Email  Print  del.icio.us  Digg  Feed

Steps

Travel updates and products

Private Island Wedding

Imagine your wedding ceremony on a private island, underneath a coconut-palm arch adorned with local flowers and set on a beach of powder-soft sand. Local Filipino musicians serenade you with traditional guitar and harp music, and poetry is read before you exchange vows and rings at sunset. At Amanpulo Resort, on the coral-rimmed island of Pamalican in the Philippine archipelago, this dreamy ceremony is reality, followed by a reception beneath bougainvillea-laden trellises overlooking the pool, or aboard one of Amanpulo’s luxury boats or even in Pamalican Island’s grotto.

Bahay kubo, Philippine-style thatch-roofed dwellings, dot the resort, located approximately 360 kilometers southwest of Manila on an idyllic island surrounded by seven square kilometers of reef with sandbanks and channels beyond. Azure blue skies, crystal blue waters and gleaming white sand provide a stunning backdrop for a wedding at Amanpulo, where they combine island culture with the ultimate in romance.

After the festivities, you won’t have to rush off to your honeymoon, as you can simply spend glorious days and nights on the island. Scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing are among the activities here; if you’re not the athletic type, you can easily pass the day getting spa treatments in one of the resort’s outdoor spa casitas. 800.477.9180; www.amanresorts.com/amanpulo/home.aspx.

Picturesque Weddings on Pelican Hill

With breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from every angle, The Resort at Pelican Hill offers a multitude of spots for capturing unforgettable wedding photos. And once it opens this fall, the resort will also offer a luxury wedding package to make the experience altogether magical.

Set on 504 acres on Newport Coast, between the towns of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill features 128 ocean-view villas and 204 bungalows. Amenities include a luxurious 22-room spa, five worldclass restaurants and cafes, a 136-foot circular “Coliseum” pool inspired by the Roman landmark, and the Pelican Hill Golf Club, with 36 holes designed by Tom Fazio.

The resort’s wedding packages are designed to provide the ultimate in luxury. Services include an exquisite two-bedroom ocean-view villa for the bride and groom; a beautifully appointed bridal lounge; a dedicated wedding butler to ensure the bride and groom’s villa is stocked to perfection; and exclusive use of the Mar Vista ballroom, featuring a limestone fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the ocean and an outdoor fireplace on one of several terraces. 800.820.6800; www.pelicanhill.com.

Spa the Golden Seas

While just about every cruise company offers spa services, Cunard has taken “spa cruising” to another level. Honeymooners looking for an escape that’s pampering and rejuvenating need not limit their search to land, for Canyon Ranch SpaClub has partnered with Cunard to create a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art spa facility aboard Cunard’s flagship palace, Queen Mary 2.

 Rivaling any spa facility on land, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub features a Relaxation Lounge solarium, with rows of recliners looking onto a magnificent view of the Atlantic; an ocean-view salon for pedicures, makeovers and hairstyling; an AquaTherapy Centre and Thermal Suite; and signature Canyon Ranch massages, treatments and facials—from the classic Stone Massage or Rasul Ceremony (aromatic steam therapy) to exotic Ayurvedic and Thai treatments. Health and fitness will be easy to maintain on-board with the spa’s state-of-the-art gym and weight room, plus the ship’s well-equipped sports decks.

What’s more, your honeymoon excursion can include winetasting, planet sighting and elegant soirees—all within minutes of your suite. The Queen Mary 2 offers a view of maritime history in its Maritime Quest Exhibit; stargazing from its planetarium; dancing inside the Queens Room ballroom; hors d’oeuvres at Sir Samuel’s wine bar; jazz in the Commodore Club; shows in the Royal Court Theatre; a casino with tuxedoed croupiers; dancing at the G32 disco; and cabaret-style entertainment at the Chart Room. Who could ask for anything more? 800.7.CUNARD; www.cunard.com.

Premiere Honeymoon

After all the energy that’s gone into planning your wedding, wouldn’t it be nice to arrive at a luxurious honeymoon suite and be pampered the entire time you’re there? Luckily at Villa Premiere Puerto Vallarta Hotel & Spa Mexico, the philosophy is exactly that. The 83- suite oceanfront resort has launched a new honeymoon package featuring four days and three nights in a premier suite with an ocean view and indoor Jacuzzi.

To kick off the honeymoon, Premiere will welcome newlyweds with a five-minute anti-stress hand and neck massage upon arrival, as well as chilled Champagne in the suite. During their stay, couples will also have butler service; complimentary use of the gym, sauna and steam room; and breakfast served daily. Perhaps the best part of the package, however, is a candlelit four-course wine dinner served on the beach at sunset. 877.886.9176; www.premiereonline.com.mx..

Ultrafunctional Companion

Why not travel in style and ease? Specially created for the Murakami Exhibition this past June at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Monogramouflage canvas marks a new collaboration between Takashi Murakami and Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. The collection includes a keepall and rolling suitcase, as well as an iPhone cover, belt and other matching accessories. Shown here is Jasmine, a Monogramouflage Denim canvas bag with many pockets and a zippered enclosure, all in a convenient, lightweight size—handy for that fashionable yet relaxing honeymoon. $1,770; www.louisvuitton.com.

Do you like what you read? Purchase Exquisite Weddings Magazine »