{Real Wedding} Kerri & Dennis: Rockin' Wedding Reception

A Modern Love Story - Part 2

A wedding wouldn't be complete without a festive reception and some dance floor grooves! Kerri and Dennis ducked the stress of wedding planning and headed out on a Norwegian cruise liner to say their I Do's. A fab reception was the order of the day for our dynamic duo a month or so after in order to celebrate with family and friends. Kerri, lucky girl, got to wear her ever fashionable short wedding dress and incredible shoes from her official wedding day. Sigh. I like shoes. 

How ADORABLE is this couple? Thank you again to Cook Productions out of Andover, MA, for allowing us to share these Fab-You-Lass official reception photos! 

At the Beverly Depot, Beverly, MA.

She is super FIERCE and he knows it!

At Endicott College where Kerri studied.

Congratulations Kerri and Dennis and thank you for sharing your love story and wedding celebration with us! You two are truly one fun, fabulous couple and we could all learn a lesson from you - at the end of the day, remember that your wedding is all about you! In addition, a wedding cruise/post reception both make smart money sense, which is always a good thing in our book.

Thank you again to Cook Productions allowing us to share these reception photos and to Norwegian Cruise for the wedding photos.

Which reception picture is your favorite? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or hop over to Facebook or Twitter and LIKE/Follow de Lovely Affair!

Happy Monday to you,

(Real Wedding) Kerri & Dennis: Sweet Engagement + Wedding Cruise

A Modern Day Love Story - Part 1

Sometimes there are those couples who are so authentic, genuinely sweet with their words and actions, easy to smile and laugh, and are so in love you just want to show the world. Meet Kerri and Dennis; they are THAT couple.  I know them through a friend and when Kerri emailed me her sweet story, I knew I just had to share it!

Ever thought of just canning all the wedding plans and you know, hopping on one of these big beauties to tie the knot? Well, that is exactly what they did!

Kerri and Dennis connected online through a mutual friend's music page one Christmas Eve. They finally met after a few months of virtual friendship, but didn't make it official for almost a year. Kerri says "Truth is,  we were friends, we liked each other but it just never happened. Later, I kicked myself for waiting so long...there he was, my soulmate, right under my nose the whole time." Their  first date was exactly one year to the day they first met.

As Dennis tells it: I usually don't chase a girl. If I ask them out and they dont go, I dont keep asking. But I kept asking Kerri because I knew she was something special. And speaking of asking, did you hear the one about the girlfriend who accidently found a box of bling under the bed while her boyfriend was taking a shower? Yeah that's Kerri - so instead of the fancy, dancy romantic New Year's Eve proposal, he proposed right then and then when she came to confess. And the rest they say is history!

The thing I love about these two is they do it their own way!! Instead of buckling to tradition, they chose a Norwegian cruise to Bermuda as a destination wedding. Having both been married before, they wanted no fuss or major financial commitment, just an experience and celebration all about them! Plus they love cruises, and what better way to celebrate wedding AND honeymoon at the same time!

You know, if you are going to do it up, this is the way to go! Enjoy their wedding photos plus their official wedding reception at home a few months later, in Part 2 later today!

I love the Just Married sign on the back of Dennis's wheelchair. So sweet! 

Kerri and Dennis went on to enjoy the rest of their cruise in wedded bliss, no hassle, no fuss, great food, drink, and a warm tropical environment.....exactly what you want for your wedding day.

And what wedding is complete without a rockin' reception? Tune in today at 3pm EST for the rest of the story! But here is a little hint to tide you over.

Photo by Cook Productions

What do you think is the best part about getting married on a cruise? Would you ever buck tradition and say Ahoy? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or hop over to Facebook or Twitter and LIKE/Follow de Lovely Affair!

Happy Monday to you,

Top 10 Warm Weather Locations - Wedding, Honeymoon, Life

Happy Friday and Hello Summer Eye Candy! To send you off into the weekend proper like, I've compiled a list of the Top 10 Warm Weather Locations.  Perfect for Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, or just a romantic warm weather getaway, these locations will have you day dreaming of surf, sand and a fruity drink or two! Having a beach wedding? We've got super duper wedding planning tips to get you started on the right path.

And of course, my fave and yours, the Mexican paradise of Cancun  is #1!  Bon Voyage and you're welcome! 

