How to Plan Your Perfect Honeymoon… #7: Obtaining Your Travel Documents

The US government does not want you to leave the country without proper documents.

The Rule: As of June 1, 2009, US citizens entering the Untied Sates at sea or land ports of entry must have a passport, passport card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Passports. This is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies a person’s identity and nationality. It is accepted for travel by air, land, and sea. It is valid for air travel and for travel to non-WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) countries. Passports are valid for 10 years. Fees are $100 for adults and $85 for renewals. Per the US State Department the expected turnaround time is four to six weeks for routine applications (two to three weeks for expedited services, which have an increased cost).

Be prepared to travel under your maiden name--unless your honeymoon is a few months after you are married. You simply won’t have the opportunity to send for your passport within the time allowed with documents of your new name.

Passport cards. A new limited-use travel document that fits in your wallet, this card is only valid for travel by land and sea (not air). It is also valid for 10 years. Fees for first-time cards are $45. The passport card is only for re-entry into the US at land border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region and Bermuda. Expected processing turnaround time is the same as for passports.

Possible exception: The exception to this rule is for “closed loop” cruises. A closed loop cruise is one that begins and ends in the same US port and visits Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. US citizens taking closed loop cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government issued photos ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificates and a driver’s license.

If you are planning to honeymoon outside of the US (any type--to WHTI countries--closed loop cruise or not), OBTAIN A PASSPORT. There may be an unforeseen event that may necessitate your need to fly home from a WHTI country and you may not have the correct documentation to enter the US. Applications may be picked up at your local post office.

NOTE: My website offers a link to expedite your passport should you need it sooner. On my home page, click on "Before You Go" for my recommended passport and visa expediter.

Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her for more information.

Your Portal To Wedding Ideas, Inspiration and Advice

Jeff and I are super excited about the newest addition to our Best Hudson Valley Wedding Ever family...

The Wedding Widget.

Okay, our new baby has a weird celebrity name.  She may look like just an ordinary tag cloud...but she's a powerhouse. 

Just click on any one of those floating phrases and it takes you directly to a mashup of awesome wedding blog posts filled with inspiring photos of real weddings, diy ideas, advice and stories from real brides.  I hand-picked these babies myself to bring you the best of the best.

You can find Ms. Widget right on our home page on the right side.

DJ Bri On the Fly: How To Make Your Wedding Unique

Jeff and I met Bri Swatek of Spinning With Style quite a few years back at a Knot mixer for wedding professionals held at the incomparable Round Hill House in Washingtonville, NY.  We were immediately impressed by his eagerness to learn and his friendliness to us (his DJ competitors!)  It wasn’t long before we were personal and professional friends.

So as I attempt to bring together the best wedding planning tips and advice for Hudson Valley couples, I know we HAVE to talk to Bri.  He simply rocks when it comes to incorporating a couple’s personal style into their entertainment.

Jeff and I held a conversation with Bri via Skype.  Through magic of web cams, we hold a conversation, Bri in his baseball cap and jersey.  (Do I need to tell you that I am in my sweats?  Too late.)

Bri reveals some of his story…

When Bri and his wife Brenda got married, they found a place within their budget.  Their wedding could have easily become lost in the “wedding factory” environment: “Bri and Brenda in Ballroom C.”

Bri learned from his own experience that it’s vitally important to choose your color, theme and music to reflect your personality so that your wedding really stands out.

Ideas For Making It Personal

First, Bri urges you to take the pressure off.  “You don’t have to have an elaborate ‘theme’ to make your wedding unique,” he explains.  “It’s more about personalizing the day so that it reflects you.”

Think about what you have in common and what you like about each other.  Do you have a favorite sports team?  Different ethnic heritages?  TV shows or movies you love?

One of Bri’s couples had a travel themed wedding.  Each table was named after a destination they had visited together: the Paris table, the London table.

Another couple hosted a Yankees vs. Mets wedding to highlight their team rivalry.  Half the wedding cake was decorated with the Yankees insignia and the other half was Mets!

Still another couple held a Hawaiian luau wedding at the Grandview.  Bri found a string quartet’s Polynesia tropical version of Pachelbel’s Canon in D for the ceremony and put together a cocktail hour play list of traditional Hawaiian music and steel guitar instrumentals.  They even chose Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii” for their first dance song.

“Okay, Bri.”  I smirk.  “It’s not too difficult to make a wedding unique when the couple knows what they want…but what if I don’t have a clue?”

