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Posts Tagged ‘Destination Wedding’

LUXE is hiring!

LUXE TRAVEL COMPANY BLUE

As we get ready to move into our new retail space this summer, I thought it would be a great time to post that LUXE is hiring both retail travel consultants and destination wedding travel consultants. You must have experience working in the travel industry, specifically booking travel.

If you’re smart, organized and think you have what it takes to join our fabulous group of talented individuals, send your resume along with why you think you’re the next addition to the LUXE team to jobs@luxedestinationevents.com.

Are You a True Destination Bride?

Tec Petaja Photography

Tec Petaja Photography

Here are some tips on the “type of person” a destination bride often is… If these statements describe you, then start searching for your beach gown ASAP!

- Your idea of the “perfect” wedding can be described as barefoot on the beach followed by a causal tiki-torched lined luau BBQ, or perhaps a dramatic cliff side garden ceremony with dinner on an outdoor terrace under the stars.

- You are happy know that only your near and dear friends and family will be in attendance. The large wedding is what you are trying to avoid. (more…)

Shannon and John’s Wedding – One & Only Ocean Club

embraceNewlyweds Shannon and John Kutz were recently married in Bahamas at the always classic and beautiful One and Only Ocean Club. They had such an intimate wedding and we are honored to share this experience with you.  Here are some details about this wonderful couple and their wedding experience.

Occupations: Elementary Teacher; President
How they met: At the neighbourhood Clubhouse
What attracted him to her: Her smile and how we had in common
What attracted her to him: His outgoing personality and how easy it was to talk to him
Engagement story: We had planned a trip to Aruba for our birthdays which mine is June 4 and his the 5th.  On June 3rd, John had made reservations for a table for two right on the sand and he had already let the restaurant know that he was going to propose to me.  Now have evenings like this was not out of the ordinary so I didn’t think anything romantically unusual.  While waiting for our cocktails we took a walk down to the water enjoying the sunset.  Then John got down on his knee and proposed to me.  This couple saw the whole thing and took all of the pictures and sent them to us.  It was very romantic and made us forget about our birthdays because we felt like we were celebrating something even bigger. (more…)

The Viceroy, Santa Monica

I always love being in California. I’m  a sucker for all her beautiful regions – from the North to the South, it’s something about this state that always leaves me feeling happy. The weather, the beach, the wine, and the laid back lifestyle (to name a few characteristics) are a great combination for a fantastic wedding locale.

poolI had the pleasure of staying at the Viceroy Santa Monica a few days ago and it was a treat. They’ve taken one of the older buildings on Ocean Avenue and revamped the inside with a modern, trendy style. The “backyard” (as Matt likes to call it) or the pool area and restaurant is the best part of the hotel hands down. As an event planner, I can see a fabulous venue miles away and this is definitely a place worth considering for an outside wedding reception (if this is a region you’re considering for your wedding).

There is a combination of cabanas, small pools (which I’d either cover over with dance floors – clear ones if possible – or fill with floating candles), lounge areas and the restaurant section, which would be the perfect dining area. Lit with lanterns and candles all around, and some simple flowers to compliment the white, black and green décor would be perfect. Your guests would have the chance to sit down for a formal meal as well as mingle and dance for the remainder of the night. (more…)

B.C. Wine Country – A New Destination Wedding Gem

BC wine country is a hidden gem. It’s really a superb destination wedding location for so many reasons…. wine and aesthetic beauty being two biggies! If you’re considering doing something unique and wine oriented for your destination wedding, but feel that Tuscany and Napa are already passé, then consider the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. I just had the pleasure of returning from a destination wedding in a small town called Naramata, near Penticton BC. What a fabulous place!

Prior to the wedding, we drove to Osoyoos, which is about 2 hours from the Kelowna airport, to check out a new hotel for weddings. En route to Osoyoos, Highway 97 is dotted with some incredible wineries, and we had the pleasure of popping into a few for tastings along the way. Some notable vineyards include Road 13 Vineyards, Dirty Laundry Vineyard, Nk’Mip Cellars and Burrowing Owl Estate Winery.

Walnut_Beach_Re-0445_26310We spent a lovely day and night at the Walnut Beach Resort, a new resort situated on Canada’s warmest lake, Lake Osoyoos. The suites are modern and bright, equipped with a full kitchen and living room, which can be very helpful for wedding groups that have families or even for couples who want to share a space and make meals drawn from the local produce. The Okanagan Valley is also known for its abundant fruit (orchards filled with plums, pears, cherries, apricots and apples) and fresh local vegatables and meat. It’s a great place to “eat in” as well as dine out. The night we stayed at the resort, as they were having an outdoor barbeque famous for it’s ribs. I arrived too late to try this specialty but enjoyed some delicious surf and turf, which was an excellent second choice!

The towns dotting the Okanagan are really spectacular, and it’s a real treat to be there when everything is in harvest. We stopped by a local fruit stand and I picked up a bag of mixed pears, plums and apples, but was also intrigued by the tiny green grapes for sale in the bushels. I wondered if they’d be sour, but to my delight, these were the absolute sweetest, most delicious grapes I’ve ever tasted. No wonder the wine is so delicious in this region.

On our way to Naramata for the wedding, which was held at the historic Naramata Heritage Inn and Spa, we popped into a few more wineries: La Frenz Winery, Laughing Stock Vineyards and Red Rooster Winery (to name just a few – there are so many more great wineries to check out!).

The wedding was filled with love and fun and I’d highly recommend this location to anyone interested in going the winery route, but doing it a bit differently than the norm.

