On the most important day of your life it is vital that you look your absolute best, a day when all the people that love you most in all the world gather to celebrate your wedding day, you have to step out with confidence. When you know you look amazing you will feel it and it will show.
You’ve got the gown of your dreams so what next? Accessories…and it really is all in the detail, so it’s well worth the time investing in a headpiece and veil that are the perfect complement to your gown. At Baba-C Designs we make each piece to do exactly that. Choose from our vast collections or get in touch to discuss your ideal design and we can make it for you.
Take a beautiful girl in a gorgeous gown, add a veil and you have a bride! There really is a veil for every look, we know because we design and make them. From classic elegance to modern glamour, and everything in between, Baba-C Designs will have the perfect complement to your gown, and with fourteen stock shades to choose from you can be assured of the perfect shade match, whatever your colour palette.
Nestled in acres of wooded parkland and landscaped gardens with sweeping driveways and an unparalleled, exquisite backdrop of a castle and rolling countryside, Airth Castle
Hotel near Stirling, is a magical wedding venue.
An array of beautiful wedding suites are perfectly complemented by 125 divine rooms and suites, an award-winning Grill Room & bar and luxurious leisure club & spa. The fabulous, newly refurbished Dunmore Suite is part of a £4m investment which will see the hotel re-styled and upgraded to offer unsurpassed quality and luxury.
The next biggest date in the floral calendar is Fleuramour, 22 – 24 September 2017, one of the leading global art and floristry events in the Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen, Belgium.
It’s the perfect place to get inspiration for your wedding flowers, and now you can visit with ECT Travel who offer a beautiful tour to the event with flights from the UK. Fleuramour is renowned for showcasing the newest trends in floral design and floral arrangements as displayed by some of the world’s most innovative florists and designers.
As Belgium is also the home of chocolate, brides might also get some inspiration for dessert or their wedding cake!
Last year at Fleuramour over 5000 David Austin wedding roses were used by to create a breath-taking display that filled the air with a gorgeous heady scent.
Alternatively, ECT is taking a tour to the beautifully romantic city of Bruges for their Winter Moments with Flowers during Fleur Creatif– 24th – 26th November 2017. This is the biggest internationally-renowned winter floral event. Featuring flowers and artistic creations from master florists and amateur floral designers, brides can learn all about traditional and contemporary floral design.
November is the perfect time to visit Bruges, either with a friend or for a romantic minibreak with your fiancé!
FLEURAMOUR:Guide prices start from £425* per person based on double occupancy, including return flights from London Heathrow to Brussels (also available from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester), return airport transfers, two nights at a 4-star hotel on a B&B basis and day entry to Fleuramour 2017 with a coach transfer. www.floristrytours.com/tours/alden-biesen-flower-event-air
FLEUR CREATIF:Guide prices start from £450* per person based on two people sharing a twin room, including two nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation, service of an ECT tour manager, one-day ticket to Fleur Creatif ’s Winter Moments with Flowers, return flights to Brussels and return airport transfers from Brussels airport.
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful setting than the magnificently transformed Hotel Colessio in the heart of Stirling. Exuding sophistication and designer style, Hotel Colessio is a magical venue for the most special day of your life. Flooded with natural light, the stunning grand up to 180 guests, complemented by 40 deliciously indulgent bedrooms and suites, a chic restaurant and bar.
Five-Star Gran Canaria adult-only hotel offers romantic picnics, couples spa treatments and private room entertainment for the perfect couples’ holiday.
This spring, Gran Canaria’s five-star luxury design hotel, Bohemia Suites & Spa, offers travelling love-birds and sun seeking sweethearts a range of romantic and unique activities to enjoy as a pair. Couples can truly relax and indulge in this adult-only hotel, a true oasis on the island, with nothing to disturb the tranquil atmosphere and sensational landscapes. Having recently been recognized as a winner in the category Romantic Hotels in the 2016 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards, couples can be safe in the knowledge that they are in the hands of true luxury travel professionals, who will endeavour to make their stay as personal and intimate as possible.
