Jennifer Zabinski of JZ Events shares her most memorable wedding-planning moments, from welcome gifts with altitude kits at Hotel Jerome, to yoga on the pool deck for wedding guests at Malliouhana. Whether emerging trend or tried-and-true detail, the newly-engaged will want to take note of how JZ Events approaches every step of the wedding process with unparalleled creativity, crafting your special day into something that can only be described as magic.

Alison Events’ is described as more than just a boutique event-planning firm. “We’re a global team with the creative capacity to design and execute an unforgettable party.” Principle of Alison Events, Alison Hotchkiss, reveals what goes into planning one of these unforgettable parties, giving us a closer look into how one bride and groom’s wedding vision was brought to life. Held in wine country amid Solage Resort’s unique, natural beauty and colored with vibrant hues inspired by the seasonal fruit, exotic spices, and textiles found at an Indian marketplace, this Sangeet (a celebration for Indian families prior to a traditional Indian wedding ceremony) is sure to give soon-to-weds inspiration and make romantic souls swoon.

We specialize in events all over the world. With offices in both Costa Rica and Colorado, we work with clients seeking very different weddings. With the world as your oyster, narrowing down a destination wedding venue can be challenging, albeit exciting. It’s my job as a destination wedding planner to help our clients see their vision come to life in a setting that’s perfect for them. Over the years, I’ve created a formula for getting us to the right place. Follow these guidelines and you’ll be celebrating in paradise in no time!

Stephanie Cole and Sarah Drake of Cole Drake Events, a luxury destination Napa & Sonoma wedding planning company, have seen everything from flamenco performances to fire dancers when it comes to unique wedding reception entertainment. It seems dreaming big is trending and there are endless non-traditional entertainment options for the newly engaged to explore. Known for planning exquisite events in the Napa Valley at properties such as Calistoga Ranch, Solage Resort, and Auberge du Soleil, Stephanie Cole & Sarah Drake let us in on the unique, modern wedding elements that will elevate your big day.

Our couples are always delighted to learn that their wedding story can take place at three completely different spaces within our 157-acre canyon setting at Calistoga Ranch. Celebrate your love with each step—moving from the serene, natural splendor of our vineyard, to the tranquil lake and unobstructed canyon views of Lommel Lawn, to a romantic, indoor retreat carved deep into the hillside at the Wine Cave— and customize your wedding’s transition periods to make them your own.

If there’s a more impressive way to commence a celebration, we’ve yet to find it. Sabering a bottle of champagne instantly turns any gathering into a fête, initiating a cause for serious revelry and merrymaking.

In stunning Telluride, you can exchange vows without priests, pastors, judges, witnesses, and sans guest list, if so desired. Resident or visitor, Colorado is one of the few states where you do not need an officiant to tie the knot. Make your wedding as small as a party of two with towering pine trees as your only witness, or gather friends and family to celebrate in your “I do” moment amid the unparalleled, expansive views of a mountaintop ceremony. Bring something borrowed, something blue, and valid identification-— Colorado requires that you apply for a marriage license in person at the appropriate county office of the clerk and recorder.

Planning a wedding is consumed with perfecting the sights, tastes, and sounds of your special day— but there’s one detail most couples overlook; the wedding’s signature scent. Fragrance is unique in its ability to conjure vivid memories and emotions, and its strong ties to ringing (wedding) bells make it the ultimate bespoke favor. At Solage Resort, couples can personalize their own essential oil blend to capture the essence of their wedding date. The fragrance can then be gifted as a massage oil, body scrub, or lotion, bringing a whole new level of personalization to the wedding.

Dance down halls, cannonball into the pool without reservation, keep the music alive into the wee hours of the morning, and turn every corner knowing that you will only run into your closest loved ones. Go ahead, and rename our modern Aspen landmark as your very own for the weekend. With a Hotel Jerome buyout, enjoy unparalleled privacy in legendary spaces including the Bad Harriet, Living Room, Spa, Prospect Restaurant, and Grand Ballroom, to name a few.

