Blushing Bride - Villa le Rose

weddings & honeymoons updates
Marvellous nuptials
for this once-in-a-lifetime moment t+l rounded up
the most exotic venues for you to take your vows.
AmAngAllA, Sri lAnkA For a
tropical wedding with a twist, get
hitched in the Dutch Fort of Galle.
Highlights Get married in a
church or civil ceremony in their
garden, with champagne, flowers,
jazz band, fireworks, an elephant
ride, and traditional Sri Lankan
rice and curry meal. 10 Church
St., Fort, Galle; 94-91/223-3388;
amanhotels.com; price on request.
lAucAlA, Fiji If you want an
über-exclusive ceremony rent out
this entire South Pacific island.
Highlights Plan your nuptials in
the chapel or on the beach with
the help of the wedding planner
and the bridal concierge. Fijian
pearls form the theme—invites
bear a printed pearl logo and a real
pearl inside, locally-grown orchids
are decorations, and even in the
reception dinner dessert, you’ll find
a hidden pearl in a white chocolate
shell with champagne espuma.
Q+A
00 november 2010 Travel + leisure
Laucala Island; 679/888-0099;
laucala.com; exclusive rental of the
island from USD 150,000.
kAyumAniS nuSA DuA, BAli
Kayumani’s Simply Balinese
Wedding has all the ingredients to
make you wedding wonderful.
Highlights Venue options
include the Kayumanis chapel or
garden, blessing ceremony, local
musicians playing rindik, Balinese
umbrella boys and flower girls,
romantic doves release. Nusa Dua;
62-361/770-777; kayumanis.com;
from USD 1,088.
THe riTz lonDon The majestic
hotel offers the perfect setting
for a memorable occasion.
Highlights Assistance from the
wedding coordinator, use of their
Phantom Rolls-Royce, wedding
cake, photographer, and florist—
every detail will be taken care of.
150 Piccadilly; 44-20/7493-8181;
theritzlondon.com; price on request.
Gene Capuano, The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel
The executive director
of conference
management at this
mega resort shares his
insights on why macau
is a hot spot for lavish
indian weddings.
Why do you think The
Venetian macao is
popular with indians?
Firstly, i believe we offer
a unique experience
which cannot be found
anywhere else besides
venice and The
venetian in las vegas.
secondly, hosting the
iiFa awards back in
June 2009 gave us a lot
of visibility in india.
What are the unique
things your property
offers a couple who
choose to get married
here? “Where anything
is Possible” is the best
way to describe it. a
couple can take a
journey on one of our
venetian gondolas,
while being serenaded
by our gondoliers.
our beautiful outdoor
surroundings make for
a one-of-a-kind
ceremony either on
the water with The
venetian lights in the
background, or poolside
for a more intimate
celebration. We also
have two authentic
indian chefs who are
able to provide the best
of indian cuisine.
Do you think people
opt for destination
weddings to limit
numbers? on the
contrary, the last four
weddings have all
brought more than 250
interiors of the
grand hall at the
ritz london. top: a
garden wedding at
Kayumanis nusa
dua, Bali.
guests from outside
macau. i believe couples
want to have the most
beautiful weddings, and
want to share this
experience with as
many of their family
members and friends.
What is the most
elaborate thing you
have done? Décor
which transformed a
ballroom into a disco
hall; an outdoor havan
ceremony on the lagoon
with the bride and
groom being brought
up in a gondola; an
entire indoor canal filled
with red roses and the
bride and groom
performing their
ceremony right on the
gondola—these are just
a few of many elaborate
events we have held.
from top: courtesy of kayumanis bali; courtesy of the ritz london;
courtesy of gene capuano
c l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p l e f t : c o u r t e s y o f v i l l a l e r o s e ; c o u r t e s y o f p a m e l a o ’ s h e a ;
courtesy of radisson hotels; courtesy of three graces; courtesy of heba rumhein
Q&A
The director of sales
and marketing tells
us why she thinks
Florence is the next
big destination for
indian weddings.
Have you seen an
increase in the
number of indians
coming to italy for
weddings in the last
two to three years?
Yes, as a matter of
fact, another indian
wedding request
arrived this
morning for le
rose for an event
heba Rumhein
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
We quizzed the hotel’s
director of events on
why an increasing
number of indians are
heading to Dubai for
their nuptials.
Have you seen a rise in
the number of indians
hosting weddings
in Dubai? Yes, more
and more indians are
coming to us for their
weddings as they are
looking for an exotic
yet convenient location.
and since most families
are scattered across
different cities, Dubai is
the perfect destination
to meet up.
Highlight some
unique elements that
you offer couples
getting married at the
Atlantis. Couples tying
the knot at atlantis,
The Palm, can be rest
assured that their
wedding day will stand
out. no other venue can
boast a backdrop of
65,000 multicoloured
sea creatures or offer
17 restaurants including
world-renowned chefs
such as locatelli and
nobu. The brand-new
asateer marquee that
was constructed for
ramadan last month
has now become a
permanent feature on
the beach providing
the ideal venue for
weddings—with marble
floors, water features
and impressive views
of the Dubai skyline.
atlantis also provides
the perfect location for
pampering hen nights,
henna parties and fun
bachelor parties in the
run up to the big day.