The In-Room Cocktail experience
With a modern design, luxurious colour scheme of purple and gold, and all the modcons guests can hope for, Bohemia’s suites are truly a home away from home. For guests who can’t tear themselves away from their gorgeous rooms, Bohemia have designed the In-Room Cocktail Experience – a mixologist lesson in the comfort of their own suite. Loved ones will cuddle up together and pick up all the tricks of the trade from their very own professional Mixologist. To get the evening off to a sexy start, couples will enjoy Bohemia’s very own irresistible Classic Cocktail with Aphrodisiac ingredients including chocolate, cinnamon, fig and tonka bean.
For guests venturing out of their private four walls, the Siam Spa specialises in couple’s massage, allowing guests to completely indulge in a sensuous experience side-by-side. Couples can top their day of relaxation off with some sun soaking on the gorgeous Balinese sunbeds beside the pool, surrounded by the tropical gardens. The evening that follows will begin with a sumptuous dinner at the hotel’s signature restaurant, 360 and lovers can gaze at the stars and pick out constellations together with a nightcap in the rooftop Atelier cocktail bar.
Romantic Adventuring
The rooms and grounds of Bohemia were made for lovers, but for those more adventurous pairs, the surrounding area offers plenty of opportunity for romantic exploring. Step into some Hollywood glamour with Bohemia’s very own Audi A1 sport back, pack a picnic lunch, and zoom through the roads of the island, visiting the fairy-tale old town of Las Palmas, and the enticing vineyards. Alternatively, guests can explore the breath-taking Maspalomas Dunes, with only their beloved and a chilled bottle of Champagne for company – the ultimate romantic gesture set to a truly unique and magical backdrop.
For guests who want to remember this trip of a lifetime, a professional photographer will be on hand to capture romantic moments, and help commemorate the couple’s love forever.
Honeymooners at Bohemia
For those lucky honeymooners, they will receive a free room upgrade on arrival, as well as two personalized bathrobes with embroidered names and wedding date to snuggle up in and take home with them as a memento. The newlyweds will also enjoy a picnic basket packed with chilled sparkling wine and sweet treats to take on a sunset walk through the Maspalomas Dunes. The happy couple will be eased back into reality by Bohemia, with free late check-out, to set them out on married life feeling rested and rejuvenated.
Ideal for anniversary, engagement, honeymoon, or just to celebrate love and care for one another, Bohemia offers everything for the ultimate romantic escape, and is dedicated to providing the most intimate and tailored experience for each and every couple.
Nightly rates at Bohemia Suites & Spa start from £120 for a Sun Double room; and from £266 for a Junior Suite, including breakfast, excluding VAT. For more information please call +34 928 563 400 or visit www.bohemia-grancanaria.com
British Airways holidays offer seven nights at Bohemia Suites & Spa, from £599 per person for a Sun Double or £939 per person for a Junior Suite, including return flights from London Gatwick. For reservations visit www.ba.com/grancanaria or call 0844 493 0758.
Tour operators currently working with Bohemia Suites & Spa include BA Holidays, Condé Nast Johansens, Design Hotels, and Jet2holidays. Airlines currently flying in to Gran Canaria from the UK include British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2, Norwegian Air, Air Europa, Iberia, and Ryan Air. *Prices in pound sterling are based on today’s exchange rate
(Prices correct at time of magazine going to print)
Grotta Giusti, Tuscany, the nineteenth-century villa of the poet Giuseppe Giusti, guards what he and composer Giuseppe Verdi regarded as the “eighth wonder of the world” – a millennial thermal cave with a thermal underground hot spring lake. Combat Stress in an Ethereal and Inimitable Setting, at Grotta Giusti, Tuscany
In this ancient dwelling the luxurious spa is offering guests the opportunity to undertake floating therapy, a deeply relaxing and highly effective treatment for combatting stress and relieving pain. Grotta Giusti is the only hotel in the world to have an underground thermal cave and lake that guests can dive and swim in.
Research consistently demonstrates that floating therapy has a significant impact on mood enhancement. Suggested reasons for this increased level of happiness include elevated levels of dopamine and endorphins brought about through the deep meditative state achieved during floatation therapy.
Guests start the treatment unusually with the hotel’s scuba diving instructors, all of whom are experts in breathing techniques, teaching them how to control their breathing and use it to relax the body and mind.
Having learnt to breathe properly, guests are welcomed into the thermal lake to undergo this deeply relaxing therapy.
A series of stretches and flexes are carried out by the therapist as they float the guest in the mineral rich warm waters. As the water is close to body temperature the body feels totally weightless, as if you were floating in an anti-gravity chamber.
