So you’ve chosen to marry on the sand, but don’t still want to make it a formal affair? How about incorporating some formality with these stunning “alters”?! Below you’ll find some inspiration on how the use of some draping fabrics, swaging, dropping chandeliers, can turn your beach ceremony into a jaw-dropping formal feeling affair!
Bizous, (kisses)
Violaine
**All photos are from Style Me Pretty
Captured by Studio EMP
Captured by Kiss The Groom
Via Mishka Designs
Captured by Aaron Delesie
Captured by Studio Impressions
Captured by Haring Photography
Captured by Nancy Cohn 
From Nisiesenchanted.com
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| Leave a Comment Islamorada, Florida is one of my very favorite destinations on the planet for weddings. When I stumbled on this stunning wedding, it was honestly love at first sight. The elegance, the simple and yet totally luxe style and the joy…. ok, I’m kinda obsessed.
Everything from the bride’s understated but stunning style to the all white opulent décor and the sweetest of the sweetest, moments captured by the brilliant KT Merry. I tell you, I’m in love! Enjoy.
Bizous, (kisses)
Violaine
**Credits**
Photography: KT Merry / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Event Planning: Divine Design by Guerdy / Floral + Decor: Ocean Flowers / Venue: Pierre’s, Islamorada / Make-up + Hair: Sobe Studios, Amy Palma / Officiant: Joaquin Perea / Cake: Ana Paz / Linens: Panache Party Rental
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| 1 Comment Part of the services we offer our clients is honeymoon planning and of course destination weddings. And if you’re a regular on this blog, you know we recommend the best of the best hotels and destinations from all over the world. This week we’re treating you to your very own private island of Exumas, Bahamas where the stunning Fowl Cay Resort sits.
Fowl Cay is a private island with a difference: discover six uniquely beautiful villas spread across a private 50-acre retreat in the secluded chain of the Exumas, Bahamas. No neighboring hotels, no passing ships, no crowds – just you and the excitement of exploring a special kind of wilderness. Made up of 365 tiny islands and cays, stretching across more than 120 miles of crystal-clear, warm turquoise water – the natural beauty of the Exumas is one of the most extraordinary settings on the planet. It’s time to explore the world of Fowl Cay – no longer just a dream…
History of The Exumas
Steeped in history, the Exumas was originally home to the native Lucayan Indians until the 1700′s when American Revolutionary war Loyalists settled and attempted to establish cotton plantations in the area. To this day, Staniel Cay is one of the few permanent Bahamian Settlements in the entire Exuma Chain and one of the most popular spots for tourists and vacation homes.
Local residents are known for their sailing prowess and the Patriarch of Staniel Cay – Rolle Grey, won the first ever National Family Island Regatta on his boat Tida Wave. Even more remarkable, he was at the finish line 50 years later and saw his resurrected boat go on to win the 50th Anniversary of the Regatta in 2004.
The Exumas is also home to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the first park of its kind established in the world. It has been designated a No Take Zone in order to protect a safe breeding ground for the marine wildlife and fish that provides the local economy with its jobs and food.
What sort of travel documents will I need to get to the Bahamas?
All US citizens will require a passport to travel to the Bahamas. If you are traveling from another country please contact your local passport agency to confirm any additional required documents.
Does the island have internet access and a cell phone service?
Yes! There is free wireless internet throughout the island and in all of the villas. Also if your cell phone does not work on the island (currently AT&T works if you have an international plan) you can rent one of our Bahamian cells and pay by the minute during your stay. We can even arrange this before your arrival and provide you with the phone number should you wish to give your local number to friends or family at home.
Dining:
Bahamian Cuisine at Fowl Cay Resort
After a Sun-Kissed Day in Paradise, Sensational Cuisine Awaits!
Enjoy some of the most sophisticated cocktails, sparkling society and tantalizing cuisine to be found for hundreds of miles in any direction at our enchanting Harbour Club restaurant, which sits atop Fowl Cay’s highest point.
Draw up an elegantly sculpted period chair to your finely set table in the enticingly plush dining room, suffused with the golden glow of rattan-encased chandeliers, the tinkling of glasses and the delectable aromas of succulent fare.Or dine by candlelight under the stars on one of our two limestone terraces offering stunning vistas of the moonlit ocean below.
