TheBigDay Honeymoon Registry Blog

Geranium Lake Flowers on Portland Bridal TV

2009-07-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our friend and florist extraordinaire, Kim Foren, for the recent video about her company, Geranium Lake Flowers, on Portland Bridal TV!

Hurricane Guarantees/Hurricane Insurance

2009-04-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

We've got a new article on TheBigDay about what's known in the industry as "hurricane guarantees". Of course, no one can guarantee anything about a hurricane--what these really are are compensation packages offered by resorts and destinations should a hurricane affect your vacation or honeymoon there. Check out our new hurricane guarantee article in TheBigDay's Travel Advice section.

Villas in Tuscany

2009-03-04T16:47:00.001-08:00

One of the most popular honeymoon destinations is of course Italy--and renting a villa can be both luxurious and cost-effective, as well as getting you to see more of the real country than you might if you stayed in a traditional hotel.

Robert Eastman, a well-known authority on villa rentals and creator of The Villa Portfolio, recommends not only some of his favorite villa rentals in Tuscany but also recommends activities and restaurants in Tuscany in his newsletter this month ("Villa Confidential"). See the newsletter here; to explore luxury villa rentals all over the world, visit www.thevillaportfolio.com.

Luxury Villa Rentals for Honeymoons and Destination Weddings

2008-12-04T16:34:00.000-08:00

TheBigDay is pleased to be partnering with Robert Eastman and his new company, The Villa Portfolio, which offers luxury villa rentals for romantic locations all over the globe, including Barbados, St. Martin, St. Barts, Anguilla, St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Turks & Caicos, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Mustique, Provence, the French Riviera, Tuscany and the Greek islands. In 2009, villas in the South Pacific including Hawaii, Tahiti and Fiji will be added as well. Villas are not only a fabulously romantic option, but can be very cost-effective and convenient--especially for a destination wedding.

See the press release.

The best time of the year to visit....

2008-06-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how many times a customer will ask us what the best time of the year is to go to their destination. What's interesting is that it isn't just a matter of seasons being different in the tropics--there's weather patterns that are very different in Fiji vs. Tahiti vs. Hawaii vs. the Caribbean...and I'm not just talking about hurricanes. Pricing varies a lot between low season and high season, and it's very important to know EXACTLY when low season starts, as sometimes moving your departure date for your honeymoon just a few days can save you 20% or so on your air and hotel.

Of course we've written about this in each of our travel guides in a lot of detail, so here's the links straight to those pages for your convenience:

Best time to go to Hawaii

Best time to go to Tahiti

Best time to go to Fiji

Best time to go to the Cook Islands

Carbon Offsets: "greening" your honeymoon

2008-06-11T10:54:00.001-07:00

Today, in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, TheBigDay is pleased to add a new option for your registry:

Green Tags!

Transportation accounts for about 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions. But by adding green tags as gift registry options through TheBigDay, you can offset the environmental impacts of your honeymoon.

Green Tags to offset the carbon emissions from your honeymoon can be purchased in $20 increments. When you add this option to your registry, you'll see in the registry item itself a link to our green tags calculator, which will help you determine how many green tags are needed to offset your honeymoon. Then, edit the quantity for your registry, and your wedding guests can purchase one or more green tags as all or part of their wedding gift to you.

Typically for this kind of registry item, we see wedding guests combine it with an experience gift for you--i.e. they'll buy you the massage in Hawaii, and add a green tag or a charity donation on as well.

By purchasing Green Tags, you are supporting the development and operation of clean wind and solar energy projects. The emissions that you generate by driving your car or flying on a plane are offset by the delivery of environmentally-friendly power to the electricity grid.

Photo courtesy GE Wind.

Wedding Blogs

2008-05-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

Alltop - home of the awesome list of diverse Travel blogs has just come out with their choices for Wedding blogs. They've picked up on some of my favorites like WeddingBee, Offbeat Bride and Weddex, as well as some I've just discovered, like Tales of a Female Husband and the Groom's Blog.

Some of the blogs are definitely more enjoyable than others, but they all seem to be updated on a regular basis. If you can't get enough of weddings, Alltop will help you get your fix.

Nerd Wedding Rings

2008-04-23T15:52:00.001-07:00

Occasionally, we spot truly awesome wedding things floating around on the internet and have to share. These Cat 5 rings, for example, warm the inner geek cockles of our .com hearts.

TheBigDay Wedding Vendor Listings and Reviews

2008-04-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

When TheBigDay first started back in 2001 as a registry company, we noticed that couples kept asking us to help them with their honeymoon travel plans. After we added honeymoon travel advising a few years later, brides started inquiring about destination weddings. After we incorporated those services, couples wanted to know, could we help them with their domestic weddings?

In response to these questions, we're happy to announce our new wedding planning section, where wedding vendors can list their company, review other companies they've worked with and ask for reviews of their own services. We've included lots of goodies like an optional Google Earth map with your location, a large image and a link to the vendor's website.

Learn more about the wedding vendor program on our sign up page or check out existing listings for inspiration or research in our wedding planning section.

Airport Health Clinics and Flight Refunds for Illness

2008-04-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

The flu season must be running long this year, because I'm seeing lots of stories about flying while sick...or, how to get out of your flight because you are sick.

Not surprisingly, because airline tickets are so expensive - and airlines so inflexible - most people board the plane, even when they have contagious things like the flu, bronchitis or, as evidenced in 2003, SARS. Chris Elliot has a number of suggestions on how to take on the airlines, but there is definitely no magic bullet. Looking like you're on your death bed only works sometimes...ditto with asking nicely or escalating to a supervisor. Read the full article on traveling when ill at MSN.

Alternatively, if you can't get out of your flight and you must fly, more health care options might become available, such as a airport clinic. These businesses will diagnose anything from strep throat to providing flu shots - much like walk in services at your local pharmacy. You can spot them in Atlanta and Newark and they'll soon open up in Philly and JFK.

Shakespeare at Sea

2008-04-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

I've heard about Semester at Sea, but now, thanks to a Tony-award winning local group, students can experience the wonder of Shakespeare on the water as well.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is sponsoring their second Shakespeare Cruise in November, touring through the French Caribbean.

The trip aboard Holland America stops in Tortola, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten and the Bahamas, with three live performances, seven lectures, two cocktail hours, four workshops and a half-dozen movie productions of the theatrical works.

For more on the Shakespeare cruise, check out Insight Cruises.

