Wedding Resorts, All Inclusive Wedding Resorts, Couples Resorts, by The Roads Less Taken, Inc.

HIDDEN SECRETS ^and PERSONAL FAVORITES

- An Insider's Viewpoint - For Destination Weddings -

ALL DESTINATION WEDDINGS OFFERED BY RLT ARE RECOGNIZED AS LEGAL IN THE U.S.A.

"ADULTS ONLY" designation means the resort allows singles and couples - no children. These resorts are best for couples who plan to have friends and family (not all couples) attend the wedding.

"COUPLES ONLY" designation means no singles or children (in most cases only one king-sized bed in a room). These resorts are best for couples who don't plan to have friends and family in attendance or whose friends and family are all couples. The One Exception to this rule is at Sandals Ocho Rios Golf Resort ... where couples, singles and children (16 and over) can stay across the street from this resort (at Beaches Grande Sport) and receive a free wedding-day pass to attend the ceremony at Sandals Ocho Rios.

IF THERE IS A CHILD YOU WISH TO HAVE AT YOUR WEDDING ... in any number of instances RLT can get a resort's General Manager to approve a child (usually over 2 years of age) to attend or participate in a wedding ceremony at an "Adults Only" or "Couples Only" resort. If allowed to be at the wedding, the child may only be on property for the ceremony and must depart immediately thereafter. RLT often provides "family-friendly" resorts for these families with children and wedding-passes to allow the family on property for the wedding. The decision and permission to allow a child on property is at the sole discretion of the resort's General Manager and may be influenced by time-of-year, property occupancy levels and other special circumstances at the resort.

RLT CHOICES FOR THE BEST WEDDING RESORTS
These RLT selections are based on personal observations and feed-back from dozens of couples married at these resorts. Our choices are STRICTLY subjective and represent only personal views and opinions of RLT staff and a cross-section of our travelers.

BEST NEARLY FREE WEDDINGS

#1 COUPLES SWEPT AWAY
(Adults Only)
Negril, Jamaica (7-Mile Beach)
$200 Basic Wedding Administrative Fee

#2 MOON PALACE RESORT & SPA
(Family Resort)
Riviera Maya, Mexico
$150 Approximately Cost of Administrative Fee

#3 AVENTURA SPA PALACE RESORT
(Adults Only)
Riviera Maya, Mexico)
$150 Approximately Cost of Administrative Fee

#4

BEST FOR A FEE WEDDINGS

#1 THE WAKAYA CLUB
(ADULTS ONLY)
Viti Levu's Outer Islands, Fiji
From at $3,000 to about $6,000

At First Glance ... Simply the very best and most memorable wedding package we know of! For the money (actually at twice the money) this is the stuff your dreams will be made of ... for the rest of your life!

Logic ... The resort is a very high-end, luxury, exclusive property ... and so is the wedding ... need someone to escort you down the isle? These weddings include the services of the Village Chief who is more than pleased to escort you!

Warm & Fuzzy Quotient ... a 10+ out of 10 ... the quintessential South Pacific Resort - only the very best of the best. Weddings ARE recognized in the USA and include marriage license, choice of wedding site, floral decorations and bridal bouquet, the ceremony and officiant (a minister or Justice of the Peace), a Fijian choir for the ceremony, Fijian attendants (2 flower girls in native dress), the Wakaya Village Chief, a champagne reception followed by a gourmet dinner, wedding cake, and the Wakaya Island Band Boys (ukulele and guitar ensemble).

RLT Notes ... The Wakaya Club fulfills the great South Pacific romantic legend better than any resort we have ever visited - it's just that simple! The wedding is small, simple, very elegant and nothing less than spectacular - and you can be married in the Village Church or On The Beach. Great photography and videography are also available (making this wedding approach the $6,000 end of the cost).

#2 ROYAL PLANTATION - THE ROYAL WEDDING
(ADULTS ONLY)
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Cost: Starting at $1050

At First Glance ... A quiet escape ... more reserved nightlife ... great service and a really "done right" wedding with steel band and all.

Logic ... A great location for weddings with SINGLES and COUPLES attending and wanting to stay on the same property. Suites Only ( with even the lowest category of room an Oceanfront Junior Suite with an oceanview ! ) with 24-hour room service, mini-bars and a staff with a great attitude and serving only 84 guest suites ... more sophisticated than other Sandals/Beaches Resorts with a superior European Spa.

Warm & Fuzzy Quotient ... a 9 out of 10 ... a quintessential Caribbean Resort - small and quaint - drink & snack service on the beach - no disco, just dancing on the verandah to nightly combos ... great attitudes starting from General Manager and working on down the chain of command.

Other Benefits ... 100% access and all-inclusive use of Sandals Dunn's River (best swim-up bar pool), Sandals Ocho Rios (best landscaping and Martini Bar) and Beaches Grande Sport (best low-key nightclub, mountain bike trail, rock-climbing wall). Use of Sandals Golf & Country Club (Greens Fees Included). Transportation and transfers by resort's own Mercedes Minivan ... no other Sandals or Beaches guests have exchange privileges to use this resort.

RLT Notes ... We feel Unique Vacations made a mistake when they attached this very chic resort to the "BEACHES" brand name (most often associated with a "family resort") instead of the "SANDALS" name. In our opinion this, to date, is the finest of all the Sandals & Beaches Resorts.

#3 LADERA RESORT
(ADULTS ONLY)
Soufriere, Southern St. Lucia
Cost: Starting at $900.00

At First Glance ... Great, romantic location for a couple wanting a special wedding experience, either without other guests or just one or two other couples attending. A sophisticated boutique hotel with only 27 suites and villas ... this resort has been selected as 1 of the Top 10 Small Hotels In The World (by Conde Nast Travel) and 1 of the 10 Best Romantic Spots in the Caribbean (by Caribbean Travel & Life).

Logic ... This is truly a Romantic Getaway ... set into the mountainside of St. Lucia's Pitons and overlooking the Caribbean Sea ... nearly every suite or villa has its own private plunge pool ... and romantic view.

Warm & Fuzzy Quotient ... a 10 out of 10 ... all the suites and villas only have THREE WALLS with the 4th being open to the mountain breezes and a view of the Caribbean ... and yet, the design of this resort allows for complete privacy for each guest. Nights are simple with the "most exciting" element being a Monday night managers cocktail party with music and dancing, and the Tcholit Bar, which is always hopping.

Other Benefits ... "Dasheene" is an award-winning restaurant on property and recognized as one (if not "the") finest restaurant in St. Lucia.

RLT Notes ... Great for small intimate weddings ... Ladera does NOT have a "no children" policy HOWEVER the property DOES DISCOURAGE children do to the open-wall designs of the suites and the potentially dangerous terrain.