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.

Photography courtesy Alvaro Goveia. Styling by Nicole Keen.

What better place to showcase the best bridal trends of 2012 than in paradise? Styles from sassy minis to billowy ballgowns look magical shot against the beautiful backdrop of Aulani, a new Disney Resort & Spa.

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.

For those that have traveled far and wide to be with you on your special day, why not show your appreciation in the form of a welcome bag? Don’t know what to include? We’ve broken it down into 10 essential items/ideas that will make them feel all the more special for going that extra distance to be with you.

Mouyleng Ly and Craig Reeder, August 17th 2011, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Photography courtesy Tropical Pictures, (tropicalpictures.com.do).

Vendors
Ceremony location: Ottawa City Hall (August 10th 2011) and Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana (August 17th 2011)
Reception location: Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana
Bridal gown: Laysieng Couturier in Ottawa, Ontario
Bridal party attire: Laysieng Couturier in Ottawa, Ontario
Cake: Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana
Caterer: Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana
Favours: Bags from The Dollar Store embroidered with the bride and groom’s initials containing Afterbite, gum, SPF 15 lip balm and small change for tipping resort staff.
Music: DJ Mannia
Hair and makeup: Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana
Flowers: Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana

Cynthia Edorh and Richad Rondon, August 21, 2010, Yonkers, New York

Photography Courtesy Shaun Mader and Ariel Tarr

About the couple

Bride: Cynthia Edorh

Groom: Richad Rondon

Their wedding day: “We knew we wanted to get married in the city where we met and fell in love but also liked the idea of a venue that didn’t feel quite so urban,” explains Cynthia. “We chose Alder Manor, an early twentieth century country estate, built in 1912 by the same architects behind the Frick and The New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. Its location overlooking the Hudson River and unusual history made it unique and charming — the mansion was recently used as background for some of our favourite films including Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. Our afternoon ceremony was officiated by Reverend Dr. Sheila Gross in both French and English and took place in the vine-covered gardens of Alder Manor. A steel pan musician played during the cocktail hour while photographer Ricardo Lardiez made Polaroid transfers of all our guests. Those were given as favours at the end of the night. We worked closely with calligrapher Jenna Hein on our family tree and table numbers that were made from vintage postcards. For flowers, we chose primarily green roses and white dahlias. Our guests dined on watermelon arugula salad, grilled salmon and skirt steak served with summer vegetables. The late night candlelit reception included music by DJ Dhundee, a lot of dancing and a dark chocolate truffle and raspberry cake! Overall, we wanted our wedding day to be elegant, timeless and uncomplicated. Our goal was for everyone to have fun.”

We are just back from five days in paradise aka Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, where we were on location at the impossibly chic Gansevoort hotel doing a few fashion shoots for upcoming issues. Trust me when I say our photos are breathtaking, but working in such a dreamy tropical locale how could they not be? While at Gansevoort we spotted loads of honeymooners (and babymooners)—romance was definitely in the air and what a perfect place for it. Here’s four reasons why.

1. It’s sexy. Gansevoort’s flagship hotel in New York’s meatpacking district is famous for its cool factor. You’ll find the same hipster vibe at the Turks property. From the moment you pull up in front of the Gansevoort and spot the magnificent 7,000 square foot infinity pool, which lies at the heart of the property, you know you’re checking into a hot spot. The Gansevoort has 91 guest rooms, 32 suites and four penthouses all of which feature a sleek décor palette of white with dark wood accents. Rooms are spacious and breezy, some with glass showers, open bathtub areas, ocean views and walk out balconies. The place is a dream and let’s just say adjusting to back to reality here at home has been tough.

2. The beach is beyond.  Walk past the pool and down the Gansevoort’s boardwalk and you’ll find yourself on one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Grace Bay Beach is renown for it’s 12-mile stretch of pristine white sand and azure waters. The crystal clear waters are perfect for swimming in, though be warned you may run into the odd friend from Finding Nemo—we spotted schools of fish and a stingray! We suggest wiling away the hours on the beach in one of Gansevoort’s mod rattan loungers.

3. We love the spa! Exhale spa is in the house and kills it with a fantastic treatment menu focused on mind/body wellness. Our vote for best treatment goes to the 50-minute Provo-Flow Massage, which features a combo of deep tissue and relaxation massage and left us feeling like a jellyfish.

4. The service is fabulous. Once you check into Gansevoort, you will not have to worry or think about another thing, the staff will take care of it for you. From the frontlines at reception, to the Bagatelle Bistro & Beach Bar staff and the pool and beach crew, the Gansevoort team is warm, friendly and bends over backwards to make sure you are looked after. Sounds like the perfect spot for a destination wedding too doesn’t it? Of course they do them at Gansevoort and what an amazing event they will put together for you.