Welcome to Louisville Bridal

While planning your wedding, it's easy to become overwhelmed by all the details: the location, entertainment, photographer, caterer, etc. By comparison, planning the honeymoon should be a lot of fun; after all, it is a vacation, a couple's first as husband and wife. Yes, there are choices to make, but what wonderful choices they are. Ocean front resorts or mountain top skiing? The other side of the world or the national park next door? And perhaps the best thing of all: the possibilities for satisfying these needs are limited only by the imagination.

Certainly this trip should be great fun, but travel always comes with surprises: Flights sometimes get delayed, and luggage does get lost. Remember patience prevails; being flexible will prevent disappointment if everything doesn't go as planned.

When to Begin
Wherever newlyweds go, they should plan on making their major reservations-air, hotel, and rental car-a minimum of six months in advance. Popular honeymoon sites can be booked as far as a year in advance, especially during peak seasons like the summer or holidays.

Budget
Money is the first thing the bride-and groom-to-be must discuss. Most experts advise couples not to go into debt to finance their honeymoon. Therefore, they should figure out what they have-or can save-and use that as their guideline. Then they can start talking about where they want to go.

Choosing a Destination
It could be a romantic Mediterranean getaway with nothing but a deluxe bungalow and miles of beach, a fun filled few days at Walt Disney World, or the couple may prefer to spend their first days together running the rapids on the Gauley River in West Virginia. One important thing to consider when choosing a destination is your state of mind just after the wedding. All couples are ecstatic, but some feel emotionally and physically exhausted after going through such a life-changing event, while others are exhilarated and ready to take on the world. Before embarking on a two-week world-tour, you should remember that you may wish to set aside time in your travels to just savor and enjoy each other.

Research
Once you have discussed your whims and dreams, it's time for a little grounding. Spend a Saturday at the bookstore, browsing through travel books and jotting down the names of intriguing places. Explore the Internet, which offers limitless information on places to stay and things to do-there's even weather patterns for the time of year the couple will be traveling. Many countries and states have official web sites, where browsers can request brochures to be sent to their homes. Or stop by a travel agency and go through brochures in person. The couple shouldn't expect to make any decisions overnight; they should take a few weeks to have fun and learn about the places that may interest them.

Comparing Prices
Once they've narrowed their search, it's time to start pricing different destinations and determining the availability of travel to and accommodations at each. They can continue to get information online, start making phone calls on their own, or employ the services of a good travel agent.

Making Plans
Get the recommendations of friends or family for a good travel agent or look on this web site to find a travel agent in your area. A good travel agent will be able take care of all the details: booking flights, accommodations, and any necessary ground transportation.

Activities
One task the couple will want to attend to is researching and making reservations for activities such as scuba diving, attending the theater, or dining at a special restaurant. Many of these can be taken care of once they arrive at their destination, but some may require advance planning. In this case, they can ask their travel agent for assistance; or if they are staying in a hotel or resort, they can call a couple of months before their arrival to ask if there is a concierge.

Planning Tips
If the couple decides on a honeymoon abroad, they need to remember that, as a rule, the more exotic the locale, the more time and energy it will take to plan the trip, and a travel agent who specializes in the region can be especially helpful. Aside from breaching frustrating language barriers when making reservations, a knowledgeable travel agent knows about necessary documents such as passports and visas and any required inoculations.

A bride should either put her maiden name on tickets-the tickets have to match her passport or other form of identification, and there won't be enough time to change it if you're traveling right after the wedding-or be prepared to travel with the marriage certificate to avoid running afoul of airport security rules.

Don't forget the small organizational details that will make the trip smoother: Have all required official documentation in hand at least one month before traveling. Order travelers' checks, and purchase a few hundred dollars' worth of foreign currency for any immediate needs in the country.

When booking, the couple can arrange the seating assignments and order special meals for their flights.

Specific room requests, such as nonsmoking, ocean view, or high floor, can be made. If, upon arrival, the couple find that the room is not to their liking, they can ask for another until they're offered one that suits their needs. Inquire about check-in time, particularly when traveling abroad; if it isn't until three o'clock in the afternoon and the flight arrives at seven in the morning, the couple may want to splurge for the evening before so they can go straight from the airport to their room.

When arranging car rentals, specify the preferred type of car: sedan, convertible, sport-utility vehicle.

A concierge is literally in charge of taking care of the needs of the guests,
which can mean anything from recommending the quickest way to get to the
theater to reserving a helicopter for an aerial tour of the countryside. They
can be invaluable assets to the couple during the planning stage and
wonderful allies once they reach their destination.

