Recommend June 2012 - (Page 60)

ISLAND WEDDINGS pump up the volume continued from page 58 Seagrape Suite at Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada. Small wedding groups can enjoy a ceremony in a gazebo right over the sea, with the island’s Blue Mountains as a backdrop, while larger parties can hold their nuptials on a gazebo in the sand. Regardless of their choice, the rich blue waters are always one of the star attractions. Couples have several packages to choose from, each of which includes the services of the onsite wedding coordinator, the cake, a 15 percent discount on all spa treatments, and free anniversary nights. The most basic, which includes the aforementioned, is Weddings in Paradise, priced at $949—but it can be complimentary when booking a Junior Suite Preferred Club Ocean View category or higher for a 7-night minimum stay, or if at least ﬁve rooms are booked for three nights or more in any room category for wedding guests. The bride and groom also have lots of touches and details they can add to their wedding for an extra fee to make their wedding all the more special. The most popular addition at this resort is a steel drum band to infuse the whole affair with an island feel. Another romantic choice—a bonﬁre on the beach. Rates start at $315 pp, per night dbl and include the brand’s Unlimited Luxury concept—all meals and beverages, nightly entertainment and much more. Why we chose it: Adults-only, fun add-ons for wedding packages and all-inclusive beneﬁts. Contact: (866) GO SECRETS; secretsresorts.com the ritz-carlton, san juan, puerto rico A Caribbean wedding won’t get any easier than one held here, thanks to the no-passport advantage for U.S. citizens when they travel to 60 june 2012 Puerto Rico. Add to that the resort’s so-convenient location, by pretty and popular Isla Verde Beach, 10 minutes from Old San Juan and about half that time from the airport. And because we’re talking about The Ritz-Carlton, nuptials might not get more elegant than those held here, either. If the convenience and tropical surroundings of this graceful property are not incentive enough, rooms and suites here are sure to sway. The hotel’s recent multi-million dollar renovation means accommodations have been spruced up with bright, yet warm colors celebrating the hues of the beach below. Its expert mix of fun and sophistication, with native touches added in, extends to its weddings—enter customized menus generous with local dishes, a sampling of local rums by the hotel’s own “Rummier” or the high-energy rhythms of local music and dancers. And if the couple chooses to say “I do” at one of Puerto Rico’s many historical sites, the hotel can provide off-site catering. The resort’s current basic wedding package, priced at $3,500, includes the venue—either at the Grand Ballroom or on the beach—plus the non-denominational minister, bouquet and boutonniere and a photographer for one hour. Of course, couples can also pepper their special day with plenty of a-la-carte, more traditional extras, including a violinist or guitar player or a post-ceremony couple’s massage, with the able assistance of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan’s dedicated wedding planners. Room rates start at $279 per night. Why we chose it: Well-known elegant brand, convenient location and no passport required. continued on page 62 Contact: (800) 542-8680; ritzcarlton.com recommend.com http://www.secretsresorts.com http://www.ritzcarlton.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Artisans of Leisure
Romance on Land & Sea
Out of Africa Come Romantic Retreats
Starry-Eyed Bliss in Exotic Surroundings
Enchanting Nuptials American-Style
Honeymoons that Stir the Soul
Latin American Gems Play to the Heart
Brazil Travel Planner
Fairy Tale Honeymoons in Europe
Island Weddings Pump Up the Volume
Once-in-a-Lifetime Honeymoons
Destination Wedding Powerhouses
Fancy-Filled Mexican Weddings
'Mooning in Mexico

Recommend June 2012