Recommend November 2013 - (Page 38)

Jade M o made untain is for a rom antic ge taway. Saint Lucia' s wedding planners are known for being at the top of their game. They offer a wealth of information and photographs, and guide clients through the planning process. They are always in touch with clients by e-mail. They understand that people need to feel very comfortable because a lot of people have not visited the island before. There' s lots of contact before couples get to the island, and couples are encouraged to ask as many q uestions as they want. estination wedding planners recommend that travel agents ﬁnd out what sort of wedding clients want. Some couples prefer to marry in the hotel where they' re staying, but some might want something a bit more uniq ue where they are going to have a lot of personaliz ation and a bit more privacy. They say it will deﬁnitely be a plus if travel agents encourage their clients to hire a wedding planner. Venues Lush Saint Lucia has been blessed with a number of stunning locations that make for ideal backdrops for a wedding or vow renewal. There are those emerald UNESCo world heritage piton Mountains of course, or the incredible Touraille waterfall, which is great for a small wedding party. No shoes? No problem- choose a barefoot ex perience by the shore. Another option is to marry at one of several gardens in Saint Lucia, including diamond Botanical gardens in Soufriere, home to the diamond Mineral Baths built for French troops in 1784. Many weddings in Saint Lucia take place in the island' s hotels, with properties outﬁtted with small armies of support for brides, a great variety of services and packages that mix and match all their needs. Anse Ch astanet and its " resort within a resort," J ade Mountain, have Clients can op t for a sunset b eachfront we dding. long been regarded as one of the world' s idyllic locations for romance, with an air of intimacy and personaliz ation that is uniq ue. rather than having a dedicated area for a ceremony, guests are encouraged to ex plore the properties and choose their own location- and they have their share here. They can say " I do" on a strip of beach, of course, at kai Mer Cottage overlooking Anse Chastanet Beach, or at the Treehouse, a hillside, intimate location embraced by treetops and looking out to the Caribbean Sea. Some couples love their premium or hillside delux e room so much they choose to marry right there, with the views of the ocean and pitons around them. There' s also the ruins at Anse Mamin historical plantation, which provide an added air of island charm. Couples and their party arrive by boat. guests staying at Jade Mountain can marry on its Celestial Terrace or inﬁnity pool sanctuary, surrounded by the natural beauty of Saint Lucia. The resort can also arrange underwater ceremonies- clients say their vows on land, then dive right in to " repeat" them using signs and sign language. Another option is to hop on one of Anse Chastanet' s boats and hold a small ceremony there, then j ump in the water if they choose. The resort' s vast ex perience in creating incredible memories means they' ve developed great relationships with vendors throughout the island and can help couples every step of the way- getting a sax ophonist or band, putting together a variety of inspiring menus for the reception, whipping up cocktail parties and ﬁnding the prettiest tropical ﬂowers for the bride's bouquet. They even have a dedicated website, elopetoparadisewedding s.com. The all-inclusive Coconut Bay Resort & Spa attracts couples putting together multi-generational weddings, as it features Saint Lucia' s S6 S2-S9 IntroWedsRomanc.indd 6 10/24/13 1:43 PM http://www.elopetoparadiseweddings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend November 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Generator
Tour Talk: Vistas by IsramWorld
Sailing the Danube With Viking (and a Teeneger in Tow)
AmaPrima
Bhutan: The Eternal Kingdom Beckons
The Greening of the Caribbean
The Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Merida: Gateway to the Yucatan Experience
Nicaragua Now
Las Vegas Embraces the Future
Tasmania: A Devilish Destination
Zimbabwe: Southern Africa's Comeback Kid
Georgia: Off the Radar

Recommend November 2013