Take some time out to decide what mood you would like to convey. You want it to represent you and the type of atmosphere you would like to have.If you are looking to have a formal wedding, you may consider having a harpist or violinist preform. If you are looking for more of a light and uplifting feel, try hiring a saxophonist or guitarist. Steel pans and Caribbean bands always bring the fun for the bride wanting to have a true island style wedding!

Here are a couple of tips to help you find the perfect dress for your bridesmaids:

• Choosing a dress that flatters all figures can be a challenge. If you want one dress style that will flatter your plus size best friend and your model figured sister, then go for an A-line cut. The A-line cut is figure flattering across the board!

• If you don’t mind not having the same style, then have your dresses made out of the same fabric, but change the style to suit each of your bridesmaid’s figures best. Switch it by making one dress long with halter straps and another short and strapless!

• Take color into consideration. Although you may have a certain color in mind, it may not be suitable for all skin tones. Even though the final decision is yours, it’s easy to get feedback from your bridesmaids about your choices. If your stuck on two colors, try incorporating both or variations of the one color. Don’t be afraid to add in some print!

• Take some time out to look through some magazines and find makeup styles that you like. You may like the lipstick on one photo or the eye makeup on another. Be bold! Don’t be afraid to do a little mixing and matching!  Check out some of the many bridal makeup tutorials available on YouTube!

• If you plan on doing your own makeup, make sure to do a trial run. Play around with all different types of looks, colors and schemes. Let your imagination run wild!  As a general rule, bridal makeup is applied a bit heavier than your everyday makeup so that it will show on photographs; but sometimes rules are meant to be broken! Do whatever you feel most comfortable with. Invite your bridesmaids to join in for a day of beauty and fun! Be sure to take some photos of your practice run so you will have a feel of what your photos will look like on your special day.

• If you are planning on hiring a makeup artist, take a little extra time to research and schedule a consultation before your wedding. This gives both you and the makeup artist a chance to perfect your look for the big day!  Be sure to take examples of the look you would like to recreate as well as your dress.  Having pictures makes it easier for you to explain what you would like the final product to look like and just as easy for the artist to recreate.

Traditionally

Bride’s family pays for:
- Reception costs, including food, music, decorations, rental fees and entertainment
- Ceremony costs including rental fees, decorations
- Flowers for Ceremony and Reception
- Wedding dress and accessories
- Invitations, announcements, programs, and mailing costs
- Favors
- Photography
- Transportation
- Their own attire and travel expenses

Bride pays for:
- The groom’s wedding ring
- A wedding gift for the groom
- Her hair, makeup, beauty treatments
- Gifts for her attendants
- Sometimes accommodation for any out-of-town bridesmaids

Groom’s family pays for:
- The rehearsal dinner, including food, invitations, decorations and entertainment
- Their own attire and travel expenses
- A wedding present

Groom pays for:
- Marriage license
- Bride’s engagement ring and wedding ring
- The honeymoon
- A wedding gift for the bride
- Bride’s bouquet
- Gifts for his attendants
- Corsages for the mothers and grandmothers
- Boutonnières for men in the wedding party
- Sometimes accommodation for groomsmen
- Fee for the officiant

Modern Day Approach:
Upon announcing their engagement, the bride and groom discuss and estimate plans and expenses for the wedding, the reception and any other expenses. Then they approach both their parents and explain their plans. They can gently discuss both families pitching in to cover the costs, or divide the costs 3 ways: groom’s parents, bride’s parents and bride and groom.

Be sure to apply sunscreen each day, not forgetting the cheeks, nose, ears and around the top of your shirt line. Be sure to apply lotion approx. every hour or after going into the ocean or pool. On St. Thomas, you are much closer to the equator and can burn more quickly than you’re used to.

If you do happen to get burned, there’s a few sunburn tricks to try to reduce the redness:

Buy some bottles of Phillips Milk of Magnesium…the stuff for upset stomach? Pour it over yourself in the shower, leave it on for a minute or two and rinse with cool water.

Take the coolest showers you can stand to take. This keeps the skin from developing broken capillaries and will reduce the redness.

Don’t go outside without suncreen on. It’s tempting to try and “even out” the pigmentation, but it will be more damaging. Skip sunscreens with Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, Mexoryl, Parsol 1789 –those things are all chemical sunscreens and could be irritating. These chemical sunscreens have to sink into the skin for 15 minutes before they begin to work.

To even out your skin tones, consider a spray tan a day or two before your ceremony.

Moisturizing the burned areas throughout the day can speed along recovery. Lathering with aloe (at the beginnging) or lotion (a day or two later) morning, midday and before you go to bed can keep the areas soothed for quicker healing.