MALLORCA, SPAIN
ST. REGIS MARDAVALL
As soon as couples arrive at the St. Regis Mardavall in Mallorca, a moment of clarity sinks in: they truly picked the right place to get married. The breathtaking lobby is ornately grandiose with a high, wooden-beamed domed ceiling, three-tiered foyer with marble columns and archways, a cen- tral chandelier, and arrangements of billowy curtains. It’s palatial to the point of art, and on the other side of these walls lies a blissful sanctuary. The three- tiered outdoor pool, unfurled green lawns, impeccably detailed landscaping and priceless ocean views make St. Regis Mardavall seem as if it were built specifically for weddings. The dream Mediterranean wedding in a secluded, self-enclosed location starts with the signature St. Regis butler that helps coordinates all guests’ needs, in addition to the competent team of wedding specialists. It’s like having an army of personal assistants from arrival to departure; couples can actually sneak away from backdoor wedding plan- ning and fully enjoy the property’s amenities and services. Four ceremony venues, from an elaborate terrace to the romantic, sun-drenched garden, set the stage for unforgettable “I do” moments with scenery and ambience that’s effortlessly captured in wedding photos. Naturally, with a resort of this caliber, there’s an award-winning spa, private beach with jetty, and a notable Michelin-starred restaurant, Es Fum. It’s not very common that a resort’s Michelin restaurant will cater a wedding, but that’s what makes St. Regis Mardavall even more special for guests. The wedding menu features beautifully plated courses by Es Fum’s Executive Chef Rafael Sanchez with dishes like roasted beef cheeks on potato and truffle purée and hake with red onion compote, vegetable ball, tomato and cava beurre, paired with exclusive wines from Spain’s most touted wine regions. Ole! Carretera Palma-Andratx, 19. Tel: 34-971-62-96-29. www.stregismardavall.com
—Jimmy Im
JUKKASJÄRVI, SWEDEN
ICEHOTEL
Calling all hotties: test your shared body warmth with a wedding above the Arctic Circle. Fly into Kiruna, Sweden and hop on a dogsled (or a taxi) to quaint Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, home of the original ICEHOTEL. The hotel celebrated its 25th year this winter, and it continues to welcome world travelers to its snowy wonderland—some there to share wedding vows in the Icechurch, which, like the actual ice hotel, is built anew every year. The ICE- HOTEL is actually a large campus dotted with permanent structures open year-round (all climate-controlled), and the ice-and-snow structures con- structed each fall (which remain a steady 23oF inside). The cold hotel houses several dozen uniquely designed and hand-sculpted rooms by artists from around the world, each with a bed covered by reindeer hides to sleep on with your super-insulated sleeping bag. The Icebar and Icechurch are built the same way, on much larger scales. Couples head to the Icechurch in their cho- sen garb, which can span traditional formalwear to snowmobile overalls and boots, and they can invite up to 40 guests. Icechurch weddings take place weekdays only from late December through April, with a handful of same- sex nuptials and “blessing ceremonies” (vow renewals) marked here every season. Since 2009, same-sex couples have been getting legally married in Sweden. Those visiting from abroad are welcome to make it official here too, as long as it’s legal in their home country. The ICEHOTEL will assist with certified paperwork and other logistics, with a pricetag of about $1,700 for the ceremony, including an officiant. Hotel wedding planners also can help with accommodations for the happy couple and their guests, and arrange receptions in one of the restaurants or lounges. Or perhaps group snowmobiling or Nordic skiing is more in order. If weather cooperates, the Northern Lights may even illuminate the occasion. Of course, for those couples who find winter in the Arctic just a bit to ofrigid, there’s always the ICEHOTEL in the summer—just don’t forget your shades for the midnight sun. 63 Marknadsvägen. Tel: 46-98-06-6800. www.icehotel.com
—Kelsy Chauvin
ICEHOTEL, Wedding, Church of 2014: Design by Elin Julin, Marjolein Vonk & Marinus Vroom. Model released.