Satiate your palate with some of the most sumptuous dishes imaginable, all complemented exquisitely by fine vintages.
Give in to the magic of this intoxicating spot, as you feast on starlit views of a vast liquid horizon that seems to stretch out past forever.
Getting There:
Step 1: Fly to Nassau, Bahamas or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Step 2: Take a short, 40-minute charter from Nassau or 2 hour charter from Ft. Lauderdale to Staniel Cay Airstrip*. (1.25 miles from Fowl Cay)
Step 3: The Fowl Cay Resort Boat will pick you up at Staniel Cay for the short 10 minutes boat ride back to the island.
Contact us to arrange your flights from Nassau Bahamas to the lovely and exotic Exumas, home to Royal Plantation Island at Fowl Cay.
****The above was copied from Fowl Cay
****The above was copied from Caribbean Resort Specialist
Happy planning,
Violaine
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| Leave a Comment Part of the services we offer our clients is honeymoon planning and off course destination weddings. And if you’re a regular on this blog, you know we recommend the best of the best hotels and destinations from all over the world. Well, New York Palace Hotel falls in the category of the best of the best! Check it out…..
Why We Love Budapest
Jaw-dropping architecture, stunning natural splendor and an electric nightlife make Budapest a must-see in Central Europe.
Why Stay At Boscolo New York Palace
Five-star luxury and service in a historic Belle Époque building at the heart of Pest
The Scoop
The gargoyle-clad, turreted Belle Époque exterior and soaring, classical light-filled atrium at the Boscolo New York Palace in Budapest are impressive, but the elaborate design doesn’t compare to the postmodern interiors found in the hotel’s 112 sumptuous guest quarters. The rooms feature reams of rich fabrics (velvet, silk, damask), statement chandeliers (many in colorful Murano glass, a nod to the chain’s Venetian origins), marble bathrooms, and broad horizontal lines, which emphasize the room’s overall spaciousness. A sauna, Turkish bath, indoor pool, and fitness room collectively make up the spa, described as “inspired by an alpine ice tunnel,” while the Cigar Bar offers its own sense of relaxation. The hotel’s downtown Pest location, less than a mile from the National Museum and the Hungarian State Opera House, is an added bonus.
Insider Tips
Don’t miss the Rococo-style New York Palace Café. The restaurant has been a renowned literary salon and gathering place for the Hungarian intelligentsia since the hotel opened in 1894.
Boscolo New York Palace is set on a busy boulevard—the main road around Pest’s historic core—so light sleepers should request a room off the street.
Don’t Miss
Wellness Spot: Gellért Baths. Budapest has been famous for its spas since the Middle Ages. The most glorious of the city’s public bath complexes is the Art Nouveau Gellért Baths. Read More
Where to Eat
21. Trendy little 21 in the Castle District serves immaculate preparations of unapologetically old-school Hungarian cuisine in a modern setting. Read More
Where to Shop
Central Market Hall. This cavernous market is reminiscent of a converted old train station. Food stalls that hawk souvenir paprika and tins of goose liver are located downstairs; upstairs, stalls are filled with embroidery, lace, and other handicrafts.
Still not sure? Well, let the pictures below entice your senses. And off course contact us to plan your trip for you!
Happy planning,
Violaine
****All description of the hotel was copied from Vacationist
****All photo credits to Luxury Travel Magazine
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Rosewood Mayakobá is a luxury retreat situated along a mile of white-sand beach on the Riviera Maya in Mexico just north of Playa del Carmen. The luxury resort covers many small islands surrounded by a mangrove jungle at the heart of the ecological enclave of Mayakobá. Using indigenous materials such as Yucatán limestone and renewable woods, the design emphasizes chic simplicity. An unparalleled Mexico spa vacation destination, Rosewood Mayakobá offers an indulgent spa situated on a private island at the heart of the resort. Rosewood Mayakobá’s beach offers Caribbean blue water and borders the second largest coral reef in the world. Guests have access to all features of the Mayakobá enclave, including the championship 18-hole Greg Norman golf course and lectures on ancient Mayan culture and the Yucatán ecosystem.
