What is on a destination wedding response card?

This is the number 1 question I get from our destination wedding clients when it comes time to plan their wedding invitations and stationery suites.  Of course, there are so many options when it comes to how you request your responses both in the style and wording that you choose. However the one thing that you'll want to do is to collect as much information as possible. Trust me on this - you don't want to have to get (or guess) these answers a week or days before your wedding.

1. Full names of each guest. There's nothing worse than having to guess the name of someone's date.  Well, maybe just knowing her 1st name. How ridiculous does this look (see right)?: 
2. Arrival date. You'll need to know this so that you can have a good list to give the front desk with the welcome bags.
3. Accommodations: Knowing where everyone is staying is important for several reasons.  You'll know where to deliver welcome bags and you'll know where you'll need to provide transportation. Also, if at all possible, clarify what name the reservation is made under.  Friends rooming together can get tricky for deliveries.
4. Which events they'll be attending. Ask for each event individually!  Its fine to have separate invitations or separate cards for each event, but collect all the responses on one card if possible.
5. Dietary needs and meal selections (if applicable): Ask for your guests to initial which entrees they are selecting.  Why?  Tell me this.  If one person places a mark next to the chicken and one person marks the beef, who gets what?  With initials, you'll know exactly who is having what.

Ready to see some fantastic destination wedding save the dates invitations?  Check out Ceci, A Deux, and Minted

Have you ever seen a pretty tent? Look at these Sperry Tents!

Tented weddings are pretty much on the top of my list of favorites to design.  I love that you get to start with a blank slate underneath but that you have all the natural beauty of the surrounding environment.  There's just something so enticing about celebrating alfresco, don't you think?  Oh, and hands down, I think outdoor lighting options are magnificent.

I honestly never thought the day would come when Sperry tents would arrive in Florida.  I am excited.  Being that I love a good tent wedding, its wonderful to have another option, and these tents are just stunning. Here are a few images of their lovelies.

I confess, I kind of adore the Blue Star Tents.  Perfect for a nautical wedding.

But what about great dance songs from a wedding band?

What about when you have a band rather than a DJ?  Are the "fill the dance floor" songs different?  Apparently a little of both!  I asked Clint what the response is for his band, None Other and here is what he had to say:

Top live band songs that fill the dance floor are...

1. Journey - Don't Stop Believing

2. Gaga - Just Dance

3. LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It

4. Tina Turner - Proud Mary

5. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Song requested by brides that (surprisingly) packed the dance floor a few times...

James - Laid

Song That Clears The Dance floor...

1. Madonna - Vogue

I will admit, I didn't even know what song or who James was, so Clint sent me this video.  I can see myself dancing to this one now:

And I 100% agree to the Vogue clearing the dance floor.  That one I have unfortunately seen a few times.  Some songs are great for a car ride (or watching on Glee), but aren't great for weddings.

9 fill the dance floor fast songs and 2 that will clear it

Last night I was in my car listening to the radio and I had a flashback to our last wedding...
I was in the dinner tent and I looked over to the afterglow tent and saw what looked like every single wedding guest going crazy on the dance floor.  Hands were in the air, I could hear them all singing along, DJ Gable was above the crowd - it was such an amazing view.  What brought it all back to my mind was that Pitbull was playing on the radio.
Later that evening I was chatting with Clint Wiley who owns Stereophonic DJs and I asked him, "Clint what songs do your DJs find fills the dance floor the fastest these days?"  Clint called DJ Gable (on left) and DJ Burdier (on right) and these were their answers:

DJ Gable says, 

Top 5: 

LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It

Kenny Loggins - Footloose

Cupid - Cupid Shuffle

Micheal Jackson -Thriller

Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger 

Cleared the dancefloor last event: 

Nicki Minaj - Super Bass

DJ Burdier says...

Top 5: 

Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feelin

FloRida - Low

Cupid - Cupid Shuffle

Usher ft Pitbull - DJs Got Us Falling in Love 

Cleared the dancefloor last event:

Pitbull/Chris Brown - International Love