Spotlight on Seattle Weddings | Destination Wedding Inspiration Northwest Style
Photo Courtesy of A Beautiful Day Photography
Seattle weddings are everything a city wedding can and should be – but with more sexy, chic, energetic, historic and glam thrown in. Seattle has a diversity only few other big cities can offer. In the very heart of Seattle’s sophistication lies a more »
Sexy City Escapes | Top Reasons to Dream of Romance in the City
Who says the city can’t be sexy? Think about it: Springtime in Paris. Summer in Sydney. New York at Christmas. A bustling metropolis can provide the perfect backdrop for a honeymoon or dreamy weekend retreat, anytime of year. Here’s our list of the world’s most sensual cities, along with a five-point plan for exploring their sweetest spots.
New York
It’s known as the city that never sleeps, and for good reason. From hip restaurants, bars and shops to spectacular musicals, art shows and historic landmarks, The big Apple promises excitement around the clock.
- Have brunch at Sarabeth’s, a NYC staple(sarabethscps.com). The restaurant has a quirky bistro feel, and the food is fantastic. Go early, as the place fills up fast.
- Cuddle together during a horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park, past famous Strawberry Fields, Sheep Meadow, Bethesda Fountain and the many lush gardens.
- Take in panoramic city views from the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Dazzle your date with dinner at The Sea Grill, overlooking the ice rink at Rockefeller Center (212.332.7610,theseagrille.com), followed by one of your favorite Broadway shows: The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Chicago or Phantom of the opera (800.276.2329,broadway.com).
- Sip wine at Louis (louis649.com). The owner handpicks all of the wines at this intimate bar, and is on hand to pour them most nights. Plus therer’.s always fabulous jazz playing, often live-not surprising, considering the place is named for Louis Armstrong.
Paris
With epic landmarks set amid a hub of fashion, fine dining and arts, the City of light presents opportunities for l’amour at every corner.
- Venture to charming Ile Saint-Louis in the heart of Paris, home to cute café boutique shops and superb restaurants and nightclubs.
- French kiss on a bridge overlooking La Seine, then walk along the riverbank and take in the artists and street vendors coloring the scene.
- Bring romance to its absolute heights with dinner at Jules Verne on the second floor of Tour Eiffel (tour-eiffel.fr).
- Take a train to stunning Chateau de Versaille (www.chateauversailles.fr). Be sure to bring some wine, cheese and baguettes to nibble on while exploring the lush grounds.
- Stroll through Jardin du Luxemburg, among the most romantic parks in Paris.
Sydney
Built around one of the world’s most striking harbors, the Australian metropolis tempts couples with its sandy beaches, laidback vibe, cultural attractions and endless adventure.
- Savor the city’s most famous landmarks from its highest point, the Sydney Tower. Your ticket to the top includes an OzTrek virtual adventure ride across Australia(sydneytoweroztrek.com.au). Intrepid couples can also sign up for a Skywalk, a glass-floored viewing platform that extends over the towers’ edge (sydneyskywalk.com.au).
- Walk under water to discover 11,500 aquatic animals at the Sydney Aquarium(sydneyaquarium.com.au).
- Wine and dine at Aria, rated one of the city’s best eateries (61.2.9252.2555,ariarestaurant.com). From here, you’ll enjoy unobstructed vistas of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, both Aussie icons.
- Take a coastal walk from bondi beach to Coogee, exploring four of Sydney’s beaches along the way. Bluff-side trails offer exceptional views, and there are plenty of places to stop for a drink or fish-and-chip picnic by the sea.
- Stop by Pizza Mario Republic in Surry Hills, where a father-and-son duo cooks up authentic Napoletana pizza (61.2.933.3633) using buffalo mozzarella from Campania, San Marzano tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and Italian flour. The Salamino (house-cured spicy sausage, mozzarella, parmesan and ricotta) is one of many treats.
Cape Town
South Africa’s cultural portal, the seaside city captivates couples not just with its stunning scenery and intriguing past, but with a growing number of great bars and eateries, renowned vineyards, brand-new spas and, of course, exotic wildlife.
- A cable-car ride to the top of Table Mountain (www.tablemountain.net) promises awe-inspiring vistas of the city as well as views of Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, the two flanking mountain ranges.
- Savor a sundowner at Polana, a restaurant literally built on the rocks. Cushioned windowsills overlook the beachfront of Kalk Bay and the Atlantic beyond.
- Taste excellent Chardonnays and Pinotages in nearby Cape Town winelands, including Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. At Spier Wine Estate, you can get close and personal with cheetahs (spier.co.za).
- Book a day of indulgence at African-inspired Spa at Cape Grace, then continue the pampering with dinner at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Onewaterfront (capegrace.com).
