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From a private yacht to a Mediterranean monastery, Abra Dunsby takes a look at some new and unique venues which clients can get married in
One of the happier outcomes of repeated national lockdowns is the number of couples that have found love and the subsequent flurry of engagements to emerge during this time. And, after spending so much time away from family and friends and without being able to travel, couples may soon be visiting a travel agent to ask for wedding inspiration to help them pick out a venue abroad with a difference.
Here, we round up some new and unique options to recommend to ensure a couple’s wedding day stands out from the crowd and is an occasion to remember for them and their guests.
Discerning couples who want to make a splash on their wedding day can charter a private luxury yacht and make their vows while drifting around the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Yacht charter specialists Ocean Independence, which offers agents 5% commission for bookings, has arranged symbolic weddings on yachts previously in destinations including Greece and Croatia.
The operator has recently added Soaring (pictured above) to its books, a 68-metre luxury yacht with accommodation onboard for 12 guests. Once the couple have exchanged their vows on the water, they can celebrate with their guests onboard by making use of the facilities – which include a swimming pool and spa with a sauna, steam room and in-house masseuse – or head out on the water on “toys” that include kayaks, wakeboards and stand-up paddleboards.
Book it: Prices for a week’s charter in summer start from €700,000 per week. Daily rates for events are negotiable on request. oceanindependence.com
Sandals South Coast, Jamaica is surrounded by a 500-acre nature reserve, making it ideal for a lush outdoor wedding. The hotel’s new Wedding Garden features manicured lawns and beautiful, flower-filled pergolas under which couples can make their vows.
As part of the Sandals Customisable Weddings experience, clients have 10 wedding “inspirations” to choose from, which can be mixed and matched to ensure their big day is tailored to their tastes, with options for everything from bouquets to table placings. Leah Marshall, director of sales for Unique Vacations UK, says: “The Love in Bloom inspiration is a great choice for the Wedding Garden, transforming the reception into a garden party at tables that seem to naturally sprout up from the greenery.”
Book it: Seven nights at Sandals South Coast, Jamaica in a French Beachfront Deluxe Room start from £1,949pp including flights and transfers. Price valid for travel on selected dates from 1-24 July 2022. Guests staying for three nights or more can take advantage of Sandals’ “free wedding” offer. sellingsandals.co.uk
Resorts don’t get more wedding- and honeymoon-friendly than Baros Maldives, which was recognised as the most romantic resort in the world for the eighth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards last November.
This year, couples can get hitched in perfect privacy and isolation on the Piano Deck as they float in the middle of a lagoon. The venue is offered as part of the hotel’s new Celebration Package, which includes various romantic perks, including a couple’s spa treatment before the big day, gifts for the bride and groom, a symbolic tree-planting ritual and a post-wedding sunset cruise onboard a traditional dhoni vessel.
Book it: B&B rates at Baros Maldives start from around £464 per night in a Deluxe Villa, excluding taxes. The Piano Deck celebration package costs around £1,800 featuring various inclusions. baros.com
Clients planning a future wedding in Australia and who want the sights and sounds of the rainforest to enrich their special day should consider Rainforestation Nature Park, which has a new Rainforest Lakes venue at its Kuranda property near Cairns in tropical North Queensland. Here, clients can exchange their vows surrounded by the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest.
There are various on-site wedding venues to choose from, including Rainforest by Palm, set against the vibrant rainforest background and with sweeping views of the tablelands; and the venue’s lake, which boasts
its own fairy-tale pier that’s the perfect location for a smaller wedding. The venue can also host a reception in one of its three on-site restaurants.
Book it: Prices for a ceremony package start from around £450, with room for 20 guests. rainforestlakes.com.au
Clients will feel on top of the world as they tie the knot 393 metres above sea level at the sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck, which is available for full or partial hire for wedding ceremonies. While the venue isn’t new, it has only recently started being promoted and offered as a wedding venue to the international market.
The views of the cityscape will wow the couple and their guests, and make for some unique and visually striking wedding photos. The venue offers a range of wedding packages, with options for an intimate cocktail reception or stylish dinner in the sky.
Book it: Prices for a one-hour Intimate Wedding Package start from £2,028 for under 50 people. sky100weddings.com.hk
A luxurious wedding option is to hire out a private monastery where couples can wed in a symbolic ceremony in front of family and friends in a medieval setting, celebrating long into the night in the 15th century fortress with an on-site reception and party. Luxury five-bedroom Monastery Lopud 1483, located on the island of Lopud in Croatia, not far from Dubrovnik, is a stylish choice for couples seeking an intimate wedding in a secluded location.
The property is a new addition for The Luxury Travel Book, a trade-friendly operator providing villa rentals around the world and offering a concierge service to help plan weddings.
Lopud 1483 is a converted monastery dating back to the 15th century and is styled with impressive works of art and original Renaissance and Gothic furniture. Couples can pledge their commitment to each other in the garden under the shade of ancient olive tees, with the neighbouring Elaphiti islands as the backdrop.
Book it: Lopud 1483 can be booked from £8,454 per night, with day guests in excess of 10 people able to join for lunch or dinner from £84 per adult and £42 per child. theluxurytravelbook.com
