15 minute read
HONEYMOON NEWS
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
The award-winning Cottar’s Safaris comprises of three properties: Cottar’s 1920s Camp, The Bush Villa and The Conservation Camp – all located in the famous ‘seventh’ natural wonder of the world, the game rich Maasai Mara in Kenya.
Located on its own 7,608-acre private conservancy, Cottar’s 1920s Camp provides the romance of sleeping under canvas, incorporating the style of the safari experience. The camp comprises of nine en suite tents, two of which are unique honeymoon tents. Following an extensive refurbishment, one of the honeymoon tents has stunning new interiors rivalling a suite in size! It has two bathrooms, separate fire room, living and dining areas and bedroom with matching BauHausinspired 1920s walnut bur wardrobes and a huge four-poster bed. Private afternoon teas are served from original travelling trunks containing Victorian silver service tea sets. Experience the ‘bath of a lifetime’ and soak cares away in bespoke safari canvas baths, in a secluded open-air enclave, a perfect backdrop for a classic romantic safari sojourn.
For more information visit www.cottars.com
Idyllic destinations for when you can hop, skip and jump on to a plane again, along with some HONEYMOONNewsUK beauties for the ultimate staycation...
CLOSE TO HOME
Sark is the smallest of the Channel Islands and considered the jewel of them all. Already famous for several things; its unspoilt beauty, for having no cars and for being the world’s first Dark Skies Island, it now welcomes a new attraction. The tiny island is celebrating the imminent launch of its first community dairy.
From this June, no trip to this stunning rural island hideaway will be complete without meeting the 16 stunning Guernsey dairy cows, seeing the dairy parlour in action and picking up treats from the shop.
At the helm are dairy farmers Jason and Katharine Salisbury, who, with 20 years’ experience of looking after Channel Island dairy cows in Suffolk, harboured a longheld dream of running their own small artisanal farm in Sark. From 80 applicants worldwide the Salisburys bagged their dream job, combining authentic dairy farming with providing a delightful destination where you can visit and be charmed.
The island enjoys a variety of accommodation options from glamping to luxury hotels and everything in between. For self-catering the beautiful Clos a Joan rental cottages are a must-visit (www.sarkholidaycottages.co.uk) or, for a touch of honeymoon luxury, check out Stocks Hotel (www.stockshotel.com). For more information about this idyllic destination’s dairy trust visit https://sarkdairytrust.com
SUN, SEA AND SAND
Elivi Skiathos, the most high-end luxury hotel on the island of Skiathos, has new experiences for couples looking to plan a heavenly honeymoon or celebrate a special anniversary in 2021. The romantic experiences include private dinners on the beach, sunset cruises, private film screenings and in-suite spa treatments.
Spread across 213 acres, Elivi Skiathos is tucked away, perched on a verdant hilltop, in an area of natural beauty on the south-west of the island beside a wildlife refuge and with direct access to four of the island’s best beaches – a picturesque backdrop!
The hotel is separated into three distinct accommodation areas well spread-out across the vast acreage encompassing hilltopview rooms (also with views of the Aegean Sea), suites that sit directly on the beach and rooms, villas and suites which lay dotted amongst pine trees and olive groves.
Check out www.elivihotels.com
Something for...
...The Adventurer: Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, Seychelles has a new package, For Your Eyes Only, for couples who love exploring and are lusting after a long-haul adventure. Perched on the hilltops in north Mahé, the property is a great option for couples wanting romance, but with a touch of adventure, as there is a host of activities available on the hotel’s doorstep, including diving, hiking and exploring by mini-moke.
The resort offers private, treehouse-style villas, nestled amongst lush greenery and leading down to the waterfront. Only welcoming guests aged 13 and above, the hotel is ideal for those looking for the exclusivity and tranquility of an adults-focused destination.
Check out www.seychelles.hilton.com
...The Staycationer: Rediscover the capital post-lockdown at the five-star Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill in Marylebone. Perfect for overnight stays, gastronomic enthusiasts can indulge in afternoon tea, lunch and dinner in the renowned The Montagu Kitchen; then finish off the night with cocktails in The Churchill Bar & Terrace – a must-visit for cocktail connoisseurs! Such an indulgent stay is made complete by being ideally located in an exclusive part of central London, waking up to views of Portman Square, just a romantic stoll from Hyde Park and Marylebone Village.
Check out www.hyatt.com
...The Wellness Guru: Nana Princess, Crete. This five-star hotel boasts sleek interiors, sumptuous suites, private plunge pools, gyms and sauna/steam rooms, making it the ideal destination for a romantic, post-lockdown getaway. Nana Princess’ spa, The Royal Wellness Club, is a 1,400m² high-tech oasis offering everything from more classical treatments, such as Mediterranean candlelit massages to more advanced, innovative programmes. For those feeling the strain after lockdown, the recently launched Star Sign Spa Menu offers bespoke treatments based on guests’ zodiac sign - for example, if your partner’s an Aries, known to overthink and carry stress in their head area, the head massage with nourishing oils (including baobab, patawa, birch, soya and sesame) will help aid restoration and balance.
