ROMANTIC VACATIONS IN PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO

If there is one thing I love to do, it is going on vacations. I enjoy getting out of town and away from life’s busy cycle but most importantly, I love getting away with my husband to just relax and enjoy each other’s company – especially on a romantic beach. 

Mexico has many beautiful, relaxing, and romantic destinations where you can vacation at but one of our favorites is Puerto Vallarta. You can’t beat weather, which averages 71.6 degrees in the winter and 93.2 degrees in the summer. Getting to Puerto Vallarta isn’t too bad if you’re flying out of Los Angeles; it is only a 3-hour flight! Its bay, Bay of Banderas, is the world’s 7^th largest bay and was also named one of the most beautiful bays in the world. But most importantly, you cannot beat vacationing in a town with such a great, authentic and welcoming culture. It is no wonder that Condé Nast Travel Magazine named Puerto Vallarta “World’s Most Friendly City”.

When I go on vacations, I love to see things and do things. My husband on the other hand, he will do things and see things for me but he really just likes to relax either by the pool or on the beach. Oh, and you can’t forget golf. The great thing about Puerto Vallarta is that there is something for everyone. From historic walking areas, cafes, boardwalks, museums, to beaches and zip lining – everyone is bound to have a good and memorable time.

Puerto Vallarta is not just a top destination spot in Mexico – it is also a top wedding destination. We have featured several Mexico destination weddings here on Le Magnifique and we love them so much because they are small and intimate, usually with the couple’s closest family members and friends. The best part of having a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta is that you can take your honeymoon right there!

Be sure to check out this sweepstakes for a chance to win a romantic getaway 4-day/3-night for two adults to an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta – flights included!

Markel Wedding Insurance

One thing most couples are not aware of when it comes to planning their wedding is wedding insurance. In reality, you don’t really think that anything bad is going to happen, right? I have been there and I have done that nearly 5 years ago and while almost everything ran smoothly with our wedding, we did have to deal with some theft at our engagement party. Sucks big time, doesn’t it? Long story short, we found out that someone who we trusted and put in charge of watching our card box ended up stealing an unknown amount of cards that contained cash and gift cards. Fortunately, we were able to get some of that back (like the gift cards) but the cash had already been spent.

But what happens if someone does that at your wedding? Luckily for you, there is such a thing as wedding insurance. One of the top wedding insurers, Markel Wedding Insurance, offers wedding cancellation coverage that will protect you and your groom if your wedding gifts that are lost, stolen or damaged prior to and seven days after the wedding. 

Theft aside, what happens if you need to postpone your wedding due to unforeseeable circumstances such as weather or health issues of the bride and groom and their immediate family? Markel’s Wedding Cancellation coverage will also cover non-refundable deposits and non-reimbursable expenses. Some of the unforeseen circumstances that Markel Wedding Insurance covers are: extreme weather, an accident or illness of the bride, groom or immediate family member, military deployment, or if a vendor goes out of business. Another thing wedding insurance is great for is if a vendor just doesn’t show up to your wedding with the things you paid for!

Reality is that anything can go wrong on your wedding day and with wedding insurance, you don’t need to worry about that. Your wedding day will go by so quickly so the best thing for you to do is to enjoy it. Markel Wedding Insurance can tailor a policy to meet your specific needs. Visit Markel Event Insurance or call 1-855-480-9757 to get a free quote, and learn why you should protect your special day. Save yourself the unnecessary headaches that could arise and make sure you are covered. 

PS - More and more venues are starting to require wedding liability insurance (like art museums, wineries, reception halls, etc.) and Markel has that too for as little as $75. They’ve seriously thought of everything.

Honeymoon at Secrets Resorts & Spas

After all the hustle and bustle of wedding planning and then the wedding itself, you are going to want to go somewhere you and your new spouse can relax and what better place to go than to an all-inclusive Unlimited-Luxury® resort?

Secrets Resorts & Spas offers a variety of all-adult breathtaking luxury resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. You want to honeymoon in Mexico? No problem! You can find 10 stunning resorts from Los Cabos to Huatulco to Cancun. Want to travel a little further? You can find 2 jaw-dropping beachfront resorts in Jamaica and another must-see resort in the Dominican Republic.

All Secrets Resorts & Spas Unlimited-Luxury® – “spectacular oceanfront settings, elegant accommodations, 24-hour concierge and room service, gourmet dining, unlimited premium beverages and so much more.” In addition to all that, guests are treated to elegant rooms or suites with either a tropical, garden, pool, ocean or oceanfront view. You can’t beat having a spacious living area, a bathroom with your own Jacuzzi, a complimentary mini bar and much more! Some rooms even have their own Jacuzzi on the balconies – imagine relaxing with your significant other in the hot tub while watching the sunset?

