Monday 24 December 2012

Seasons Greetings



Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings!

Pose Destination Weddings would like to thank our past and present clients, especially our Destination Wedding Brides and Grooms for all of your support in 2012. 

We are excited to announce that we had a really fantastic year this year, not only through our business growth but also because of the relationships we developed  throughout the year with some incredible individuals.
Our job is so rewarding to us as we love the feeling of making a Bride and Grooms wedding dream come true.
We work on a Destination Wedding group as if it were our own wedding which is why we have such incredible feedback from our past Destination Wedding Groups, comments such as " -->Our experience was amazing!  We could not have done it without Pose Destination Weddings help" makes us feel like we have accomplished our goal, which is delivering the best experience for everyone. 

If you are going to be attending some Wedding shows in 2013 make sure to look out for our booth and I am sure if you come and say hello we will give you a little goodie. 
Also as a reminder for new Destination Wedding couples we have a competition happening at the Wedding shows where if you book your wedding group with us you will go in the draw to win 7  nights accommodation at the 5 star All Inclusive Resort Now Jade Riviera + return flights from your chosen city. 

We are also excited to announce that we teamed up with another popular 5 star All Inclusive Resort in the Mayan Riviera recently; The Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda and we created a wedding package exclusive to our Destination Wedding couples who book with us and stay at the Blue Bay for their Destination Wedding. 

Don't forget about our referral promotion where if you refer a new Destination Wedding group (10 or more rooms booked with Pose Destination Weddings) then we will give you $250, it's that simple. 

For all of our Destination Wedding couples who are getting married over the Holiday Season, we wish you all the best with your incredible journey you are about to endeavor. 

Thank you for what has been a wonderful year and we look forward to what 2013 brings. 


  

Friday 30 November 2012

Friends Referring Friends

Welcome to the end of November!

Wow can you believe that next month is the end of 2012, it surely feels like this year has gone by far too quickly, especially for those of you who have been fortunate enough to countdown to your big day!

Our busy season has definitely begun at Pose Destination Weddings.
We have been Bon Voyaging many Destination Wedding groups that have booked through Pose over the last year, as they head off on their exciting adventures of attending a Destination Wedding.

We want to Congratulate all of our Destination Wedding Bride and Grooms who were married recently, we love receiving your feedback and seeing your beautiful photos from your big day so keep them coming!

This month we have decided to implement a new referral system at Pose Destination Weddings as our way of rewarding and saying thank you for referring a new Destination Wedding group booking to one of our representatives at Pose Destination Weddings. We like to call it "Friends Referring Friends" here is how it works;



"Friends Referring Friends"

Our business thrives on referrals from customers thrilled with our work. To show our appreciation, we’re offering $250 to anyone with a new referral that leads to the successful booking of a *Destination Wedding.
There’s never been an easier way to make your friends – and your wallet – happy.

*Destination Wedding = A minimum of 10 rooms booked under the group rate at the same resort.

If you have a Destination Wedding that you would like to refer please feel free to email us at info@posetravel.com or you can phone us on 1855 4 POSE TRAVEL (1855 4 767387)


Wednesday 31 October 2012

Destination Wedding Music App

Hi there,

Welcome to October! The month that officially kicks off the start to the busy Destination Wedding season.

This months blog post we wanted to share with you a recent find we came across on the apple app store which is the "My WeddingDJ" app.
When planning your Destination Wedding you will come across the option as to whether or not you would like to hire a DJ for your reception, this is a personal choice and totally up to the bride and groom however if you choose not to hire a DJ the alternate option is to create your own playlists on your MP3 player and hire the sound system for the evening which is a very cost efficient way and also this option you will have all of your favorite music.

With this in mind we have found a fantastic app that will make the creating and playing of your own playlists so much more organized and easier to access.

Key Features;
- Helps you create a Music Plan using your songs and playlists
- Suggests parts of your wedding you need music for
- No awkward silences
- Fades gracefully for all pauses and stops
- Cross-fades between songs and when you skip a track
- Prevents accidental skipping or pausing
- Takes requests
- Waits between each song or playlist if appropriate
- Supports skipping multiple songs at once
- Allows modifying your Music Plan on the fly

Check it out:








Wednesday 26 September 2012

Destination Wedding Group Activities


Hi there and welcome to Fall!

