Posts Tagged ‘wedding destinations’
Monday, July 29th, 2013
 Mauritius is one of those destinations that almost seems too good to be true, and it’s a stunning and peaceful location to visit for a honeymoon. In the Indian Ocean, off the southeast African Coast, this island nation is an ideal place to re-group with your sweetheart after the excitement and hectic nature of planning and hosting your wedding.
Where to Stay
You’ll find that the flights to Mauritius will most likely go to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, which is 50km outside of Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius. It’s straightforward to get from the airport to other island locations.
The LUX* Grand Gaube is a luxurious hotel that features the type of romantic huts you’ll only find in an island paradise. You can visit the onsite spa for a couples massage and some much deserved pampering, or practice your golf swing on the 18-hole course. Plus, with 24-hour room service and rooms overlooking the sea, you’ll really be able to unwind.
Another stunning choice is the Sugar Beach Mauritius resort. All rooms feature a private balcony or terrace, and with four restaurants you won’t have to venture far from your room to enjoy a meal at all. This hotel has a huge range of activities on offer but of course the main draw beyond the amazing resort is the white sandy beach and the crystal clear waters.
What to Do
Of course, relaxing in a stunning beachfront location is idyllic, but consider reading Paul et Virginie, a love story set in Mauritius, whilst you unwind. Written in 1787 by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, the novel is about the title characters, friends since childhood, who fall in love. While it does reference social and political issues in eighteenth century France, it still provides a great history of the island and a large dose of romance at the same time. You can’t go wrong!
If you and your partner are adventure lovers, you’re in luck as many of the activities on offer in Mauritius are nature focussed, so don’t forget to bring along some trainers and casual clothing. Get in touch with Yan at yanature.com for a tour of the stunning and unique scenery of this volcanic island. Mauritius features some of the most stunning waters in the world so you must go sailing before you leave. Hiring a pedalo to practice your team work is a fun option, and there’s nothing more romantic than being on a catamaran with your new spouse to witness a beautiful sunset.
If you feel like exploring a bit more, you can head to the cities. Visit the Flacq Market where you’ll find fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, Ile aux Aigrettes is a stunning nature reserve just off the coast of the main island, and features unique endemic species, as well as giant tortoises. If you like history, visit L’Aventure du Sucre, an tour which shares the history of Mauritius’s sugar production.
Things to Keep in Mind
Mauritius is a fairly safe country, and you can except to find people speaking English, French and Creole. You most likely won’t need a visa to enter the country, but if you typically do when travelling, do check with the embassy.
Quick Facts
Average Temperature and Weather: The tropical climate means that in the warm season, the average temperature is around 30°C, but it cools off to around 20°C in the winter months. It’s best to avoid the months of January and March as that’s when there will be heavy tropical rain.
Flight Time: Approximately 12 hours from the UK
Nearest Airport: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
Local Language: English, French, Creole with some Asian languages spoken.
Distance from Airport: Dependant on your resort, but transport is readily available.
Time difference: Mauritius is 4 hours ahead of the UK.
Currency: Mauritian Rupee (1GBP = 48 MURs)
Tags: honeymoons, wedding destinations
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Wednesday, July 10th, 2013
Your fantastical wedding day dreams can come true at the award winning luxury hotel, Cameron House Hotel. The still waters of the loch, the rolling Highlands and the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond are all there in magnificent splendour to simply add to what will be the happiest day of your life.
At Cameron House, each wedding is individual and exceptional, a dream come true…after all, where else could you make your vows aboard a private cruiser on one of the world’s most stunning stretches of water?
Let Cameron House’s expert Wedding Planners take any stress out of the big day who will be working tirelessly out of sight to ensure every last detail from the rose petals on your luxurious bed in your bridal suite to the place names of your guests is accounted for so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
For those looking for a haven to settle last-minute nerves, why not make use of the award winning facilities of the Carrick Spa on Loch Lomond. With its seventeen treatment rooms, including a couples room, thermal experience and rooftop terrace, what better way to spend some time reflecting on the day ahead.
