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Don't Let a Disaster -- Natural or Otherwise -- Ruin Your Big Day

(ARA) - The sun is shining, birds are chirping and the bride is beaming as she walks down the aisle. In a perfect world, this would be the setting for every wedding; but in reality, that is not always the case.

In recent years, hundreds of weddings across the country were ruined or postponed by disasters, both natural and man-made. Seven hurricanes made landfall in the Southeastern United States this summer causing widespread damage and interruptions. Sixteen states experienced flooding bad enough to make it onto the Federal Flood Report; there were wildfires out West; and rockslides in Colorado.

And those are just the natural disasters. There were also fires set either intentionally or accidentally at churches, synagogues, hotels and banquet halls; flights that had to be cancelled because of engine problems or bad weather; people who got into car accidents; cars that wouldn't start; and the list goes on.

"You never know when something will go wrong which is why you should protect yourself by buying wedding insurance," says Robert V. Nuccio, exclusive program administrator for the Fireman's Fund wedding insurance program. "Everyone has car and homeowners insurance, but wedding insurance is something most people don't even think about until it's too late."

With the national average for wedding expenses now around $20,000, more families are seeking to protect their investment from unforeseen glitches. Nuccio points out a policy costs the same -- $195 and up depending on your coverages -- whether you buy it six months or two weeks before the event; but by waiting, you run the risk of not being insurable.

"A lot of people were out of luck this past summer when a total of four hurricanes made landfall in Florida," says Nuccio. "For a while there it seemed like every week there were evacuation orders in place. A lot of events were cancelled because they were in evacuation zones; others because the facilities were destroyed in a storm. The people who didn't have insurance lost a lot of money."

For those who say 'my wedding isn't happening during hurricane season, or even in a place hurricanes will strike,' Nuccio offers this example: "Your wedding may be in May; you booked the facility in December; but what if a month before the ceremony, the facility was destroyed in a fire, flood, or tornado? What would you do?" asks Nuccio. Without insurance, you'd most likely lose your deposits and have to pay a lot more to secure a different facility. If you had a policy covering cancellation or postponement, you'd be in good shape. "Most people also opt for coverage of the additional expenses associated with arranging alternative services," says Nuccio.

Among the other coverages available...

* Photography -- If you elect this coverage and the photographer fails to appear or the negatives are lost, damaged or stolen, the cost of re-shooting the event will be covered. The policy will pay to fly or drive the wedding party back to the event location, put them up in a hotel, feed them, redress them, re-rent the facility, rehire a photographer, buy a new cake, buy new flowers, re-shoot the event, then drive or fly the participants home.

* Special attire -- If your wedding gown or the attire of attendants is lost, damaged, or stolen, or the bridal shop goes out of business, this coverage will provide for repair or replacement.

* Jewelry -- This coverage allows you to repair or replace jewelry when it is lost, stolen or damaged.

* Gifts -- This coverage is intended to protect you against damage, theft or loss of your wedding gifts.

* Rental property -- If you are renting chairs, tables, or tents for the wedding, this will cover the value if something gets lost, stolen or damaged.

* Personal liability -- The majority of banquet halls require party hosts to supply them with liability coverage, including Host Liquor Liability. “This isn’t always spelled out very well so make sure you read your rental agreement carefully,” says Nuccio. “I’ve had clients find out they need it at the very last minute, and it’s more expensive to acquire on very short notice.”

There is wedding insurance available for just about any situation you can think of. "Except for cold feet,” says Nuccio. “Change of heart is not covered."

He points out that similar coverage is available for other social events, including bar mitzvahs; anniversary, birthday and engagement parties; and baby showers. For more information, call (800) ENGAGED or log onto www.RVNuccio.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Packing Right for Your Winter Honeymoon

Packing Right for Your Winter Honeymoon

(ARA) - You made it through the wedding, so now comes the relaxing part -- your romantic honeymoon in a faraway destination. But what do you pack and how much do you need? Gone are the days of multiple suitcases stacked at the doorway to accompany you on your flight. With airlines charging fees for checked luggage, today’s friendly skies will only allow you just so much, so you’d better make the most of your checked bag and your carry-on.

There are three basic honeymoon destination types: A beach honeymoon, the mountains honeymoon and the city honeymoon. Each one requires careful pre-planning on your part to make sure you have enough, but not so much that you wind up forking over extra cash at your airline’s check-in counter.

If the beach is your destination -- a great choice for all the northerners who spend most of the winter digging their driveways out from under mounds of snow -- there’s a chance that you may have to carry on all your items if you or your spouse want to bring along the golf clubs. But have no fear, it can be done.

“Chances are you’re just going to be at the pool most of the day, so two swimsuits, a wrap or two and flip-flops will take care of most of your daytime needs,” says Anne Hankey, a fashion marketing & management instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago.

