Oue wedding is on Valentine's day - Feb 14th 2009 - and we've decided to name our theme "Caribbean Valentine"! We are both from St Lucia and we definitely want a strong Caribbean feel to the whole ceremony and reception. We have decided to have a steel band playing when the guests for the reception drinks and the reception venue will be decorated with palm trees and appropriate lighting, but I am having trouble thinking about how to tie together the Caribbean theme with a Valentine's theme.

Any suggestions ladies?

PS. I don't like red for the Valentine's theme!!

Have you decided on your colors yet? That may help us help you with ideas!

You seem to already have a handle on it. How about getting heart shaped coasters or simply having your bridal party colors be red for passion. It will look great with a tropical backdrop of palm trees. Red hibiscus and Anthuriums all over in vases and on your your accessories. Top your cake off with hear shaped palm trees Cake Topper

Wow Rosey, you nailed it with that cake topper. Perfect combination of what Diamondbride described.

Why thank you PC! I try to help as often as I can. I miss chatting in here every day, but I gotta work sometime!!! lol

Rosetta, that cake topper is the best idea I've seen!! Thanks so much! Future MrsKeepup, I open to ideas with colours still. I was thinking to stay with the caribbean them, a type of champagne / cream colour to represent the sand and a blue / turquoise colour to represent the sea. What do you guys think?

Diamond, those colors are going to look great for your theme. Excellent choice!

Those are great colors...You already will have a tropical backdrop with the surroundings....use them to your advantage by finding out how you can use the native tropical flowers in your bouquet and boutainnaires....Off the top of my head:

Flowers: Native tropical flowers (reception/tables, Bouquet, boutainnaires)

Cake: Try rum, or tropical fruit flavor for the cake or as a filling, garnish with the same or similar tropical flowers or tropical fruit. Go bold with frosting colors, or slightly traditional with off white or white frosting, garnished with those tropical flowers or fruit. Instead of a monogram or couple's topper, use flowers, or fruits.

Dress: Think sexy. If the weather allows (it may be cool that early in the year) try something fitted or light with some sheer, off the shoulder or strapless. If on the sand, stay away from something that drags (unless you don't mind) such as an ankle-length mermaid-fit, or something fitted with a demure slit on the side....Get something with a matching shawl or something to cover your shoulders with if you get cool and the reception is late. Wearing new hubby's tux jacket doesn't make the best fashion statement when impromptu pics are being taken.

Food: Easy....caribbean cuisine with your favorite caribbean food that reminds you of home.

Favors: Something they can take home rather than something edible. The occasion and surroundings will promote enough eating. Maybe a souvenir glass with umbrella or a tropical fan with your wedding date....Nothing red since you don't like the red theme....

Drinks....Choose a signature tropical drink like rum runners, or mango margaritas....Margaritas are so easy now with all the pre-mixes so your options are endless! In the caribbean however, most stuff is natural so give them a treat with either a margarita with fresh juice in it on non-alcoholic drink of a delicious fruit like passion fruit juice. I know its a holiday drink but I love sorrel.

Centerpeices: Can be tall with large vases with water and floating petals, or low little vases with tropical lilies and daises with stems clipped.

Other colors are fuscia/magenta and different shades of purple or lavender mixed with a little red for a hint of the Valentine's romance colors.....

On the invites, let your "logo" for all stationary (invites, menu's, programs" be a tropical flower or hearts. You can follow it through like I said on all the stationary.

Making people "feel the love" with the surroundings, tables can have titles such as "the heart" table or "Cupids Arrow" table, etc...which can evoke feelings of love without everyone having to see it as red and say "oh the red is for Valentine's day". White candles of different sizes also evoke romance

Do the reception towards the evening, so the lighting can be low, and scented candles can evoke romance also...


I hope this helps....My fingers are tired since I was on such a roll.

My co-work was just in a wedding where they used those exact colors. She also included burnt orange for the sunset.

