Category — Europe

I really want to stay here! This place is amazing. I mean, you can fly a hawk in the School of Falconry! I’ve been to the area and it’s breathtaking. I know I use a lot of superlatives, like wonderful and gorgeous and fabulous to describe things, but Ireland really is beyond description. It truly gets in your soul.

I’m on vacation so I’m going to copy what they have to say from their website:

“It is our pleasure to welcome you to Ashford Castle, one of the most exclusive luxury hotels in the World. Standing over the shores of Lough Corrib, and hidden deep in over 350 acres of wooded parkland, this 13th Century Castle is a monument to a fascinating history of a bygone age. Once the estate of the Guinness Family, the Castle opened its doors as an exclusive hotel in 1939.

While staying with us you can enjoy a wide range of relaxing or exciting activities. Book a Spa treatment or Fly a Hawk in the School of Falconry, take a Picnic in the Walled Garden or catch Wild Trout or Salmon here, in one of the most famous fisheries in Ireland. Just 30 minutes from Galway city, and within easy driving distance of Shannon International Airport, Ashford Castle is perfectly situated to welcome all ages of visitors, from every corner of the globe.”

Ville de l’amour…..Paris, the city of love.  Together you stroll hand-n-hand down the tree lined Champs Elysees.  You take time to relax in the Tuileries Gardens and watch the world pass by.  And of course  you grab a kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower with all of Paris buzzing beneath you.   A destination wedding in Paris is where you can combine romance, history and fashion into one event. 

Kim Petyt, owner of Parisian Events, is an American wedding planner living in Paris.  She caters to the Anglophone community, combining traditional American elements with French flair and elegance.  Whether you dream of a lavish event fit for Marie Antoinette or something intimate and relaxed, Kim has experience bringing to life your vision.  Kim is warm, easy going and so much fun.  She knows all the right venues and vendors and can answer the multitude of questions a destination bride is going to have pop up. 

I recently asked her a few questions and honestly, when she was done describing some of the events in Paris, I was ready to plan my own renewal ceremony which is still a few years away!  So if you’re planning a destination wedding or renewal ceremony consider Paris & Kim’s team at Parisian Events.  Here are few gorgeous images from several weddings she has coordinated.

{photo by Arman Molavi}

{photo by D. Gavarin}

What’s the first advice you have for a bride planning an international destination wedding?

When a couple is first considering an international destination wedding, I think that it’s so important for a bride to be aware of her personal planning style- She should be honest with herself about how she handles stress, if she’s comfortable relinquishing a lot of control, how she processes disappointments and set-backs, if she’s able to easily trust someone else’s judgment, etc. Planning a wedding in a foreign country could potentially bring out all of these scenarios, and it’s best to know beforehand if you feel up to the challenge.

A couple planning an international destination wedding should also try to learn a bit about the culture of the region in which they’re planning to marry early on. Being culturally aware can help a bride immensely when planning from overseas.  Knowing, for instance, that in France, it’s common for businesses to close for 2 hours at lunchtime would work wonders to ease the frustration of a bride phoning from the States who wasn’t able to reach any of her Paris vendors all morning long.

And, of course, I think it’s invaluable for a bride to have someone that she trusts based in the destination location-  be it a professional wedding planner, or a reliable relative or friend. They’ll be able to meet with vendors face to face on the bride’s behalf, as well as help ease some of her stress of the “unknown” by visiting venues and locations for her before she arrives.

How does it differ planning a Parisian wedding vs. a chateau wedding?  Any special laws or regulations to consider?

When American clients want to get married in Paris, they tend to tell me that they’re looking for a “European” feel: antique, historical, romantic, but still very much a feel of the City of Paris.  They often have a frame of reference in mind- either a scene in a movie that they like, or a painting that’s touched them in some way. I try to propose venues with that feel in mind:  An 18th century mansion with a cobbled-stone courtyard, for instance. Or a ceremony on the Seine with all of Paris’ unforgettable landmarks behind them . Most reception venues in Paris are used to having pretty high volume,  so when you rent with them, they tend to be all-inclusive. There will typically be an in-house catering manager to help you with booking rooms, choosing a menu, etc. Also, Paris venues are usually equipped with at least the basics of what you would need to host your event, tables, chairs, a kitchen, etc.

