Into the Woods

September 3rd, 2010

It is trilling to see decor trendsetters abound. Every event we attend or hip wedding blog we read, we are catching glimpses of creative design elements that are stunning. We love seeing this kind of creativity because it is not only an inspiration to us, but also to future brides and their grooms. Recently we were asked to come up with an alternative to the more traditional, guest book. We did a little digging on the internet and came across an idea of a bare tree who’s leaves would be added in, first by the thumbprints of the bride and groom during their ceremony, and then by  their guests fingerprints, following their vows.  The end result resembled a family tree.  It was not only a beautiful addition to their day, it was also a great project for all of the guests to work on together.

The above tree was designed and hand-drawn by Kirsten at Four Winds Weddings and Events.


If you are looking to incorporate a guestbook alternative such as this one in  your event, you can find similar designs at Bleu de toi, an Etsy seller.


Real Wedding: Kim & Dan

August 23rd, 2010

What better way to start the week than with this incredibly beautiful event.  With rich textures, a stunning venue and plenty of personal touches, it is the perfect blend of vintage charm and rustic elegance. The setting for this wedding was a well known Seattle weekend getaway, the Alderbrook Resort and Spa, nestled along the shore of Washington’s Hood Canal.

Rustic Chic Wedding

Since the groom is a restauranteur in Seattle, the couple wanted to incorporate several herbs and vegetables into the arrangements in addition to succulents, dusty miller and lilies. The boxes were handmade using 120 year old clear grain cedar with hammered hinge accents.

Hood Canal Wedding

The bride added a personal touch with her homemade jams with handwritten thank-you notes to the guests.

Instead of using a traditional guest book, the bride and groom chose to incorporate a thumbprint tree. Guests chose from purple and grey stamp pads and signed next to their fingerprint.

Wedding Cupcakes, Hanging lanterns

Floral Design: Four Winds Weddings & Events

Thumbprint Tree: Kirsten of Four Winds Weddings & Events

Photography: Jon of Four Winds Weddings & Events

DIY Pinwheels!

July 27th, 2010

Pinwheels… We know about them, we all loved them when we were children, but, since our youth, when have we really had them around to enjoy for their whimsical wind powered mechanics? Sadly, I can not think of the last time pinwheels have been in my life, that is until last weeks wedding reception.

One of our destination brides from Boston packed an assortment of her favorite paper prints so that she was ready to quickly assemble her DIY pinwheels when she arrived. All of her guests ended up loving them… And why not? They are affordable, funky, perfectly chic decor accents that brides can easily design and assemble themselves!

Pinwheel Instructions ~


1. Begin with a square of paper.


2. Fold your square, corner to corner, then unfold.


3. Make a pencil mark about 1/3 of the way from the center.


4. Cut along fold lines. Stop at your pencil mark.


5. Bring every other point to the center and stick a pin through all four points


6. The head of the pin forms the hub of the wheel.


7. Turn your pinwheel over – make sure the pin pokes through the exact center.


8. Roll the pin around in little circles to enlarge the hole a little.  This guarantees your pinwheel  will spin freely.


9. Stick the pin into a thin dowel.


Photo Sources: Chasing Rainbows Kissing Frogs, Style me Pretty, Oh Happy Day, Instructions – Leslie Tryon, The Cupcake Chronicals

A Wedding Planner Guide to Costa Rica

June 25th, 2010

COSTA RICA WEDDING PLANNER

With the most stable government in all of Central America and tourism on the rise, Costa Rica has moved to the forefront of the destination wedding choices for many couples. This post is a brief overview of the country from a Costa Rica wedding planner perspective.


The Law
: Attaining a marriage license in Costa Rica is a relatively easy and painless process.  Costa Rica marriage license laws can be found here.


The Geography
: One thing that sets Costa Rica apart from other destination wedding locations is the diversity of its landscape. With a great variety of beaches, volcanoes, cloud forest and calm gulf waters, this country offers something for everyone.

The Lifestyle: The most common phrase that you will hear while travelling through Costa Rica is “pura vida” which translates to “the pure life”.  The beautiful people of this small country are considered to be some of the happiest people on earth. Their positive demeanor is absolutely contagious.


The Flowers
: Costa Rica provides the ideal growing environment for orchids. The country boasts over 1300 varieties of orchids alone. Combine this with birds of paradise, many varieties of ginger, heliconia and bromeliads and you have yourself a stunning and locally harvested bouquet. The great thing about tropical flowers is that, not only are they beautiful and vibrant, but they are also hardy, so the wedding flowers can be enjoyed throughout the entire trip.


As we continue to explore all that this beautiful country has to offer, we fall further and further in love with it as the perfect destination wedding location. For additional information about our travels throughout Costa Rica, please check out our
Insider Guide to Costa Rica.

Parisian Floral Trends :: Fruit Magnifique

June 21st, 2010

Recently one of our Washington brides came to us and mentioned that she had received a early wedding gift of  200 apples from a farmer in her community. She was not quite sure how she was going to work these apples into her wedding decor and she wasn’t completely convinced that she wanted to… The gift was just offered. We saw it as a great opportunity for creative design. There is no end to the amazing floral designs that can be created with an accent of seasonal fruit, or, if you want to be bold and daring, you can also add a dash of fresh vegetables.

