Ian & Ariel A Mid-Summer’s Dream

Ian & Ariel were some of the unfortunate whose wedding got caught up in the 2020 covid shutdown.  They had planned for over a year when they found out that their family couldn’t attend in 2020 and so they were forced to move it to 2021.  So many things can change in two years that it was almost like they planned two weddings.

“In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

~The Beatles

Ariel always dreamed of a big party with lots of friends and family. Lots of dancing! Friends and family were so valued by this couple that they focused the entire event on ensuring that everyone would be over the moon with the food and that the stars would not outshine their reception!

From Ariel: 

As I began to look for wedding venues, I actually found Dream Field Farms on Airbnb. The venue looked beautiful and the options to have an indoor or outdoor ceremony with a large enough reception space to accommodate our families was a big plus! We were looking for anywhere in the state of Alabama and Dream Field Farms turned out to be more than perfect.

I had eight bridesmaids and three flower girls. These were all of my best girlfriends. I've known one since middle school and others from college and working in Huntsville. My twin sister was my maid of honor. My family friends' kids were the flower girls along with my best friend's daughter.

 I chose my twin sister as my maid of honor. She's always been there for me since the beginning and I wouldn't have wanted anyone else by my side!

As I walked down the aisle, I was thinking how I couldn't believe this was happening already, It was a whirlwind of a day. Weather didn't hold up for us and I made it just in time to the barn for the ceremony before I had to walk down the aisle.

 As I looked for Ian, he was holding back tears for joy. He didn’t want to ugly cry for the pictures.

The wedding ceremony was a bit of a blur to be honest. It was great to get to see everyone there while I walked down the aisle and to finally see my husband with tears in his eyes waiting for me.

The most amazing thing about my reception was getting to spend time with everyone! Seeing family and friends from around the country, enjoying great food, music and dancing.

I loved all of the reception decor. The table settings were beautiful. The centerpieces and floral were magnificent. The drapery in the barn with the fairy lights, moon and star accents were perfectly on theme.

Everyone told us it was an amazing day! Everyone loved the food, music, decor and overall merriment. The rain did not stop anyone from having a good time.

My absolute favorite part of the day was the bouquet and garter toss. We had such a good time dancing and drinking after the formalities were over.

I was asked if I could do this day again would I…..NO! Ha ha! I wouldn’t want to spoil the memories I have of my wedding day and night by trying to recreate it. It will be a memory cherished forever. A one of a kind experience I hope everyone gets the chance to have.

 We asked Ariel, what was your overall experience with Dream Field Farms?
It was wonderful working with Cathy and Ban.  Cathy made everything go so smoothly for us and was always willing to have a call or meeting to discuss wedding details. Ban and all the staff set up everything beautifully and took care of the rehearsal dinner and reception dinner without flaw. The food was better than we could have hoped for.

Meet Cathy & Take A Tour: https://www.dreamfieldfarms.com/tour

How To Create The Most Amazing Honeymoon Ever!

Your honeymoon is one of those high-stakes trips that requires careful, thoughtful planning—and a well-padded budget. 

After all, the idea is that you'll only do it once, so undoubtedly there is a bit of (okay, a lot) pressure to make this extremely special. And just as weddings have become ever more extravagant over the years, so have honeymoons—why take one week off when you can take three weeks off? And why not multiple stops?

No matter where you are in your wedding planning, the opportunity to switch gears for a moment and start thinking about how to plan your honeymoon is always a welcome break. 

Wondering when to start thinking about booking your honeymoon? Here are a few planning tips from Dream Field Farms:

1. Start Early

Most couples start 6-8 months prior to your desired travel dates. If you are thinking about a European Honeymoon or other destinations that coincide with the summer travel season, January and February are ideal times to start planning for your July-August honeymoon.

2. Airlines Are Tricky

Airlines regularly change their routes, hotels update their pricing, and while all of these variables are in play, if you have your sights set on some seriously far-flung adventure destinations, you might want to look at planning your honeymoon as far as a year in advance. Patagonia, Antarctica and Alaska trips should be booked a year out because the peak travel season is so short. 

