Ido Jamaica Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE JAMAICA BRIDAL EXPO
Opulence
How to Achieve
in PARADISE
Wedding
Day Prep

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FIND US ON

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Message from the:
JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD
T
he Jamaica Tourist Board
is pleased to be partnering
once again with the
Jamaica Bridal Expo.
The Jamaica Bridal Expo creates
the perfect platform for wedding
specialists to showcase their
products and services while offering
prospective brides, grooms
and their friends a multitude of
choices, ideas and alternatives for
planning their wedding.
I congratulate the organizers for
bringing everything prospective
newlyweds will need to complete
their day all in one place from
booking your venue and photographer
to ordering your cake and
choosing invitations. They have
definitely continued to improve
on previous stagings.
Jamaica is the perfect destination
for weddings offering everything
from resorts to villas and
enchanted gardens to beaches,
all forming the perfect wedding
backdrop.
I hope that the presentations at
this year’s expo will surpass your
expectations and you will find the
pieces needed to create the story
board for a memorable Jamaican
wedding.
Yours sincerely,
PAUL PENNICOOK
DIRECTOR OF TOURISM
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Message from the:
JAMAICA BRIDAL EXPO TEAM
Welcome to the
5th staging of
the Jamaica
Bridal Expo; the
unique networking event developed
to showcase Jamaica as
premier destination for weddings,
honeymoons and romance. For
the third year in a row, we are
hosting the Wedding Conference
which is open to wedding
professionals at all levels.
The creation of the Jamaica
Bridal Expo arose from a solid
collaboration between three
visible and successful individuals
in the wedding and event
planning industry. With expertise
in the areas of destination
wedding planning, event design,
event management and production
the team came together to
create the Jamaica Bridal Expo.
The management team is truly
appreciative of, and sincerely
thanks our sponsors and exhibitors
who are participating in this
years’ expo. Without you, it would
not have been possible.
To our patrons; we appreciate
your support and trust that the
expo has exceeded your expectations.
We thank the Jamaica Tourist
Board (JTB)! This event has
become an international calendar
event and the number one bridal
show in Jamaica. The support
of the JTB and the Ministry of
Tourism have been instrumental
in making that posible.
A special thank you to the
Montego Bay Convention Centre
- the most prestigious centre in
the Caribbean which also boasts
some amazing locations that
are fit for celebrity weddings.
Thank you to Ms. Dittie Guise
and her amazing team for always
supporting the Jamaica Bridal
Expo.
And finally to every individual
or entity which has contributed
in any way to the success of
this year’s staging, thank you
for contributing to and sharing
this experience with us. We
look forward to producing the
Jamaica Bridal Expo for many
years to come.
Sincerely,
JO-ANNE PAXTON, PETER SHOUCAIR J.P.,
KATHY-ANNE EVERHART
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
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In This Issue
14 How to Achieve Opulence in Paradise
24 Over-the-Top Head Tables
27 Choosing Your Culinary Service Style
30 Formal Dining:
Table Settings & Etiquette
36 Cake Coutourist Extraordinaire (Feature)
38 Standing Out from the Wedding Crowd
42 4 Easy Steps to Opulent Weddings
46 Quest to Create Lavish Island Weddings
50 Paradise Awaits @ Jewel Resorts (Feature)
53 Bliss Bridal Trunk Show (Feature)
56 Dressing the Groom from Head to Toe
60 Dressing the Bride from Head to Toe
64 Wedding Day Prep
70 The Digital Domain...
and a Cover Shot in the Making
72 5 Over-the-Top Wedding Invitations
76 Pets Play Their Part...
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COVER CREDITS
PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION - BLUE HOLE,
JAMAICA
Blue Hole, also known as “Secret Falls” is located
25 minutes away from the Ocho Rios port.
To reach this hidden treasure you’ll traverse
hilly terrain on a scenic drive to the secluded
and relatively untouched falls. Swim in the
pools; swing on the Tarzan rope; explore small
caves, and much more at Blue Hole — the true
definition of paradise!
COVER MODEL - AMY MORRISON
Amy is a bonafide Jamaican who is passionate
about her profession and country. A skilled
make-up artist, she is furthering her career by
becoming certified and has been scouted by
one of the largest modeling agencies in the
world. Her future in both endeavours is as bright
as her natural un-assumed beauty!
FLOWERS - TAI FLORA
DRESS - BLISS BRIDAL
PHOTOGRAPHER - MAX EARLE
40
80 Unique Entertaiment Options for
Extravagant Weddings
84 The Evolution of Wedding Transportation
88 Protecting Premarital Assets
91 Port of Call. Love: Final Destination Jamaica
96 Bridal Expo 2015 Highlights
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Credits
PUBLISHER
Pelican Publishers
EDITORIAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Meleisa Witter
EDITOR
Alicea James
MARKETING / SALES
Pelican Publishers
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Tamiko Blake
Nicole Williams
Yakub Grant
PHOTOGRAPHY
LoveMore Photos
Joe Buissink
Jennifer Davis Photography
YorkAli Walters
Jonathan Ivy
CONTRIBUTORS
Alicea James
Kylie Carson
Angela Proffitt
Jacqueline Vazquez
Claudeen Stewart
Max Earle
Simone Sant-Ghuran
YorkAli Walters
Meleisa Witter
The Jamaica Bridal Expo magazine is
published annually at the behest of the
Jamaica Bridal Expo Team.
© 2016 Pelican Publishers Limited
No part of this publication may be
reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronically or mechanically,
including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage retrieval system without
written permission from the publishers.

Note from the Publisher
We sincerely thank all our sponsors who
have added to the diversity and beauty
of the magazine and have contributed
to its success. It has been our pleasure
to serve you and we look forward to
even greater things next year! Looking
ahead, we are already planning a fifth
anniversary milestone special –more
details to come.
Creating this issue of the Jamaica Bridal
Expo’s official magazine I Do Jamaica,
themed Opulence in Paradise was a
beautiful experience. We connected
with many wonderful, talented people
- both locally and internationally -
versed in the art of creating opulence
in diverse ways.
Brides-to-be, wedding industry
professionals, and just about anyone
with an interest in any of the areas
covered will be enlightened and
enthralled by the nuggets of advice,
and depth of information covered in
the articles. The editorial and design
teams at Pelican Publishers pulled out
all the stops and as creativity flowed
like fine wine – we worked hard to
ensure every page would be worth
your viewing time.
Heads-up: we are admittedly unashamed
that in keeping with our theme, we have
focused on concepts of opulence and
things over-the-top! But we know that
weddings are special occasions and so
we insist that you get the information
on how to execute them right.
Finally, Pelican Publishers heartily
congratulates the Jamaica Bridal Expo
team on another successful staging
of the event! Continue to grow from
strength to strength.
Salud!
Meleisa Witter
EDITORIAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