- See the big 5, including the rare white lion, just three hours from Cape Town at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve (www.sanbona.com).
Buenos Aires
The Argentinean capital sparkles with passion and culture. Beyond the music, the architecture, the arts and the restaurants, you’ll find tranquil parks, colorful markets and charming, cobblestoned neighborhoods.
- Visit MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamerica de Buenos Aires,www.malba.org.ar) and stay for lunch at its chic caf̩ Рthe food is to die for, especially the burrata, a decadent fusion of mozzarella and cream.
- Spend an afternoon in Jardin Botanico Carlos Thais, an enchanting garden filled with twisting pathways, babbling brooks, statues and exotic flora and fauna.
- Following a Mediterranean-style dinner at De Olivas I Lustres (54.11.4867.3388) in the quiet neighborhood of Palermo Viejo, walk hand in hand through cobblestone streets lined with enormous, 100-year-old oaks.
- Discover the passion of tango during a lesson at Escuela Argentina de Tango, inside GalerÃas PacÃfico shopping mall (54.11.4312.4990;eatango.org).
- Share a nightcap at Bar Uriarte in Palermo Soho (54.11.4834.6004), a gorgeous bar offering two-for-one Champagne until 10 p.m. all week long.
By Isabelle Gullö
Destination Wedding Beauty Inspiration | Combatting Jet Lag for Wedding Day Glow
So you’ve chosen your ideal destination wedding location. No matter where it is, if it involves a flight or two, you may be traveling across time zones and having to combat what all travelers know too well: jet lag. As a bride wanting to look her best, a destination wedding can be romantic but can wreak havoc on your skin as dried out, pressurized cabins suck the moisture right out and lack of activity doesn’t allow proper blood circulation to keep skin looking plumped up and full of life. So what’s a girl to do? Here are our top tips for helping to “cope” with (or help minimize) jet lag and stay on top of your wedding day beauty regime in the meantime.
1. Take care of yourself before you fly. Excercise and hydrate with lots of water. Avoid Caffeine. Try ever so gradually to set your schedule to the time zone of the location to which you will be flying.
2. Take care of yourself in flight. Do not wear foundation or lipstick when you fly – it dries out your skin. Bring moisturizer and apply frequently. If you have oily skin, it may go into overdrive to over-compensate for the dryness in the cabin. Use oil-blotting strips made to help keep oily skin in control while in flight. Keep lips kissing-soft with a lip balm. Drink lots of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Don’t allow the air vent to blow on you for long periods of time while flying and don’t continually touch your face. Hands carry bacteria and you don’t want to encourage last minute break-outs before your big day. Get up and move around to keep limbs from getting stiff and to keep blood circulating.
3. Take care of yourself when you arrive. Do not go to sleep until it’s bedtime in the local timezone you are in. If possible, find the sun and put yourself in it. Research has shown that putting your face and body in the sunshine for about 10-15 minutes helps to reset your body clock more quickly and naturally. Finally, make sure you don’t schedule to much to do when you first arrive. Give yourself some time to rest, sleep and adjust. There is nothing more beautifying than proper sleep.
Happy Wedding Day Beauty.
Here’s to glowing!
Destination Wedding Inspiration | Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Packing Tips
Destination Wedding | Packing Tips
Whether your destination wedding has turned into a weddingmoon or you are going on your honeymoon to the Caribbean , Europe or India, there are some top packing tips to help you shed the baggage, keep things simple and focus on what really matters: a good time and each other. Here are three simple tips to “pack” a punch (instead of “packing” clutter) in maximizing memories of a lifetime:
Travel Light: Use a carry-on whenever possible and don’t check your luggage. Check on your airline’s policies but travelling with a carry-on could also save you from hefty baggage fees. With our last two packing tips below, a carry-on should be all you need. Remember that carry-on liquids/gels have to be no more than 3oz each, in clear plastic bottles and sealed in a ziploc bag. And it’s no more than 1 bag per passenger. Deciding to use soaps and shampoos that the hotel at your destination provides can eliminate the necessity to pack many toiletries.
Do a Trial Packing Run one week in advance of your trip. Lay out everything to see how it is going to fit so you can make adjustments.
Pack Light. What’s the secret of celebrities who are on the go? They don’t travel with trunks and trunks of clothes and shoes. They edit. They know their style well enough, they pare down. Experts say to choose no more than 4 outfits that can mix and match and go from casual to dressy and then focus on accessorizing. The accessorizing can make one outfit look entirely different. Choose clothing that can be hand-washed in a hotel sink if necessary and if you are going away for 30 days, you don’t need 30 days worth of underwear. Pack 15 and plan to do a light laundry in your bathroom sink on day 14 or 15 and line dry your items. Every bit of space is crucial and you will rarely use everything you think you will.