On our hit list of the 12 biggest wedding trends for 2012 we talk about bespoke honeymoons, creating highly personalized travel experiences for your post-nuptial escape. Sounds amazing doesn’t it—but how do you do it and where do you start? We spoke to Phillipe Brown, co-owner of Brown & Hudson, a London-based company that creates amazing bespoke travel experiences (over 80 percent of their clients are from North America, with a significant number from Canada) to find out what’s hot in honeymoons and how you can create a highly specialized one.

If there’s a more romantic place to stay than a luxurious little hut perched on stilts overtop the turquoise blue sea we’d like to know what that is. According to CNN there are more than 90 overwater resorts in the world, with most of them being the Maldives. Weddingbells took a look at each one and narrowed down the list to five amazing stays for all types of honeymooners.

There are so many amazing places to honeymoon, it’s hard to choose just one. Here are eight destinations we currently love and some advice on where you should shack up once you get there.

Ape Lake. Photo by Drew Brayshaw.

If you’re planning a Canadian honeymoon you know how beautiful our vast country is. But for a unique view, add a magnificent helicopter trip to your honeymoon package. The editors at Where have compiled a list of 12 inspiring Canadian helicopter tours in cities across the country. Many tour operators have special occasion packages and some even offer the opportunity to get married 2500 feet in the air! Revel in the glory of Niagara Falls from a totally new vantage point or take in the beauty of lush farmland and brilliant rivers in the Maritimes. Be sure to pack your camera for this romantic getaway; The views are breathtaking and the experience is once in a lifetime.

The Fairmont Pacific Rim Owner's Suite

Thinking about staying closer to home for your honeymoon? If so, you might want to consider investing the money you save on airfare into an ultra luxe hotel room at one of the country’s most posh properties. Our friends at Where have compiled a list of the most swish places to shack up across Canada (think butler service, transportation via Bentley and 350-thread-count sheets). Sure, the nightly room rates may cost more than a monthly mortgage payment, but you only honeymoon once.

Check out all of Where‘s glamorous staycation options here.

All Photos: Cayman Island Tourism Department.

Incredibly clean, safe and populated by some of the friendliest people on the planet, Grand Cayman is certainly one of the most beautiful and memorable islands in the Caribbean. I just spent five days on island at Engage! 11, a luxury wedding summit, which featured some talks and VIP sessions with some of the wedding industries elite including celebrity planners Mindy Weiss, Marcy Blum, Ceci Johnson and Randy Fenoli from TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress (he’ll actually be in Vancouver January 23 at Isabelle’s Bridal).

Engage! 11 was a phenomenal event where I learned what’s haute in the bridal biz, and in my downtime was able to explore the glorious Grand Cayman area. Miles of beach, endless sunshine, plush hotels, natural beauty and some of the world’s best diving and coral reefs—Grand Cayman has it all. Just a 1.5-hour flight from Miami (and 3.5 hour direct flight from Toronto), Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands that comprise the Cayman Islands (Little Cayman and Cayman Brac complete the trinity). The island is perfect for a gorgeous destination wedding and honeymoon…here’s four things I particularly loved about it.

1. It’s Luxe. Grand Cayman has some great properties including The Caribbean Club, a boutique residence hotel located on a prime stretch of Seven Mile Beach; and The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman where I stayed. Also built on the shores of Seven Mile Beach, The Ritz is everything you want your romantic escape hotel to be—luxurious, and brimming with gorgeous little extras that only a property of this stature can deliver.

2. It’s a Natural Wonder. Stingrays, sea turtles, schools of tropical fish and rare blue iguanas are just a few of the wildlife wonders in Grand Cayman. The island is known as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean. Today there are more than 40 dive operators and 200 dive sites. Warm, calm waters and great visibility make this one of the best places to dive. Snorkeling also offers a spectacular snapshot of marine life. The best place to explore is Stingray City, where you can touch and feed stingrays—there are as many as two dozen human-friendly ones here.

3. It’s a Perfect Place to Pamper Yourself. How does every girl love to indulge herself? Shop and spa, of course! The absolute best thing about shopping in Grand Cayman? It’s loaded with bling (hello Harry Winston, Cartier and Tiffany) and all shopping here is tax-free. Check out the new Caymana Bay shops and restos, which is now the premiere shopping area on island. Post-shopping, keep up the “me” day by taking it back to The Ritz and floating into the heavenly Silver Rain La Prairie Spa. Modern and sensual, Silver Rain features all white and silver decor complete with lush chenille shag carpets, the plush Silver Haven lounge, and 17 treatment rooms, all of which are calm, serene and sensual. Our treatment pick: the 90-minute La Prairie Signature Facial. BLISS!

5. It’s a Dream Place to Plan A Destination Wedding. With so much sand and surf, the locations to have a wedding in Grand Cayman are vast. What you probably don’t know is that Grand Cayman is actually home to on one of the world’s premiere wedding planning companies, Celebrations. In business for 18 years, owner Joanne Brown and her staff of 50+ can do anything and everything for you (they have an in-house floral business and Celebrations warehouse of props is unparalleled). Earlier this year Celebrations teamed up with Toronto-based Platinum Events for Cayman destination weddings, which means planning a Grand Cayman event from Canada has never been easier!