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Opulence
How to achieve
in
paradise
Angela Proffitt
Photos by: Jennifer Davis Photography & Joe Buissink
When you’re planning a wedding to create opulence in
paradise, a dream destination can turn into a disaster
if you don’t know how to prioritize your initiatives. You
aren’t choosing the specifications of an all-inclusive
wedding package. It’s the details, personal touches and
accommodations that distinguish a luxury occasion.
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To ensure you don’t experience
trouble in paradise, here
are some tips that will help
keep your I’s dotted and your
T’s crossed:
Photos by: Jennifer Davis Photography
Set the tone
From the get go, you want your guests to know that they will be experiencing
a luxurious occasion. For one bride, how we achieved that was
to send a bottle of wine that was foiled in a custom, wooden-carved
box to each guest. They got the idea very quickly that they were about
to party opulently in paradise!
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CommuniCate
travel PlanS
A luxury wedding is more than a
ceremony and a reception. Friends
and family who don’t really know
each other are essentially vacationing
together, so you’ll want to do a
few things:
1. Collaborate with a travel agent
to help streamline communication.
2. Prepare an itinerary for guests.
3. Ensure guests are comfortable
from arrival to departure.
In my experience, I’ve found that
making travel arrangements with
private charter planes are cheaper
than booking separate flights for
dozens of guests. And some resorts
maintain private runways with VIP
lounges for getting through customs.
Keep in mind that not all guests are
well-travelled. I had a bride whose
family hardly left the state she was
from, and we had to communicate
the steps for securing passports,
getting through security and other
travel details they have never had to
consider.

KeeP GueStS entertained
Work with the resort to have a schedule
of activities for guests to enjoy.
Since many of them will be meeting
each another for the first time, plan
a welcome party so they can get
acquainted. For the rest of their trip,
have a list of fun options ready, such
as sunset cruises, dance lessons and
spa days.

leveraGe the
reSourCeS on the iSland
Ideally, you need to do a site visit, but
if your schedule doesn’t allow for one,
you will have to ask plenty of questions
and prepare to think outside of the
box. I had a bride who wanted food
stations in the pool, something that
was never done before at one resort,
but the staff was able to make arrangements
for us to use rust-free tables for
a cocktail party.

no requeSt iS ever too BiG
The last thing a bride wants to hear is that
you “can’t do something.” If you aren’t able
to leverage resources on the island, you
can make other arrangements. A bride I
worked with wanted a chandelier at the
reception. When the resort sent me pictures
of what they had available, I knew
it wouldn’t meet the bride’s expectations,
so I worked with a company to have one
shipped to the destination. The company
rented a 200-pound chandelier to us and
made a video teaching the event staff
how to hang it. It took 45 days to have
the chandelier sent to the island and 10
days to get it. Plan accordingly!
The opportunity to plan a luxurious destination
wedding is a reflection of the
elegance, taste and dignity of your client
and the service you provide. It’s a chance
to create something unique and memorable
that speaks to the splendor of the
occasion and can provide a source for
future business referrals.
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Over-the-tOp
head tables
Simone Sant-Ghuran
Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Trinidad Weddings
When we think about
decadent head tables, we
might envision a couple
ensconced under romantic
fabric draping, aglow with the flicker of
candlelight, and enveloped by a carpet of
rose petals. Other couples, however, may
have far different ideas of what “over-the-top”
means to them.

No matter what a couple’s personal
preference, when it comes to a
wedding’s design and style, the reception
focal points that are usually the
stars of the show are: the receiving
table, the cake table and the head table.
Traditionally, the head table consists of
the bridal party, along with the bride
and groom. Couples who prefer a more
intimate setting may opt for sweetheart
tables, which accommodate just the
bride and groom.
There is also a third option that is gaining
popularity – the king’s table, also called
the feasting or courtyard table. This is
a large square table that is arranged in
the centre of the reception area. Due to
its size (usually two or more, eight foot
rectangular tables joined together), it
can accommodate not only the bride,
groom and bridal party but other family
members as well.
Here are some recent trends for creating
stand-out, stylish head tables:
Suspended decor - Accents from ‘up
above’ are ideal for creating a dramatic
flourish that couples crave. Whether
it’s a beaded curtain, a lush canopy
of greenery, a cascading floralscape,
suspended geometric shapes or a
sparkling chandelier; having that surprising
floating element is going to ensure
that your guests will look up in awe.
Custom floral walls or floral frames
Whether the walls are made of lush
blooms or over-sized, handmade paper
flowers; floral walls or floral frames (a
wire or wooden frame festooned with
flowers) stationed behind head tables,
are delightfully impactful.
Lighting - The old-world charm of tabletop
candelabra and grand candlesticks
are both making a huge comeback for
weddings at the moment. Couples who
prefer a more urban-contemporary feel
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might prefer hanging strings of Edison bulbs
behind a head table. More traditional couples
can select the glow of amber uplighting on the
head table orunderneath it. There is also the
lighting effect of ‘wall washing,’which can have
tremendous impact behind the head table.
Bolder furniture choices - Many couples are
accentuating their head tables with unusual
or unexpected furniture selections. Antique
tables, velvet chairs, plush art deco loveseats
and contemporary lucitepieces are now hot
accessories for head tables. More attention
is also being paid to the detail on bride and
groom’s chairs, with the incorporation of
banners or pennants, cameos, typography,
elaboratechair coverings and luxe metallic
or textured table linens.
Props - Head tables are being made more
dramatic with the addition of a ‘supporting
cast.’This includesornate mirrors which flank
both sides of the head tables, towering florals,
lighted life-size letters, a decorated chalkboard
or a wall of ribbons.
For more visual inspiration, check the Trinidad Weddings’
Pinterest board here:
https://www.pinterest.com/trinidadwedding/weddingdecor-ideas/
and their website here:
www.trinidadweddings.com

Culinary
Choosing Your
SERVICE STYLE
Alicea James

An
amazing
reception
involves varied
elements. An
essential one
is impeccable
culinary service. It is important
that the service type
chosen blends seamlessly
with the theme and tone of
your wedding. Hence, the
formality of your event and
the amount of guests
expected must be taken into
consideration. We have
identified the most common
styles and suggested the
best circumstances under
which to use each.
Buffet
This is ideal for both small
and large settings and it matters
not what time of day
your event is scheduled to
take place. For this service
style, the food is displayed
on large tables where guests
can freely view and select
the dishes they want, and
how much food they want.
Since there is no one controlling
the food portions
you will need to have plenty
of food on hand. There’s no
greater disaster at a reception
than running out of
food before everyone is
served. To make sure that
the buffet style runs smoothly,
assign a number to each
table and let this numbering
determine whose turn it is
at the buffet.
Plated
This is perfect for an ultra-elegant
affair and is a very
traditional option for weddings.
For this option, the
food is dished out behind
the scenes and served to
guests by a team of waiters.
Guests will need to be
apprised of menu ahead of
the meal service to ensure
a smooth function. In fact,
ideally, they should be
informed ahead of the wedding
day. At least 2-3 food
options should be provided.
Action Station
This is an updated version
of a buffet style setting,
which allows you to control
the food quantity. Although
guests have to collect their
food at the food stations,
there is wait staff by the
buffet who share the food
for each guest. This option
allows for quick service
because you can add several
action stations throughout
the venue.
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Family Style
Certainly not an ideal
option for a grandiose
wedding; as the name
suggest this service style
works best for small
intimate occasions with
family and friends. For this
option servers bring out
large platters of food and
place them on the tables,
then guests serve themselves
and pass around
the platter, much like what
happens during a holiday
dinner or other special
family meal. Many backyard
or beach weddings
utilize this option.
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Dining
Formal
Table Settings & Etiquette
Meleisa Witter
Formal dining, with its attendant rules–called protocols,
is one sure way of displaying opulence. Most
of these protocols are traditions which emerged
from Europe centuries ago.
One of the things I love most about Western-centric
formal dining is the profusion of porcelain, crystal,
silver and linens on display. The old world charm
and etiquette pertaining to how people are seated,
and the order in which the meal is plated and served
also exude opulence.
Photo Credit: Joe Buissink

