In the world we live in today, there are many opportunities to pamper oneself, whether it involves: a cruise to paradise, a pair of new Jimmy Choos, sipping hot cocoa by the fireside, or even partaking in fine cuisine at a lush restaurant.  However, the epitome of “pamper” to me has been indulging in the exquisite experience of a spa treatment.

After professionally working in the spa treatment industry, I found the amazing benefits to a person’s overall well-being that could be obtained through just a routine Swedish massage.  I have personally experienced many spa treatments through the years, including massages, facials, and wraps, etc.  Most importantly, I discovered the relaxing effects and splendor spa treatments can provide.  Whether it is something you do on occasion, or you elect for a routine of treatments, it can be a break from the “rush and fuss” of everyday life—a fantastic way to treat yourself!

Thus, when my husband proposed to me in Disneyworld (near Cinderella’s Castle, at the Wishing Well), I was treated by him with a couple’s massage at the Mandara Spa in the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.

On a special note:  we have been to the Mandara Spa two times since our engagement!

Nonetheless, on our first visit to the Mandara Spa, we were greeted with the soothing smell of lavender and chamomile, along with the friendly greeting of the spa’s staff.  Now, some spa’s lack dressing/locker rooms with many amenities, but not at the Mandara Spa!  The spa offered upscale facilities, with restrooms, a dressing and locker storage area, showers and a steam room.  Additionally, it offered essentials such as: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, face wash, mouthwash, razor, hair brush, hair dryer, plush robes, comfortable shoes, towels, and the Elemis Product line–enriched with plant oils and marine extracts.  I recommend treating yourself in the dressing rooms with peppermint facial cloths that will instantly cool your face.  Talk about invigorating!

Next, the area deemed the “Tea Garden” is such a divine location to peacefully wait before your spa treatment.  Choose from a vast array of tea selections, while settling down on plush and colorful seating in a cultural setting. As you sip on hot tea and decadent honey, gentle instrumental music will add to the beginning of this revitalizing experience.

With many rooms for spa treatments, the Mandara Spa helps you to feel engulfed in tranquility as you step into your own oasis.   Before your appointment you can request a specified gender for your therapist depending on comfort-level.  Regardless, the therapists are ultra-professional and courteous of your needs, really tailoring this special occasion for you.  The therapists are very receptive to how you are feeling, especially with massages, and can transition from a softer touch to a more intense, deep-tissue style of massage.  Every time my husband and I have visited, we have had massages that have fully eased the stress points within our bodies, and brought an overwhelming sense of comfort to our mind, bodies and souls.

Lastly, after your spa treatment has been completed, staff members welcome you to the Meru Temple, a harmonious area to continue to marinate in serenity.  As you bask in the glow of your own radiance, you can hydrate with real fruit-infused orange and lemon water.  You can sit and read a magazine, or close your eyes and use this time to absorb positive thoughts and reflect.  Additionally, there is a balcony outside the Meru Temple if interested in stepping outside to relax.

We highly recommend the Mandara Spa for all couples, especially for special occasions while at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  With all the walking you will be doing amongst the theme parks, a spa treatment is an excellent opportunity to take a moment of rest and leisure during your vacation!

A Spa Getaway at the “Happiest Place on Earth” is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Readers,

Below is the link to view a montage of photos captured during our 1-year Anniversary Session with professional photographer Nikki Sanders, located in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kara and Brian’s Anniversary Montage

Once again, I cannot tell you how delighted we were to take part in this photo session, and we definitely recommend this experience (as well as Nikki Sanders Photography) to any couple near their first anniversary mark.  It was a great way to celebrate our love and commitment to one another, and most of all–SO MUCH FUN!

Enjoy!

Kara and Brian Hall

Our First Anniversary Pictures Have Arrived! is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Brian and Kara Hall on Wedding Day: 10/25/2008

Dear Readers,

There is nothing quite like celebrating your first anniversary with a photo session celebrating your marriage.  The owners of With This Favor recently had their photos taken at Duke Gardens in Durham, NC and at the location where they wed–Brier Creek Country Club in Raleigh, NC.