Location
Situated on a protected stretch of the Yucatán Peninsula, Rosewood Mayakobá is four miles north of the charming coastal town of Playa del Carmen. It is 42 miles south of the Cancún International Airport and easily accessible by private jet. With stunning weather and tropical warmth, the winter months from December to March are the peak season. Another beautiful time to visit is late spring into June, when the weather is excellent, with very low humidity and rainfall.
Transportation
Cancún International Airport is 42 miles from the resort. A chauffeured car will be available for airport pick-up at an extra change, and independent car services and rentals are also offered at the airport. The property is easily accessible by jet. Within the resort, guests may explore by foot, resort shuttle, golf cart or boat. The suites, spa, restaurants, beaches, and golf course are accessible by the resort’s luxury boats.
Accommodations
There are 128 suites located on either the beachfront or clear lagoons. The signature room categories include eight over-the-water island and lagoonview suites and deluxe oceanview duplex suites offering panoramic views of the Caribbean. Wooden lattices and hiding glass doors give the accommodations an airy ambiance; exterior suite features include private plunge pools, outdoor garden showers and rooftop decks. Specialty in room details include Lady Primrose amenities and regionally decorated artwork.
Guest Facilities
Within Rosewood Mayakobá:
• Three beautifully designed pools: main pool, beachfront infinity pool & spa pool
• Sense, A Rosewood Spa® & state-of-the-art fitness center
• Media room with pool, board games & recreational area
• Shopping outlets include a logo, sportswear, jewelry & sundries mart
Within Mayakobá resort enclave:
• “El Camaleón,” the championship golf course designed by Greg Norman
• Lectures on Mayan culture, history & the Yucatán ecosystem
• Two tennis courts
Nearby:
• Scuba diving and snorkeling in the world’s second largest coral reef
• Shopping, dining & nightlife in Playa del Carmen
• Ecological and archaeological parks, including the famous ruins of Xel-Ha, Xcaret & Tulum
Dining
The elegant restaurant Casa del Lago serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as two private wine rooms. Punta Bonita, a beachfront grill overlooking the infinity pool, offers guests Mexican cuisine in a casual atmosphere. The resort also features a cigar bar and the Agave Azul Raw Bar & Tequila Library.
Happy honeymoon planning,
Violaine
***The Above was copied from Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
***All picture credits are to Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
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| Leave a Comment Getting ready to start planning your honeymoon? Say no more! We have it covered with our weekly destinations. If you’re passionate about discovering new destinations, the world is literally yours to have.
Part of the services we offer our clients is honeymoon planning and boy do we enjoy it! Every day we research and research the top destinations our clientele would like to visit. Some will be destinations we’ve never traveled and some will be destinations we’ve traveled to. Either way, you can trust we’re providing you with the best information available.
Today’s destination information comes from the best of the best; the editors of Travel and leisure! I told you it was the best information available. If you don’t believe what these editors are telling you, perhaps the pictures below will make you want to run and catch a flight so that you can see for yourself. Off course I would love to hear about your trip.
Happy honeymoon planning,
Violaine Diogene
This post was brought to you by Vacationist
Why Stay At Koro Sun Resort and Rainforest Spa
A former coconut plantation is the setting of a collection of villas on 150 acres on Fiji’s second largest island. There’s no better spot from which to explore the South Pacific.
The Scoop
Fijians are known for their fine-tuned sense of hospitality, and indeed, the Koro Sun resort makes guests feel very much at home. Rooms—ranging from studios to four-bedroom villas—take advantage of the island’s aquamarine ocean and a nearby shallow lagoon from private patios and balconies, outdoor showers, Jacuzzi tubs, and plunge pools. Meals at the two restaurants (one of which is waterfront) are included, as are sea kayaking, biking, snorkeling, and hiking. Additional activities include scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and massage treatments in the Rainforest Spa (aptly named, considering its canopied location). Nights should end at one of Koro Sun’s two bars, where fresh fruit cocktails are served and musicians play on most nights.
Insider Tips
Ask Lemba, one of the hotel staff members, to give you a tour of the resort’s organic gardens and pineapple fields.