If the couple prefer the type of vacation in which all the accommodations, transportation, meals, and activities are taken care of with one phone call to book the trip, they should consider an all-inclusive resort, package trip, or cruise. Each will provide the convenience of dealing with one travel supplier for almost all of their needs. Good deals can be found online, or from a travel agent.

Records of important trip documents and information, such as all written confirmations, along with any notes taken during the reservation process, should be kept in a folder. Also included should be such things as credit-card numbers and their corresponding emergency phone numbers, the numbers on travelers' checks, and the phone, fax, and name of the couple' personal physicians. Just before their departure, all the information should be photocopied: The couple can take the copies with them, and leave the originals with a relative or trusted friend at home.

In the weeks before they leave, the couple should also buy any necessities such as travel-size toiletries, film, batteries, and sunscreen, and refill prescriptions for medicine they need to take. And they shouldn't forget to arrange for transportation to and from the airport.

A Few Days Before Leaving
Make arrangements for a house sitter, someone to water plants, pet caretaker or a kennel. If no one is staying at the couples' house while they're away, the post office can hold their mail; they should put a temporary stop on the newspaper, and make sure someone will be able to receive deliveries, such as wedding presents, that may arrive in their absence.

The last thing they'll need to do is reconfirm their air arrangements-a day ahead for a domestic trip, three days ahead for a foreign one.

Tipping
Every traveler needs to master the art of tipping. Generally speaking, anyone who handles bags (porters, bell staff, etc.) should receive $1 per bag. Anyone who serves food or drinks, including the wait staff at a restaurant, bartenders, and room service, should get 15 to 20 percent of the total bill. Be aware though that the charge for room service may already include a gratuity, so check the bill before adding anything.

Drivers (taxi and limousine) should also get 15 to 20 percent of the total bill, as should any instructors (riding, sailing, skiing.)

Tour guides commonly get $5 per couple per half day. Chambermaids typically receive $2 a day, and this money should be left daily, not in one lump sum at the end, since the staff often rotates. Tipping the concierge is more subjective-$20 in advance will often unlock a closed door.

Upon departure, the couple can determine what amount to give the concierge based on how much they used his or her services and how much they did on their own.

