Wedding Reality Check With Sandy Malone

  It’s difficult to get enough days off from work for your wedding and your honeymoon at the same time. And even if you have the vacation time, you may not have any spending money left, after you’ve paid the bill for your wedding. Sandy says more couples are taking “mini-moons” for a few days after their wedding, and then going whole-hog on a dream honeymoon trip later on.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings

  If you're getting married the weekend before the Presidential election, is it fair (or even realistic) to ask your guests to refrain from talking politics for the duration of their wedding weekend? Sandy says you can't expect people to avoid a hot topic for multiple days, but you can ask them nicely to not discuss their political views on your wedding day. Listen to her suggestions on how to handle it!   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings

Sandy recently had the pleasure of planning a vow renewal for a professional bridal consultant, and during the wedding weekend, “the girls” got chatting about how ridiculous some brides are about dress shopping. Apparently, too many women have been watching “Say Yes to the Dress” and think they’re supposed to bring everyone they know shopping with them. Hell no! Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Please Subscribe on iTunes

  You probably didn’t realize that Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on weddings in a far larger area than just the islands and states that it swept through. In fact, a bunch of wedding guests headed for a Puerto Rico wedding Sandy planned that week couldn’t get to the island because flights were cancelled. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes    

Sandy broke the story about WHY Jim and Elizabeth Carroll are AWOL on the new season of WEtv's "Marriage Boot Camp," after seven successful seasons. Check out her blog - and draw your own conclusions - on Monsters and Critics. And tune in now to hear her talk about the real program, and its fundamentals. Read Sandy's Blog in Monsters and Critics   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes!

Drones are providing incredible wedding pictures and video that you could never have had before without a helicopter! But there are some things you need to look into before you sign contracts with your photographer and the wedding venue. Sandy says check everything out ahead of time so you won't have any regrets. Photo thanks to EP Anderson Studios.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes

Cinderella didn’t lose her glass slippers – she threw them out! Nobody can stand and dance, for six-plus hours, in the super high heels that are so very fashionable right now. It’s important to choose shoes and hem your dress to the right length, so they will allow you to gracefully process down the aisle, and dance the night away without breaking your neck. Sandy explains how to tackle the problem.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Find Me and Please Subscribe to Me on iTunes!

  After a few years in a row being ranked “most romantic island” in the Caribbean, and the whole world, by various important publications, Nevis Island is coming into its own as a popular destination wedding location. For wedding planners and travel experts who don’t know much about St. Kitts’ sister island, the Romance Symposium (http://www.nevisisland.com/nevis-travel-symposium) from October 17-21 is an excellent opportunity to learn everything you need to know for your clients. And Sandy’s a guest speaker!   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe to Wedding Reality Check on iTunes

Brides with the very best intentions often give inappropriate gifts to their bridesmaids and groomsmen, in that they gift them with the accessories they want them to wear on the wedding day. That’s not giving a present to thank them for their time and effort in being part of your wedding – that’s making sure everybody matches and being willing to pay for it. Sandy says she made this mistake with her own bridesmaids!   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via iTunes!

  Did you know you can get married INSIDE a hot air balloon? While it’s being inflated on the ground, they use cool air. And you and your closest friends can gather inside the balloon to exchange your vows. Or you can wait until liftoff, and exchange vows high in the sky. Sandy says that’s a destination wedding that none of your friends has ever seen before!   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Download on iTunes  

Sandy says it feels as if time forgot Georgia’s Golden Isles, most notably Jekyll Island, home of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, where such notables as the Goodyears and the Rockefellers sent their families to escape the heat of the cities in the summertime. Now, the once famously exclusive club is a hotel, open to the public, and very popular for destination weddings.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes

Wedding favors used to be pretty cheesy, but they’ve improved in recent years. Couples realize that giving guests something consumable is usually the best bet, but it’s possible to give them something cool that’s a forever present if you think about what people might actually want to have in their homes. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes!

Nowadays, women have the option to keep their maiden names, hyphenate,or take their husband's name as their own. Some say they dread the paperwork of a name change, but it's really not that bad. All you have to do is go to the social security office and the DMV. But Sandy says you might want to consider making your maiden name your middle name for all those pesky membership programs and other things you won't remember to change, and which could cause you problems later.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Please Subscribe via iTunes

Want to have a stateside destination wedding that will wow your guests? The Hyatt Regency Tamaya has three separate venues to choose from for your actual wedding, and golf, horses, and a mind-blowing spa for your guests! Depending on the time of year, they can play in the Rio Grande or ski before and after your wedding. Sandy's letting the cat out of the bag on what has been New Mexico's best-kept wedding secret!   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings iTunes

  It’s important to celebrate all of your legitimate anniversaries – your wedding, your engagement, your first date. But it’s also important to recognize your wedding date every single month. It doesn’t mean you have to go out and celebrate every month, but it takes very little effort and time to do something small to acknowledge it. A note tucked into the laptop bag, making your spouse’s favorite for dinner, or just taking a few extra minutes to kiss and snuggle that you wouldn’t normally have time for in your everyday lives. Sandy says all anniversaries should be celebrated.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Please Subscribe on iTunes

It's possible to have a gorgeous, affordable destination wedding within driving distance of most major metropolitan areas. Sandy talks about the under-publicized town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, home to historic springs, fantastic spas, country inns and castles! Just 90 minutes from the nation's capital, this unassuming village offers a host of activities for wedding guests, at prices the bride and groom can afford. Bonus:Read Sandy's Blog about Berkley Springs   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings iTunes

  If you're having a destination wedding, it's critical that you provide all of your wedding guests with a comprehensive welcome letter that includes all of the information they may need while they're there at your wedding weekend. Sandy says don't leave your guests hunting for directions to an event or, the alternate emergency phone number for 911 at your destination.     Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings iTunes

September, October, and November are busy, busy months, especially for wedding guests who have children. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get married in the fall but keep in mind important football games and holidays if you actually want your guests to attend. Sandy says die-hard football fans don't think anything is rude about finding a television to watch at the wedding venue, instead of participating in activities.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes!

Themed weddings can be a fantastic way to celebrate your big day, and you’re not required to carry the theme through all of your events. It also makes planning the décor much easier. Sandy says the bride and groom, and at least some of their friends and family, have to be totally committed to the theme in order for it to work. But when it works, the results can be spectacular.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wedding-reality-check-sandy/id1071185841?mt=2 Please look for Wedding Reality Check with Sandy on iTunes, iHeart, TuneIn, Podbean and numerous other podcasting directories and sights. 

Sandy’s a huge advocate of DIYing parts of your wedding, but when you have a destination wedding, you have to really think hard about what's a good idea to tackle yourself, and what requires professional help. Sandy, author of a DIY wedding book, breaks down the most difficult things to DIY whenyou're someplace other than home. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wedding-reality-check-sandy/id1071185841?mt=2