Washington D.C. Wedding Weekend

A very good friend of ours was getting married in Washington D.C. so we took the train down there on Friday afternoon.  It was actually really easy to take the train, I would definitely do that again.  We smuggled the dog for the ride (shhh, don't tell) and arrived at our dog-friendly hotel, The Fairmont; also where the wedding was going to be (so convenient!).

We went out to dinner at Farmers, Fishers, Bakers and then we went to right next door to The Sequoia, a beautiful room where we had drinks and dessert with the out-of-towners.  It was a really cute spot right on the water.  There was an ice-skating rink and pretty lights.  Apparently this is where the couple had gotten engaged and I could see why.  

On Saturday we went to brunch at the newly re-opened Art and Soul.  I got the BLT Benedict which was great but even greater was the scones before the meal.  O.M.G. !!!!    

After that meal, we thought it would be best to walk it off a bit.  It really sucked that it was so cold so after we made it to the Capitol, we beelined for the first place we could find which happened to be the National Gallery of Art.  Then we decided to head a little further down the Mall to the Smithsonian American History Museum.  I wanted to stick around but my college roommate C. picked me up as soon as we got there so I'll have to return to see Dorothy's Ruby Red slippers!  

We went and got Gabriel and attempted to go to the dog park right outside her house in Adams Morgan but it was too cold and we only stayed 10 minutes.  I found that D.C. is a pretty dog-friendly city.  All along Rock Creek Park (which runs from the Potomic River, 12 miles to Maryland - even the National Zoo is along the path!) there are cool trails and dog parks.  I'd love to go back in warmer weather to really explore - it's very neat to see this thing run all along the middle of the city.  C. did however get a great shot of Gabriel which later ran in a local blog!  Check him out on popville.com!  

It was time to get ready for the wedding and I was really excited because I used Renttherunway.com and ordered a dress and earring combo.  I have never gotten so many compliments on a dress in my life!  Here I am in my Mark & James by Badgley Mischka Sapphire Star Dress and Dannijo Cecile earrings.  

I thought about making a separate blog entry for what a great experience I had with RTR.  It was so easy and saying I am impressed with the company as a whole is an understatement.  Really glad I rented!  

The wedding was absolutely beautiful.  The space at the Fairmont was unique with its elevated dance floor.  It was also really nice to be at a wedding and just be guests.  The last wedding we were at was our own and the past couple, either one of us were in the wedding.  And just a side note, it's heartwarming when you see how happy the couple is to be getting married.  Both the families were just awesome and we were really happy to see them all happy.  OK corny part over, :) 

Day 11 - Hawaii Honeymoon

We woke up around 8AM and walked about a mile along the beach to Queens Surf Cafe. It's this hidden little breakfast nook on the water that David's aunt told us about. 

Then we sat on the famous Waikiki Beach for one last time and took it all in. 

 On the way to the airport, we happened to pass Leonard's, a place famous for their malasadas, fried dough balls, and stopped for some treats for the plane.  

At the airport, the excitement wasn't over.  I haven't mentioned yet about how slow Hawaiians are.  The security line was out the door.  Literally out the door.  And while we waited outside that door, we watched two women being arrested.  It looked like a smuggle job gone wrong but we can't be sure.  

When we got on the plane, we popped some melatonin to prepare for the redeye flight.  David was out like a light but I couldn't sleep because the stewardess was laughing so loud and talking to the other attendent the ENTIRE time.  I watched multiple people complain to her and she never stopped.  Just another disappointment on Hawaiian Air.  But hey, if there's no such thing as a perfect vacation and that was one of the biggest complaints - I guess it wasn't too bad.  And on another plus side, I finished an amazing book called The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. 

So that my friends, was #drmthehoneymoon.   We are really looking forward to returning on an anniversary trip!  

Day 8 - Hawaii Honeymoon

After the amazing/exhausting driving adventure my husband and I experienced yesterday, we deserved a spa day. We relaxed at the beach in the morning until our spa appointment.  I was super excited to head over to the Grand Wailea's Spa Grande. Particularly excited to try their Terme baths. You immerse yourself in five different kinds of aromatic salt baths.  