Bumblebeekee - you are a star! You have given me plenty to think about. I know that the colours are definitely going to be aqua blue / turqoise, champagne gold and white. Flowers will definitely have a hint of red (i know, I gave in!) and/ orange in the form of hibiscus or anthuriums (thanks Rosetta!). I'm also going to try and have the reception room covered in blue up-lighting on a white backdrop around the room for the evening dancing!!

The dress is a different story. I haven't even started looking yet! I think it's too early because we're not getting married until Feb 2009, but it doesn't stop me having a look on the internet. I definitely want a "bit of bling" so I'm keen on a couple of dresses by Maggie Sottero. We're having the wedding in London, but a blessing in St Lucia a week later so I need a dress that will travel well. Because of the changeable English weather in February, I might need something to go over the dress like a shawl or jacket.

Recption drinks will be rum punch with a steel band playing in the background whilst the guests wait for our arrival. Bumblebeekee - I'm with you.....I love sorrel too, but I guess it's an acquired taste!

Girls, keep the good ideas coming - I think I'm driving my FH mad with wedding talk so it's good to talk to you guys!!!

Wow, bumblebeekee, that's great!!!

I try

Just to update you guys - managed to get in touch with a friend of a friend who agreed to play jazz music through the dinner but to give the wedding an individual flavour - he's going to play "shells" just before the DJ starts. I know - that sounds weird, but he plays conch shells and the sound is spectacular. Very Caribbean and should fit in with the theme. He said he'll compose a piece especially for the wedding - can't wait!!

(he's still expensive though, so I'm trying to pull the "friend" card and bring him down in price!!)

What great ideas you guys! I think it is an article waiting to happen!

Conch shells! What a fantastic and unique start Diamondbride! People won't stop talking about your wedding.

Thanks Rosie - I'll keep you updated so maybe it might help with any future articles! I'll also post pics as and when I get them.

If any of you girls have ideas that might help, please post them on this topic - I need all the help I can get... xx

Diamond

The conch idea is HOT!! You could incorporate conches into your favors so that whenever your guest look at it, they remember someone playing them.

I agree...I like the ideas of the conch....As far as the expense, you may have to work it in the budget....Sometimes in order to get a flawless result, you have to splurge....The music sets the tone, and with proper planning on the execution of the music, you should get your money's worth and then some....And the expense won't even matter....Trust me....my DH fussed about the expense of the wedding planner (but I insisted it go into the budget), but I can tell he wanted to hug her tight after the wedding!

Well girls - thought it was about time I updated you on the plans. Tried to get hold of the friend of a friend that was going to play the cnch shell. Funnily enough, can't seem to get hold of him!! He wanted me to pay for him and a band of 5 to play at the wedding and I told him he had to scale it down because we wanted a steel band as well and another band would be too much. Well, he seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Never mind!!

Now I'm concentrating on finding a reasonable steel band to play during the reception drinks and when the evening guests arrive. We wanted a jazz saxophonist playing during the dinner but we found a steel band player who will play with a saxophonist during dinner and on his own during reception drinks for about

I cannot determine if the prices are reasonable because I am not familiar with how much steel bands cost. However I think you should do whatever you can afford without having problems with the budget.

So I am basically saying if its in the budget allocated for music, do it, if not, keep looking for more deals....If you can increase the music budget, and perhaps save somewhere else like on the cake or another cost, then by all means, spurge if the music is a big, big part of the deal....When you are shopping though, decrease the emphasis on the word "wedding" and tell them, you need them for an "event" or "family affair". Plus you are a foreigner to their country for all they are concerned so that plus "wedding" equals "dollar signs" in their eyes because they assume you are rich-which you very well could be, but its up to you

you might be able to find some ideas at this website which has sections devoted to Hearts Theme and also Beach Theme -- here's how to find them:
http://www.sophiesfavors.com/heartstheme.htm
http://www.sophiesfavors.com/themes_beachtheme.htm

good luck!

Thanks zanne71!! I like some of the favours - they're in my colours (aqua blue and gold). I'll keep you guys updated when I find favours that I like. I'll keep looking and probably order them - I'm planning to come to New York in April to buy things like the favours over there!!! Can't wait!!!

I'll post some favour ideas as and when I find them!