planning guide inspiration aisle
Your Day, Your Way
A
destination wedding speaks volumes about the bride
and groom. It says you’re fun, creative, adventurous and,
of course, romantic. But beyond putting your show on
flanks the Grand Staircase, another favorite spot for weddings.
› Go native on the beach in Polynesia. At Namale–The Fiji Islands
Resort and Spa and Vomo Island Resort, the fun begins as two
the road, consider personalizing your day in a way the two of
traditionally dressed warriors escort the bride to water’s edge
you—and no one else—will ever forget. Here are our picks for
accompanied by a lali drum and a Fijian choir.
wedding ceremonies that go the extra mile. By Annette Burden
› Express your love for golf, the ocean and each other with a
ceremony at a seaside tee. Wedding guests at Raffles Resort
› Take the plunge beside a waterfall. You’ll find incredibly
romantic sites everywhere from the Pacific to Mexico, Central
Canouan Island take in a breathtaking view of sky, sea and the
Grenadine islands from the signature hole at Trump International
Golf Club.
America and the Caribbean. St. Lucia’s Anse Chastanet, for one,
arranges for ceremonies at a thundering 50-foot power shower in
the hills. At the Big Island’s Hilton Waikoloa Village, a ladylike falls
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IN THE WATER
› Proclaim the depth of your love with a scuba wedding. While
© David A.Seaver
BY THE WATER
many coastal resorts can make arrangements with a local dive
boat and officiant, some dive-centric properties, like Mexico’s
Occidental Grand Cozumel, even launch underwater weddings
right from shore.
› Take the whole wedding party underwater in an Atlantis
submarine. You can charter the ships at destinations throughout
the Caribbean and Hawaii. On Oahu, Atlantis Adventures
makes its headquarters at Waikiki’s Hilton Hawaiian Village.
› Seal the deal in an underwater hotel—the dual-chambered
Jules’ Undersea Lodge off Key Largo, Florida. The lodge
furnishes the flowers, music, notary public, cake, libations,
dinner, breakfast and subsequent scuba honeymoon—a dream
come true for newlywed dive buddies.
ON THE WATER
› Embark on the seas of matrimony aboard a sleek, white
catamaran. Resorts with wedding-worthy cats on hand include
Ocean Key Resort & Spa in Key West, Florida; Mexico’s Zoëtry
Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya in Puerto Morelos; and
Brides and grooms with a flair for the
dramatic create everlasting memories with
a ceremony that breaks tradition. Couples
can soar high in a hot-air balloon or dive
deep into the sea (below). Inset: Capture
the moment with a wearable, waterproof
Digital Hero 5 ($140; goprocamera.com).
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
› Make history beneath the billowing sails of a tall ship. Multimasted schooners sail from ports across the country. The
Liberté—which alternates between Annapolis, Maryland, and
Falmouth, Massachusetts—will bring an officiant onboard. Or
look for a ship whose captain can perform the ceremony, such
as the Appledor out of Key West and Camden, Maine.
› Tie the knot on a luxury cruise. Most liners offer a number of
intriguing ceremony sites. The choices for Royal Caribbean’s
Top: Steve Lowry. Bottom: Courtesy of Occidental Grand Cozumel
newest ship, Liberty of the Seas, for instance, include a glacier
in Alaska and the surf simulator on deck.
IN THE AiR
› Set your hearts aflutter with a whirlybird wedding. Hawaii’s
helicopters hold up to six passengers.
› Three, two, one—blast off at the Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel
& Casino. An attendant straps you into the Big Shot thrill ride, you
DowN To EARTH
› Hug a tree and kiss your sweetie in an ecological preserve. A few
green-minded resorts, like the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana
Resort & Club, host nuptials in eco parks onsite.
say “I do” and shoot 160 feet in the air with a g-force of 4. Bungee
› Enlist the power of nature with a red-hot volcano wedding.
cords then bobble you up and down three times before floating
Popular sites include hotel terraces and other scenic overlooks or
you gently back down on the launch pad.
the actual rim of the Big Island’s Kilauea Crater and Costa Rica’s
balloon. Wedding parties of two to ten waft sky-high over such
› Opt for an all-white wedding at the Ice Hotel, an architectural
scenic destinations as Colorado Springs, Aspen, Scottsdale and
wonder built entirely of ice each winter in Quebec, Canada. The
California wine country.
hotel’s chapel—truly an ice-crystal palace—seats up to 40 guests.
› Put yourselves on Cloud 9 with a ceremony aboard a hot-air
Arenal Volcano.
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