Cameron House are offering some special wedding packages in 2013. For those who are tying the knot in 2013, choose to celebrate your special day at Cameron House, and receive a complimentary top table of ten and a reduced facility rate with a minimum of 80 guests.
Cameron House are also offering packages in 2014. Book your wedding day in January, February, November or December and enjoy a reduced facility rate when you have a minimum of 80 guests.
Tags: venues, wedding destinations
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Saturday, June 29th, 2013
What’s more romantic than an extended honeymoon, when you’re newly married and free of the stresses of everyday life? Make the most of the start to your new life together and take a few weeks out to truly explore a new place. For many of us, when we consider a honeymoon destination we think of somewhere tropical with a beach, but what about Australia?
Australia is a brilliant choice for an extended honeymoon. Not only is it a once in a lifetime destination for many because of the distance, it’s also got so many different options to enjoy. From city visits and the major festivals, cultural attractions and restaurants, to Aboriginal history in the Outback, Australia is a truly amazing and unique place. You won’t have to worry about arguing about what to do; both of you will find something that takes your fancy.
A fun and spontaneous idea is to book a hotel for the first week in one location, and leave the rest of the itinerary wide open for you to decide once you arrive. There are loads of websites, like Cheapflights, that let you find the best-priced domestic flights, so you can easily explore many popular locations like Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, or even enjoy a trip to the Outback. If you’re feeling brave, maybe you and your partner can each choose one secret location and create an itinerary? Australia’s official tourism website has a number of three-day journeys that will give you inspiration!
This country is a place where you’ll really enjoy making memories, relaxing with your new spouse. We’ve picked out some of our favourite, most romantic and fun locations for you to think about when deciding on a honeymoon location.
For food and culture lovers. Australia has some of the best restaurants in the world, and you’ll also discover that there’s no shortage of arts or food and wine festivals for you to enjoy. Enjoy the sunshine and glorious weather of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and take in an event like the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival or the Long Weekend Festival. We can think of few things that are more romantic than enjoying new music or discovering new dishes together. Take advantage of the wealth of shopping and cultural activities this location has to offer and enjoy walking around this unique city.
For rest and relaxation. Spend some time in Western Australia and soak up some sun while swimming in the Indian Ocean. There are a number of smaller islands like Monkey Mia that are perfect for a lazy day away from the main beaches. You’ll find a turtle sanctuary that has to be explored, either by diving or snorkelling. Stay in Coral Bay, a small town that’s noted for regular visits from humpback whales between June to October, if you enjoy discovering new sea life.
For adventure seekers. Exploring this vast country in a few short weeks might seem impossible. If you’re happy to spend time travelling between destinations, consider taking the train as you’ll experience many of the stunning views that this country is known for. The Ghan is a train that operates across the country from North to South. Running between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin, it takes 54 hours to travel the full distance. If you don’t fancy that long on the train, consider a shorter journey from Darwin to Alice Springs which, is famous for its Aboriginal heritage. There are a number of sites in the town that maintain their traditional importance.
Tags: honeymoons, wedding destinations
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Monday, April 15th, 2013
Your honeymoon should be a beautiful and relaxing time helping you start your married life somewhere stress free and romantic. A popular location for a honeymoon is the Maldives, where you can bask in the beauty of the Indian Ocean. All of the resorts are enchanting and you’ll be able to enjoy the days with your new spouse without worrying about anything other than which activities to enjoy.
Where to Stay and What to Do
The Maldives is made up of over 1,000 islands, and around 100 of these islands are used exclusively for tourism. Each resort is the only one on its island, surrounded by a beautiful beach, coral reefs and shallow waters. Flights to the Maldives take roughly 5 hours from London to Malé and it’s worth spending some time to compare flights on a site like CheapFlights to get the best deal.
The Baros Maldives Resort is a 25 minute speedboat journey from the Maldives International Airport with a choice of beautiful villa accommodation from beach front huts to a villa on stilts over the ocean, private swimming pools, wonderful food and drink and stunning views.
