Destination Weddings
These hotels not only provide the space and service for a destination wedding, they also offer a truly memorable experience for you and your guests, writes Nick Ferguson
Breathtaking locations that will make your wedding all the more spectacular
PARK HYATT SYDNEY SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
With incredible views of the Sydney Opera House, one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, the Park Hyatt in Sydney is a quintessentially Australian venue—and guaranteed to provide a lasting memory for you and your guests. It’s not just about the great views, however. This is a hotel that lives up to its world-class location, with 155 luxurious rooms and suites decked out in rich layers of chocolate, cream and beige hues, complemented by specially commissioned art from prominent Australian creatives. Plus, the hotel’s three dining locations, each looking out to the opera house and harbour, showcase premium Australian produce, local wines and craft beers. There aren’t many hotels in the world that offer an uninterrupted view of a Unesco World Heritage site as a backdrop to a wedding ceremony—and even fewer that can also deliver a true five-star experience in the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities. The Park Hyatt Sydney’s wedding venues can cater for an intimate gathering of 70 guests at The Guest House to a larger celebration of up to 120 people at The Gallery. There’s also a wedding planning team that advises on theme, design, presentation and style. The Guest House has an exclusive show kitchen and a private outdoor terrace on the harbourfront. There is also an official hotel florist and audio-visual experts on site. Plus, the wedding team can provide a civil celebrant and a recommended photographer for your special day.
The hotel is located in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and next to historic district The Rocks, so it’s in an excellent spot to enjoy the city. There is plenty for your guests to do within easy reach of the hotel, like the knee-trembling ‘climb’ to the top of the historic bridge for the best view in the city. They can also take a tour of the nearby cobbled neighbourhood streets and roam Rocks Markets for street food and handmade fashions. The Museum of Contemporary Art is also just down the road. The ferries at nearby Circular Quay provide easy access to some of the city’s best spots—Cockatoo Island, the beach at Manly, the Parramatta River, Watsons Bay and Double Bay. Darling Harbour, another popular tourist spot, is a short cab ride away.
ANDAZ SINGAPORE SINGAPORE
A relative newcomer, the five-star Andaz Singapore offers a fresh take on the lifestyle boutique hotel. The first Andaz hotel in Southeast Asia, which opened at the end of 2017, boasts a breathtakingly modern design thanks to interior architect André Fu, who drew inspiration from the local surroundings to create organic, fluid spaces with warm russet and mustard tones. Located in the upper floors of Duo, a striking pair of skyscrapers designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, the 342-room hotel towers over Singapore’s Kampong Glam district. In homage to the neighbourhood below, Andaz has brought the city’s street dining culture to its elevated locale, with five alleyway shophouses serving a variety of local food and beverages, from barbecued snacks and noodles to shaved ice, at its unique dining concept located on the 25th floor, Alley on 25. In the rooms, floor-to-ceiling windows frame impressive views of Marina Bay, Raffles Place and the sea.
The Andaz brand’s commitment to reflecting local cultures and communities makes it perfect for couples who want to showcase Singapore as part of their wedding celebration. The entire third floor is an alleyway-inspired events venue with four event spaces, comprising two ballrooms and two smaller studios. The Glasshouse is a unique glass-box ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. It is the only venue of its kind and size in Singapore and can host up to 280 guests, while the Garden Studio is a more intimate space with an adjoining outdoor terrace and space for 100 guests. For a totally different experience, the top-floor Mr Stork bar offers 360-degree views over Singapore and is perfect for a private ceremony.
‘Andaz’ is a Hindi word meaning ‘personal style’ and the hotel stands by its name as it provides a host of tailored wedding experiences. Packages include a choice of ‘wishes,’ such as floral table centrepieces created by local experts, a cake bar and specially designed invitations. Also, as the hotel is part of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, you can earn free honeymoon nights at Hyatt locations across the globe. Spend a minimum of US$10,000 to earn at least two free nights, with an extra free night for every additional US$10,000 you spend.
The best thing about hosting a destination wedding in Singapore is not having to worry about your guests being bored. The Andaz is well situated in the heart of all the fun. The nearby Bras Basah Bugis and Little India neighbourhoods are steeped in rich Indian and Malay heritage, while both the national museum and art gallery are a short walk away. The popular tourist spots of Marina Bay and Boat Quay are also just quick cab rides down the road. For guests who are staying for a while, Singapore is their oyster. Follow the Night Safari at the city zoo, explore the island resort of Sentosa, take a trip to the pretty island of Pulau Ubin or just spend days wandering this fascinating city.
GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO LAKE COMO, ITALY
Grand Hotel Tremezzo has been delighting visitors to northern Italy’s Lake Como for more than a century. An art nouveau landmark in a prized lakeside position, it offers stunning views across the water to the village of Bellagio and the Grigne mountains. From the moment you arrive, it immediately impresses with its immaculate gardens and sumptuous lobby. The building boasts 91 rooms and suites, including the Suite Greta, which is named after 1930s Hollywood icon Greta Garbo, who was a regular guest during her heyday. However, the rooftop suites offer the most spectacular experiences, with 180-degree views of the riviera, terraces with Jacuzzis and luxurious modern design throughout. An idyllic wedding venue, the hotel offers a range of options for hosting every aspect of your celebration. La Terrazza is a versatile open-air terrace restaurant that can host up to 60 seated guests for a wedding reception or cocktails, providing unbeatable views of the lake and Bellagio. It can be enclosed in glass on cooler days. More traditional function spaces can be found indoors however, with the grand Sala Regina and more intimate Sala Contessa, which can accommodate up to 100 and 40 seated guests respectively for lunch or a traditional wedding supper. T Beach, the only private beachfront on Como, is perfect for cocktails and sunset parties—and you and your guests can arrive at the hotel by boat. Then L’Escale Trattoria & Wine Bar even hosts after-wedding parties.
The venue is enclosed by a spacious park that affords limitless backdrops for photographs among its ancient magnolias, hedges of rhododendron and beds of hydrangea—as well as, of course, in front of that majestic lake. In addition to the hotel, there are neighbouring properties that can
accommodate your guests—and there is a host of other hotels in the area too.
Lake Como has been a tourist destination since the days of poet William Wordsworth in the 18th century, a time when wealthy Europeans would take extended ‘grand tours’ to see the continent’s highlights. Today, the lake continues to attract the rich and famous due to its peaceful, natural beauty and charming lakeside villas—the most famous of which, Villa Carlotta, neighbours the hotel and is a popular tourist destination in its own right.
Touring the lake and its villas and villages is a perfect way for wedding guests to spend their time—but they do not need to venture far to enjoy the Como experience. From the grounds of the Tremezzo, they can follow the Panoramic Path that winds gently up the hill to enjoy views over the hotel’s gardens and down to the lake beneath. The Tremezzo is also home to three swimming pools— one of them floats on the lake— as well as a clay tennis court.