1. Cancun, Mexico

The name Cancun means "golden snakes," but you won't find any venom in this sun-kissed Yucatan paradise. The most popular destination in Mexico, Cancun beckons with stunning aqua-blue waters and white-sand beaches. While Cancun's reputation is for spring-break fun, wholesome activities for the family can be found: Ride horses on the coast, snorkel and canoe in a reserve, swim with the dolphins. If all this leaves you sun-blind, plenty of bars and fine restaurants tempt at the end of the day.

Source: Vive Mexico

2. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands - No passport required!

Of all the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is the most cosmopolitan island, yet it still retains the distinctive atmosphere of a secluded Caribbean paradise. Only 32 square miles in size, St. Thomas is packed with millions of opportunities for smiles and surprise, for families or couples, from shopping and sailing, snorkeling and sightseeing, or diving and dining.

Interested in culture and history? Don’t miss the second-oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, the 1680-built Fort Christian or the childhood home of Camille Pissarro, one of the best-known French Impressionists.  There is something for everyone and no passport required.  Interested in a Virgin Island destination wedding or honeymoon, check here.

Source: US Virgin Islands 

3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen is one of the fastest growing and most fun towns in the Caribbean.  An international mix of fun loving travelers come here to party, enjoy the beaches and just generally immerse themselves in the tropical splendor of it all.

"Playa" as it's known to the locals, is in the middle of the Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico's Caribbean vacationland. This locations has amazing beaches, great beach vacation accommodations and the ferry to Cozumel which runs numerous trips daily. Playa del Carmen is only 45 minutes from Tulum ruins, or Cancun. 

Source: Loco Gringo 

4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is what Caribbean postcards are made of: twenty-five miles of white sand, swaying coconut trees and more than 35 resorts (which by law cannot be taller than a palm tree). European tourists long ago discovered Punta Cana and Americans are now catching on. At this affordable tropical getaway, most guests choose to stay in all-inclusive resorts. The town itself isn't a tourist draw; the primary purpose of Punta Cana is relaxation by the sea.

Source: Trip Advisor

5. Miami Beach, FL

Beyond the radiant sun, surf and sand, discover Miami Beach’s rich history as an entertainment and cultural destination. From world-famous Art Deco architecture to renowned nightclubs to designer fashions, there’s so much going on in Miami Beach that you’ll need an extra day to enjoy all that it offers.  Miami Beach has been one of America's pre-eminent beach resorts for almost a century.

Source: Miami Beach.gov, Wikipedia

6. San Juan, Puerto Rico

Many believe San Juan is a small Spanish colonial town with but a few bustling avenues. However this impression does not aptly describe the breath and depth of this fine old-world city. Modern-day San Juan encompasses a vast metropolis making it an eclectic combination of sights and sounds, history, cultural, and community. 

Old San Juan is a traditional, colonial city encompassing over four hundred years of history and tradition. El Condado, as the locals say, is the island's most glamorous district, featuring boutiques, a variety of restaurants, and some of the finest hotels on the island. Isla Verde is home to high-rise apartment buildings, huge clubs and luxurious hotels.  

Old San Juan is a picturesque destination wedding location with many options for visitng guests.  Visiting is easy, relatively inexpensive and you don't need a passport coming from America. 

Source: Yahoo Travel, Puerto Rico Vacation

7. Honolulu, Oahu , HI

Sometimes called “The Gathering Place,” Oahu certainly lives up to its name. The third largest Hawaiian island is home to the majority of Hawaii’s diverse population, a fusion of east and west cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people. It’s this fundamental contrast between the ancient and the modern that makes discovering Oahu so enjoyable.

Home to the State Capitol, Honolulu is the vibrant epicenter of Hawaii. Here you’ll find everything from historic landmarks and treasured monuments to world-class shopping and a flourishing arts and culture scene. Home to the majority of Oahu’s population, the sprawling city of Honolulu spreads throughout the southeastern shores of Oahu, from Pearl Harbor to Makapuu Point, encompassing world famous Waikiki.

Source: The Hawaiian Islands

8. Orlando, FL

Whether you have been to Central Florida a number of times or are simply looking to go for the first time, Orlando is always full of new adventures and surprises. Known more for its theme parks and family friendly vacations,  couples are sure to find fabulous travel deal for a relaxing long weekend or even a domestic honeymoon to take in all the attractions. Home to world famous Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, SeaWorld Orlando and dozens of other popular attractions, Orlando is truly the theme park capital of the world and a renowned destination any time of year.

