Four Incredible Destination Weddings Locales Around the World

PHOTO: TOPdive performs weddings in Bora Bora lagoon.

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Those balmy June weddings and honeymoons are planned in chilly Novembers and here are some packages to help

Though November hardly seems like the time to be thinking of weddings and honeymoons, which are usually spring events, now is the time to look at what different hotels are offering as these events are generally booked long in advance. These arrangements tend to be more complex as people get pickiest when making these choices. Many hotels that do a brisk wedding business keep someone on staff that specializes in wedding planning.

Pleasant Holidays, for instance, keeps a Wedding Travel Desk with a toll-free number manned by specialists.

The term “Destination Wedding” is relatively new to the travel lexicon. Twenty years ago it was unheard of though Greece was doing them before anyone else. Destination weddings add another layer of logistical complexity to the already complex business of arranging any kind of wedding. For that reason it’s important to deal with hotels and operators who are experienced. The details come more naturally to experienced people.

Even a tour operator like Pleasant Holidays sees the need to lay out a large a la carte choice of hotels, custom options, venue options, ceremony options, must see or do highlights, and more. Pleasant’s 24-page 2015 Destination Weddings and Honeymoon guide, which comes in a print or electronic version, for the romance travel market has 74 hotels and resorts known for their romantic touch in Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, South Pacific, Central America, Europe and U.S. Cities plus Europe river cruises, U.S. river cruises, and Tahiti cruises on Paul Gauguin Cruises and Windstar Cruises.

The guide also includes information concerning the necessary documentation for weddings in each destination. For couples planning a destination wedding, the guide includes essential information on documentation required for legal destination wedding ceremonies; wedding package, customizable ceremony and venue options for each featured hotel; and destination options for same-sex weddings.

The guide also provides useful information and many options for honeymoon couples. Furthermore, the guide’s text box allows agents to add their own contact information for the wedding couple. “The Destination Weddings and Honeymoon travel market offers a large opportunity for travel agents to increase sales and commission income in 2015,” says Jack E. Richards, Pleasant’s president and CEO.

Tahiti has been known as a top honeymoon and destination wedding mecca for decades. A new way to get married not in Tahiti but just off of Bora Bora (or under it) has just emerged from TOPdive French Polynesia.

TOPdive’s Bora Bora Underwater Wedding uses the famous lagoon. The lagoon has its own underwater chapel for a wedding ceremony or vow renewal ceremony. The chapel, which is 12 feet underwater, provides underwater helmets to the bride and groom, the best man and maid of honor. No scuba instructions are required.

A Polynesian “chaplin” welcomes bride and groom into his undersea chapel. The wedding party is adorned in white wetsuits. The ceremony strives for solemnity with music; wedding vows, an exchange of rings and the signing of the marriage certificate. To capture these moments, a videographer accompanies the couple throughout their underwater ceremony.

As far back as the 1970s, Greece was pioneering destination weddings. The idea was basically born to service Greek Americans who wanted to marry in the traditional Greek way. Before long others loved the idea of tying the knot in Europe’s most beautiful island country. It only followed that Santorini, with its breathtaking vistas as a honeymoon capital.

Iconic Santorini, a boutique cave hotel, famous for private grotto pools and private sunning terraces, is offering three packages for honeymooners and other lovers. designed to introduce lovers, romantics, escapists and, especially, honeymooners to this inspired boutique cave hotel.

The three-night packages include breakfast served every morning on your private terrace; a candlelit, three-course dinner for two featuring classic Greek cuisine and a bottle of carefully selected Santorini wine; a bottle of Moet Chandon Champagne and hand-crafted chocolates, served in your suite at any time of your choosing; private transfers from and to the island seaport or airport and all hotel taxes. From there, the packages, which begin at €2,550 per couple, differentiate according to time of year, suite category and additional inclusions. Among the various inclusions offered are one-hour massages, Champagne upgrades and more.

On Phuket, the Indigo Pearl is offering a dinner for two at the Black Ginger restaurant and a nighttime long-tail boat culinary experience as part of its new ‘Savour the Night’ romantic package for newlyweds. The resort’s two-night, three-day package features a luxury suite, daily breakfast, a bottle of sparkling wine, a round trip airport transfer and a 60-minute spa treatment for two at the resort’s Coqoon Spa.

Indigo Pearl is an all-suite and villa property overlooks pristine Nai Yang beach, adjacent to Phuket’s only protected forest, Srinath National Park on the island’s north shore. Rates for the package start from THB 29,000 ($882).

Bali’s AYANA Resort and Spa and the RIMBA Jimbaran Bali both share the same large Estate. Though the two properties are very different guests can often share the activities at both resorts. The Bali Romance Hotel Package at AYANA Resort and Spa can be taken in a Guest Room, Club Room, Suite or Private Pool Villa. It comes with a flower bath upon arrival, buffet breakfast for two people at either Padi restaurant at AYANA or To’ge restaurant at RIMBA.

A gourmet a la carte breakfast with unlimited selection is also available at Dava restaurant for additional charge of $5 per person, for non-villa guests of AYANA and RIMBA who have booked a package inclusive of breakfast.

There’s also a one-time breakfast in bed for two people, a thalassotherapy treatment in the Aquatonic Pool for two people for Suite and Villa bookings and access to an 18-hole golf putting course and tennis pavilion for club, suite and villa guests. Airport transfers are also included. The package is available through the Wedding Gift Registry, whereby wedding guests can contribute to the honeymoon.