Marking your steps towards forever, a bridal entrance is unrivaled in grandeur. Make this milestone moment your own, and craft a custom entry point to honor the bridge between bride-to-be and newly-wed. Whether it be traditional or avant-garde, let your dreams guide you. For one of our brides, this meant walking on water. Perhaps the most extravagant entrance we've crafted at Chileno Bay Resort was a custom pathway that led the bride over our pool to the ceremony. With a subtle change in music, wedding guests turned to see the first glimpse of their loved one dressed in white, gracefully making her way to say “I do” while seemingly floating upon glimmering water. Unanimous awe fell over the ceremony—and a swift reach for tissues. In crafting an uncompromising, custom bridal entrance, elevate your ceremony or reception with the details that tell your unique story.

Every autumn since my husband and I have been together, we travel to a new destination to witness the fall foliage. In 2016, we selected Telluride as our next destination. Renowned for the golds, yellows, and reds that sweep the San Juan Mountains in brilliant color, we had a feeling it would be special. Little did we know, however, what exactly this charming town would have in store for us!

Half Greek, half American I’ve spent my childhood summers in Santorini—one of the most beautiful islands in Greece, as my father would say. From a window in my grandparents’ white Cycladic house, our view seemed to reach the edges of the earth. With each hour, a shift in light revealed new sights to marvel over, coloring the blur of ocean and sky into shades as captivating as the flicker of a candle flame. I remember that only one sight could compare; catching a glimpse of a Santorini wedding.

Our sunrise breakfast quickly became a beloved wedding tradition at Blue Sky. An experience that bride, groom, and their families will reminisce upon for years to come, this outing starts with horseback riding into the cool colors of early morning. Your trail brings forth panoramic mountain views as you settle into the steady sound of hoof prints and chirping birds.

Walk hand-in-hand down the aisle and into your getaway car— a golf cart decked out with wedding decor and ready to whisk you away to your wedding photoshoot location. From fresh-flower garlands to flowing ribbons to an elaborate “just married” banner, style your ride to suit your special day. Post-ceremony, our couples have enjoyed the option to swiftly depart upon a whimsical photo shoot tour to Esperanza's most picturesque, scenic backdrops.

Upon arrival in Anguilla, where the natural rhythm of rolling aqua waves, slight ocean breeze, and gentle sunshine ease a tension that you didn’t even know you had, it’s hard to believe how this paradise could get any better. However, on your wedding day, white rum begs to differ. A Caribbean tradition, white rum is traditionally sprinkled around bride and groom before their ceremony to ward off evil spirits and start off the celebration with good intentions.

A fine dining wedding menu takes on a whole new meaning at AltaGracia. Here, join Chef Ramces in hand-selecting your special day's ingredients straight from the earth’s soil at “La Huerta,” our 20-acre sustainably-managed farm. As we guide couples through our lesser-known garden gems, from chayote to maracuyá, guests have the opportunity to craft a highly-personalized menu that incorporates the local tastes of Costa Rica.

Vineyard Vines knows it’s the subtlest of details that can transform your wedding into the polished, picturesque day of your dreams. From ties to clothing crests, our bride and groom’s have adored the boundless customizable attire options for the ultimate in elite style experience. One of our best-kept secrets, this embellishment option is perfect for any couple with timeless taste.

On your wedding day, step aboard a helicopter and soar above the clouds to shout your love from the mountaintops! A 10-minute flight over Utah’s Uintas or Wasatch Mountain Range will only make that walking-on-clouds wedding high feel all the more weightless as you soak in sights as expansive and grand as your love. With two helicopters that are each able to hold up to five passengers, the Lodge at Blue Sky offers a unique experience ideal for those who desire an intimate event. Simple tips for taking flight on your special day? Brides, it’s best to keep your wedding attire on the classic and simple side for safety and ease on the helicopter ride. However, if you have your heart set on wearing a veil, we can affix it once on the mountaintop.

