The last few weeks have been filled with research for an event we are producing in St. Lucia. Pulling together any event from 2,000 miles away, let alone from another country, is filled with challenges that can destroy the most well thought-out plans if you don’t know what to look out for. From securing the right vehicles, to getting real estate brokers to return phone calls, these details are all in a days work when planning a destination event.

We’ve reached out to some of our contacts in the travel industry and have been able to secure one-of-a-kind locations with views that will impress the most seasoned travelers. Here are a just a few of the great finds we’ve made:

Jade Mountain (http://www.jademountain.com), rated the #1 resort in the Caribbean and the #3 resort in the World by Travel+Leisure, promises to be pure bliss. Waking up each morning and sliding from your bed to your private plunge pool is something that sounds fabulous.

The Pitons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitons), are tops on many “must-see” lists. Villas in this area are especially private and remote, just right for the person looking to get away from it all. The occasional celebrity is rumored to hide out in these hills from time to time.

The diving in St Lucia is some of the best in the world, so hopefully we can experience it while visiting. Scuba St. Lucia (http://www.scubastlucia.com) is the only dive center on the island with the acclaimed National Geographic courses that teach sustainable ecotourism-focused classes.

Getting there is also now easier, with JetBlue (http://www.jetblue.com) offering flights three days a week — just be careful not to miss your flight home, or you could end up being stuck there for a few more days… although, perhaps not such a bad idea in our book.

Noah recently turned me on to a new boutique stationery source, BrooklynBookbinder.com . Noah had ordered some cards from them, and insisted I write about them on the blog. So, I emailed Maggie, the owner, to get some info. Maggie has been bookbinding for the past 15 years and has recently launched a letterpress side to her business. From the work I’ve seen on their site, I am sure it will be a huge success. I highly recommend you check out their page and take a look at the photo albums and journals. This is just the type of distinctive item that I know I want, but I have a hard time finding. Below are images of a recent series of sets of letterpress cards in handmade drop spine linen boxes. These are available on Etsy. Also, you can read more about these letterpress cards on Brooklyn Bookbinder’s blog .

A few luxury health clubs are deciding to go retro in their exercise offerings. At select Equiox Fitness Clubs in NY and LA, members are able to join water aerobics classes where the instructors stand poolside whipping everyone in the water into shape. Call me crazy, but if I haven’t been to the gym in a while, the last thing I need is to get into my bathing suit in front of a bunch of other people. Let’s wait and see how long this reincarnated regime lasts.

Next time you think “wedding”, you may have a new color on your mind: GREEN.

In the face of today’s climate crisis, more and more couples are choosing to adopt eco-friendly ideas when planning their wedding. We, for one, sure don’t want our events contributing to these record setting temperatures that are keeping us from enjoying the cities we love.

Here are some of our favorite ideas:

-invitations printed on recycled paper using eco-solvent ink
-vintage wedding dresses (recycling at it’s best!), You can find these at Once Wed.
-organic wine, possibly an organic caterer.
-locally grown produce
-custom wedding bands crafted from recycled gold
-skip the tissue paper in your invitations
-favors can be small local herbs planted in recycled containers
-request charitable donation instead of gifts - ouch

Here is a link to an article from PLENTY MAGAZINE where Lyndsey contributes some ideas on how to be green.