Can you believe the Summer season has come to an end? however if you are lucky enough to be attending a Destination Wedding coming up, then your Summer will definitely be extended in some beautiful tropical destination.

This months blog post we wanted to share some Mexican Destination Wedding group activity ideas that we recommend if you are thinking of something fun to organize for your guests.

A great idea for your Destination Wedding is to organize a planned activity or two for all of your guests, either pre or post wedding so that everyone can get to know each other better or just to have some fun outside of the resort.
These suggestions can also be a great idea if you are thinking about having your stag or stagette  party while you are down there.

1. Golfing
A lot of the resorts will mention they offer "free golf" however make sure to read the terms and conditions as there are some fees that are mandatory e.g. golf cart, clubs, shoes etc. There are also tee times that are only included in these special offers so be sure to read the fine print. They have some incredible resorts in the Mayan Riviera and Cancun so be sure to check them out: Grand Coral Riviera Maya Golf Course



2. Shopping Tour 
A great experience is to go to Playa Del Carmen and do a shopping tour of 5th Avenue, usually most resorts will offer this tour and the price will include your transportation, a meal voucher at a restaurant such as Senor Frogs and tequila tasting.


3. Adventure Day out - Xplor Park
This park is for adventurers it has everything from zip lining to ATV tours, swimming in the cenotes and rafting in the cenotes. This park has it all! Xplor


4. Swimming with the Dolphins
This is always a favorite amongst all of the ages and there are multiple locations to experience this amazing adventure. Swimming with the dolphins - Cancun



5. Coco Bongo
If your group likes to party then this is your place! You will see a Coco Bongo representative at most resorts (usually hanging around the pool on the party side) and you can negotiate a group rate where they will include transport, table service, drinks and a lot of fun to be had. You don't want to be getting up early the next day if you go here the night before. Coco Bongo


6. Spa day 
Why not relax and have a day in the spa, most resorts will have a spa on their premises so make sure you request a price list from the concierge and book with plenty of notice as this is something that definitely is popular amongst other guests.


7. Mayan Ruins - Chichen Itza 
These ruins are one of the 7 wonders of the world so it is a very popular tourist attraction, they are located in Tulum and are a must once in a lifetime (or more) see for most. Chichen Itza


8. Fishing in Puerto Morelos
If you are into fishing then this is also a popular activity amongst groups (great for a stag party)
Fishing


9. Diving or Snorkeling
The reef that runs along the coast is the 2nd largest coral reef in the world, the portion of this reef that runs in front of Puerto Morelos is a National Marine Park. Which is a great place to experience snorkeling or diving for any tourist or group. Puerto Morelos
 

10. Visit another resort for the day
If you are staying at a resort which has a sister/parent resort (part of a chain) then they will usually offer guests to "play" at their other resorts for the day at no additional cost (you have to organize your own transportation). This can be a great idea to try out some new restaurants, meet some new people or just have a change of atmosphere for the day.



Tuesday 14 August 2012

Wedding Expo Competition

Hi there,

I hope you are all enjoying your Summer's so far and making the most of the beautiful weather you are getting.
I am sure if you have an upcoming Destination Wedding it is preparing you of how beautiful the weather is going to be when you arrive at your tropical destination to say your "I DO's".

This months blog we wanted to share our exciting news with regards to our upcoming promotion we will be having in January 2013 Wedding Expo's.
We know there is still a few months to go until January, however it will be a great chance to pass on this information to your friends and family who are wanting to have a Destination Wedding so they can enter to be in the chance to win our exciting competition.

Here it goes.......

Pose Destination Weddings + Travel are giving away 7 nights accommodation and return airfares for 2 at the luxury 5 star resort, Now Jade Riviera Cancun!
Courtesy of Westjet airlines (our preferred Airline) and The Now Jade Resort.
How to Enter:
Every New Destination Wedding Bride or Groom who requests a new Group Wedding Quote from a Pose Destination Wedding representative at any of the following Wedding Expo's:
January 06th - Okanagan Bridal Expo Kelowna
January 13th - Bridal Fantasy Calgary
January 20th - The Wedding Expo Calgary
Will go in the draw to win the above prize.