One question that we love to ask our couples is, “what do you look forward to the most with your fiance?” Their response is always centered around a lifetime of blessings and meaningful moments. Our "dime in your shoe" tradition represents just that and more. A custom dating back to our British affiliation, brides receive a special dime from their mother or other loved one on their wedding day. The dime is then placed in the bride’s right shoe before she walks down the aisle, symbolizing blessings of wealth and good fortune for the couple.

A romantic Mexican tradition likely to have your wedding party reaching for the tissues, the wedding lasso is a heartwarming way to symbolize your eternal love and incorporate the rich, local culture into your special day. Whether strung with flowers, made of silver, or consisting of ribbons and rosaries, the lasso can be personalized with a material that is meaningful to the bride and groom. Traditionally placed on the shoulders of the couple by family members, the lasso is wrapped in a figure eight form to represent infinite love.

When your love story takes you to Maine, whether to pop the question or to exchange vows, this coastal town is sure to sweep couple’s off their feet with warm hospitality and abundant local treasures. One of these such treasures, Coastal Jewelers, awaits just a three-minute drive from White Barn Inn. A best-kept secret that will make the romantic in you swoon, this jewelry shop offers the unique opportunity to take a piece of our beloved Kennebunk home with you. Step inside and find gorgeous adornments crafted from natural indigenous Tourmaline gemstones that are native to the town of Kennebunk.

The collective, deeply-felt emotion that falls over wedding guests as bride and groom walk down the aisle together—beaming in ear-to-ear smiles as newly-weds—is difficult to put into words. Mariachi, however, seems to capture this overwhelming love exceptionally well through its robust, sonorous music. An unforgettable way to transition from ceremony to reception, couple and guests enjoy the option to be lead by vivacious and talented mariachi dressed in exquisitely-embroidered sombreros and traditional attire.

Whether it be to mark the moment you proposed or a milestone anniversary date, Hacienda AltaGracia’s Tree For Life offering is a memorable way to bookmark your love story in Costa Rica. Walk hand-in-hand through the wondrous re-forested land that our non-profit initiative has replanted, and adopt a tree to flourish along with your growing love.

Allow the charm and character of Newport’s Trinity Church set a traditional tone for your wedding day. A stunning backdrop for any ceremony, your “I do’s” will be surrounded with the ambiance of immense, deep rooted history that can be felt throughout its tall glass-windowed walls.Trinity Church is a community of Episcopalians that has been welcoming all to gather in its home of worship for three hundred years of service.

Witnessing the Mayflower Inn’s lawn transform from a blank canvas into a grand celebration of love is nothing less than breathtaking. Artfully tucked into acres of sculpted gardens and woodland, the Mayflower Inn’s venue affords an uncompromising wedding ceremony or reception. Two ceremonies? Twice as magical. Brought to life by a bride and groom of Jewish and Kalmyk faith, a past couple celebrated their union with two ceremonies to honor both of their heritages.

Santorini is awash in glorious hues: bright white buildings, churches topped with cobalt-blue domes, dusky red cliffs, bright pink bougainvillea, and pops of red geranium. But ask us about our favorite Santorini colors, and my husband and I will immediately tell you they’re black and white. That’s because our wedding at Grace Hotel featured a special unity sand ceremony that incorporated Santorini's famed black and white sands, which we collected from our favorite beaches on the morning of our wedding.

When my then-boyfriend and I first visited Mykonos, the island took such a hold on our hearts that it was only natural to have our wedding here. While others love Mykonos’s buzzing nightlife, we love its soothing rhythms. Fishermen still leave for sea at dawn each morning, and return each afternoon with their haul, as they’ve done for centuries. It’s island life at its most authentic, and we wanted to incorporate it into our wedding. So that’s the unforgettable way in which I arrived to our ceremony: on a traditional wooden caïque, or small fishing boat.