Sunday, March 09, 2008
Life, Travel, In this Issue...
The new destination wedding
You love the idea of getting away to tie the knot—but not all the way to the Caribbean. Check out these five wedding hot spots all within five driving hours of Atlanta.
CREDIT:Courtesy of Serenbe
Bask in the glow of marriage in the country setting of Serenbe.
By Colleen Oakley
If you love Italy, try Montaluce Winery & Estates.
Picture this: You exchange vows on a small hillside while the sun is setting over acres of vineyards. Then your guests mingle over fine wine and nosh on proscuitto, aged parmesan and wood-fire pizzas prepared by a true Italian culinary genius. But you’re not in Tuscany, Toto. You’re in Dahlonega, Georgia, on a 400-acre estate complete with clusters of Tuscany-styled villages, a winery, a spa and a to-die-for Italian restaurant. Have a wedding with all the old-word charm and romance of Italy—and save the plane fare for your honeymoon.
How far from Atlanta: 1 ½ hours
Price range: $$$$
On the web: www.montaluce.com
If you love the mountains, try Brother’s Cove.
On your first date, your honey took you hiking to Amicalola Falls, and you two have been smitten with nature and each other ever since. Sounds like the perfect spot for you to say “I do” is standing next to a bubbling brook or in a unique log cabin chapel in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. At Brother’s Cove, all of your guests can stay in a community of luxurious log cabins and the kind staff will help you plan everything from the ceremony to the final dance of the night—to Rocky Top, of course.
How far from Atlanta: 4 ½ hours
Price range: $$
On the web: www.brotherscove.com
If you love the beach, try Daufuskie Island.
It’s “Gone With the Wind” meets the South Carolina coastline at Daufuskie Island, an upscale spa and resort in Hilton Head. Whether you choose to wed in front of an antebellum plantation home or with your bare feet in the sand, it’s guaranteed to be romantic. What the heck—throw in a horse-drawn carriage ride for effect. Scarlett would approve.
How far from Atlanta: 4 ½ hours
Price range: $$$$
On the web: www.daufuskieislandresort.com
If you love the country, try Serenbe.
Wild flowers, homemade sugar cookies, the soothing baaaah of sheep in the distance—it’s all reminiscent of a Country Time Lemonade commercial. But at Serenbe, that Hollywood-ized ideal comes to life. An upscale organic farming community at the very southern tip of Fulton County, Serenbe is a picture-perfect place for your nuptials. Get married in an open field, party in a gorgeously appointed pavilion by a small pond (while drinking sweet tea out of mason jars, of course), and then retire with your new spouse in an old farm house honeymoon suite with all the comforts of home.
How far from Atlanta: 45 minutes
Price range: $$$
On the web: www.serenbe.com
If you love being pampered, try The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynold’s Plantation.
Ritz has always been a synonym for super fancy, but when you add the addition of Lake Oconee, you’ve got something truly special. The Ritz at Reynold’s Plantation is just that—a beautiful venue for your wedding, with all the class and service you’ve come to expect from the Ritz. Plus, with a gold course, spa and the aforementioned lake, your guests will have their own mini-vacation to look forward to.
How far from Atlanta: 1 ½ hours
Price range: $$$$
On the web: www.ritzcarlton.com SP