Saint Lucia

So, where to go for your honeymoon? Hopefully you won't get too stressed whilst planning your big day but one way or another you're probably going to need a break afterwards! Thanks to the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, today we feature St. Lucia, a place I have never been to (hint hint Mr LG if you're reading!) - it looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous!

Whether you're after romance, rejuvenation or adventure, Saint Lucia makes for the perfect getaway. Its unique landscape of palm-fringed beaches mixed with acres of unspoiled rainforest, one of the world's few drive-in volcanoes and the majestic Piton Mountains – a UNESCO World Heritage site - means there's something for everyone to explore. Couples can bask under the sun on secluded beaches or enjoy a rejuvenating massage at a sumptuous spa. Adventurers can choose to kite surf, zip-wire or go on a jeep safari and families can sail, horse-ride or enjoy the fantastic on-site water sports facilities.  

THE BACHELOR LEAPS TO SAINT LUCIA FOR FINALE

As the honeymoon capital of the world, Saint Lucia was revealed as the backdrop for the final episodes of The Bachelor UK.  The final two episodes of the series (on 21 and 28 October) will see rugby international Gavin Henson and the last three girls he’s chosen, jet off to Saint Lucia for the ultimate romantic showdown as Henson decides with which stunning contender to sail off into the sunset.   

The final episodes will see Henson whisk the three girls off to various beautiful locations on Saint Lucia to make the potentially life-changing decision of choosing ‘The One’.   As well as experiencing a helicopter ride to see the spectacular landscape of the island, locations they visit on Saint Lucia include:

• The stunning Jalousie Plantation Rainforest Spa to be pampered to their hearts content
• The exotic Botanical Gardens complete with romantic waterfall
• The historic Balembouche Estate and plantation house

All the locations are within easy reach of the luxury accommodation enjoyed by The Bachelor and his companions.   Henson himself stayed at the 5 star luxury resort of Jade Mountain, nestled high in the hills over Soufriere with panoramic views of the iconic Piton Mountains.

The female contestants enjoyed the boutique hospitality of Stonefield Estate Villa Resort & Spa.  The resort is one of Saint Lucia’s hidden gems, situated in the Soufriere region of the island, with its individually designed villas and traditional Creole inspired restaurant and spa.

Also featured are La Belle Helene, one of the Eastern Caribbean’s finest private villas and The Jalousie Plantation, with its stunning white sand beach.

Depending on his choice of girlfriend, Gavin may well find himself winging his way back to Saint Lucia next year, as it’s a Leap Year, when women traditionally propose to their men on 29 February.     

There are a variety of spectacular proposal locations on island to help ensure that every man proposed to next year on Saint Lucia will say yes, including:

• The lighthouse at Coconut Bay
• The top of Gros Piton
• The historic Pigeon Island
• The lush and romantic Botanical Gardens
• On a sunset catamaran cruise
• On a helicopter ride over Mount Gimme

All the hotels on island can help to add those extra special touches to make every proposal unique – from champagne and music through to trained monkeys to carry the ring!  

Visit the Saint Lucia Now website, connect with them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Buttercup Bus

Since the Surrey Networking Tweet Up a couple of weeks ago the Wedding Industry Awards Regional Winners have been announced. Having met so many wonderful people at the Tweet Up I looked with interest to see who the regional winners were. On the list, amongst the people I have heard of but not actually had the privilege to meet, I was thrilled to see the name of one person I had met and with a delightful and unusual business! Mr LG has a huge soft spot for VW Campers, having spent months living in one travelling across Australia many years ago - in fact he still has the VW badge from the front of the van tucked away with all the photos from the trip. My parents bought a VW Camper when I was a teenager, a rather fetching two tone orange and cream (well, it was the late 70's!), with a pop top roof where two people could sleep.

Nathalie, who runs Buttercup Bus VW Campers is passionate about restoring these vehicles which I'm sure feature in the memories of many of us .......

 Mini-mooners with a sense of adventure!