So when you get to the spa, you sign in and go your separate ways.  There is a male and female spa.  You do your own thing for an hour and then meet up for a couples massage.  There were only a handful of people in there and I went straight for the baths, which were unoccupied.  It was really cool.  I wanted to purchase the salts of the black one which I think is magical because when I got in it, I almost immediately wanted to sleep.  But they were all relaxing and interesting to try.  There are also a couple other forms of Japanese baths and showers that I wasn't really in to trying. 

The spa itself though really needs updating.  The spa amenities themselves are OK but the decor is just atrocious for a world class spa.  For example, I was sitting in a bath and staring at this decrepit flower pot.  It was just so gross for the amount of money they have coming in.  And the lounge chair cushions were just not exactly screaming "relax on me!".  Yucky.   

Oh!  And I can't forget, they also give you this loofah scrub down. They take you into a private room with water everywhere and you lay on a table and they literally shower you down with a loofah and scrub.  It was one of the weirdest things I have ever experienced.  Then they take you up to the lanai to get some fresh air and wait for your treatment.  David and I sat together for a couple of minutes and then got taken to our 50 minutes of heaven.  

After our treatment, we took a walk to the lobby. My grandparents had taken their photo there over 10 years ago and we wanted to do the same. We couldn't remember the exact spot and this place is massive but we got one in the vicinity. 

Now this part is hard for me to even think about again.  David went to the room to nap and eat some leftovers and I went to the Serenity Pool for a chicken quesadilla and pina colada. Finally, my first tropical drink poolside!  I chatted with the bartender and this drunk newlywed couple that just arrived.

In hindsight, I should have never ate something like that so late in the afternoon with our Mama's Fish House reservation soon after. But when you're hungry, you're hungry. I didn't feel great when we left for dinner and when we got to the most beautiful/cool restaurant I have ever seen, I was full fledged sick and freaking out. 

The gorgeous table set up at Mama's overlooking the beachfront property.  

What could be worse then being sick at a restaurant?  How about being escorted to the VIP table our friend arranged as a gift, brought out a bottle of champagne and then deciding you had to leave? I've never been more embarrassed and upset. I'll leave the details of the rest of the night out but really Becca, you eat random Thai food from the side of the road and you get food poisoning from the Four Seasons?!  I hate my body.  Do you think I make it to our 5AM sailboat trip the next day? Stay tuned...

Day 6 - Hawaii Honeymoon

We drove over to Lahaina and Ka'anapalai because we had reservations for the Old Lahaina Luau over there and figured we would spend the day there. It was a nice drive but a long day.

After much confusion on the parking situation (or lack of), we parked over by Whalers Village (an outdoor shopping mall, not sure why people flip over this place) and walked out to the beach. Another clean, soft sanded crescent beauty.  We walked over to the famous Black Rock where we were literally greeted by a turtle. Kimo lives there and likes the company.  He made several more appearances again while we were there. He basically swam into David and caused a bunch of snorkeling head bops to the dozens watching him.  I think I saw him laughing! 

There goes Kimo! 

Black rock was nice because we could sit at the end of the beach and there was a good sized tree for some shade. I felt like it was exceptionally hot and just couldnt handle it, very unlike me. David had a rematch with a paddleboard and he won this time. We also watched a couple of kids jump off the cliff. Then we went for a walk and ate at Hula Grill. It was fantastico - I had Hawaiian Ceviche in a martini glass and really great french fries. 

Black Rock behind us. 

Not me jumping. 

We drove to the town of Lahaina and walked around the historical main street.  Luckily we found Ono, which has a rather secret oceanside picnic seating in the back, so we killed some more time there and then changed for the luau in the car. Yup, we are classy.  

The luau was silly. Total cheesefest but at the same time, we were glad we did it. We sat at a table with 6 others.  Coincidentally, with a couple from Long Island who was married September 1st, along with an older couple and their friends.  They confirmed it was the best luau in Maui, they have tried them all and returned to this one seven times.  So I was happy we chose the right one.  It was everything we thought it would be and we didn't get sick from the food so in my opinion, great success! 

Day 5 - Hawaii Honeymoon

Today was relax day. We got up early to get seats by the adult pool. Apparently it gets pretty competitive and people literally line up at 7am to claim territory. Naturally when I got there at 6:55am, I was one of three people there.

