weddings & honeymoons luxury
planners besides the ones in resort who can arrange things like a wedding breakfast in the national park,” adds Walding. Aruba also has its own honeymoon gift list, which couples can use to request cash towards a host of experiences from trusted island suppliers – from a snorkel tour to a meal at a particular restaurant.
The US, Latin America and Europe are the Dutch island’s key source markets and it has just hosted the world’s largest vow renewal celebration for the second year running as part of a US promotion. It’s also targeting more scheduled airlift from Europe where, though the Netherlands sends the most arrivals, Italy leads the way for romance, with US- Aruba twin-centre honeymoons popular. While destination weddings were once seen as a form of elopement, now they’re often large affairs. In the Greek islands, Aldemar Resorts says its average wedding party over the past couple of years has been 20 to 30, with most couples paying extra to have the only ceremony on the day. AM Resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, incorporating romance brands Dreams and Secrets, is increasingly hosting more than 200 guests for weddings and has couples requesting fireworks, fire dances and arrival by helicopter.
Cultural factors and burgeoning
source markets are also coming into play. Some from the Middle East and Israel are choosing to marry in nearby Cyprus in order to have a secular ceremony not possible at home. Operator Planet Weddings reports hosting nuptials
on the island for Lebanese couples. Planet has also arranged several
Greece and Cyprus weddings for Indians, whose traditionally lavish celebrations mean hundreds of guests. In Mexico, AM Resorts has introduced multi-day Indian weddings to cater for this growing source market. The festivities include the groom’s Baraat wedding procession and the pre- nuptial Sangeet and Mehndi receptions. Destinations can also tap into the tradition for couples from the growing Chinese market to have pre-wedding photos taken in landmark destinations abroad. The backdrops of Paris, Santorini and London have been in favour in recent years.
The legalisation of same-sex marriage
in more destinations, recently Australia and Malta, has also widened the market. The wedding of the year – between
Britain’s Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle, has yet to produce a trendsetting honeymoon destination, with unconfirmed reports that they’ve already secretly got away. However, there are plenty of other factors, including increased connectivity, new product and market trends, helping destinations to attract couples’ attention.
What’s trending? Malta Malta’s capital Valletta, a long-time favourite with filmmakers due to its well-preserved ancient streets, has been in the spotlight as European Capital of Culture this year.
In addition, last September same-sex
Valletta’s wedding market continues to grow
marriage
became legal in the destination – which already regularly tops LGBT-friendly polls – so bringing a new wedding market to the island and its laid-back sister, Gozo. A rash of romantic boutique hotels has opened in Valletta in the past couple of years in 16th-century palazzos. Among them is the Palazzo Consiglia, a converted townhouse near the waterfront with a rooftop pool and underground spa; the five-suite Palazzo Prince d’Orange; and The Saint John, which has its own gastropub. Meanwhile, the island’s grande dame, the Phoenicia Hotel, reopened last year following major refurbishment and is offering a Day to Remember wedding package in its grounds.
The Seychelles The romantic favourite, where honeymooners have included Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton, gained new Europe connections this year with a British Airways flight from London and an Edelweiss Air service from Switzerland. Desroches Island also saw the opening of the Seychelles’ second Four Seasons property this spring with 71 bungalows, villas and suites and an organic spa.
Re-emerging Caribbean Some of the islands hardest hit by hurricanes Irma and Maria are welcoming honeymooners once more. The new nine-suite, butler-service Quintessence on Anguilla opened as planned in January. On the same island, Belmond Cap Juluca will relaunch in November having brought forward redesign plans as a result of hurricane damage. Belmond La Samanna on St Martin should reopen in December. Beloved of brides and grooms seeking exclusivity, Richard Branson’s
1 The Mulia resort at Nusa Dua offers a new Royal Balinese Wedding package and honeymoon experiences
2 Necker Island in the BVIs will part reopen this October following renovation after hurricane damage
4
wtm.com
3 In the Maldives, Mirihi Island has new themed honeymoon options – including spa pampering, cooking and swimming with whale sharks
4 Newly-weds on a Royal Balinese Wedding package at the Mulia resort
autumn 2018 wtm insights 37
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