Credit: Mrs. Lilien

What services does TravelWise of Virginia offer to brides who are planning their honeymoon?

We are a full service Travel Agency with 20+ years combined experience.  We are widely regarded within the travel industry as one of the foremost experts for honeymoon planning and travel, with benefits for even the most travel-savvy.

We work with the bride and groom to determine what their dream vacation is and then use our globetrotting expertise to create their dream honeymoon (within their budget, of course)!  We handle all of the booking for accommodations, transportation and anything else you’ll need in advance and can obtain better deals for you than even the most discounted travel websites.

Most importantly, we offer personalized service from the beginning stages of planning your honeymoon to your arrival home.  The agent you work with to create your dream honeymoon, is the same agent communicating with the concierge of your destination before and during your stay making sure everything is PERFECT!

What are some unique honeymoon destinations you booked recently? What are the most popular destinations?

In a diverse town like D.C., we book honeymoons to everywhere you can imagine—from the dream safari honeymoon for adventurous travelers, to a romantic trip to see all of Europe for those looking to sight see and of course, a trip to paradise for those that want to relax.

Hawaii and the Caribbean are always a popular choice, but recently we’ve planned quite a few Costa Rican honeymoons. Costa Rica offers much more seclusion than some of the more popular destinations while still providing luxury accommodations in a tropical paradise.

All inclusive resorts and cruises are always a popular choice for newlyweds.

With an all inclusive resort, the idea of having everything paid for ahead of time (meals, drinks, etc.) and having everything within the confines of the resort is the ideal relaxation for couples after months of nonstop wedding activity. With a number of luxury all inclusive chains throughout the Caribbean that cater toward couples and adults only (Sandals Resorts, Secrets Resorts, Excellence Resorts, etc.), there is bound to be one that meets most every couple’s desires.

A cruise offers couples the ability to see multiple destinations without having to pack up and move from hotel to hotel.  Cruise ships are luxurious resorts offering multiple restaurants and dining styles, room categories, and entertainment on board all while sailing from one destination to the next.  Cruises sail to any destination you can imagine- Australia, Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe and offer the newlyweds the chance to experience all an area has to offer!

What is one piece of travel advice you have for couples heading out on their honeymoon?

I would say you should relax for a day after your wedding and just enjoy yourself.  Take that time to begin to relish in the favorite moments of the wedding with your family and friends.  After you’ve had a full day or two to recoup, leave for your honeymoon.

This advice came in handy recently with Hurricane Irene.  With most of our couples not heading out of the D.C. area until early in the work week, we were able to rebook and re-route clients without interrupting any of their honeymoons.

There are so many choices of honeymoon destinations. Do you have any tips for helping to select the perfect location?

Be open to suggestions and don’t be afraid to ask questions. We try to obtain feedback from all of our clients to share with other clients. We have booked hundreds of honeymoons, so we know what to look for to make your honeymoon stress free.

Our honeymoon specialists travel to the resorts and destinations that they specialize in, so that we have first hand knowledge and contacts at the property! We often suggest destinations and resorts that you may not have heard of that fit exactly what you desire!

This is your dream honeymoon, so ASK QUESTIONS! We work to familiarize you with what to expect at your destination so you can maximize your time there.  Each traveler has unique questions and areas that are important to them, by communicating these to your travel agent we can lead you to the perfect destination for the perfect honeymoon.

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When James and I first got engaged, I immediately bought multiple wedding and bridal magazines.  Each time I came across a dress or caked I liked, I ripped the page from the magazine.   I planned to save the pages and when the time came to pick a cake or invitations, I would have examples of what I liked to show our planner.  I quickly amassed a huge pile of ripped magazine pages, and two weeks later I already had trouble finding specific pictures.  There was no way I would make it a year plus with this lack of organization, but a few weeks ago I discovered the best solution, Pinterest.com.

Pinterest is a virtual pin board, that you can “pin” all of your findings to, right from the website you find them on. You name each of your pinboards and also assign it a category.  Categories range from books, to weddings and recipes.  After you start pining you can browse other users pinboards and “repin” any items they have that you like.

The website says you will need to request an invite, but within 10 minutes of requesting mine I received an email confirming my account.  It’s only been a few days, but I’ve started 4 boards – Wedding Style, Good Reads, What I Wear and Favorite Eats.

You can check out my pinboards at http://pinterest.com/mhcoppola/

Available in a wide range of chic colors and designs, ACME Party Box’s custom “photo booth” backdrop comes with two chalkboard “bubbles” that wedding guests can write their own messages on to the bride and groom. These are retailing for $135.00, perfect for those who have not necessarily budgeted for a full traditional photo booth.

The 3.5′ x 7′ backdrop can be repurposed in a many different ways post-wedding, keeping in line with ACME’s philosophy of sustainability and reuse. Seriously, they have so many cute things, I can’t stand it!!

Next week is the grand opening of it’s fourth retail location in Leesburg, VA - June 29, 2011 in The Village at Leesburg Shopping Center from 7pm – 9pm.

