- Unique and romantic wedding locations are found around the world.wedding image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
According to the Conde Nast Bridal Group, 16% of couples marrying for the first time choose to have a destination wedding, and that number jumps to 60% for those marrying a second time. Lovebirds longing for a ceremony that defies convention can choose from numerous over-the-top locations. From exotic, secluded islands and unconventional hotels carved from ice to ferris wheels in Europe, brides and grooms can pick locations that will make their wedding unforgettable. - Influenced by Inuit igloos and whimsical snow forts from childhood, the builders of Hotel de Glace in Quebec have created an environment where couples can marry in a winter wonderland setting. Though there are several package choices, in all of them, brides and grooms are whisked to the ice chapel in a horse-drawn carriage.
The Romantic Wedding package includes a five-hour session with the wedding planner, a bottle of Domaine Pinnacle Ice Cider, handmade ice glasses for all wedding attendees and a fireworks display. With the Magical Wedding package, violinist Martin Verret provides live music and newlyweds retire in a themed room complete with fireplace. Couples and their guests can indulge in onsite saunas and spas.
Hotel de Glace
9300 Rue de la Faune
Quebec, Canada G1G 4G4
1-877-505-0423
icehotel-canada.com - Built in 1897, Vienna's Giant Ferris Wheel lets couples add a sense of playfulness and grandeur to their wedding day. The wedding cabin, known as the "Art Nouveau" cabin, can accommodate parties of 12 (including the bride, groom and officiate). After the "I Do's" are said, receptions are held in the Jubilee Cabin. Couples wanting ultimate privacy after the wedding can book a romantic dinner in a room designed by Swarovski called the Crystal Wagon.
Giant Ferris Wheel
Wiener Riesenrad
Riesenradplatz 1
A-1022 Wien
wienerriesenrad.com - Standing like a palace in Asheville, North Carolina, the Biltmore Estate was the brainchild of George Washington Vanderbilt II, a member of the affluent family that dominated New York society during the Gilded Age. Though construction began in 1887, it took six years to complete the palatial estate of 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms and 65 fireplaces. It opened as a resort to the public in 1913.
Brides and grooms can choose to marry at a variety of locations on the property. The Diana at Biltmore is the latest venue; named in honor of the statue of the Roman goddess, it sits atop a hill and is surrounded by hemlocks. Other sites include Lioncrest, an open-air verandah that seats 400 guests, and the Stable Courtyard and Gardens, where rooms are partitioned for receptions, seated dinners and ceremonies. Wedding party members can enjoy horseback riding, fishing and wine tasting.
The Biltmore
One Antler Hill Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
828-225-1658
biltmore.com - The Wakaya Club in Fiji offers couples the chance to wed amid luxury and privacy, and its all-inclusive amenities take the pressure off the bride and groom before their big day. It's an intimate escape for wedding parties, as it only has nine accommodations fit for 12 couples. Each room sits alongside the beach and has high ceilings that allow the ocean air to waft through as well as air conditioning. All rooms have oversized bathtubs and Evelyn and Crabtree toiletries. While eating at the club's Palm Grove, diners can experience local music from lali drums.
Wedding guests can also luxuriate at the Breeze Spa, which focuses on healing mind, body and soul with a saltwater pool that's set at body temperature. It also offers a variety of massage treatments, including Shiatsu and Swedish. Other pampering treatments include the Tropical Mango Wrap, where spa technicians massage mango body butter into sore muscles and the Tropical Renewal Facial, a method that uses native oils and sea algae to revive skin cells.
The Wakaya Club & Spa
P.O. Box 15424
Suava, Fiji Islands
1-800-828-3454
wakaya.com
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