Beach Wedding Dominica

Cruising to the Movies

If you take a cruise to the Caribbean, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you’re on a film set with its turquoise waters, golden beaches and stunning landscape. That’s why numerous films have been shot on location over the years, from the first film version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1916 to the recent Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, and quite a few in between! The islands have been home to many stars as a result, including the Beatles, Darryl Hannah, Kirk Douglas and Johnny Depp.

If you want to visit the sets of some of your favourite movies on your next Caribbean cruise read our guide to some of the top locations used by film directors.

The Bahamas

The crystal waters and sandy beaches of the Bahamas are a constant draw for film makers. The 1954 remake of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was also filmed at New Providence Island, following in the footsteps of the original version, mostly around Lyford Cay. The remake consequently won the Oscar in 1955 for Best Art Direction, Best Effects and Special Effects.

James Bond fans can enjoy themselves spotting scenes from their favourite Bond flicks. Nassau Harbour was used for many of the underwater battle scenes, as well as being the hiding place of the stolen Vulcan bomber, in Thunderball. If you’re into diving, you can visit the Tears of Allah shipwreck in the South Ocean which featured in Never Say Never Again. You may also be surprised to discover that the interior of Miami International Airport in the recent version of Casino Royale was actually Nassau International Airport, whilst the Madagascar shanty town was filmed at an abandoned motel in Coral Harbour on New Providence Island.

South Bimini Island, around 40 miles east of Miami, has also made a film appearance, albeit very briefly, at the end of Silence of the Lambs when Hannibal (Anthony Hopkins) calls Clarice (Jodie Foster) to tell he’s “having an old friend for dinner” before walking down King’s Highway in Bimini.

Other films shot on location in the Bahamas include Help, Cocoon, Jaws IV: The Revenge and Speed 2, Cruise Control.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory, located about 10 miles south of the town of Arecibo, has featured in several films. The huge radio telescope was used by Jodie Foster in Contact to probe the cosmos, it appeared as the Cuban satellite dish in Goldeneye and it also received transmissions from an alien source in Species.

One film you might not admit to having seen which was also shot in various locations around Puerto Rico is Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster, where the island is raided by two Martians looking for women to take back to Mars and use as breeding stock.

The island of Vieques has also been used as a film location, most notably for Heartbreak Ridge (starring Clint Eastwood who also directed the film) and the 1963 version of Lord of the Flies.

Jamaica

Jamaica is a popular location for film makers with its distinctive Caribbean vibe. The Tom Cruise film Cocktail was filmed here at Dunn’s River Falls, Sandals Royal Plantation and Jamaica Inn around Ochos Rios (about 70 miles east of Montego Bay), as was Papillon, starring Steve McQueen, near the town of Falmouth on the northern coast. You can also see How Stella Got Her Groove Back at Montego Bay.

Don a bikini and pretend you’re Ursula Andress in Dr No emerging from the sea at Laughing Waters beach – one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history. Dr No fans can also follow in the footsteps of the three blind mice in Kingston, see the mountain home of Miss Taro or make sure they don’t get caught in the swamps at Falmouth.

Jamaica had a name change to San Monique for Live and Let Die. Kananga’s underground lair was filmed around Runaway Bay, while Bond’s hotel room was at the Rose Hall Great House Resort in Montego Bay.

Other films shot in Jamaica include The Blue Lagoon, the 1990 remake of Lord of the Flies and License to Wed.

More of the numerous films that also called in at the Caribbean include Apocalypse Now (Dominican Republic), The Godfather II (Dominican Republic), The Shawshank Redemption (US Virgin Islands), Trading Places (US Virgin Islands), Swiss Family Robinson (Trinidad and Tobago) and 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (Martinique).

Of course, we can’t talk about the Caribbean without mentioning Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. They certainly made use of the region, filming in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, Dominica and Bermuda. Hampstead Bay in Dominica was the scene of the waterwheel fight, whilst a small island in the British Virgin Islands appeared as Dead Man’s Chest.