Historic Preservation: Portland, Oregon

2008-03-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

We usually blog and brag about far flung sand-and-sun destinations around the world, but from time to time, we like to to draw attention to our own hometown city of Portland, Oregon, which, despite its size, gets a lot of compliments from visitors who come here and fierce defensiveness from its inhabitants. The most recent kudos came from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. By way of CNN, I learned that PDX is doing its part to keep up and restore the old architecture. I see this every day - I'm taken aback to learn of homes near the city center that are less than 70 years old and even the building TheBigDay is housed in - called the Studio Building - has neat busts of famous composers on the facade. It's nice to know that we're keeping up our old architectural gems.

The Green Bride Guide

2008-03-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

The eco trend of reduce, reuse and recycle has entered the famously over-the-top wedding space. One bride, Kate L. Harrison, as incorporated her experiences on planning a green wedding into a book, the Green Bride Guide. It's not due out until the start of the 2008 engagement season - the holidays - but she's blogging with plenty of eco wedding advice. My favorite suggestion of hers so far is the time-consuming but beautiful use of small-increment stamps.

High Tech Wedding Ceremony Thousands of Miles Apart

2008-03-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

Rev. Christopher Tuttle, author of Questions to Ask Your Wedding Officiant on TheBigDay, recently officiated an unusual wedding.

After a sudden deployment, a couple decided to marry each other while thousands of miles away. The bride was home in Oceanside, California while the groom is stationed in Fallujah, Iraq. The high tech wedding was made possible through the Freedom Calls foundation, which offered the use of the satellite phone.

Watch the new report on this high tech wedding.

Locating your resort

2008-03-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

Location, location, location - it's one of the most important things when you buy a house and it's one of the most important things when you book your honeymoon. Although the hotel claims to be near the beach, just how close is it? When your resort says it's in the heart of downtown, how big do they consider 'downtown' to be?

Put these worries to rest by checking out the newest section of our resort listings: Location! Although we've had Google Earth links that show the resort position for a long time, not everyone has Google Earth enabled. Now, anyone with an internet connection can view these resort locations with a different Google program, although close up street views are limited with Tahiti resorts and some other overseas destinations.

For comparison, look at Fiji's Likuliku resort in Google Earth and then check it out the Location section of the Likuliku brochure. Let us know what you think!

Fly Free to Tahiti

2008-03-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

When I read the above line in my email last week, I immediately scoffed. Free airfare...all the way to Tahiti? Yeah right, I can't even fly 2,000 miles for under $500 or track down a frequent flier ticket for less than 50K miles.

However, somehow, amazingly, Star Clippers has made it work - and they are extending the special to TheBigDay customers! Right now, when you book select 7, 10 or 11-night sailings aboard the Star Flyer, you can fly free from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti.

These aren't just off-season dates, either. There are openings for peak season sailings in June, July, August and December! If you're interested, contact the BigDay Tahiti specialists to learn more about this awesome special.

TheBigDay Mentioned in Elite Wedding Collection Magazine

2008-03-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

Because the lead time on magazines is so great, we sometimes talk to reporters and then forget about their stories until we stumble across them a few months later. That's happened recently with a feature on honeymoon destinations in the Portland Monthly Bride and Groom, which included recommendations from both Patti and David. It also happened today with an article on untraditional registries in Beverly Clark's Elite Wedding Collection magazine - an interview that happened way back in July!

New tool for save-the-date e-postcards

2008-02-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

We've just added a new tool that helps you address your save-the-date e-postcards and your e-postcards announcing your wedding website or registry!

You can use this tool to add contacts from your Outlook, Outlook Express, GMail, Yahoo, AOL, or Plaxo accounts in just a few seconds...just click the Add from my Address Book button, and it'll connect to your contacts list and let you select recipients from your contacts to send the e-postcard to.

Thanks to Plaxo for making this widget available :-)

-- Michael

The Brides Ball

2008-01-29T08:42:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a wonderful opportunity to use your wedding dress again, if you haven't already donated it to Brides Against Breast Cancer.

The Brides Ball is only happening in Ontario, Canada, but it is also benefits breast cancer charities, more specifically the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It seems like a great way to get another use out of your wedding dress or other wedding apparel (bridesmaid's dress, etc) and raise money at the same time.

TheBigDay Mention on Good Morning America

2008-01-25T11:21:00.000-08:00

It's definitely wedding planning time! This morning, the executive editor of Real Simple Magazine talked about honeymoon registries on Good Morning America and highlighted TheBigDay's experience-based registry. Although we can't link to the video directly, you can go to the GMA website and look at the video link associated with Bridal Savings. Thanks to Real Simple and GMA!

Mention of TheBigDay on CBS' Early Morning Show

2008-01-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

We were mentioned on the Early Morning Show on CBS today by the senior editor of Travel + Leisure magazine, Ms. Nilou Motamed. We are are the only website she mentioned for Hot Honeymoons!

There is also video, which I highly recommend watching, both for her recommendations on honeymoons and also her suggestions on other places to visit, depending on your style of vacation. Ms. Motamed also mentions another website we love, Sustainable Travel International, which is a Boulder-based company with Oregon ties.

Quest for Best Websites

2008-01-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Ellen DeGeneres is looking for your favorite websites out there. We tend to be partial to TheBigDay, and hope you are too! If you like TheBigDay, or just think there are other websites out there that deserve a little recognition, check out ellen.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then Comes the Baby Carriage!

2008-01-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

For many people, love, marriage, baby is a natural progression. Good examples of this represented online would be something like Match, TheKnot and its follow up, TheNest. Although we usually write about websites and trends in the second categories - weddings - this after-the-wedding website was too ingenious to resist.

Nymbler calls itself Your Personal Baby Name Assistant and, based on names you like, suggests other names you might find interesting. It's like Pandora...for people. It also includes the popularity ranking of the name so you can avoid your child sharing a name with 10 of his classmates or tormenting your daughter with the I-thought-it-was-popular Gertrude.

Check it out at Nymbler.com

Travel + Leisure Case Study Favors Travel Agents

2007-12-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

Travel + Leisure recently did a Test Case study on finding the best deal when you're booking a hotel room. They compared the prices they found for a two night stay at the Riz Carlton New York on FareCast.com, Expedia.com, Ritz-Carlton.com, the Ritz Carlton reservations line, the hotel directly and the travel agent.