The 2010 Top 10 Destination Wedding Hotels List

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Drum roll please…..

LUXE Destination Weddings is pleased to announce it’s list for the Top 10 Romantic Destination Wedding hotels for 2010 (some are slated to open soon… but not soon enough in our opinion). In no particular order, these properties all have unique characteristics and are set in gorgeous locales.

  1. Viceroy – Anguilla
  2. Azul Fives – Riviera Maya, Mexico
  3. Jumby Bay – Antigua
  4. Kamalame Cay – Bahamas
  5. 9 Beaches – Bermuda
  6. Cotton Tree – Grand Cayman
  7. Strawberry Hill – Jamaica
  8. Sanctuary – Cap Cana
  9. Grand Velas – Vallarta Nayarit, Mexico
  10. Esencia – Riviera Maya, Mexico

Quiz: Are you a Destination Wedding Bride?

Sungold Photography

Sungold Photography

1. Your idea of the “perfect” wedding can be described as:
a) A traditional ceremony in your house of worship followed by a banquet hall shindig.
b) Barefoot on the beach followed by a tiki-torch-lined BBQ.
c) A beautiful location surrounded by loved ones.

2. How many guests do you envision attending your ceremony?
a) 250++… your parents’ friends and even the dog groomer will make your invite list.
b) 2-50… your near and dear ones.
c) 50-150… loved ones and liked ones.

3. Think about your invite list. Where do your guests live?
a) Everyone lives in your hometown.
b) Your fiancé’s family is from the U.K. and Argentina, and your ex-college roommates live across the globe. Guests are going to travel no matter where your wedding is.
c) Guests are scattered across the country, but you still have a decent hometown contingent.

4. How will you react if some close family and friends cannot attend your wedding?
a) Burst into tears, get really offended and renounce them as friends.
b) Offer to help subsidize the cost for those who can’t afford it.
c) You will understand, but feel slightly disappointed.

5) How comfortable are you getting married at a place you’ve never seen before?
a) Comfortable? You’ll freak out if you cannot visit the venue at least five times in advance.
b) Photos and reviews are enough to ease your mind—it’s the beach after all!
c) You’re not thrilled, but with the help of a wedding consultant, you’ll trust that other brides have done it in the past.

6) You’ve dreamt about having rare Pigeon Orchids in your bouquet and serving your favourite Pinot Noir with dinner only to find out that the resort cannot accommodate either request. How do you react?
a) Cancel your destination wedding altogether because you must, must, must have every detail (which you’ve dreamed up since birth) become a reality at your wedding.
b) Compromise and choose a different flower and wine.
c) Throw a mini temper tantrum. Then once you’ve calmed down, you consider a compromise.

7) Are you able to relinquish some control when it comes to wedding planning?
a) No way! You’re actually comfortable identifying yourself as a bridezilla.
b) Absolutely. You trust the professionals and know that a destination wedding is not the same as a hometown gig.
c) Somewhat. You’re still a bit of a control freak, but know that a destination wedding will require some form of compromise on your part.

Are you a destination bride? If you answered:

Mostly As: Destination Nowhere: Although the destination wedding may seem like a great idea in theory, you’re probably best suited to having a wedding at home. Perhaps you can spice up a hometown wedding by choosing a unique venue. Remember that a destination wedding requires the ability to relinquish some control of the details…stick to your true style!

Mostly Bs: Destination Queen: Pack your bags, slip on your cute island flip-flops and get excited for what will be your ideal wedding. You’re the perfect type of person for a DW. Contact LUXE today for a free consultation. contact@luxedestinationevents.com

Mostly Cs: Destination Possibility: You’re not 100% sure if this is your wedding style but you are definitely considering it. You love the concept but perhaps you need to speak to a professional.

Nicole and Jim’s Wedding – Tulum, Mexico

Nicole and Jim’s wedding was planned by the very lovely Lisa Paddison at LUXE!

bridegroom

Lisa’s modern design style is evident in all weddings she plans. Using simple, natural, but elegant concepts, this wedding was beautiful! And Lisa says that hands down they were the CUTEST couple to work with!

rosesflowergirl

Organic – This word describes not only the essence of the overall theme of the wedding, but it’a also a direct reflection of the calm and patient nature of the bride herself. The simplicity of the ceremony décor was complimented by the full and colorful bridal bouquet carried by Nicole and the modern taupe dress worn by her bridesmaid.

Chairs

happy groomhappy couples

tearstear

Guests bonded over aromatic cigars and danced the night away over the infamous Eurostars Jacuzzis. It is obvious, both to those who were present, as well as by looking at the photos that the only focus for Nicole and Jim was each other and the beginning of a new and exciting adventure together.

gazebocigar

All of their photos were taken by the incredible photographic couple team known as delSol Photography (or Matt Adcock and Sol Tamargo)! They are a dynamic couple that shoots interesting weddings all over the Riviera Maya and abroad.

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Nicole & Ben’s Wedding – Riviera Maya, Mexico

ConfettiB+G

BrideandGroom FeetBride

Nicole and Ben had a stunning wedding. She’s such a natural beauty and looks like a vintage clothing model.

DressBalcony

HugChurch

Here are some photos from their wedding ceremony that was held at the chapel at El Dorado Maroma, and their reception at Azul Beach hotel.

CandlesDrinks

The ceremony was candle lit and adorned with yellow chrysanthemums, exuding an atmosphere of intimacy and warmth.

DanceMaraca

There were many personal touches throughout Nicole and Ben’s special day including a pineapple + champagne signature drink and colorful maracas to get the party started.

All photos were taken by the lovely, Elizabeth Medina.