We set up shop and went to oceanside yoga. The sand on Wailea beach is so soft and clean. The resort is much more manicured then any human I know!

The hotel has a  breakfast buffet we enjoyed every morning (courtesy of booking with Stacy Small at Elite Travel International).  In addition to a customized feast, there were also gluten free options, a different complimentary smoothie shot every morning and a load of greedy/courageous birds joining us.

We spent the morning reading (finished Aleph by Paulo Coelho) and relaxing at the Serenity infinity pool...

and then it started to rain. As most island weather goes, we thought it would pass and then we could continue with our plan to hit the driving range but it never did.  It rained for several more hours, apparently a rare thing. 

Our late lunch was at a place "known for their hawaiian pizza" called Round Table. I cracked up when we got there because it was like a Pizza Hut meets Medieval Times meets a bootleg Chuckie Cheese. Oh well, its hit or miss out in Wailea I guess. David then went for a run and I relaxed cuz I hadn't been sleeping well. Hooked myself up with a great face mask from the concierge too!  

The rain stopped just in time for a spectacular sunset.  The best one of the entire trip. 

Sunset from our room. 

Sunset from the Serenity Pool. 

We walked the grounds and found the game room a couple hours too late, as well as a Missoni designed lounge area.  One of the many awesome partnerships in the hotel is the Missoni one. They also designed two cabanas here.

One of the two Missoni cabanas at the Serenity Pool.

And then it was dinner. So much eating!  We went to Capische? A decent and extremely overpriced place where I ate shrimp carbonara and husband ate the lamb. It was a really dark and quiet place but for some reason I was just not feeling the vibe.  Rainy day blues perhaps.  But a rainy day in Hawaii is still better then a rainy day anywhere else.  

Day 2, Hawaii Honeymoon

David and I headed out to Pearl Harbor early but first we stopped at a doughnut shop I heard about on Yelp, called Regal Bakery.  It was on the way to Pearl Harbor so it worked out nicely.  We got there at 7:30AM and they were out of the Maple Bacon already!  However the Pineapple one David got was out of this world.









We did the USS Arizona Memorial thing (which in the end I was glad we did because I originally didn't want to) and were starving by the time we were leaving.  It was time for the much anticipated Helena's Hawaiian Food [<- click to read all about our meal in detail.] Wow!  This was the best meal we had on Oahu.  The food was amazing but on top of that, so was the staff.  If you ever go to Oahu, GO TO HELENA'S!

We needed to rest a bit so we headed to the beach.  David wanted to try to paddle board so he rented it for $45 and soon he was waving me in.  I kept refusing, I hate the ocean.  Well it turns out he had no interest in me trying it out; he had sliced his foot open on a rock when he jumped off the board the first try.  So he comes dragging in after realizing I was not budging and I take one look at his foot and run to the lifeguard for supplies.  After he bandaged himself up, we walked over there cuz it looked questionable.  While he talked to the most extremely laid back human being we have ever encountered (think Paul Rudd's character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall...times 10), I returned the board.  I was told "No refunds, but if its a gnarley cut, come show them."

So after about 10 minutes of "Ums" and "Yeas" from the lifeguard, we went over to a Doctors on Call.  This is why I say, thankfully we were in America.  Had we been elsewhere, this trip could have taken a very different turn.  The doctor decided that since it was the beginning of the trip, he would forgo the stitch or two and just glue him up real good.

So we rested up a bit more at the hotel's pool, the sickest infinity pool I have ever seen.  We walked about 10 feet over to the beach and watched another incredible sunset and then we grabbed a drink by the poolside bar.  As we were leaving, the waiter stopped us and told us we should stick around for a couple minutes because the fire show was about to start.  All of a sudden this Samoan dude was in a little skirt and eating fire.

Hawaii Honeymoon - Day 1

David and I pretty much knew that we were going to go to Hawaii on our honeymoon without much thought.  We did consider a couple other options briefly but Hawaii was the perfect destination for us. It was still America (which would be a huge pro come Day 2 of the trip), we had never been, it had beach & city, adventure & relaxing.  A no brainer for us.  The hard part was picking which islands.  We decided on Oahu & Maui with a compromise that we would return to the Big Island & Kauai for an anniversary.     

