26

Mar

2026

Advice From the Married Side – Real Couples Advice From Their Wedding Day

Today we are back with our regular feature ‘Advice from the Married Side,‘ real life wedding planning advice from all the lovely brides and grooms I have featured on the blog.

I get to feature so many amazing real weddings here on the blog and with each wedding I ask the couple to share with us their wedding planning knowledge and experiences. This post is a super useful collection of wedding wisdom from those who have just got married, to help you on your own wedding planning journey. I hope there will be something amongst these experiences that help you. Happy Planning!

photo by  Tom Cawdron Photography – full wedding here

General Advice 

  • Take things slow and be intentional, a choice that allowed for a relaxed, joyful energy for both them and their guests.
  • Consider having a “No Cellphone” policy during the ceremony. Speaking from experience as both a wedding photographer and videographer, trust me—Aunty Janet is not going to get a better shot of you walking down the aisle than your actual photographer. Let the pros do their job while your guests stay present in the moment.
  • Only spend money on things that will add to your day. If you wouldn’t miss it, it’s not worth it.
  • Let kids come! And get a nanny, best money spent was having a whole tent of dedicated nannies for ours and other guests’ children. A relaxing environment that kept everyone together & safe.
  • There’s no right or wrong way to get married – the most important thing is that you are happy.
  • Your big day is the most fun ever – just enjoy. Eat your food! We’ve heard so many other couples say that they didn’t get a chance to eat, but your food is going to be so good so make sure you eat some.

photo by  In Love and Adventure – Elopement Photography – full wedding here 

Planning

  • If you are planning a destination wedding, choose a location that already holds significance in your relationship. It changes the entire energy of the weekend.
  • Start planning early and try to actually enjoy the process – it’s one of the nicest periods you’ll go through together as a couple. When it’s over, you’ll honestly miss the planning, the decision-making, and the small moments in between.
  • Invest in a wedding planner, or at least a day-of coordinator! There were apparently several things that went wrong on my wedding day, but I did not even know until after my wedding because of my planner!
  • Definitely book a planner who has the ability to cover all aspects of planning, design, styling and flowers we could not have done it without Charlie the process was so much fun and a memorable experience.

photo by Tom Keenan Photography – full wedding here

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25

Mar

2026

Christian and Taylor’s Magical Fall Winery Wedding in Michigan by Kaitlynn Faith Photo

Today I am taking you to warm and sunny Michigan for the gorgeous fall wedding of Christian and Taylor who were married on 4th October 2025 at Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay, Northern Michigan. The wedding despite the time of year was all held outside, which was a gamble by the bride and groom but one that paid off tenfold. The result is this cute, rustic meets classic elegance wedding day filled with warmth and gorgeous touches, all captured by Kaitlynn Faith Photo.

It all went by too quickly, but every second felt magical. Our wedding day was everything we dreamed of and so much more

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24

Mar

2026

Honeymoon Ideas: The Glistening Shinkansen Nose at Tokyo Platform and the Traditional Machiya of Gion

On a Tokyo platform, just before departure, the air feels contained rather than hurried. People stand in quiet lines marked on the floor. Announcements arrive in measured tones and fade again. Above, fluorescent lights hum faintly against the metal beams of the station roof.

At the edge of the track, the Shinkansen waits. Its elongated nose curves forward with a smoothness that almost seems softened, as though shaped by wind rather than machinery. The surface holds reflections — fragments of shoes, the yellow safety line, a slice of pale sky. All ready for your Japan Honeymoon adventure.

Steel Meets Wood: The Glistening Shinkansen Nose at Tokyo Platform and the Traditional Machiya of Gion

Photo by Donald Tong

A Silver Line Gathering Motion

Up close, the train’s body appears seamless. Doors slide open without sound. Luggage wheels roll across the platform in small arcs. The sense of movement builds slowly, almost imperceptibly.

Many journeys south begin on the Tokyo to Kyoto bullet train, where the capital recedes in layered greys before widening into fields and distant hills. Acceleration does not register dramatically. The city compresses, then dissolves, leaving glass towers replaced by rice paddies and utility poles passing in even rhythm.

Inside, the carriage remains quiet. Seats face forward. Windows frame changing landscapes without pause. Speed becomes a steady condition rather than an event.

Steel carries the journey with a kind of understatement. The surface gleams, but the interior remains restrained.

Narrow Streets of Timber and Shade

In Kyoto’s Gion district, the sensation alters without abruptness. Streets narrow. Eaves extend outward. Wooden machiya stand shoulder to shoulder, their façades composed of vertical lattice that filters light into thin bands.

The grain of the timber shows through darker lacquer. Some sections appear worn where hands have rested. Sliding doors move softly along their tracks. Lanterns hang close to the beams, their glow warmer than the platform lights of Tokyo.

Sound behaves differently here. Footsteps do not echo. A bicycle passes quietly along stone paving. The scale feels contained, almost domestic, even along streets that draw visitors daily.

Standing before a machiya, you notice how shadow gathers beneath tiled roofs. Sunlight does not reflect sharply from wood; it settles into it.

photo by Riccardo Saponi

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24

Mar

2026

Brieanna and Alexey’s Tropical Beachside Wedding in Costa Rica by Raw Shoots Photography

Brieanna and Alexey were married on 18th May 2024 at Pangas beach club in Costa Rica. Their  wedding was a true celebration of their love for each other, their playful personalities, and their shared passion for good music, good food, and unforgettable moments. It was a wedding that perfectly blended boho charm, moody elegance, and tropical beauty, leaving their guests with memories to last a lifetime. Big thanks to Event Planner Mil Besos Costa Rica and Raw Shoots Photography.

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23

Mar

2026

Ask The Experts: The Best Adventure Honeymoon Destinations for Intrepid Newlyweds

Not every couple wants their honeymoon to revolve around pool loungers and hotel buffets. Some prefer somewhere that asks a little more of them, places where the scenery changes quickly, where getting around involves boats, hiking paths, or long drives, and where each day feels slightly different from the last. 

An adventure honeymoon doesn’t mean roughing it the whole time. It just means choosing destinations where exploring naturally fills the day. From jungle-covered mountains in Southeast Asia to volcanic islands in the Atlantic, these are places where newlyweds can share a trip that feels memorable for the right reasons.

The Best Adventure Honeymoon Destinations for Intrepid Newlyweds

Photo by Gustavo Fring

Experience the Wild Landscapes of Vietnam

Vietnam suits couples who like variety. Within a couple of weeks, the country shifts from limestone karst landscapes in the north to tropical rivers and floating markets in the south. 

Hanoi is usually where the journey begins. The Old Quarter is compact enough to explore on foot, and wandering along Hang Bac and Hang Dao streets quickly shows how the city still functions around traditional trade routes. Hoan Kiem Lake becomes a useful reference point for navigating the surrounding neighbourhoods before heading toward Dong Xuan Market in the northern part of the district.

Many travellers move from Hanoi toward Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay. Boats leave from the port town of Tuan Chau, and once you’re out among the limestone islands, the scale of the place becomes clearer. Kayaking through the smaller lagoons or walking up the steps on Ti Top Island gives a better sense of the geography than viewing it from the deck alone.

Couples planning a longer honeymoon can refer to resources that help inspire 3 week holiday ideas, particularly when combining Vietnam with nearby countries such as Cambodia or Laos. A three-week route might begin in Hanoi, continue south through Hue and Hoi An, then finish in Ho Chi Minh City. Travelling this way allows time to move gradually throughout the country.

Photo by Ammie Ngo

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