The Tides Riviera Maya, Mexico

Mexico is known as a great place to host any wedding. My favorite spots in Mexico include Los Cabos or the Playa del Carmen region. Two weeks ago I had a lovely couple host their wedding at a property called The Tides Riviera Maya. It is also a great location because it's an easy place for guests to get to. Many airlines service CUN (Cancun International Airport).

This Mayan inspired boutique resort is surrounded by tropical foliage. There is a path that leads guests to a reading area, a painting area, and a writing area, each located in it's own spot that offers peace and quiet. Guests have their own cassitas with a plunge pool, an indoor shower, an outdoor shower, and many things that really make you appreciate nature.

Although this is a small resort, because it's spread out, there is a great feeling of having your own space. Ideally if you are having 60-80 guests, I'd

encourage you buy out the property by taking over all of 32 cassitas.

The wedding recently hosted there had welcome cocktails around the Tequila Bar, rehearsal dinner on the beach, and cocktails and reception around the beautiful pool overlooking the beach. This resort also offers many options of places to have your ceremony, depending on the number of guests. The Tides also offers activities like a Mayan Cooking Class or a Tequila tasting event.

I would have to say my favorite thing about this resort was the natural beauty of it. Surrounded by the lush jungle, it offers a sense of calmness that is hard to find. It is very eco-friendly, which I still find to be a trend that many couples look for. The food was amazing. The staff was impeccable and always willing to help you with anything. Coming from New York City, there is a certain pace New Yorkers have. Being at The

Tides, I found the communication among the staff themselves was great. If someone couldn't give you an answer, they had "secret-service" style walkie-talkies and would get in touch with someone who could help.

Overall, if you are looking for an eco-friendly boutique resort that leaves your guests with a lasting impression, this place should be considered!

Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos

Most brides and grooms have a hard time picking locations due to flight patterns, but with Turks and Caicos, many airlines fly into Provinciales. Another great thing is that from the New York area the flight is about 3 hours.

When I arrived at Grace Bay Club, in Provinciales, Turks and Caicos, I was greeted with cold towels and rum punch. I was then introduced to my personal concierge. With personal concierge, you receive a local phone that connects you with your personal concierge at any time. This is something very special about Grace Bay Club.

Fuchsia, purple, and red Bougainvillea bushes surround this beachfront property. The beach is great to host your ceremony, cocktails and even dinner.The Grace Bay Club offers an extremely relaxing atmosphere.

My favorite spot on property is a multi-tiered lounge area with a great fire pit. At night it offers such a romantic scene with the fire pit on and tons of wooden lanterns hanging around.

This is in the same area as Grace Bay Club’s famous infinity bar that has a great view of the sunset.

Everything from the food, to the scenery, to the staff is great at Grace Bay Club. I’ve been around the world, and it’s hard to find a place that knows how to make every guest feel important, but not for Grace Bay Club.

Anguilla

Within the Caribbean, there are places that are so beautiful that you may think it’s a secret. Anguilla is definitely the hidden jewel of the Caribbean. As part of the British West Indies, Anguilla is about a 30-minute flight, east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. People usually fly into St. Martin and can a 30-minute take a boat to Anguilla. The island is 16 miles from end to end and a little more than 35 square miles in all, but this little island packs in over 30 beaches to tempt sun lovers, snorkelers, sailors, and scuba divers.

Anguilla offers an amazing resort known as Cap Juluca. It has many villas that were recently redecorated. I have done many weddings here and everything from the food to the staff is always great! Cap Juluca has everything from tennis courts to water sports to some fantastic restaurants right in its facilities.

This island has the best beaches I’ve ever seen. The sand is literally like white sugar. It’s soft on your feet and it glistens in the sun. Hosting a ceremony on the beach is absolutely amazing. On this island, there are also some of my favorite restaurants including Blanchards, which has wonderful island cuisine that has also been made into an amazing cookbook. There is also a local beachfront restaurant called Mango’s and fits about 100 people. This is a great option for rehearsal dinner or even a reception. They serve a variety of foods; I would say that it’s International cuisine.

Even though this island is smaller than most, it offers a luxurious and relaxing atmosphere that attracts many brides and grooms.

Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Jamaica

Jamaica is a country that offers not only a beautiful culture, but also has amazing sites to host your wedding. Round Hill Hotel and Villas is located on a bluff in Montego Bay. Guests may choose from oceanfront rooms in the Pineapple House (36 rooms) or 27 privately owned two, three, four and five bedroom villas. Most villas have a private pool. The villas also have a personal gardener and maid.

Round Hill is not just any other hotel in Jamaica. The décor is truly relaxing and “Old English” with a hint of old Hollywood. Ralph Lauren, who also vacations at Round Hill, inspired the design. Near the cocktail bar area of the resort there are black and white photos of people like Grace Kelly and even Jacqueline Kennedy vacationing there.