]]> http://www.weddingbells.ca/blogs/travel/destination-i-dos/2011/11/21/considered-grand-cayman-for-a-honeymoon-or-destination-wedding-it%e2%80%99s-a-do/feed/ 3 http://www.weddingbells.ca/blogs/travel/2011/11/07/love-the-great-outdoors-honeymoon-at-the-luxurious-lake-placid-lodge-here%e2%80%99s-5-reasons-why/ http://www.weddingbells.ca/blogs/travel/2011/11/07/love-the-great-outdoors-honeymoon-at-the-luxurious-lake-placid-lodge-here%e2%80%99s-5-reasons-why/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:36:12 +0000 Alison McGill http://www.weddingbells.ca/blogs/?p=31312 Nestled in Upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is most famous as the site...]]>

Nestled in Upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is most famous as the site for the 1932 and 1980 Olympics. What you probably don’t know is the town and surrounding area is also one of the most picturesque corners of the world, an ideal honeymoon spot if you love the outdoors, mountain vistas and miles of evergreens. I have been to the area many times over the years and loved, but recently returned and stayed at one of the most magical hotels I’ve ever been to—Lake Placid Lodge. It’s one of those rare gems of a hotel that will leave you breathless. It is at once grand and intimate; luxurious and rustic. If I had to put it down to five reasons why this is an amazing honeymoon spot, these would be them.

1. The surroundings. Lake Placid Lodge is a Relais and Chateau property is built on the shores of Lake Placid (it’s the only hotel ON the lake), and is designed in the arts and crafts tradition of historical great American lodges. The views from lodge of the glassy, calm lake are so perfect they look almost unreal. Waking up every morning with that view outside your window is peaceful and so, so beautiful. The vast area around the lodge is full of hiking and biking trails so you can get your Zen back post-wedding.

2. The décor. At Lake Placid Lodge, there are just five guest rooms; there are also 17 lakeside cabins, six lakeside suites and two cottages. The décor in each room is rich and romantic—think colourful fabrics, rustic wood and stone fireplaces. The room I stayed in featured a king-size canopy bed crafted out of birch wood—I felt like I was waking up in the mist of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! Exploring the lodge and all it’s nooks and crannies full of amazing arts and crafts is half the fun of your stay.

3. The food. There are two restos at the lodge—Artisans Restaurant and Maggie’s Pub—both equally stellar. At Maggie’s (which is named after the Lodge’s gorgeous golden retriever) the atmosphere is relaxed and cozy; the mood at Artisans is slightly more formal, but still very casual in feel. In the warmer months, dining outside on the lodge’s sweeping outdoor balcony that overlooks Lake Placid is a must. All tables come with cozy wool blankets in case of an early morning or nighttime chill.

4. The extras. When I say you want for nothing at Lake Placid Lodge, I mean it. You’re room is stocked with tea, coffee, cold drinks, sweets and treats. The staff and service is incredible and they are there to make you stay as amazing as possible. One thing you must do in the warmer months it take a cruise around the lake in the lodge’s own hacker boat. It’s a great way to see the magnificent area, and boat driver Ernie gives an amazing history and tour!

5. It’s great for a honeymoon and a special destination wedding. During my stay I met with the incredible Ann Graham, wedding specialist at Lake Placid Lodge. This warm and wonderful woman is an all-star party planner who has brought more than a few incredible celebrations to life. One particularly amazing one—supermodel Maggie Rizer’s 2010 wedding which was featured in the June 2011 issue of Vogue!

Lake Placid Lodge is definitely a place you will fall in love with…I certainly did and can’t wait to go back!

We are just back an amazing trip to O’ahu (one of the most beautiful corners of the earth) where we shot an amazing fashion story for our upcoming Spring & Summer 2012 issue. To say we are missing the sun, sand and surf is putting it mildly. Hawaii is one of those super-dreamy destinations that delivers exactly the travel experience you envision—especially for your honeymoon. In our opinion a great thing just got even better with the opening of Aulani, a Disney Resort in Spa. More than four years in the making, Aulani opened its doors on August 29. Built on the leeward side of O’ahu (the western shore) this 21-acre beach resort is just 27 kilometers from Honolulu airport and takes you just far enough away from the city hustle allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Hawaii. Here’s five reasons we love Aulani for honeymoons (and weddings).

1. It’s GORGEOUS. One step inside Aulani’s dreamy open-air lobby and you’ll feel as though you’ve been wrapped in a warm Hawaiian embrace. The resort is architecturally stunning and reflects the culture and history of the island and the Hawaiian people. At press time, phase one of three of the hotel is open and when all rooms are done Aulani will have 359 guest rooms (plus 460 time share villas for Disney Vacation Club members).

2. Mickey’s in the house. True to Disney style, Aulani is home to a cast of Disney characters: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Chip, Dale and Stitch, all outfitted in their Hawaiian best. You can grab a photo-op with them during character dining or a designated appearance time. Always keep a look out though…you never know when someone might appear at Aulani’s Shave Ice stand beside you.

3. It’s a tropical dream. At Aulani, you can hit the beach at the resorts private lagoon, lounge poolside or take a meandering float down lazy river part of the Waikolohe Valley Pools. There’s also waterslides, a Rainbow Reef for private snorkeling adventures and an interactive stingray pool. To really Zen it out, book into the heavenly Laniwai spa, Disney’s first exclusive spa. Our recco: a traditional Hawaiian Lomilomi massage. Heaven.

4. If you want a wedding with pixie dust, this is the place. If you’ve been thinking about a destination wedding, Aulani is the perfect place. Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings staff can create the magical day of your dreams—you just tell them what you want and they’ll make your wedding wishes come true.

5. You’ll experience the ultimate romantic dinner. Ever seen a Hawaiian sunset? They are pure magic and at Aulani, if you dine at the open-air, beachfront resto Ama.Ama, you can enjoy it every night. In total there are four restaurants on property and two lounges so there is no shortage of dining variety.