While the rates were mostly the same - $695 or $625 for the first night (depending on negotiating power) and $625 for the second night at the online resources and phone reservations - the travel agent was able to snag both rooms for $625, with breakfast and even a room upgrade, based on availability. It just goes to show that sometimes, what you get online isn't always the best deal.

Eating well at A Tuscan Estate

2007-11-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

In honor of Turkey day tomorrow, I've written about the best meal I've had in a long time, at A Tuscan Estate in McMinnville, Oregon. Seven of us from TheBigDay had the pleasure of dining there a few weeks ago and it was a spectacular 8-course meal experience, combined with amazing wines from Walnut City WineWorks. You can read the full entry over at WorldGirl's Blog. Enjoy salivating and have a very safe and tasty Thanksgiving.

Guide for Luggage Inspectors

2007-11-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

Mark Ashley at Upgrade: Travel Better has unearthed a small gem for annoying the TSA and landing yourself in jail with the "Citizen's Insertable Swiftness Manifest", a creation of McSweeneys (or so noted). For the rest of us, it's a worthwhile smile at the absurdity: TSA Guide

Cool video of US flight patterns

2007-11-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

Alex Bainbridge's blog points us to this YouTube video of 24 hours of air traffic over the U.S.

I'm not sure exactly how this helps you plan your honeymoon, but it's pretty cool :-)

-- Michael

Oh my my! The Wizard of Oz and Honeymoon Registries

2007-10-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

With Halloween right around the corner, and Dorothy's, Scarecrows and Cowardly Lions aplenty underfoot, we took a look at some of the registries that have made odes to the Wizard of Oz and all its timeless characters:

Swimsuits, beach clothes, and shades oh my!
Aberdeen, Inverness and Dingwall, oh my!
Museums, Art and Haunted Houses - Oh my!
Waffles, and Pancakes, and French Toast, OH MY!
Hula dancers, fire, and roast pig, oh my!
Flowers, birds, and butterflies -- oh my!
Strawberries and chocolate and wine-- Oh My!
Sloths, Monkeys, and Quetzals oh my!
Taxis, transfers, and trains.... oh my!
Taxis, Trolleys, Trams, Oh My!
Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh My!
Exploring, Tours, Expenses, oh my!
Jeeps, helicopters, and boats, Oh My!
Sea turtles and sharks and sting rays, oh my!
Mojitos, Margaritas & Pina Coladas oh my!
Sloths, Monkeys, and Quetzals oh my!
Butterflies and coffee, oh my!
Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh my!!
Caves, Gloworms, and Trees...OH My!
Pagodas, museums, cathedrals... oh my!
Gratuties, Cabs, Tube Fare, Oh My!
Running of the Bulls, Oh my!
Bikes, Boats & Elephants...oh my!
Shades, flip-flops and togas, oh my!
Backpacks and suitcases, oh my!
Rain storms, sun burns, and sand flies... Oh my!
Roos, wallabies and wombats oh my!
Lions and tigers and bears oh my
Kangaroos, penguins and seals-- oh my!
Coffee, Ukeleles, Pooka Shells (oh my!)
Lions, tigers and bears...oh my! (Kenya)
Three nights of "Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my!
Lions, Tigers and Bears...oh my! (Kenya)
Gravad Lax, Pickled Herring, Cloudberries, OH MY!

New Site Search and Checklist on TheBigDay

2007-10-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

We've been tweaking lots of features on the TheBigDay recently. Michael and Jared gave couples a dynamic checklist that walks users through honeymoon and registry planning (see the changes by logging into your user account) and we've also added a new site search so it's even easier to find out information on honeymoon travel. We've been getting great feedback from both features, so go play around with the checklist and search and discover what you never knew existed on the honeymoon registry and other parts of the website.

Gift Registries Aren't Just For Brides

2007-09-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

I got excited when I saw the title of this Christian Science Monitor article - Gift Registries Aren't Just For Brides Anymore. Immediately, I thought of our anniversary and volunteer registries as perfect examples...however, the article had another meaning and was eager to point out that gift registries aren't just for brides....they're for grooms as well. Personally, we see many couples working together on their honeymoon registry to ensure that the experience is something they are both excited about - not just something for one person to enjoy.

Call for Brides for Article

2007-09-25T08:37:00.001-07:00

Brides - here's a chance to be in a wedding magazine!

From Brooke:

I'm writing an article for a bridal magazine, and am looking for recent brides/brides-to-be who have had a specific detail of their wedding copied by a friend/acquaintance, as well as anyone who has blatantly "borrowed" a wedding idea from someone they know.

If you know anyone - or are someone - please leave a comment with your email address and I will pass it onto Brooke.

TheBigDay Changes its Registry Service Fees

2007-08-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

We have some important news about our registries – starting today we've changed our service fee model. We've lowered our service fee to 7%, changing our travel discount structure and adding a transaction fee that will be charged to purchasers.

Additionally, couples who purchase more than $4,000 worth of travel through TheBigDay will receive half off their service fees, a reduction from 7% to 3.5%.

Guests who purchase gifts from all registries created on or after August 15th will be charged a nominal 3% transaction fee. This cost covers the merchant credit card transaction fees charged to us by the bank, the credit card company, and the credit card processing company. This cost is added to the purchase – it is not deducted from the gifts we send to couples.

Learn more about registry discounts or create a registry here.

TheBigDay.com Site Re-Launch

2007-07-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

There are some fantastic changes happening over at TheBigDay.com!

We are pleased to announce that starting today, TheBigDay.com has an entirely new design. Now, it's even easier to search for expert advice, read up on your destination with our travel guides and manage your registry and travel plans with the 'OurBigDay' section.

We've also added some new features in the past few weeks including:

The ability to clone registry items from shared registries

Easy-share of photo albums with guests

Personal resort ratings

Currency conversion for guests who may be traveling from out of the country

In the upcoming weeks, look for additional articles including our guide to destination weddings, improved search functions and social networking opportunities.

Fly on over to TheBigDay to check out the new site. Let us know your thoughts (and any errors you might find!) by emailing us at TechSupport at TheBigDay d-o-t com.

Michael, Jared and the rest of TheBigDay Team

Transumers: The Experience vs. The Item

2007-07-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

There's a new buzzword for consumers out there called 'Transumers'. Transumers are the people who favor experiences instead of items.

These are the people who, like myself, would rather spend $100 on a good meal than $100 on a shirt.

