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St.Thomas weddings just need that communication step. Author: Feb 27

 Putting your trust in a wedding planner 2000 miles away is a major step in having a destination wedding.  How does a Bridal couple pick a planner without that face to face meeting? When you want a St.Thomas wedding and you live in St.Paul, Mn, what kind of signs or signals should you be looking for?

Let’s start with communication which should be the first step.

Was your initial query returned in a timely manner?  Were left feeling less than excited and happy about having a St.Thomas wedding or a St.John Wedding?

 

There will always be a bit of apprehension up to the time you say “I do” but you should not have any feeling of being left twisting in the wind with questions left unanswered.

 

Customer Service is universal no matter where you are getting married.

Whether having a St.Thomas wedding or any destination wedding you deserve respect.

Communication and first impressions are formed in several different ways.

In today’s world the world wide web is just one way.

 

Browse the web and look at theSt. Thomasweddings or St.John Wedding sites.http://beachweddingsbydeb.com/

Remember a Website is like a store front. You would not enter a bakery if it had broken windows or dirty display cases? So it is fair to say that you can judge any business by its website.

  • If links don’t work.
  • If pictures are poorly done.
  • Pictures that are too small or hard to see
  • Improper loading of pictures.
  • Out dated information and or pictures
  • Hard to read font.
  • No on/off for music.
  • No Contact information that includes email, mail address and phone numbers.http://beachweddingsbydeb.com/virgin-island-wedding-contact.html
  • Not able to view the site on your phone, laptop, Ipad or any other web devise.
  • If it hasLas Vegastype blinking or animation.

 

In other words it should be a professionally designed site to reflect their professional standards.

 

Your wedding planner’s website should be like a welcome drink to a thirsty traveler.

What you see on the website may very will be reflective of your wedding ceremony.

As each baker is responsible for his store so is a planner responsible for the website.

 

Category: beach weddings, Cruise ship weddings, Destination wedding vendors, St Thomas wedding packages, vi wedding packages, Virgin Island Weddings, What to know when planning a destination wedding.  | Tags: , , , , ,  | One Comment
St Thomas wedding package for nautically inclined Author: Feb 15

When you have an urge to be outdoors enjoying nature at its best, no place is better than the U.S. Virgin Islands.

You have the blue sea, boats of all kinds, sandy beaches and weddings.

Put them all together and you have a formula for a tropical wedding paradise.

If you two are adventurous and looking for a unique wedding read on.

 

 Whether you’re looking for the perfect location to escape the everyday and get married in an intimate ceremony or just want a different alternative to St.Thomas public beaches that  can get pretty crowded, especially in High Season.  By George we have it here.

You may end up getting your feet wet so if you are not the adventure craving, laid back, relaxing, exotic wanting wedding couple then stop reading here.

 

We have created a wonderful, romantic wedding ceremony package on Honeymoon Beach located on St.John.  An all inclusive package for your wedding day.

 

 The perfect St John Wedding romantic get away.

  • Unlimited phone consultation, email.
  • Marriage license processing and Court house fees
  • U.S.licensed Wedding Officiate.
  • On site coordinator for ceremony
  • Choice of vows
  • Bridal Bouquet and Groom boutonnière (mixed flower- color of choice)
  • (2) Certified copies of your marriage license from Court House sent via express mail
  • Round Trip transportation for Bride and Groom: To Court House, to ceremony and back to Ship or hotel.
  • Round Trip for Bride and Groom + 4 guests via private charter boat toSt. JohnandHoneymoonBeach. (1/2 Day private charter.)
  • St. Johnwedding location.HoneymoonBeachlocation fee included 
  • Certified Professional Photography package: one hour of coverage
  • A DVD with 80 high resolution digital negatives
  • Set of 4×6 proofs prints.
  • Online Gallery to show family and friends.
  • Photographers consultation

$2395.00

Up grade with a wedding cake decorated with fresh flowers, champagne and you have the mood, the scenery, and the memories. 

 

This package should have been called “The Best”. Because we didn’t skimp, you have the Best photographer Gary Felton, The best boat Captain Jimmy and The best wedding planner Deb McDonald.

Category: beach weddings, Cruise ship weddings, St Thomas wedding packages, vi wedding packages, Virgin Island Weddings, Wedding tips  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,  | Comments off
Something fun Author: Jan 31

My primary photographer and also my new husband has just finished a new website. It is devoted to sailing and yacht photography. Please visit his new site for sailing photography here.
Enjoy!

Category: How to pick a photographer, Uncategorized  | Tags: ,  | Comments off
Cruise ship port of Call for a St.Thomas wedding Author: Jan 24

My January 23rd wedding couple were from my home state of Minnesota.  When they first contacted me via my website, it  was with a request that they have a fun, relaxing, happy wedding ceremony and reception.   They were arriving on St. Thomas from a cruise.  The ship was Oasis of the Sea by Royal Caribbean cruse lines. 

They compared rates of wedding on board the cruise ship to mine and decided that Beach Weddings by Deb was by far a better wedding package.  Just getting rates, details or simple questions answered from the curise lines was a major time consuming ordeal.

Cruise ship wedding on Water Island

Catamaran wedding on Water Island from cruise ship weddings

 

Pricing was inflated and service was deflated. http://beachweddingsbydeb.com/cruise-ship-weddings.html

What was the final result?  Just what they requested.