When You Arrive
Upon arrival, you will be directed to your
seating by a host/hostess in a more intimate
setting, or a name card will be placed at your
table at large gatherings. You may receive a
menu or find one next to your place setting.
The event begins with cocktails, which last
an hour or more.
Photo Credit: Joe Buissink
Table Décor
Table runners, plates and cutlery are placed according to exact specifications: the edge of the table runner should
be 1/2 inch from the table’s edge; plates one inch from the edge of the table; the handles of cutlery also one
inch. Flower arrangements are at eye level and candelabras are so placed that everyone can make eye contact.
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Meals and Service
The number of courses for the meal varies. The
traditional French meal is thirteen courses, but the
usual number today is between four and six courses.
(The last dinner on the Titanic for first class guests
contained ten courses).
All food preparation, serving the meal and removal is
completed by staff. Food service proceeds to the right,
counter¬clockwise, starting with the guest of honor.
Beverage service progresses to the left, clockwise.
Individual portions are prearranged and presented
on a platter. More courses usually mean smaller
portions and less wine poured per course. Formal
dining includes multiple courses and second helpings
are not offered. Once serve ware is taken from the
dining room, it is not returned.
In keeping with the type of food to be served, a hot
or cold plate is presented. Plates are served and
cleared from the left side and one at a time. When
a used plate is removed, the waiting staff simultaneously
replaces it with a fresh plate. As both hands
are involved in this process, plate removal at formal
dinners is done one plate at a time.
Beverages are served and cleared from the right side.
The goblet and wine glasses remain on the table
throughout the entire meal. Only the sherry glass is
removed at the end of the course it accompanies.
With your permission, the butler will remove the
wine glass if you inform him that you are allergic or
prefer not to drink. If the same wine is offered over
consecutive courses, it is served in the same glass.
Photo Credit: Joe Buissink
Order of Service
When there is an honored guest (in this instance- the bride, groom and wedding party), those guests are
served first. Once the honored guests are served, service begins with the table next in line and moves
counter-clockwise.
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3
1 2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
15
16
17
18
12 13 14
1. Salad/Appetizer Fork
2. Dinner Fork
3. Bread Plate
4. Butter Knife
5. Salt Cellar
6. Dessert Fork
7. Dessert Spoon
8. Soup Bowl
9. Salad/Appetizer Plate
10. Dinner Plate
11. Charger Decorative
12. Dinner Knife
13. Soup Spoon
14. Shrimp/Cocktail Fork
15. Water Goblet
16. Champagne Flute
17. Red Wine Glass
18. White Wine Glass
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Place Settings at Formal Dinners
Because the number and type of courses vary, so too will the place
settings. In the most formal of settings, the dessert fork and spoon are
brought to the table for the dessert course. For less formal settings,
the fork and spoon are placed on the table above the plate, fork
pointing right, spoon pointing left. When more courses are going
to be served, the table is laid only for soup, fish and meat.
After Dinner Liqueurs and Brandy
and Demitasse
Liqueurs, brandy and demitasse are all digestifs, taken after the
meal, in a room separate from the dining area. Guests may join one
another or women and men may take their drinks in separate rooms.
Liqueurs are often bitter as they brighten the palate after a lengthy,
and sometimes, heavy meal. Liqueur and brandy may be offered
during the coffee service or after.
Note to Guests:
Hosting a formal dinner is expensive and
time consuming—be appreciative
Source: https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/dinner-etiquette-formal-dining/

Cake
‘coutourist’
extraordinaire
Camille Flimn, managing director
and chief sugar artist of Cake
Couture Jamaica, has been making
bespoke cakes for diverse clientele
for more than five years. Although
wedding cakes are her specialty,
her talents extend way beyond that.
This self-taught artist stumbled
upon her profession when she
began making 3-dimensional
cakes for her
children’s birthday
parties. Attendees
were often wowed
by her designs and thus
began her illustrious cake
decorating journey.
This cake connoisseur has
been asked to make
edible art in the form
of cars, wines, buildings,
sports memorabilia,
handbags and even
a bucket of KFC! She
likes to work
with fondant,
pastillage and
gumpaste, as
well as royal
icing and chocolate.
`
“I truly enjoy what I do and my
excellence lies in the attention that
I pay to detail.”
Camille Flimn