The fascinating natural cave acts as a natural steam room where visitors can enjoy a relaxing and detoxifying steam bath prior to their treatment. The cave is 130 million years old but was hidden for most of its long history.
Divided into three distinct areas called Heaven, Purgatory and Hell, the cave offers visitors a chance to breathe in natural steam with healing and therapeutic properties and experience a unique environment with temperatures ranging from 28° to 34°C.
The interiors of the cave are decorated with stalactite and stalagmite formations and feature several underground labyrinths with spacious caverns where you can relax in total peace and quiet. The large vaults in the rock are natural formations that serve as the perfect place to sit and enjoy the detoxifying steam that surrounds you. The bottom of the cave is known as ‘The Limbo’ – here the temperature always remains at a pleasant 36ºC, regardless of the weather outside, and offers wellness seekers a sparkling pool of water to soak in during winter and summer.
Changes in air temperature are quite minimal throughout the seasons, and generally range from 31ºC to 34ºC, with a humidity level close to 100%. The atmospheric pressure throughout the cave remains constant and matches the levels outside.
With a lavish history, Grotta Giusti is now a prestigious hotel that has maintained its historical air and natural charm with a backdrop of antique furnishings and paintings. It offers 64 lavish rooms with marble bathrooms and thermal water on tap – literally, it is available in many of the hotel’s bathrooms as well as in its outdoor thermal swimming pools.
Nightly rates at Grotta Giusti start from 200 Euros per night in a comfort room on weekdays on a B&B basis. Rates also include wi-fi, access to spa and fitness facilities. For further information please email travel@ihchotels.it or call +39 0578 572 333.
(Prices correct at time of magazine going to print)
The British Virgin Islands offer honeymooners exclusivity and laidback luxury in an unspoiled location.
Home to some of the world’s best resorts, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for honeymooners looking to combine exclusivity and laidback luxury in an unspoiled location. To those who visit, it feels like a special secluded secret but with ever-increasing flight options the BVI has never been easier to get to. Whether it’s a sleepy, slow-paced luxury honeymoon, a little bit of adventure or a combination of the two, the BVI has it all – with the added benefit of idyllic surroundings…
BOOK GUANA ISLAND – FOR LAID BACK LUXURY
A twenty-minute boat ride from the airport, this privately owned, unspoilt island is wildly romantic. Spread over 850 acres, it is home to seven secluded beaches yet can only host up to 35 guests. Plus, with no marina or public facilities, it really is an utterly secluded escape. The natural surroundings mean honeymooners can make the most of the tranquil setting by relaxing with a good book and enjoying the beautiful scenery. However, the sparkly waters provide the opportunity for some fantastic swimming, snorkelling, paddle boarding, kayaking and sailing, while the more active can enjoy a game of tennis or hike one of 20 specially marked trails. Guana is also famed for its garden orchard, which is over 30 years old, and both local seafood and produce from the orchard feature heavily on the menu.
To book: A seven-night honeymoon package starts from £4,145 on an all-inclusive basis, based on two sharing. It also includes an in-room or spa massage per person as well as round-trip taxi and boat transfers – www.guana.com
Top tip: Honeymooners should book North Beach Villa which sits on the hilltop and has its own kitchen, living room, terraces and pool.
SET SAIL WITH SUNSAIL
A honeymoon with plenty of quiet ‘us’ time, a gorgeous new beach every day and a Seaview balcony throughout ticks all the boxes. For the more adventurous, a sailing honeymoon is an ideal way to spend quality time together, relaxing in a sun-drenched destination where the next swim, snorkel or dive is just a step off the side and at any moment couples can just anchor up in a secluded spot for a picnic, sundowner or to soak up the sun from the deck of their floating villa. Honeymooners can leave all the hard work to a hired skipper, who’ll be their personal driver and tour guide for the holiday. Sunsail’s skippers are experienced sailors and destination experts, knowing the best spots to pick, the must-see places to go and the intuition to know when couples just want to be left alone. Or for an added adventure why not take the helm and learn the ropes of sailing a yacht.