This quiet resort offers a fabulous spa with a pool that sits above the lawn overlooking the ocean. The lawn is an ideal spot for hosting a ceremony. Cocktails may even be hosted around the pool.

There are plenty of options of sties to host any of your parties. The beach can be a great spot for host rehearsal dinner with an amazing buffet and even a bonfire. My favorite spot to host rehearsal or reception can be on the beautiful patio, known as the Seaside Terrace (outside) or the Georgian Room (covered). Another one of my favorite spots to host the rehearsal or reception is lighting this outside stairway with candles that leads to the Dining Terrace (outside) or the Hanover Room (covered) which offers a breath-taking few of the sunset.


Round Hill also offers one of my favorite things: Tea Time. Your guests can enjoy scones and a variety of quality teas while enjoying the serenity of this resort.

This boutique-like resort is charming and accommodating for any of your events!



For more information visit www.elegantoccasions.com

Savor The Tastes From The Sugar Mill

Located right outside the walls of Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, there is one the best restaurants on the island, The Sugar Mill. As a part of the Half Moon Resort, The Sugar Mill not only offers a history lesson but also serves fantastic food. Upon arrival, you are greeted at the foot of this gigantic waterwheel “…that powered the 50,000 acres of the Running Gut sugar estate spreading from Rose Hall in the east to Little River in the west.”

Built in the 17^th century, this once sugar plantation is a fabulous option for a couple to host rehearsal dinners or even receptions, depending on the number of guests. You have the option to use main dining area that holds 140 persons.

On the lawn, in front of the waterwheel, you can entertain your guests as well. The Sugar Mill also offers the upper field-stone terrace. This area sits above the waterwheel and looks fantastic with long tables (as pictured in this article). The terrace offers an intimate setting that looks magical and easily seats fifty people.

My favorite meal offered here is the flaming shish kabob. It’s a freestanding shish kabob on a large skewer that includes meat and vegetables. When it arrives at your table, the server pours a flaming sauce on it. It is certainly entertaining and delicious!

This sugar plantation also shares land with the golf course where you can participate in “Night Golf.” This is truly an experience where you are given golf balls that are lit from within. The Sugar Mill also offers a tour of its wine cellar. Whether you are hosting a welcome cocktail party, a rehearsal dinner, or a reception, The Sugar Mill’s amazing food will captivate your taste buds!

For more information, visit http://www.elegantoccasions.com

Rafting down the Lethe River

After all the years I’ve been going to Jamaica, I recently returned with memories from one of the most amazing experiences. With about a 25-minute ride into the green mountains of Montego Bay, Jamaica, you reach an opening that leads you down sets of stairs to the Lethe River. This river runs about 2 miles long and also turns into the Great River.

When you arrive at the river, you see about 25 rafts. Each raft is handcrafted by your guide with bamboo and is about 10 ft long. Each raft has its own name as well! I boarded the Love Doctor and was pampered the entire way down the river.
My guide would park the raft along certain spots of the river, get out, run into the jungle, and return with things like limestone, flint rocks, Allspice, bamboo straws, and many more. In this situation, the guide used the limestone as a pumas stone and gave me a foot massage! He even climbed a tree to get a coconut, cut it open, and inserted the bamboo straw! These guides are quite fascinating men, and it’s amazing how much they know!



This experience is very similar to taking a gondola ride, except you are surrounded by lush greenery. It is an experience I definitely will suggest for wedding groups! It is relaxing, educational, and entertaining! Not to mention, after the rafting ride, you can setup rum tasting for your guests!

Just a friendly reminder, be sure to have tips on hand, as the guides surely deserve them!

One Love in Jamaica

When a bride closes her eyes and sees her wedding in a place with lush greenery, near a beach, and in a country filled with amazing Caribbean culture, I would suggest she goes to Jamaica. This is one of my favorite spots for destination weddings. Fifteen minutes from the International airport in Montego Bay, there is Half Moon Resort.

More than just a hotel, Half Moon is the perfect place for your guests to be entertained, yet still enjoy some rest and relaxation. Whether the wedding is two people or 500 people, Half Moon can accommodate your wedding. The Romance department and staff go above and beyond to help execute the wedding of your dreams!

With chic rooms and villas overlooking the beach or gardens, great options for dining, golf, and a fantastic spa, this 400-acre site can entertain an entire wedding weekend. One of my favorite things about Half Moon is the fact that it sits on so much land but still feels like a boutique hotel.

This resort can be at 100% in capacity and you will still feel you are the only person there! This intimate feeling is a great tone for weddings.

If anyone has been to Jamaica, you know that you fall in love with the culture more than anything else. From the food to the attitude of the people to the music, everything about Jamaica is truly amazing! I’ve been coming to Jamaica for 20 years and this country truly knows how to the throw a great party. How can you resist an island whose motto is “One Love?”