A cute way of putting it is that transumers collect memories instead of stuff - which is exactly what our couples at TheBigDay do all the time by listing experiences on their registries.

These registries are some examples and are full of awesome experiences. The honeymoon registry provides opportunities for a couple to create wonderful memories that they'll have forever...long after the china has chipped and the blender has broken.

For more on 'transumers', check out Transumers: A Life of Experiences

Princess Cruises knows how to spread the "Love"

2007-06-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

David Seeberger, one of TheBigDay's travel specialists, recently attained the status of Commodore Travel Agent from Princess Cruises. As an added benefit, David has had the opportunity to rub elbows with the one and only Gavin MacLeod - otherwise known as The Love Boat's Captain Stubing! :)

David, our very own TravelMan, first met the Captain at the Las Vegas Luxury travel show and most recently in Seattle. MacLeod is the spokesman for Princess Cruises and has worked wonders for the cruise industry - so it is always an event to meet a true icon!

Currency conversion

2007-06-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

We've added a new feature today to help wedding guests outside the U.S.: currency conversion! What we do is provide a link to Google's currency converter from inside each registry item.

To enable this feature, log in to your registry, and click Update your registry. On that page, at the top, you'll see a link that says Add a currency converter link for your guests. Click that, and you can choose from a number of common currencies. (If the currency you need isn't listed, just drop us an email: techsupport at thebigday.com.)

The picture below is what your guests will see. When they click on the "Convert to..." link, we'll pop up the Google currency converter with the gift price already converted to your chosen currency.

-- Michael

Share photo albums with your wedding guests

2007-06-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

When you return from your honeymoon, pretty much everybody who was at your wedding will want to see your pictures, of course. But with an average of about 170 guests at a wedding, that's a lot of email addresses to type into whatever website you use for your online photo albums.

We released a new feature today that'll help--a special version of our e-postcards, where you can place a link to the photo album on the card, and select recipients from the people who've bought gifts from your registry and/or you've send an e-postcard to before. We even automatically weed out duplicates, so you don't accidentally send it to the same people 2 or 3 times :-)

Log in to your registry, and click the link that says "Share a photo album with your guests".

-- Michael

Seating charts

2007-06-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Grinnals from Engaging Concepts points us to this cool new web service: SimpleSeating.com. Create seating charts for your wedding online, quickly and easily...free for up to 50 seats, $19.95 for up to 350 seats. They've got a list import feature for the $19.95 version, and ability to track RSVPs, meal selections, etc.

-- Michael

Power Converters

2007-06-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

A common question we hear is: "can I use my camera charger (or cell phone charger, or hair dryer, or....) in Tahiti (or Italy, or Australia, or Kenya...etc.).

The answer is...YES!

Well, as long as you bring the right converter, you can. And while it's pretty much either the 110V/60Hz that we have in the United States or 220V/50Hz everywhere else, there's an absolutely dizzying array of combinations of plug layouts.

We found a great website that lays out what kind of plug(s) you'll need for any given country. And yes, some countries have multiple types :-(

It's Steve Kropla's Help for World Travellers site.

Once you figure out what you need, try World Import.com for ordering (it's where I got my converter for my own honeymoon to Kenya and the Seychelles).

New Feature: Save and Share your Favorites!

2007-06-15T16:00:00.001-07:00

We rolled out a new feature today - Now anyone can save and share a list of their favorite resorts on TheBigDay!

Rating your favorites is easy - simply decide and click "Love it", "Like it", or "Not for me" and your selections are automatically saved for you. You can also add notes to each resort in your list in case you forget why you loved the St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora so much. And to top it all off, we even give you the option to send an email to your family and friends that includes a link to your favorites.

To start creating your favorites list, head on over to TheBigDay honeymoon registry today!

Toilet Paper Wedding Dresses

2007-06-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

I am, unfortunately, not a handy woman. My scrapbooks look like I'm in kindergarten and my eye for design is laughable.

Thankfully, there are those much handier than me, like this bride, featured left. She has managed to create an entire wedding dress out of toilet paper, glue and tape. How she did it - or if she actually wore it at a wedding - is a mystery, but she was the ultimate winner in the 2006 competition for the best dress and the $500 grand prize.

Think you can best her? Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com is now accepting entries for their 2007 competition. Start unrolling, those submissions are due by June 15.

Clone Registry Items

2007-06-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Couples that are interested in creating a registry for their honeymoon, anniversary or other special event can look to other registries for inspiration and now clone the items they like!

Couples that have elected to 'share' their registries can be found at our Shared Registry page, or by logging in under your account and searching for registry items in a particular destination.

This new feature is great for couples looking for ideas. This way, you're able to add an additional item without searching for a picture or adding a generic one from our standardized list. Don't worry, the text, picture and title can all be customized individually.

Already have a registry? Click the 'share the registry' feature when you log in to help out your fellow couples!

Uganda Wedding Parties - Kasikis

2007-05-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

This article - Uganda Wedding Parties: Kasikis is an interesting one.

The writer, a non-native English speaker, is examining the up tick in crazy Kasiki parties. Kasiki is the Ugandan version of a bachelor's or buck's party. Traditionally, it was a time when older men would speak to the groom-to-be about how to care for his wife.

Women would have a similar tradition, called kufumbirira, where the woman was spoken to by her elders and locked inside of a room, away from prying eyes, and covered in ghee, to appear more appealing and plump to her husband.

Nowadays, however, these traditions have been largely usurped by western traditions of heavy drinking, wild parties and strippers - a sharp contrast to the traditional ways.

The fact those traditions are changing is reason enough to read the article, however, the way the author explains and frames these changes with his word choices and idioms might be even more telling.

--Courtney

Cool way to chill that champagne

2007-05-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

A very cool idea for making that champagne bucket fancy, either at the wedding or maybe as a romantic surprise...this comes to us from Jonathon Fong Style. Looks pretty simple--essentially you're making ice cubes with bud roses embedded in them. DO try this at home :-)

Target Wedding Dresses

2007-05-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Consumerist asks, would you buy your wedding dress at Target? Designed by Isaac Mizrahi, all items wedding related run less than $160. The dresses are simple and 'classic' and of the ones I've seen, I think they'd be a great value for a money (or time) pressed bride. Set your stopwatch, the line hits the internet at Target.com tomorrow.