They found a local and savvy photographer for their 1- year Anniversary pictures that would be able to capture the  photographic memories that they desired.  Bubbling with energy, Nikki Sanders from Nikki Sanders Photography has a jubilant, yet casual style to instantly warm and relax those that she photographs.  The end product results in artistic photos, coupled with the flair of a fashionista.

Photos will be be uploaded in the next month, so check back soon!

1-Year Anniversary Pictures for With This Favor’s Owners is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello All!

One of the hottest movements in weddings this year has been an increase in environmentally friendly weddings. This is one wedding trend that we’re sure is here to stay! From locally-produced menus, to hemp wedding dresses, pretty much every aspect of your wedding can become eco-friendly! It’s often cost effective, can be insanely chic, and is always great for the environment!

Sustainable & Stylish

It used to be that you had to be one type of bride or another: chic, or environmentally aware. The times have changed though, and now you can have the best of both worlds! You don’t need to give up your every-day values while planning your wedding – you can still host a sophisticated event while making smart choices. So how can you be sure that your wedding leaves a minimal carbon footprint? Here are a few ideas:

• Plan your wedding so the ceremony and the reception are at the same location, or very close to one another, to cut down on travel time for you and your guests.
• Serve foods and wines that are from the region in which you are celebrating – the quality will be top notch and choosing local food is always better for the environment. Make sure that any leftover food is donated to a local shelter.
• Choose local flowers, or purchase potted blooms that can be enjoyed throughout the season.
• Print your invitations on recycled paper, or have an online wedding site to cut down on unnecessary paper.
• Incorporate the three “R’s” into your wedding planning: reduce, re-use, and recycle. Instead of throwing out decorations after the wedding, sell them online or give them away. Try to avoid unnecessary decorations that are harmful to the environment–especially animals–such as streamers, confetti, rice, and balloons.
• Purchase a wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses for your bridal parties that are made of an ethically and eco-friendly produced fabric. Try to select dresses that can be worn again in the future!
• DIY: In many cases, it is better for the environment to do things on your own. From the decorations to the menu items, see what you and your bridal team can do from home.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors

Show your guests you care about them – and the earth! Earth-friendly wedding favors are a fabulous way to send your guests home with a little something – while showing how much you care about the world around you. Sustainable goodies such as these Natural Bamboo Eco-Friendly Coasters will blend in with any natural themed wedding and are an all-natural selection:

There are so many eco-friendly wedding favors to choose from – I also love these fabulous pure beeswax candles. Featuring an elaborate honey comb pattern and a realistic bee perched on the side; these all-natural candles are an eco-friendly favor that guests of all generations will enjoy.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Honeymoons

When it’s time to sail away on your honeymoon, consider an adventure that’s not too harsh on the environment. Camping is a wonderfully romantic way to spend some time together after you’ve tied the knot, and will remind you what nature is all about. Or, consider going on an eco-adventure in a country that interests you, such as Costa Rica. “Voluntourism” is also growing in popularity – celebrate your marriage by giving back to society.

Whether you choose to have an all-out eco-friendly wedding, or just want to include certain elements, there are many options available to you. Try to incorporate your every-day practices into your wedding – you’ll be glad you did!

Eco-Friendly Weddings is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Newlyweds!

After the Honeymoon

Now that  the wedding and honeymoon are over…what else is there to do?

Plenty.

However, if you take one step at a time, and make short-term goals (much like you would do during the process of planning a wedding), then the aftermath of the wedding may not be as overwhelming.

Opening Gifts!

Upon our return from a magical honeymoon in Disney World, me and my husband started opening gifts that our guests brought to our wedding.  It took a full week to completely open our presents, and we alternated roles of who had the job of “opening the gifts” and “recording the gifts.”