Hosting your event in a chateau, on the other hand, can be a bit more difficult at times. Many chateaux are family-owned, and the venue isn’t necessarily the primary source of income for the owners. So the booking process can take a bit longer than when you’re dealing with an established business in the city. Also, when you rent a chateaux, often you’re renting just the empty space. The owners typically provide you with a list of preferred vendors, but you have to rent the furniture, the tableware, linens- sometimes even the kitchen equipment. That part can be a bit overwhelming, but really- it’s all worth it. There is something so glamorous and SO magical about a chateau wedding.  There are some really beautiful chateaux located barely 15 minutes outside of Paris. Just a short car ride, and you’re completely transported to this other world. It’s the ultimate princess fantasy!!

{photo by Arman Molavi}

What are some great ways a bride can keep her family & friends informed of the event who have never been to Paris before?

Most people create wedding websites nowadays, all I can say is to give as much information as early as possible to your guests via your website. Rather than just list the wedding week’s itinerary- give some links to the history of the venues that you’re visiting, for example.

What is one challenge you have dealt with and overcome with dealing with an international wedding party?

One of my biggest challenges is trying to get clients used to the French sense of time. We Americans want everything yesterday, or at the very latest NOW, and it just doesn’t work that way here. I’ve had potential clients contact me after they’ve already started planning their wedding on their own, and they are all frustrated because they say they can’t seem to get anyone to call them back, or they’re mad because they faxed something to a vendor 3 days ago and she hasn’t replied yet. It CAN be really frustrating, but again- it’s a different culture, and you’ve got to learn that culture’s codes. It took me years to realize that FRANCE doesn’t hate me- I just was trying to make IT adhere to MY code, instead of vice versa.

When it comes to budget, what are the advantages and disadvantages to choosing a wedding in Paris?

At this point in time, one of the most expensive things about getting married in Paris is the airplane ticket. After that, a Paris wedding is surprisingly affordable. I think that “Weddings” are such big business in the States, and it just isn’t like that here. Venues and vendors just tend to be less expensive than in most US cities like New York or LA. Your wedding dollar also goes further here than in the States. When you book a reception venue for instance, you will typically have it until 2:00 or 3:00AM in the morning, with the dj usually staying until the end. A French wedding meal lasts all night long too, and will be 4 or 5 (or more!) courses. You’re not charged additionally for any of this-  it’s just how weddings work here.

I think the disadvantages would be the same as for any destination wedding- there are always going to be people that are close to you who just can’t make it to the wedding. For me, it was my grandmother who wasn’t able to make the trip. Even now, it always seems weird not to see her in my wedding photos. We had a party in Chicago after our French wedding, where we showed videos and had a wedding cake and everything, and my grandmother was there for that. But it would still have meant the world for me to have had her there on the day. I think that’s one of the biggest downsides to choosing to marry away.

Thanks Kim for sharing your advice.  If you’d like to contact Kim you can reach her via:

Her website Parisian Events or to stay up with all the fabulous things Kim is doing visit her blog Parisian Party

Imagine two weeks of relaxing with gentle breezes & fantastic sunsets.  Picture the houses, the Mediterrean, the fabulous food.  Well one of my past couples, Jin & Matt, chose a two week honeymoon in Greece & I knew I had to share it with everyone.

Here are some gorgeous shots of their two week trip, that included Athens, Santorini and Naxos.  First up was Athens with the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

Small out of the way taverna in Plaka for romantic dining.

Temple of Poseidon at sunset.  So golden and warm.  How gorgeous is that!?!? 

They stayed the night near the Temple and then took a 4 hr. ferry ride to Santornini.  They views they had from their hotel patio were spectacular!

Jin & Matt enjoyed the strolls around the island, the volcanos and mingling with the locals.

From there it was a 2 hour ferry ride to Naxos where they enjoyed more great food, beautiful sunsets and a guided horseback riding trip.

Thanks so much to Jin & Matt for sharing your pictures.  Here’s one last shot of the sunset from Greece. 

So you’re trying to decide on a location that makes both of you happy.  You want unique, he wants activities.  If he’s like a lot of men, he loves golf and looks for every opportunity to play.  So why not plan something most men dream of….St. Andrews Scotland.  That’s right, the home of golf; the birthplace.  Men love it and so will you.  You can book your tee time online at St. Andrews Links which has a wealth of information about the courses, how to even play ‘The Old Course’ and fees. 

And if you don’t play golf yourself, why not take some lessons and surprise your groom with your natural ability ?!?   But your trip would only begin there, Scotland is beautiful and romantic.  I’m sure you could have a unique, once in a lifetime adventure for you two by combining golf, history and relaxation.  For more ideas check out Virtual Tourist .

images by librarykats