All Secrets Resorts have luxurious spas  where you pamper yourself. From massages, facials, body wraps, beauty salons, you will be sure to find something that will make you feel like a million bucks. And for those who want to work out, you will be delighted to find state-of-the-art fitness centers at the Secrets Resorts & Spas. Love to golf? You’ll find world-class courses at Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort  and Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort (opening November 15, 2014).

One of my favorite things about the Secrets Resorts & Spas  are the pools. They are so incredibly gorgeous that I would have the hardest time getting out!

My husband and I honeymooned in Jamaica at an all-inclusive resort and we were so incredibly happy. We ate whenever we wanted to, we drank whenever we wanted to… everything was right there at our fingertips. I will definitely be looking into booking our next vacation at one of the gorgeous Secrets Resorts & Spas!

Save up to 50% when you Book Your Wedding at Dreams Resorts & Spas

Many couples these days are opting to forgo the traditional route of getting married locally to where they live and have been planning destination weddings. Destination weddings are a favorite here on Le Magnifique because they’re fun, they are usually some place tropical, and they’re intimate. It’s a great way to get away from the busy life at home and just get away with some of your close friends and family to celebrate one of the most important days of your life.

There are very many resorts where you can get married at but one of our favorites is DreamResorts & Spas . “Dreams Resorts & Spas are the perfect venues for destination weddings. With locations across Mexico and the Dominican Republic – and Costa Rica coming December 2014 and Panama coming 2016, you are sure to find the resort that fits your wedding style to a tee. With their expertly crafted wedding packages, couples can rest assured that no hair- or petal- will be out of place. But no need to worry about falling into the trap of a cookie cutter wedding, couples can send their dedicated on-site wedding coordinator pictures, themes, and ideas of how they envision their big day and their coordinator will make their vision a reality.”

Planning on inviting more than just a small group of your close friends and family? DreamsResorts & Spas  is currently offering their guests up to 50% in savings for those who book early! You can’t beat that! You and your guests would have such a blast at any of the Dreams Resorts - which boasts “unlimited-luxury”, meaning that everything is included! From fine dining to gourmet a la carte dining, top shelf spirits, activities, and more – it’s all included. I had the pleasure of staying at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean and I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun it was. I bet that it’s even more fun to celebrate your marriage with your close family and friends at a place that will forever be imprinted in their memory.

Be sure to check out Dreams Resorts & Spas  to learn more about these wonderful and breathtaking resorts and all their special offers  that will make your wedding a dream come true.

Invitations by Dawn: Introducing Letterpress Invitations

One of my most favorite wedding details are the letterpress invitations (and anything letterpress really, I would say). I feel like they are elegant, timeless and just one of those things that you just want to keep forever because they’re oh, so pretty!

Today I will be sharing a little bit about Invitations by Dawn, a wedding invitation company that has been around for over 30 years – so you know that you’ll be in good hands when you get your invitations from them. 

Ordering invitations can be a daunting task for some brides because there are just so many options out there! I know that when I was a bride planning my wedding, I went through 4-inch thick books of invitation samples and, while I eventually found one that made my heart happy, it was a little bit stressful because I didn’t really have any help from a professional. At Invitations by Dawn, there are friendly and knowledgeable consultants who want to make the process of selecting your invitations easy by offering invitation etiquette (you know, do you put your parents’ names on the invitation or not – that kind of stuff) and assembly guides.

In addition to all that goodness, they offer a large variety of invitation styles to choose from! Are you planning an elegant ballroom affair? There is an invitation style for you. Are you planning an intimate backyard bash? You’ll find something too. There is something for every bride with every style from affordable to high-end styles. Oh, and did I mention that they even offer samples so you can see them before you make a purchase? Amazing, right?

Now about the Letterpress Collection: Invitations by Dawn uses the best heavyweight paper that is 100% cotton. If you’ve ever seen and held a letterpress invitation you instantly get that luxurious and rich feeling (total swoon-worthy).  

In case you don’t know how letterpress invitations are created, here is a little snippet of how they’re processed: “Letterpress is the fine art of a historical printing process perfected over centuries. It is considered one of the finest forms of printing available. Today, letterpress wedding invitations begin as digital designs, which are sent to film as a negative and then exposed to a polymer plate (the modern-day "metal" plate). Individual sheets of paper are fed through the press. The plate applies pressure to the paper creating a heavily impressed image, which leaves the design and wording crisp and sharp in appearance.” Doesn’t the process itself sound luxurious?

One of the great things about Invitations by Dawn is that every design is customizable so that it fits and matches your wedding style or theme. You can select up to 2 different colors at no additional fee. You also have the option to customize fonts and wording! In addition to that, all invitations come with 100% cotton inner and outer envelopes at no additional fee. Amazing, right?

