Recommend December 2011 - (Page 59)

Aruba makes weddings easy, and not just for the brides and grooms. Its convenient airlift, with direct ﬂights from hubs all across the United States and Toronto, lets guests arrive here hassle-free. Its range of accommodations—from high-end luxury resorts and smaller boutique properties to budget-friendly properties—give guests plenty of options. Plus, Aruba’s people are friendly and hospitable, and many are multi-lingual, catering to guests hailing from all over the world. Religious ceremonies Aruba is both religiously and culturally diverse, accommodating religious wedding ceremonies of many different faiths. Though more advance planning is necessary for a religious ceremony in comparison to a secular one, plenty of destination wedding couples here are married according to the traditions of their faith. Visit http://www. aruba.com/arubavacations/weddingshoneymoons/top_10_ reasons_for_getting_married_in_aruba.aspx to learn more about the speciﬁc actions clients must take in order to set up a Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian, Methodist or Jewish wedding ceremony. It is highly recommended that you print out a hard copy of this important information and keep it handy for reference. Resort weddings Aruba’s resorts offer the easiest ways to plan destination weddings on the island, preparing pre-arranged packages and making any special requests from the bride and groom become a reality. Professional wedding planners at its resorts, as well as independent wedding planners, have plenty of experience planning ceremonies and receptions of all sizes and budgets, from intimate gatherings to lavish parties, and they’re experts in Aruba’s wedding industry. Whatever your clients’ special request might be, as long as it’s available on the island, resort and weddings planners know where to ﬁnd it. At the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, brides and grooms can choose from a variety of venues to exchange their vows. Renaissance Island, the resort’s own private island laying just offshore from its marina, offers the most privacy—the island closes to all guests except wedding attendees after 7 p.m. Couples here can marry on the shores of its Flamingo Beach, then celebrate in style on their own private island. Other outdoor venues here include Festival Plaza, a manicured lawn dotted with palm trees offering sea views; and Ocean Suites Beach, a sandy oasis adjacent to the Renaissance Ocean Suites’ free-form pool. The onsite Renaissance Convention Center offers an additional 22,000-sq.-ft. of indoor space, accommodating up to 1,000 guests. The resort’s wedding packages include Only You, with a private ceremony at Renaissance Island, a sunset photo shoot and a one-and-a-half-hour reception; and Mi Dushi, including an exchange of vows at Ocean Suites Beach followed by dinner for two on the beach. The Double Your Paradise promotion offers free honeymoons at the resort to couples who tie the knot there. Visit http://www. renaissancearubaweddings.com for more information. At the Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino, couples work with over 11,000 sq. ft. of facilities to create their dream wedding. Tradewinds Beach offers toes-in-the-sand ceremonies, while La Vista Terrace brings the party further inland to appreciate its views of the Caribbean. Weddings set on the West Lawn enjoy lush, tropical landscaping, while the Grand Ballroom is an elegant indoor option. The Marriott also offers events at two restaurants: Ruth’s Chris Steak House, perfect for hosting intimate receptions or rehearsal dinners, and Simply Fish, a seafood restaurant with romantic ocean views. But the venues aren’t the only reasons to recommend the Marriott—the resort also offers plenty of incentives to brides and grooms, including spa and restaurant discounts, complimentary room upgrades, customized wedding websites and a complimentary 1-night stay on the occasion of the couple’s wedding anniversary. Visit http:// www.weddings.arubamarriott.com/wedding/hotels/hotelinformation/travel/auaar-aruba-marriott-resort for package details and more information. The Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba can accommodate weddings of up to 1,000. Clients can choose from several venue options: beachfront, pool decks, grand ballrooms and breeze-kissed terraces, all adding up to 22,000 sq. ft. of space to work with. Couples marrying here also enjoy honeymoon suite upgrades, airport transfers and a complimentary wedding website. Couples who celebrate their wedding at Westin can earn Starpoints for every dollar spent, which could qualify them for a complimentary honeymoon stay at any of Starwood’s 900 hotels and resorts all over the world. For more information, visit http://www.westinaruba.com/weddings-in-aruba. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts offer more intimate weddings of up to 50 people. All weddings take place on the resorts’ 14-acre beach, and planners offer a wide variety of pre-set options for decor, cakes, catering, ﬂowers and more; special requests are also honored. All wedding packages here include a bridal bouquet and boutonniere; a bottle of sparkling wine for a toast; and ceremony decor. Packages range from basic ceremonies to the Diamond package, including a legal civil ceremony in addition to the beach ceremony; transfers to the Civil House; a single-tier wedding cake; photography and videography; and a steel pan player at the beach ceremony. Visit http://www. bucuti.com/romance-weddings for more details. The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino can accommodate up to 400 wedding guests in its Regency Ballroom, which includes a dance ﬂoor and dais for the bridal party. Smaller weddings take place on the beach, in its tropical garden, or on an outdoor terrace or courtyard deck. Planners here can upgrade ceremonies with special lighting, video shows or slide shows, and even ice sculptures. Every wedding here comes with a two-tier wedding cake; champagne toast; ﬂorals; an ofﬁciant; a couple’s massage; and an in-room wedding amenity. Visit http://www.aruba.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/events /weddings/index.jsp to learn more. december 2011 A25 http://www.aruba.com/arubavacations/weddingshoneymoons/top_10_reasons_for_getting_married_in_aruba.aspx http://www.weddings.arubamarriott.com/wedding/hotels/hotel-information/travel/auaar-aruba-marriott-resort http://www.westinaruba.com/weddings-in-aruba. http://www.bucuti.com/romance-weddings http://www.aruba.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/events/weddings/index.jsp http://www http://www.renaissancearubaweddings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2011

Sabre Travel Network
Rail Europe & Hertz Rental Car
Southwest Airlines & Delta Air Lines
Florida
Hawaii
France & Italy
Tahiti
Thailand
China
Cancun
Riviera Maya
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Aruba Certified Expert Specialist Program
Saint Lucia
South Africa
Israel
Isram
Abercrombie & Kent
Globus
Goway Travel
Travel Impressions
Avanti Destinations
GOGO Worldwide Vacations
Apple Vacations
Tauck
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
AMResorts
Best Western International
Cruising to the Top

Recommend December 2011