--Courtney

Great Wedding Sites

2007-04-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Given that TheBigDay focuses on honeymoons, which are tied into weddings, it's not surprising that we try to check out places to learn interesting wedding info around the web. At some point, I'll hopefully give more detailed information on these sites, but for now, here's a few I try to keep an eye on.

OffbeatBride.com - Lots of great wedding stories, pictures and ideas for putting together an alternate wedding.

TrashtheDress.com - Stunning pictures of brides and couples in unusual outdoor settings.

The Frugal Wedding Registry - From TheSimpleDollar, this article addresses ways a wedding guest can "help a couple get on or stay on a solid financial path".

--Courtney

Stolen Wedding Gowns Found on Mexico Border

2007-04-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

There's some great news out of Mexico for a local Portland non-profit called Making Memories, which, through the donation of new and gently used wedding gowns, helps fund the wishes of women who are dying from breast cancer.

Back in November, a truck and trailer carrying more than 2 million dollars worth of gowns was stolen from an Arizona parking lot. Through generous donations, the foundation was still able to complete their final show out west.

The truck was recovered with approximately half of its original number of gowns last week on the Arizona/Mexico border.

Read more about the dresses in the LA Times.

Travel Articles of Interest

2007-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

I try to keep up on all the travel news, but I'm not always quick to post them. Here are three things I've come across recently that might be of interest -

Volunteer vacations are on the up tick. We're helping volunteers reach their goals with our Partnership with GVN

Save the nose of airport security and customs with a deoderized bag

Finally, if you've watched too much Dateline and are terrified of what might be lurking in your hotel room, rest assured as Hypoallergenic Hotel Rooms are on the increase.

--Courtney

Google Maps - saving you $$$ on airfare to Europe

2007-03-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Jared showed me this today:

If you go to maps.google.com and ask for directions from Chicago to London, you'll get this.

Have a look at instruction #20.

Swim across the Atlantic Ocean.

Weddings at Funeral Homes?

2007-03-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

Nope, this isn't someone trying to one-up the couple who plan on getting hitched in a cemetary - this is a traditional Taoist Chinese ceremony that marries spirits - or, sometimes, a live person with a dead one, so that the spirit does not wander.

I think the weddings of people who are alive are probably a little more cheerful...

When the Dead Marry

--Courtney

Nuptial No-No's - Give your guests a better time!

2007-03-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Elisa Gonzalez Clark over at the San Francisco Chronicle has a few insights on what, as a guest, she'd like to see (or avoid) at this year's celebrations of love.

Among my favorites? No "caking" the bride (*shudder*) or asking for cash when you've just spent 15 K on your wedding.

Check out Nuptial No-Nos

--Courtney

Undying Love

2007-03-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

One Illinois couple is taking their devotion to the grave – literally.

Scott Amsler and Miranda Patterson, who drive a hearse named 'Edgar', plan to marry this fall in a graveyard.

Patterson spotted the location from the car – a gazebo on top of a hill – and only later discovered it was in a cemetery.

Still, after petitioning the local council, the representatives agreed that a small wedding could take place near the graves…despite fears of a burial occurring at the same time.

On the Web: Couple Plan to Tie the Knot in Graveyard

--Courtney

What's your dream honeymoon destination?

2007-03-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Buy wedding gifts at TheBigDay using PayPal

2007-03-06T16:49:00.000-08:00

Those of you who've been paying attention will realize that we've had PayPal as an option on our website for some time--but only as a way for wedding couples to receive their gift money from their registry.

This week, we added PayPal Express Checkout as an option for wedding guests who are buying gifts from a registry.

-- Michael

Please don't invite us to your wedding

2007-03-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

I've never been invited to a wedding I didn't want to attend...but apparently that is all too common for Argentine lawyer Adolfo Caballero.

Last week, Caballero took out an ad in the social pages of the popular La Nacion, requesting that he be left alone to play tennis and enjoy his weekends - instead of driving far out into the countryside and spending all weekend at the elaborate wedding affairs.

Read more at Please don't invite us to your wedding, couple says

--Courtney

Are Honeymoon Travel Registries Appropriate?

2007-02-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

When they’re done the right way and emphasize experiences and gifts rather than cash contributions, honeymoon travel registries are in-line with the rules of modern etiquette. And, just in case you don't believe us, then check out what Peggy Post, spokesperson for the Emily Post Institute, has to say on the topic:

"The answer, brides and grooms will be pleased to know, is that it is perfectly acceptable to register for charitable donations to an organization, a trip to the tropics, and other non-traditional gifts. While traditional gifts like china, tableware, and linens are always in style, today's couples may also register for stocks and mutual funds, gift certificates, camping equipment, and sporting goods. When used appropriately, these registries can provide guests with relevant gift choices, helping to ensure that couples receive items they can use and truly enjoy as well as items that their guests enjoy giving."

Click here to read the rest of the article by Peggy Post.

--Courtney

New Tahiti Honeymoon Travel Guide

2007-02-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

A number of us from TheBigDay visited Tahiti in January, visiting nearly every resort on the main islands and some of those on the outer islands as well.

From that and previous experiences, we've created our Tahiti Travel Guide to help you explore French Polynesia before you go, and decide which islands you want to visit and which romantic resorts in Tahiti you want to stay at.

Included in the guide are many pictures, as well as links to slideshows for some of the resorts. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be adding some videos of the resorts as well.

-- Michael

Peter Pan Peanut Butter Recall...and TheBigDay?

2007-02-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

As many people have heard...a large batch of Peter Pan Peanut Butter was recalled earlier this week, late on Valentine's Day.

One of TheBigDay travel specialists, Michelle, got an extra special gift from cupid...in the form of incorrect dials!

It turns out the number listed for more information about the recall - 866-344-6970, reverses two numbers from Michelle's direct line.

The result? Michelle received literally HUNDREDS of calls from irate, worried or curious Peter Pan Peanut Butter customers.

There were so many mis-dials that Michelle ended up changing her phone number. She left a message on the old line that said who she was, and what her new phone number had changed to, so couples whose honeymoon she was planning could still contact her.

Still, the message that she was not the ConAgra Foods/Peter Pan Peanut Butter Recall line didn't stop the most determined customers, who then proceeded to copy down her new number and dial it to ask her about the recall.

For more information on the recall, please visit the FDA website.

-- Courtney

Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T17:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines' Day to you and your sweetie, from all of us at TheBigDay!

We've got something new here that you can use to help your parents or your grandparents celebrate THEIR Big Day from many years ago...today, we launched our new Anniversary Registry!