Blackout dates for travel do apply and you must be over 21 years of age to enter.
The winner will be drawn after January 20th, 2013

We are very excited about this competition and the great news is only New Destination Wedding Brides or Grooms can enter so it means you have a higher chance of winning!

Make sure to let your friends know of this amazing promotion as we would love to meet them at one of the above expos.

We also have another competition which is currently running on our Social Media Facebook page and once we receive 1000 fans who "like" our page we are giving away a digital camera to a loyal fan.
Make sure to "like" our page if you haven't done so already as you could be the one using this camera below on your next vacation or Destination Wedding.


Tuesday 31 July 2012

How to pick a resort for your Destination Wedding

Today's blog we are going to give you a few helpful tips on trying to make your decision making a little easier when choosing the perfect resort for your Destination Wedding.



Let's say you were just recently engaged and you have decided to have a Destination Wedding, (of course the first thing you are going to do is contact Pose Destination Weddings  - 1 855 476 7387).
 A Pose representative is going to ask you a couple of questions to start the planning process they will ask....
"Do you know what you want your approx. budget per guest attending to pay? "
This budget means the price of your guest's return flights (Canada, USA), round-trip airport transfers in destination, 7 nights accommodation at an All Inclusive and all applicable taxes and fees.
The average budget per guest staying at a 4.5 - 5 star in Mexico is approx. $1500 (however we always aim to find the cheapest deal.

Another question will be.....
"Do you have any resorts in mind?"
This is one of the reasons why having a Destination Wedding Specialist is crucial.
A lot of people have traveled to an All Inclusive before and perhaps purchased an amazing "last minute deal" so they assume that this is always the cost of that specific resort/location, this is not always the case.
Last minute vacation deals are offered at a low cost due to the fact that a resort is at low occupancy rates, and the airline also is not at full capacity so they offer a special, let's face it having someone filling that space is better than not making any money at all for these companies.
What a Pose representative would suggest is that yourself (bride and groom) sit together one evening and create a "wish list" for your resort. Every bride/groom' needs and wants are completely different to the next so write down exactly what you want in a resort.
Here are some questions to consider;
  • What does their wedding package look like at this resort?
  • What do the wedding locations look like? ceremony/cocktail party/reception
  • Are we beach people? and if we are what is the ocean like at this resort? is it swim able?
  • What style is the resort? modern/contemporary
  • Is it a larger or smaller resort? if a larger resort do they offer shuttle services? 
  • Is there an adults only section? 
  • Is this resort child friendly? 
  • What kind of restaurants do they offer? Do you need reservations? 
  • How old is the property? 
  • Do you know someone who has been to this resort? - (perfect for asking a testimonial)
  • Is there a nightlife at the resort? 
  • Do they offer Wi-Fi at the resort and how much? 
  • How far is this resort from the airport we will be flying in to? 
  • Is there exercise facilities available?
  • Is there a salon/spa services available? 
Once you have told your Pose representative what you want in a resort and of course more importantly the budget per person they will be able to work with you and recommend resorts that will be suitable to you and your guest's needs. 

Always remember at the end of the day the most important aspect is that you are getting MARRIED! and no matter what, the day will be perfect. If you are in the company with loved ones, close friends and family then the chances are the resort won't be the reason why the vacation was so amazing it's the company that made it amazing.

Thursday 28 June 2012

Is a Destination Wedding Ceremony Legal?


When planning a Destination Wedding you have to decide if you want a legal/civil, religious or symbolic wedding.

Here are the differences:

Only a civil ceremony is legally recognized. A religious ceremony has no legal bearing and does not replace in any way the binding legal civil marriage. A renewal of vows or religious ceremony is a symbolic ceremony. It is performed by a non-denominational minister. (Please note that Catholic ceremonies cannot be performed outside the church). The bride and groom will receive a symbolic marriage which is not legal.

When we speak with our brides and grooms we always ask them which ceremony they will be choosing for their upcoming Destination Wedding.
There are a few requirements to consider when you are deciding between a legal and non-legal wedding so we thought we should give you some information on what you need to do in order to have a legal wedding in your chosen destination.

