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Next Stop: Paradise

From an idyllic island escape to a high-style mountain retreat — five locations for the ultimate destination wedding

Stepping foot on the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa is like entering a time capsule — to an era when legends such as Marilyn Monroe lounged waterside at the Catalina Pool (her favorite at the property), Clark Gable teed off on the golf course, and royal couples like Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned in one of the understatedly elegant suites. Formerly owned by chewing-gum
magnate William Wrigley, Jr., the prestigious Arizona resort has been a celebrity playground since it opened in 1929. Not that the structure needed a celebrity following to make its mark — its stunning architecture is dramatic enough to capture audiences on its own.

Inspired by heralded American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Arizona Biltmore is a living masterpiece of his devotion to organic design. It is warm like the desert sand and — with a gold-leaf ceiling second in size only to the Taj Mahal — captivating as well. Brides and grooms love the historic hotel for its sense of exclusivity and timeless appeal. Manicured gardens and majestic views of Squaw Peak Mountain make for a classic ceremony. And with names like Carson, Clooney and Cruise on the property’s historic guest list, couples find it hard to resist its Hollywood allure.

While Arizona boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, autumn in the desert offers ideal temperatures for a memorable wedding. If a fall wedding isn’t on your horizon, don’t fret — we’ve got a host of other options for a destination wedding with scenic backdrops and resort-style amenities.

Island Romance

Four Seasons Resort Lana’i

If you’ve ever dreamed of having your wedding on a private Hawaiian island, the Four Seasons Resort Lana’i at Manele Bay is the place to go. This destination offers ocean-side splendor atop a rugged red lava cliff. A romantic ceremony on the white-sand beach is followed by a lavish wedding in the ballroom or on the outdoor pavilion. Guests, of course, will have an equally indulgent escape complete with ocean-view and upcountry golf, open-air spa pampering, and dynamic adventure amidst untouched natural landscapes.

The Manele Tee Box offers a unique wedding, beginning with a cliff-top ceremony with panoramic ocean views to a dinner beneath the stars and followed by a private fireworks display. For couples desiring an intimate ceremony, the resort also offers a picturesquegazebo at the end of a reflecting pond — its most popular site for romantic, intimate ceremonies. Of course, most brides and grooms find it hard to stay indoors once they land at this mystical island. For them, the resort provides an unforgettable wedding under the stars. The Lodge at Koele’s Great Lawn is situated beneath the shade of banyan trees and offers 10,000 square feet of reception space. 808.565.2000; fourseasons.com/manelebay

Rocky Mountain High

The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs

Planning your wedding day is no small matter at this five-diamond, five-star resort situated in the shadows of Cheyenne Mountain. From the Lake Terrace Dining Room to Cheyenne Lodge, numerous picturesque locations are available to accommodate receptions and ceremonies from 20 to more than 1,000 guests. What’s more, a wedding at the Broadmoor is a getaway with endless activities. Bridal parties often find refuge at the Broadmoor Spa, in one of thepoolside cabanas, or teeing off at one of three championship courses.

The Broadmoor Cottages, however, are perhaps one of the property’s most alluring features for brides and grooms. Surrounded by lush landscaping and a meandering creek, the six cottages offer an unforgettable escape for the entire party. The complex includes five eight-bedroom cottages and one four-bedroom cottage — all with sweeping vistas of the 18th fairway and Cheyenne Mountain. Each cottage is accented with high-beamed ceilings, handcrafted area rugs and natural stone fireplaces, while surround-sound systems, flat-screen televisions and the latest in-room technologies keep the design modern. In addition to the unparalleled mountain and golf course views, the cottages feature two large common areas that are perfect sites for weddings — one is a patio near a large outdoor fireplace, ideal for intimate ceremonies, and the other is a 4,000-square-foot patio suitable for a catered tent reception. 866.290.4414; broadmoor.com

Seduced in Sin City

Vdara Hotel & Spa, Las Vegas

Who says you can’t be naughty and nice on your wedding day? At Vdara Hotel & Spa at the new CityCenter in Las Vegas, you can have the best of both worlds — and then some. While there are plenty of ceremony options in Las Vegas, it’ll be hard to find a reception setting as sophisticated and cosmopolitan as this one. Your celebration will indeed be a glamorous social affair, made memorable with a rehearsal dinner at Silk Road Restaurant, a colorful space with contemporary seating and sleek private dining booths. Executive Chef Martin Heierling, who created the critically acclaimed Sensi in Bellagio, offers a culinary journey that flirts with all the senses. The Viñoly Grand Ballroom follows suit by providing an experience just as memorable. Natural materials such as warm wood, sandstone and pebbles complement the room’s contemporary design.