To book: One-week on a mono-hull with a skipper starts from £2,023 based on two passengers – www.sunsail.co.uk
CELEBRATE AT NECKER ISLAND – NEW CELEBRATION WEEKS FOR 2017
Sir Richard Branson’s private island paradise, Necker Island, is usually available for exclusive hire only aside from a couple of weeks. However, this year, Necker has added more Celebration Weeks, meaning honeymooners can enjoy a special seven-night stay. Blessed with white sand beaches and beautiful coral reefs, the resort is also home to an abundance of wildlife including pink flamingos, tortoises and lemurs. There’s plenty for guests to do – water sports with the team of highly qualified staff, a zip-line down to Turtle Beach, beach Olympics and the island treasure hunt – or couples can simply relax and make the most of this incredible island and be pampered at the Bali Leha Spa and do very little.
To book: A Celebration Week seven-night stay starts from £25,246 on an all-inclusive basis, based on two sharing. Celebration weeks run on 19 & 26 August, 2, 9, 16 & 30 September and 14 & 21 October 2017 – www.virginlimitededition.com
PETER ISLAND RESORT & SPA with ACRES OF TRANQUILITY
One of the BVI’s most renowned hotels, guests at Peter Island can do as much or as little as they desire on their honeymoon. The resort, a romantic haven, also offers plenty of soft adventure; hiking trails, scuba diving, sport fishing, bareboat sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, tennis and snorkelling. The island has five pristine white-sand beaches to choose from but, hidden away at the end of Little Deadman’s Beach, is Honeymoon Beach; an intimate and secluded destination for just two… Honeymooners can enjoy an on-island romantic escape with a private picnic delivered to them as they enjoy their own private shores. The exclusive experience can be rounded off with a Bohio Signature Couples Massage in the world-class spa; the outside couple’s bohio serves as a perfect backdrop for a relaxing, customized massage as the aroma of the oils and the gentle waves engulf the senses…
To book: A seven-night honeymoon stay starts from £5,410 on an all-inclusive basis, based on two sharing. This includes a bottle of champagne, a private beach dinner, a trip to The Loop to watch the sunset with wine, fruit and cheese, a 90 minute couples massage in the Couples Suite at the Spa and a private, full-day sail on the Silmaril sailboat. www.peterisland.com
Getting to the BVI
Return flights start from £475pp with Virgin Atlantic or British Airways to Antigua. The VI Airlink connects on Fri-Sat from £282 return to Beef Island, Tortola; InterCaribbean flights connect on Monday-Fridays from £296 return or Return flights start from £318pp with Norwegian Air to San Juan. Cape Air connects from £188pp return to Beef Island, Tortola; InterCaribbean from £195pp. (Prices correct at time of magazine going to print)
Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas, the privately owned, five-star beach resort located on an unspoiled hillside in North East Crete, is delighted to launch its Ultra Diamond Honeymoon Package. The indulgent package, put together by the resort’s resident honeymoon planner, will spoil newlyweds with six nights in a One-Bedroom Villa, a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter day trip to Santorini, a candlelit set menu dinner, spa access and more.
After arriving at the resort in style via luxury transfer in a Mercedes Benz, couples will check-in to their private villa. Complete with its very own private infinity pool overlooking the glittering cove below, it provides the ultimate secluded bolthole for newlyweds to enjoy their first few days of wedded bliss.
Five-star room service will be provided around the clock, with couples treated to their breakfast in bed of choice, as well as a romantic turndown service with champagne and strawberries. A candle-lit set menu dinner for two is part of the package, which can be enjoyed beachside or as an intimate in-villa experience, with an additional dinner at one of the resorts three superb restaurants also included.
Once honeymooners manage to tear themselves away from this clifftop paradise, they will be whisked to the picturesque Santorini for a day excursion via helicopter. They will be picked up from the hotel’s very own helipad, flown over to the volcanic island and given a birds-eye tour of the iconic landscape and volcano, before being deposited at Santorini’s best restaurant for a champagne lunch.
Newlyweds will also benefit from an unlimited two-day pass to the resort’s 2,500 square metre Daios Wellness & Spa by Anne Semonin, where they can relax in its saunas, steam baths, waterfalls and the indoor heated pool. One hour’s use of the private Spa Suite – a luxurious suite complete with champagne, personal sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and loungers – is included for all honeymooners, ensuring they return home completely relaxed and ready to enjoy their new life together.
Daios Cove is a five-star beach resort with villas located in the North-East part of Crete that offers an extensive selection of restaurants serving-up gourmet Mediterranean cuisine, a water-sport and diving centre, two tennis courts, a kids’ club and a state-of-the art spa.
