is to donate the arrangements to a retirement home or orphanage.

Save Even More Energy

Eliminate the use of electricity while walking down the aisle. Use as much life music as possible for your events, a beautiful harp, a duet of cello and violin, even a drum and fire show for dinner will do the trick.

Local Crafts

Support the local community.  99% of the time the welcome gift at a beach destination wedding ends up being a bag stuffed with all sorts of goodies.  Here is my suggestion… welcome bags made out of the native product called “yute“ filled with local biodegradable mosquito repellant and sun protection, deliciously smelling hand-made tropical soaps and creams,  some scrumptious Mexican sweets and a hand-woven sunhat.

Wedding Favors and Gifts

Instead of favors, let your guests know in your wedding program that you have donated $1-$2 per guest to your favorite environmental organization.

If you are already settled into a home, and do not need kitchenware or furnishings, you may prefer to state on your invitations: “Please no gifts” or “Your presence at our wedding is your gift to us”, or recommend that your guests do a small collection during their stay and have the proceeds donated a local orphanage.

In case you are still establishing a home, think about registering with an eco-conscious retailer to minimize receiving unnecessary trinkets from guests who aren’t sure what you need.

If you are going to be buying gifts for the people standing up in your wedding, consider non consumptive options like massage at the hotel (no one will say no to a massage!), an ecological tour to our world famous ruins and Mayan villages or an food and beverage amenity for their room.

Save a Tree

Eco Friendly Invitations – set your wedding style by your invitation…. send online or use un-dyed and recycles paper, tree free paper or plantable seed paper – I LOVE this idea.  There are also companies using now soy or vegetable ink for print. Look at the list below of what is typically printed.

• engagement announcements
• save the date cards
• shower invitations
• shower thank you notes
• wedding invitaitons
• ceremony programs
• place cards
• menu cards
• wedding announcements
• thank you notes

With millions of weddings this year, if each integrated only 1 to 2 GREEN elements, it would make big impact on environment. Also, please do not let this just be a trend because it is “hot” right now to have an eco friendly wedding.  Spread the word and let´s keep this “trendy” trend a trend that lasts forever.

A New Year has begun and perhaps your loved one proposed to you on the last day of 2011.  If so, congratulations!  Could not get any more romantic.

Let me start of by wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous and successful 2012. May all of your wishes personally and professionally flourish and most importantly come true.

Looking back, and I honestly believe I will not be the only one “complaining” that 2011 went by so (too) quickly.  It was a year full of changes, moving moments and plenty of joy seeing all of our wonderful couples getting married last year and who shared their love and these special moments with us.  We were truly blessed to be part of so many weddings.

Our company is fairly young but has risen up to one of the top wedding planning companies in this area which was a great achievement for 2011.  We broaden our circle of friends in the travel / hotel industry and amongst fellow wedding planners – locally and internationally. And we participated in interesting bridal events and shows back in the US and here in Cancun.  What a YEAR!

Well, what does 2012 have in stall for us?  New opportunities again to bring the joy to so many couples who have decided to tie the knot in our wonderful destination and share these precious moments with their friends and families.  New opportunities to meet amazing people from all over the world, all walks of life and all sorts of professions.  Connect and reconnected with fellow wedding specialists from all over.  A new year, a new begging, a year to improve ourselves personally and professionally.  Again, Happy New Year from us to You!

11.11.11  – What special meaning this date held this year.  In Cancun and La Riviera Maya an estimated 2500 weddings were performed.  An absolute record.  Apart from showing off with a really cool anniversary date and sharing it with some special birthday “kids” like Demi Moore and Leonardo DeCaprio, this date actually had a higher meaning.

Couples worldwide have long hitched their marital fortunes to special dates, signing their nuptials on ones that bear the same number for the month, day and year. Wedding industry experts believe it’s a combination of superstition and meaning that make them so desirable.  For the Chinese 08.08.08 was the ultimate date of tying the knot (it doesn’t get luckier than the number eight – translated and correctly pronounced it means “fortune”).  .

According to numerology, each number holds a unique vibration with associated traits attached to it. One and two symbolize masculine and feminine energy, respectively, with one deemed as “the creator.” When repeated, one becomes 11, which is considered the Master Number, representing rebirth and, you guessed it, new beginnings.

In terms of astrology, we are currently transitioning into the 11th house of the zodiac—the age of the Aquarius. Progressive and intuitive, the sign rules technology, humanitarianism, philanthropy, nonconformity and idealism. According to astrological predictions, a wealth of new information will dominate the coming months.

We actually had to turn down weddings on that day (ha, I wish we could say that more often) as we did not have sufficient manpower.  Vendors, like florists, décor companies, photographer, were working on overdrive, days without sleep getting ready for the big occasion.  One of our florists’s had 25 weddings, one of which was ours.  They arrived on time and had the church decorated 45 minutes prior to ceremony begin.  Kudos!

Surprisingly I have not seen the “madness” about the date yet.  Apart from being the last time a day, a month and a year will be the same number across the board until the next century, extremists are predicting the end of the world, which would coincide with the end of the Mayan Calendar marking a 5,126-year era.  But no one here believes the world is ending. Instead, it’s a positive and uplifting time. A time of renewal, that is what the Mayan culture is all about.  A new era is starting and what better way than to start a new life together! So make sure that you secure your 12.12.12 wedding date.

Everyone flocks to Cancun and La Riviera Maya for its beaches and so you would think that it is the most logical thing to have a beach wedding.  This is what this destination is known for….. its stunning white powdery beaches, turquoise colored water, amazing moon rises over the ocean and a star filled sky.  But have you ever considered having a wedding at a Hacienda or in the jungle at a beach destination?

Of course we do not want you to miss out on your beach experience.  Have your rehearsal dinner on the sand and then surprise your guests with a oh so different Cancun wedding.

My favorites ….. a classic Mexican Hacienda in the middle of Cancun, and a juggle location close by Playa del Carmen.

But first about the Hacienda….