Matrimonium

One of the most common questions I am asked is “What can I get my friends as a wedding gift?” My advice is almost always glassware.

Not just any old glassware, although a nice set of wine glasses or champagne flutes would undoubtedly be well received. A wedding is a very special occasion so why not give something that is in itself very special.

Hand-cut lead crystal clearly falls into the ‘very special’ category. A good example is this lead crystal bowl that some friends received as a wedding gift recently. About 14.5 inches in diameter, this bowl is ideal for fruit or pot pourri. Beautiful, top quality hand-cut lead crystal that will last more than a lifetime.

Rowton Castle Hotel is a fantastic setting for your dream castle wedding.

Set in 17 acres of beautiful grounds in Shropshire, close to Shrewsbury, Rowton Castle Hotel provides everything needed for a truly fantastic fairytale wedding.

The hotel’s Cedar restaurant provides five star food and service which, combined with their excellent accommodation and fabulous, historic setting will ensure that your wedding day is a truly memorable experience that will be enjoyed by all.

Castle weddings have become very fashionable in recent years but many venues can’t compare with the facilities provided by Rowton Castle. A true castle has stood in the grounds at Rowton for nearly 800 years. While the building has undergone many alterations it has remained, primarily, a family home.

If you are looking for a truly magnificent location for your special day then Rowton Castle is definitely worth a look. You can be assured of the best service possible and an absolutely fantastic wedding.

Have the two of you had enough of watching Wall Street and are ready for some serious relaxation? Here’s a package we just received that’s aimed at relaxation and rejuvenation. Loreto Bay Resort, located in Baja Sur, Mexico, is offering a a three-night spa and yoga package that introduces guests to the quieter side of Baja.

Price: $880 per person. The package is based on double occupancy. Airfare, taxes and gratuities are not included.

The Package: The spa and yoga relaxation package includes:
• three nights of luxurious guest room accommodations at the Inn at Loreto Bay
• a full meal plan of healthy offerings, including three daily low-carbohydrate meals and all-natural beverages
• multiple yoga sessions with a certified yoga instructor
• one facial and reflexology treatment
• a full one-hour massage
• a choice of one manicure or pedicure with foot or hand therapy
• one back and neck massage
• other relaxation services

Dates: The package is valid for travel now through December 20, 2008.

Why It’s Dreamy: Loreto Bay is an 8,000-acre seaside community neighboring the historic town of Loreto in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The ommunity includes the 155-room Inn at Loreto Bay hotel with on-site fitness center and spa services, three restaurants, swim-up pool bar, 24-hour concierge services and golf, and plans for 6,000 authentic Baja-style homes, mixed-use buildings among pedestrian-friendly street and nearly 1,500 acres dedicated for a nature preserve. Visitors to Loreto Bay enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, golf and plenty of sunshine.

For more information:
• visit www.discoverloretobay.com
• call 1-877-522-9466

It’s all in the presentation is a well known phrase that can be accurately applied to the presentation of food. Food is always more appealing and somehow tastes better when it is presented beautifully.

For your special day it is important to ensure that the food served to your guests is presented in an appealing manner. The last thing you want is food slopped onto plates in a care-free, ad-hoc way. Ensuring that your caterers will pay that little bit of extra attention to the plating up of the food is imperative.

So when you are planning your wedding day meal and considering which caterer to choose, ask to see some examples of the food that they have served previously. Better still, see if you can pop along to one of their catering functions and look at the way they work, the tableware that they use and the quality of their food presentation and service.

You want your wedding guests to have a special and memorabel time at your wedding. One way to ensure that they go away with fond memories is to make them feel like they are getting top quality restaurant attention. Good quality service combined with careful and artisitic food presentation will go a long way towards achieving this aim.

There is just so much you can learn from those fantastic youtube videos. Many people have generously donated their knowledge and skills. Here’s an excellent little video providing some great dress advice for the groom and his best man.

Everyone wants to look their best on their special day. Clothes are an important part of the process but don’t overlook the hair and the skin. There are some fantastic personalised hair care products for both men and women from Kerastase and some really effective skin and face care products, again for both men and women, available from Decleor.