I was delighted to be invited to write a blog entry for the lovely Kim at Lil Guys. (We met a couple of weeks ago at the weddings in Surrey Tweet Up, exchanging stories about our mischievous puppies!). I wanted to write a blog about something that seems to be a current trend I have identified, and also something very close to my own heart as a lady passionate about the outdoors...

Over the past three years, surveys have reported a decrease in wedding budgets of around £5k. The honeymoon is starting to make way for the new “mini moon”, as couples become increasingly cost-conscious with wedding plans. These “mini moon” breaks can lead to people coming up with inspirational ideas on how to spend a blissful short break with their loved ones, whilst often avoiding the stress of busy airports, long haul flights and not forgetting the passport shenanigans with maiden name changes.

Giving up the traditional two week holiday on a tropical island need not be a sacrifice with some of the ideas I have seen floating around on the UK wedding forums. As a wedding supplier myself, I spend considerable time on these forums, keeping tabs on changes in wedding trends. I wanted to share with you my top UK mini moon ideas, taken from real bride’s recommendations combined with my love for the British countryside and camping with a luxurious twist...

Having lived a large proportion of my life on the Hertfordshire / Essex border, this  little find was rather close to my heart- BOUNCERS FARM CAMPSITE.  The cute little gypsy caravan traditional bowtop wagons are adorable, and ooze with romantic charm... imagine sitting together in front of the log burner with a glass of red wine, enjoying each other’s company...  Set in an orchard, this campsite is a must, if you are getting marries in the first week of May – think of all that blossom! If you are planning a trip later in the year, October would be ideal for the orchard harvests! For those of you with a real sense of adventure, the farm land can be used for horse riding, and there are even carriage trips available. At £50-60 / night, this little gem is a viable option for those on mini moon!

Gypsy Caravan at Bouncers Farm

For those of you looking to sleep under canvas, but without the stress of putting up tent poles, or carting all you camping equipment down with you, why not try Glamping Holiday  based on the Surrey / Sussex Boarder. Bell tents decked out with everything from bedding to chandeliers guarantee a camping trip that offers something special...not to mention the welcome breakfast pack on your arrival containing eggs, bacon, bread, butter, jam, milk and even marshmallows.

Glamping Bell Tent

If a holiday isn’t really a proper trip unless you have crossed the sea, then what about The Isle Of Weight? The Really Green Holiday Company offer 16ft fully furnished Yurts... and you can even hire one complete with four poster bed! There are plenty of tourist attractions in the area, and in the evenings, you can watch the stars in each others company – or go to the communal “dome” and meet other couples as a “Mr and Mrs” to enjoy a drink and a chat!

Really Green Yurt

One place that I have always wanted to go to (but never been able to get availability) is The Treehouse at Kinlochlaich House in Scotland. Yes, this octagonal shaped accommodation is up in the branches, with an oak, spiralling staircase, winding round the central tree... I don’t think that I would want to leave, all snug, looking out at the fantastic views. Short breaks are available out of peak season, at around £360 from Friday to Monday. Prime time August for a full week comes in at £605. Just remember to book well in advance for this hidden treasure.

The Treehouse

For the magpies out  there that are attracted to bright and shiny things, there is no accommodation that sparkles more than an airstream. We love one campsite in East Dorset near the popular New Forest and wonderful sandy beaches, that hires out these vintage Airstream caravans. Happy Days RetroVacations offer Mobile fire pits can be rented from reception so you can enjoy toasting marshmallows with a glass of local cider by the fire as the sun goes down. A fish and chip van visits on a Saturday night in high season and an ice cream van visits frequently too.

Airstream

Looking for accomodations reflective of history a little further back in time? Shepherd’s Huts were built in the 19^th century to provide living quarters for shepherds who were away from home during the lambing season. Today, many of these huts are being restored to a high specification, to include sofas, double beds, kitchen and shower room.  The Rose and Applewood Shepherds Huts in Butley, close to the Suffolk coast, are situated in a lovely garden, deep in the countryside. Guests will enjoy a wonderful experience, with a pre-war atmosphere, while every practical consideration has been taken care of... Friday to Monday short breaks come it at £318 during August, with a full week costing £505.