Her diverse clientele
include high profilers such
as Shaggy, Asafa Powell,
BoJ, Edgechem, Omar
Davis and Lisa Hanna.
Camille has also garnered
some ‘miniature’ fans
thanks to her custom cake
designs made to replicate
their cartoon characters—a
hit at kids birthday parties.
Her cake replications are
so convincing that one is
truly challenged to believe
they are edible. Additionally,
they are breathtakingly
beautiful and cause some
sense of guilt to cut into
the dazzling creations.
Camille Flimn’s talent has
not gone unnoticed by her
peers; she has been the
winner of the WE Sweet Art
Cake decorating live challenge
since its inception.
As she continues on her deliciously
successful journey,
teaching is the next avenue
she wishes to pursue so
that she can pass on her
knowledge to fellow enthusiasts.
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Wedding Professionals:
Standing Out
from the Wedding Crowd
Kylie Carson
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Launching a business usually starts off as
just a dream, and then it slowly becomes
a reality. Then, before you know it you’re
staring down the barrel of your accounts
statements wondering how on earth you’re going
to make this dream of yours pay the bills.
In many ways we have more opportunities today to
promote and market our business than ever before,
but along with these chances comes the problem
of a saturated marketplace and if you don’t know
how to make your message stand out from the
wedding crowd you will quickly get lost.
We all like to believe that what we’re offering is
unique and different. We carefully craft our message
to convey this in everything we say and do, but it is
the delivery of this message that is going to make
you stand out in the crowd.
Case in point - The Academy is an online education
company offering E Learning certification courses
to people in the wedding industry who want to become
wedding planners, stylists and designers. We
have a fair amount of competition, some better than
others, but the point is we aren’t the only people
doing it. We may well have a wonderful Advisory
Board full of amazing wedding professionals, we
may have the most up to date course content, and
we may have some of the best instructors in the
industry, but none of that matters if our ideal clients
aren’t hearing or reading our message.
Our challenge was to come up with a unique way
of being seen as the leaders in online certification
courses for wedding professionals. How could we
show our ideal client they would get an amazing
learning experience with us, have access to the
best course materials and have instructors teaching
them who really knew their stuff?
Some would say write great blog posts, well we do
that, but it isn’t really enough because everyone is
doing that. It isn’t unique and it doesn’t make us
stand out above our competition.
We started asking ourselves questions. What would
a potential student want from us? How could we
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make ourselves more personable and available?
And then it hit us. Video!
We decided that our best bet of attracting attention
was to take what we do every day and create short,
free-to-air videos highlighting our expertise as
educators in the wedding industry. After all there
are 4 billion video views on YouTube every day,
and when in doubt on how to do something, we
are all guilty of looking for a video on YouTube to
show us how. At the Academy we wanted a piece
of this statistic and so Academy TV was born.
So how do we make it work? Each month we
offer pertinent advice on a different topic including
pricing, social media, marketing, running a
wedding business and much more. We give just
enough information to leave people wanting that
little bit more.
It was genius. None of our competitors were doing
it and it was a great way for us to showcase
our knowledge and show our ideal clients who
we really are.
than not it is you that people are buying. How you
show your personality to people on social media
is a big part of what sets you apart from others.
One idea would be to host your own online radio
show using something like BlogTalkRadio. If
being on radio is a little daunting then why not
use Twitter, create your own hashtag and host a
weekly Twitter Chat for Brides.
My favorite option is to create How To Podcasts for
the busy bride, which showcase your knowledge
and really place you as the expert. Podcasts can
be downloaded from your site and listened to at
a time and place that suits the listener.
The new kid on the block is Facebook’s Live
Streaming App that lets you connect with your
audience live directly from your Facebook Page.
Whatever option you like, the point is that all these
media give you the opportunity to deliver your
message in a unique and different way that will
allow you to stand out from the crowd.
So how can you take this and use it to help you
stand out from the wedding crowd? What can you
do to differentiate yourself? What defines you?
Remember you have something that nobody else
does – you. As a wedding professional more often
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We live in a world where everyone wants to know
the person behind the brand and all of these
platforms allow your ideal client to get to know
you in a more personal way, and find out who it
is they would be doing business with.
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4 Easy Steps to
WEDDINGS
Jacqueline Vazquez
Lifetime Events by Jacqueline
Wedding & Event Planner, Detail Designer
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Elegantly styled, luxurious weddings
have been on the rise. Whether you
are having a small intimate event, or
a grand lavish wedding, it’s all about
the enhanced details - from custom made
invitations and décor, to an extravagant venue. My
idea of opulence is an elevated classic, yet
traditional wedding, keeping in mind the couples’
personal statement.
Opulent weddings take it to the next level bringing
heightened expectations and guest experiences.
Everything from a custom bridal gown to
handcrafted invitations are some of the details that
are carefully considered to enhance the
experience. Create a wedding story which takes
your guests along for the journey. Here are 4 easy
steps to assist you in putting together the lavish
and luxurious wedding you envision.
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1
First Impressions: Excitement is
created by selecting an invitation
which showcases everything
from the formality of the wedding
to the style. Details about color,
textures, and print finishes add to
the elegance of the final product.
Be guided by the fact that the
invitation is the first chapter of the story; it’s
a small preview of what to expect.
2Build Excitement: Having given
your guests a glimpse of what is
to come, it is necessary to follow
through by showcasing grand
entrances at the guests’ arrival.
You want the experience to be
unique and beyond expectations.
Envision the first thing you want
your guests to experience, how will they be
greeted and welcomed, what visual
experience will they have first? This is where
the next chapter of your wedding story
continues; it’s time to bring the story to life.
Create a spectacular visual and emotional
story from beginning to the end.
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3The Experience: The next
chapters of your wedding story
define the “A Team - Wedding
Professionals of Excellence” who
will take your luxurious wedding
to the next level. You want to
select the best of the best. Get
ready to create an atmosphere
which highlights all of the details to set the
tone. At this stage make selections which
include all five senses: sight, sound, tastes,
smell, and touch. The selection process can
include, linens which flow with the textured style
of your wedding, a menu that is not just tasteful,
but visually pleasing, designs which can include
lighting and highlights of the venue space—from
what hangs from the ceiling to what is showcased
on or off the walls, and a selection of various
entertainment pieces blending the sounds of this
beautiful and romantic love story. Bring thought to
even the most mundane detail such as how children
will be entertained so they won’t get fussy – or will
someone who may have to use a
wheelchair have access.
4
Your Gratitude: The final
chapter of your story is your
happy ending; but remember to
include your guests in the
happy ending. This starts with
your final thank you to creating
a great send-off leaving them
with an extraordinary and
overwhelming experience.
Main Photo by: Lovemore Photos
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The Quest to Create
Lavish Island
Weddings
Lanna L. Balkcom
When asked, “Why Jamaica?’ Lanna
responded, I have served so many
others including princes, princesses,
governors and even presidents as
well as numerous other brides and
grooms elsewhere in the world. I
think it is time I brought some of
what I have learned and shared
with my fellow islanders.
It gives me great joy to return home
and introduce to you ... Caribbean
Bridal & Special Events - your Event
Planning Company, she continued
enthusiastically. We are dedicated
to our brides and grooms and other
clients and commit to create the
biggest WOW factor for whichever
event they will host.
Early Beginnings
I remember as a young girl, sitting
on the hill most people use to call
“Hopewell Bush,” looking out at
the sea and I would wish I knew
what was beyond the line there.
Little did I know a few short years
later, my life would take a turn for
me to experience way beyond
that horizon. It was while at North
Western Academy and St. James
Business School that I got the
entertaining bug so I went to work
for Village Tour and later became
one of the cover girls for Focus
on Jamaica. I learned all about
Jamaica taking tourists from one
end of the island to the other;
creating a fantastic experience for
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the guests as they experienced what
our beatiful island had to offer.
Exciting
Island Experiences
One of the scariest things I
experienced on my tours was
watching Ross Kannaga jump
across the backs of crocodiles -
mouths wide open. Wow! But I
also experienced the picturesque,
poster card beauty of Jamaica from
coast to coast as I took visitors
rafting on the Rio Grande or walking
along the seven miles of our white
sand beaches in Negril. We picked
coffee beans along the hillsides of
the Blue Mountain; learning the

difference between hand-picked
and sundried coffee beans on the
drying pads versus coffee picked in
mass quantity and dried in ovens or
through other heating processes.
My life then, in my opinion, could
not be topped by anything - until
my curiosity got the best of me.
I decided I needed to see what
was beyond the ocean that so
pre-occupied my mind as a child.
Beyond the Horizon
I got married and migrated to the
United States where I worked for
Air Jamaica - again in the hospitality
sector. After working for a number
of years with the airline and many
others, I felt a strong affinity for the
hospitality industry, so I decided
to get more involved and more
connected. I re-commenced
studying and earned my BS in
Business Management. With my
depth of knowledge about the
hospitality industry twinned with
my formal training in business
management I moved on to learn
one more aspect of the industry.
I became mentee to some of the
most renowned chefs in the USA
and France.
Taking me under their wings, these
chefs taught me the art of cooking
and entertaining. I immediately
put my tutoring to good use and
gained experience in some of
the grandest hotels and private
country and city clubs and then
moved to the ultimate — owning
restaurants, banquet facilities and
event rental companies hosting and
managing elegant weddings, galas,
fund-raising events, golf outings,
corporate meetings, holiday parties,
family reunions, church retreats and
so much more.
Conclusion
So, Lanna Balkcom, Certified Bridal
Consultant, has done it all beyond
the horizon – trained with the best,
worked for the best and served
the best! She has now decided to
come back to her little island and
carve her spot on the rock, where
she will be known as the lady who
creates the biggest WOW factor
for whichever event she will host.
Lanna L. Balkcom is a Certified Bridal
Consultant and founder of Caribbean
Bridal & Special Events.
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THE JEWEL DUNN’S RIVER
BEACH RESORT AND SPA
Curio Collection by Hilton TM
JEWEL PARADISE COVE
BEACH RESORT & SPA
Curio Collection by Hilton TM
JEWEL RUNAWAY BAY
BEACH & GOLF RESORT
ADULTS-ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE
LUXURY IN OCHO RIOS!
ADULTS-ONLY ALL-INCLUSIVE
CONTEMPORARY LUXURY
IN RUNAWAY BAY!
UPSCALE ALL-INCLUSIVE
FOR ALL-AGES IN RUNAWAY BAY!
JEWEL DUNN’S RIVER
876-972-7400
SalesDunnsRiver@JewelResorts.com
JEWEL PARADISE COVE
876-973-4520
SalesParadiseCove@JewelResorts.com
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JEWEL RUNAWAY BAY
876-633-4000
SalesRunawayBay@JewelResorts.com

