Wedding Reality Check With Sandy Malone

  It’s become almost trendy to list a charitable organization among your list of wedding registries, so that guests may donate to the charity of your choice as a wedding gift. But what about when the bride and groom opt to forego a wedding detail or tradition to give that money to a good cause? Certainly, it’s never bad to give to charity. But Sandy says to think twice about how you go about announcing, and taking credit, for it. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here debra@Flatlandsavellc.com for more information about supporting our efforts to produce fine podcasts.    

    Sandy tells one of her all-time favorite true stories about the time when two Brazilian Mastiffs crashed a wedding ceremony at a Caribbean villa. It’s hilarious now, but it wasn’t funny at the time. But it’s a perfect example of how things can go wrong that literally nobody has any control.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here debra@Flatlandsavellc.com for more information about supporting our efforts to produce fine podcasts.

  No parent at their child’s wedding reception should take their clothes off. If your dad has a tendency to get naked when he’s drunk, you need to assign somebody to babysit him at your wedding. It’s not cute, it’s not funny. It won’t make for a memorable wedding in a good way. The staff shouldn’t be subjected to your dad’s nakedness, even if you’re okay with your friends seeing your pops in his altogether. Sandy tells the true stories of two occasions when the Father of the Bride got stark naked and passed out in the middle of a wedding.     Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here debra@Flatlandsavellc.com for more information about supporting our efforts to produce fine podcasts.    

  Sandy tells the story of a bride and groom who asked her to plan a St. Patrick’s Day wedding theme for their Caribbean destination wedding on the actual holiday. The flowers were green, the beer was green, the wedding cake was made of Guinness beer, and an actual leprechaun greeted wedding guests as they arrived at cocktails. Here's a link to the blog Sandy wrote for the HuffPost shortly after the wedding she describes in this podcast.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here  

  Photo of pagan wedding handfasting cords Sandy is the type of wedding planner who will bend backward over to make your big day just the way you want it. But, she begs couples to do the heavy lifting of telling your parents that you are not going to be having the traditional marriage ceremony that Mom and Pop imagined you would have. Listen to this bewitching tale. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here      

  Sandy tells a true story about a group of wedding guests who missed a ferry, setting off a chain reaction that could have resulted in 17 guests having to buy new plane tickets home. Fortunately, with a little help from her friends and her husband Bill, Sandy was able to get everybody on a charter flight to the big airport, where they caught their flights home on time. Because no wedding planner wants to have their guests stuck and unhappy after a perfect wedding!   Sandy Malone Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings    

  During her first year of wedding planning, a client asked Sandy to set up elephant rides for her wedding guests, for her destination wedding on a tiny island off the coast of Puerto Rico. Being new to the business and eager to prove herself, Sandy did her best to find an elephant. Until her husband gave her a much-needed Wedding Reality Check. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via iTunes Here Produced in association with Flatlands Avenue Productions. For more information debra(at)flatlandsavellc.com  

You can send out a destination wedding invitation as far out as one year ahead of your wedding date, meaning you could know exactly who is attending your wedding 10 months in advance. Sandy explains the best way to handle save the dates, travel info packets, invitations, and RSVPs on a destination wedding timeline. Are you, or someone you know, planning a first Valentine's Day as a married couple? Listen to Sandy's podcast on tips here.     Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via iTunes Here Produced in association with Flatlands Avenue Productions. For more information debra(at)flatlandsavellc.com

It’s so easy to fall in love with a big, poufy silk ball gown for your wedding, but if you’re having a destination wedding, less is more. Before you start trying on wedding dresses, consider what kind of fabrics are most conducive to the weather. Consider organza instead of silk so that you don’t melt. Remember, if you feel miserably hot, you probably look miserable, too. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here  

Brides and Grooms are taking full advantage of legal weed for their destination weddings. But while its legal, it's still against the rules at some wedding venues. Sandy tells you where to start if you want to incorporate marijuana into your wedding plans. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe via ITunes Here

