Some people love the canals of Venice, others cry for the dramatic cliffs on the Amalfi Coast. But when it comes to Italy, for us there’s no place more beautiful, diverse and perfect for a gathering than Tuscany. The rural triangle between Florence, Pisa and Rome is home to gorgeous acres of farmland, medieval-era hilltop towns laced with cobblestone alleys, and some of the country’s top wine producers. Not to mention the great selection of venues and hotels, from simple stone-walled villas that date back centuries to lavish estates owned by some of the top names in Italy. That’s why we were excitedLearn more
Latest from the Honeymoonist
Mexico Destination Weddings at Banyan Tree Mayakoba
We love Riviera Maya for destination weddings. It’s easy to get to, and has loads of hotels that work as wedding locales or honeymoon destinations. One of the most elegant is Banyan Tree Mayakoba, just north of Playa del Carmen. This summer they debuted their newest wedding venue, the chapel at El Pueblito. The plaza is designed to recall the traditional town squares you find throughout Mexico, only this is private to the resort so you have it all to yourselves. The interior of the chapel is simple yet stunning, with wooden pews, mosaic tile floor and gorgeous gold alter backdrop and chandeliers. The chapelLearn more
Inside Luxury Destination Weddings at the Caribbean’s Most Exclusive Resort
I travel a lot, checking out hotels and venues for our honeymoon and destination wedding clients. But I usually travel solo (to cover more ground), and certainly don’t celebrate like a wedding guest when I’m working! So when I got the invitation from my friend JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions (who also happens to be one of the country’s premier luxury destination wedding planners) to join her in Turks and Caicos to see how they do destination weddings at two of the Caribbean’s top resorts, I couldn’t resist the chance! Here’s part one of my recap, from Amanyara. Amanyara is arguably the most exclusive resort in theLearn more
Top Southern California Destination Wedding Venues in USA TODAY Travel
We love Southern California for destination weddings; it’s sunny, accessible and home to a slew of amazing venues and vendors. We headed out earlier this summer to scout hotels for USA TODAY Travel, we found it hard to narrow it down to just 10 — but we managed. From an historic inn in Palm Springs built by a mobster to a sprawling contemporary resort perched on the bluff just south of Los Angeles, these 10 hotels were the cream of the crop.
Cool Los Cabos all inclusive resort
Los Cabos, Mexico is one of our favorite places for destination weddings, due in no small part to the amazing five-star hotels there. But let’s face it; not everyone can afford five-star, and even if they can, not everyone wants to ask guests to pony up that much. Enter Hacienda Encantada, a 150-room, all-inclusive resort that’s a sweet blend of plush and convenience. It’s still a luxury property, but the fact that it’s not as well known as some of the bigger names means it offers unexpected value. The resort is 20 miles east of downtown San Jose del Cabo, so you’re far enough away to enjoy Cabo’s rugged natural beauty, but it’s an easy taxiLearn more
See Our Destination Wedding Tips in USA TODAY
We love honeymoons, obvs; it’s in our name. But we also love destination weddings — helping clients with everything from choosing the right resort to connecting with the perfect planner for their taste and budget. We wrap it up by negotiating room rates and extras, and then manage the guest travel from start to finish, keeping the experience as stress-free as possible for the to-be-weds. An educated couple is a happy couple, so Susan was happy to share her 10 favorite tips for planning a Caribbean wedding with USA TODAY Travel — and brought in two of the country’s best destination wedding planners, Michelle Rago of Michelle Rago Destinations andLearn more
Globetrotter: Photographer Donna von Bruening in romantic San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Photographer Donna von Bruening recently traveled to one of our favorite places: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Set in the highlands 170 miles north of Mexico City, SMA is an artist’s haven, with cobblestone streets and marble-fronted buildings dating back to the 1700s. The atmosphere makes it an amazing spot for destination weddings. Donna was there for the Celebration of the Birthday of General Allende, a street party in honor of the town’s founder. Here is the city through her eyes: We stayed at Casa Hyder (aka Casa Elegantes), an 11-bedroom compound that belongs to art collector. It is comprised of three homes, and everywhere you turnLearn more
Destination Wedding Accolades on Virtuoso
I am tickled pink by this interview on Virtuoso.com with a recent client. Our name is The Honeymoonist, but honeymoons aren’t all we do–we also work on destination weddings. I love doing this; I have so much knowledge from my experience as a wedding-magazine editor, and it feels so good to put that to use with clients! People ask me how it works, and I never know quite to say. Sometimes we work directly with couples, helping them with everything from choosing the right hotel to going over room-block and wedding contracts, and sourcing the best rates and extras through a variety of channels (someLearn more
Globetrotter: A Secret Greek Isle Perfect for a Low-Key Destination Wedding
With the dollar on the upswing against the Euro, there’s no better time to have a destination wedding abroad. We love the Greek Isles, so when wedding planner Kasey Conyers of Bliss Event Design in Columbus, Ohio told us about her visit to the tiny Greek isle of Amorgos, we wanted to hear more! Here’s her story, along with photos from Amanda Julca. “I love traveling, I always have” says Kasey, who is launching Bliss Event Co. Destinations this year. “It’s an extension of Bliss Wedding & Event Design,” say Kasey, “but we’re taking our planning and design work around the globe!” What brought you to Greece?Learn more
The Perfect Boutique Caribbean Wedding Resort
On this freezing week, we’re daydreaming about our recent stay at Caribbean Club, on Grand Cayman. Friends had been raving to us about this boutique hotel for years, so we couldn’t miss up the chance to stay there ourselves earlier this winter. Its small size and great service make it ideal for a destination wedding. In a switch from traditional hotels, Caribbean Club has 37 condo-style apartments. Each one is decorated differently, and comes complete with full kitchen, dining table and cushy living room. They range in size from one to three bedrooms; most of the bedrooms are ensuite (ie, with its own bathroom), so they’re ideal forLearn more