Are you dreaming of being a beach bride, but worried you’ll have to sacrifice style for a sandy setting simply because you can’t figure out how to ship a crystal chandelier or carry on the oversized gold ampersand photo prop?
Well, you can immediately stop being beach bummed as Karisma Hotels & Resorts recently introduced the Memorable Moments Signature Wedding Collection at its 12 all-inclusive properties in Jamaica and along Mexico’s Riviera Maya and the extremely customizable planning program allows couples to combine dramatic destinations, city-chic décor and on-trend touches. Think dulce de leche cakepops, mr. & mrs. chair signs, strands of sparkling beads, coral motifs and succulent-accented bouquets.
The types of venues vary from property to property and include whitewashed rooftops with panoramic views of surrounding trees and tides, oceanfront rustic chapels, romantic wooden piers, curtained pergolas planted in the sand, intimate private dining rooms and open-air poolside palapas. But Moments works the same no matter what ceremony and reception sites or which accommodations (adults-only El Dorado Resorts, family-friendly Azul Hotels and the all-suite Generations Resorts) you choose to utilize on the big day. The next step is choosing from one of the six themes: Coastal Bliss, Sophisticated Soiree, Vintage Elegance, Colonial Charm, Majestic Flair and Pure Glamour. Each motif has a coordinated color palette, ceremony and reception decor, dishware, linens, stationery (programs, menus, notecards), flower arrangements, bouquets and boutonnieres, shade lounges, aisle runners, music playlists, chef-created menus, signature cocktails and desserts in 14 flavors. The gourmet luxury chain also recently introduced an extensive partnership with California-based Jackson Family Wines, making private-label pairings an easily accomplished addition to any aspiring sommelier’s soiree. Ensure that your guests have sweet dreams by sending a thank-you/welcome note on your personalized stationery and dessert like chocolate-covered strawberries or a plate of milk and cookies to accompany the nightly turndown service.
Outside of this new offering, the staff and event coordinators can help you plan excursions to local sites, morning-after brunches, spa days, rehearsal dinners and on-site group activities like bike rides, couples massages in coastal cabanas and tours of the hydroponic El Dorado Royale Greenhouse, the region’s largest, where most of the vegetables, fruits and herbs used in their 59 restaurants, bars and at private events are grown. (Karisma earns karma points for donating any surplus ingredients to local orphanages and for offering produce at cost to employees.)
And the best part? When the “I dos” have been said, your legs are danced out and the guests have all gone home, you can slip off that gown, slip on a bikini and step outside to your swim-up porch to start the honeymoon phase.
Ceremony packages begin at $2,950 for 24 guests. Brides and grooms stay free during wedding. Three-night dress rehearsal weekends are available for $399 per couple in order to taste test dishes and desserts, meet local photographers and florists and view sites and decorations.