The ‘Ultra Diamond Honeymoon Package’ at Daios Cove, including six-nights bed and breakfast in a One-Bedroom Villa, helicopter day trip to Santorini, return VIP airport transfers, one private set menu dinner, one resort dinner and spa access, starts at €11,256 for two.
To book, contact your-honeymoon@daioscove.com. Nightly rates at Daios Cove are from €429 in a Deluxe Sea View Room. To book visit: daioscove.com or call +44 20 3807 1418.
(Prices correct at time of magazine going to print)
La Maison d’Ulysse is a small luxury hotel located in the South of France, near Uzès, Nîmes and Avignon. Set in a lovingly restored 16th century building steeped in history, it is a delicate blend of boutique hotel and luxury guest house providing a relaxed, welcoming and authentic atmosphere. Hidden away in French country-side with only nine rooms, the hotel is ideal for honeymooners looking for seclusion and romance.
Strolling around local Provençale markets, enjoying sun-ripened fruits and vegetables, visiting olive groves and truffle farms, newlyweds will be drunk with love inspired by the environment. Between the Mediterranean and the Alps the Provençale vineyard stretches for around 200km, meaning love-birds can be drunk on a little more than love too! La Maison d’Ulysse can arrange visits to all the best local wineries where couples will be spoiled by friends of the hotel owners.
As well as being surrounded by stunning gardens, the hotel includes a vaulted spa and Turkish baths for couples looking for a little pampering, a solar-panel heated outdoor pool is the icing on the cake.
Foodies will especially love the La Maison d’Ulysse’s restaurant where summer meals are served outside on the cool patio. To accompany the fruit and vegetables gathered in the boutique hotel’s kitchen garden, the owner Gauthier personally goes shopping with the chefs at the market, local producers’ farms, his favourite fishmonger and the delicatessen in Uzès so the chefs can cook with fresh, seasonal produce.
Nightly rates at La Maison d’Ulysse start from £182 per room per night based on two people sharing the Ulysse room on a B&B basis.
The hotel is located just a 45 minute drive from Avignon TGV which is served by a daily Eurostar train. www.lamaisondulysse.com/en/
(Prices correct at time of magazine going to print)
Incense and Peppermints and Scarborough Fair instantly take us on a dreamy romantic trip to the era of Woodstock: flowers, peace signs and barefoot in the park. That is what ALLURE BRIDALS had in mind when creating their newly launched WILDERLY BRIDE Collection of wedding dresses!
For the hippy chic “boho bride” who opts for feathered clips and heather in her hair instead of tiaras and princess jewelry, Wilderly Bride is sure to be her go-to for her earthy and ethereal “Indian Summer” wedding! Soft, languid, flowy and unrestricting in design, this new line of goddess styled wedding dresses give this bride the unconstricted freedom she most surely lives her life by.
Romantic and demure lace ties, draping bell sleeves, bias cuts, eyelash fringe, gauzy skirts and bodices, these translucent lace and tulle creations are justly christened with names such as Camellia, Violet, Aria, Rose, Daisy, Jade, Marigold, Poppy and Sage to name a few. Drop waists, deep-V’s, open backs, off the shoulder and fluttering lace caps are just a few of the details this collection has to offer.
Romantic and demure lace ties, draping bell sleeves, bias cuts, eyelash fringe, gauzy skirts and bodices, these translucent lace and tulle creations are justly christened with names such as Camellia, Violet, Aria, Rose, Daisy, Jade, Marigold, Poppy and Sage to name a few. Drop waists, deep-V’s, open backs, off the shoulder and fluttering lace caps are just a few of the details this collection has to offer. To view the whole collection visit www.allurebridals.com/wilderlybride
Hilton’s Seychelles properties consist of three exclusive resorts set in one destination, all of which have unique personalities and offerings, and cater to a wide range of travellers.
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa
Accommodation
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa is the only resort located on Silhouette Island. The resort’s 110 one-bedroom villas and the Silhouette Estate can be found nestled in the hillside amongst lush gardens, and scattered along the beach.
Choose from Garden Villas with spectacular views of mist-swathed Mount Dauban; Beachfront Villas with the option of a plunge pool where guests can wake up with views of the sun rising over the Indian Ocean; Deluxe Hillside Pool Villas, a private hideaway with a cascading pool and outdoor rain shower; or Deluxe Beachfront Pool Villas with the ocean just metres away.