I challenge Bri with a “hypothetical” scenario…
“Jeff and I are getting married.  I want be introduced to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer theme and he wants White Snake’s ‘Still of the Night.'  What do you do?”

Bri doesn’t even hesitate.  “Your wedding is a blend of your personalities, your family and your friends.  Maybe you could make an even exchange, a compromise that you are both comfortable with.”  

He’s better than my therapist; my hypothetical feathers are already beginning to unruffle.

He clears his throat and smiles.  “Maybe you could agree on an introduction song…and you could use ‘Still of the Night’ for your first dance.”

Jeff grins at me in triumph.

“In all seriousness,” Bri continues as we stop chuckling, “A lot of couples don’t know what they want at first.  But I ask some questions and their interests emerge, the things they like and don’t like.  I feel a responsibility to get to know them to help them find it.”

Some frequently asked questions:

Do I HAVE to walk down the aisle to “Here Comes the Bride” or “Canon in D?”

“NO,” Bri answers.  “You do not have to do anything.  Every aspect of your wedding can be unique.  You don’t have to have house music and lights for a grand entrance.  You don’t have to play ‘Love Shack’ at 9pm.  We want to make your friends and family to smile and laugh and say, ‘Yes, this is so you!’”

If you’re really stuck coming up with ideas for your themed wedding, here are Bri’s tips:

• Have conversations with other brides and grooms.  Not only your family and friends, but in forums on The Knot or Wedding Bee.  If you ask them for ideas about how to host a Yankee themed wedding, you’ll get 100 responses filled with ideas you would have never thought up.


• Ask around on Facebook and Twitter.


• Talk to wedding pros and experts.  They’ve seen a lot and will probably be happy to share their experiences.

“And remember,” Bri concludes.  “You don’t have to do anything.  Your songs should reflect you.  One of my brides danced with her dad to ‘It Takes Two’ and it was amazing.  It’s fun for me too, that unique moment I get to be a part of.”

“So I CAN have Buffy at our pretend wedding!” I announce to Jeff.  

He pats my shoulder.  “Whatever you want, honey.”

Bri smiles.  Mission accomplished.

Bri Swatek is the owner of Spinning With Style Hudson Valley DJ service and he can be contacted at www.djbriswatek.com.

Dancing in Your Dream Dress: Five things to look for to make sure your dress won’t get in the way of your big day.

When trying on wedding dresses, most brides focus only on how it looks. But you should also consider how it moves—or doesn’t move—when you do.  After all, you’ll want to be free to dance up a storm at your own wedding!

After years of teaching wedding couples to dance, we’ve learned to ask the bride (out of earshot of the groom, or course) about her dress as we plan their dance. Most express regret that they never considered movement when selecting their dress.

So here are five easy things to think about if you want to look good and feel good while dancing.

1. Is the train removable or can it be bustled so you can walk—and dance—freely? It’s difficult to dance well if you are stepping all over your own gown. We once taught dance lessons to a bride who neglected to mention that she planned to drape her train over her arm during her dance. On the big day she discovered that she was unable to do all the fancy turns we taught them. So, in frustration, she just let the train drop and danced all over it.


2. Is the gown too narrow or too full?  One couple came to us for months to perfect a sultry blues-style number for their first dance. Pretty soon the bride started calling her gown—“My stupid dress”—because she realized that its narrow skirt would restrict her from doing some of the moves they were so good at.


3. Is the headpiece too high?  To look flashy on the dance floor you’ll want to do some turns, but is the headpiece so high that your groom will have to jump to clear it with his arm?  A better plan is to remove the headpiece before your dance.


4. Does the veil hang over your back? When dancing your groom will need to put his hand on your back to lead you through moves. If you want to wear a long veil, it’s a good idea to remove it before your first dance.


5. Can you raise your arms? It’s a simple enough question but you’d be surprised at how often the answer is, “Not really.”  Make sure that your arms are free to move.

In summary, move around in your dress as much as possible.  A wedding dress should look as beautiful when you twirl as it does when you stand still. Taking a few turns around the dress shop floor will help you decide how great you’ll look and feel on your Wedding Day dance floor.

 

Linda and Chester Freeman of Got2Lindy Dance Studios have taught all over the world and on cruises. They specialize in providing private dance lessons to wedding couples.  They also teach swing and ballroom throughout the Hudson Valley, NY. Visit www.got2lindy.com for more information.