Shepherds Hut

Last, but certainly not least, how could I miss out an adventure very close to my own heart... the vintage VW Camper. As the owner of Buttercup Bus VW Campers - a Croydon (South London and Surrey Border) based VW Camper hire company, one of the perks of the job is to regularly go out on little breaks – the Sussex countryside being one of my favourites. The campervan provides you with the freedom to hit the open road, the flexibility to visit as many destinations as you want, and brings a certain vintage charm to your trip, which will turn people’s heads and make them smile. We love to go to the WoWo campsite in Uckfield with our buses. This campsite is based in the Sussex countryside, and has a brook that runs through it, allows open fires and offers communal soup gatherings. There is a yurt and a Tipi on offer to hire, as well as ample space for campervans and tents alike. They will even allow musicians to stay for free if you are willing to share your musical skills with the campsite. Prices start at £60 per pitch for a long weekend at Wowo. Buttercupbus campervan hire starts at £325 for a long weekend. Book early to get your places secured!

Nathalie with a Buttercup Bus!

Whatever your preference, the blanket term “glamping” used to describe holidays that embrace  humble (and sometimes quirky) outdoor living combined with the modern luxuries any newly weds would desire, is certainly becoming increasingly attractive as a mini moon choice.

Nathalie | Buttercup Bus VW Campers Website | Twitter | Facebook | Buttercup Bus Blog

I'm very definitely a country girl but glamping is much more my thing than the traditional wet week in a Welsh field with the loo block half a mile away! I'm seriously considering looking into the Isle of Wight option, not because I have to feel that I'm 'abroad' but because I heard on the radio the other day that Springsteen & The E Street Band are headlining the closing day at Bestival 2012 - would love to go but not keen on a tiny tent and queuing for a smelly portaloo at night! 

Lastly, and this is purely indulgent, I have to post pics of Nathalie's Yorkie and my LGs!

Nathalie's cheeky chappy - not sure why the photo's
refusing to stay upright!

Bingo's trying to persuade Betsie to help him
find the squirrel he saw......

Betsie prefers exploring rabbit warrens though!

So Bingo has another go himself .......

Bingo & Monty enjoying a walk on the River Adur

More photos of the LGs on our Facebook Page, why not come and join us?

Buy Our Honeymoon - The Wedding List For Couples Who Don't Need More Stuff

A question frequently asked by couples ordering their wedding stationery is how to go about telling guests that they would prefer a donation to their dream honeymoon rather than a new toaster. There are poems you can include with your invitation to this effect and you either love 'em or hate 'em, it's a totally personal choice! Our guest blogger this week is Andrew Green from Buy Our Honeymoon with the perfect solution to this dilemma!

What do you do for your wedding gift list if you don’t need a new set of spoons or bath towels? Perhaps you’d prefer to swap traditional household gifts for the honeymoon of your dreams — but the thought of simply asking for cold, hard cash fills you with dread?

A honeymoon wedding list works in a very similar way to a department store gift registry, but instead of kitchen implements or bed linen, you put together a list of experiences, activities and contributions to make your honeymoon the trip of a lifetime.

Imagine champagne chilling in your upgraded hotel suite, a gourmet meal in the flickering candle light as the ocean laps nearby.  It’s all so much more appealing than a blender — and so much more appealing for your guests, too, who’ll feel that they’ve given you a real gift instead of merely donating to an anonymous pot of cash.

Buy Our Honeymoon is the UK’s top honeymoon gift list service. You can select from a variety of web addresses for your guests to visit, personalise your pages with your own photos, and add absolutely anything you wish to your online list. You can even mix honeymoon contributions  with household items if you’d like.

The site offers a free 7-day trial, and takes no commission out of the gifts you receive. You can receive payment for any gifts reserved from your list in whatever way suits you best — in cash on your wedding day, by cheque through the post, as a bank transfer, or online using a credit or debit card into your own PayPal account.

