Wedding reception at Atlantis.

Last week I shared details of my heavenly stay at the One&Only Ocean Club with you. As promised, today I’m dishing all about Atlantis, Ocean Club’s much larger, glitzier sister-hotel located just down the beach. You’re probably familiar with Atlantis as it’s one of Bahamas most popular properties. Built on 500-acres Atlantis is a massive oceanfront playground offering something for everyone. There are over 3,700 rooms spread over 6 hotels: The Reef, Royal Towers, Coral Towers, Beach Tower, Harbourside Resort and The Cove.

A penthouse with a view!

The most exclusive and private is The Cove which is where I laid my head down for some sweet tropical dreams. From the moment you enter the sweeping open-air lobby, you know you are in for a luxury stay. Although it’s big, there is something very Zen and intimate about the atmosphere.

The Cove lobby.

The neighbouring Cove Beach is actually one of the most popular and beautiful places to say “I do” on property at Atlantis. It’s quiet, the beach is stunning and you can host up to 150 guests for a reception. There are a number of other fantastic places for your destination wedding on property including the Dig Deck, Stingray Falls, the Royal Deck (this has the largest capacity, with room for 500 guests), Paradise Beach and the Royal Overlook. Where you decide to throw your party really depends on what type of wedding you want to have and the number of guests. Interesting fact I learned while visiting: for 11/11/11, there are already 16 weddings booked for the day, and they are trying to squeeze in a few more as they have been inundated with requests!

Atlantis' Lazy River...SO fun!

Other features that make Atlantis so amazing: the multi-pools (the Cove exclusive pool is tres chic); the aquarium; Dolphin Cay, where you can get up close and personal with them; the Water Adventures (slides, plunges and a lazy river!); the casino; the massive Mandara Spa (there are 32 treatment rooms!); prestige shopping and the food.  There are 21 restos on site including the prestigious Nobu and the Mesa Grill by Bobby Flay, which was my hands down favourite. The Southwestern dishes were to-die-for, and the ambiance is electric.

Last week, I experienced a delicious taste of the tropics with a four-day jaunt to Bahamas, specifically Paradise Island where I stayed at two very different, but equally amazing properties: One&Only Ocean Club and Atlantis. The former is quiet and boutique; the latter, a sprawling 500-acre Caribbean wonderland. Because there I have so much to share about each property, I’m going to need two posts to do it. Today, it’s all about Ocean Club.

With just 105 plush rooms, Ocean Club is extremely intimate and all about luxury. Anything your heart desires is yours at Ocean Club and your personal butler will make sure you are completely taken care of (mine was Allison and she often found me around about the property to check in make sure all was well). The grounds of Ocean Club are stunning, with all rooms boasting an ocean view and the beach here is spectacular and private…all yours, just for Ocean Club guests only. One of the most spectacular sights on property is the amazing Versailles Gardens built in 1962.

Versailles Gardens—incredible!

The Gardens are one of the most popular spots for weddings at One&Only and from this photo you can see why. The surroundings are magnificent.

Other standouts at Ocean Club include Dune by Jean Georges, the amazing resto where you can dine morning noon and night with a dreamy ocean view.

Jean Georges at Ocean Club.

The Mandara Spa, which boasts, packed treatment menu including ocean-side outdoor massages! Other body treatments are done in spa villas and I must say my 90+ minute lime and ginger body scrub/facial/massage was one of the best services I’ve ever had. There’s beach yoga in the mornings, two pools and a shuttle over to sister property Atlantis in case you want a little more energy in your day. Ocean Club truly is paradise found. I would go back in a heartbeat and apparently many of their guests do. Year after year. Especially those who’ve wed or honeymooned there.

Coming Monday: the world of Atlantis.

WHAT: Kiehl’s Super Fluid UV Defense SPF 50+, $36 (50 ml).

WHY WE LOVE IT: We are all about daily sunscreen and this summer in particular we’ve found the sun particularly strong on our delicate facial skin. This sunblock is not thick and goopey, but rather light and serum-like and packs an ultra-protective SPF 50 punch. It is oil-free and when you smooth on skin it quickly dries to a smooth (never greasy), matte finish. Apply daily over moisturizer and under makeup, and stock up for your honeymoon because nobody wants a sunburn or sun damage as a wedding present.

The Puma dress.

Last weekend two high profile brides were married in multi-day ceremonies wearing two totally different looks. Kate Moss’ Galliano slip dress was sleek, sexy and delicately detailed…very Gatsby-esque. These two gowns from Pronovias that are virtually Moss-alikes.

The Torcha dress.

Now for Charlene Wittstock, her off the shoulder Armani Privé was much more demure, absolutely fit for a princess. Two gorgeous options from Pronovias.

The Alegre dress.

The Alcolea dress.

What look is your favourite?

Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Entertainment

Prince Albert said “I do” to his new princess Charlene Wittstock during a two-day celebration this weekend, July 1^st and 2^nd. The big party was on the 2^nd where Princess Charlene wore a custom Armani Privé gown. The off-the-shoulder dress was decked with over 40,000 Swarovski crystals, gold and pearl hand embroidery in the front and a long, sweeping train. Of course, you’ve no doubt heard the buzz on this wedding that Wittstock tried to flee the night before her nuptials due to allegations that Prince Albert had fathered an illegitimate child during their relationship. Paternity test now pending. What a way to start married life. Stay tuned…

Photo: vogue.co.uk

Those rumours were true that John Galliano would be designing the wedding dress of friend and favourite supermodel Kate Moss. Moss wed Jamie Hince from The Kills today wearing a gorgeous vintage-inspired sheath dress delicately detailed with sequins and whisper light layers of chiffon. Like other recent bride Kate Middelton, Moss chose to outfit her bridesmaids in white—consider white dresses now a bonafied bridesmaid trend. Moss and Hince’s wedding celebration is an epic three day one, rumoured to be costing upwards of five hundred thousand pounds. Visit British Vogue for more photos and details of Moss’ wedding weekend.

WHAT: MintTint FX.

WHY WE LOVE IT: This lip glaze delivers a pop of colour to your lips and a hit of minty fresh flavor. Available in seven long-lasting shades, our current favourite is Mocha Blush, a creamy nude, followed by Pink Copper, which is currently the line’s best-selling shade. MintTint FX is part of the Canadian line Cover FX and for the month of June, the company is supporting skin cancer research in Canada by donating proceeds from the sale of BritePrep FX (SPF 50), Skin Tint FX (SPF 30) and 25 cents for every new Facebook fan.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have brought world attention to the gorgeous Seychelles Islands were they honeymooned last month. The couple stayed in a private villa on the North Island and I actually called Seychelles as one of my top picks for Catherine and William to honeymoon. An amazing new hotel has just opened on the island of Praslin, one made for a decadent post-wedding escape—Raffles Praslin Seychelles. I recently stayed at Raffles new Paris property, Le Royal Monceau, and can tell you first hand that service and luxury is paramount.  The resort is a 15-minute helicopter ride from the main island of Mahé and features 86 villas, most with heavenly view of the Indian Ocean.

Sweet dreams in Raffles Praslin ocean view villa.

A particular standout is the Raffles Spa, which is focused on wellness. There are 13 treatment rooms in total; six are open air…how divine! Sounds like a heavenly honeymoon spot to me.

An open air spa suite...*sigh.*