According to Catherine Muller, a french floral designer recognized globally for her avant-garde designs, “Fruits and vegetables, always a key ingredient in the French bouquet, are especially au courant {current} this season.”

While an assortment of fruits appear in stylish designs coming out of urban centers around the globe, many couples are just starting to experiment with these sumptuous textures in their wedding floral designs. Aubergine Mission figs, kumquat branches, yellow cherry tomatoes, and Redbar kale are just a few of the unique ingredients that are now being paired with floral blooms in a variety of different designs. Parisian floral design masters were on to something  great when they incorporated these common farmers market items to create tres magnifique bouquets. Meander through your own local farmers market to find seasonal fruits and vegetables that will add sophisticated charm to your wedding day designs. If you are having a destination wedding in Costa Rica, wouldn’t it be fun to incorporate tropical fruit into your floral designs?

Photo Credits  1. Kirsten Juntunen | Four Winds Weddings & Events  2. Ariella Chezar 3. Teresa Halton Photography via Style me Pretty

A Mid Summers Night

June 4th, 2010

We have scoured the internet for the most romantic and fun outdoor lighting configurations. This blog is dedicated to the DIY bride who is looking to create amazing ambiance on a budget.

{Source}  1. New York Food Company 2. Junie Moon 3. Style Me Pretty 4. Laura G Blogs


Beautiful and inspiring lighting can be achieved on any budget. Check out Luna Bizaar for over 20 varieties of Chinese lanterns. Sival Lighting is a great source for commercial grade string lights. If you are looking for candle lanterns, Wholesale Mart has a good variety of reasonably priced items.

Wedding Day Survival Kit

May 25th, 2010

It is safe to say that most brides envision their wedding day as a flawless event. Like most things in life, however, there are often a few hiccups that occur along the way. With the help of a great wedding planner and a little preparation, you can be ready for any wedding day challenge. Since we deal with destination weddings in Costa Rica, where some of these items are hard to come by, it is especially essential to be prepared and have these items ahead of time. In an effort to help ease the minds of our brides, we have sought out the most fabulous survival kit that has proven to be useful many times over. Check out this wedding day survival kit over at Ms. & Mrs.

For DIY brides that want to make your own, Beauty Addict has come up with a nice and tidy list of wedding day essentials.


Clothes
:
Static Guard, Febreze (see if you can find the mini bottle), Tide Pen, Double sided tape (I like Hollywood Fashion Tape in various sizes), White chalk (to disguise any stains on the gown), Packing tape (a friend recommended this and she’s right, it does everything from repairing headpieces and hems to removing lint), Sewing kit (w/ scissor), Safety pins


Face
:
Makeup for touchups, Mirror, Tissues, Blotting papers (I like Boscia), Revlon Makeup Eraser pen, Q-tips


Hair
:
Brush, Hairpins, Hairspray


Smile
:
Floss, Travel toothbrush and toothpaste, Gum, Mints


Nails
:
Clear nail polish, Super glue, Nail file


Body
:
Tampons, Deodorant, Advil/Tylenol/Motrin, Alka-Seltzer, Tums, Band-aids, Visine, Purell


Feet
:
Slippers, Various foot cushions (I like the Runaway Bride set from Foot Petals), Band-Aid Blister Blocks


Please feel free to share this blog post with the masses. All that we ask is for a link back to this page.


Costa Rica’s Central Pacific in Depth

May 11th, 2010
This post is part of our insider guide to Costa Rica section of our blog. In an effort to gain a greater handle on the ever changing landscape of Costa Rica, we have made several research trips throughout the country. This last trip takes us to the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, an area with lush rain forests, stunning beaches and abundant surf. Our trip started out in the town of Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio- This town has been on the tourist radar for many years now, so during peak holiday travel it can become flooded with travelers.  Don’t, however, let this sway you from visiting the area. What brings people to this area are the gorgeous ocean views and the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park. This protected stretch of coast land is home to hundreds of different species of birds, sloths and 3 types of monkeys. Since it is a mountainous coastline, the majority of accommodations are perched up high overlooking the Pacific ocean. Even though this area can get crowded, we consider it a must see if you are headed to Costa Rica’s central Pacific area.  It is the ideal location for honeymooners, families and backpackers alike. Accommodation Suggestions: Costa Verde and Buena Vista Villas.

