Three Luxurious Hotels & Resorts for Destination Weddings

March 4, 2009 By: Dave Eisen Luxury Travel Advisor

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In the U.S., a wedding down south at the Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, NC, is about as enchanting and rustic as it gets. The Inn is surrounded by the Smoky Mountains and forest waterfalls and is a short walk from the quaint Main Street. We say Norman Rockwell wouldn’t hesitate to set up his easel here.

Old Edwards commands a lot of space and has such charming spots as The Barn, which it uses to stage the wedding ceremony. Attire can be black tie or blue jeans.

Bespoke Matters: The Inn’s beverage professionals will work with the bride and groom to design their very own signature cocktail to be served throughout the stay; the Spa Director Debra Oakley (doakley@old edwardsinn.com; 828-787-2572) will custom-design spa treatments for all wedding attendants; and Concierge Karen Rodgers (krodgers@oldedwardsinn.com; 828-200-1322) will arrange activities during leisure intervals.

Old Edwards’ expansive layout allows for many options to accommodate groups and families. Tip: While agents can work with Tracy Brandes (tbrandes@old edwardsinn.com; 828-787-2607), who doubles as the property’s associate director of sales and wedding coordinator, the best bet for larger groups are the two three-bedroom Spring Street cottages or rooms at The Lodge.

The bride and groom, however, will want to stay at Luxury Suite No. 20, Luxury Suite No. 25 or the Spa Luxury Suite No. 26, which, along with a stunning canopy bed, features a black-and-white tiled bathroom replete with a Roman bathtub and separate rainforest shower. If a great view is your yen, our insider tells us that the Lee Suites at The Lodge are situated at the highest point of the property, allowing guests to peer down on the rooftops of the Inn and on the mountain range surrounding town. More information about rooms can be directed at Reservations Manager Julie Crook (jcrook@oldedwardsinn.com; 828-787-2620).

Although Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson is the largest airport near the Inn, it’s still 2.5 hours away. Best Bet: Asheville Regional Airport, which is 80 miles from Old Edwards. Franklin Aviation, 40 minutes away from the Inn, can accommodate private aircraft; Old Edwards also has a Lincoln Navigator on hand for transportation needs.

As pastoral as Old Edwards is, clear across the globe, Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa is an aqua paradise that will surely fill out any guest list. The practice here is to buy out the entire resort, which can handle 150 guests. Ceremonies can be carried out on the resort’s beach or on a private motu.

If your couple is searching for pure authenticity, the resort can perform a Polynesian wedding ceremony, which adheres to strict traditional customs (think Tahitian wedding attire: leis, pareos and crowns; and the traditional bestowment of Polynesian names). If you are lucky, a celebrity might pop up to be a witness. The resort has hosted the likes of John Travolta, Colin Farrell and, we hear, Sharon Stone is smitten with the fare at the Otemanu Restaurant, which is housed in a lovely thatched building. Alexandra De Rosemont (activity@bblr.net; 011-689-60-40-00) at the activities desk can piece together all arrangements.

Room-wise, like most Tahitian resorts, over-water bungalows are all the rage. At the resort, the end-of-pontoon over-water bungalows have the best views and are über private. Imagine the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises and views of Mt. Otemanu.

If some of your wedding guests comprise a large contingent, best to book a two-bedroom suite, which is surrounded by a wooden deck and has its own private infinity-edge pool and garden. The lucky couple, on the other hand, will want the top accommodation: The two-bedroom Presidential Villa featuring a separate living room, large terrace and private swimming pool. Running a close second is the Motu Suite, where a private plunge pool awaits. Questions about accommodations should be directed to Associate Director of Sales and Marketing Ghazal Malekpour (gmalekpour@bblr.net; 818-336-0276).

Dining at the resort is an intimate affair; as such, the resort offers two special dining treats. The “Romantic Dinner” is perfect for a just-married or honeymooning couple and can be taken in their bungalow or at the Otemanu Restaurant. Either way, a personal server is at the couples’ beck and call for a menu that is arranged personally by the head chef. In the mood for shellfish? The hotel can also arrange for a spread of fresh lagoon lobster at the water’s edge.

July through October is the resort’s busiest time; if you are looking to book the entire resort, make arrangements at least three months out. Fly guests into Papeete where they will transfer to a domestic airline—either Air Tahiti or Wan Air—for the 40-minute flight to Bora Bora.

If Tahiti is too far out of the way, One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, has gained the reputation as one of the hottest hotels going; in fact, it took home the honors as the top hotel in the Mexico/Latin America category in Luxury Travel Advisor’s Awards of Excellence for 2008. More Fun: MTV’s "The Hills" recently taped an episode at the property where Heidi and Spencer are videotaped getting hitched (after a few too many shots of tequila).

Brand New: One&Only Palmilla last November unveiled 13 new beachfront casitas. The three categories include Beachfront Pool Casita Junior Suites, One-Bedroom Suites and the Beachfront Pool Casita Master Suite. All rooms were configured to offer scenic views of the Sea of Cortez. The Beachfront Pool Casita Junior Suite features a deluxe pool terrace outfitted with a day bed, an over-sized bathroom with rain shower and a twin vanity. In addition to the infinity-edge pool, Beachfront Pool Casita One-Bedroom Suites boast private whirlpools and outdoor dining and pool lounges for privately catered meals and spa services. The Beachfront Pool Casita Master Suite features the same as the other suites, but is booked primarily for its expansive outside dining facility, perfect for entertaining.

Even Newer: One&Only Palmilla has just unveiled the new Villa Cortez, a four-bedroom private villa that is perched amidst the cliffs along the Sea of Cortez and, along with myriad amenities, such as outdoor fire pits, also has its own full kinesis gym, outdoor rain shower and live-in butler facilities. Note: On the off-chance of rain, the villa has its own 12-person screening theatre. Luxury travel advisors can contact Karin Salinas (karin.salinas@oneandonlypalmilla.com; 310-407-4402), One&Only Resorts’ vice president of sales and marketing, Latin America and Caribbean.

Weddings are a snap, thanks to Director of Celebrations Beatriz Mejia (beatriz.mejia@one andonlypalmilla.com; 011-52-624-146-7000), who can arrange the perfect bespoke nuptials. One&Only Palmilla’s 50-guest chapel was built in 1956 and is located atop a hill in the center of the property. Note: The new Palmilla Spa, situated nearby, offers a special salon where wedding parties can prepare for the festivities and a horse-drawn carriage will even be available to transport the bride and groom to the chapel and reception.