This was so very helpful when we first began writing our Thank-You cards.

Tips on Writing Thank-You Cards

Below are nine tips on how to tackle the plethora of Thank-You cards you may have to write:

• If I can share any tip, please let it be this one… handwritten thank-you’s are a must! In the age of technology, you may be tempted to send out multiple thank-you cards that are printed out with the same message.  DON’T do it.  Your guests spent the money and the time to provide you a gift, so take the time to send them a thank-you card highlighting the gift they provided you.  Believe it or not, many guests really appreciate this kind gesture.
• Start early. As soon as gifts begin coming in (especially if it is before wedding day), begin recording: who provided the gift, description of gift, and address of guest that bought the gift.
• Buy your thank-you cards along with the invitations. First, this enables you to have the thank-you cards handy for when gifts do start coming in, and sometimes (not all) the thank-you cards will cost less if  chosen and paid for along with the invitations.  Make sure to bring this up with the company you want to purchase your wedding invitations/stationary from.  I learned the hard way and was told after we purchased our invitations that the thank-you cards would have been reduced.  Angrily, I stormed off to Target and bought thank-you cards (that I actually liked much better) there.
• Take turns between you and your spouse in writing the thank-you cards. This can help with managing what I like to call: “Writing thank-you cards burnout.”
• Write thank-you cards to parents and your pastor/officiant first.
• Write thank-you cards to the wedding party next.
• Additionally, write thank-you cards to your wedding vendors.
• Write thank-you cards to guests that provided you wedding gifts.  Please note, you are not obliged to write a thank-you note to guests that do not provide gifts.  However, if you choose to do so, it may be appropriate thanking them for joining the celebration uniting you and your spouse, and that you hope they had a wonderful time.  Of course, it is not appropriate to bring up anything about a gift if a gift was not provided.
• Don’t wait several months to start sending out thank-you cards. Recent wedding etiquette suggestions advise to send out thank-you cards TWO weeks within receiving the gift (if received before your wedding) and within ONE month if the gift was received after your wedding.  However, a TWO month timeframe after your wedding can be acceptable depending on certain situations.  One to think about though–imagine seeing your Aunt and Uncle during the holidays or a family reunion, and have them ask you if you are enjoying their gift?  Enough said.

Below is a beautiful Wedding Thank-You Card by “Wedding Paper Divas.”

Happy handwriting!

Tips to Writing Thank-You Cards is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.

Hello Brides and Grooms!

What a wonderful feeling it is waking up the next morning after your wedding!  Yes, it may mean you are a bit exhausted, but for me, there was such an immense excitement as me and my husband’s honeymoon was about to begin!

And where else would we go but…

Disney World!

When we first started planning our honeymoon, we tossed around many different locations ranging from Paris, to Jamaica, to St. Lucia and even Greece. After a lot of thought, we reflected on what we wanted for our honeymoon and came to a shared belief. This shared belief incorporated fun, adventure, romance, and thrills. Disney World was also the location where we were engaged.

Children at heart, we truly missed being there and the excitement slowly built as our honeymoon week approached. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, which incorporates a great rustic ambiance–especially at night, with illuminated lanterns.  As we arrived that first night, the lodge was beautiful and romantic, nestled right on the lake which hosts an Electrical Water Pageant almost every night.

What worked well for me and my husband was the ability to save on about half of the costs that we would have inherited from a trip outside of the United States.  With the downturn in the economy, and because we just bought a house, Disney World was the  perfect choice for us.

The vision of a honeymoon for each newlywed may be different, but in the end, it is important to do what will be best and enjoyable for you and your spouse.  Most of all, wherever you may venture to, treat and pamper yourself.

Here’s to a fabulous honeymoon and lasting memories!

Honeymoon in Disney World is a post from: Wedding Blog by With This Favor. With This Favor is your official superstore for wedding favors.