Crystal Coast beach brides now don’t have to worry about their hair and makeup falling victim to the oceanfront environment.

The new Seaside Salon and Spa is now open for business on the Atlantic Beach oceanfront. Just steps from the ocean, the Salon is part of Visions Events and Beyond’s  complete wedding facility on the Atlantic Beach boardwalk.

The Seaside Salon and Spa provides full professional spa and salon services, from hair care and styling, make up, body treatments, and skin care. Treat yourself–and your wedding party–to a day of pampering at the beach!

By Bob Decker, RD Decker Photography

Don’t wait too long before booking your favorite vendors. In the past, January and February were the big booking months for Crystal Coast wedding vendors. But lately couples are booking their vendors far in advance of their wedding date…sometimes as much as 12 to 18 months early! If you put off meeting and booking venues, photographers, entertainment and other “one wedding per day” vendors you may have to settle for you second, third or even fourth choice.

Getting the vendor of your dreams isn’t the only advantage to booking early. Like all businesses, wedding vendors need to adjust prices to match increased costs and as demand for their unique services grow. Most vendors will raise prices at least once a year, some adjusting prices semi-annually or even quarterly. By booking sooner you could enjoy a significant cost savings.

Check out this article in The Washington Post about Beaufort.

While not wedding-oriented, it gives readers a wonderful taste of this Crystal Coast seaport town. Beaufort is  becoming one of the Crystal Coast’s leading wedding locations off the beach.

With top-notch wedding venues such as The North Carolina Maritime Museum and the Beaufort Historic Site, this town offers a wonderful historic ambiance with a salty flair.

Brides, grooms, and their families are invited to attend the Crystal Coast Wedding Salon, January 8-10, 2010, at the Sheraton Oceanfront Resort in Atlantic Beach, NC.

The Crystal Coast Wedding is the area’s only destination wedding showcase that welcomes brides to a weekend at the beach for an experience in coastal wedding planning.

The Salon isn’t an average bridal show. It begins on Friday night with a rousing welcome party sponsored by the Sheraton Atlantic Beach with music, fun, food, and drink On Saturday morning, January 8, couples can take a chauffeured limousine tour of 20 Crystal Coast event venues from Emerald Isle to Beaufort. Brides and grooms will have the opportunity to sit back and enjoy a glass of champagne while participating limousine companies transport them to area venues set in wedding style.

Later that day, The Wedding Salon showcase gives brides a chance to meet select Crystal Coast wedding vendors in a relaxed oceanfront wedding reception setting at the Sheraton Oceanfront Resort in Atlantic Beach. Brides will experience first-hand how over 30 Crystal Coast wedding vendors can make their beach wedding a dream come true.

On Saturday night, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will host the hottest ticket in town: After Party for Salon guests. Complimentary transportation will be provided from the Sheraton to the Aquarium where food, drink, dancing, prizes, and great fun await.

Couples will also receive a luxury swag bag worth hundreds of dollars in gifts, services, and area dining and shopping offers.

All-inclusive tickets are $20 for couples, and $15 for singles with discounted tickets available online at www.CrystalCoastWeddingSalon.com. The Sheraton is also offering a special accommodations and breakfast package available by calling 800-624-8875.

Our friend, Pam DuVal at Promised Hearts Wedding Planning teaches a Certified Wedding Planning course at Carteret Community College, and the next class starts September 1.

The wedding planning certification program is perfect for the individual looking to get started as a professional wedding planner right away or someone that needs validation for their current skills as a wedding planner. This comprehensive program covers everything from contracts to etiquette, flowers, music, day of services, marketing, business practices, trade secrets and industry specific applications. Whether you plan on working part-time, planning only a few weddings a year, or a full-time career, this program will provide all the tools necessary to work as a professional wedding planner or start your wedding planning business.

Students meet each week in class as well as take class trips, site tours, and even participate in assisting at real weddings during this class.

Candidates for the Wedding Planning Certification Course at Carteret Community College can register by contacting Kris Workman at 252-222-6204 or krw@carteret.edu. Tuition is $795 and includes classroom instruction, textbook, six months online curriculum and support access, and post-graduate job placement assistance.

Here’s an interesting article from the San Francisco Gatedetailing one California bride’s journey to make her wedding eco-friendly–and save a bit of money. While some of the details apply to Northern California, we think her experience is applicable to any wedding. Help save the environment and wear and tear on your budget.

E.H.