The following video demonstrates how to use some of the fantastic skin care products from Decleor, starting four months before your wedding, to give you that fantastic radiance on your special day:

If you’re like us, you’re looking for ways to save money these days–and that includes saving money on the other love of your life: your dog. When the two of you travel, your dog’s care can be costly–not to mention his everyday needs including food, supplies, and vet care.

Our sister site, DogTipper.com, has just released a free ebook titled How to Put Your Dog on a Budget. You’ll find tips on saving money on your dog’s:

• food
• supplies
• care including dog sitting and walking
• grooming
• veterinary care
• toys

We hope you enjoy the PDF ebook and find some new ways to save money on your four-legged friend’s care!

Sandals is an easy choice for many couples and here’s something to make the deal a little more “suite”…if you book book select suite categories at certain Sandals Resorts, you’ll receive a $25o credit at Sandals’ Red Lane® Spa.

Dates: You’ll need to book by October 23, 2008 for travel between December 1, 2008 and December 26, 2009. This offer is only available per room (not per person).

The Details: The resort company’s newly launched Red Lane® to the Suite Life* promotion rewards guests who book seven nights or more in a top-category suite at select Sandals Resorts with a $250 credit to its exclusive Red Lane® Spa. Here are some categories available for the credit:

• Four Millionaire Suites at Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort & Spa in St. Lucia. These Mediterranean-style suites combine 800 square feet of living space and a three-tiered outdoor deck featuring a private plunge pool and whirlpool.
• At Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, the resort’s circular cottages known as the Rondoval Suites offer guests 1,400 square feet of pure luxury. The suite boasts a 50” plasma television, a separate sitting area, an in-room Jacuzzi tub and skylight as well as a separate rain shower with glass mosaic tiling. Outside, on the suite’s private pool deck, two people in love can dip into their outdoor Jacuzzi or sparkling plunge pool, complete with its own waterfall.
• The Luxury Ocean Villas in the all-suite Mediterranean Village at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa boast 1,400 square feet of living space with separate living and bedroom areas. Elegantly dressed with fine linens and furnishings, these suites spill out onto a lush outdoor space with private plunge pools, Jacuzzis and expansive decks for stunning ocean and sunset views.

Additional participating resorts for the Red Lane® Spa credit include Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort and Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa in Jamaica and Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in The Bahamas.

Photo courtesy Sandals Resorts

October is Bed & Breakfast / Small Inns Month in the Pocono Mountains and couples will find budget-friendly packages starting as low as $90 per night. You can find more about the region’s over 45 Bed & Breakfast and Small Inn properties plus special activities planned during the month of October by visiting www.800Poconos.com. Just a few of the special packages include:

The Settlers Inn, through October 31, 2008

The Bed & Breakfast Month package at the Settlers Inn in Hawley includes two-night midweek accommodations, daily breakfast and one dinner for two at the property’s farm-to-table restaurant. A packed picnic lunch will be provided for couples taking advantage of driving and waterfall tours to see the fall colors. The Bed & Breakfast Month package begins at $365 per night.

• For more information visit www.thesettlersinn.com or call 570-226-2993

The Deer Head Inn Valid through October 31, 2008

The Deer Head Inn’s Jazz package in the Delaware Water Gap includes accommodations, breakfast daily and a musical performance during dinner service for two. The package begins at $189, based on double occupancy.

• For more information visit www.deerheadinn.com or call 570-424-2000

The new NYLO Providence/Warwick in Warwick, Rhode Island is offering a romance package valid year around.

Price: The Romance Package begins at $199.

The Package: NYLO’s Romance Package includes:

• overnight accommodations for two
• a bottle of champagne
• dinner in The Loft - NYLO’s signature full-service restaurant and bar
• a complimentary in-room movie

Why It’s Dreamy: NYLO Providence/Warwick opened on September 2, 2008 as the first property in New England for loft lifestyle hotel innovator, NYLO Hotels. Each of the 163 guestrooms, called guest lofts, has 300 square feet of bright, airy living space, with 10-foot-plus ceilings, exposed brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. The property offers a Pure Floor with allergy-friendly guest lofts. Its signature ultra-social living area, The Loft, features a hip atmosphere, eclectic menu and local musicians. A 3,000-square-foot terrace also provides outdoor dining and entertainment.

For more information:
• call NYLO Providence/Warwick at 1.866.391.NYLO
• visit http://www.NYLOHotels.com/Warwick