guests

In Guests/ Invitations/ peruvian style/ Wedding Trends

Four Ways to Prepare your Guests for a Peru Destination Wedding

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If you decided to get married in a remote, wild and stunning place far away from home the first thing you need to make sure of is to prepare your guests for your destination wedding! So in this article I want to share with you some useful tips on how to prepare them, I am especially referring to your direct family and close friends. There is always a bit of “fear” of the unknown that you should deal with, when you announce your destination wedding in a country such as Peru. Many of your guests might not be expert travelers or might not know Peru at all, except for Machu Picchu of course. Some of your guests are not really into traveling, while some others might be extremely excited by the idea of discovering a new place, it really depends. Obviously this is also related to the average age of your guests; if you are dealing with young guests in their thirties for example they would be most likely thrilled by the idea of a new place to discover, since they have an inclination to travel abroad and they are used to. If you are dealing with older people, the excitement for a trip abroad may vary; there would be a bunch of people eager to a new experience and some other who are not so excited by the idea. To deal with this issue here some tips to consider before sending out your wedding invitations:

Talk to your direct family and close friends before sending the invitation. Avoiding the surprise effect could be a good advantage for you, since they will have time to think about the idea and to process it. This is also a way for you to make sure that they are able to attend your wedding and they will understand how important their presence is to you for your special day. They will understand that it is sooooo important that you are also eager to sacrifice your venue and location idea for them to be able to attend.
Send your invitation in advance: once your family and close friends know about your decision it is time to send the invitation to all the guests on your lists. It is essential to send the invitations out at least 8-10 months in advance, remember that this is not a classic wedding celebration, this is a destination wedding and people need to start planning in advance. They need to check their finance first and see if they are able to attend or if they need to start saving money for a couple of months, they need to start checking their flights and plan everything accordingly. So send the invitation quite in advance!
Create a website for your wedding celebration: in my opinion this is mandatory! Your guests will be lost at the beginning so a website is a very useful tool to share information efficiently. It is important that you include there all the information that they need such as: international flights, airport pick-up options, accommodation options (Hostal, Hotels, private houses, etc.), activities, restaurants recommendations, tours options and other travel tips. Since this is a destination wedding you might want to create a specific itinerary for your guests, including some sort of tours, activities, parties, dinners, etc. So all this must be included on your website. Remember to constantly update your website and be in touch with your guests if they have questions and need advices.
Welcome your guests: they will have to make travel arrangements to attend your special day, they will have to spend money and you have to show them that you really value that. It is a nice way to welcome them properly. For instance you can prepare special welcome bags that they will find in their hotel room on arrival. You can fill this bag with local products, for example in Peru you can include a bottle of Pisco, Peruvian “canchita” (corn), Peruvian coffee and much more. I have already talked about welcome bags here. Other way to welcome them is to organize a welcome dinner or a welcome cocktail in a special place, which will give your guests time to socialize and relax after their trip.

What you should always keep in mind is that this is not a classic wedding, this is a destination wedding and it is important to consider it this way; your guests will need advices and information on the country and you are the host here and you need to answer them. I always suggest my couples to work with us also for the travel arrangements part, since this would avoid a lot of stress for them; guests could bombard you with questions of any kind which sometimes you are not even able to answer. So it is always better to rely on professional travel experts, who will make your wedding planning process and your entire life much easier before your wedding day.

July 26, 2017 By sayinperu

In Destination weddings/ Guests/ peruvian style/ Save The Date/ Venues

Assigned Seating vs. Open Seating

One of the questions that bride and groom always asked me after they found the perfect venue for their wedding and after they prepared the wedding guests list is: should I opt for an assigned seating or for an open one? Actually my answer is not always the same, it certainly depends on the kind of wedding you are planning, and the answer changes depending on if you are hosting a very intimate, private wedding rather than a big wedding with more than 150 – 200 guests. I usually present couples the pros and cons of having an assigned seating and the pros and cons of having an open seating arrangement before they make their decision. In this article I want to share them with you as well:

ASSIGNED SEATING PROS:

It is more formal than the open seating arrangement.
It is very useful for big weddings, since you know exactly where people will be seated and you can easily reach them.
It is more organized and your guests will know exactly where to go.
For wedding planner is easier to keep track of your guests, especially in case of big wedding. 😀
People will be seated on a table for a specific reason. For example people of the same family, a group of friends, people of the same age, so people will feel more comfortable this way for the entire reception, since they will have things in common to talk about and they will have fun!
If you are doing seated dinner and some of your guests have food allergy, are vegan, or do not eat a specific food and have selected a specific menu option with assigned seating will be easy for the waiter to know where those guests are seated.