There is a secret waterfall at the top of the property, an especially romantic picnic spot.
Awards and Recognitions
Top 10 Best Resorts in Fiji for Children
- Sydney Morning Herald
Four-Diamond Award
- AAA
Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Fiji, Seaside Restaurant
- Diners Club International
10 Best Islands to Live On
- Islands Magazine
Top Spa Resort of Fiji
- World Travel Awards
Why We Love Vanua Levu Island
Have you seen a photo of Vanua Levu? Crystalline waters, coral reefs, sugar-white sands. Step into quintessential Southeast Asian paradise (a.k.a. the stuff of Microsoft’s mesmerizing desktop images).
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| 3 Comments Getting ready to start planning your honeymoon? Say no more! We have it covered with our weekly destinations. If you’re passionate about discovering new destinations, the world is literally yours to have.
Part of the services we offer our clients is honeymoon planning and boy do we enjoy it! Every day we research and research the top destinations our clientele would like to visit. Some will be destinations we’ve never traveled and some will be destinations we’ve traveled to. Either way, you can trust we’re providing you with the best information available.
Today’s destination information comes from the best of the best; the editors of Travel and leisure! I told you it was the best information available. If you don’t believe what these editors are telling you, perhaps the pictures below will make you want to run and catch a flight so that you can see for yourself. Off course I would love to hear about your trip.
The questions is, where are you going on your honeymoon?
Happy honeymoon planning,
Violaine Diogene
Why Stay At Secret Garden Boutique Hotel
The private Moroccan villas provide all the creature comforts of home—should your house include a housekeeping staff, on-call butler, and access to a stunning spa.
The Scoop
Privacy and pleasure are paramount at the Secret Garden, which is located within the Palmeraie Hotels & Resorts complex in Marrakech. The 23 villas comprise a secluded, self-contained universe where the focus is on total comfort. Styled with lustrous leather furniture, intricate rugs, and elegant tile work, these sumptuous three-bedroom, three-bath residences (which comfortably sleep six and feature a special kids’ room) also include access to a heated pool, hammam, and terrace equipped with a Jacuzzi—soak in it while soaking up views of the snowy Atlas Mountains. Breakfast in the villa and daily tea service are included. Should guests want to hit the links, the grand courses of the Palmeraie Golf Palace beckon close by. Visit Property Website
Insider Tips
Crave a sandwich at 3 a.m. or perhaps an extra set of towels? A butler is available 24 hours a day to attend to your every request.
Don’t worry about requesting a car to and from the airport. The Secret Garden will arrange a limousine to transport you.
Preferred Airport
Arrive at Menara Airport (RAK), which is approximately 11 miles from the hotel. Anticipate about 20-25 minutes of travel time. The hotel offers transfers: €18 each way for up to three people.
Why We Love Marrakech
Morocco’s onetime imperial city is filled with mosques and spas, traditional restaurants, and pulsing nightclubs—an ancient-modern mash-up of the best kind.
Don’t Miss
Evening Activity: When the sun dips, this square hums with henna artists, musicians, acrobats, and rows of food stalls, where you munch on everything from snails to sizzling sausage.
Outdoor Market The ancient quarter’s twisting, zigzagging streets and alleys are lined with vendors hawking leather shoes, bedazzled mirrors, and carpets. Haggling is a must.
Best Spa: Les Bains de Marrakech. Steam yourself silly at this spa, then opt for a relaxing chocolate massage. It’s deliciously relaxing. 011-212-24-38-14-28. Read More
Palace Tour: Bahia Palace. Built in the 19th century, this ostentatious abode once housed a grand vizier’s four wives. Expect plenty of jaw-dropping tiles and gorgeous gardens. 011-212-44-389-56.
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I think I’ve found a new blog to obsess over (as if I don’t have enough) when I stumbled upon this very romantic Italian wedding of Elaine and Todd on their photographer’s blog and honestly, all I could do was just stare and immediately went into dream world! Oh, the wedding was featured in Martha Steward Weddings and the pictures below will tell you why.