Of course, among the must-see highlights of this all-suite hotel are the rooms. Fashioned by some of the industry’s top interior designers, the suites at Vdara are appointed with a blend of modern sophistication and elegant style. Plush pillows and luxury linens combine with gourmet kitchens and the latest high-tech amenities. And if that isn’t enough to give you a taste of the good life, you can spend the first day of marriage inside a spa cabana at the sleek and sophisticated Sky Pool & Lounge, which features semi-secluded plunge pools. Then, head off to Vdara Health & Beauty, an 18,000-square-foot, two-level spa, salon and fitness center featuring a eucalyptus steam room, hot plunges and a champagne bar. This is what marital bliss is all about. 866.745.7767; vdara.com

Spanish Colonial Style

Bacara Resort & Spa, Santa Barbara

Imagine a garden wedding with stunning ocean views. Or a reception in a Spanish Colonial ballroom featuring 26-foot ceilings and six balconies That’s only the beginning of a weekend-wedding getaway at Bacara Resort & Spa, located along the Gaviota coastline in Santa Barbara. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, the resort sits on a 78-acre coastal bluff, providing dramatic views of the mountains and coastline from 49 specialty suites and 311 luxurious guest rooms.

The outdoorsy couple will especially enjoy this destination, as it offers horseback riding, hiking, kayaking and bicycling. Afterward, the 42,000-square-foot spa is available to soothe even the most fatigued muscles. Just three minutes from the resort, the Ranch at Bacaraoccupies 1,000 acres of land flourishing with avocado and citrus groves — an ideal locale to take guests on a scenic hike.

With attention to every detail, the staff at Bacara Resort & Spa even offers unforgettable rehearsal dinners at its three restaurants. Miró, the resort’s signature restaurant, features a luxurious interior — with two original sculptures by the famed Spanish artist — and New Basque-Catalonian cuisine prepared with vegetables grown at the Ranch. For a truly distinct dining experience, couples can hold their rehearsal
dinner at the restaurant’s 40-seat private Wine Cellar, which contains a large portion of Bacara’s rare and prestigious red wines. Imported French stones, original artwork and candles arranged atop rustic
candelabras create the unmistakable allure of a private setting along the Iberian Peninsula. 805.968.0100; bacararesort.com

Jewel of the Desert

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Phoenix

Every U.S. president since Herbert Hoover has stayed at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. And so have sports stars like Magic Johnson, Joe Montana and Michael Jordan. That goes to show that this extravagant resort can cater to any taste and personality — and all with the grace and style of a bygone era. Weddings here are marked by stately beauty, flawless service and luxurious amenities. The 39-acre property offers more than 40,000 square feet of ceremony and reception space, including elegant ballrooms and distinctive outdoor sites. What's more, the Ocatilla at Arizona Biltmore — a hotel within a hotel — allows couples plenty of downtime poolside or fireside at the chic executive lounge. 

The most grandiose of all ceremony sites on the property, the Squaw Peak Terrace features a large octagon-shaped area consisting of manicured lawns, glorious flowers, a fountain in the center and a breathtaking backdrop of Squaw Peak Mountain. Modern couples and history buffs alike will fall under the allure of the Aztec Room, the original ballroom of the Arizona Biltmore. One of the most popular rooms for weddings since 1929, the Aztec Room accommodates up to 150 guests and features the original gold-leaf ceiling to the hotel, two fireplaces, and an outdoor patio perfect for a cocktail reception. While banquet facilities are top notch, the resort's restaurants are hard to resist. The chocolate souffle from Wright's Restaurant, for instance, will make you want to skip the cake. And for a bridal party cocktail reception, you can't go wrong with Frank & Albert's Desert Flats — flatbreads topped with mouth-watering combinations. Try it for yourself with the recipe for their Chicken & Goat Cheese Desert Flat, online exclusively at
exquisiteweddingsmagazine.com. 800.950.0086; arizonabiltmore.com

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