Your Wedding Advice - StrictlyWeddings.com Blog

Sedona – A Honeymoon with Beauty and Serenity

Your StrictlyWeddings.com post is coming straight from the majesty of Sedona, Arizona.

As I’ve toured Sedona and hiked many, many miles in the beauty of the Coconino National Forest, it made me realize what a wonderful honeymoon this could make for just the right kind of couple.

The Sedona honeymoon couple needs to love fresh, crisp air (so clean there is no overwhelming fragrance), the outdoors …as there is an abundance of beautiful places to hike where you go from semi-aired foliage to forests of pine, cedar and more and appreciate the history of a great land. Although we didn’t endulge, there are so many spas you don’t know which to choose!

I dropped into the tourist center and picked up some information on Weddings…seems like there are a lot of weddings in this place. It has a lot to do with the overall spirituality of Sedona and it’s location. Yet it could just as easily make for a memorable honeymoon.

We stayed in a very nice and comfortable Hampton Inn, but there are expensive resorts and cabins by the river in Oak Creek Canyon (5 minutes away). We had several great breakfasts at the Airport restaurant on top of a Mesa – tasty and affordable w/ a great view. Splurged a few times for dinner (must reward ourselves for all those calories we hiked off!). And enjoyed window shopping (and buying a few things) and looking at the various native arts and paintings.

There are side trips close by to Flagstaff, the old mining town of Jerome and other adventures to be found. Personally, your best bet is to go when the weather is cooler (we actually had snow on one of our hikes!). So it’s a perfect honeymoon destination from January through April.

Photos courtesy of my iPhone.

• Sedonna Luxury Weddings & Events
• Bliss Extraordinary Floral
• WeddingsinSedona.com
• SedonaWeddingCakes.com
• Sedona Tourist Center

Four Seasons Hotels

I get mail about The Four Seasons Hotels from around the world, and I must say there has never been a time, that they have ever disappointed me. The service, service, service is always the very best! Every time, I can stay at a Four Seasons, I do and it is where I find peace and can always be assured that the staff at the Four Seasons, will treat you like a King.

Check them all out. Start with the beautiful one in Maui! Then go to their home page and enjoy the wonderful adventure, as you try to choose the one that suits you best … for your honeymoon or a special vacation.

Private Places

Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines St. Vincent & The Grenadines, West Indies

The rhythmic sounds of the ocean sliding on the sand, the cool breezes sweeping across the landscape, the lush green of the tropical forests and the melodious sounds coming from every shop, restaurant and home—that move anyone to dance—mark the allure and sumptuous appeal of the Caribbean. Couples are drawn to these beautiful and varied islands year after year choosing between locales known for intimate spaces, stunning views and an air of romance that is real.

Drive into the mountains of St. Lucia, outside Soufrière in the southwestern part of the island and you will find a hidden resort: Ladera. Perched on the side of the mountain, each retreat has a beautifully designed plunge pool and some even offer a waterfall. In each of the rooms, there is no exterior wall—what the resort has come to call an “open wall”— affording couples the opportunity to bask in full views of the sea, island and sky. Ladera is uniquely designed so that its guests may become part of the surroundings, while maintaining the luxury of a protected environment.

Canouan Island is located in the heart of The Grenadines. One of the best kept secrets of the rich and famous, it offers both privacy and spectacular beaches. Raffles Resort Canouan Island, The Grenadines, has all the amenities a couple might desire. Luxuriate in one of its 156 villas, which include some of the largest balconies in the Caribbean. Each villa offers a golf cart allowing guests to explore the resort. Indulge in the Amrita Spa, dine at the lovely La Varenne and maybe catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two at the European-style Casino: Trump Club Privee.

La Samanna is located on the French side of St. Martin, just a short drive from the Dutch side. Beautifully designed suites—each with its own balcony or terrace and some with Jacuzzis—allow for an ideal location to have a romantic dinner prepared by one of the resort’s signature chefs. La Samanna offers a myriad of wonderful activities for just the two of you: try a day sail or a private visit to the butterfly farm.

The Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies is a hidden treasure on the Leeward Island of Nevis allowing couples to escape to a location of utter beauty and still enjoy all that comes with the expectations of the Four Seasons name. Each of the well-appointed suites has ocean, golf course or mountain views. This is a resort that offers horseback riding on the beach, a round of golf on one of the most scenic courses in the Caribbean and open-air dining at the renowned Mango.

Long considered the quiet and more authentic part of the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands offer a distinctly Caribbean flavor with a British flare. Little Dix Bay, A Rosewood Resort—familiar to the discerning traveler—is known as an idyllic honeymoon location. Upon arriving at the resort the feeling of tranquility is immediate. Each villa has a breathtaking view from your choice of a balcony or terrace that spans the forest and beach.

The experience of the Caribbean through any of these unique resorts will certainly assure that a dream of a majestic honeymoon does not just stay a dream, but transcends into the realms of tangible reality.

Planning the Honeymoon

Making your honeymoon the trip of a lifetime may require nearly as much advanced planning as your wedding itself. Two-career couples wanting several weeks of vacation time will find their employers more sympathetic if they know your plans early.

Prices may also be lower if you plan ahead. The earlier cruises are booked, for instance, the better the price. As cabins fill up, prices rise. Trips involving airfare and accommodations can usually be guaranteed up to 331 days in advance. Many desirable accommodations have limited space.
While cruises of the Caribbean may be abundant, cruises down the Amazon or aboard a tall ship are not; likewise, booking a seat on the Orient Express is not like making reservations on Amtrak. Rooms at Spanish castles, Irish farmhouses or Scottish bed & breakfasts fill up quickly.

Cultural and sporting events-such as Carnival in Brazil, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Wimbledon and the Olympics-attract huge crowds that can make finding a room impossible unless you plan well in advance. Even environmental events can pose lodging and transportation problems. The arrival of the Monarch butterflies or a solar eclipse attract large crowds competing for limited space. If your travel plans includes Thanksgiving, Christmas or school vacations, here or abroad, planning is crucial.

Couples often find that their work and family obligations only grow in the first few years of marriage, so it may not be wise to scrimp on your honeymoon in hopes of making up for it with a bigger trip down the road. If your dreams exceed your budget, travel agencies can “register” your trip, allowing guests to finance pieces of your honeymoon as engagement, shower or wedding gifts.

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of pacing yourself. For the first week of your honeymoon, consider taking a relaxing cruise, a train trip, or a relaxing resort getaway so you and your spouse can enjoy some recovery time. Extensive sightseeing and excursions that involve a lot of physical activity may be best left for a second or third week.

Whatever you decide, planning will ensure that your honeymoon will be the trip of a lifetime and it can stoke the fires of anticipation and imagination as you set out on your first grand adventure as husband and wife.