A ll– Inclusive
W eddings &
H oneymoons
asU nique as
Y ou Are
Happily ever after begins at Jewel Resorts.
Whether you choose to say “I do” with
just the two of you or your closest friends
and family are along for the adventure,
Jewel Resorts’ professional wedding
planners are ready to deliver your own
dream wedding. Jewel Resorts luxury
wedding and honeymoon collections
even offer FREE packages! Plus, our
Jewel Resorts HoneymoonWishes Registry
makes it easy for family and friends
to give the perfect gift! All three amazing
oceanfront resorts are perfect for
weddings, renewal of vows, receptions,
honeymoons and more.
FOR INFORMATION &
WEDDING RESERVATIONS:
US Toll-Free: 1-800-951-2997
www.JewelResorts.com
From the moment you arrive at our tropical oasis, your wedding is an affair to
remember. Exchange vows on the beach as a brilliant Caribbean sunset melts
into the horizon. Allow our professional wedding planners to handle all the
paperwork and arrangements, including an officiant. A dynamic alternative to
typical wedding locations, this all-inclusive, oceanfront resort provides a host
of exciting activities. Fill your days with snorkeling, parasailing, golf, relaxing
spa treatments or lounging on the beach. Committed to flawless service
and gracious hospitality, Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa offers a full range of
services for creating lifelong memories during your Jamaica wedding.
/RoseHallResort
/JewelResorts
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FOR INFORMATION & WEDDING RESERVATIONS
US Toll-Free: 1-800-951-2997 876-953-2650
www.RoseHallResort.com mbjrh-salesdm@hilton.com
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Paradise Awaits!
hether you're looking for an intimate
W
ceremony or a large gathering with
family and friends, Jewel Resorts offer
a great variety of wedding packages
from the complimentary "Precious
Gem" package to the premium "Crown Jewel" option
ensuring the perfect selection for every size and
budget. Most of our wedding packages include
marriage certificates, flowers, hors d'oeuvres,
photographer, spa treatments and our exclusive
beachfront sunset hour location. Custom weddings
are also the specialty of the team at Jewel Resorts
in Jamaica.
Garden wedding gazebos, oceanfront weddings on
the sand, golf course weddings, and elegant ballroom
weddings are only a few of the unique options at
Jewel Resorts. Some of its most coveted ceremony
locations are the "tropical garden setting" and the
Dunn's River ocean front pier, or an idyllic oceanfront
gazebo or tropical garden gazebo at Jewel Paradise
Cove, along with a trellis setting on the pier or vintage
cutstone terrace also at Paradise Cove, and the
infinitely picturesque wedding chapel at Jewel
Runaway Bay.
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The unforgettable Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa
offers a treasure of wedding backdrops, including
ancient aqueducts on the Cinnamon Hill Golf
Course, a tropical gazebo or vows on the beach.
These lovely locations are truly one-of-a-kind
settings, making the perfect backdrop that will be
remembered for years to come.
The staff comprises some of Jamaica's most
esteemed caterers and wedding planners. General
Managers Carol Burke, Scott Robbins and Barbara
Burton oversee a dedicated team whose goal is to
make each and every wedding picture perfect from
start to finish. Jewel Resorts even has its own
Romance Director Brian Postle and a team of
wedding specialists who can help you select the
ideal Jewel property for your special occasion.
Personalization of each wedding experience in the
beautiful backdrop of Jewel Resorts, are ingredients
for your perfect day.
Couples who spend six nights or more in an
Oceanfront View room at Hilton Rose Hall Resort &
Spa (Dunn's River-Diamond Ocean View Concierge,
Paradise Cove-Oceanfront Concierge or Runaway
Bay-Oceanfront Jr. Suite with Plunge Pool or higher)
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will receive a complimentary
PRECIOUS GEM wedding
package (a value of US$499) for
the bride, groom and up to four
guests, which include:
• Bridal bouquet and groom's
boutonniere.
• Thirty minute reception with
cold hors d'oeuvres and
sparkling wine.
• Classic one-tier wedding cake
• A 5x7 printed wedding
photograph.
• Private dinner for bride and
groom at one of Jewel
Resorts' fine dining
restaurants.
Each Jewel Resort has a
full-service Radiant Spa,
comzplete with hair and nail salon
and an extensive menu of
specialty spa and beauty
treatments, with a full staff to
handle wedding parties of all sizes.
Already tied the knot? There is
nothing quite like the beauty of
Jamaica to keep the passion in a
relationship going… and no better
place than these stunning gems.
Our uniquely designed
honeymoon packages let you
truly enjoy this special time with
your soul mate. Plus,
complimentary honeymoon
packages for wedding parties with
stays of 6 nights or longer, within
30 days of wedding.
Jamaica's Jewel Resorts and
Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa are
the ideal locations for your
upcoming wedding, honeymoon
or vow renewal…paradise awaits!
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On April 27, 2016 the
ballroom at the Jamaica
Pegasus was abuzz with
anxious brides-to-be waiting
their turn to fit their dream
wedding dress.
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With over 200 designer gowns from
Maggie Sottero, Justin Alexander,
Sophia Tolli, and other top
rated designers, Jamaica’s first
ever Bridal Trunk Show hosted by Bliss Bridal Boutique
was a hit! There was no shortage of variety; from lace
mermaid dresses to beaded ball gowns to elegant
sheath gowns, it was definitely a bridal paradise.
In an effort to ensure that brides had access to the
latest styles, Bliss Bridal Boutique owners Sara and
Brian Stanford flew in Maggie Sottero’s International
Sales Director from the United States, with her entire
2016 collection. Sara said, “We knew it was important
that every bride had her own personal experience just
as if she were in-store. Therefore, each fitting room
was assigned a bridal consultant to assist each client
with her selections and fittings.” The bride’s friends
and family waited outside the room for a view of the
bride-to-be as she fitted each gown. Once a bride
found her gown and said ‘yes to the dress,’ bells rang
and everyone in the room cheered. It was tons of fun.
On September 24 th and 25 th 2016, Bliss Bridal Boutique
will do it again; this time in Montego Bay. They will
host the Montego Bay version in tandem with the
Jamaica Bridal Expo – an event which Bliss Bridal has
sponsored since inception 5 years now. It therefore
made perfect business sense to bring the trunk show
to the expo. Brian Stanford said, “We know a lot of
brides from the western side of the island missed out
on the show in Kingston and we want to ensure that
they have the same experience. So again, we will be
outfitting an entire room with wedding gowns.”
“We are excited to meet all the Montego Bay
and western brides and can’t wait to help them
‘say yes to the dress.’"
Sara Stanford
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DRESSING
GROOM
The
FROM HEAD TO TOE

