Four Sustainable Weddings (and No Funeral!)
When my husband proposed to me, I had no idea that we would spend the next six months arguing over where and how to get married. He wanted low key: the registry office down the road. I wanted the same thing – a quiet, intimate ceremony – but I still wanted to honor our relationship and the commitment we were making to each other. And frankly, with a one-year old child, what we really wanted was a honeymoon à deux. So we ended up eloping to the Seychelles.
Wedding and honeymoon choices are as individual as the people who are getting hitched. To help the sustainably inclined couple, we have gathered a romantic collection of settings for every taste, so you don’t have to argue for six month like we did.
You’re welcome.
1. The Once-In-A-Lifetime Honeymoon – Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Peru
There is a lot of romance in visiting an ancient Inca site while taking in views of breathtaking structures like the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Moon, or the Inti Punku, amidst an incredible natural backdrop.
Walking the Inca Trail with your brand new spouse, followed by a relaxing Andean eucalyptus sauna and a dip in the star-lit plunge pool will create memories you will cherish forever.
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel offers guided nature tours (for any level) and they will make your honeymoon extra special. Inkaterra is committed to conserving the environment and running their hotels sustainably, so your newlywed conscience can be clear.
2. The Off-The-Beaten-Track Wedding – Keemala, Thailand
If you dream of a destination wedding set in a mystical forest with the sound of birds and waterfalls in the background, the Keemala in Thailand is going to be your happy place.
A collection of villas, each with its own pool, this unique resort is set in the rainforest of Kamala, away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream tourism. The wedding package includes champagne, a couple’s massage and mani-pedi treatments in the spa.
You have to see it to believe it; this place is truly magical. Deeply rooted in the traditions and philosophies of Thailand, the Keemala is authentic and takes care of its natural resources as well as its committed staff who will arrange your wedding down to the finest detail, whether you travel with a wedding party or just with your fiancée.
3. The Hills are Alive with Love – Hotel Leitlhof, Italy
If far-flung exotic places are not your thing, but you are considering the soundtrack of “The Sound of Music” for your wedding playlist, then consider the Leitlhof in South Tyrol for your fairy tale wedding and/or honeymoon.
The Sextner Dolomites as an impressive backdrop, and a hotel that will tick every box on your sustainable wedding checklist: this hotel is energy self-sufficient through the use of its own wood pellet fuelled power station. Ingredients used in the restaurant are locally sourced and organic, such as the lamb and sheep’s milk from the hotel owner’s son’s sheep farm nearby. The spa offers relaxing treatments, a panorama pool and an outdoor sauna.
This is the perfect place for a winter wonderland wedding, or a romantic summer wedding outdoors.
4. The Mindful Honeymoon – Marari Beach, India
For the mindful couple that wants to have daily yoga or a meditation session be part of their celebration of love, the Marari Beach in Kerala prides itself in the art of “undoing”. Here you can’t “relax” by watching TV, because there purposely isn’t one in your room (and let’s face it, who needs TV on their honeymoon!).
How about an aimless walk on a path strewn with wildflowers while holding your new spouse’s hand? Or learn to cook with Indian spices, to recreate romantic meals at home. Treat yourself to an energizing Kerala synchronized massage at the Ayurvedic Center. This is for the quiet romantics who want to get away from the rest of the world; the perfect place to enjoy each other’s company as newlyweds.
Now all that’s left is getting those invitations out (on recycled paper, mind you) and work on that registry. How about this for a special item on a destination wedding gift list: invite your guests to offset their carbon footprint! It gives the expression “Love is in the air” a whole new meaning.