ASIA
BORA BORA, TAHITI
UNDERWATER
It doesn’t take much for Bora Bora in French Polynesia to sell itself. Effortlessly one of the most beautiful places in the world, its trademark lagoons are crystal clear, and unobstructed sunsets are nothing less than commanding. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if Bora Bora was the screensaver on your computer. Here in the middle of the Pacific, it’s exotic and exclusive, the laid-back ambience is contagious, and the staggering beauty of the natural landscape is unfathomable, luring honeymooners the world over. Lately, Bora Bora has become a preferred wedding destination for couples that want to be submerged in tropical seclusion or even underwater. Taking wet and wild to a whole new level, adventurous couples are exchanging vows in a once-in-a-lifetime wedding by going over-the-top and under the sea for their nuptials. Remarkably, Bora Bora is home to an underwater chapel known in Tahitian as Te-Ana-Ipo (Cave of Love), where water-loving couples can tie the knot just 13-feet below the lagoon’s surface. The 30-minute ceremony includes music, vows with underwater headphones, ring exchange, marriage certificate signing with a local priest, and a DVD filmed by a professional videographer…all underwater! Donned in white wedding diving outfits and helmets pumping air (ladies: no need to spend hours on your hair for this), newlyweds emerge from one of the most unique wedding experiences on the planet. While in Bora Bora, couples stay at Four Seasons Bora Bora (Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, BP 547, Moto Tehotu. Tel: 689-40-6-31-30. www.fourseasons.com/borabora), a romantic property with 100 above-water bungalows that serve as perfect little hideaways. The resort comes equipped with several private beaches, in addition to a chapel for couples that prefer dry weddings that guests can attend. The Tahitian wedding comes with all the traditional works: outrigger canoe arrival, local musicians, sarongs, and flower crowns. Island vibes for everyone. Top Dive (www.boraboraunderwaterwedding.com) arranges underwater weddings, and resorts and other operators may soon follow suit.
—Jimmy Im
AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA
HAWKE’S BAY, NEW ZEALAND
THE FARM AT CAPE KIDNAPPERS
New Zealand’s otherworldly pastoral beauty and its ultra-lux accommodations meet at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers. This hotel situated on 6,000 acres on New Zealand’s North Island is surrounded by one of the best golf courses in New Zealand, and with a golf course comes picture-perfect settings for fabulous weddings. And if you choose to marry at this Relaix & Chateaux property, you’ll take comfort in knowing that your guests will be rewarded for their day’s worth of travel with an excitement-filled itinerary. Whether enjoying the Pacific Ocean views, swimming in the on-site outdoor pool, galloping on horseback along the expansive beaches, or visiting a near- by vineyard, they may find it hard to keep the focus on you and your loved one. Equipped for any kind of ceremony, from traditional to an authentic Maori ceremony, the hotel’s dedicated staff is there to make this your special moment. The hotel is able to accommodate up to 100 guests to witness your special day, whether that’s with New Zealand’s spectacular cliffs and the ocean serving as your background or near the gorgeous pool. They’ll easily hire photographers, a flower service, and entertainment, and the executive chef and sommelier will customize a five-course menu that features both traditional New Zealand fare and the couple’s favorite dishes. After the wed- ding, honeymoon packages include Champagne, spa treatments, picnic lunch, private dining, and a romantic turndown service. 446 Clifton Road, Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay. Tel: 64-6-875-1900. www.capekidnappers.com
—Paul Summers
AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
SABI SABI GAME RESERVE
There’s no need to book a hall or decide between the filet mignon and the grilled rib-eye steak when you bring the whole wedding party to Kruger Park in South Africa to say “I do” at the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Family and friends will be delighted to feel the warm safari breeze while spotting the Big Five on a game drive. Lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, elephants, (and your nearest and dearest) will join over 200 animal species indigenous to Sabi Sabi, the perfect backdrop for an intimate yet elaborate wedding. There’s no need to pick out col- ors or decide on a theme as the African bush and Sabi Sabi’s four individual lodges will set the tone. Sabi Sabi’s team can secure an inter- denominational minister, photographer, and videographer, as well as arrange for flowers, makeup and hairstylists, and a wedding cake. There are a variety of options for the wedding ceremony, including having up to 15 local Shangaan dancers and drummers for your authentic African marriage in the bush. Friends and family will be pampered from the moment they arrive on the Sabi Sabi airstrip and throughout the wedding weekend with elaborate meals, game rides, and special treatments at the Amani Spa at Earth Lodge. The breath- taking Bush Lodge offers a traditional safari made new, accommodating up to 25 couples with a vibrant and eclectic mix of African decor. The Little Bush Camp, offering only six suites, provides an intimate and decadent landscape for you to tie the knot. Having the opportunity to treat your wedding guests to early morning game drives and clink Champagne glasses after spotting a pair of nuzzling leopards before the sun sets is perhaps one of the coolest ways to kick off your wedding adventure in style. Portion 4, Shaws Gate, Kruger, 1350. Tel: +27-13-735-5102. www.sabisabi.com
—Jeffrey James Keyes