The most elaborate
wedding set-up? We
held a wedding in our
asateer tent, where
the newly-weds made
their grand entrance by
arriving in a helicopter.
Top arabic entertainers
dazzled the guests and
the night ended with a
display of fireworks.
Q&A
pamela o’Shea, Villa Le Rose, Italy
of 350 persons.
Why do you think
Florence is such
huge draw for
indians looking
for a wedding
destination? indian
families seem to
adore Florence.
indian weddings
have guests of all
ages and this must
be taken into
consideration while
zeroing in on a
venue. Florence is
fabulous because it
has the old and the
new. Young indians
want fashion,
nightlife, fun,
dancing, and all
the creature
comforts. While the
older guests are
looking for culture,
art, history and
food—there’s no
better place than
Florence to satisfy
all age groups.
can you cater to
a full style indian
wedding? We
provide everything
and anything—from
Blushing Bride
entertainment to
makeup artists.
it all depends on the
needs of the family.
in some cases we
have flown an
amazing catering
company in from
london and at other
times, we have
relied on local italian
caterers with our
personal indian
chefs as consultants
overseeing the
kitchens. each event
is as individual as
the bride.
getting prepped to tie the knot? these fabulous
packages will help you look your very best.
From below: a
treatment room at
r the spa at radisson
hotel delhi; the exterior
of three graces in
rajouri garden, delhi.
r THe SpA This pre-Bridal
package aims to revitalize and
rejuvenate you before your big day.
The Details Surrender yourself to this
pampering deal that includes Skin
Lightening Mask, Caviar and Pearl
Age Defying Mask, Revitalizing and
Nourishing Eye Treatment, Herbal
Ubtan, Marine’s Pleasure with
Thalasso Wrap, Synergy Signature
Massage, Aromatic Bath and bridal
makeup, hair do and sari draping.
Radisson Hotel Delhi, NH-8; 91-11/2677-
9191; radisson.com; Rs 45,000.
THree grAceS The Fast Track
Bridal programme caters to the
bride on-the-go who has been too
busy with wedding preparations. The
Details This 10-hour programme will
give you a top-to-toe makeover to
ensure you look stunning. It includes
body wax, Almond Sheen Body
Exfoliation, Paraffin Wax Pedicure,
Germaine Pearl Sensation Bridal
Facial, Abhyanga Body Massage, Rene
Furterer Oxygenating Ritual and
bridal makeup using M.A.C.
cosmetics. B-8, Vishal Enclave, Rajouri
Garden; 91-11/4316-5757; & Plot No A,
Basant Lok Community Centre, Vasant
Vihar; 91-11/4607-5757; threegraces.in;
Rs 28,000 upwards.
Travel + leisure november 2010 00

weddings & honeymoons updates
Q+A
DiVYa GuRWaRa, Bridal Asia
T+l gets the founder
of asia’s foremost
wedding fair to talk
about destination
weddings and share
some pointers.
Are destination
weddings the new way
to get hitched? With
couples becoming
more aware and a
substantial rise in the
level of disposable
incomes, getting
married in an exotic
location is a trend
that’s here to stay. The
positives are many: it’s
a great opportunity for
families to bond and
everyone is more
relaxed, including the
bride and groom. Plus,
it gives a more intimate
feel to the entire
wedding experience.
your top wedding
locations? i would rate
rajasthan, Kerala and
Goa in india; and bali,
langkawi, south of
00 november 2010 Travel + leisure
France, sardinia, and
even napa valley as
some of the most
romantic spots to
bring in your big day.
Things to keep in mind
while picking a spot?
Keep a keen eye on
your purse strings, find
out about the local
customs, duration of
travel, and plan extra
activities to keep the
guests engaged. While
i know some people
like to carry everything
with them, including a
priest and cooks, it’s
more fun if you add
some local flavour.
Tips for guests
attending an
outstation wedding?
avoid lugging heavy
presents and give cash,
gift vouchers or even
jewellery instead.
properties that you
recommend? For
convenience and easy
access, opt for ayana
resort & spa, bali
(formerly The ritz-
Carlton), Palace of the
Golden Horses,
malaysia, and the lake
Palace, udaipur. The
backdrop, hospitality,
and food make these
properties stand out.
Designers for the
perfect wardrobe?
arpan vohra,
nalandda bhandari,
Dev r nil and nikasha
Tawadey are some of
the exciting new
names doing
interesting work.
However, Tarun
Tahiliani, sabyasachi,
and Pallavi Jaikishan
are classics.
A wedding planner for
a destination nuptial?
sahiba singh of
lifetime expression—
this young wedding
designer goes that
extra mile to put
together an exotic
set-up that’s exquisite.
MeMoraBle
MeMentos
searching for that exclusive
souvenir to present the newlyweds
with? these precious tokens
will make for great offerings no
matter what your budget.
This
laser engraved
tote with scarf from
ritu kumar’s (Rs 4,000
upwards) accessories line is
a great addition to any attire.
Her line also features
clutches, bags and wallets
in Ghungroo, Jamdani
and madhubani
ranges.