Esterillos
-  Although the sleepy town of Esterillos is just off the busy route from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park, you wouldn’t know it when you are walking on the beach. Most travelers drive right past this idyllic stretch of tropical coastline. The area is divided into Esterillos Oeste (west) Esterillos Centro and Esterillos Este (east). Each area is separated by a nature rich estuary, but it is, otherwise, one long stretch of beautiful beach. We visited several beautiful villas while in the area and were quite impressed by the panoramic views and solid construction of many of them. There are also several beach front hotels to suit a wide range of budgets. If you are imagining Costa Rica as an untouched natural wonderland with pristine beaches, then this town would make a great location for your next trip. It is truly unspoiled and not touristy, which is exactly what we love about it. It has great surf too! Accommodation Suggestions: Xandari, Encantada and Casa Exotica

Playa Hermosa- This world renowned surf spot attracts hardcore surfers from around the world. Known for its wave consistency and hollowness, Playa Hermosa is the perfect place to go for the active traveler that can handle advanced surf. This black sands beach is situated just 6 miles south of Jaco, but has a distinctly different flavor. It is considerably smaller than Jaco and mainly composed of beach side hotels and restaurants. Accommodation Suggestion: Backyard Hotel

Jaco- Located just 1 hour from San Jose’s Sanatamaria International Airport, it represents the closest beach stop for many city dwellers who are looking for a weekend getaway.  In the last 5 years or so, the town has experienced substantial growth with the addition of many new businesses and condo developments. Unfortunately, there are few zoning measures in this area and the new growth lacks any uniformity. Businesses use gaudy sign-age to attract the attention of would be customers and the result is rather hodge podge . What Jaco lacks in aesthetic and charm, it makes up for in amazing crafts and great bargains. We have found the best and most affordable souvenirs in this coastal town. If you are looking for something special to take home to loved ones, Jaco would make a great afternoon stop. Accommodation Suggestion: Doce Lunas

A Honeymoon That Almost Wasn’t

May 7th, 2010

Our Costa Rica vacation giveaway has been a real learning experience for the team at Four Winds Wedding Blog. We received over 300 comments from people of all walks of life and got a little glimpse into our audience.  Although we decided the winner completely randomly, it seems as though we picked the perfect candidate for this trip. We want to share with you an email written by Stephanie Longoria, the winner of  a 5 day luxury spa vacation in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

I never win anything!  Having said that, it is hard to put into words how excited we are to have won this amazing vacation. We had pretty much written off the idea of having a honeymoon.  Between us we have four children; Aaron works full time at a local college, as well as part time at a bookstore; I go to school full time and work part time at a museum. Whew!  How do we even have time to get married?! It is natural for us to put things like a vacation for ourselves onto the back burner…which of course does not mean that we do not desperately need it.  In fact, with our super busy lives, Aaron and I get so little time just for “the two of us” that we have never had more than a two-day vacation in our entire three-year relationship. It’s sort of sad when you think about it!

We do talk about our vacation fantasies! We’ve even dreamt of going somewhere where we could just RELAX….TOGETHER!  And have nothing to do except have a massage, go on walks, and spend time together.   Some place beautiful and lush where we could sit and watch the sun set with a glass of wine after a lovely day.  You know, things people like us dream about.

When I saw the giveaway and looked at the pictures of this gorgeous Inn and Spa…I could see us there.  This was exactly what I wanted for us on our honeymoon.  The honeymoon that would only be happening in my head that is!  I knew we would not treat ourselves to anything like this with all of our other obligations.  So, I signed up for the giveaway as I had nothing to lose and only a possibility of something wonderful in my future.

Imagine my shock a few days ago when I received the email from Four Winds Weddings saying that I had won.  Of course, my neurotic mind thought that somehow this was a mistake.  Had the site been hacked?  I had to look at your blog AND Facebook page a few times AND call various friends and family members to verify that they too were seeing my name as the winner!  Then Calvin, the owner of Los Altos de Eros also contacted me:  at this point, I finally believed that this might actually be reality. We get to have a vacation…a beautiful vacation, just the two of us.  Not just any vacation either, one where we get to stay at this beautiful hill top Inn and Spa in Costa Rica and have a day cruise and definitely that glass of wine while watching the sunset.

Thank you so much for this.  What a wonderful thing to look forward to and what a beautiful thing to look back on when we remember the beginning of our marriage.  You have given us an amazing gift.  It looks like paradise and we can’t wait to live that fantasy that I thought would remain in my head.

~ Stephanie Longoria and Aaron Stanley

Stephanie and Aaron, we are so glad that we could help make your honeymoon dreams possible. Thanks again to
Los Altos de Eros for the generous luxury package.

Photo credit:
Catherine Bitter

Signature Destination Wedding Gift

May 5th, 2010

One of our friends in Costa Rica is the artist responsible for the hand carved signs found on most businesses in the beach town of Playa Tamarindo. The other day, he came over and presented a sign that he made for us as a gift. We were so thrilled that we put it up directly in the entryway to our office. After spending a few days admiring it, a light bulb went off. We have found the perfect personalized destination wedding gift. If you are a wedding guest looking for a signature gift for the wedding couple, then look no further. This would also make a great gift for the wedding party. How cool would it be to send your wedding guests home with an exotic wood memento from your destination wedding. For a personal touch, you could have the artist inscribe a special thank you message on the back of each sign.

Like many small businesses throughout Costa Rica, our friend Greivin Quiros Obando doesn’t have a website. If you are interested in having him create a custom sign for your event, please contact us at info@fourwindsweddings.com and we will forward your inquiry to him.

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