Blogs

The Internet is great for a lot of things — wedding planning, seeing cat GIFs and booking your trip of a life time. But navigating the online travel space can be a bit overwhelming. Travelocity’s senior editor Courtney Scott gives her top tips.

1. Bundle
Don’t worry, you won’t be forced into taking home a puppy like in those Vonage commercials, but you will get some major savings. Says Scott: “One Travelocity study found that you can save up to $525 by bundling your flight and hotel together. You can also group your car rental into the package for continued savings. Vacation packages give travelers access to airline and hotel pricing not available to people who book separately, and they are dynamic, so you can pick and choose the right hotel and flight for your dream honeymoon. Often, packages also include bonus extras like free transfers, extra activities, or a welcome basket of wine and treats in-room.

Guest Bloggers: Alexi Mintz (left) and Kate Duff (right), co-founders of 3Floz.com
Before launching 3Floz, Kate wasn’t willing to give up her beauty regime and carried her full- sized beauty products everywhere she travelled. Alexi begrudgingly spent hours going store to store buying her beauty products in TSA approved sizes so she could carry on her luggage. They created 3floz.com in 2010 as a one stop shop for all of your favorite TSA friendly products. 3Floz ships internationally, including direct to hotels, and starting in August 2013 you'll find their automated retail machines in major airports through the US.

Planning a wedding in a large hall, chapel or ballroom? Then you will want a dress that will command the space. We love the super femininity and fantasy of these modern ballgowns with one shoulder flourishes and dainty feminine embroideries. Your wedding is one of the few chances you have to wear such a grand gown. 

A ballgown is a great choice if you are pear- or rectangle-shaped, as the full skirt will create the illusion of curves on the rectangle and disguise the fullness of the hips on the pear. If you are small-chested, it is a good idea to choose a ballgown with interest on the bustline to balance out the hips and create more of the illusion of an hourglass shape.

Definitely try this gown on with the heels you plan to wear the day of your wedding — you do not want to be tripping on a grand gown because they did not get the hem right to match your heels. Here, a few of my favorite ballgowns from Oleg Cassini for David's Bridal, Ines di Santo, and Pnina Tornai.

—Naima DiFranco

Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.

Research shows that lighting affects mood, making it an essential component for setting the ambience of your wedding.

At a daytime ceremony, additional light is optional. Look carefully at the natural light at your ceremony and reception sites in advance, at the same time of day as your wedding, and have a backup plan if the clouds intervene.

Late afternoon and evening weddings — or tented weddings — can be illuminated in many different ways. If the facility offers overhead lighting, make sure it uses a dimmer if you want to add any of the following items.

These eco-friendly lighting options can also save you money:

Stressed out about planning the perfect honeymoon? Whether you're going across the country or around the world, these travel apps will help you stay organized and ensure that you have an unforgettable trip!

1. OpenTable
This app offers a quick and easy way to find top-notch restaurants in your city — there are thousands to choose from worldwide — and make a reservation. Narrow down choices by neighborhood, cuisine, and budget. Whether you're craving a quick gelato snack in Florence or would like to splurge on a five-course meal in Hawaii, OpenTable has got you covered. Each selection features the restaurant's menu, customer reviews, and a map of where it's located. 

Tip: Once you choose where you'd like to eat, sign up for an account to earn points towards discounted dining.

Cost: Free.

Rating: 10 out of 10. We love that OpenTable saves couples precious time on their honeymoon by determining which restaurants are too busy for last-minute reservations. (Of course, it goes without saying that every eatery you search for might not be listed in this app.) OpenTable can be used long after the honeymoon is over. 

Project Runway fan? Check out season 10 winner Dmitry Sholokhov's exclusive collection of eight cocktail dresses and evening wear for Lord & Taylor, landing in stores this weekend (March 30). The entire collection retails for $259-$329 and will be available in select Lord & Taylor stores. The dresses are available in key colors gold, ivory, and blush (perfect for bridal), as well as teal and black.

These dresses would be great for your rehearsal dinner or a hot date night during the honeymoon. If you are a superfan, Dmitry will be at the Fifth Avenue flagship store in NYC to meet with customers and sign sketches on Thursday April 4th from 6-8pm.

—Naima DiFranco

Harry Potter fans, you're going to love this sweet proposal story! 

After meeting and falling in love in college, Jaquie, a Harry Potter fanatic, introduced Rachel to the wonderful wizarding world through endless movie marathons. When Rachel decided to propose, she knew she wanted to incorporate Jaquie's love of Harry Potter in the proposal. She came up with the idea to present Jaquie with a Quidditch set, where the Golden Snitch would open to reveal the engagement ring. Anthony Albano of CustomMade (remember the epic Star Wars engagement ring they created?) brought her vision to life by designing the incredible Quidditch set! Rachel even set up an indoor Quidditch pitch, complete with hooped goal posts. 

Looking for the ideal dress to show off your voluptuous hourglass figure? Consider the mermaid gown — the ideal dress for curves! When selecting a mermaid, take note where the skirt fans out; for a flattering fit, it should fan out at least four inches below the largest part of your hips. Also, look for internal corsets or corset boning in your dress to ensure the look of a small dainty waist (so important to the hourglass shape). 

I also like to consider the fabric when choosing a mermaid. Watch how it clings or bunches when you walk; you want a flexible fabric that will move with you and your curves. Lastly, when getting a mermaid altered, wear the undergarments you will be wearing the big day. If you plan to wear Spanx, wear them to the fitting. You don't want your dress loose around your hips or waist on your big day. Here a few of my favorite mermaids from Enzoani, Vera Wang, and Saison Blanche.

Plus: Check out 25 more of our favorite mermaid gowns!

—Naima DiFranco