Anantara Kihavah Villas offers the same picturesque setting with the addition of an onsite spa so you can be pampered whilst relaxing to the sound of waves in the background. Alternatively, you could choose to take a cooking, yoga or tennis lesson, or choose a book from the library. This resort also has the amazing exclusive Sea.Fire.Salt.Sky dining room, where you can enjoy your meal in an underwater room or drinks on the rooftop bar.
The Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru resort is another luxurious option with restaurants and bars and the opportunity to enjoy an intimate in-villa dining experience. This resort is unique in that it has a Marine Lab where guests can join trained divers to learn more about the amazing ecosystem this area enjoys, as well as providing sailing, wake boarding and canoeing activities.
Where to Eat
The Maldives, being separate island resorts, are slightly different to other locations where guests can easily move around from place to place. All of the resorts offer their own restaurants which typically have a number of cuisines for guests to enjoy, but we suggest asking about the particular types of restaurants at each resort when making a booking to ensure that you will be happy with what is available. There are a number of restaurants in Malé, the country’s capital, if you’re interested in visiting the main island, and the variety of seafood and fresh fish on offer is definitely something not to be missed.
Things to Keep in Mind
The Maldives is a Muslim country, and as such, you’ll need to act accordingly. On the resort islands, your dress code and behaviour can be more relaxed; however, when visiting the main islands, you should cover-up and avoid displays of drunken or very obvious displays of affection. Alcohol isn’t available at the airport or on the main island, but is readily available at the country’s resorts.
Quick Facts
Top temperature: the average temperature is 30°C all year round.
Best months to go: January to March is the dry season and mid-May to November is the rainy season. The sun shines most days, so these seasons will not have much impact on your holiday.
Nearest Airport:MaléInternationalAirport(MLE)
Distance from Airport: Dependant on your resort; speedboats and sea plane transfers are available.
Local Language: Maldivian
Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa (1 GBP is roughly 23 MVR)
Time Difference: 5 hours ahead of the UK
Flight Duration: Approximately 10 hours
Did you honeymoon in the Maldives? What is your favourite part of the region? Would you consider the country as a potential honeymoon destination? Please add your comments!
Tags: honeymoons, wedding destinations
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Friday, February 22nd, 2013
Our guest blogger today is Claire, who plans weddings in Las Vegas . She often hears from couples who know they want the glamour and glitz of a Vegas wedding, not to mention the guaranteed sunshine, but they find that they are overwhelmed with the choice of wedding location in the city.
Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the USA, if not the world. The state of Nevada issues an average of 120,000 marriage licenses each year, so it is not surprising that there are so many wedding options to choose from!
Almost every hotel and casino on the Strip in Las Vegas has a wedding chapel inside, and quite a lot of them have pretty pagoda-style areas in their gardens for weddings too. If you have guests accompanying you for your wedding, often the hotels will offer a wedding package that includes all the rooms that you need, often with a suite for the bride and groom. Having everyone stay in the same hotel will be handy if the groom needs to sleep in a different room from the bride the night before the wedding.
Many people come to Las Vegas with the idea of a classic old-school Downtown wedding chapel in mind. There are lots to choose from, and some are nicer than others. These chapels are where couples can explore the true diversity of Las Vegas weddings. You can have as much romance, as much glitz and as much fun as you like, and many of these smaller chapels can give you a completely personalised ceremony if you are creative enough. Everyone knows about the possibility of having an Elvis impersonator perform the ceremony, but there are lots of other impersonators in Las Vegas, and many of them are licensed to perform wedding ceremonies, and they can serenade you with your favourite singer’s songs during the ceremony. The smaller chapels can be set up to your taste and in some cases, decorated just as you wish, although it is likely that there will be a charge for this. Of course, if you are in a rush, there is always the option of the drive-through wedding!
Las Vegas is in the heart of the Nevada desert, and less than an hour’s drive away is some of the most breathtaking scenery you will see this close to such a metropolis. Weddings can be performed in Red Rock Canyon and the Valley of Fire, two outstanding areas of beauty near to Las Vegas. If you like the idea of getting married outdoors in the desert, choose the time of year carefully. July and August will be uncomfortably hot in the middle of the day, but almost any other time of year a wedding in these areas would be spectacular.