For those in search of something more exclusive, Hilton’s Silhouette Estate, located in a quiet corner of Silhouette Island, provides the ultimate luxurious private escape in paradise. The villa offers unmatched privacy, unobstructed, jaw-dropping views of the Indian Ocean, as well as a dedicated personal concierge service on hand 24 hours a day.
Silhouette Estate boasts a spectacular swimming pool where guests can enjoy endless ocean vistas, as well as private access to a brilliant white sandy beach. Guests checking into this idyllic getaway can enjoy exclusive benefits including a personal butler service, private helicopter or boat transfers, bikes designated for their use only, sparkling wine on arrival and daily refreshments and fresh fruit served in their villa. There is also the option to enjoy breakfast in the villa’s private gazebo and in-villa romantic candlelit dinners.
F&B
Labriz Resort & Spa boasts seven dining options, all set in varying locations from beach to lakeside and with private dining options available too. From fine Italian cuisine at Portobello, to modern Seychellois food with hints of the island’s English and French heritage at Grann Kaz, to Japanese dishes at Sakura and Teppanyaki, guests will not go hungry on their holiday! Foodies can also experience authentic Creole cuisine at Café Dauban and even try their hand at cookery classes, allowing them to take home recipes from the island to remind them of their holiday in paradise.
Activities
Labriz Resort & Spa is nestled amongst spectacular mountains, offering guests a little more adventure than the usual five-star beach holiday. For those in need of a total break, the resort is located along a sandy one-kilometre beach. Active guests can spend their days hiking through the rainforest and Marine National Park, or diving in the rich marine ecosystem, fishing in the shallows and exploring the island by bicycle. On their adventures, guests should keep an eye out for the island’s amazing fauna, including tiger chameleons, giant tortoises and Seychelles Sunbirds. Other activities include sunrise & sunset beach yoga, kayaking, private tennis lessons, crazy beach mini golf and archery. For those looking for complete tranquillity, head to Labriz’s award winning eforea Spa and return feeling rebalanced and revitalised after indulging in a range of pampering treatments.
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa is a 45-minute boat trip to Silhouette Island’s jetty, or a scenic 15-minute helicopter ride from Mahé. Prices start from €310/ £275* in a King Garden Villa per night on a B&B basis. Prices at Silhouette Estate start from €3200/ £2841* per night on a B&B basis.
Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa
Accommodation
This stunning boutique five-star resort has been referred to as the Indian Ocean’s ‘Leading Villa Resort’ since 2007 by the World Travel Awards, Northolme Resort & Spa consists of a host of charming private villas, all with private balconies offering panoramic ocean views, daybeds, sun loungers and dining tables. Northholme is the ideal option for newlyweds, and those looking for some peace and quiet.
Guests can choose from King Hillside Villas set high amongst the tropical forest; King Oceanfront Villas on stilts above the water; Grand Oceanview Pool Villas with views across the ocean; and a two-bedroom Northolme Villa boasting the largest private pool in the north of Mahé and bathrooms with whirlpool baths.
F&B
Northolme Resort & Spa has three restaurants, Ocean View Bar and Restaurant for lighter meals and delicious cocktails; Les Cocotiers to enjoy the ultimate al fresco dining experience under the stars eating freshly caught seafood; and Hilltop Restaurant for one of their themed nights, where guests can watch chefs create their meals at live cooking stations.
Activities
The combination of the resort’s secluded position and the wide range of activities available, make Northolme Resort & Spa a great destination for those looking for a holiday with a mix of relaxation and adventure. Between snorkelling, hiking, kayaking and diving to boat trips to the nearby islands and discovering what the island itself has to offer, there won’t be a minute to spare! Guests who love the water will be spoilt as the hotel boasts one of the best snorkelling areas on Mahé. After an active day either on land or sea, guests can either take advantage of the resort’s eforea Spa and book a pampering treatment, where ancient health traditions meet the contemporary, with a Seychellois massage or ocean release facial with muscle relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties. Guests can stay zen and relax back in their private pool back at their villas, or at the resort’s infinity pool, where they can watch the island’s spectacular sunset with a delicious cocktail in hand.
Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa is located in northwest Mahé, 25 minutes away from Seychelles International Airport by car or taxi. Prices start from €450/ £399* in a King Hillside Villa per night on a B&B basis, and €2400/£2131* per night in Northolme Villa on a B&B basis.
DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa
Accommodation
The DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda Resort & Spa is located in the south of Mahé, a boutique affordable luxury option. The four-star contemporary resort is one of a kind in this part of the world, with only 30 rooms, and a personalised service that surpasses other resorts in the area creating a smaller, more intimate environment in which to enjoy the Seychelles.
F&B
Guests can dine at the hotel’s Les Palms Restaurant, tasting a wide range of cuisine at the relaxed buffet with live cooking stations. For lunch, guests can relax at Oceanview Bar and enjoy the magnificent vistas. For couples looking for a romantic getaway, DoubleTree can organise a number of activities such as a romantic candle-lit dinner on the beach, to an in-room jacuzzi experience.
Activities
Guests can spend their days hiking through the island’s National Park, snorkelling off the beach of Anse Forbans and seeing the best of the Seychelles’ aquatic life on a glass-bottom boat tour. After a day of exploring, guests are invited to wind down in the resort’s eforea Spa with an organic treatment.
DoubleTree by Hilton is located only 20 minutes from Pointe Larue International Airport by car or taxi. Prices at DoubleTree by Hilton – Allamanda Resort & Spa start from €300/ £266* in a King Deluxe Room with Ocean View per night on a B&B basis.
(Prices correct at time of magazine going to print)
Gamefield has hosted its first wedding! We had the absolute pleasure and privilege of being the favoured venue for Amy and Fraser Cameron who chose the house for their recent wedding a few weekends ago in September!
It’s true to say that we felt a mixture of pride and trepidation, it was a bit like awaiting the birth of a child, but we are delighted to say that everything passed off seamlessly. Bride, groom and the entire party had an absolute ball. We were so touched by the wonderful and truly heartfelt comments left by the bride and groom in our guest book – we think what comes across is that an exclusive use venue like Gamefield lets you actually host your own wedding – a special and intimate experience where your guests share in your joy at becoming husband and wife in a truly relaxed and private location. Amy and Fraser felt like Gamefield was theirs for the weekend, which it effectively was. We are so pleased that all the little touches made a difference too. We can now look forward to hosting many more small and bespoke wedding celebrations. We knew that Gamefield was absolutely right for this market and, as Amy and Fraser say, we have now cemented our place as a “stunning and tranquil venue.” Thanks Guys! We wish you a long and happy life together!
“There are no words to describe the extent to which we enjoyed our stay at Gamefield, not least because we had the privilege of hosting our wedding at this beautiful venue.
From beginning to end our experience at the house and the Gamefield Team entirely surpassed our expectations and as far as we are concerned cemented Gamefield’ s place as one of the most stunning and tranquil venues. Our intimate wedding was seamless thanks to the assistance of the team. Our guests were blown away by the beauty of the location and the personality that such a wedding evokes. Nothing was too much trouble and the detail (particularly the small insignificant ones which make a huge difference) was outstanding.
We will always be grateful for the memories that Gamefield gave us and our guests.”
THE THEME: We are both traditional and classic and wanted to reflect that throughout the wedding. The flowers used were very romantic and traditional, roses and peonies, as were the bridesmaids dresses, my dress and the suits – all very classic. Without a strict theme, it meant we could focus on some smaller details, but weren’t tied to keeping them within a theme. I was particularly happy with our table names, which were ‘family weddings’ so each table was named after a family couple who had gotten married, with the date and place of their wedding, including parents, grandparents and great grandparents (back in 1920). I loved that because we went back through old family photos and included them on the table names, which really personalised everything, and was also a nice memento of people who weren’t with us anymore. We also had more quirky things like my shoes were bright Union Jack print.
THE VENUE: The Royal Marine’s museum was our favoured choice way before we were even engaged. We’re both from Portsmouth, and would often walk past the building when we were going for walks. It’s very grand from the outside, and a real Portsmouth landmark, so it represented where we live, and is also steeped in so much magnificent history. We always said, when we get married one day, it’ll be there. Once we were engaged and started looking properly, we fell even more in love with the building. Inside is grand and traditional at the same time. We had welcome drinks on the lawn, fantastic group photo on the outside staircase, and our reception in the stately Mountbatten room (dining under a portrait of queen Victoria) where Churchill and Eisenhower once dined. It was everything we could have wanted in a venue. We did look at some other venues, but nothing came close to the royal marine’s museum.