Mexican Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)
  • Valid passport
  • Tourist Cards (blue sheets that you receive at the airport)
  • Apostle certified birth certificates for Bride & Groom
    • If applicable, final Record of Divorce
    • If applicable, Death Certificate
  • Health certificate and blood test provided by a Mexican Official (additional cost)
  • Bride & Groom must arrive four business days prior to the ceremony (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count).
  • Name, addresses, nationalities, ages, occupation, relationships, copy of a tourist card and a valid identification of the 4 witnesses.
  Dominican Republic Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)
  • Birth Certificate of Bride and Groom or certified copy of Birth certificate. If parents’ names are not shown on the certificates, please indicate them separately.
  • Notarized Declaration of Single status for the Bride and Groom. If previously married, submit two copies of the Divorce Decree or Death Certificate. There is a mandatory waiting period for women, 10 months before they are legally allowed to remarry.
  • A photocopy of Bride and Groom’s Passport
  • Photocopies of all Witnesses Passports. Cannot be family members. If necessary, resort will provide witnesses.
  • Bride & Groom must be in the country 3 business days prior to the wedding.
Please note: The Dominican Republic is now a member of the La Hague Convention, please have your official documents apostatized by your Secretary of State Office.

Jamaican Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)
 
In order to get legally married by a Marriage officer recognized by the Jamaican Government, the following documents are required to be sent via courier to the Wedding Coordinator at least four weeks prior to the couple’s arrival to the hotel:
  • Notarized copies of the Bride & Groom birth certificate
  • Notarized copies of Bride & Groom official ID ( Passports)
  • Notarized copies of Divorce decrees or death certificates (if applicable)
Cuban Legal Wedding requirements (Civil Ceremony)

Documents required by The Holiday Place 12 weeks prior to departure:

Proof of Identity: A copy of Birth Certificate and copy of the passport which is valid for at least 6 months  upon your return.
Divorced: A copy of the original Decree Absolute stamped with the seal of the court where it was issued.
Widow(er): A Copy of the marriage certificate and death certificate of husband or wife is required.
Name Change: A copy of Deed Poll under which change has been done.
Adoption: A copy of the adoption certificate is required.

*Important Note: All documents stated above except passport and birth certificate must be translated into Spanish first and legalized at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and then the Cuban Consulate.
All original documents must be presented at the resort. 
Bride & Groom must be in the country 3 business days prior to the wedding.

Friday 18 May 2012

Weather Patterns: Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica

Hi there,

Welcome to May! just to think only one more month and we are already half way through 2012.

When planning a Destination Wedding with our beautiful brides and handsome grooms there are a few important factors to consider, such as; Weather conditions for the week they will be traveling and getting married, is their preferred wedding date available, is the price for their guests coming in within budget and so on.

We decided over the next few months we will write about these important factors when considering your Destination Wedding, cause let's face it, we all endeavor the same questions and concerns.

Here is some relevant weather information when it comes to looking at having your Destination Wedding somewhere tropical.

Mexico has a varied climate depending on the regions. The rainy season runs from May through October with the west coast vulnerable to hurricanes in September and October. While the north western region of Mexico is arid, the climate of the south eastern coast is tropical due to surrounding warm waters. Higher elevations (the central plateau) enjoy spring like weather almost year round. 


Mayan Riviera: Average Rainfall / Month

The climate in the Riviera Maya is hot and humid, but the humidity is not as high as in other areas. The average annual temperature ranges from 25 C to 30 C. Offshore water temperatures range from 
26 C in January to 29 C in August. May through November is the rainy season.

Temperature in Celsius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 27 28 29 30 30 30 30 31 30 30 28 27
Minimum 20 20 20 22 22 23 23 23 23 22 21 20
Rainfall (mm) 90 120 50 170 200 370 140 120 360 90 80 60


Puerto Vallarta: Average Rainfall / Month

Puerto Vallarta enjoys a typical tropical climate, with near constant temperature. Puerto Vallarta usually experiences 322 days of sunshine a year and average temperatures between 20° C and 30° C. Rainfall is heavier in June and October. Even during the rainy season precipitation tends to be concentrated in large rainstorms with insignificant precipitation on most days.