Hawaiian Air announced a couple days later that they would be flying out of JFK.  They were running great deals and it couldnt have worked out better.  For the remainder of the summer, we were surrounded by their advertising campaign everywhere we turned in NYC  It was a nice reminder to look forward to.

Two days after we were married, we were heading to the airport.  You could spot newlyweds from a mile away. All looked slightly scared; but happy. And we all had new luggage and the females had french manicures. When we borded the plane, we were one of the last (I hate sitting on the plane and waiting) and apparently it was not a full flight so there were some leftover leis and we got our first lei getting ON the plane!  What a great way to start the trip!

                                             

It wasn't a terrible flight but only because of the advertisement I saw all summer that said "We dont nickle and dime you", I was disappointed to see it wasn't true. Silly me, assuming (never assume!) a nearly 12 hour flight would have some TV included. Nope, no movie, nothing. The two "meals" were served an hour into the flight and then an hour before landing. Other than that, they played a silly "Snack Bar Is Open" jingle for overpriced candy.  Needless to say, I played a lot of solitare on my phone and annoyed my husband a ton.  

And I just have to add, upon landing, an announcement was made that someone left a silver band in the bathroom. Oh newlyweds!

We chased summer all the way to Hawaii and it was still only 3PM. The longest day ever, literally!  We got our car (upgraded by Avis just cuz!) and headed to the Sheraton in Waikiki. Traffic was just like NY. We got to our room (upgraded again, just cuz!) and holy cow, the most picturesque view!  And this is only a "partial ocean view"!

We walked around the property and then around Kalakaua Ave, the main street along the beach, and then to the famous Waikiki Beach. We were starving and exhausted so we stumbled on Dukes in the Outrigger Hotel, right on the beach along with some live music.  

It was a perfect, longest day ever.  We watched the sunset from the shore and then headed up to bed, like an old married couple. :) 

How To: Honeymoon When You're Camera Shy

Illusion Necklines

Bridal Market just happened in NYC again.  One trend all over the place for Spring 2013 brides is the illusion neckline. 

(Top L to R: Christos, Oscar de la Renta, WToo

Bottom L to R: Lela Rose, Monique Lhuillier, Amsale) 

Bachelorette Parties

There's Vegas for some.  Miami or NYC for others.  Even Napa, a yoga retreat or Mexico is sometimes in the cards.  But when travelling is not an option and maybe you aren't much of a typical bar and stripper bride-to-be, what else is there to do with your girls?  Well...

For the thrill seeker, do something daring and crazy like go skydiving.

For the kid at heart, go to an amusement park like Six Flags or Dorney Park.

For the nature gals, rent a cabin or tents at a campground and go camping.

For the competitive, go bowling. There's Bowlmor, Lucky Strike, or Brooklyn Bowl.

For the foodie, there are tons of cooking classes or DJ Chef.

For the music lover, try looking into concert tickets or if you want a good laugh, a comedy show.  Or make it a Broadway night out if they are a theater buff and maybe make it extra special by adding a tour of backstage or arranging for the bachelorette to meet the star of the show.  Then head to a karaoke bar and request all the songs you just saw and try to out sing the pros!

For the ocean lover, board a party boat or rent something like a mini yacht for a relaxing day at sea with the ladies.  Hire a masseuse and bring her along too!  Maybe a really nice friend who owns a boat will help you out.

There are so many fun things to do. Get creative and try to think about what kind of person the bride is and what she would like to do.  There are plenty of options out there.  As long as you are all together and having fun, it will be memorable and successful.

UPDATE: The Washington Post decided to write about alternative bachelorette parties too!  Get some more ideas while I go to apply for a journalist job.

Of The Fountain

Perfect find for you wanderlusting freaks like moi.  Of The Fountain creates custom stamped leather tags.  
Observe:

One of my favorite quotes too!  These are so neat and unique gifts for your significant other, your parents, or just getting them for yourself. Which is what I may just do when her shop reopens! 

The creator of Of The Fountain also blogs and has some really funny entries about her hairless sphinx cat who seems to torture her while she makes the tags from home full-time, as well as updates on planning her own wedding.  Right up my ally! 

Stunner

via JML Weddings 

Crepes

There are a lot of things I would love to have at my wedding but just can't swing.  A crepe station being one of them.  After a long, intense dance session, wouldn't it be so amazing to just grab a warm sweet crepe filled with gooey Nutella and bananas on the way out?!  

