The White Dress Destinations Book Review – Complete; Removes the Guesswork

The White Dress Destinations, from Schiffer Publishing, offers a comprehensive guide that removes the guesswork when planning that special day including romantic locales, styling tips, photography, along with accessories, inspired invitations, reception themes, signature menu's and personalized drinks.

Candice Coppola, Beth Lindsay Chapman and Carla Ten Eyck, with a combined experience of nearly a half a century, worked together to author this gorgeous manual that provides specialty services for each of the six destinations outlined.

Planning a wedding can generally, without the thought of a destination themed or inspired event, be stressful and suddenly the smallest of details can become monumental decisions. The authors are experts in planning and preparation and have a world of consultants, vendors and experts at their fingertips able to take the most monumental challenge and smooth it out.


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The romantic locales the trio describe are Palm Beach, Florida; Arizona, The Berkshires and Newport and two international locations; Montmartre and Barbados. Even before the location can be researched there are a few pre-location destination tips and choices that need to be made. Remember planning a wedding can be consuming and all agree adding a small or large team depending on budget and desire to assist generally can't hurt,

As each of our authors have a specialty in the bridal market, each have penned a chapter designed to be a comprehensive pre-checklist of sorts.

Ms. Coppola, an international wedding planner, tackles "Planning a Bespoke Wedding" and includes topics such as Choosing the Perfect Location, Same Sex Friendly Countries, Memorable Locations, Duties and Taxes for Locations Outside the United States; The Dream Idea verses the Location Reality.

Budgeting, the necessary line items for every wedding, Implementing Your Destination Wedding Style, Food, Beverages, Flowers, Cake and Confections for starters, and Hiring Destination Wedding Vendors. Ms. Coppola also includes Guest Etiquette, Save the Date Cards and Invitations, logistics and wedding day tips and if by this time you are feeling or faint or overwhelmed her next chapter is titled, "When all else fails, elope!"

Her final piece of advice for couples is "Relax. Breathe. Enjoy every second of your wedding day. Don't expect everything to be perfect because nothing is perfect and something will go awry. Laugh. Hold your partner's hand, look around at all the people wo love you and realize that this is what matters."

Beth Lindsay Chapman, for more than twenty five years has owned and operated the bridal couture boutique The White Dress by the Shore and also Beth Chapman Styling and Consulting. She outlines section II, "Selecting Destination Wedding Fashion."

Beginning of course with Shopping for Your Wedding Gown, which encompasses thirteen fine points designed to create a smoother process. Starting at the first hurdle, planning the wedding date and venue. After that, Budget, Research, Planning, Limit Opinions, Communicate your Vision and articulate that to the sales associate; Staying true to your style, Keep an open mind, Don't be alrmaed by the size; The Perfect Foundation; Alternations; Creating the Look, shoes and accessories; and Protecting Your Investment.

Ms. Chapman moves into the defining moments: To Veil or Not To Veil; Second Looks [should bride and or groom have a second dress/jacket to change into from ceremony to reception]; Investing in a Bridal Dresser; Bridal Beauty; Dressing for a Warm Weather Destination; and as with her colleague, "What to Wear When You Elope."

She ends the introduction with personalizing Groom's Attire; Attendants' and Guest Attire; Fashion for Same Sex Couples and Traveling With Your Wedding Attire.

The White Dress Destinations continues with the third author, Carla Ten Eyck, a wedding photography expert with more than 15 years' experience.

She begins with tips on "Photographing Your Destination Wedding" and begins interestingly enough with the subsection of Identifying the style of Photography You Like; Find a Photographer; Consider an Engagement Session; Determining the Experience level and Coverage Options Your Photographer Offers; The First Look; Post Wedding Day Portrait Session; Trust Your Photographer; How Can You Tell If Your Photographer Handles Stress Well; How About Scouting Locations; What to Ask For in Your Photography Package and Protecting Your Photography Investment.

The White Dress Destinations then moves into the specific of the six romantic locales and includes everything from theme inspired food and beverage menu's to flowers, table settings invitations, color palettes, cakes and confections, and bridal and groom styling. This is repeated with each locale. The authors include about 40 pages of photography showcasing possible ideas or concepts.


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The authors have also included a section on Planning Tools, and includes a mockup of an excel spreadsheet for Accommodation Details and Vendor Contacts. The Planning Checklist follows beginning up to fifteen months before the date and narrows to six months, three months, one month and finally one week.

The White Dress Destinations at 272 pages includes more than 350 color pictures, and is an exhaustive planning guide that not only removes the guesswork out of planning that Special Day but also ensures couples have fun along the way. Admitting the BIG DAY isn't for everyone, they have included with the same care ideas for those who want to just pass on all the hoopla and enjoy the moment.

The White Dress Destinations is simply beautiful, filled with lovely ideas geared to creating a memorable and special moment to be a statement created by the couple. The ideas, within the planning guide go far beyond even the most elaborate wedding and make for a timeless, classic.

The White Dress Destinations can be purchased at fine book stores everywhere and at through Schiffer Publishing.

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