Temperature in Celsius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 26 26 27 27 29 31 31 32 32 31 29 27
Minimum 16 16 17 18 21 24 24 24 24 23 20 18
Rainfall (mm) 28 18 7 7 12 206 334 327 347 123 19 20


Dominican Republic
Humid tropical but still pleasant thanks to the winds coming from the North-West and mountainous rises present on the island. The water temperature is usually between 27°C and 30°C. The rainy seasons are from May to August and again later in October.


Temperature in Celsius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 31 31 31 30
Minimum 20 20 20 21 22 23 23 23 23 22 21 20
Rainfall (mm) 63 57 54 72 188 140 145 177 181 187 100 84


Punta Cana: Average Rainfall / Month

Punta Cana has a warm semi-tropical climate but is tempered by eastern winds. It rarely rains during daylight hours.

Temperature in Celsius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 26 28 27 28 28 29 29 29 29 28 28 26
Minimum 18 18 19 19 20 22 22 23 22 22 20 18
Rainfall (mm) 80 20 90 110 190 180 170 170 200 170 120 70

Jamaica

Mountain breezes and northeast trade winds create a pleasant year round climate. You will find a tropical climate at sea level and temperate climate in the interior mountainous region of the island. The average temperature oscillates between 19C and to 32C. Of course the higher the altitude the cooler it will be.

There are two distinctive rainy seasons: the first from May to June and the second from September to November. You may experience short but refreshing afternoon tropical showers all year and bring a sweater for the evening during the winter months.

Montego Bay: Average Rainfall / Month

Montego Bay's tropical climate is very pleasant however it can get colder in the mountains. The annual average temperature is 27° C.

Temperature in Celcius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 27 27 28 29 30 31 31 31 31 30 29 28
Minimum 22 22 22 23 23 24 25 25 24 24 23 22
Rainfall (mm) 60 40 50 60 140 130 70 130 150 180 130 90

Ocho Rios: Average Rainfall / Month

Montego Bay's tropical climate is very pleasant however it can get colder in the mountains. The annual average temperature is 27° C.

Temperature in Celcius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 27 27 28 29 30 31 31 31 31 30 29 28
Minimum 22 22 22 23 23 24 25 25 24 24 23 22
Rainfall (mm) 60 40 50 60 140 130 70 130 150 180 130 90

Negril: Average Rainfall / Month

Negril has a tropical climate with average temperatures varying from 25C to 28C. Afternoon showers are frequent but short and refreshing.

Temperature in Celcius J F M A M J J A S O N D
Maximum 30 29 30 31 31 32 32 32 32 32 31 31
Minimum 20 22 20.5 21.1 22 23 22.6 26.7 22.6 22.6 21.8 20.5
Rainfall (mm) 23 15 23 30 102 86 86 89 97 178 76 36

Friday 20 April 2012

Coconut Ice Cream

Learn to Make Coconut Ice Cream


I scream, you scream, we all scream for Coconut Ice Cream! And if you’re a Piña Colada fan, you will absolutely love this yummy dessert.

Use the below recipe and learn to make this sweet treat at home and pretend you’re visiting somewhere tropical! What could be better?

Coconut Ice Cream
Combine 1 cup of milk,
One 14-ounce can of cream of coconut
1 ½ cups of sweetened flaked coconut
in a container, food processor or blender mix thoroughly.

After the mixture is thoroughly blended mix in 1 ½ cups of heavy cream.

Pour into the container of an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

ENJOY!!

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Destination Wedding Specialist vs Travel Agent



Welcome to March! Can you believe it we are almost 1/4 of the way through the year, where has the time gone?

This months blog we wanted to discuss the difference between a Travel Agency which specializes in Destination Weddings versus the Travel Agency who claims to "specialize" in Cruises, Travel, Corporate Travel so why not throw Destination Weddings in there too, right?

As you know your Wedding day is one of the most important days of yours and your significant others lives, so when it comes to the planning of this big day you should know how to hire/what questions to ask these "Destination Wedding Specialists" you will be working with to make sure your day is as perfect as you imagined it to be and that they will be able to assist you throughout the process.

Jane and John were recently engaged on New Years Eve and they had always spoken and dreamed about having a Destination Wedding one day especially since most of their families lived abroad.

