Hearing wedding bells and dreaming of a destination “I do?” Creating the wedding of your dreams can take time, patience and a lot of advance planning. Luckily, the right choices are second nature to Waldorf Astoria Wedding concierges.
From custom menus and on-site stylists to personal planners and cultural flourishes, Waldorf Astoria’s wedding team performs matrimony magic. We spoke with the wedding experts from three of the most romantic wedding destinations and gleaned tips for making destination wedding dreams a reality.
Love in the Eternal City
Seal your commitment to love in the Eternal City of Rome. Perched along Via Alberto Cadlolo, Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, provides sweeping, panoramic views of the city.
“Engaged couples can choose from over 400 churches, a 125-year-old central synagogue and one of the largest mosques in Europe,” says Rome Cavalieri’s Nathalie Baeb. “They can then capture their ‘just married’ moments at one of the many world heritage sites in and around Rome, before returning to Rome Cavalieri to find a dream setup: local specialties to feast on and, why not, a fireworks display arranged on-property to wow guests that can be seen all over Rome.”
Rome Cavalieri’s wedding team specializes in enchantment, such as placing a personalized welcome amenity for the bride upon arrival. But, to make this magic come to life, their experts recommend planning well in advance of your wedding date.
Allow them to connect you with a well-established local planner or guide to explore and experience the food, service and setup that you expect on your special day. And when in Rome, don’t forget to incorporate your destination in the festivities. Rome Cavalieri’s wedding team suggests organizing a local, memorable experience to impress your guests, as well as using local products as thank-you gifts for family and friends.
“A couple will come to us because in 20, 30, 50 years, they will cherish vivid memories of that special day in which they said, ‘I do,’ with the Eternal City as their witness,” Baeb says.
Hawaiian happily ever after
No need to wait for your honeymoon to celebrate love in a beach paradise. Get the best of both the ceremony and the honeymoon at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, an island oasis nestled along a private shoreline.
“Grand Wailea is located on 40 acres of lush, tropical grounds situated on Maui’s stunning Wailea Beach, instantly making it a memorable, romantic location,” explains Grand Wailea’s Chelsea Livit. “While the property truly is grand, many couples comment on how intimate and secluded it feels.”
That intimacy comes, in part, from the private Wailea Seaside Chapel and Gardens and the stunning Molokini Bluff, both portrait-worthy options for a Hawaiian destination wedding. (Across the street, wedding guests can stay at the Ho’olei at Grand Wailea villas that sleep four to six.)
Couples are appointed a wedding specialist to assist with planning their big day down to the smallest details—both the planner and the early start are tips that Grand Wailea wedding experts recommend taking advantage of early in the arrangement process.
Another recommendation: integrating the Aloha Spirit into the occasion.
“Couples can choose to incorporate Hawaiian culture and traditions into their ceremonies and/or receptions,” Livit says. “From beginning their ceremony with a traditional Hawaiian oli chant and the giving of leis, to featuring Hawaiian seasonal cuisine on their reception menus.”
Floral bouquets, spa treatments with native ingredients and on-site ukulele players add even more Aloha magic.
French fairytale
Proclaim your love from your castle at Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace.
“On the edge of Louis XIV’s Royal Domain, Waldorf Astoria Versailles – Trianon Palace is the perfect venue for an unforgettable wedding,” says Carina De Lemos, conference and event manager. “Located less than a mile from the Chateau de Versailles and nearby the Queen’s Hamlet, experience a timeless and romantic stay and be the queens and kings for this unique day.”
Fairy-tale magic comes to life in the hotel’s historic grand ballroom and manicured garden terrace, ideal for unforgettable outdoor ceremonies. Trianon Palace also boasts Michelin-starred restaurant Gordon Ramsay au Trianon, as well as brasserie La Veranda by Gordon Ramsay.
Savoring fine local cuisine from a custom wedding menu is the perfect way to incorporate the destination into the day. “Choose a gastronomic discovery menu that will sublimate the taste buds and the sight of your guests,” De Lemos recommends.
And, of course, don’t forget the cake. Trianon Palace’s pastry chef Eddie Benghanem can craft the custom wedding cake of your dreams.
Their wedding team also recommends taking advantage of a luxurious treatment at the Guerlain Spa to prepare for the ceremony. The biggest tip, though: Start planning early. “It’s never too early to dream about it,” De Lemos says. “A wedding planner can transform your dreams into magic, and, as hoteliers, our mission is to make your wedding an unforgettable experience.”
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A Waldorf Astoria wedding coupled with a dream destination is guaranteed to be an event to remember. Check out waldorfastoria.com for more.