Special offer for Le Magnifique readers: Get 25% off your wedding invitations with code LEMAG25. A huge thank you to Invitations by Dawn for making this happen for our brides! ***This offer includes their premium collections such as Letterpress and Foil-Stamped invitations but does exclude Disney Invitations. Offer valid through 6/30/2014.***

Happy invitation picking!

Diamond in The Rough: unique engagement rings

Diamond in The Rough’s one-of-a-kind engagement rings are designed especially for fashion forward 

brides looking for a way to express their own individual style. Diamond in the Rough has 12 different 

bridal styles to suit all tastes, from vintage inspired Victorian rings to minimalist Moderne rings... There’s a rough diamond ring for every kind of bride-to-be!

Never heard of a rough diamond before? No worries, a natural rough diamond is a diamond that has 

remained in its natural form. Its shape, texture, and color is completely original to the diamond without 

any modifications. These precious gems of nature can be found in a wide spectrum of colors including 

colorless, yellow, champagne, chocolate brown and much more! The beauty of having a rough diamond engagement ring is that it can never be replicated. Each center stone is completely unique, making each engagement ring the only one of its kind.

Thanks to Mother Nature, Diamond in the Rough can feature her most magnificent natural rough 

diamonds. Each stone a tribute to her talent and craftsmanship.

Martha Stewart Weddings Casting Call

Casting Call: We’re Looking for Two Brides-to-Be!

Martha Stewart Weddings is looking to cast two brides-to-be who would like to straighten their teeth before their wedding to participate in this exciting initiative.  

If chosen, you will:

- Receive free professional treatment from a well-known company to straighten your teeth.

- Be a regular guest-blogger on MSW.com and appear in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine to share your experiences getting ready for your wedding.
 
To be considered for this opportunity, please email the following to marketing@marthastewart.com: 

• Your name
• Wedding date
• City of residence
• 2-3 photos of your yourself (at least one showing your smile)
• A few sentences about why you’d like to participate.

Last day for casting: Friday 3/15/2013

We look forward to hearing from you!

- The team at Martha Stewart Weddings

Empire State Building and Preston Bailey Valentine's Day Wedding Contest, "Love is in the Air"

If you know who Preston Bailey is, you know he is a fabulous wedding and event designer. There is a wonderful contest going on where three lucky couples will celebrate their special day with a customized wedding or vow renewal ceremony held at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day 2013 and Preston Bailey will create a customized motif for each couple's ceremony!

You can enter anytime from now until January 11, 2013. Entering is super easy. All you have to do is send a video submission of your love story via Facebook, detailing their dream to get married in the Empire State Building with Preston Bailey as their wedding designer. All videos must be submitted by January 11, 2013. Both the Entrant and his/her bride or groom must be legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and 18 years of age or older. Terms and conditions HERE. Winner will be selected on or around January 18th, 2013

Read the press release HERE.

Tacori Engagement Rings: The Number One Choice for Designer Engagement Rings

Buying an engagement ring is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make -- financially and emotionally. This piece of jewelry will be the material embodiment of your love and marriage. You'll look at it every day, so you need to love it as much as you love each other. With a purchase this important you want to get it right! Many buyers look for Designer rings for the luxury style they want, and to have a name behind it that they trust and feel comfortable with. 

When surveyed in 2011, 1500 women across America choose one brand above all others as the ring they wanted, that brand was TACORI. So I looked a little closer at this brand to try to figure out why. What is so special about a TACORI ring? I already knew from my coworkers who are headed towards the aisle (and even a few who aren't) that the rings torn from magazines and taped to their cubicle to ogle are always TACORI. So I decided to get a few 'professional opinions' from people in the jewelry industry. I asked a 'jewelry specialist' at a large chain of jewelry stores, ironically that store doesn't carry TACORI, so he asked to remain anonymous. He said they are pretty much the best made products available, especially for the money. Another salesperson from JR Dunn Jewelers whospecializes in TACORI Engagement Rings told me that "The Crescent styles are the most popular, and the TACORI criss-cross 2565 in any shape or size is the most requested. The diamonds are chosen to be the best, with terrific fire and brilliance. 

Diamond experts rate them as superior quality. These rings are hand-crafted by expert jewelers who specialize in engagement rings, which means the finished product is going to be perfect." Maybe so, but no one would buy a perfectly made, high quality ring if it was ugly right? "TACORI is always at the forefront of style. Look at any magazine or article on trends for engagement rings, or especially at celebrity rings, because TACORI has a huge following in Hollywood. Chances are that famous starlet or mega movie star you read just got engaged is wearing a TACORI ring." As they say "Every woman wants a TACORI ring but it seems they only end up on the fingers of the most loved." I'm not sure if that's true, but when I asked a coworker here who is ring shopping with her fiancé what ring she wants... you guessed it, TACORI.  After all my research I think it comes down to one thing: these rings are just plain beautiful. If you're lucky enough to get one, enjoy!