Just in time to celebrate, I was able to catch up with Heidi Kallett, owner and business guru, to hear more about The Dandelion Patch.

What is your background and how did you get into the industry?

I was the President of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and in the middle of my term, my husband asked what I was going to do after my term expired.  He encouraged me to do the same thing that I’d done successfully with the JLNV in a business of my own: motivate, inspire, lead and grow.

So after a dinner with my girlfriends, it was determined that I was “that mom” … you know… the kind that for my kids’ birthday parties had all the matching paper goods, the paper invitations (of course!), the party game that matched the theme, and the perfect favors.

Soon afterwards, I learned that The Dandelion Patch was for sale in Vienna.  Now, the store wasn’t what you see now– it had about 75 loyal customers and a reasonable reputation in the local marketplace.  But no website, no logo, located in a small, warehouse district in Vienna and no real brand.  However, I know enough about myself to realize that I am much better “editing a piece of paper, than starting from scratch”… so buying an existing company was the best option for me.

The best thing I did when I started was to write a master business plan. That research made me quickly realize that there was a need in the DC area for a brick and mortar retailer that focused on the high end, custom invitations of all life milestones.

Now, 7 years later we are part of the fabric in thousands of family households through our experiences in working with their birth announcements, Bar/Bat Mitzvah invitations, and of course– our custom wedding suites.

What are the different types of stationery that you offer? What other products can you find at the Dandelion Patch?

We offer all kinds of solutions for your paper needs.  From boxed Crane thank you notes, to Caspari plates and napkins and monogrammed notepads to boxed imprintables for about every party you can imagine.

In addition to the lovely custom paper products and the beautiful boxed goods we have in our stores, we also have a wide selection of gifts that you’d love to both give and receive.  Need a sweet baby gift?  Try a soft plush lovie from Bunnies by the Bay.  Need a wonderful and special hostess gift?  How about a gorgeous piece of Mariposa or Julia Knight?  Need a wedding gift?  We have Vera Wang crystal frames and silver pieces guaranteed to wow any new couple.  Seriously, our stores are a one-stop LOCAL shop for your gift-giving and paper needs.

How can couples best convey their design ideas to you and your team?

This is where we really thrive!  We LOVE it when our customers have done just a bit of research and come to us when they know their theme, colors and/or location.  From there, we can ask a few questions, show a few examples of products, and instantly get a feel for a couple’s own personal style and that of their event.  I call it the “style-tone of a couple.”

We always start with a blank piece of paper and with a few answers and an hour, we should be able to narrow the choices (and there are oh- so-many!) so our brides don’t get overwhelmed.  We do love it when brides bring along samples and pictures of invitations that they adore.

But even better– we love it when brides show us what they DO NOT like.  Everyone has their own style-tone.  And although a preppy navy and green combo would be off the charts for one couple, others may prefer a clean, modern palate of white and platinum.  From fonts, to format– we really do love our clients’ individuality and love creating one-of-a-kind stationery suites that are as unique as the couple.

What is the most unique stationery set that you have ever created or helped to produce?

We regularly have exciting and very special projects in our stores– it keeps us focused and up to the minute with trends.  We’ve had hand-painted watercolor and art work and several pencil drawings that we’ve transformed into stunning custom invitations and holiday cards, and we’ve color-corrected aged photos of couples celebrating 50th anniversaries and have used those photos in all kinds of custom paper products.  And all kinds of poems, quotes and renderings have shown up on everything from invitations to napkins.

We’ve used pressed tree bark for the back layer of invitations, bamboo fans for programs and etched glass as table numbers.  Although most of our clients prefer something slightly more traditional and timeless.

As I said before, each client is unique and different from the next– just like our custom work.  We value the collaborative and creative process, but even more– we value the opportunity to build real relationships with the couples that come to our stores and become part of the “Patch” family.

When you determine what florals the flower girl(s) should have on your big day, there are quite a few fabulous options to consider.  I love an angelic hair wreath, a darling pomander ball, or a traditional petal basket.

Keep in mind that the age and interests of your little friend will impact what the best choice is for her…Can she pretend that the wreath is a princess crown? How about thinking that the pomander is a purse? In any case, it is best to ask the parents of the flower girl what they think she will prefer, let her practice and remember that no matter what, the flower girl will be cute coming down the aisle!

Photo Credits: Martha Stewart Weddings

Credit: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Credit: Primele

To see more from this wedding, head to from Hello to Hitched for Part 1 and Part 2.

I was all over the crunchy celery, roasted garlic cloves, pickled carrots and horseradish.  How fun would this be for a post wedding brunch?!  You know I love veggies so this was just heaven!

Has anyone else seen or done this yet?

Picture Credits: Martha Stewart Weddings; Southern Living

I love anything that makes for a great pictures…and these ribbon send off sticks don’t look too hard to make either!  I just might order some ribbon from M&J Trimming (watch out – this site is addicting!), get some dowel rods, and start crafting.

Is anyone else doing something fun for a send-off?  How about getting crafty?  These cold winter months are the perfect excuse to stay inside and get your craft on.  Happy weekend!!