The first thing Jane did during her wedding planning process was to go on to the internet and search "Destination Wedding Specialists, Canada" (this is where they live), up popped a list of Travel Agencies based all over Canada so she decided to start calling..........

Jane - "Hi there this is Jane I was wondering if your travel agency specialized in Destination Weddings?".......
Agency- "Yes we specialize in Destination Weddings, how can we help............?"
This is the crucial stage where you need to be well informed and prepared to ask as many questions to this agency to make sure they are appropriate and experienced enough to handle your Destination Wedding.

Your prepared questions that you will ask this Agent should look a little like this:

  • How many Destination Weddings have you booked yourself this year?
  • What is the average amount your Destination Wedding guests pay per person? (this will determine what kind of groups they work with e.g. high end, boutique, low costs etc)
  • Do you charge any fees? if so what are they? 
  • Were you a Destination Wedding Bride yourself? 
  • Have you attended a Destination Wedding? 
  • What do your services include? (does the agent; prepare a Save the Date invite, manage the RSVP's, booking of the actual wedding date) 
  • Do you have any experience with the actual process of planning the wedding (e.g. dealing with the resort wedding coordinator, understanding the wedding packages)
  • Can you give me any advise throughout the planning process to help me save money with the wedding packages? 
  • Have you visited this resort that we are looking at? or have you visited the area where we are looking at having our Wedding? 
  • In your experience what "should" a Destination Wedding cost per person for our guests at a 4.5 - 5 star All Inclusive resort in the "Mayan Riviera" (wherever you are choosing to go) for 7 nights in "November?" (whichever month you are considering)
  • If we were to have 50 guests/adults attend our wedding, what is the "average" cost for the wedding package at a resort? (this will gauge whether this agent has any idea of the planning process).
  •  What do you offer that sets you apart from other agencies, specializing in Destination Weddings?
  • What Makes you a Destination Wedding Specialist?
I hope these important questions help you along the process of deciding which Travel Agency to hire when booking and planning your Destination Wedding.

At Pose Destination Weddings + Travel we do  not portray that we are a specialist at everything as we believe that defeats the purpose of being a "specialist".
We pride ourselves on being Destination Wedding experts! We keep up to date with all of the wedding trends happening, we know how to save you and your guests money throughout the entire wedding planning process, we also assist you with the planning of the wedding, if it is required.

The owner of Pose Destination Weddings + Travel was a Destination Wedding bride herself so she knows all of the tricks of the trade when it comes to the planning and she is more than happy to share her knowledge with other brides and grooms.

Please choose carefully when making your decision as it is your big day and unless you ask these travel professionals the important questions at the beginning you will not know what they truly have to offer.
Any travel agency can "pose" to be a "Destination Wedding Specialist" but the most important question you have to remember is......
"WHAT MAKES YOU A DESTINATION WEDDING SPECIALIST?" 
Just because it is advertised on their door / business card it doesn't necessarily mean it is the truth!
Is a McDonald's Big Mac combo a "nutritious meal?", you tell us.

Happy planning and remember it should be a stress free procedure if you hire the right professional.

Friday 17 February 2012

Love and Prizes are in the air

Welcome to the most romantic month of all.......February! where we have the one and only St Valentine to thank for that, a time where lovers are spoiled with chocolates and flowers and some might even be lucky enough to receive the most precious gift of all.........a diamond!

In recognition of this romantic time of year Pose Destination Weddings + Travel decided to celebrate by hosting a competition on Facebook and give one lucky Destination Bride and Groom their chance to win $500 towards their Destination Wedding.
The competitors had to submit a story telling us why they should receive the money and the couple with the most "likes"/votes will win the grand prize of $500!
Everyone who entered did an exceptional job of getting their friends and family involved and their stories were all very touching.
Since we felt no one should go away empty handed, we at Pose decided everyone deserved to be rewarded for their amazing efforts.
So we offered the First Prize of $500, Second Prize of $100 and Third and Forth Prize $50 all towards their Destination Wedding.

Here were the results:

4th Place - Crystal with 39 votes
3rd Place - Chantal with 61 votes
2nd Place - Sami with 287 votes

and a HUGE Congratulations to our winner.......



1st Place - Maria with 327 votes!

Thanks again to everyone who participated, we look forward to our next competition........