With our Anniversary Registry, you and your family can team up to send your parents or grandparents on a romantic trip to celebrate their 30th, 40th, 50th, or any milestone anniversary.

Send them on a cruise...to Hawaii...arrange a vow renewal ceremony for them on a beach in Tahiti. We can help arrange all of these--and the new anniversary registry will let your family and friends all chip in so they can have a truly fabulous experience.

Visit our home page or call us at 800-304-1141 for more details!

How Green Can you Go?

2007-02-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

You can go green with your car, your clothes, your energy…and now, the latest trend is going green with your wedding and honeymoon!

This weekend’s New York Times article, with an eye-raisingly heavy emphasis on weddings where one student was in grad school, pointed out various ways that couples are going green.

Among the earth-and-energy savers were the expected serving of locally grown organic foods and use of a vintage dress.

There was also a heaping of the unusual…such as silverware made of potato compounds and asking guests to sign up for renewable energy instead of gifts.

Not unsurprisingly, the couples plan their honeymoons at eco-friendly retreats, like the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort and Thalasso Spa, which helps fuel the AC by pulling up clean, refreshing sea water from 2500 feet below!

For another take on the greening of weddings, check out TXReviews.com.

Trends: Musical Cruises

2007-02-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

It's never too early in the year to start talking about trends, and for the cruise industry, this year's trend seems to be Musical Cruises, according to CNN.

Just in case you had visions of staff members dancing around you, singing 'The Sound of Music', spending your days learning all the lyrics to 'Grease' or relaxing every night over another viewing of 'The West Side Story' - forgettabout it.

The musical cruises involve private concerts with some big name stars, like Tim McGraw, or the Dave Matthews Band. There are also options Q and A sessions with lesser known artists.

Interested in booking a musical cruise? See TheBigDay's cruise specials and contact one of our cruise specialists for the latest hit offers and advice.

Cannon Beach makes CNN's list of top romantic places

2007-02-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

It's always exiting to see our backyard listed in national press - like
today's article on the Top Romantic Places.

Rolling on in number 7 is Cannon Beach, Oregon, which is better known to locals as a good place to attempt cool-water surfing than a romantic getaway.

Maybe because it's so close to home we take it for granted, but there are plenty of places I would've listed that the author didn't...like Tahiti, or Fiji, both of which are a bit more exotic than, say, Barbados at number three..or La Jolla, California at number nine.

Automation vs. Experts: the Google U-turn fiasco

2007-01-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

We love Mapquest, Google Earth and other automated mapping systems that
help us get from point A to point B without ever asking a (fallible) human being for directions.

Unfortunately, as much as we hate to admit it, Google gets it wrong too...like when it insists upon 230 U-turns in order to travel 37 miles in New Jersey.

In order to combat this problem of errant locations, our travel specialists at TheBigDay personally hand-code the and pinpoint the coordinates of each resort, so that when you search for that awesome overwater
bungalow in Bora Bora, you find it on the tiny motu, where it should be...and not in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Thanks to valleywag for the Google link.

Update: apparently this caused Google Maps sufficient embarassment that they got it fixed already! Kudos to the Google Maps folks for getting on it right away.

Spa On Location – a mobile luxury oasis in Southern California

2007-01-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

We just tried the soothing services of a very special company, Spa On Location. They offer top-of-the-line massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, and even tanning to brides as well as their entire wedding parties (yes, entire!) This concept is definitely perfect for any pre-wedding day jitters or stress. They will come bring their mobile oasis spa to you at your desired location.

So, if you’re in the Los Angeles area before (or even after) your wedding — give you and your party a huge treat — call them!!

Online hotel booking for your wedding guests

2007-01-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

At most weddings, there are at least a few people flying in from out of town, so as the wedding couple, you're faced with the problem of helping them find a place to stay [out of your hair].

We've added a new service to help you with that, called TheBigDay Hotels. It's got a very comprehensive selection of hotels in the U.S. and Canada that your guests can book online--even for very small towns--and the rates are very competitive as well.

Later today, we'll be including the option to add a link on your wedding web page to TheBigDay Hotels for the city & state (or province) where your wedding guests ought to be looking for accommodations.

St. Valentine's Day idea

2007-01-15T16:04:00.000-08:00

Followers of our blog will know that we're big fans of Seattle-based online jeweler Blue Nile. When it comes to engagement and wedding rings, we think they do a really great job of really helping you figure out what you need to know about buying rings and buying diamonds, plus they have great tools to help you see what different stones will look like in different settings. All this for much less than your local jewelry store will charge...

Our contact at Blue Nile sent me an email about a special they're having until the end of January on a 14K white gold cultured pearl bracelet--a great idea for Valentine's day. It's 20% off, for $40. Here's a link to the special if you're interested in checking it out.

-- Michael

Everything you wanted to know about overwater bungalows

2007-01-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

If you want to know more about overwater bungalows, we've got a great article for you!

Courtney, our new travel writer extraordinaire, shares her knowledge and the expertise of TheBigDay's top South Pacific travel experts in our new 7-page guide to overwater bungalows around the world.

Wedding Mapper

2007-01-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

We found a website that offers a free map for your wedding guests, showing where the wedding and reception are, plus things to do in the surrounding area.

It's supported by ads...but for $10 you can sign up to have the ad-free version if you like.

Try it out...if you need help integrating it into your wedding website, just email or call our customer service folks and we'll help you out.

Happy New Year....in 108 languages

2006-12-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

Freelang.net has translations of "Happy New Year" in 108 languages...in case you're going to a party and need to impress your new Swedish inlaws, thanks to TheBigDay and Freelang.net, you're all set :-)

Some of my favorites:

- Latvian: laimīgu Jauno gadu (in honor of Katrina & Mark's recent wedding!)
- Swedish: gott nytt år (guess who's got Swedish inlaws)
- Tahitian: ia orana i te matahiti api (going there in less than a month!)
- Thai: สวัสดีปีใหม่ (looks the coolest, if your browser doesn't mess up the characters on you)
- Welsh: blwyddyn newydd dda (looks like somebody stepped off the old "home row" keys)

Whatever language works for you--have a terrific New Year!

-- Michael

New overwater bungalows in Fiji

2006-12-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

As we mentioned in our last travel specials newsletter, overwater bungalows are sprouting up all over the world...they're not just in Tahiti anymore. Likuliku Resort was the first in Fiji to have overwater bungalows, and the J.W. Marriott in Nadi is currently constructing overwater bungalows as well.

