Sarah Janks, Australian Bridal Designer, Offers Five Tips in Planning Destination Weddings

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Proposal season is officially in height and many new brides-to-be will be jumping to start the wedding planning process in 2016! With more and more brides choosing destination weddings, we have the best tips for travel, dress shopping and ultimately planning the perfect destination wedding.

Australian bridal designer, Sarah Janks, styles hundreds of destination brides and even based her new FW16 collection on these beach loving brides – featuring fun separates, light-weight fabrics and beading inspired by the stars! Let me know if you would be interested in sharing these tips with your readers. 

Sarah Janks offers her top 5 tips for brides when dress shopping and planning a wedding in paradise: 

Tip #1: Have a Vision

When couples choose a venue it has to meet certain criteria: It has special meaning to them, it suits their style, there might be family ties and it should be convenient for the majority of guests to access. So choose a resort or destination that has a significant meaning to you and your fiancé! A brides' style is usually reflective of the bigger vision for their wedding which in large part includes the destination or venue. 

Tip #2: Stay True to What You Love

The key is to edit your research and selections so that you're not overwhelmed by information.  And remember to keep an open mind, sometimes that dress you've been obsessing over will be a letdown in real life. Be true to what you love and what looks good on you and stick within budget. You won’t go wrong. Brides also shouldn't stray too far from their signature style, be that boho or classic, slim or full skirted. And always go for comfort – you have to wear this dress for 8-10 hours!

Tip #3: Always Carry On

Always travel with your dress, there would be nothing worse than arriving to find your dress has been forwarded to a different, exotic destination.  Phone the airline prior to departure and tell them you're travelling with your gown. Usually a crew member can hang the gown for you in a locker on board, and return it to you when you disembark. 

Tip #4: A Look For the Groom

Navy compliments a wide array of skin tones and is very popular for destination weddings. It is softer than charcoal or black in outdoor settings, it photographs well and doesn't overwhelm soft, delicately detailed or blush hued bridal dress choices the bride might favor.

Tip 5: Keep Your Guests in Mind

When it comes to attire for your guests, keep in mind the climate and be kind to your guests, they'll thank you for it. There is no point to dinner jackets in tropical climates. Usually the ladies choose lightweight, floaty styles and the gents are in sports jackets without ties, which is a nice alternative to traditional suits. Feel free to put a dress code on the invitations for guests to reference. 

Sarah Janks, a successful Australian bridal designer founded her talents and precise draping techniques from years of working for top couture designers, Jenny Packham, Roland Mouret and Jonathan Saunders. After developing her skills at these fashion houses, Sarah worked to devise a particular design that would combine a special fit, cut, imagination and pristine draping skill. Inspired by her home town roots of Port Elizabeth in Africa, Sarah developed her brand new “All the Stars” collection from memories of looking up at the stars. 

For more information: www.sarahjanks.com

Images courtesy of Sarah Janks.