I found that most catering companies can provide this type of option but also, crepe stores have their own catering for special occasions.  Perhaps next time I have an unlimited budget I will hit up one of these: 

The Crepe Escape 

Creperie NYC 

Suzettes Creperie 

Photo via

Ralph Lauren Was Busy!

This past summer, Dylan Lauren was married in a design by her father and then shortly after, his son married Lauren Bush in what looks like a gorgeous Western-style Colorado wedding and in a dress also designed by him (with some help from Vera Wang).  Totally different looks.  Totally stunning dresses.  Oh and both featured in Vogue Magazine. 

Honeymoon Stats

05/24/2011: 2010 Honeymoon Statistics Released By The Knot

-- 3rd Annual Survey of More Than 12,000 Honeymooners Reveals Luxury Honeymoon Choices, Top Honeymoon Destinations and In-Depth Insight Into Honeymoon Budget and Trends --

NEW YORK (May 24, 2011) – The Knot Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT), the premier media company with the top two wedding websites, TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com, today released the results of its 3rd annual Honeymoon Study, which surveyed more than 12,000 U.S. couples married in 2010. The most definitive report on honeymoon statistics, the 2010 Honeymoon Study from The Knot Market Intelligence, a research division of The Knot Inc., tracks the more than $6 billion honeymoon market by capturing detailed feedback on honeymoon decisions, influences and destination choices.

“The 2010 Honeymoon Study provides incomparable insight into the multibillion-dollar honeymoon industry, and we’re thrilled to provide this level of detail to destination and travel companies looking to understand the decisions couples make while planning this very important trip,” said Kristyn Clement, senior director of The Knot Market Intelligence at The Knot Inc. “TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com are the leading wedding planning resources used by the overwhelming majority of brides in the U.S.; we are, by far, the leading source for insights into the bridal space, including this comprehensive and detailed understanding of honeymoon decision making and trends.”

2010 HONEYMOON STATISTICS

• Estimated Number of Honeymooners: 1.4 million U.S. couples per year
• Cost of a Honeymoon: $4,466, on average
• Honeymoon Length: 8 days, on average (excluding travel time)
• Who’s Paying: 62% of couples pay for most (at least 90%) of their honeymoon on their own
• When They Book the Honeymoon: 4 months before the wedding date, on average
• Most Popular “International” Destinations (% of overall honeymooners): Mexico (15%), Hawaii (12%), Jamaica (7%), The Bahamas (5%), Italy (5%), St. Lucia (5%), France (3%), U.S.V.I. (3%)
• Most Popular Continental U.S. Destinations (% of overall honeymooners): Florida (8%), California (5%), Nevada (3%)
• Luxury Honeymooners: represent 15% of the market and spend more than $7,000
• Most Popular Luxury Honeymoon Destination Region (% of luxury honeymooners):Europe (28%), Caribbean (21%), Hawaii (18%), South Pacific (11%)

CONTINENTAL U.S. VS. INTERNATIONAL HONEYMOONERS

Nearly 30% of newly married U.S. couples honeymoon exclusively within the continental U.S., whereas more than 70% travel outside of the continental U.S. (including Hawaii) for at least some part of their honeymoon.

Continental U.S. Honeymooner

• Top Destinations: Florida, California and Nevada
• Average Cost: $2,325
• Average Length (excluding travel time): 6.7 days
• What Honeymooners Look For: Sun, sand and surf not a necessity (18% consider it a top 3 honeymoon feature) and 20% visit theme parks
• Accommodations: More diverse range: Deluxe Hotel - 28%; Standard Hotel - 19%; B&B/Inn - 17%; Lodge/Cabin - 15%; Rental House - 13%
• Booking: More likely to book directly with a vendor (59%)
• Satisfaction: 57% said their honeymoon was "extremely enjoyable" 