Our intrepid native Fijian, Aruna, is in Fiji for the holidays visiting her family, and took this picture of the J.W. Marriott site under construction. While she's there, she's doing site inspections at Likuliku and The Wakaya Club, among others.

Santa outsources management of his gift lists

2006-12-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Bail Santa out of Jail

2006-12-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

Spotted on one of our customers honeymoon registries (Trey and Kelly from London):

This is a real photo from a London police station. Those Santas were rustled up by the police after a neighborhood ne'er-do-well in a Santa suit was implicated in a crime.

Poseidon Underwater Resort in Fiji

2006-12-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Portland, Oregon isn't only home to TheBigDay, it's also where they're constructing the underwater hotel Poseidon Resort. Once it's completed in a shipyard in Portland, it will be shipped to Fiji, where it will be submerged in 40 feet of water in the middle of a 5000 acre coral lagoon. Better start saving your pennies now, though--it's expected to run $15,000 per person per week!

Panoramio - see where you took your photos on a map

2006-12-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

There's an interesting new company out there called Panoramio that lets you create an online photo album and tie each photo to a location on a satellite map. Looks a bit like creating placemarks in Google Earth. The pic here is an example from their website for the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The interface is a bit clunky to use, and they don't have nearly as much close-up satellite imagery as Google Earth (it's more on the scale of what Microsoft Virtual Earth has), but maybe give them a few months to a year and this could be terrific.

-- Michael

TheBigDay on Toast

2006-11-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

A company called Your Name On Toast started recently--it's a publicity stunt, but with an honorable goal: raising money for charity. So of course, we're in! Thanks to marketing guru Seth Godin for spreading the word via his blog.

Global Volunteer Network partners with TheBigDay

2006-11-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

We're now offering up our registry service to volunteers worldwide via the Global Volunteer Network Foundation.

Volunteers can now create a travel registry for to help them fly off to countries like New Zealand, Ghana, Kenya, Ecuador, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand...etc. The registry will allow their friends and family to help them with the costs of getting to the country where they'll do their volunteer work.

Since 2002 the Global Volunteer Network has sent over 5,000 volunteers to developing countries to volunteer in the sectors of education, community development, and environment. Travel expense is a barrier for many of the GVN volunteers, whose average age is 23.

"Volunteering is a great way to contribute to the global community and gain experience and personal growth. TheBigDay provides volunteers with a platform to raise the required funding to go," says Colin Salisbury, CEO Global Volunteer Network.

In addition, wedding couples at TheBigDay can add the following donation items to their wedding registries:

Orphan Sponsorships

Uganda: Construction of schools for disadvantaged youth

Stop Child Poverty Campaign

The three programs above are managed by the Global Volunteer Network.

Our hearts are warmed by the fact that more and more of our customers are choosing to offer charitable options for wedding gifts on their registries...THANK YOU ALL for giving back to your world!

See resort locations using Microsoft Virtual Earth

2006-11-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

We've had Google Earth links for resort on our website for some time now--and this week, we've added the ability to locate resorts using Microsoft Virtual Earth as well.

This is especially nice for people who don't have Google Earth installed, as there's no download required to use Microsoft Virtual Earth. Want to see how it works? Here's an example for Outrigger's Te Tiare Beach Resort on Huahine, in French Polynesia.

- Michael

Earthquake in Hawaii - update for travelers

2006-10-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

Hawaii experienced a significant earthquake yesterday morning, centered off the west coast of the Big Island. The following update is from an email I received a few minutes ago from John Monahan, who's the CEO & president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau:

"Hawaii is fortunate that the October 15 earthquake did not result in any loss of life or serious injury. The earthquake did cause a power outage, which temporarily disrupted air traffic and transportation systems. Electrical power has been restored and conditions in Hawai‘i have returned to normal.

All hotels and resorts in Hawai‘i are reported open and operating. Scheduled flights are generally operating; however, some flights have been delayed due to yesterday's disruptions, so passengers are advised to reconfirm their flights prior to going to the airport. Callers to airline reservations systems should anticipate that, with heavy call volume, they may experience a delay in having their call answered.

All main roads in Hawai‘i are open; however a rural highway on the Big Island of Hawai‘i (between Kawaihae and Hawi) is temporarily closed. Visitors who are sightseeing by car in that area are advised to check with their hotel for current conditions.

While media outlets carried pictures of isolated damage in Hawai‘i, hotel operations are unaffected.

Hawai‘i is welcoming visitors."

Great technical information and visuals are available at the USGS site.

Antarctica Expedition 2007

2006-10-12T16:59:00.000-07:00

Antarctica is that cold white continent at the bottom of the earth. For some, to call it enchanting, beautiful, alluring and magical would be questionable. Unprepared it can be anything but this. I have spent two winters and close to 5 years of my life in Antarctica. I have seen much of this remarkable piece of the earth and I consider myself extremely fortunate.

My wife and I met at the end of the earth. For real, I kid you not. I met Torre in Antarctica in October of 1999. She was a scientist and I was part of the US Antarctic Program support staff. I can’t say it was love at first sight for either of us. But the first sight for both of us had a very large red parka involved, and mittens, and a hat and a full face mask and goggles too. My interactions with Torre
were limited that season (her first), as she rarely was able to come to "town". Torre is a marine biologist and her science team was studying the diving techniques and habits of emperor penguins. Her field camp was on the sea ice and is named “Penguin Ranch.” I lived in “town.” McMurdo Station has about 1000 people coming and going during the austral summer. Everyone in town wants to visit the ranch and check out the penguins. I was lucky since I dealt directly with the group. Some of the equipment they used was my responsibility and I would embrace every opportunity to help them out. This first season, I saw very little of Torre. The next season was different. When Torre walked into my shop and said “Hi, remember me?,” I admitted to her later that I thought “no, but I WANT to.” It must have been that clothing thing. A vibrant attractive lady had just walked into my shop sans that big red parka! This season was different for Torre. She was part of a group of 3 scientists this season and their project was closer to town. At Christmas, I offered to babysit a dozen rapidly growing emperor chicks so the three of them could enjoy a proper Christmas dinner in town together. Over the next two months our relationship gelled. We have been married since February of 2002. The past two seasons I have returned to Antarctica as part of their science team. I must admit, it is fun to tell people that I am a ranch hand at the Penguin Ranch as one of my jobs. Now, Torre and I have been approached to host a limited number of cabins for Azumano Travel on a cruise next February. We are excited to bring our world to others. In February it will quite possibly be nicer in Antarctica than your home. Remember, when Torre and I met, it was October and we were at a research facility. Ah, the luxury expedition cruise. What a fantastic way to see Antarctica and what a fantastic way for you to start your marriage. What a great way to begin what can be an exciting life of discovery and adventure.

