The Today Throws a Wedding series has been a highlight of the Today Show for the past five years. In 2004 the winning couple received an all-expenses-paid destination wedding from the Today Show.
10% of all weddings (150,000 a year) are destination weddings, according to the Today Show.
By following the 2004 Today Throws a Destination Wedding, viewers learned how much fun -- and how much planning is involved in -- having a destination wedding in a faraway location.
~ WEEK 12 OF TODAY THROWS A WEDDING ~
This week, under an overcast Anguilla sky, Nikki and Buddy finally celebrated their destination wedding at Cap Juluca in an extended Today Show Wedding program. The groom told his bride, "I'd marry you anywhere, but this is an added bonus" and Tony Bennett serenaded the couple by singing "The Best is Yet to Come."
The final installment of Today Throws a Destination Wedding featured an Anguilla travelogue with alluring video of the Caribbean island's beaches and 78-degree waters. There was a tour of their Cap Juluca suite (where prices start at $500 a night), and the camera followed the couple into town, where they secured their marriage license.
For full details on the wedding day, visit About Weddings.
HONEYMOON SELECTED
The Today Show audience chose Austria for the couple's honeymoon. After a long post-wedding weekend in Anguilla, Nikki and Buddy plan to return home and celebrate the holidays. Their Austria honeymoon is scheduled to take place in January, and we wish them all the best.
~ WEEK 11 OF TODAY THROWS A WEDDING ~
HAIRDO SELECTED
The winning choice was a loose, casual, on-the-shoulders style that added waves to Nikki's hair.
AND IT WAS TIME TO VOTE ON...THE HONEYMOON
- Austria - Old-world charm in a Vienna fairytale setting
- Whistler -- Snowy celebrations in a Canadian Alpine village
- Mexico Cruise from Los Cabos - Hot, hot, hot times on an adventure cruise along the Sea of Cortez
- London - England's capital city has never been more fun -- especially when it involves a private tour inside Buckingham Palace
~ WEEK 10 OF TODAY THROWS A WEDDING ~
GIFT BAGS SELECTED
The winning choice was the Island Adventurer insulated backpack, filled with the right stuff for a destination wedding: snorkel set, Caribbean travel guide, Coppertone Sport SPF and a Kodak digital camera.
AND IT WAS TIME TO VOTE ON...
Nikki's Hairstyle
Choices included a braided updo with hair extensions; a half-up/half-down style; a smooth bun; and loose waves.
~ WEEK 9 OF TODAY THROWS A WEDDING ~
This week Buddy had his bachelor party. "From what I can remember, it was fun," he told the Today Show of the event that included poker, a motorboat ride, and karaoke. Nikki had both a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, the latter at at Lexington race track.
WEDDING CAKE SELECTED
The winning choice was Cakes for Occasions' pearls and shells design of triple-tier chocolate cake infused with espresso and covered with smooth, satin-rolled fondant.
AND IT WAS TIME TO VOTE ON...
Gift Bags
What's a wedding without gifts for... the guests? Destination wedding gift bags should be prepared in advance and left in guests' rooms awaiting their arrival. Include a combination of practical items, fun stuff, and an itinerary of the wedding events. Avoid heavy and breakable items. If budgets are limited, provide cookies and bottled water (to save guests from high minibar charges) and a local map.
High-end gift bag choices the Today Show audience has to vote on are:
- Beach Bag - Lands End tote containing travel guide, personalized water bottles, and a pair of Ray-Ban shades for each guest
- Snack Attack - Goodies from Fresh Direct and a personalized water bottle with a photo of the couple on it
- Island Adventures - Insulated backpack with snorkel set, suntan lotion, Kodak digital camera
- In-room Spa Kit - spa luxury package with Origins products in tropical scents.
MORE TODAY THROWS A DESTINATION WEDDING RE-CAPS
Follow along week by week, and click to catch up with previous installments of Today Throws a Destination Wedding and review the week-by-week choices the Today Show audience has made.
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