Cat and Jeerun had a whirlwind European Honeymoon, visiting London, Paris, Munich, Venice, Florence and Rome. After hearing about how fabulous Europe was from their friends and family, they thought it would be the perfect destination for their honeymoon.
“Paris and Rome were amazing because of all the sights there were to see,” says Jeerun, “We also really enjoyed Munich because we caught the tail-end of Oktoberfest. I enjoyed the beer and Cat enjoyed the food. Venice was very romantic but also very crowded due to all the tourists.”
Jeerun and Cat loved that they had the freedom to be on their own schedule; they could wake up early to catch an excursion if they wanted to go on a tour or just wander around the cities at their leisure.
For couples considering going on a similar honeymoon, Cat and Jeerun would suggest staying on the main island in Venice, especially if your visit to Venice is short. They stayed on Lido Island and it was a bit time consuming traveling from Lido Island to the main island.
Overall their honeymoon just as they’d hoped: fun, memorable and romantic!
Interested in going to Europe for your honeymoon? Contact us!
Heather and her husband wanted their honeymoon to be a bit of a road adventure that included some of the things they love: wine, food, and natural beauty. When they saw the Carneros Inn in Napa, CA on the list of options I sent to them, they wanted to stay there the second they saw the photos.
Napa ended up being the perfect destination for them – gorgeous natural beauty and close to home but far from busy Los Angeles.
The people in Napa were sweet and generous. The food was some of the best we’ve ever had and we loved that so many restaurants supported local farmers, says Heather.
They also loved the special honeymoon amenities they received, We got a free nights’ stay at the Carneros Inn and were delighted at all the free champagne! Every restaurant or pool-side lounge on the hotel property offered us free bubbly with every visit. All Carneros Inn guests were treated handsomely at local wineries too, with free wine tastings and discounts.
For those couples who are normally busy or have hectic schedules, I recommend that couples plan their destination, hotel and little else, My husband and I are busy bodies, but we were surprised at how little we wanted to do. It was nice planning the day’s activities based on how we felt when we woke up.
They truly loved Napa and the Carneros Inn – it was a peaceful, restful and delicious way to spend their honeymoon!
Interested in visiting Napa for your honeymoon? Contact us!
Brooke and Brandon had always wanted to go to Australia so they pulled out all the stops for their honeymoon. They visited Cairns, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and spent three nights in each city.
Brooke and Brandon loved that each place they visited was very different and are glad they were able to see so many destinations. Brandon had never been outside the US and loved that Australia didn’t feel as intimidating as other international destinations they were considering for their honeymoon. We didn’t experience any culture shock, it didn’t feel overwhelming, and it made for a great experience! says Brooke.
Another highlight of the trip were the hotels. All the hotels were beautiful! They really made it feel like an extravagant trip. Their locations were great, making it easy to tour the cities. The staff were always very friendly, easy to talk to, and ready to help, says Brooke.
Their favorite moments were spent scuba diving, walking through the cities and visiting a wildlife sanctuary in Sydney where they could pet and feed the animals.
Brooke and Brandon offered some great tips for couple considering going to Australia for their honeymoon: With only three days in each city, we had to prioritize what we really wanted to do. Talk to the staff at your hotels, the people you sit next to on the plane, or even waiters/waitresses and employees at the stores you shop at for local attractions or fun restaurants and activities you wouldn’t normally hear about. The people we ran into were very nice and definitely made a difference in the trip!
Interested in visiting Australia for your honeymoon? Contact us!
I was so honored when Christina Wright from Simply Modern Weddings agreed to share her advice for planning a fabulous destination wedding! I love how much she incorporates couples’ interests and personalities into the weddings she plans, and she explains that the same can be done when planning a destination wedding.
Be sure to visit her blog to see some of the amazing weddings she has planned!
(1st Row – left to right): Church: Alec & T Photography, Invitation Suite: Thoughtful Day Invites, Gown: J-Crew
(2nd Row – left to right): Bouquet: Jo Ann Manolis Photography, Necklace: The Knot, Tequila Bar: Victore Sizemore Photography
Exotic tropical resorts, countryside villas, rustic haciendas. If the sound of these intrigue you much more than your local hotels, golf clubs, and grand ballrooms, a destination wedding may be the perfect fit for you! Not only does it open up endless possibilities of exciting places to tie the knot, but it also makes for a memorable experience for you and your guests! But before you grab your fiancé, passports, and rush to the airport, here are some tips to help you personalize your destination wedding, while keeping your sanity.
