St. Regis Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii
The basics
If you love the idea of a marriage in a wild spot of unimaginable beauty, but also love the idea of an elegant wedding orchestrated down to the last flower petal, the St. Regis Princeville may be your little slice of perfect. It’s a place where can count on the scenery (views of the Pacific-pummeled hummocks of the Na Pali coast), and you can count on the sushi (the St. Regis wrangled superchef Jean-George Vongerichten to oversee the menu), and you can count on the service, so out-and-out pampering that you’ll be tempted to toss out ten-dollar bills like confetti. Just be sure you’re okay with a little weather, as this spot of Kauai gets its fair share of showers.
Wedding details
Consider this ceremony scenario: In front of you, the tangerine sun descends over Hanalei Bay. In the distance, the great green folds of the Na Pali coast gleam in the sunlight. And left, right, and all around is a resort as luxurious as they come, a posh hideaway cradled in the cliffs like a baby in its mother’s arms. When the gods are smiling, you’ve got creating perfect conditions for exchanging vows cliffside at Hanalei Terrace, beside the infinity pool at the Bay Terrace, or at Kamani Cove, a beachfront lawn with mountain and waterfall views that doubles as a reception spot. If nature doesn’t cooperate (or if you’d rather know from the start where you’ll be cutting that cake), the St. Regis’s glass-paneled suites, terraced spaces, and ballrooms all make excellent reception sites.
Where it is
Several airlines offer non-stop service to Kauai from the mainland; once at Lihue Airport, you’ll drive about 45 minutes to Princeville. There’s a nearby market for picnics and provisions.
Keep in mind
The resort’s sales manager/wedding coordinator places emphasis on weaving local traditions into the day, from a slack-key guitar music to hula performances. And if you don’t care to bother with the details—and if you’re limiting your guest list to 20–you can take advantage of one of the tidiest wedding packages on this or any island.
