Is it just us, or does the cold winter weather have you planning approximately 100 beach vacations? Or, even better, planning a tropical destination wedding in paradise? We had the amazing opportunity to partner with and visit the absolutely spectacular Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and learn how this property is the picture perfect choice for a Destination wedding. We’ve talked about Aruba on the blog before and why it’s such an ideal spot for the most romantic day of your life, and I think we have found the perfect venue to host your dream wedding. There’s a state of the art spa, amazing dining options and of course the breathtaking waters of Aruba as your backdrop. Our partner Elizabeth from Elizabeth Austin Photography has all the deets on why The Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is the perfect pic for your wedding & honeymoon:
When I was getting married, I wanted to have a destination wedding. I’m from Cleveland Ohio so I wanted something the complete opposite in terms of weather. My husband and I decided that we would have our wedding in his hometown, Freeport on Grand Bahama Island in The Bahamas. It just didn’t make sense for me to have my wedding anywhere outside of the Bahamas because my husband is Bahamian. Now that I am a wedding photographer and I’ve traveled to many Caribbean islands to shoot weddings, I have to say Aruba by far is my favorite. Here are five reasons why you should plan your destination wedding in Aruba.
1.) The Weather is perfect just around all year round.
This is not a joke its perfect! You come all the way to this beautiful island, of course, you want your ceremony outside, but that doesn’t mean Mother Nature is going to cooperate. Trust me I know! I remember checking the weather every other day when I was getting married. My ceremony was outside and I didn’t love our back up location inside. It was a risk it could have rains. Aruba is a special place because is outside of the hurricane belt. It’s a very unique island where half of it is the desert and the other half are beautiful beaches. There are trade winds so the island always a cool breeze coming around it. You’re more likely to have a beautiful sunset on your wedding day than rain.
2.) Let have some fun!
OK let’s be honest, you’re considering having a destination wedding because you want to have fun! You want to be at the beach with your family and your friends and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with the lack of activities on the island! You’re getting the best of both worlds! Aruba it’s a desert island, half of it is beaches. If you want to spend the day snorkeling you can! I had the opportunity to do a morning snorkeling cruise with De Palm Tours. It took us to three different spots to see a shipwrecked and coral reefs. They provide lunch and have good music, open bar, just overall a good time and a great way to see the island from the water! If you decide you want to go out on sunset and have a relaxing cruise around the island, they have that option as well! Let’s talk about the other half of the island, the desert! Am I the only one person that didn’t know Aruba was a desert island? Like with sand dunes, Looks like you’re in Arizona but surrounded by water, Real-life desert? lol If you’re a little bit more adventurous and looking for an adrenaline rush, there is nothing better than going on a UTV! I can’t really put into words how drastically different from the other side of the island is. The Aruba Marriott Resort also arrange two very cool experiences, a mixology and sushi making class! Learning how to craft a killer cocktail and mouth watering sushi? Honestly what could be better?
3.) Your Family won’t miss out
One of my personal regrets about having a Destination wedding is my grandmother could not attend. Even if we had our wedding in the state she wouldn’t have been able to come. Unbeknownst to us, she was entering some the last days of her life and being mobile just let wasn’t an option. The Aruba Marriott Resort has this really cool new feature where they will stream your wedding for you so that your family and friends at home won’t miss out and can live in that moment with you. Having a designated person take over this responsibility is peace of mind that you won’t regret!
While I was there, I had the opportunity to launch this Live Stream service (which you can view on our Facebook here!). The ceremony and reception were amazing. LETZ Aruba provided an ornate ceremony arch, Shar’s Flower Shop had jaw-dropping floral arrangements, W Cakes wowed with the cake (pictured above), Elite Productions lit up the dance floor with over-the-top sparklers at the reception, and the lighting was phenomenal from Bistro Lighting and Staging. Take a look at a few of the photos from the wedding below.
4.) Luxury Resort
While on my stay in Aruba, I got to explore the Marriott Resort. The decor of the hotel is absolutely beautiful. It’s not one of those hotels were you get to the rooms and it looks like a totally different place. The rooms are just as updated as the lobby. I was very impressed with the options that they provided brides. From a welcome party in the lobby with the mixologist class for your guest ( you have to try their Hibiscus Margarita!) to a beautiful sunset rehearsal dinner at Atardi on the beach, you can pretty much customize your day anyway that you would like! You could have yoga on the beach with your bridesmaids or make sushi with your new hubby. Or, just grab yourself a Hibiscus Margarita at the pool and just relax!
5.) The people of Aruba are wonderful
I think this is my biggest take away from Aruba. Everyone was friendly and nice, it felt so genuine. I got to meet a lot of the different staff at the hotel and even explored on my own. The overall hospitality I received I will forever be grateful for and I have already made plans to return for my anniversary next year! So you have your guest come all the way to this beautiful island just know you won’t be disappointed! They call it “One Happy Island” for a reason!