3. Plan Your Honeymoon Together

If one person is making all of the honeymoon plans it is likely that the trip will be tailored around only that person’s idea of an amazing trip. To avoid that, get your fiance’s input throughout your planning and make it a trip that both of you will love.

During your planning process you will probably hear tons of input from your friends and family. You will hear lots of suggestions about where to go, what to see and food to eat, but in the end, do things that you and your hunny will enjoy! 

Wedding planning can be so involved that it's tempting to copy another couple's honeymoon itinerary. But while your friends may have loved that no-stress, all-inclusive resort, you might find it tamps your adventurous spirit. 

Or, maybe you've heard your parents reminisce about their honeymoon in 

Bermuda your whole life... but that doesn't mean it's right for the two of you. It's fine to solicit advice from friends and family, but take it with that proverbial grain of salt. This is your honeymoon, after all, and it should be tailored to your interests. You only get one shot at this. Make it a time you cherish. We suggest getting a special journal and writing down what’s most important to you two honeymooners! 

PRO TIP: Do Not Copy Anyone Else's Honeymoon Itinerary

If you are looking for the best location, you may want to consider these things.

4. Lean On The Experience Of A Travel Agent

If you want extra guidance planning your honeymoon, travel agents can come in handy. They have insider knowledge on deals and discounts and have  relationships with hoteliers, which can sometimes mean a room is magically available in an otherwise fully-booked hotel. They can also save you endless research time and offer first-hand destination knowledge.

Using an agent means they do all of the research and planning, while you get the PERFECT DESTINATION and the RIGHT FIT. This takes some of the pressure off and enables couples to have the time of their lives.

5. Be Aware Of Hidden Costs

As you start putting your “PERFECT HONEYMOON” plans into motion you will want to be aware of the “EXTRAS” as you will want to avoid tacking on those last minute surprise expenses. Visas, airport transfers and resort fees can tack on additional costs. Make sure you understand all fees included in the cost of bookings. Will you need cab fare, ferry fees or remote island transportation? 

SOMETHING TO REMEMBER: Purchase Honeymoon Insurance. Things happen and you will want to ensure that last minute changes and delays have you covered and enable you to recoup costs if necessary.

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Put In A Special Request

Make sure you get that suite that faces the west so you’ll be facing the beach at sunset. Want to be poolside? Include that in your bookings. Keeping your schedule too strict means that you might miss out on a private beach dinner and parasailing. 

PRO-TIP: Planning Ahead Of Time Will Make Your Honeymoon Romantic!

Your Best Honeymoon planning timeline

One year before honeymoon: Dream. Think about where you’ve always wanted to go to celebrate your marriage, and get inspired by guidebooks, magazines and websites.

Nine months before your honeymoon: If you’re budgeting your holiday in tandem with your wedding, you’ll likely know at this point what funds you’re hoping to allocate to your trip and can compare your budget against that dream list of destinations.

Six months before your honeymoon: Properly slot in your travel dates after calibrating for personal commitments and taking into account the optimal time – as you deem it – for visiting your destination of choice.

Four months before your honeymoon (or earlier): Cement the foundations of your plans, scouting airplane tickets, booking must-have items on your checklist (hotels, visa, park permits), and firming up a version – in very broad strokes – of what your itinerary might look like (which days in which destination for multi-stop trips).

Two months before your wedding (note wedding, and not necessarily honeymoon): If you’ve decided to ask your guests to help you fund your dream trip, now is the time to create an online registry detailing tangible activities to be undertaken at a gradation of price points to suit your wedding guests’ varying budgets.

One month before your honeymoon: The internet enables the world to move a million miles a minute, so once you begin the 30-day countdown you can take to your social platforms to snoop for upcoming events and trending bars, and even find friends that might be criss-crossing your itinerary.

When done right, your honeymoon is the perfect time to relax, catch your breath and truly celebrate your brand new union. Planning your honeymoon doesn’t have to be stressful.. especially if you do it together with enough time to save. This is the most romantic time of your life, you should enjoy it.