There are some lovely parks and preserve areas in and around Las Vegas where couples can get married. There are some parks close to natural springs and lakes, and are the sort of green and lush areas that you would never expect to see in the middle of the desert! Many of these places were ranches many years ago, so are set up to take groups of people – ideal for a wedding. Afterwards, couples can return from making their union with nature as a beautiful backdrop, to party in the fabulous city of Las Vegas.
Contact Claire for more information on Las Vegas wedding location suggestions at [email protected] or visit her website for more Las Vegas wedding tips.
Tags: honeymoon, wedding ceremonies, wedding destinations
Posted in Wedding Ideas, Weddings Abroad | No Comments »
Friday, November 16th, 2012
Hovertravel, the fastest way to cross the Solent, has teamed up with Priory Bay hotel on the Isle of Wight, to create a wedding package that guests will not forget.
When you book exclusive use of Priory Bay’s 60 acre estate, or get married on their private beach (part of the hotel’s Boathouse on the Beach package) for your civil wedding or wedding reception, you can now also charter your very own hovercraft for you and your guests - which arrives in style, right on the beach.
The hovercraft, which seats up to 89 people, leaves from Southsea in Portsmouth and takes just 10 minutes to cross the Solent to Priory Bay beach.
Andrew Palmer, owner of Priory Bay said: “Whether you’re looking for an elegant country house steeped in grandeur, or a simple, yet chic, barefoot wedding on a stunning, sandy beach, Priory Bay has something for everyone looking for their fairytale wedding. Our stunning beach is the only private beach you can get married on in the UK, now we have teamed up with Hovertravel, you can land on our beach in a hovercraft, which you can’t do anywhere else in the world.”
Loretta Lale, Marketing Manager from Hovertravel said: “We enjoy being able to offer our craft for private hire, as it gives more people the chance to try out this unique and memorable experience. Priory Bay is the only hotel on the planet that offers a private hovercraft as wedding transportation.”
To book your wedding with Priory Bay, please telephone the Events team on 01983 618 204 or email: [email protected]
Tags: wedding destinations, wedding transport
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Monday, November 5th, 2012
As an award winning wedding planner who has had plenty of practice (she said she “stopped counting” when she hit a thousand ceremonies) Beverly King, the resident wedding planner at Antigua’s Jolly Beach Resort and Spa, is source to be trusted when it comes to wedding advice. Here she shares her top ten tips.
1. Be the Early-Bird. Make sure you book early as everything is subject to availability, and your preferred date may be taken by someone else.
2. Learn from the scouts; be prepared. Find out what documentation is required for the specified country and the length of time you as a couple need to be there before you can wed. Legal requirements vary worldwide. InAntiguait is extremely easy. There is no residency policy e.g. you can go to the Legal Office at 9am and be married by 4:30pm the same day. On arrival to the resort you have an appointment to meet with the Wedding Co-coordinator where all final plans are made for your special occasion and the legal forms are filled out for the Registrar and Legal Office.
3. Dress to chill – your wedding attire should be cool and light coloured, nobody wants to see the bride and groom sweating down the aisle!
4. Don’t burn – a strapless wedding dress does not look good with a sunburnt back, and a suit doesn’t go particularly well with a lobster red face.
5. Don’t forget – who’s got the rings? Tie them to something immovable, like the best man.
6. Bless ‘em – blessings are available atJollyBeach.
7. Think twice – always request a copy of the marriage certificate before leaving the resort.
8. Believe! – trust your wedding co-ordinator; she is there to do the thinking for you!
9. Family ties –JollyBeachhas family and friend deals available.
10. Smile! –remember you are saving an average of £20,000 on a UK wedding, which leaves plenty of cash for a few extras like flight upgrades and several dozen bottles of champagne!
For more information on the various wedding packages available at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa, please visit http://www.jollybeachresort.com/weddings/ or get in touch with [email protected]
Tags: honeymoons, wedding destinations
Posted in Weddings Abroad | 1 Comment »
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