ASSIGNED SEATING CONS:

It could be a real headache for the bride and groom to make their seating chart, sometimes they can also argue about it! It happened, I swear!!!
For many people it is a waste of time, since they believe that guests will end up seating where they want or asking to change their seat and go to another table for example, if they do not want to keep the assigned seat.
Some guests will not like where they are seated and they will be uncomfortable for all the celebration. They will have for sure a bad memory of your wedding.
Some guest will find out that his/her seat is already taken, since some other guest took the freedom to change his/hers arbitrarily. This can create awkwardness.
You cannot have extra table.

OPEN SEATING PROS:

It perfectly works for informal and small weddings.
It takes no time to put together, and it is very easy for bride and groom since they do not to sit on a table and start matching people.
Your guests will not complain, since they will freely choose where to seat for all the reception duration.
It allows people to communicate and socialize more, creating a more familiar atmosphere for your guests.
You can have extra table, in case some of your guests come with an unexpected date this can be very useful.

OPEN SEATING CONS:

It can be chaotic because your guests will not know where to go once they get into the reception area.
People will walk around asking other: “Is this seat taken?”, “Can I seat here?”
For people arriving late could be complicated, since they have to seat in the available seats and if they are a couple or a group of people sometimes they have to split apart.

The decision of choosing between assigned seating and open seating arrangement is actually extremely personal because you guys are the ones who better know your wedding guests, what they would prefer, if they are social people or not, etc. It also depends on the kind of wedding you are organizing. For instance if you are planning a destination wedding having an arranged seating is very useful since you will avoid that people who does not speak the same language ended up seating next to each other. If you are having a small and intimate wedding the open seating is perfect, because people will naturally form into groups and they will take their seat at the tables available.

Also lately it is also very common to use a mixed format of open seating and assigned seating. So you can use open seating for group of people that will seat together in any case, such as your college buddies, your group of friends, and you can use an assigned seating arrangement for direct family.

February 27, 2017 By sayinperu

In Destination weddings/ Favors/ Guests/ peruvian style/ Wedding Trends

Welcome Bags for your wedding guests

Getting married in Peru is a magical experience; this is a country full of history, extravagances and damn good food! 😀 What better way to surprise your guests than giving them a little welcome gift with special products from Peru? A Welcome bag is indeed the best way to let them know Peruvian products and let them merge in the Peruvian atmosphere.

After a long journey all you want to do is to lie down in a comfy bed, but on the other way you are also very curious to start exploring this new place and to know more about this country that probable you have never visited before.

So, we can certainly help you suggesting products to include in your welcome bags. Here a list of Peruvian products you can consider to include:

1.Water: it is always useful to have a bottle of water, especially if you are attending tours or other activities, so it is essential to include one in the welcome bag. A key rule for any travller is “stay hydrated”, this way you will avoid headaches and you will overcome jetlag.

You could also customize the labels!

2.Chocolate: Almost everybody loves chocolate, it’s delicious, it gives us energy and happiness! And Peruvian chocolate is even more delicious!!! 😀

Peru is home to 60% of the world’s cocoa species and is one of the main producers. The Cacaosuyo brand, works directly with farmers and indigenous communities and produces fine white cocoa chocolate that is grown in the region of Piura – Peru.

He is also recognized in The International Chocolate Award of London as one of the winners of best milk chocolate. So this is a great product to include in the welcome bag for your guests.

3.Coffee: Coffee is one of the most exported products of Peru, and if we had to choose one we will suggest without hesitation the one by Harry Neira! He has been investigating and collecting the best coffee beans for over 8 years. The aroma of this coffee wil amaze you and your guests.

4.Snacks: You are on holiday so having a little snack is allowed! So just dare to enjoy something different: Peruvian giant corn! This product, besides of being delicious, provides fiber, helps digestion and is gluten-free!

