, a boutique resort wedding might be …...chiali’s vision for the special day was to capture not...

ULTIMATE PLANNING GUIDE 2016 65 64 DESTINATIONWEDDINGMAG.COM

INTIMATE AFFAIRS 2016Ultimate Planning

Guide

IF YOU AND YOUR BOO ARE CRAVING TRUE authenticity, INDIVIDUALIZED attention, STELLAR SERVICE AND THE COMFORT OF A HOME AWAY FROM home, A BOUTIQUE RESORT WEDDING MIGHT BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE AFTER. HERE’S YOUR

cheat sheet FOR A MEMORABLE GATHERING THAT’S SMALL, personal, HIGH STYLE AND anything BUT MAINSTREAM.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Breaking the ice at cocktail hour. Fewer guests = more cake for you! Guest cottages at Deep Water Cay in the Bahamas. Gourmet nibbles. A private moment on a Florida boardwalk. Succulents and king protea trim tables in the Bahamas Out Islands. A family gathering at The Cove in the Bahamas. Crinkle fanfare. Vieques, Puerto Rico, embodies “off the beaten path.” Tulum, Mexico, is known for Maya weddings and eco-boutiques (2). Personal touches in the Florida Keys. An intimate celebration in Hawaii. Peachy-keen signature cocktails.

Intimate AffairsBOUTIQUE by SA RA H S E KU LA

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INTIMATE AFFAIRS

SAINT LUCIACap Maison

A champagne zip line whisks bottles of chilled bubbly and canapes (and the occasional engagement ring) down to a

private wooden deck.

MEXICOThe Viceroy Riviera Maya

Not long after you’re greeted with a Maya blessing, a “soap concierge” will visit your villa. You choose the scent, and he slices your personalized bars.

JAMAICA Geejam

Geejam has a recording studio you can rent for the day.

Record a wedding album of your friends and family

singing your favorite tunes.

TURKS AND CAICOSBeach House

Each suite comes with a pampering pod on the beach. Homemade frozen treats, foot massages, beach picnics and champagne all come to you.

MAUILumeria

Start the day with a guided sunrise meditation sesh.

Then head to the water for an hourlong Aqua Craniosacral Therapy massage in the ocean.

Tiptop ServicesSTANDOUT OFFERINGS A STEP ABOVE THE REST.

#BOUNTYOFTHESEASShrimp cocktail, clambakes and lobster boils

are naturals at an East Coast event.

#SHELLSHOCKA raw bar is on fleek. Slurp oysters at the source: in the Florida Panhandle.

#HOTLIKEWASABIEven your most unadventurous eaters can’t

resist trying sushi rolls this colorful.

#TASTESLIKECHICKENChicken skewers are a crowd-pleaser. Season them with local spices, a la jerk in Jamaica.

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Celebrating with just your nearest and

dearest? Boutiques reign supreme.

KEEP IT SMALL

Is bigger always better? Ask a handful of engaged couples why they opted for a boutique resort, and you’ll likely hear words like cozy, intimate and personal. Lobbies often look more like living rooms, you encounter fewer hotel guests, and events and amenities aren’t as widespread as they would be at a larger resort. Not to mention, staff members go out of their way to cater to the small number of guests, often greeting you by name and making a note of any prefer-ences (drink or otherwise) you have. Boutique hotels don’t fit into a standard box — and that’s exactly their appeal. Some are 10 rooms; others are 100. For an intimate wedding, consider choosing one with 50 rooms or fewer.

“It’s perfect for the couple who wants to cut down on their guest count and only

invite people who truly matter to them,” says Jessica Janik, founder of The Invisible Bridesmaid consultancy.

Cause for charm The common denomina-

tor uniting all boutique properties is the charm factor. Surroundings beg to be Insta-ed — expect local decor, carefully curated antique collections, or lovingly tended herb gardens. Plus, boutiques have a smaller footprint, meaning you’ll find them tucked away in historic buildings or other quiet corners where a sprawling hotel simply would not fit.

“Some of the boutiques I’ve stayed in have had every room decorated differently; some properties have artwork displayed that comes from the owner’s personal collection,” says Susan Southerland, presi-dent of Just Marry! in Orlando, Florida. “If you find one that matches your style,

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Jimmy and Alessandra invited 50 loved ones to celebrate with them on Hawaii, the Big Island. Bonding around the bonfire in the Hamptons. Mismatched reception chairs in the Out Islands of the Bahamas. Serving local craft beer is the authentic way to “Find your beach.”

the entire wedding experience will exude your personalities.”

