Amanzoe, a Hollywood-worthy wedding site where classic Greek beauty meets modern comforts
Now that George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin are engaged, it’s time to start planning their nuptials. A destination wedding is practically a given, as traveling is one of the couple’s passions: In the seven months they’ve been dating, they’ve appeared together in L.A., New York, London, Tanzania, and the Seychelles. Their international pedigrees—she was born in Beirut and studied at Oxford; his holiday homes are in Cabo and Italy’s Lake Como—mean that no spot on the planet is off-limits. But they will have to find a place that can accommodate a wedding party with some pretty demanding standards. These three resorts have Wedding of the Year written all over them:
Amanzoe, Porto Heli, Greece
Sitting atop a hill in the Peloponnese like a modern acropolis, this two-year-old Aman resort takes its architectural cues from ancient Greece, and pours on the columns and pavilions in a striking minimalist manner. There won’t be any A-lister guests muttering about how much they miss their Malibu digs: The 38 suites, all with infinity pools and terraces with views of the surrounding olive groves, have enough marble to suit any luxury-lover. And if George wants to invite Mr. and Mrs. Matt Damon, along with all four of their offspring? No worries: there’s a handsome selection of private mega-million villas for rent, insuring plenty of space for kids and nannies. Here’s a picture that makes us smile: the couple kicking off a wedding weekend at the beach club, treating their crew to glasses of flowery Moschofile wine paired with spiced-lobster pizza as the sun melts into Aegean.
Laucala resort, Fiji’s finest destination wedding spot, takes tropical pampering to a new level
Laucala Island, Fiji
While Elle Macpherson and her billionaire hubby may have gotten there first (they married at Lalucala in 2013), we’re still convinced that George and Amal should keep this Fijian pearl on their short list. It’s got plenty of celeb cred—Malcolm Forbes owned it for decades, and it’s now the property of Red Bull tycoon Dietrich Mateschitz. There’s not a crumb of pre-packaged Polynesian kitch on the property; instead, you’ll find 25 bures done in a chicly organic style, where lounge chairs look like human-size birds nests, and chandeliers resemble illuminated medusas. For wedding headquarters, the Hillside Residence comes with a private cook and chauffeur, as well as twin guest quarters and a sweeping view of palm-studded acres and crystal lagoons. And the resort’s private airstrip—not to mention the staff of mechanics that tends to it—means it’s easy for buddies with private jets to swoop in for the festivities.
Botanique, north of Sao Paulo, Brazil, marries fierce materials and sophisticated design
Botanique, Vale dos Mellos, Brazil
And now for something completely different: a mountain lodge in Brazil. With just 17 accommodations made of glass, stone, and reclaimed wood, this top-of-the-world hideaway combines extraordinary good looks with the best of Brazilian food, culture, and design: just the place for a camera-ready couple who’ve broken the Hollywood mold. About 100 miles north of Sao Paulo in the Mantiqueira Mountains, it’s light years from the beach-and-bikini scene of Rio. Wedding guests can scout pumas and exotic birds, canter on Olympic-caliber steeds, learn Brazilian martial arts, or take a rain forest sauna, all delivered with thoughtfulness and care. There’s a stunning hilltop plateau with 360-degree views that would be ideal for an outdoor ceremony; afterward, George and Amal can treat their guests to a farm-to-fork reception (house-pressed olive oil, foraged mushroom ravioli) unlike anything on the continent.
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Want to know more about planning destination wedding travel in Greece, Fiji, Brazil, or anywhere in the world? Our travel partners at Coastline Travel Advisors, a Virtuoso agency, are ready to help.
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