Honeymoon

HONEYMOON 101




		Honeymoon Below are some of our favorite ideas for the honeymoon - we'll be adding more ideas soon. HONEYMOON 101 While planning your wedding, it's easy to become overwhelmed by all the details: the location, entertainment, photographer, caterer, etc. By comparison, planning the honeymoon should be a lot of fun; after all, it is a vacation, a couple's first as husband and wife. Yes, there are choices to make, but what wonderful choices they are. Ocean front resorts or mountain top skiing? The other side of the world or the national park next door? And perhaps the best thing of all: the possibilities for satisfying these needs are limited only by the imagination. Certainly this trip should be great fun, but travel always comes with surprises: Flights sometimes get delayed, and luggage does get lost. Remember patience prevails; being flexible will prevent disappointment if everything doesn't go as planned. When to Begin Wherever newlyweds go, they should plan on making their major reservations-air, hotel, and rental car-a minimum of six months in advance. Popular honeymoon sites can be booked as far as a year in advance, especially during peak seasons like the summer or holidays. Budget Money is the first thing the bride-and groom-to-be must discuss. Most experts advise couples not to go into debt to finance their honeymoon. Therefore, they should figure out what they have-or can save-and use that as their guideline. Then they can start talking about where they want to go. Choosing a Destination It could be a romantic Mediterranean getaway with nothing but a deluxe bungalow and miles of beach, a fun filled few days at Walt Disney World, or the couple may prefer to spend their first days together running the rapids on the Gauley River in West Virginia. One important thing to consider when choosing a destination is your state of mind just after the wedding. All couples are ecstatic, but some feel emotionally and physically exhausted after going through such a life-changing event, while others are exhilarated and ready to take on the world. Before embarking on a two-week world-tour, you should remember that you may wish to set aside time in your travels to just savor and enjoy each other. Research Once you have discussed your whims and dreams, it's time for a little grounding. Spend a Saturday at the bookstore, browsing through travel books and jotting down the names of intriguing places. Explore the Internet, which offers limitless information on places to stay and things to do-there's even weather patterns for the time of year the couple will be traveling. Many countries and states have official web sites, where browsers can request brochures to be sent to their homes. Or stop by a travel agency and go through brochures in person. The couple shouldn't expect to make any decisions overnight; they should take a few weeks to have fun and learn about the places that may interest them. Comparing Prices Once they've narrowed their search, it's time to start pricing different destinations and determining the availability of travel to and accommodations at each. They can continue to get information online, start making phone calls on their own, or employ the services of a good travel agent. Making Plans Get the recommendations of friends or family for a good travel agent or look on this web site to find a travel agent in your area. A good travel agent will be able take care of all the details: booking flights, accommodations, and any necessary ground transportation. Activities One task the couple will want to attend to is researching and making reservations for activities such as scuba diving, attending the theater, or dining at a special restaurant. Many of these can be taken care of once they arrive at their destination, but some may require advance planning. In this case, they can ask their travel agent for assistance; or if they are staying in a hotel or resort, they can call a couple of months before their arrival to ask if there is a concierge. Planning Tips If the couple decides on a honeymoon abroad, they need to remember that, as a rule, the more exotic the locale, the more time and energy it will take to plan the trip, and a travel agent who specializes in the region can be especially helpful. Aside from breaching frustrating language barriers when making reservations, a knowledgeable travel agent knows about necessary documents such as passports and visas and any required inoculations. A bride should either put her maiden name on tickets-the tickets have to match her passport or other form of identification, and there won't be enough time to change it if you're traveling right after the wedding-or be prepared to travel with the marriage certificate to avoid running afoul of airport security rules. Don't forget the small organizational details that will make the trip smoother: Have all required official documentation in hand at least one month before traveling. Order travelers' checks, and purchase a few hundred dollars' worth of foreign currency for any immediate needs in the country. When booking, the couple can arrange the seating assignments and order special meals for their flights. Specific room requests, such as nonsmoking, ocean view, or high floor, can be made. If, upon arrival, the couple find that the room is not to their liking, they can ask for another until they're offered one that suits their needs. Inquire about check-in time, particularly when traveling abroad; if it isn't until three o'clock in the afternoon and the flight arrives at seven in the morning, the couple may want to splurge for the evening before so they can go straight from the airport to their room. When arranging car rentals, specify the preferred type of car: sedan, convertible, sport-utility vehicle. A concierge is literally in charge of taking care of the needs of the guests, which can mean anything from recommending the quickest way to get to the theater to reserving a helicopter for an aerial tour of the countryside. They can be invaluable assets to the couple during the planning stage and wonderful allies once they reach their destination. If the couple prefer the type of vacation in which all the accommodations, transportation, meals, and activities are taken care of with one phone call to book the trip, they should consider an all-inclusive resort, package trip, or cruise. Each will provide the convenience of dealing with one travel supplier for almost all of their needs. Good deals can be found online, or from a travel agent. Records of important trip documents and information, such as all written confirmations, along with any notes taken during the reservation process, should be kept in a folder. Also included should be such things as credit-card numbers and their corresponding emergency phone numbers, the numbers on travelers' checks, and the phone, fax, and name of the couple' personal physicians. Just before their departure, all the information should be photocopied: The couple can take the copies with them, and leave the originals with a relative or trusted friend at home. In the weeks before they leave, the couple should also buy any necessities such as travel-size toiletries, film, batteries, and sunscreen, and refill prescriptions for medicine they need to take. And they shouldn't forget to arrange for transportation to and from the airport. A Few Days Before Leaving Make arrangements for a house sitter, someone to water plants, pet caretaker or a kennel. If no one is staying at the couples' house while they're away, the post office can hold their mail; they should put a temporary stop on the newspaper, and make sure someone will be able to receive deliveries, such as wedding presents, that may arrive in their absence. The last thing they'll need to do is reconfirm their air arrangements-a day ahead for a domestic trip, three days ahead for a foreign one. Tipping Every traveler needs to master the art of tipping. Generally speaking, anyone who handles bags (porters, bell staff, etc.) should receive $1 per bag. Anyone who serves food or drinks, including the wait staff at a restaurant, bartenders, and room service, should get 15 to 20 percent of the total bill. Be aware though that the charge for room service may already include a gratuity, so check the bill before adding anything. Drivers (taxi and limousine) should also get 15 to 20 percent of the total bill, as should any instructors (riding, sailing, skiing.) Tour guides commonly get $5 per couple per half day. Chambermaids typically receive $2 a day, and this money should be left daily, not in one lump sum at the end, since the staff often rotates. Tipping the concierge is more subjective-$20 in advance will often unlock a closed door. Upon departure, the couple can determine what amount to give the concierge based on how much they used his or her services and how much they did on their own.