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by Melissa Mellott, spadefined.com
Besides making all your dreams come true, weddings offer such a marvelous opportunity to journey to fabulous regions with your family and friends, indulge in sybaritic spa treatments, and experience an exquisite honeymoon location. Nearly five years ago, the term “destination wedding” hit the mainstream and couples began to seek out exotic locales, inviting their 100-plus guests to join them in the rainforests of southern Mexico or explore the tropical islands of Fiji.
Italy has recently attracted many of these destination events, so it’s now an option to whisk away your beloved to the hills of Tuscany or the beaches of the Almalfi Coast for your wedding or your honeymoon.
If Bella Italia is for you, one of the following destination resources may be perfetto.
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Le Sirenuse, Almalfi Coast
(Boutique hotel, beach setting)
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San Lorenzo a Linari, Siena, Tuscany
(Quaint, small, country setting) |
| Still owned and operated by one family, Le Sirenuse is a breathtakingly pretty boutique hotel located on the cliffs of Positano. The views and scenery along the Almalfi Coast are of spectacular beauty—an exquisite choice for you and your guests. For civil weddings, the ceremony is held at the 16th century town hall in the heart of Amalfi, within the Salone Morelli quarters, which can accommodate 70 guests. For Catholic weddings, the Priest of Amalfi will officiate the ceremony in the Cathedral of Saint Andrew (Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea), established in the 9th century. If you choose this resort for your honeymoon, the Aveda concept spa within the hotel is simple and elegantly designed, with a steam room and sauna—a perfect place for the newly married couple to relax. www.sirenuse.it |
Imagine your wedding in the chapel of an ancient Tuscan estate. San Lorenzo a Linari is private and charming, an elegant and intimate bed-and-breakfast in a country setting about 20 minutes from Siena. The nearby wineries and the gardens and surroundings of the property itself lend the perfect elements for a real Tuscan-style wedding. This B&B offers twenty comfortable apartments for up to 70 guests on a weekly basis, and can arrange every detail of your wedding. There’s tennis, a pool, and a quaint and lovely spa that offers boutique health and beauty services. www.linari.it |
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Terme di Saturnia, Tuscany
(Resort, Tuscany, country setting)
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Two hours from Siena is the romantic spa and golf resort Terme di Saturnia. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Tuscany, this ancient property with natural hot springs can accommodate weddings large or small. The setting is peaceful and bucolic, yet it features an art gallery, inspired Mediterranean cuisine and the elegance of a resort spa. An original thermal spring feeds a park of hot-water swimming pools, waterfalls, Jacuzzi, and waterways. After you enjoy some of the specialized treatments, the warm, healing waters of the Roman Bath will further invite your deep relaxation. A recent addition is a gorgeous all-season golf course, designed with respect for the environment and with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
www.termedisaturnia.it |
Perhaps you prefer a wedding venue that reminds you of the charm of Italy but is closer to home. In that case, check out these locations throughout California that are just as dreamy but require no passport.
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Sunset Tower Hotel and the Argyle Salon & Spa, West Hollywood
(Resort, city intimate setting) |
Four Seasons Resort
• The Biltmore, Santa Barbara
(Beach resort setting) |
This elegant hotel and spa are part of an architectural landmark of Sunset Boulevard: the Sunset Tower. Offering views of the city and accommodations for any size party, this venue gives city brides the feeling of a private and charming location with big-city advantages. The Argyle Salon & Spa can give a bride a chance to catch her breath and prepare for her day in an ambience of flawless style. Besides being pampered before the wedding, she also has such last-minute med-spa services available as collagen stimulation and laser rejuvenation.
www.sunsettowerhotel.com and www.argylela.com |
Fronting on the ocean with a view of exclusive Montecito’s Butterfly Beach, the classic and newly-renovated Biltmore is ideal for an upscale beach wedding. The Spanish Colonial-style resort accommodates small and large weddings, and offers cottages for overnight stays. There’s also a high-end spa that can accommodate large bridal parties. The fragrance of roses and ocean breezes, as well as the serene setting of the spa, is just what’s needed to calm any wedding worries.
www. fourseasons.com/santabarbara |
Villagio Inn & Spa, Yountville
(Wine country setting)
Escape to Tuscany in the Napa Valley. The setting, the architecture, and the spa treatments at the Villagio Inn & Spa will have you thinking you’re in Italy. From intimate ceremonies to grand events—the Pavilion at the Vintage Estate can accommodate up to 1,000 guests—the Villagio staff is ready to craft your perfect nuptial experience. The products and treatments in the spa use the elements of wine for healing; coupled with a glass of wine, this provides the ultimate relaxation both before and after a wedding.
www.villagio.com |
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Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort,
San Luis Obispo
(Country, hot springs setting)
Stop, breath, relax, say the members of the staff at Sycamore Springs. The resort is beautiful, Zen grounds are located near Avila Beach and offer world-class overnight and wedding accommodations, as well as spa treatments and the private use of the hot springs. The award-winning restaurant The Gardens of Avila offers an intimate setting replete with a cozy fireside lounge, a century-old stone patio and an elegant dinning room. This lush, landscaped location provides a natural setting for garden weddings. It’s also perfect for a serene honeymoon excursion to California’s Central Coast. www.sycamoresprings.com
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Bellezza Vita, Summerland
(Beach, day spa setting)
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| “For beauty; for life” is the Bellezza Vita slogan. This quaint-yet-sophisticated day spa, owned and operated by aesthetician Theresa Borgatello-Carlson, offers head-to-toe bridal services in a private setting that is close enough to the beach to catch a hint of the ocean air. Summerland is a small town filled with antique shops and eateries, and it’s a charming area in which to treat your bridal party to a spa day. It’s also only a hop, skip, and jump from Santa Barbara, one of the world’s most sought-after wedding destinations. www. bellezzavita.com |
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