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Dressingthe
From HeaD to toe

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Wedding
DAY PREP
Beauty Trial Tips and Tricks
Meleisa Witter

Ever been disappointed
by
your go-to
hairstyle?
Somehow, this
hairstyle –
f a v o r e d
because it saved you so many
times —just didn’t do justice for
a particularly important evening.
Then after the dust settled, you
realized that while it accentuated
your lovely, high cheekbones
when you wore V-neck
tops; it didn’t have the same
effect with your turtle necked
blouse – weird.
But since life can be weird, we
advise you to not take any
chances with your hair and
make-up on your special day.
After all, every bride wants to
be uber-glamorous for her
wedding, so to be safe, have a
trial run. Here are some tips to
guarantee hair and makeup
success on your big day.
BOOKING
Book early – that is, at least
three months prior to your
wedding day. Have your stylist
place you at a time which will
result in you (and your bridal
party if necessary) getting the
service provider’s undivided
attention. Ensure you have all
your details together so you
end with a complete look that
complements your wedding
dress and accessories. A sneak
preview will give you the opportunity
to make changes to
ensure satisfaction on the big
day.
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TRIAL RUN
Not everyone is good at visualization so
make it easy on your hairdresser by snapping
a pic of that lovely Pinterest style
you want to (re)create, or assemble a
montage of images which you really like.
It won’t hurt to also collect images of
looks which you absolutely despise. Your
hairdresser will appreciate them and you
will much more likely leave the salon
looking like the dream you envisioned.
Photos (exact or similar) of your dress,
flowers, and bridesmaid dresses will also
help the service provider to get a better
idea of how the hairstyle(s) will help to
create the perfect look. Themes and ideas
must be shared as well. This may seem
like going all out, but if possible, get your
photographer in the mix so he/she can
take some pictures to help you determine
which application will look best from all
angles and work best for your big day.
So take along as many accessories as
possible for the trial run – without giving
all the goodies away.
TOO MANY
COOKS…
Have you ever asked 20 people their
opinions about a photo and received 23
different views? Your salon visit will not
only be hindered by having too many
persons with you- it will frustrate the hell
out of both you and your service provider.
Pick only one person to accompany you
to your trial – preferably someone with
good taste and sense of style. Too many
voices can create chaos. Not to mention
that too many opinions can become
stressful and confusing, causing you to
lose sight of what YOU want. When you
start going along with what others may
want for you, you end up second guessing
your final decision.
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MAKEUP FIRST
You know the rule – makeup
then hairstyle. It is challenging
to imagine a finished look with
an unfinished face so please
schedule your make-up
appointment to fall right before
your hair appointment. No need
to be overly concerned about
spoiling your makeup while
creating your hairstyle. If your
makeup is that fragile, you may
need to revisit it anyway. Having
hair and makeup completed
together will help you envision
how amazing you will look on
your wedding day.
TELL IT
LIKE IT IS
Know what you want and don’t
be afraid to share this with your
service provider. Speak up about
what you want, and especially
about what you don't want.
Remember this is your day! You
will have these pictures for a
lifetime, so you want to make
sure you LOVE the final
outcome.
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TESTING
1-2-3
Finally, plan an evening out
on the day of your trial to
ensure that the money
spent on this pre-wedding
hair and makeup trial does
not go to waste. More
importantly, it will test the
longevity of your hair and
makeup to make sure they
do not fall out after an hour
or two of carousing.
Follow these tips and you
will be assured of wedding
hair and makeup success!

The
DIGITAL
DOMAIN
...and a Cover Shot in the Making
Max Earle
I have a vague recollection of a time past
when pictures were actually taken on a
piece of film, had to be developed, then
printed. Each roll of film varied from 12
exposures to a maximum of 36! There was
no instant viewing, deleting or editing so
the art of creating the optimum image
rested on the skills of the photographer
both aesthetically and technically.
Fast forward to the present day where literally
anyone can become his own Picasso.
Depending on the size of the drive and quality
of the image you can have an almost
infinite number of pictures to work with.
Decisions can be made on the spot guaranteeing
that you've "got your shot." I have
been lucky to have enjoyed both scenarios
and have to admit that where image making
has gotten to nowadays really takes a lot of
the 'guess work' out of whatever I happen to
be shooting.
Add software technology to the mix and
photography takes a quantum leap as that
allows for editing, with no quality loss
because the files are created and remain in
the digital domain. There are many programmes
that will allow the enhancement
and embellishment of your images, depend-

ing on the results you want to
achieve. My personal favourite
is Photoshop. Live example:
the cover of this magazine .
Creating the Cover – I Do
Jamaica Magazine 2016
The original shot was taken at
Blue Hole in Ocho Rios, at one
of the lower (less dramatic)
falls. At the request of the
magazine producers, a more
opulent background had to be
produced so I proceeded to
present additional options
without having to redo the
entire costly photoshoot.
Here's how.
I went back (alone) and photographed
the bigger, more
dramatic falls at Blue Hole to
use as a background plate. In
Photoshop, I selected and cut
out our model Amy from the
first image. She was then
‘photoshopped’ in place in
front of the more opulent
scenery - and you certainly
would not know that from
looking at the cover of the
magazine.
Creative Cropping
Another important skill in my
tool box is cropping. It may
seem very simple, but when
editing, in order to maximise
the intensity and focus of an
image, I cannot stress how
important it is.
On a previous shoot with one
of my favourite models and
dear friend Sara, she wanted
an image that would show her
love for horses.
We did a number of setups,
and ended up with one that
focused on her outfit and her
eyes. I've often found that the
real connection between any
living subject and a great shot
comes from the eyes. She also
loves images in sepia tone...so
that was the first step. That
covered, I wanted to enhance
the opulence and mystique of
the shot so I did a number of
things in Photoshop. Softened
the look, blurred the background
a bit, and cropped the
image so that there could be
no doubt about the connection
between them and the
viewer. I confess, with a bit of
editing, the difference is quite
striking.
Truth is, we've come a long
way and who knows what's
around the corner? The main
thing is to use whatever technology
you need, to accomplish
the look you want.
I know the purists disagree
with me, but I feel that this is
really one good instance
where the end justifies the
means.
Happy shooting!