Pop
open a
bottle of korbel
champagne Brut
(Rs 3,000) to make a
toast to the just-married
duo. This sip-worthy
California bubbly blends
flavourful chardonnay
with effervescent
champagne.
These
versatile
emerald earrings
from Farah khan Fine
jewellery’s (Rs 9,000
upwards) new Heritage
line blend a traditional
design in a modern
setting making them
perfect for all
occasions.
adorn
her wrist
with piaget’s
limelight Secret watch
(price on request). This
unforgettable memento
has an 18-karat white
gold case set with
differently cut sparkling
diamonds and
a black dial.
see buyer’s Guide.
left: courtesy of divya gurwara
c l o c k w i s e f r o m t o p l e f t : c o u r t e s y o f m a n d a r i n o r i e n ta l , p r a g u e ; g i a c o m o f e ;
courtesy of shimauli dave; courtesy of mena house oberoi, cairo
BlissFul rendezvous
unwind and revel in each others company
post your whirlwind wedding at these utterly
gorgeous honeymoon spots.
DeVi gArH, uDAipur
Enjoy peace and tranquillity in this
stunning 18th-century fort palace.
What’s included Accommodation
in a suite, airport transfers, bottle
of house wine, chocolates and
dry fruits, daily breakfast at the
Restaurant Terrace, three-course
dinner at a special venue, exotic
bath set-up, and special turndown
service. Delwara, NH-8, Near
Eklingji Udaipur, District Rajsamand;
91-2953/289-211;deviresorts.in;
doubles from Rs 31,000, based on a
minimum of two night; till March 31.
menA HouSe oBeroi, cAiro
The Unforgettable Experiences
offer is perfect for duos who are
historians at heart.
What’s included Three-night
stay in a Standard Room, daily
American breakfast for two,
round-trip airport transfers,
a romantic dinner for two, a
historical sound and light show
at the Pyramids. Pyramids Road,
Giza; 20-2/3377-3222; oberoihotels.
com; doubles from Rs 42,700.
mAnDArin orienTAl,
prAgue Discover the legendary
allure of Prague with the Perfect
for Two romance package.
What’s included Two-night stay,
exterior view of
Mandarin oriental,
prague at dusk.
Bottom: a suite at
the Mena house
oberoi, Cairo.
intimate Rasul treatment for two
followed by 60-minute Oriental
Essence treatment, candle-lit
in-room arrangement of finger
food and sparkling wine, a bath
with rose petals, and romantic film
collection supplied. Nebovidska
459/1, Mala Strana; 420-230/088-
888; mandarinoriental.com; doubles
from USD 1,079.
rAmBAgH pAlAce, jAipur
Experience a truly regal experience
with the Taj Holidays Royal
Honeymoon package.
What’s included Two-night stay,
transfers to the palace in a vintage
or luxury car, daily breakfast,
romantic dinner with in-house wine
and instrumental music, one-hour
couples massage at the Jiva Spa, and
half-day escorted city tour followed
by a glass of sparkling wine. Bhawani
Singh Rd.; 91-141/221-1919; tajhotels.
com; doubles from Rs 74,900.
FirST perSon
KeRala QueSt
namita agarwal and
shiva Keshavan tied the
knot at Kadavu resorts
in Calicut, Kerala.
Why We didn’t want to
have our wedding in
Delhi since in may it was
swelteringly hot. shiva’s
father is from Kerala
so we picked it and
it turned into a
destination wedding.
Highlights The resort for
me was the biggest
highlight. There were
around a 100 guests
from both sides and all
the ceremonies took
place in venues around
Goa SojouRn
shimauli Dave and
Gaurav vora got
married at The leela
Kempinski Goa.
Why beach weddings
are beautiful and it
couldn’t get better than
Goa. a sunset behind
the mandap, sand,
waves—it’s the best way
to get hitched.
Highlights For the
elders, my parents
arranged a music and
dance recital by shubha
mudgal and aditi
mangaldas which
surprisingly most
youngsters attended
too. We also organized
a water polo match
between the guys and
girls side which was lots
of fun. l The mehendi
was like a carnival
where we had people
giving foot and
shoulder massages,
reading your horoscope
and singers from
ahmedabad singing
the pool. l a large
number of our guests
were from abroad so we
arranged cultural shows
which were a hit. l We
went traditional with
the flowers and the
menu which featured a
lot of local dishes as
well as north indian
staples. on the wedding
day we had a sit-down
lunch where we served
Keralan cuisine on
banana leaves. l after
the wedding lots of us
left for shiva’s home in
the nilgiris which is in
the middle of the forest.
We put up people in
tree houses, and we, the
newly-wed couple had
a honeymoon treehouse
to ourselves.
We had bonfires, great
food, and went on
safaris through the
wildlife sanctuary.
while people danced
the dandiya garba. l We
put standard gift
baskets in each room
but i also decided to
have personalized items
put in our friends’
rooms every night.
after the night-long
cruise party, we put
15-inch tall dark blue
glasses; the next night,
it was a set of four
coasters with quotes;
and finally speciallymade
cushion covers.
Travel + leisure november 2010 00