Own the place Kelly McWil-liams, owner

of Weddings by Socialites, suggests a boutique resort when the couple wants to have as much gathering time with their guests as possible. “It seems to work best for weddings that are just the right size to take over the resort and for guests who plan to stay for the whole weekend.”

Bonus: A buyout bumps up the flexibil-ity factor that much more. “You’ll likely be entitled to any space on property and be able to make noise until the wee hours of the morning,” says Aviva Samuels, own-er of Kiss the Planner in South Florida.

Of course, a full buyout of a small resort comes with a big price tag — the hotel needs to bring in a certain amount of revenue in order to turn away other guests. Plan to pay

for all the rooms, plus maximum food and beverage costs, even if your guests don’t fill the whole property.

Budget wisely That said, going smaller doesn’t

always mean you’re going to blow your budget. “Some boutiques are less expensive than a traditional resort, while others are quite a bit more expensive,” says Souther-land. “Figure out your budget, and shop for the resort based on what you can spend.”

Additionally, if a boutique hotel is new, is new to weddings, or hasn’t had great success in filling all its rooms in the past, it’s worth attempting to negotiate with them — especially if you’re bringing them big business, says Samuels. “They might have the ability to deviate from standard pricing. You won’t know until you ask.”

Another option: Book a big resort that specializes in smaller, bespoke events.

8%LARGE

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#LITEBITES

2016Ultimate Planning

Guide

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

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WHAT DIGS ARE YOU

BOOKING FOR YOUR BIG DAY?

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Guide

REASONS TO GO BOUTIQUE

1 EXCLUSIVITY “You won’t

have to worry about running into another wedding party or a corporate meeting,” says Susan Souther-land of Just Marry!

2 ALLOWANCES “Often when you

book exclusively, you can negotiate special allowances like late checkout, daily continental breakfast, and discounts on recreation rentals,” says Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites.

3 CHARACTER “A boutique

resort offers a unique wedding experience that doesn’t look like a carbon copy of everyone else’s wedding,” says Aviva Samuels of Kiss the Planner.

4 PERSONAL SERVICE “Bou-

tiques have fewer employees, so you’ll see the same ones during your stay,” says Southerland.

5 SECLUSION The pool, activities

and amenities at a boutique resort won’t be packed with hundreds of people, says Southerland.

TOP FIVE

ADVANTAGES

The couple’s best friends officiated the ceremony of this villa wedding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. During the vows, loved

ones holding candles formed a circle around them. “We wanted our wedding to be a

love letter to each other and to our family and friends who have been so supportive

of us,” says the bride.

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LoveENDLESS

“Chiali and Coney met in Taipei, Taiwan, in April 2000. They were engaged after two years of dating, and they

married on Valentine’s Day in 2003. Although they’re true romantics, they didn’t really have a wedding at the time, just a civil service. So they chose to renew their vows on June 10, 2015 (with their 9-year-old son, Matthew, as the officiant). Chiali and I met years ago and became close friends, so they asked me to document the intimate occasion with just the three of them. Though the stylish couple has homes in Taiwan and Los Angeles, they chose to have the ceremony two hours north of LA in Santa Barbara because of the stunning scenery and pleasant weather. The fun began around 5 p.m. when I photographed them at a pri-vate home. Next, we shot at the local courthouse. We incorporated a gorgeous Porsche, which belongs to a friend, in the background and captured several adorable shots of the family. Last, we headed to Butterfly Beach, a tiny stretch of sand in Montecito, where Chiali and Coney repeated their original vows. Chiali’s vision for the special day was to capture not only the love between her and Coney, but also the love between the entire family. I think the only thing greater than love between a couple is the love they have for their children, and I love how Matthew’s personality really shines through in all the photos.” — Photographer Jen Huang, as told to Sarah Sekula

photography by J E N H UA N G

CHIALI AND CONEY RENEW VOWS ON THE MISTY SHORES OF SANTA BARBARA.

1. DETAILS Chiali created her own balloon bouquet from jumbo 36-inch balloons. 2.

BACKDROP An antique Baldwin piano lent a photo op; Matthew has played since

age 4. 3, 5. FLOWERS Flower Lab created all the florals, including boutonnieres

for father and son, as well as a ring pillow made with moss, succulents and twine. 4. GOWN

Chiali looked stunning in a Nha Khanh gown from RentTheRunway.com. 6. BOUQUET The bride chose two bouquets; pictured here is a

loose cluster of Icelandic poppies. 7. SHOES Chiali’s red heels were by Valentino; Coney

donned dress shoes from Bradshaw & Lloyd. 8. ATTIRE Son Matthew, in a hat by J.Crew,

officiated the vows; his mother wore a vintage dress from ShopGossamer.com.

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