Torre and I look forward to sharing this very special place with cruise participants. We have stories, photos, history, science, and information to share with all of you. With the issues of global warming and melting icecaps on the tips of our tongues this is the time to visit and understand our polar regions. We hope you can join us this next February.

Itinerary and more information here

-- Ed Stockard

Your iPod is your personal translator

2006-10-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

We discovered a cool new iPod application called Rambler Audio Phrase Books. Essentially it lets you look up common phrases in other languages quickly--very helpful if you're traveling in Europe, for instance.

Currently they've got French, German, Italian, and Spanish covered...and they've just announced a version for Japanese.

Show your honeymoon photos on your TV with Tivo

2006-10-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

Got a Tivo box? You can do a slideshow of pics from your PC on your TV with a free downloadable application from Tivo called Tivo Desktop. It's pretty cool...and the pics come out sharp and colorful on the TV.

What you need to make this work: first, some sort of network connection to your PC (I have a wireless card on my Tivo box, which I finally got after the Tivo box drove me nuts dialing out at all hours of the day to get updated TV listings!). The Tivo box looks just like another computer on your network. Next, you download the free Tivo Desktop software to the PC that has your photos, then in that software you pic folders on your computer to share with Tivo.

That's about it. Sitting in front of your TV, you go through the Tivo menu to find the shared folders on your computer, then once you're inside the folder, there's an option to do a slideshow.

Let's face it--if you drag home your laptop and Infocus projector from work to show some friends your pics, you really look pretty nerdy :-)

-- Michael

New feature: text message when a gift is bought

2006-09-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

We've just rolled out a new feature at TheBigDay: you now have the option of receiving a text message on your cell phone when one of your wedding guests buys a gift from your registry!

The text message will tell you who the gift is from, and what they've bought for you. You'll still get the email announcements as well, of course.

There's no cost for this feature from TheBigDay, but keep in mind that if your cell phone company charges you for receiving a text message, you should think about the number of messages you might receive.

To start receiving text message announcements, just log in to your registry, and click the link that says "Update our contact info". You'll find boxes in the middle of that page for text messaging.

-- Michael

Beer Spa opens in the Czech Republic

2006-09-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

All right, for all those guys who think spas are too girly for them…this just in from the Czech Republic: a Beer Spa! I kid you not. It’s the world’s first, and is located in the town of Chodova Plana.

Created by the Chodovar family brewery, the oldest in the region, the spa has seven Victorian style baths, where guests can swim in beer while enjoying a pint served at the bath side bar. Spa treatments include: a hot-tub soak in lager, beer body massages and beer body wraps. Cheers!

Australia giveaways from Qantas

2006-09-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Want to talk to a koala? Qantas, my favorite airline to Australia, has launched “Vic’s Daily Giveaway”, and there’s a koala on their site who is giving away fabulous prizes every day (like 5 nights at the Four Seasons Sydney Hotel) from Sep 4 to 29. Click here to check it out.

New honeymoon packages for Nevis and St. Kitts, Grenadines, Turks and Caicos

2006-09-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Caribbean has always been a popular destination for honeymooners–especially for the American midwest and the eastern seaboard of the U.S. Relatively short flights get you to a huge choice of islands, with a wide range of food, music and cultures, some spectacular settings, and some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world.

We’re continuing to expand what we have to offer for honeymoons in the Caribbean. This week, we’ve added travel specials for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Nevis and St. Kitts, and Turks and Caicos…and more will be coming in the next few weeks.

If you’re thinking about exploring multiple islands, consider chartering a private yacht–prices are in the range of an all-inclusive resort, and typically all food and drinks are included as well, along with your captain and your private chef to cook for just the two of you!

New specials for Bahamas, Barbados, and Bermuda

2006-09-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

We’re expanding our online content for the Caribbean, and over the past two weeks, we’ve added honeymoon specials for the Bahamas, Barbados, and Bermuda. We’ve also added some resorts in Jamaica (like Half Moon, Round Hill, and GoldenEye), but “Jamaica” starts with a J and would have messed up the title of this post. :-)

This photo is of The Crane Resort in Barbados.

Jesse and Jackie got married!

2006-09-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

The winners of our 21st Century Wedding Contest got married on Oahu about a week ago–we have an 8-minute video of highlights of their wedding at the Royal Hawaiian, courtesy Live Internet Weddings.

Great website for frequent flier mileage info

2006-09-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

I found this website on frequent flier programs from an article by Chris Sherman over at SearchEngineWatch.com. It’s a great site for info on all the airlines’ frequent flier programs, plus comparison tools, etc.

Inviting children to your wedding?

2006-09-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Kids or no kids at the wedding? It’s a tough decision that I faced with my own wedding, and I’m sure many of you do too. Lisa Light, destination wedding planner extraordinaire/author of the recent book Destination Bride (and great friend of us here at TheBigDay!) has a great article about this at her Destination Weddings website.

Happy newlyweds just back from their honeymoon in Bora Bora

2006-09-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

TheBigDay’s customers Stephanie and Scott just returned from their honeymoon in Bora Bora...read their thoughts on our testimonials page.

Editing your own digital videos

2006-09-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

Home video has really come a long ways since the choppy, silent Super-8 equipment that recorded MY early years With a baby on the way, we did a little research at Consumer Reports and picked up a Sony HandyCam for just over $300. Whether you’re planning on a baby soon after your wedding (or it happens WITHOUT planning!), or you just want to record some of the spectacular scenery on your honeymoon, you might want to look into a video camera for yourself.

As you might expect, the video editing software that comes with the camera is indecipherable, unusable, unintelligible, baffling, cryptic, and a waste of perfectly good disk space. *sigh*. But I have found a really great program that’s pretty inexpensive that was VERY easy to learn, and works really well: Video Edit Magic. It’s really easy to cut out the mistakes, boring bits, etc., put in fancy transitions from one scene to another, make titles, and it even has a really good wizard in it for converting the output to AVI, WMV, MPG, or whatever flavor you want.