Source: Article

9. Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico

Isla de Vieques is truly one of the last undiscovered spots on the Caribbean, one of the few that remains true to the past, tranquil, lush, uncrowded, alluring, romantic and magical. The island of Vieques has some of the most sublime and delightful beaches in the Caribbean, rich ocean life, lush tropical flora, and the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Until recently, Viequenses only saw a few thousand visitors a year. The majority came from workers in the metro area on the main island of Puerto Rico seeking for the escape that the more tranquil side of Puerto Rico offers. 

The island has a variety of attractions that would appeal to beach, and nature lovers as well as those that seek to feel a sense of adventure during their vacation and history buffs.  When you arrive to the Vieques you will feel as if you've traveled six decades into the past; a past where only nature has been at work to create a special picture perfect place.

Source: Vieques Travel Guide 

10. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

The simplicity of sun, sea and sand. The luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment. This is Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai peninsula. All around are Bedouins, colorful tents, mountains and sea. There are small, intimate hotels with modern designs, as well as larger hotel complexes belonging to International chains, plus about all the amenities one could expect of a tourist center, including casinos, discos and nightclubs, golf courses and health facilities. In fact, with diving and snorkeling, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions, it is almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom.

Source: Tour Egypt

Hope you find some inspirations in our Top 10 Warm Weather Locations! Enjoy, relax, dream, get married, get cozy...just imagine. 

Planning a destination wedding? Where, when, how...ohhh inquiring minds want to know! I'd love to share all the deets with the dLA family! For now, would ya please become a fan on our FACEBOOK page and a follower on TWITTER? Sure would appreciate it!

Have a sunfilled weekend,

E-Sesh in Brazil: What does yours say about you?

Engagement sessions are THE place to express your personality, highlighting what makes you a super awesome couple, showing the world your love and what you love! The following photos aren't fancy or fru fru or overly artistic, they aren't shabby chic, or muted chroma, or full of vintage typewriters and burlap banners. But they are full of us and us is what really counts. (I know I know, I shouldn't share my own pics but I REALLY want to make a point and...well, I really like them and I think you will too.)

As you all may know, I went off on a fabulous nine month honeymoon to travel Latin America with my hubs and get married again for his family in Brazil. It was some adventure and a great lesson in how to be a partner.

For our wedding, we had the opportunity to work with an amazing photographer, Almiro Bacha, who insisted we do an engagement shoot. Well, I've been there, done that, (this is our second wedding) been traveling for almost three months and have no e-sesh worthy clothes. But we did it anyway...and so should you, if you are considering NOT doing an engagement sessison.


Why? Comfort, comfort, comfort. Most of us feel a little shy with a camera in our face, kissing our sweetie in front of a perfect stranger, acting completely unnatural, in ackward positions and poses. It will only get WORSE on your wedding day. But the process does get easier, you start to lighten up, laugh, relax, work it, enjoy the posing and preening and come to love your photographer. Your wedding day will thank you! It is much bigger and more important but it all starts with that engagement shoot.



The hubs and I decided we wanted the best of Laguna, Santa Catarina, Brazil, the family's hometown, for our pictures; the beach, the colonial feel, the port, the history. For one set, we chose Mr. de Lovely Affair's grandmother's house, which is where his parents fell in love. So sweet! 

What does our e-sesh say about us? We are just two normal people, getting married in a gorgeous, exotic place surrounded by family and friends. It says, this is who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.

I hope you love these as much as I do and they give you inspiration to be yourself, let your photographer lead you but make it your own, and enjoy some kissy face time with your hubby to be.

Before they were "courting", Mr. de's mother used to wait in this very window for his father to walk by on his way home from work. We thought it would be cute to recreate the moment for them. It was fun hanging out that window waiting for my sweetie. His mom cried when she say these pictures! Score one for the daughter-in-law!

Laguna is an old colonial town filled with great architecture and colorful buildings. We wanted to capture that feel in our session to remind us of our time there. This is the old town hall, where the Laguna declaration of independence from Portugal was signed. It is now the town's musem.

The port used to be an important economic thoroughfare for Laguna; now it is great for taking photos!

All photos courtesy of Almiro Bacha in Laguna, SC - Brazil.

Remember, engagements shoots are just as much about you as they are the photographer. At the end of the day, you are the one with the pictures and what do you want them to say about YOU? Ours say, we love our family, we love our community and we love each other. What more do you need?

Thanks for letting me share and get a little gushy! I wish I could post all of them. If you enjoyed this post or any other, please leave a comment below and on our FACEBOOK page too! You can also join the conversation on TWITTER.

Have an excellent day,

P.S. E-sesh photos have so many practical uses for thrifty brides. I liked ours so much so that we actually used these photos as wedding decor and then gave them away to family members.