International Honeymooner

• Top Destinations: Mexico, Hawaii, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Italy, St. Lucia, France and U.S.V.I.
• Average Cost: $5,219 (more than twice domestic spend)
• Average Length (excluding travel time): 8.7 days
• What Honeymooners Look For: Sun, sand and surf MUCH more important (48% consider it a top 3 honeymoon feature) and 41% visited more than one locale (almost 2 time more likely compared with domestic honeymooners)
• Accommodations: More resort- and cruise-focused: All-inclusive Resort - 39%; Resort (not all-inclusive) - 20%; Cruise - 16%
• Booking: More likely to book a package (44%), use travel agents (34%) and book extras (72%)
• Satisfaction: 67% said their honeymoon was "extremely enjoyable"

KEY 2010 HONEYMOON TRENDS

Majority of Honeymooners Are Not Affected by the Economy. A majority of couples (60%) did not scale back their honeymoon budget because of the economy. In fact, 1 in 4 couples spent more than they originally budgeted, and 21% spent more than $6,000 on their total honeymoon. In addition, 12% of couples are registering for their honeymoon, and 20% use travel rewards toward their honeymoon.

“Couples today remain committed to planning a luxurious, unforgettable honeymoon and are willing to spend despite the state of the economy,” added Carley Roney, editor in chief of The Knot Inc. “In fact, 3 in 5 couples are booking extras on their honeymoon, and 25% spent more than they had originally budgeted.”

Luxury Honeymooners Spend Approximately $10,000. Nationwide, luxury honeymooners spend an average of $9,954 on their honeymoon, and approximately 1 in 4 reside in New York or California. They honeymoon for an average of 11 days, and a majority (64%) visit more than one locale.

The Continental U.S. Surpasses the Caribbean for the First Time. The number of couples honeymooning in the continental U.S. has increased – 30% in 2010 vs. 26% in 2009 – surpassing the Caribbean as a honeymoon destination region (28% in 2010 vs. 31% in 2009) for the first time. Top domestic honeymoon locales include Walt Disney World/Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami and the Florida Keys.

Couples Increasingly Planning on Their Own. Self-directed booking dominates, with 47% of couples booking their lodging directly with a vendor and 21% using a third-party online travel site. While couples are decreasingly using travel agents to book lodging (28% in 2010 compared with 34% in 2009), more than half of honeymooners are booking a portion of their honeymoon online. In fact, 9% of honeymooners use a mobile app with their planning, and 2% book lodging on online deal-of-the-day websites like WeddingChannel.com Deals, Groupon and Jetsetter.

On Facebook While Honeymooning. Honeymooners don’t take a vacation from social media or mobile devices. Nearly half of couples (48%) visit Facebook while on their honeymoon, and approximately 1 in 5 couples (19%) use a mobile app during that time.

Only 1 in 4 Couples Go on Their Dream Honeymoon. Despite the increase in domestic honeymoons, only 9% of domestic honeymooners consider the continental U.S. their “dream” honeymoon destination. The top “dream” honeymoon destination overall is Europe, followed by the South Pacific and then Hawaii.

About The Knot Market Intelligence 2010 Honeymoon Study

More than 12,000 qualified couples – of mixed ethnicities, and education and income levels – were polled across 50 states. All qualified respondents:

• Were 18 or older
• Were married in 2010
• Had already taken their honeymoon or had at least selected their honeymoon destination

The survey was fielded in October/November 2010 and was administered by Digital Research Inc. on behalf of The Knot Market Intelligence Group.

For more information, please visit TheKnotInc.com/tkmi. Complete custom analyses and reports are available for purchase by contacting insights@theknot.com.

About The Knot Inc. 
The Knot Inc. (NASDAQ: KNOT; http://www.theknotinc.com) is the premier media company devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing young women with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives. Our family of premium brands began with the industry's #1 wedding brand, The Knot, and has grown to include WeddingChannel.com, The Nest and The Bump. Our groundbreaking community platforms and incomparable content have ignited passionate communities across the country. The Knot Inc. is recognized by the industry for being innovative in all media – from the web to social media and mobile, magazines and books, and television and video. For our advertisers and partners, The Knot Inc. offers the consummate opportunity to connect with our devoted communities as they make the most important decisions of their lives. Founded in 1996, The Knot Inc. is made up of four major revenue categories: online sponsorship and advertising, registry services, merchandise and publishing. The company is publicly listed on NASDAQ (KNOT) and is headquartered in New York City.

CONTACT: Jacalyn Lee
Public Relations Director
The Knot Inc.
(212) 219-8555 x1013
Jacalyn@theknot.com