Planning Your Day
There are many logistics that go into planning a wedding abroad, so the first thing that you’ll need is a planner in your hometown that you trust to be the liaison between you and the location, as well as to help bring your vision to life.
Couples looking for a simple approach will find that many resort properties offer wedding packages, which help with the basics of having your wedding. However, having a separate planner will guide you through the planning with the resort, in addition to helping you infuse your personal style into the wedding. This way you are able to make it your own vs. a “one size fits all” template.
A planner can also do research to help you think outside the box for guest activities: you can host a welcome bonfire for everyone on the beach, enjoy traditional dancers during the reception, arrange a group tour with your guests to a local historical site…the sky is truly the limit as far as making your wedding memorable!
Creative Cost Savings
Let’s not forget the $$ factor! Many times, your destination wedding can cost much less than planning a traditional wedding in your hometown. This savings is not just limited to the smaller guest count. The beauty of destination weddings is that the location itself can add such a statement to your day, along with helping your budget. Getting married on a majestic clifftop in Hawaii? Then you don’t need much besides you, your fiancé, and the officiant…the jaw-dropping backdrop will serve as all the ceremony décor that you will need.
Be sure to embrace the local culture with regards to food and décor. Some examples of this would be to serve traditional dessert in lieu of a wedding cake or shopping in the local markets for items that can be used in the décor. I love the idea of bringing local flavor into the wedding design: conch shells as floral decor, traditional fabrics as table overlays, wood carvings as focal decor pieces. Anything you can imagine!
Important Planning Tip
One thing I can’t STRESS enough is the importance of bringing on a photographer that you love and trust for your destination wedding! Although the resort packages do include photography services, trust me when I say this is definitely something you want control over. Bringing on your own wedding photographer means that you will be able to select someone skilled at capturing those images you want creatively, where many of the resort-included photographers may not have that same artistic eye.
Many brides think having a destination wedding means they can’t afford to bring a great photographer with them, but just as with local weddings, photography is the one thing you should never skimp out on. Especially since your wedding will be like a vacation with your family and closest friends; you are definitely going to want to cherish those memories!
Thank you again Christina for the wonderful advice!
Interested in honeymoon planning assistance? Contact us!
I am thrilled to feature the fabulous honeymoon that Patrick and Nicole recently took to Antigua! They stayed at one of my favorite places, Coco’s Hotel. There are just 26 individual cottages on a hill overlooking the ocean with two private beaches. Each cottage has ocean views and a balcony with a hammock and outdoor shower. The hotel is also all inclusive, so the price you pay ahead of time includes all of your meals, drinks, taxes and gratuities.
This hotel is perfect for couples looking for a relaxing honeymoon on a beautiful beach, and want somewhere quiet and intimate. I hope you enjoy reading about their honeymoon!
Look at that view!!!
How did you decide on this destination?
There were so many reasons! All inclusive resort for adults only, private bungalows on a hillside just a short walk from the beach- perfect for honeymooners, as well as the beautiful views and teal waters of Antigua.
Did you like where you stayed?
Absolutely loved it! The food was amazing, the employees were very accommodating and were eager to get us whatever we needed. The other guests were our fast friends!
What did you think about the destination?
The beach and water were clean and the local residents we extremely friendly!
Did you receive any special honeymoon amenities or upgrades?
The resort provided a “honeymoon dinner” with complimentary champagne as well as a complimentary 30 minute massage.
What was your favorite part of your honeymoon?
Relaxing on our private porch in our bungalow enjoying cocktails (the resort kept our room refrigerator stocked) overlooking the ocean, lounging on the beach laughing with the other residents enjoying the fruity drinks the beach bartender Acare provided, and dinner was always delicious!
Do you have any suggestions for other couples going on a similar honeymoon?
If anyone plans to attend during hurricane season, expect sand flies. They are tiny bug that are impossible to detect, and the bites are very itchy! Bring itch cream- the resort does supply everything you need to keep them away, however that does not work during the wettest season.
What 3 words would you use to describe your honeymoon?
Dream honeymoon destination!
Interested in planning your honeymoon to Antigua? Contact us!