THE HIGHLIGHT: I remember, just as my Dad and I turned the corner to walk down the aisle at St John’s cathedral, feeling a massive pang of anticipation. Then, as soon as I saw everyone looking at us, it just went away. Walking down the aisle was the best feeling ever, seeing everyone we loved in one place together, and all so happy for us both. I didn’t stop smiling from then on. It was an incredible feeling, and made us realise how lucky we were to have so many great friends and family there to share a special day with us.
THE LOOK: I’m a big fan of the 1950’s, so had always envisaged being in a sleek, sort of Hollywood movie star dress, and tried on a lot of those. My mum told me to try on something completely different just to see, so I went for a dress with a large net skirt, and was completely surprised when I fell in love with it! It was still very traditional with a bodice of lace, and a sash. It also worked well in the church which was quite grand, with a big aisle, so the dress certainly filled that. I ordered it over a year before the wedding, and was worried that by the time the wedding came along, I wouldn’t like it anymore, but I loved it even more when it came in my size. Even now, three years later I wouldn’t choose a different dress. The bridesmaids dresses were the first thing we brought. I wanted something very traditional and pretty, and came across lovely Grecian style dresses in the coast sale. They were a magenta colour, and we really liked it, so carried that colour throughout other elements of the wedding like the invitations, table settings and flowers.
DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING: Perfect! It really was the most perfect day. Even the weather! The day before had been grey and rainy, but the day of the wedding was lovely and warm and sunny. Even little things like my cousin Lydia, our flower girl, who has difficulty walking and is usually in a wheelchair was able to walk down the long aisle (with a little bit of help); we stopped off at an old fashioned ice cream van on the way to the venue for some pictures and were given free ice creams; my husband managed (with a little bit of help…) to lift me above his head dirty dancing style whilst we danced to Time of my life. Everything was just perfect. the atmosphere Without sounding cliché, it was magical. I’m quite a worrier, and with stress in the build up to the wedding, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy the day, but when it came to it, everything just ran its course and went exactly to plan which meant we could really take everything in and enjoy it. We made a point of not spending the whole thing going around to everybody talking, and come about 9 o,clock (by which point we had had a chance to chat to everyone and thank them for coming) we really let our hair down, Adrian hanging out with all the boys, and me taking off my heels and dancing. I really can’t think of another time I’ve had so much fun as at my own wedding. Pre-wedding nerves I didn’t have any, which was quite a shock! I think because by the time the wedding came round, we’d been planning it and looking forward to it for over a year, so when it finally came around, I was just so excited. Even getting ready for it was so stress free, I was doing everyone else’s make up. I also had a lot of help in the preparations from family members, so that everything was perfect and ready to go on the day of the wedding, I didn’t need to worry about anything.
INSPIRATION: I spent nearly a year going through wedding magazines, pulling out everything and anything I liked and putting them into a scrap book with my own notes. That really helped me work out what I liked and what I didn’t. And after the wedding, it was a lovely keepsake to look back on as I added in pictures of our actual wedding to each section. Must haves: Great support. The day was mostly stress and worry free because we were so prepared for it, with everything completed in advance, thanks to help from our families. And throughout the day the bridesmaids and ushers were great help and ensured everything ran smoothly. And also, flat shoes! It’s a long day, which is spent mostly on your feet, so you need to be comfortable! I wore heels for most of the day, and for the pictures, but come the evening when I wanted to relax and dance the night away, I switched to flip flops. We also thought about all the other guests in their heels too and put a big basket of flip flops on the dance floor for people to kick off their heels and enjoy the evening.
The Details
Venue: Royal Marine’s Museum Bridal & Bridesmaids: Bride: Brides of Portsmouth, Bridesmaids: Coast in Debenhams Groom: Debenhams suit hire florist: Rebecca Hammond @ Wonderosa jewellery: Antique pearls wedding cake: Marks & Spencer Shoes: Irregular Choice Entertainment: It was a DJ
The spring/summer 2014 catwalks had a common theme of ruffles, frills and structure for this season and into next. We bring you our pick of dresses so you can stay on trend.
On the catwalk
Soft, delicate frills at Zimmerman Spring/Summer14
Drama and structure at Zac Posen Spring/Summer 14