  In the heart of downtown Denver, the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa has stood as one of the most beautiful places to get married in the city, since 1892. With five different wedding venues in the hotel to choose from, brides and grooms can choose what suits their taste and style best. The historic hotel just finished a complete renovation of its rooms and facilities, and it couldn’t be lovelier!     Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings  

Sandy interviews Wedding Planner Erin Proctor at The Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix, a popular Caribbean wedding destination that is also the first choice for a number of celebrities. Sandy’s excited she got to stay in the same suite of rooms where Michael Jackson stayed, but it’s not uncommon to run into Vice President Joe Biden on the scenic 18-hole golf course. Erin says every guest becomes a member of the Buccaneer family – which means every visitor is a VIP at The Buccaneer. Thinking you want to get married in a gorgeous destination? Listen to Sandy's #WeddingWednesday #Wisdom! Check Out the Place Before You Sign Any Contracts! Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes      

Sandy talks with DJ Paul Gonzalez-Chavez of Islands Entertainment Network about some of the nightmares they’ve dealt with when brides and groom (or more likely, a well-meaning friend or relative) want to add on extra hours to the party while the wedding reception is in progress. Sandy says if you couldn’t afford it before the wedding, you definitely can’t afford it at the 11th hour. Plus both Sandy and Paul agree that too many hours of open bar can turn a celebration into a catastrophe. Have time for another podcast? Listen to Sandy's practical advice about whom you should tell you're engaged! Click on the URL and check out episode 13 of Wedding Reality Check. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings  

The Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix may be one of the best wedding venues in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Not only is the 70-year-old, family-owned property gorgeous and home to an incredible golf course and several beautiful beaches, but their wedding planning team also works closely with a number of other attractions for your guests, including the Cruzan run factory and the beer drinking pigs in the tropical rain forest. Sandy interviews one of the on-property experts about what to do with your groomsmen on the wedding day.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings      

  Sandy talks with DJ Paul Gonzalez-Chavez, of Island Entertainment Network, about why it’s important to give your wedding DJ a list of songs you’d rather not have played during your wedding reception so that you avoid any awkward or embarrassing moments. DJ Paul says there are about 100 songs that regularly appears on the “NO” list. And he says that the more guidance a bride and groom give their DJ, the more successful the reception will be.   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Subscribe on iTunes

  Sandy chats with guest DJ Paul Gonzalez-Chavez, her favorite DJ in Puerto Rico, about what happens when drunk guests get too friendly late-night at weddings. Too much booze can be a really bad thing. If you're new to our podcast because you just got engaged and you're just started thinking about planning for your big day, welcome! We invite you to check out Sandy's very first podcast here: Congrats! You're Engaged! Now What?   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMalon  

  For God's sake, don't tell your closest family and friends you're engaged via a tacky engagement ring pic on Facebook! There's a proper way to tell your parents, and extended family, that you're saying "I do." Sandy says it's also important to tell your boss about the engagement up front, so you can address any concerns about the wedding date you're planning.     Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings Please Subscribe on iTunes!

So many couples who are getting married in the first few months of the new year end up stressed out, and worried about money, because they don’t get their homework down prior to the holiday season. Think ahead – Sandy says you can’t expect your vendors to be available over the holidays to help you play catch up.       Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://j.mp/sandwed Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings iTunes--Please Subscribe!

You need to know where and when, and how many guests you're going to have, among other things. You'll get a free initial consultation with any wedding planners you consider hiring, but you should be prepared with answers all these to questions before you make that appointment, or you won't walk away with solid information or a realistic budget guestimate. Use their time wisely!   Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings  

Sandy wrote a blog for BRIDES with tips about handling last-minute wedding guest cancellations for your at-home or destination wedding. You don’t want to let the fact that a few people won’t be at your big day ruin the experience for you and your fiancé, and all of your friends who will be there with you. Sandy says you have to let it go, so it doesn’t hurt your friendships. Sandy Malone Weddings & Events www.SandyMaloneWeddings.com Weddings in Vieques www.WeddingsinVieques.com Podcast: http://www.iheart.com/show/27505307/ Twitter: @SandyMalone_ Facebook Sandy Malone and Sandy Malone Weddings & Events Instagram: SandyMaloneWeddings