Buy Our Honeymoon coordinates and manages your gift money, but doesn’t collect gifts on your behalf. This means your gifts are completely safe, and are yours from the moment they’re given.

There’s a wide range of sample wedding lists showcasing the beautiful design themes and different approaches to putting together your list. And if you get stuck, Buy Our Honeymoon offers a unique Helping Hand service to track down and copy over the best ideas from the site’s thousands of successful lists, to yours.

Buy Our Honeymoon was created by Shelley and Andrew Green to use for their own wedding gift list, and was met with such an enthusiastic response from their guests that they were convinced to launch the site nationwide.

For more information on how to make the most of your honeymoon gift list, visit Buy Our Honeymoon  or call 0845 224 0189. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! 

Also, a quick reminder that the brilliant Wedding Ideas Magazine Awards  has now started. You can find Buy Our Honeymoon in the drop down for Best Gift List (and Lil'Guy Invites under Best Stationery) - please do go and vote, it means so much to all of us involved in the industry!

Peacock Inspired Mood Board

Peacocks are spectacular show-offs and to see one with its tail feathers fully fanned out and the iridescent blues and greens glinting in the sunlight is breathtaking. I'm a lover of strong colours and couldn't resist putting together this mood board after seeing the simply gorgeous Peacock wedding dress on Archibald Photography's blog back in March.

Peacock Wedding Dress by Lindsay Fleming Couture Photography by Archibald Photography

Hat by Esemee Fascinators  Photography by John Farrar

Bedroom at Peacock Pavilions (where else?!)

Invitation by Lil'Guy Stationery

Bouquet by Sarah's Flowers

Cupcake Tower by Blue Door Bakery

Shoes by Jimmy Choo

Bridesmaid Dress by My Evening Dress

Jewellery by Julieann Beads

Peacock Pavilions

Today is a beautiful Spring day, much like April 26th in 2008 when Mr LilGuys and I tied the knot. We'd had weeks of rain, the ground was like a sponge and squelched rather alarmingly when you walked on it, the marquee guys got a bit damp as they transformed our back garden the day before the wedding. We were fairly philosophical about it, after all if you plan a wedding in April in the UK you have to be prepared for the worst! 

I was up at around 5.30am and from the bathroom window I could see the day beginning to dawn, with a clear sky and a golden glow on the marquee, the rain held off all day for us and it was a beautifully warm day. More about our own wedding another time as today's blog post is about honeymoons, or more specifically a suggestion for a honeymoon destination if you're still struggling with that one. Morocco is a destination I have yet to visit but have always wanted to, and even more so now after reading about Peacock Pavilions! I'm sure I would fall in love with it just as Chris and Maryam did.

A tale of an Arabian Honeymoon

A row of fountains amidst a garden of roses lead you to the treasures of Peacock Pavilions.  Everything you see here has a story to tell. Place yourself into the hands of the Pavilions’ attentive staff and let your honeymoon magic unfold.  

 

Enter into the exotic dining tent that provides the perfect backdrop to the scrumptious banquet. Of course your candle-light dinners will not only be a feast for the eyes. 

Peacock Pavilions is nestled in an olive grove and you will soon feel like the pashas of this peaceful oasis. Enjoy a private screening of Casablanca in the outdoor cinema, complete with popcorn and hot chocolate (or champagne, for the extra spark).

Should you ever grow tired of the glistening waters of the pool, the romantic fireplaces and the cocktails on your private roof terrace, then the wonders of Marrakech are all waiting for you.

Your taste buds will go wild on the Djema Al Fnaa square or at a Palace Restaurant where your dinner will be accompanied by belly dancing.

Shop for massage oils and spices in the local souks, and let the scent of tajines and kebabs lead you back to the zesty circus in the heart of the medina.

Let the world go by as you relax in a Hammam or join in on the adventure, be it on the back of a camel or gliding over the red city in a hot air balloon.

Coming to an exotic location means scintillating all of your senses and Peacock Pavilions and Marrakech will dazzle them all.

Visit the website for more information on staying at Peacock Pavilions, email for further information or reservations. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook, and read Maryam's blog.