NORTH AMERICA
BIG ISLAND, HAWAII
FOUR SEASONS RESORT HUALALAI
Consistently regarded as one of the best properties in the world, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Big Island’s sprawling Kohala Coast has been known to pamper the affluent couple that wants a little more than the average nuptial. Thanks to top-notch services, stunning scenery, impressive catering, the intimate, secluded setting and, quite frankly, previously wed Insta-braggers, get- ting hitched at this highbrow resort is in itself over the top. While weddings include a ceremony, officiants, flowers/leis, photography, Hawaiian music and entertainment, and a wedding manager, couples are known to splurge for complete customization. It’s not unlikely the hotel will prepare hundreds of lit candles burning at the outdoor reception to completely enhance the ambience, or have the catering team prepare special family recipes served as refreshments. What makes a wedding at Four Seasons Hualalai special for every couple is that there are eight awe-inspiring wedding venues from which to choose. From the secluded Kumukea Beach with ocean breeze and magical setting sun to Hoku Amphitheater, a terraced, outdoor amphitheater with dramatic rock wall carved from lava flow—each setting is breathtaking. Your wedding guests will also thank you for choosing the Four Seasons Hualalai.The 243-room property includes seven swimming areas, including King’s Pond (a natural pond “aquarium” with 75 species of fish and a resident spotted eagle ray to swim with), decadent spa with outdoor Jacuzzis and showers, and three high-end restaurants. In fact, specially arranged pre-wedding events for guests (like transforming the beach to an ancient Hawaiian fishing village with tiki statues and fire blowers) are common, ensuring the entire wedding party will undoubtedly talk about this celebration for decades to come. Lucky you. 72- 100 Kaupulehu Dr. Tel: 808-325-8000. www.fourseasons.com/hualalai
—Jimmy Im
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, Jamestown, New Yo
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
THE FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
The first thing to love about Chicago’s iconic Field Museum is its water- front location, just steps away from where Lake Michigan curves grace- fully around the city’s storied museum campus. Second is its glorious facade, designed in a classical revival style, which so many American cities now largely ignore. But it is inside where the real treasures await. Same-sex couples enjoy the freedom to marry not far from where Sue the T-Rex wows visitors with her imposing stature or where the Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo penetrate passersby with their menacing stares. The muse- um has hosted many a wedding celebration in its mammoth exhibition halls, skylit atriums, and outdoor terrace over the years, and couples can choose between one of three preferred caterers. If a Windy City wedding is in the works for you, a night at the Field Museum with your fiancé and up to 1,000 friends and family isn’t one you’ll soon forget. 1400 S Lake Shore Drive. Tel: 312-665-7683. www.fieldmuseum.org
—Jason Heidemann
DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA
RITZ-CARLTON LAGUNA NIGUEL
Nothing gets a collective jaw-drop from a wedding party like a spectacular view, and The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel has the money shot. Perched on a 150-foot bluff in tony Dana Point, this five-star resort is home to fanciful weddings thanks to a stunning backdrop of the Pacific Ocean along a stretch of gorgeous coast and, of course, the legacy of unforgettable Ritz-Carlton moments that happen at this recently renovated property. Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is as elegant as you would expect with stately public spaces, lavish amenities, and impressive, fine dining options. A chandelier, just to give you an idea of how posh this hotel is, anchors the fitness center. Featuring two outdoor pools and whirlpools, a pampering spa and salon, and perfect- ly manicured lawns with Adirondack chairs, the five-star resort has all the right amenities for luxurious wedding parties, whether intimate or full buy- out. It’s also at the foot of a gorgeous beach that’s only shared with one other resort. For the ceremony, there are three venues from which to choose: Monarch Bay Sunset Terrace, Gazebo Lawn, and The Pacific Promenade Lawn. All are framed by the stunning view and can host from 74 to 500 guests, depending on the location. Truly unique reception areas include: The Pavilion with domed ceilings and crystal chandeliers and The Pacific Promenade with floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air marble foyer, both offering the latest trends in modern weddings. For instance, Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is quick to prepare a dessert bar (rather than a wedding cake), gourmet comfort food like Kobe beef sliders and truffle macaroni and cheese and even entrée stations that encourage guest interaction, all of which has been trending in wedding receptions. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point. Tel: 949-240-2000. www.ritzcarlton.com
—Jimmy Im
Field Museum, Chicagp
JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK
LUCILLE BALL DESI ARNAZ MUSEUM
Located in Upstate New York, The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum is available year-round for same-sex weddings and receptions. Whether you’d like to have your celebration among exhibits and studio sets from I Love Lucy or in Ricky Ricardo’s Manhattan nightclub, the Tropicana Room, it is sure to be an event your guests will enjoy and remember. The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum offers a wide variety of options for the perfect vintage glamour wedding. If needed, the museum is happy to act as your wedding planner in order to help you find the best caterers, musicians, comedians, and officiants. Lucy’s hometown is 70-90 miles south- west of Buffalo and Niagara Falls; three hours or less from Pittsbugh, Cleveland, Toronto; about 6.5 hours from New York City, and eight hours from Chicago. Located in the heart of downtown Jamestown, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum is within walking distance of hotels, restaurants, and nightlife options. The Tropicana Room holds up to 140 people comfortable with ceremony-style seating, and 90 people with table arrangement. 2 West 3rd Street. Tel: 716-484-0800. www.lucy-desi.com
—Robert Adams
