Destination Affairs is now offering complimentary honeymoon registries. This is a great way to score that over-the-top honeymoon, complete with the bells and whistles.

In planning your honeymoon, those tempting extras such as beachfront as opposed to “ocean view”, private couples massage, private beach dinner, or adventurous excursions can add significantly to your honeymoon budget. They are options that can enhance your overall honeymoon experience and create the most romantic travel experience ever!

First and foremost, book early. The advantages include early booking discounts, payment plans, locked in rates (and if rates go down, you are subject to those dip in prices!), and of course, more time for your friends and family to purchase gifts off the registry for engagement parties, holidays, etc. In planning a honeymoon, we often use suppliers and “bulk air” to build airfare and hotel into “packages” in order to bring your costs down. Our honeymoon suppliers are now also offering a wide variety of tours, excursions, private dinners, spa treatments, and much more that can be added to your packages, pre-booked and pre-paid. The advantages of pre-booking and pre-paying into one are endless, starting with no surprise fees, confirmed availability, and pre-planning. Once you arrive at your honeymoon destination, you can relax and let the fun begin!

“We have found that more and more couples seem to be interested in mixing up their bridal registries, or offering guests different options for gift purchases for engagement gifts, bridal showers, and wedding gifts.” Owner Kristin O’Reilly has been recognizing more and more clients asking about travel registries. Recognizing this trend, Kristin has been offering clients a complimentary, personally designed honeymoon/travel website registry with a customized domain name for clients. From there, guests can purchase general travel gift certificates, or specific excursions, spa treatments, etc. that they are looking to “amp” up their honeymoon experience. “We work with clients and post specific extras, or offer general gift certificates directly on your complimentary registry site.” Says O’Reilly. Wedding guests can purchase general gift certificates in any amount that can be applied to the overall honeymoon expense.”

Check out the below link for an example of honeymoon registry.

audreyandsteve.com

destinationaffairs.com

What bride doesn't like to dine in style? Few, I can tell you that, so its time you brides-to-be start registering for china and stemware that will make your food a feast. Might we suggest Simon Pearce collections? Simon Pearce, a handmade pottery company based out of Quechee, Vermont has unveiled Its New Dinnerware Patterns And Glass Designs. The Corinth and Cavendish Collections of hand blown glass and handmade pottery designs for the home and tabletop are currently available in Simon Pearce retail stores and on the company’s online store, SimonPearce.com.

“The new collections embrace Simon’s design philosophy. The lines are elegant and simple, truly pleasant to the eye. The quality and durability of the materials and techniques used to produce these pieces ensure the everyday functionality Simon Pearce is known for,” states James Zilian, Director of Product Development. “The clarity of the glass and the new white glaze for the pottery bring in versatility when dressing up or down your table setting. The Corinth and Cavendish Collections bridge the gap between casual and formal dinnerware.” The Corinth Collection is comprised of hand blown glass and handmade pottery designs. The pottery features sculpted and feathered edging and is offered in the new Dove glaze. They include a five-piece place setting, serving bowls, a platter, and a vase. To create the hand blown glass Corinth designs, Simon Pearce has developed a new production technique using a two-part mold made from two parts. The resulting designs feature a decorative fluted texture and the signature hand-finished rim Simon Pearce is renowned for. The glass designs include stemware, bowls, and vases.

The Cavendish Collection is also comprised of both glass and pottery designs. The popular Cavendish wine glass, one of Simon’s first creations, inspired the look and feel of the collection. Originally introduced with a water goblet and versatile Cavendish wine, the line has evolved to include the more varietal-specific Cavendish red wine. Timeless and simple, the Cavendish pottery is also offered in the Dove glaze and includes a five-piece place setting, bowls, vases, and a platter. Bon appetit!

{1} An old French proverb says , “In wine, one beholds the heart of another.” What better way to let those closest to you share in celebrating your love than with a refined wine from Long Island’s oldest family owned winery, Pindar Vineyards. From chardonnay to syrah, Pindar has offerings to suit the most discerning oenophile. And with vineyards spread across 550 acres, the property makes a stunning backdrop for special events, too. Visit pindar.net to find out more.

{2} Keep your guests’ spirits up with a gift of award-winning Hamptons Vodka (hamptonsvodka.com). This 80-proof vodka was the 2006 Double Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and garnered a 92 rating from Wine Enthusiast. Made from 100 percent yellow corn and pure spring water and quadruple-filtered, Hamptons Vodka has a natural sweetness—and no added sugar or preservatives.

{3} The Hampton Tea Company’s Beachside Blend combines passionflower, beach plum, lemon grass, cinnamon, and hibiscus in a zesty, rich, colorful tea with a tangy flavor. It makes a perfect cup to relax your mind and soothe your spirit—at wedding time, or any time. Check out other local blends at the hamptons.com/tea.

{4} There's popcorn, and then there's Hampton Popcorn (hamptonpopcorn.com) which elevates the movie-time staple from blue jeans to black tie. From savory white cheddar to chocolate peanut-butter crunch, there is a variety to suit any taste. For a customized wedding favor, Hampton Popcorn also offers vintage-style popcorn tins with personalized labels and logos. Don’t forget to buy a few extra bags of your favorite flavor for yourself!

{5} While your guests are out exploring the Hamptons on a warm afternoon, they'll be thankful for a bottle of PURECOOL'S refreshing zero calorie flavored water. With no presevatives, no sugar or fructose, and no artificial sweeteners, it’s a delicious indulgence that’s good for you, too. Offering both sparkling and still waters in flavors like Triple Chill, Tropical Tiki, and Pear Ginger Ice, PURECOOL is totally hot. Go to drinkpurecool.com for more information.

{6} Have a hankering for a little something sweet? The cookies, brownies, and squares from Tate’s Bake Shop (tatesbakeshop.com) won’t disappoint. Out of 50 cookies tested by Every Day with Rachel Ray Magazine, those from Tate’s ranked No. 1. If you can’t choose just one scrumptious flavor, pick up a cookie gift pack, for a taste of their three most popular flavors: macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip.

{7} It’s a wedding after all—and your guests are going to want an inside line on how you made your special day look so effortless. Let them in on your secret by giving them their own copy of WellWed, the go-to resource for discovering the finest products, venues, and wedding professionals in the Hamptons and beyond.

Selecting your china pattern can be overwhelming. With so many designs to choose from a bride can be left baffled. Even though the mega chain stores may offer a large selection, wouldn't it be great to have designed by an artisan?

For unrivaled craftsmanship of custom dinnerware, centerpieces, and other fine stoneware, look no further then Girard Stoneware. Located in the heart of historic Saratoga Springs, this new business creates all of its pieces on-site, and offers both incomparable service and stunning artistry. To veiw more of their intricate designs check out their website here Girard Stoneware