Loving my new obsession,
Violaine Diogene
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| Leave a Comment About two weeks ago I received a phone call from one of my brides looking for assistance in find a honeymoon location that would “wake my senses, shake me to the core and don’t forget exotic”! Naturally I started to dig for a location that would fit this darling yet daring bride and I stumbled on this gem; The Cellars-Hohenort, which is a 5 star Relais & Chateaux Hotel. A haven of peace and tranquility, a mere 20 minutes drive from the V&A Waterfront and 10 minutes from the 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium in Green Point, Cape Town
This fifty three luxury rooms and suites is ideally located in the pristine Constantia Valley, Cape Town. On the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain and neighboring Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. All Fifty three rooms and suites are individually decorated with varied views of the breathtaking 9 acres (3.5 hectares) of world renowned hotel gardens and vineyard.
The Martini is the place to be seen, where guests can sample the bar’s signature drink from one of the longest Martini lists in the world. Having one of the best wine lists in South Africa, the choices are endless. Award Winning dining in either The Conservatory restaurant and Bistro with the emphasis on the organic and the fresh or The Cape Malay Experience restaurant serving traditional authentic Cape Town cuisine. Treat yourself to a private and romantic dinner for two in our Wine Cellar. Facilities include a luxurious Spa and Hair Salon, Collection Boutique, 3 salt-chlorinated heated swimming pools, a tennis court and a Gary Player designed putting and chipping green.
I fell in love with this destination because the diversity of luxury travel and safari opportunities in Southern Africa is immense. A trip to South Africa not only shows you the country’s eclectic cultural mix and widely varied landscapes, but it offers you excellent safari game viewing. Travel in open four-wheel-drive vehicles for unobstructed views of the bush.
Violaine Diogene
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So you’ve never heard of Mauritius? Don’t feel bad as I didn’t even know this amazing place was even on the map! One of my brides owns a travel agency and she’s looking into a very unique honeymoon destination and you guessed it; she landed on Mauritius! Once she sent me the link and I began my research and am I impress of what! Oh, Mauritius was recently named one the 10 Extraordinary Islands on the planet by Yahoo.
Mauritius is isolated in the Indian Ocean, 1,243 miles east of mainland Africa, Mauritius may be tiny, but there’s never a shortage of things to do. With a coastline ringed by coral reefs, and calm, clear, shallow lagoon waters, the island is ideal for all sorts of water sports; the unspoiled interior offers sights of spectacular natural beauty as well. Tourism on Mauritius is a relatively new phenomenon, however, and so far it’s definitely geared toward the higher-end traveler. Mauritius today is an amalgam of Creole, Indian, Chinese, and French peoples (there was never an indigenous population), with Creole and French the dominant flavors. Its most famous resident, however, may have been the flightless dodo bird, a rare species discovered here by the first Dutch visitors and soon driven to extinction by the settlers’ wild pigs and macaques.
The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22°C in winter and 34°C in summer. The sea temperature varies between 22°C and 27°C. In the central part of the island, the maximum daytime temperature varies from about 19°C in August to about 26°C in February. The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the East and the South.
Visa & entry
A visitor must be in possession of a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. A visitor’s visa is normally granted for a period of two weeks to one month upon arrival, to almost all holders of a valid passport, with one or two exceptions. Visitors are strongly recommended to contact the Passport and Immigration Office in Mauritius or the nearest Mauritian Embassy or Consulate. The visa can be extended upon request at the Passport and Immigration Office, Sterling House, 11-19 Lislet Geoffroy Street, Port-Louis, Tel : (230) 210-9312 to 210-9317 Fax (230)210-9322.
Ok, now you have the major requirements of getting into the Island. Where do you stay? Well, you know that’s the best part. Le Telfair Golf & Spa is one of the many places to stay but I’m going to make it THE place to stay and the pictures will tell you why.
Can you picture yourself enjoying this amazing property in such plush, sensual setting? I can! I see myself just spending the day under one of the lovely umbrellas with a Pina Colada (extra rum please) with my favorite book. Well, you know the rules on this blog; let me know your thoughts. How do you see yourself enjoying this property?
Spirit’s in Le Telfair Golf & Spa,
Violaine Diogene
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