Cayman .... Seven miles of Beach Beauty

Cayman islands offer the ultimate in hospitality and romance. You have the option of getting married in a smaller resort or a five-star hotel, this destination has the capability of producing events that reflect the style that a bride envisions.  The backdrop of this ocean is simply spectacular.

The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba and it is known for its pristine 7 mile beach. The sunsets are unique and varied every night.  Once you arrive into the Cayman Islands, you step off the plane onto the tarmac and feel the rush of warm Caribbean air.

Guest activities:  your guests have plenty of options to select for excursions. For those who love to scuba dive, they have some of the best reef diving around. Stingray City is just a 10 minute boat ride away where you can swim and snorkel among the reefs.  The Turtle Farm at Boatswain's Beach, offers kids and adults the opportunity to see hundreds of giant turtles.



For the guest with a sophisicated palette this island offers a wide range of amazing cuisine. One must try
any of the following restaurants:

Calypso Restaurant, known for its wonderful sticky toffy pudding www.calypsogrillcayman.com

Osetra Bay, this Miami feeling restaurant has a fusion to it, served with by wonderful friendly waiters who are a joy to be around.  The food at Osetra is inspiring and wonderful. I think the drink master made this amazing www.osetrabay.com

Luca Restaurant: best seaside fine dining restaurant, set within the Caribbean Club. www.caribclub.com


   

Marriage license requirements:

 Residency requirements: none
 Necessary documentation: non residents need a marriage license, letter from authorized local marriage officer, proof of citizenship and age, proof of marital status, legal divorce decree, two witnesses

Places to stay:


Ritz Carlton, for those who love to have full service hotel, this is the perfect place for you. Ritz Carlton offers a variety of room levels, plus multiple restaurants. www.ritzcarlton.com/grandcayman

Caribbean Club: this exclusive boutique suite hotel, offers guests one - three bedroom private villas with common living room and full service kitchens. Great option for weddings and families. www.caribclub.com


 With pristine sand comes some great ideas for getting that sand off your toes after the ceremony ....

Cayman islands is one of the few islands without a waiting period for a  marraige license, so if you are so inclined to Elope - this is the perfect spot for that, as well.

Vintage Inspired Weddings

Brides find inspiration from movies, magazines, tv shows and celebrities. When Blake Lively was recently married in South Carolina, that vintage inspired wedding fueled the trend even more.

Ceremonies are filled with romance.  Rose petals and mason jars suspended from wooden chairs line the aisles.  Wooden benches are being used to create eclectic seating.  For evening ceremonies, we love to highlight the ceremony area with uplighting and cross aisle lighting, giving the guests a sense of romance amongst the cover of darkness.

Keywords like Shabby Chic and Vintage seem to be the best way to convey these design concepts.  More and more  brides are asking for the eclectic look that defines their weddings. The use of chandeliers throughout the space, vintage china, lace runners and those rustic wooden tables are being used to create this look.  Many of us our scouring garage sales to find the unique elements that create a warm and inviting environment. I love the use of farm tables, they are just so wonderful and gives the designers a large area to create and design a conceptual array of eclectic  pieces.   

We are now seeing more vintage rental companies,  popping up all over the country.  Garage sale hunters now have competition from the brides.  Hardware stores cannot keep up with mason jars. Antique tea cups ,mismatched antique china, doilies, embroidered napkins, linen napkins, tea- stained lace, all are what is trending. Chalkboards and mirrors also define this style.We love to use antique furniture  to hold the large dispensers of sweet tea and ice cold lemonade.  Bundles of herbs  are being used to accent napkins.  

Carnival lights are now replacing bee lights inside and outside.  We had done a wedding

at a horse farm, and we suspended those lights from the barn to trees to create a canopy  of lights during cocktails.

The use of sign posts are now the way we guide  people from ceremony to reception or tell a story of the couples travels.

This trend lends itself well to DYI projects with the help of a good event planner. 

For more photographs of inspiration, visit www.elegantoccasions.com 

Gotham Hall Events

Gotham Hall ...Step Back in Time to  Experience the Grandeur of the City!

Gotham Hall the former headquarters of the Greenwich Savings Bank, Gotham Hall is a magnificent Art Deco ballroom with a seven-story-tall grand vaulted dome.



This is one of the many former banks, turned event space in the heart of Manhattan. Its seven story high glass dome ceiling, above its 10,000 square foot ballroom, surrounded by its grand Corinthian columns, gorgeous authentic marble, and u oval shape helps give Gotham Hall its warm, elegant feeling. Gotham Hall’s Main Ballroom, as well as, smaller side rooms including a Lounge, Mezzanine, and Oak Room.

This space will  only host one event at a time and the entire facility is used exclusively for your corporate gatherings, non-profit galas or social events.

Staged against the amazing turn-of-the-century architecture of the seven-story gilded Ballroom,  events will truly shine. Gotham Hall combines the style of Manhattan’s Broadway with the sophistication and tradition of New York’s finest architecture. The lighting of the venue is truly exceptional and takes the space from beautiful to outstanding.

For smaller, private gatherings, unwind in either of the oak paneled rooms, complete with fireplaces and private restrooms. Guests can enjoy cocktails on the mezzanine as they overlook the spectacular ballroom, or mingle in the lounge for a more intimate cocktail setting.

This room was built for Royalty. The ten foot tall brass doors of the foyer give way to reveal the heart of Gotham Hall, the Grand Ballroom. From fifty to twelve hundred guests, the Ballroom can host a wide variety of events including non-profit galas, corporate dinners, fashion shows, product launches, wine tastings, film and Broadway premieres, boxing matches, corporate meetings, trade expos, concerts, weddings, bar mitzvahs, television and movie shoots.

Gotham Hall Events

Step back in time and enjoy this truly amazing venue!!!

Landmark images

The Many Personalities of St. Barths!!

This unique gem of an island, is an island that one cannot compare to any island in the Caribbean.  St. Barth is a french island which creates a cosmopolitan European environment, unlike any other island in the Caribbean.  There are no casinos, no high rises and no all inclusives, but instead you will find red roofed
villas dotted along the hillside and small, chic hotels set along the beaches.  This charming island is known for its world class cuisine.

In order to reach this gem you must land in St. Maarten, which is the main gateway to St. Barth (the largest plane that can land in St. Barth is a 19 -seater). You can take the small charter plane or a ferry, which can transport you to the island.  The crossing by boat can take an average of 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the weather conditions and departure point of the ferry.

Since St. Barths is a French island, French is the official language of the island. However, English is widely spoken at the resorts, shops and restaurants.

What makes this island unique is the types of properties and restaurants that is is has to offer. You will find the five star luxury hotels from Eden Roc to Isle De France to a more relaxed vibe of  Le Plage at Tom Beach Hotel.  Le Plage is a fun, relaxing seaside restaurant, where you enjoy the beauty of the beach and
watch the planes land literally right over your heads (you can almost feel the wind as it passes by) and you can certainly hear them screeching of the tires as the plane touches down.  Or you can rent one of the many villas that dot the hillside and enjoy the beauty of island from your perch atop the sea.

Saint- Barths.com

There are over 80 restaurants ranging from beach side grilles and chic sidewalk cafes to gourmet dining rooms.The island of St Barths is known for its sophisticated yet casual restaurant scene. Caribbean Travel & Life magazine named it the culinary capital of the Caribbean.  From four star Relais & Chateaux rated dining at Isle De France, The Rock, and Victoria's, to harborside bistros and cafes like Boucanniers, Le Repair and the Wall House, to feet in the sand casual dining at La Plage and Do Brazil.

Saint-Barths.com