They were met at dock and driven to courthouse to pick up courthouse papers as required in person.

cruise ship wedding on Water Island when in Port of call St.Thomas

Cruise ship wedding on Water Island

Then back to ship to get dressed and meet with guest for boarding a catamaran to Water Island.  Temperture 82 degrees, sky blue.   Back home in Mn it was 10 degrees and cloudy.

A short ride to Honeymoon Beach on Water Island.

Ceremony, pictures on beach.

The rest of the day spent sailing over to Buck Island for snorkeling, Wedding catered lunch, wedding cake, open bar.

Back to cruise ship and off to next port of call as the New Mr. and Mrs.

My mission was accomplished

 

Catamaran weddings from Cruise ship trips on St.Thomas port of call

St.Thomas weddings as a port of call when on cruise ship compare .

Category: beach weddings, Cruise ship weddings, Destination wedding vendors, sailing, St Thomas wedding packages, Virgin Island Weddings, What to know when planning a destination wedding.  | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,  | One Comment
St Thomas weddings with beach reception…Magical. Author: Jan 22

Ok I have said it before, I love weddings and I love boats!!!!

I love making people happy and creating memories that last a life time,not only for the bridal couple but for their guest too.

Maybe it’s because I am a Leo or have some need in my bio, that craves the desire to make people happy.
What ever the reason , I am constantly searching for the perfect combination of a St Thomas beach wedding ceremony and reception.

We had a perfect example of a cruise ship wedding this week. This can be modified to fit whether you are staying on island or have St. Thomas as a Port of Call.
Cruise Ship arrived on St.Thomas with bridal couple and 50 guest on board.
The itinerary went like this.

    8:00 am Cruise ship arrives on St. Thomas.
    8:30 am Bridal couple meet Beach Weddings by Deb driver on dock for trip to court house.
    9:00 am Bridal couple return back to cruise ship to prepare for wedding.
    12:00 am Bridal party and guest meet Beach Weddings by Deb representative on dock to be
    escorted to a catamaran privately chartered for wedding with open if desired.(Usually within a 2 to 3 block area).
    1:00 pm Bridal catamaran arrive at beach
    1:30 pm Wedding ceremony
    2:00 pm Cake cutting and toasting pictures with champagne and or rum punch.
    2:15 pm hordorves or reception beach BBQ served. Music,open bar all under covered open beach side Pavilion.
    3:30 pm All board catamaran for ride back to cruise ship.
    4:15 pm All board cruise ship.
    5:00 pm Cruise ship leaves St. Thomas.

This wedding had a few upgrades such as but not limited to.

    Pillar flowers for ceremony.
    Chairs at ceremony for 50 guest.
    Flower petal and conch lined aisle.
    Live music.
    Separate boat to ceremony, for bride in full traditional dress and brides maid. It was the brides desire to remain unseen until she walked up the aisle at ceremony. Very romantic.
    Additional hours of photography, on cat and at reception.

A good thing to remember when thinking about a beach wedding is that you are not subjected to conventional limitations. However it is a catamaran and beach environment, so guest should expect that there may or may not be a dock at the beach. They may have to board a smaller boat to be transported between shore and catamaran. If you expect to have elderly guest we can accommodate them but it would result in upgraded transfers for them. I would also suggest that guest clothing be casual. This is not the environment for heels and dress shoes. Flip flops rule.

Category: beach weddings, Cruise ship weddings, St Thomas wedding packages, vi wedding packages, Virgin Island Weddings  | Tags: , , , , ,  | One Comment
Rules for planning a St.Thomas Wedding. Author: Nov 30

The most important and number one rule. There is no rule.  That is the beauty of a St.Thomas wedding or a St.John renewal.

A cruise ship wedding can be as relaxed and rule free as you desire.
A St.Thomas wedding has no restrictions on where you want your first kiss.

 Bridal couples pick having a destination wedding for several reasons.
Today I would like to discuss one of the most important reasons.  No rules.
Having a St.Thomas wedding or a St.John wedding is less formal to be sure.   How many brides getting married in the U.S. go barefoot or have their first toast out of coconut shells?  How often do they have  pictures walking hand in hand on a white sandy beach with sea gulls flying?  Get the picture?

Want red shoes at your wedding? You can at a St.Thomas wedding.

Want red shoes at your wedding? You can at a St.Thomas wedding.

Getting married in the Virgin Islands can be as formal or informal as you desire.  To me the whole idea of a beach wedding is to enjoy the sun, water, sand, romance and  wedding vows.  There are no restrictions or rules about how you decorate, how many brides maids or grooms men.  There are no rules to govern , time of day, number of guest, who stands where, how many flowers are needed or when to serve cake.  Want rum punch for the first toast.  You’ve got it.    Want to get married in shorts. No problem.  Want a formal full dress with hair and make up done.  Anytime is fine.  Its your day enjoy, celebrate the occasion and just do it.

Out side of your budget the only limitation is your imagination.

 

Cruise ship weddings can be as formal or informal as you want.

Let nature decorate or help decorate with an arch at your cruise ship wedding or St.Thomas wedding.

Even a small budget can produce a beautiful ceremony, what better decorations or surrounding could you have?

 

Category: Cruise ship weddings, Destination wedding vendors, St Thomas wedding packages, Virgin Island Weddings, Wedding tips, What to know when planning a destination wedding.  | Comments off
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