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5over- the-top
wedding invitatio n s
Meleisa Witter
An invitation card provides the first impression of the
planned event and functions as an extended imprint of
the hosts. "The invitation is important as it sets the tone of
what is to come. When people receive a lavish invitation
they know that this event is one not to be missed as the
invitation tells them it will be a grand affair." Ravish Kapoor.
1Keyshawn Johnson and Jennifer Conrad
($20 million)
Leading the pack both in cost and (perhaps) ingenuity
are former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson
and fiancée Jennifer Conrad. Their invitations were
iPads! Yes; and they were delivered via the mail.
The tablets were said to be pre-programmed with
details about the Big Day, including a photo gallery,
countdown to the wedding and more.
Opulence is usually thought to be primarily
about cost – or rather value. But quite
often it is actually about the magnificence
found in difference. And we can understand why
– it is not hard to assume that something which
is not used or done by the masses is of necessity,
‘ostentatious goods.’
Wedding invitations can be opulent! Let us share
with you what the top five (known) most expensive
wedding invitations comprised – and who sent them.
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2Tanisha Ital ($10 million)
Being a child of billionaire Lakshmi Ital definitely has
its advantages. Bride-to-be Tanisha Ital is said to have
sent wedding invitation cards made of gold to her
guests. Around 1,200 guests received the invitation that
was around twenty pages, hand-painted and included
romantic poems. The invitation also provided information
for each event that would take place during the
five day celebration.
3Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra ($6 million)
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her beau Raj Kundra
created royal square-shaped golden colored invitation
cards. These were personalized with a beautiful royal
intricate brooch with their initials ‘RS’ encrusted. The
invites were sent in expensive envelopes with a brief
detail of the venue and the cuisine.
5Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput ($4.5 million)
4Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan ($5 million)
Up next is another Bollywood couple Aishwarya Rai
and Abhishek Bachchanhad. Their invite comprised
three parts tied together with a ribbon and placed
in a big box. The first part of the invitation set
contained a golden card with the emblem 'AA’,
(the initials of the star couple), embossed on it in
white gold.
The second part of the card had Lord Ganesha
embossed on it. This was followed by a few Indian
verses printed in golden letters. The third part had
lines from a poem written by Amitabh Bachchan’s
father and a known poet, HarivanshraiBachchan.
It also had pages containing the actual invitation to
the wedding in both Hindi and English. Each invite
was signed by the parents of the bride and groom
to add a personal touch.
The wedding invitation card sent by this Bollywood couple was designed by Delhi-based designer Ravish
Kapoor. It was a cream/golden white and turquoise colour combination which was placed in an equally
elegant custom made box along with handcrafted tea and honey. The reception invitation card was a
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eautiful midnight blue with an elegant chrome plate
inside, containing the details. The plate was removed
and used as the security pass for guests to carry to
the reception.
From these top five, you would have
garnered some ideas about the things
which will add glamour and opulence to
your invitations. Some others which we
researched (but have not included here), are encrusted
with crushed gemstones and gold. Some materials
which always intimate elegance and class are lace
and linen fabrics. Ditching the envelope for an elegant
box or other beautiful, elegant packaging is definitely
a good idea and by all means, add something else
for an oomph!
Source: http://successstory.com/spendit/10-most-expensive-wedding-invitations
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P
ets
lay
Their ParT
The New ring Bearers
Alicea James
I
n many households, pets are treated just as well
as everyone else–they are an important part of the
family after all. It is therefore not surprising that
a big trend in the wedding scene is the involvement of pets,
playing an integral role in the ceremony. These days they’re
given what some might deem the most important role of
all-carrying the rings. Yes, dogs have become the new ring
bearers —but your horse, cat, bird, bunny or other pet can
be ring bearers as well.

Cute as they might
be though, they
do come with their
share of challenges
(although not unlike the original
ring bearers who are normally
young and unpredictable). Since
dogs are the most popular pet
being used, this article will
focus on the dos and don’ts of
using your dog as a part of your
ceremony.
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Dogs are leading the pack as pet ring
bearers — they are man’s best friend after
all. The key is to put a leash on your dog
for the day and have someone walk with
him/her down the aisle. Since the wedding
rings are usually strapped onto the animal
you certainly don’t want it running off with
this valuable possession-thus the leash!
Here are some quick tips
to keep in mind:
• Your pet needs to be a part of the
wedding rehearsal just like the rest of
the wedding party; this will give you a
good idea of how the animal is likely
to perform on the actual day.
• While you and your guests are enjoying
the delicious food, make sure that you
make preparations for your pet as well.
You certainly don’t want a hungry dog
whimpering at people’s feet while they
try to enjoy their meals. Make sure that
there is food for the particular animal
and that someone is there to feed it
at the appropriate time—there should
also be a space designated for this.
• Make sure that your pet is properly
groomed on the day of the wedding.
A bath and a nice trim is really all you
need; because a dirty, smelly animal
at a fancy, upscale event is a no! no!
• There’s nothing cuter than a dog in a
tuxedo, but you don’t need to go all
out if your pet isn’t comfortable, a nice
bowtie or a diamond encrusted collar
works just fine.
Ultimately the choice to include your pet in your wedding —if carefully, thought out and expertly executed
— can be a memorable moment - not just for the bride and groom but for the guests as well.

Unique
ENTERTAINMENT
Options for Extravagant
Weddings
Alicea James
Singing Waiters
Traditionally, waiters and waitresses are
hired to serve food and drinks, but this is
an extravagant wedding, so do the
unexpected. While your guests certainly
won’t go hungry (yes, the delicious
entrees will in fact be served, and on
time), the real surprise will be revealed
when these talented waiters and waitresses,
clad in their traditional black and
white attire take the stage for a mesmeric
song and dance, ala backstreet
boys. These singing waiters will feed,
and then serenade you and your
guests—how special is that?
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Aerial
Performances
It’s hard to not be mesmerized
by the acrobatic movements
of aerial dancers, so you’ll
certainly have these memories
for a lifetime. Whether you hire
a solo performer or an ensemble,
it will be something that
your guests will remember for
a long time to come. You can
even personalize this performance
by suggesting a song
to be used during the segment,
or requesting that the entertainers’
outfits and other
materials used match your
wedding décor.
Dancers
Whether it’s belly dancing,
salsa, burlesque, samba or
even fire dancers, there is no
doubt that guests will be
thoroughly entertained by
these professional dancers.
You can also pay homage to
your heritage (or surprise your
new husband by paying
homage to his) by opting for a
cultural piece; why not hire a
group of dancers to perform a
traditional Jamaican, African,
Indonesian or Chinese dance?
Your guests will definitely want
to join in on the fun; they
might even get some dance
lessons from the professionals;
and what better way to end the
night.
Caricaturist
Another unique way to keep
guests entertained is by hiring
a caricaturist for the event. It
is an unusually clever way to
capture all the beautiful people
at your wedding aside from the
traditional photos. These
talented artists usually take
about 5 minutes to create
on-the-spot drawings of
people and it is a great way to
complement the day with lots
of fun and laughter.
Celebrity Singers
Mariah Carey doesn’t come
cheap, but if you can afford
her, it will make for an impressive
event. But if this singing
diva is not exactly your speed
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there is a multitude of other talented
celebrity singers that you can hire
to perform at your shindig, at a cost
of course! Lionel Ritchie, Ken Booth,
Taurus Riley, Jennifer Hudson, it’s
really up to you—and your budget!
Make sure to keep this aspect of the
event a secret from your guests –
but do arrange for photographers
and videographers to capture the
look on their faces when the performance
starts.
Photo Booth
While this doesn’t replace the main
entertainment, it is certainly a nice
addition. There are plenty of companies
that offer photo booth renting
services—equipped with wedding
props and costumes that will
truly add a little excitement to your
special day.
Guest Video Box
Yes, guest books are cool but video
boxes are becoming a popular trend
for weddings-many high profile
celebrities have used them at their
wedding. Instead of having guests
write down their messages they will
record them in a video booth
stationed at the wedding or reception
site, that way you get to kick
back with your new husband and
watch all the tearful, funny and crazy
sentiments that your friends and
family recorded for you.
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Yours, Mine, Ours
Protecting
Premarital
ASSETS
Claudeen Stewart
ou are planning
Y
your dream wedding
and can’t help but
fantasize about your
new life with that
special someone. As
the day draws closer everything starts
to come together beautifully – and
you are elated about your choices
from venue to food to guests. And
yes, emotions flare occasionally
because you really want the day to be
a smashing success. You have even
gone through counselling and you
feel ready to take on this marriage -
but in the height of the excitement
you may have overlooked a very
important decision.
This important, forgotten step is the
‘protection’ of your assets and the
business ventures you worked so hard
to build prior to the relationship and
the marriage.
So let’s be real, many persons enter
into marriages with the expectation
that they will build a future and as
such the last thing on one’s mind is
the question, “How do I protect my
property in case of a divorce or worse,
death?” Our suggestion - create a
prenuptial agreement. Yes, it can be
a very controversial and emotional
discussion between parties, but it can
save a lot of heartache and money
when the time comes to distribute
assets belonging to either spouse.
And truth is, each party is more likely
to be reasonable about things at that
juncture in the relationship than when
the battle lines have been drawn and
love turns to hate – especially if a third
party is involved.