Hankey also suggests neutral T-shirts, sexy dresses that can be dressed up or down, shorts, a couple of skirts and a pair of casual and dressy sandals. Don’t forget your sunglasses, a small, unique “statement bag” and a big bag you can use as a carry-on, on the plane and as your beach bag once you get to your destination. If you have room, Hankey also suggests a big collapsible hat, but you can always buy one when you land.

And what do you wear on the plane when you’re taking off in sub-zero weather and landing in a heat wave? “My favorite trick is to wear black exercise clothes,” says Stephanie Schuller, fashion marketing and management instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art -- Chicago. “They’ll insulate you so in cold weather they’ll keep you warm and they can keep you from sweating in warm weather because they are designed to regulate your body temperature when you work out.”

If you decide to head to a winter ski resort on your honeymoon, you can still keep your bulkier winter wear to a minimum. Hankey suggests you pack your ski boots with your skis in your checked luggage. “Wear your ski parka on the plane with a nice pair of jeans, a sweater and casual boots.

Bring two pairs of leggings and a few thermal T-shirts to layer under your parka when you hit the slopes and don’t forget your socks, gloves and ski goggles. “Pack a few sparkly tops or tank tops that you can pair with the jeans you wore on the plane and don’t forget your swimsuit for the hot tub,” says Hankey.

Schuller also suggests a matte jersey dress that can be rolled up and won’t wrinkle for one special night out. Just throw in a pair of dressy heels to wear with the dress and jeans and a pair of flip-flops for the hot tub and you’re ready to go.

If you decide to jet off to a destination like Paris or New York for your honeymoon, Schuller stresses you should not forget to bring along a pair of comfortable and stylish shoes on your journey.

“You can pack a little more, because you won’t have golf clubs or skis in tow,” says Hankey. She suggests you wear jeans and flats on the plane, along with a simple sweater and dressy jacket or coat. Bring a pashmina in a fashionable bag as your carry-on.

Your suitcase should contain a couple of simple dresses. “Wrap dresses work very well because you can roll them up,” says Hankey. Don’t forget your basic black slacks and a variety of thin tops and sweaters that can be dressed up or down. “Jewelry and a Hermes scarf can really transform an outfit,” she points out.

No matter the destination, Hankey stresses that you should always take along travel size toiletries -- they’re usually under the three-ounce carry-on limit and take up little room in your checked bags.

Schuller adds, “Don’t forget to allow room for souvenirs, because if you over-pack, you can’t bring anything new home.”

Both Hankey and Schuller have one last piece of advice: don’t forget the lingerie. As Schuller points out “it’s not like it takes up a lot of room.”

To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Having A Winter Wedding?

There are many couples who choose to have a winter wedding. There are also some very good reasons to plan a wedding in the winter. The number one reason being - "It's often cheaper!"

When I think of a winter wedding, I think cool colors like blues, silvers and whites. Of course a winter wedding can be any theme or colors you wish. I'm just a dreamer and love a real-life fairy tale every now and then. Notice the photo above for example: Gorgeous! The golden light and tones creates a sense of comfort and warmth. Just imagine your guests sitting in a room decorated like that. They'll talk about your wedding reception for the rest of the year! Wouldn't that be great? Notice that each guest table has a golden tree decorated with hanging crystals, and hanging votive candles. Takes your breath away doesn't it?

If you have a cool fairy tale winter wedding in mind - I thought I'd share some possible ideas.

1. Think lots of lights (white lights), and blue lights - EVERYWHERE!

The photo above is not even a good enough example (it's a bit too simple), but I do like the usage of the Japanese Paper Lanterns in the ceiling. Granted this would be a lot of hanging work, but worth the time.

All I can say about the photo above with the usage of blue or violet lighting is that it screams "winter wonderland" - Wow! I think that however your budget (if not large) might be better off with the golden tree idea (as seen in the very first photo above). Flowers are much more expensive than golden painted trees, and candles.

2. Don't forget about the power of candle light.

Candles always create a relaxing, warm mood for the atmosphere. I imagine white candles of all heights and widths centered in various locations and tables (not necessarily as the centerpieces), but an accent to the overall decor. You can have floating candles placed in water with blue food coloring in it. The blue water will cast wonderful blue beams of enchanting light.

3. The wedding cake should be a center of attention!


4. What is a winter wedding - without a winter wedding dress?

Source: google.com via Renee on Pinterest

5. The Wedding Flowers.
A popular flower to go with during the winter seems to be white cala lilies, however it would be nice to accent them with another complimentary color from your wedding color theme. You can do this easily with some colored ribbon, or bouquet jewels from your local florist shop.