Summer Romances Turn Into Fall Proposals

When the leaves fall and there’s a chill in the air, those of us in the romance travel and wedding industry can almost feel the electricity and anticipation in the air. Fall is a beautiful and romantic time of year and not just because the leaves are changing, but because love is all around. Summer romances turn into fall proposals and often, not long after, proposals turn into destination weddings. Venues and even resorts are booked often more than a year in advance in preparation for the wedding season.

Unless the couple has a favorite place that they both love, choosing a wedding destination and venue can be a daunting task as there is so much to consider. How do you choose if one person loves the beach and the other is more of a city person? What kinds of activities do you want to participate in? What about the legalities of the country where you will get married or the vendors you will need? Do you buy your wedding dress or tux (or whatever you want to wear) where you are getting married, or take it with you? How many guests would you like to have, and so on. Will you stay for the honeymoon also or will you travel elsewhere? I did some research, and these three destinations were mentioned the most often — the Maldives, Greece and Africa. And as a quick note, each of these destinations are LGBTQ+ friendly.

The Maldives

The Maldives is a breathtaking tropical setting for a destination wedding. Popular with couples who love the remote island getaway, this destination leaves you feeling completely away from the rest of the world. This resort appeals to the couple who loves to explore the beaches, would enjoy snorkeling or going on a cruise, swimming with sharks or visiting the coral islands or maybe going fishing and/or diving. Every resort in the Maldives has an array of different settings where the couple can exchange vows and share those precious moments with their loved ones. There are the more unusual options such as saying “I do” on an over-the-water chapel, or on a beautiful sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Couples have even opted for an underwater ceremony in an underwater restaurant, or on a stunning a beachfront ceremony at sunset with friends and family. The Maldives is a destination that is dedicated to celebrating love with spectacular views. Aside from the endless and pristine beaches, the Maldives is also famous for its vibrant culture and of course those famous overwater bungalows.

Planning a destination wedding is always a challenge and of course having a trustworthy and knowledgeable DMC to liaise with at a destination, who knows and has worked with the properties you want to suggest to your client, gives you the peace of mind needed when you are booking your client’s dream destination wedding. Daniel of Koveli Travel is a unique DMC that assists travel advisors and their clients with destinations weddings to the Maldives and offers more than 135 resorts in the Maldives at all price points. They have a concierge-style reservation team as well as a state-of-the-art booking engine to help travel advisors sell the Maldives with confidence. If you are a travel advisor, you can register for their service here. I definitely recommend it!

Greece

Mania Spanou at the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Greece and her very professional team, are highly recommended by Vivian Chambers of the Muse Collection and it is easy to see why. This resort and wedding venue are just breathtaking. An added value for me as I book Jewish Weddings is the fact that this resort adheres to strict kosher standards when needed. Something to keep in mind for those advisors who book Jewish weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or any other Jewish celebrations.

The Grand Resort Lagonissi is a dreamy island-like resort in the south suburbs of Athens with exceptional sea view rooms and seafront bungalows, private pools and private beaches. These upscale hotel facilities, scrumptious dining choices, holistic spa and wellness treatments as well as tailored concierge services are designed to meet the desires of prominent guests. Nuzzled in a 72-acre private peninsula with no less than 16 private beaches, unsurpassed facilities and services, the resort allows visitors to enjoy a one-of-a-kind holiday experience tailored to their needs and desires. The Resort Lagonissi is situated approximately 45 minutes from the center of Athens, 20 minutes from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos and 35 minutes from the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio.

Sprinkled with stardust, weddings, events and celebrations taking place at the Grand Resort Lagonissi will be engraved in the heart of all guests for the years to come. Secluded amidst colorful gardens, on the cliffside overlooking the bay, on a yacht-like sea view setting or right on the dazzling seafront, wedding venues offered at the Grand Resort Lagonissi evoke a sense of grandeur and refined elegance, perfect for a one-of-a-kind celebration, event, wedding and honeymoon for up to 1,200 guests on the Athenian Riviera. Newlyweds are welcome to take advantage of the exclusive wedding packages available and leave everything to the hands of the professional experts who will plan the wedding of their dreams down to the last detail. Mania Spanou is the contact person, and you can reach her here. For the couple that needs something other than soaking up the sun and being pampered at this 5-star luxury resort, the Athenian Riviera offers an abundance of sightseeing attractions, cultural venues, shopping districts and opportunities for daily excursions.

Africa

I have always been a fan of Zanzibar possibly because it was the first island I ever traveled to as a kid with my family, and I clearly remember being utterly mesmerized by the incredibly and unbelievably white sand. Located on the north-west coast of Zanzibar, and adjacent to the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, sits the extraordinary and gorgeous Kilindi. This beautiful luxurious boutique hotel was originally designed for Benny Andersson, one of the members of the pop group ABBA. Kilindi has achieved the perfect combination of Scandinavian minimalism and dramatic architectural overtones of Middle Eastern heritage, yet still with a back-to-nature ambiance. The suites all show off the spectacular views of the ocean and allow the gentle breeze to cool guests on those hot summer days and balmy nights.

Each stunning villa has a private plunge pool with water features and a waterfall. A bathroom adjoined by an open fronted walkway offers a revitalizing rainfall shower. Each villa has a vantage point over the breathtaking views of the kaleidoscopic Indian Ocean and bay traversed by traditional dhows. Dining options include romantic dinners on the beach, by the pool, among the gardens and room service. Kilindi’s delectable cuisine uses the freshest seafood caught that day, and an organic garden provides fresh crisp ingredients.

For the adventurous couple, there is always the option to pop over to the Serengeti for a safari honeymoon! For more information and to see additional images of these stunning properties, please follow me here.

About the Author

Travel has been a huge part of my life since the age of two and since my entire family is obsessed with travel, our vacations were often a huge family affair and so much fun!

I recall island getaways, ski trips, camping, luxe hotels and gorgeous mountain lodges, but camping, or glamping, as it’s called today was always our favorite way of vacationing. My parents were both wine aficionados and I was lucky to have my first wine tasting experience in Epernay, France. I loved it – not only the wine but the gorgeous wineries and fabulous landscapes which has become a niche in my business.

One of my favorite memories of all time is of my dad building a fire as the sun set, cooking for the family with mom, while we enjoyed a glass of outstanding wine. The sounds and smells of the bushveld, the warmth of the crackling fire and our family chattering about which encounter with the wildlife had us on the edge of our seats that day. Needless to say, African Safaris Adventures is another niche, and the ultimate experience is a wine tasting tour and safari combo.

Solo is my preferred way to travel but exploring new destinations with loved ones … a definite close second. Travel has enhanced my life in ways I cannot explain and I get antsy when I have not spent at least a week exploring a new destination. It truly is my medicine!