So what is a
Pre-nuptial
Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is a
legally binding contract created
by two individuals before
entering into a marriage. It
seeks to protect each spouse’s
premarital assets from a claim by
the other spouse in the event of
death or divorce. In other words
the assets remain the property
of the original owner and the
surviving or divorcee spouse is
not entitled to benefit from that
property or asset. The agreement
also extends to property acquired
during the marriage, or from an
inheritance or proceeds from
business ventures. It sets out
clear directions as to how they
(property) should be distributed
in the future; the agreement can
also clarify assets and identify
ownership of them. In that way, a
distinction can be made between
separate and marital property.
were thoroughly explained to
the clients before the agreement
was signed.
While there are many who
oppose a prenuptial agreement
due to the mind-set that this
promotes the likelihood of
divorce, there are several
benefits associated with entering
into this agreement. It can avoid
complex divorces and save time
and money, it can establish
procedures and ground rules for
deciding future matters. Other
advantages include:
1.
2.
It is legally binding and
enforceable in a court of
law.
It protects the inheritance
rights of children and
grandchildren from a
previous marriage if one
spouse is entering a
second marriage.
3.
The agreement deals with
a spouse who enters the
marriage with significant
debt and seeks to protect
the debt-free spouse from having
to assume the debt commitment
of the other.
4.
It represents a commitment
by both parties that could
help to alleviate any
concerns that the wealthier
party may have that his or her
partner is marrying his/her for
money.
It is advisable that individuals
contemplating signing prenuptial
agreements should engage in
such discussions at an early
stage. Both parties should ensure
that the agreement contains all
of the mutually agreed promises
which caused each party to sign
the agreement.
In Jamaica, the Property
(Rights of Spouses) Act governs
the procedure when signing
prenuptial agreements. The
agreement must be in writing,
signed by both parties and
witnessed by a justice of the
peace or attorney-at-law
after each party has obtained
independent legal advice from
an attorney. He/she will certify
that the effects of the agreement

Port of Call, Love
Jamaica
Final Destination,
YorkAli Walters
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lose to 4pm, in late December
C2013, Alexis and Craig stepped
off their American Airlines flight
arriving in Montego Bay to an
incredible and unexpected
welcome. Various ministers
and government officials greeted them as
they helped Jamaica establish a new milestone
in the country's tourism history. Two
million stop-over visitors to the island. Driven
by mystique, lure, genuine smiles, lush vegetation
and of course great food, Jamaica has
become the Caribbean's jewel for attracting
millions of people to our fair and unforgettable
isle.
Organized tourism to Jamaica began not in
Montego Bay though. It started in the lush
rain forest parish of Port Antonio, on the
opposite end of the island's northern coast.
Ships left with bananas and returned with
tourists. Lorenzo Baker, in the early 1900s
was known as the "Banana King." Steamships
would carry payloads of the greenback fruit
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in addition to expectant eyes, hungry for a
tropical experience.
At first Baker's on property guest house, constructed
for his workers would also house
Portland visitors. He would go on to build the
magnificent Titchfield Hotel equipped with
400 rooms. Port Antonio continues to be a
major centre of the island's tourism to this
day but Montego Bay and Negril have
become the twin epicentres on the western
end of the island. As time went on, the
advent of reggae with its own mystique and
allure, along with the varied experiences
throughout the island have become strong
attractors for visitors seeking new exploits
outside of the well-guarded pleasure palaces
of the north coast. Recent numbers have
shown that of the 1500 rooms in the country,
the most popular Airbnb spots in Jamaica are
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actually in Trench Town, the heart of
inner-city Kingston.
This magnetic pull has inevitably spilled over
into the destination wedding business—a
market that for the United States alone stands
at a whopping 16 billion dollars per year. Various
sites have reported that Jamaica is the
number one territory in the Caribbean and
third in the world for several consecutive
years. Destination weddings have surpassed
being a trend; the main drivers being cost,
and a desire to get married in a special, fun,
and/or exotic location.
With 50% of brides stating that planning to
get married in paradise was a lot less costly or
difficult than a traditional wedding, it's apparent
that this phenomenon is not set to end
anytime soon. The average destination wedding
costs $8,800 USD vs $30,000 USD marrying
state-side with most weddings taking
place at one of the major hotels dotting
Jamaica's north coast. The most popular
months being May, June and July.
And after the ‘I Do’s’ have been said, there are
so many other things to enjoy. In addition to
crisp breezes, warm waters and spectacular
sunsets there is an incredibly wide variety of
gastronomical delights from every possible
corner of the earth. Authentic Jamaican fare
is also available at every turn. For those who
have an affinity for the wild side, zip lining
through rainforests or visits to our inner-city
may beckon. For the tamer tourist, horseback
riding on the beach or rafting on the Rio
Grande may be your thing. Whatever you
choose, it is available for so much less. Anything
is possible...in paradise.
YorkAli Walters is a seasoned
wedding photographer and
writer for Walters Weddings
in Jamaica.

4 color: 45C 40M 25Y If using as 1 color: PMS 5285
We like to bring people together. The stories. The
romance. Which is why we offer the best luxury hotels
and all the extra details to make sure your big day is
perfect. We want to be part of your happiness. Your
wedding starts today. Enjoy.
Book your wedding at weddings.jamaica@palladiumweddings.com
or visit our webpage at www.palladiumweddings.com
/PalladiumWeddings www.palladiumweddings.com @PalladiumHG

Bridal Expo
2015
Highlights