5.Yellow Pepper based sauce: One of the essential ingredients of Peruvian food is the yellow aji Pepper, used chopped to prepare traditional dishes or also to prepare aji pepper sauce.

6.Pisco: You should definitely include a little bottle of Pisco, your guests will need to start familiarizing with the Peruvian spirit! You can customize your own Pisco bottle with your names and the date of your wedding or even with a picture. Your guests will enjoy it for sure! Cheers!

January 24, 2017 By sayinperu

In entertainment/ Guests/ Save The Date/ Venues

Entertain your guests, a key tip for a successful destination wedding week!

If you are planning a destination wedding you should be aware that your guests will have to travel somewhere in the world and they are probably planning to stay in the country a week or so. Sometime the trip is a long one and they can also wish to stay more than 10 days abroad. So it is worthy to schedule activities for them and give them suggestions on things to do! I have extensive experience on organizing destination weddings in Peru and my job is also giving advices to the new couples on which activities they can organize for their guests once they arrive here.

So guys, this is a little piece of advice for you: do not be unprepared and put together a real program for your wedding guests with specific activities and options they can choose from for the days before or after your wedding celebration. Usually a week program works best.

Paragliding in Lima, Miraflores

As for Peru, main attractions of the country for people coming here for the first time or people coming here in holiday’s mood are the following: archeological sites, food and adventurous activities. That is why I always suggest organizing cooking classes, special dining experience in Peru’s most famous restaurants, Pisco tasting (for those of you who do not know what Pisco is, just follow the link and you will find out), Pisco cocktail classes, paragliding, bike tours, Sand Boarding Tour, city tours, and last but not least a trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu!

Peru has been considered the best culinary destination of South America recently at the Travel Awards 2016 and the culinary boom that the country has lived is actually unquestionable. So why don’t engage your guests in a hands-on cooking class where they can learn the basic of Peruvian traditional cuisine? They can learn how to cook a delicious ceviche, a “causa limeña” or a juicy “lomo saltado”. From my experience this activity is pretty fun for people and it is a way to socialize, there will always be some guests that do not know each other, especially for big wedding, and this is a great way to break the ice and have fun all together. Of course after the cooking give your guests time to taste their own creation and enjoy a pleasant supper!

Pisco-based Drink

Another option is also focused on gastronomy: organize a special dining experience for them. You can offer them a rehearsal lunch or dinner in a famous restaurant, or you can organize a nice brunch with a beautiful view of the ocean or an outdoor picnic in the middle of the Sacred Valley of the Incas or in the charming Lima’s Malecon! It is really up to you, there are plenty of culinary options in a country such as Peru.

Do your guests want to have fun and want to learn more about the country’s lifestyle? A Pisco tasting activity in a cool and trendy venue is a must to include in your wedding week! People will have the opportunity to taste different Pisco-based cocktails and to chat to each other and hav lots of fun! I highly recommend this activity especially if you have young guests who love drinking, chatting and having fun. Another option is to organize a Pisco cocktails class, so that your guests will learn how to prepare the basic Pisco drinks, such as Pisco Sour and Chilcano.

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Rafting in the Urubamba River, Sacred Valley

As for adventurous activities we can suggest to do paragliding if you are getting married in Lima and your guests are planning to stay in the capital city a couple of day! This is a great experience for people who love altitude and risk and they will be able to see the city from another perspective! Usually the activity is held in the early afternoon, but it depends from the wind and it is unpredictable, which could definitely be an issue if you do not have a backup plan.

Sand-boarding is also another option if your guests love adventure. For this specific activity you will have to travel to Paracas, a desert area where there are a series of dunes perfect for Sandboarding. You will go up and down the dunes pirouetting, feeling the excitement and adrenaline that the activity offers, and enjoying the stunning landscape. That’s a lot of fun!

Huacachina, Ica Region

Last but not least, the best option is to plan a “chaperoned honeymoon” to Cusco and Machu Picchu, since these are the most important spots to visit in the country and the majority of your guests will be interested in visiting them. In this case what you have to do is organize a real group trip, and taking care of flights (you need to flight from Lima to Cusco), trains to Machu Picchu, guided tour (once you are there it is extremely worthy to have a knowledgeable guide), transportations, meals, hotels! I know…it is a lot to take care of, but believe me that this is a once in a lifetime experience and very special for you since you will be rounded by your friends and family.

