Recommend June 2011 - (Page 23)

Garden Romance package, for instance, includes use of the venezia side garden for one hour, along with photography and other wedding ceremony essentials, and 20 percent off suite accommodations for bride and groom for $1,650 (maximum of 10 guests). Or, recommend the Courtyard Romance package, which includes private use of the venezia Courtyard for one hour, a personal event planner to assist with ceremony details, bouquet and other essentials. this package is priced at $9,500 with a maximum of 100 guests. Brides and grooms can also choose to exchange vows aboard a private gondola ride along the venetian’s Grand Canal while being serenaded by their own gondolier. the venetian is an all-suite property boasting over 3,000 accommodations that range from 650 sq. ft. to 2,900 sq. ft. each suite comes complete with a roman tub, plush king-sized bed and sunken living space with hDtv. Call for nightly rates. Contact: (866) 659-9643; venetian.com bedroom Villa (usually a $795 rate) on their wedding night. Other accommodations on property vary and include 204 Bungalow guestrooms and suites (ranging from 847 sq. ft.-2,486 sq. ft) and 128 2-, 3- and 4bedroom villas, ideal for families. Call for rates. Contact: (800) 315-8214; pelicanhill.com ojai valley inn & spa farther north on California’s Central Coast, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa offers an array of wedding experiences that make the most of the resort’s unique valley location. trendsetter brides and grooms will love some of the inn’s distinctive ceremony sites, which include a hillside herb garden filled to the brim with 65 herb varieties and 25 types of fruit trees, a 1920s spanish colonial courtyard dotted with orange trees—ceremonies here can include a classical guitarist to add a touch of formality to the courtyard’s Old World charm—and the Big red Barn, the resort’s working barn—just a mile from the inn in horse country—which features a hayloft, saloon and adjoining paddock and can accommodate up to 200 boot-stomping guests. for a truly memorable entrance, brides and grooms can even ride up to the altar outfitted with matching Western saddles. the inn can arrange custom activities for couples and their guests, including horseback riding, guided hiking and championship golf. the onsite artist’s Cottage & apothecary is available for pre-wedding art and potion-blending classes to create special gifts for the bride and groom. rates at Ojai valley inn & spa range from $300-$600 per night, depending on the season. Contact: (800) 422-6524; ojairesort.com the fairmont empress you don’t have to be royalty to enjoy a wedding that’s fit for a princess. the 477-room The Fairmont Empress in victoria, British Columbia, Canada, with its palatial-style architecture and history dating back to the early-1900s, has played host to kings, queens, dignitaries and celebrities, so why not your soon-to-be newlyweds? towering over victoria’s sparkling inner harbour, the hotel offers an Elopement package with rates starting at $1,900 for up to four guests. it includes a romantic venue for the couple—this can range from the property’s rose Garden, blooming with fragrant roses and hydrangeas, to the palm Court, complete with italian marble floors and dome stained glass ceiling—all the wedding essentials, as well as 1-night suite accommodations for bride and groom with breakfast in bed, and dinner for two in the empress room. During their stay, make sure clients experience afternoon tea in the hotel’s historic tea lobby, a tradition that’s been taking place at the fairmont empress for over a century. here, guests can sip on a selection of seasonal teas created exclusively for the hotel, along with freshly baked pasties like raisin scones served with heavy cream and strawberry preserves prepared by the hotel’s award-winning pastry chef. regular nightly rates at the fairmont empress start at $220. Contact: (800) 257-7544; fairmont.com the kahala hotel & resort few things are quite as romantic as a tropical wedding in hawaii. With its lush vegetation, awe-inspiring volcanoes and crystal-clear blue oceans, this destination can satisfy any couple’s craving for the exotic—with no passport needed. at The Kahala Hotel & Resort, located on the island of honolulu, couples can enjoy romantic weddings on a secluded waterfront location with as many or few add-ons as they wish. take the Marquise Wedding package, which includes an oceanfront ceremony, complete with musical soloist and 1-hour photo session priced at $4,200 for up to 40 guests. Or, have your clients opt for the Emerald Wedding package, which comes with some special hawaiian touches such as a conch shell blower at the ceremony, fresh orchids and a signature Kahala ke aloha drinks (non-alcoholic) for guests. rates run $6,800. With 306 spacious guestrooms, each with views of the pacific Ocean, Ko’olau Mountain range, Diamond head and Koko head craters, or the tranquil Dolphin lagoon, Kahala resort offers an ideal location for a wedding of any size. and with a wide range of onsite amenities and nearby dining, shopping and cultural experiences, couples can easily extend their wedding celebration into a romantic honeymoon. some of the amenities on property include six dining venues, the Kahala Spa and a 26,000-sq.-ft. natural lagoon, home to playful atlantic bottlenose dolphins. room rates vary. Contact: (800) 367-2525; kahalaresort.com n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Bliss in Our Own Backyard (June 2010) june 2011 23 pelican hill With its beautiful seaside setting boasting views of the pacific Ocean, Pelican Hill sets the stage for an upscale yet relaxing wedding on the southern California coast. situated on 504 acres between the picturesque towns of Newport Beach and laguna Beach, pelican hill offers couples three very romantic ceremony venues. Our favorite: the Wedding lawn, a verdant and private outdoor area featuring a renaissancestyle rotunda and spectacular vistas over the resort, the golf courses, the coastline and the pacific. it accommodates up to 270 guests for a banquet and 350 for a reception. for indoor parties, la Capella is the resort’s indoor wedding venue and features hand-hewn wooden ceilings, fireplace, bell tower and ocean views. it is separate from the hotel for more privacy and can accommodate 120-180 guests. additionally, pelican hill hosts just one wedding per day to ensure that each couple has their own exclusive experience and rights to take photos on property. Couples getting married at pelican hill receive a complimentary 2- http://www.pelicanhill.com http://www.venetian.com http://www.ojairesort.com http://www.fairmont.com http://www.kahalaresort.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Club Med Weddings by Imagine
A Perfect Honeymoon
Super-Sexy Voyages by Sea
Home-Based Happily Ever Afters
Kiss & Tell
Saying "I Do" on an Island
The Best Beach Honeymoons
Brazil Travel Planner
Say "I Do" to Central America
Steamy Love in South America
Finding Honeymoon Gems in Europe
Mesmerizing Retreats
Exotic Africa—The Perfect Honeymoon Haven
Five Fiery Honeymoons in Mexico
Mexico Says "I Do" to Destination Weddings

Recommend June 2011