Make your next cruise one to remember by walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest film stars of all time.

About the Author

Susan Bigmore is the web editor for http://www.insidecruise.co.uk, a cruise community packed full of articles and discussions as well as http://www.idealcruising.co.uk a specialist cruise travel agent.

Beach Wedding Dominica

Informal Beach Wedding Invitation Wording

Tips for Choosing a Style for Your Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, that means you may have a tough decision to make when it comes time to choose the wedding invitation that is right for you. You can choose from a wide range of colors, fonts and designs. These are all available in a variety of styles. Some styles that you can choose from are the following: classic, contemporary and destination.

The style of your wedding invitation should reflect the theme of your wedding. By choosing your wedding invitation style first, you can narrow down the options, making it easier to find a design that works well for you. Here are some great tips for choosing the perfect style for your wedding invitations.

First, consider that the wedding invitations are a reflection of the wedding theme. If you are going to have an informal beach wedding, choosing an elegant style for your wedding invitation might throw them off a bit. Similarly, if you want your wedding to be a black tie affair, sending out a bright colored modern wedding invitation may be confusing to your guests. Although you should be clear about the dress code and other elements in the invitation itself, the style really sets the tone. Even though you may really like one particular style, it may not be the best choice for your wedding if it does not match the theme you have chosen.

The theme chosen for your wedding affects the style you should consider when choosing a wedding invitation. Weddings can take place during any time of the year and color and styles reflect that. A fall wedding is usually more formal and a classic style invitation is an excellent choice for this type of wedding. Classic style invitations are usually white with black lace or a grey border. This provides your guests with the information that this wedding is formal.

Contemporary wedding invitations are similar to the classic style as they are also a great choice for a formal wedding. The main difference is that the contemporary or modern style provides more of a laid-back feel than the classic variety. Modern style invitations may contain an illustrated image of a wedding party, palm tree, or even a photo of the bride and groom. If you are not looking for invitations with fun illustrations, there are other options to consider within this category. There are also simple monochromatic invitations that are very similar to that of the classic theme.

If you are planning a destination wedding at the beach, you should not consider using a modern or classic style invitation. A wedding at the beach is very informal and this should be considered when deciding which invitations to utilize. One suggestion is to consider a photo invitation as this allows you to include a photo of the location. This allows your guests to get a sense of what to expect at the ceremony.

Another thing to consider when choosing the theme for your wedding invitations is your budget. Although you can find wedding invitations in all styles no matter what your price range may be, some styles may always be more expensive. Anything that is embossed, includes multiple elements, or is larger than a traditional size may cost more. Remember, although you want your wedding invitations to be reflections of you, you still need to set a budget when making these decisions. If you spend too much on wedding invitations, you may not be able to properly plan the rest of your wedding necessities.

With wedding invitation styles, your personal needs also come into play. Some minimalist styles, although very inexpensive, may not have all of the elements you need for planning your wedding. Consider whether your wedding invitations come with RSVP cards, save the card cards, and return envelopes. Some styles do not include these elements, which mean that you have to order them separately.

There are many styles available when choosing a wedding invitation. When deciding which is best for your wedding, be sure to consider the location, budget and theme. The theme is important as this helps narrow down colors and invitation styles and formality of the ceremony. For example, if you are choosing a destination wedding at the beach during the month of August, you should consider a light blue informal invitation that may also have an image of the ocean.

Classic and contemporary are also excellent choices to consider because they inform your guests of a traditional wedding that is most likely taking place in a formal location. Budget is also an important aspect to consider and this helps narrow down the list of possible invitation choices. Consider these tips when planning your wedding and you should have a better understanding of how to decide the right invitation style for your wedding.

About the Author

Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and other family events, often focusing on a specific aspect of the event such as wedding invitations.

A Wedding Invitation

Informal Beach Wedding Invitation Wording