Machu Picchu

There are plenty of other options I can suggest for your destination wedding week in Peru, just leave me a comment and I will be happy to help you! Peru is waiting for you guys!

July 22, 2016 By sayinperu

In Decorations/ Guests/ Invitations/ Wedding Trends

Wedding Invitation Ideas

Finally you have chosen THE ONE, the person of your life and set the date for the most important event of your life: your amazing wedding! You obviously want your loved ones there and them to have a pleasant and enjoyable moment at your wedding day! Why don’t you start surprising them from the moment they receive your wedding invitation?

So, what’s next? You have to choose the theme. There are plenty of ideas, options and ways to invite your family and friends, but the key to a truly unforgettable marriage invitation depends on the design you use, that’s why you got to choose amazing colors and an awesome theme. That sounds a little bit sketchy but you’ll get there we swear, start looking for a color palette that really represents our love guys, the essence of you two, because after all that’s what is about!

If you chose Peru as your wedding destination, you need to know that you have a lot of patterns that you can use, each of them comes from a different areas of the country! Do not forget that Peru is filled with art and culture and this can be a truly inspirational thing in regards of the design of your invitations.

Our first option is to go for something classic, fairly clean, but with a nice decoration that will get to your guests and give an incredible idea of what they will see the day of the wedding. If you have a big wedding with more than 100 guests just ask a graphic designer to make it, but if you have a very intimate wedding with few guests, mainly friends and close friends, you can paint the invitations by yourself, your guests will really appreciate that and this, since you can make the invitations personalized for each guest.

Now, if you are thinking about something more colorful with specific patterns we have a second option. For example you can go for a flowers pattern, which is always a classic when it comes to weddings. Just choose your favorite flower pattern and personalized it to your colors palette! If you opt for a dark color, such as purple or blue, you could combine it with silver or gold, this will make your wedding card more stylish and glamorous!

But what if you’re more of a minimalist kind of person? Well, we got an answer for you: just opt for white paper with only few details! The paper could be white, ivory, nude or nude and you just have to add a little colorful detail. To use a really nice kind of paper in a pastel color with a little and delicate pattern and a calligraphic typeface will make your wedding card a simple and sophisticated one.

Another option it’s nature itself, especially if you’re an eco-friendly girl or woman. Why not? After all you probably have tons of used paper just laying around in your house. The answer is recycled materials, this is a great option. You can take all those papers for recycling and make amazing, modern, eco-friendly invitations. Don’t forget to combine it with an amazing typography and a colorful decoration. It will turn out beautiful and you will be doing the world some good, not bad, huh?

If you fancied this options, don’t forget to follow us for more, like, pin and share this post with all your friends and don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

March 11, 2016 By sayinperu

In Favors/ Guests/ Wedding Trends

Peruvian Wedding Favor Ideas

There are tons of ideas for your wedding favors, from standard items available everywhere to customized ones based on your wedding theme, color palette, and of course the place where you are getting married! And what if you are getting married in Peru?

We have tons of different ideas that we really want to share with you, since couples living abroad might have a bad time dealing with Peruvian traditional products and items that they can give as favors to their wedding guests. For this reason we have put together a list of nice and elegant options that you have to keep in mind for your destination wedding in Peru. This list includes only some of the thousands of options we can propose you, since as you understand Peru is full ofgreat artisan, textiles, gastronomic products…and much more!

An easy and classic idea is to give your guests aromathic candles, you can choose between a lot of different flavors, colors, packaging and you can even personalize them with your names and the date of your wedding!

Another great option is to give to your guests soaps made of traditional Peruvian flavors with a nice packaging as shown in the photo below.

Peru has an incredible variety of coffee throughout the country. Do you dare to choose a variety of the region of your wedding and give it as gift to your guests? This is a nice favor that your guests will certainly appreciate!

Other option could be a homemade jam of some exotic Peruvian fruit, like Camu Camu, Aguaymanto, etc. With this your guests will never forget your wedding and they will bring home some Peruvian flavors as well!

So, these are just some nice wedding favors ideas, we are sure you have a thousand more to share with us! If you like this post don’t forget to visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

March 1, 2016 By sayinperu