Check out www.nanaprincess.com
SERENE Cyprus
This idyllic island in the Mediterranean sea has it all: mountainous valleys, picture-perfect beaches and well-renowned traditional Cypriot cuisine. Here we showcase five locations for a post-wedding getaway...
CORAL BEACH HOTEL
Boasting six restaurants with cuisine inspired by the great culinary capitals of the world, the all-inclusive Coral Beach Hotel, near Paphos, Cyprus, is a mouth-watering holiday destination. The hotel is on a long stretch of sandy beach with its own private marina. The lush, landscaped gardens edge three wonderful outdoor pools, one with a waterslide, and there’s a poolside bar to quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day. There is also an indoor pool, gym, health spa, sauna and floodlit tennis courts. The creative juices can flow in the arts and crafts workshop, while a scuba diving school is a fantastic opportunity to experience a new hobby or add to your skills. The Coral Beach Hotel is a short walk from the shops, bars and restaurants of Coral Bay while Paphos Town is a drive away with its harbour and ancient ruins to explore. A jeep safari is another fun way to explore the Akamas Peninsular National Park which is home to loggerhead turtles.
Seven nights travelling September 2021 from £773pp, with flights from London Gatwick staying in a Mountain View Room on a B&B basis.
KING EVELTHON
Relax and enjoy knowing you have so much covered at the five-star all-inclusive King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort in Chloraka, near Paphos. Bright blue sea views and landscaped gardens provide an impressive backdrop to the lagoon-style pool and waterpark. Couples seeking to get away from it all will enjoy the adults-only pool. Live music, evening shows and dances can be enjoyed by day and into the evening. The hotel is on Chlorakas Beach, in a quiet setting west of Paphos, with the nearest shops and tavernas conveniently a short walk away. Historic Paphos Castle, as well as the ancient Tombs of Kings and beautiful Akamas peninsula are all in easy reach.
Seven nights travelling September 2021 from £1,060pp, with flights from London Gatwick staying in an Inland View room on an all-inclusive basis.
APHRODITE HILLS
Aphrodite Hills Holiday Residences Cyprus, offers an extensive range of luxury holiday homes. Set within an award-winning five-star Resort in Paphos, the luxurious villas and apartments offer a slice of high-end Cyprus life at its finest. Many of the properties overlook the PGA National Cyprus Aphrodite Hills Golf course, while others have views of the sea or mountains. These luxury self-contained accommodations come fully furnished to the highest standards with fully equipped kitchens and some with private pools.
Seven nights travelling September 2021 from £602pp, with flights from London Gatwick staying in a 1 bed apartment on a self-catering basis.
FOUR SEASONS
The prestigious property lies on a sandy beach east of Limassol approximately midway between the airports of Larnaca and Paphos and only a few minutes’ drive from the city centre. This five-star resort is the pinnacle of luxury and style, combining impeccable facilities with world-class hospitality and service. Throughout the hotel, luxury has developed into sophistication and aesthetics has evolved into finesse. To define the ambiance in every area, carefully chosen lighting creates the perfect mood, while new technology takes guest comfort to a higher, more stylish level and in all guest rooms, you’ll find a walk-in colour therapy shower. Outdoors, there is a family pool and a significantly extended and redesigned adultsonly pool and deck.
Seven nights travelling September 2021 from £1,312pp, with flights from London Gatwick staying in a Suprior Room on a B&B basis.
ANASSA
The renowned Anassa, offers the ultimate in luxurious accommodation in an idyllic picturesque location bordering the famous Akamas Peninsula. Overlooking a beautiful beach with crystal clear waters, complemented with a backdrop of majestic mountains, this hotel blends beautifully with the surrounding countryside. Accommodation is designed in the Greek Village style, to the very highest international standards, offering the ultimate in luxury with interiors featuring Roman mosaics, Greek motifs and Venetian frescoes, all complementing the range of contemporary furnishings and artefacts.
Seven nights travelling September 2021 from £1,653pp, with flights from London Gatwick staying in Garden View room on a B&B basis.
Ring-a-ding-ding
County Wedding Magazines editor Melissa Barker shares her wedding planning journey
Like many of you, I’m currently trying to plan my wedding during a global pandemic – there’s a sentence I never thought I’d say!
My partner Dave and I have been together just under three years, and we’d talked about getting engaged a few times over the course of our relationship. My work colleagues were also giddy every time we went away thinking he would propose; after a fantastic trip to the Northern Lights and coming back ring-free none of us had any idea when it would be – but I kind of liked it that way!
He had planned to propose last July but, due to COVID-19, his dreams of a romantic trip abroad were quashed. He had several backup plans, all of which were ruined by lockdowns and restrictions, so in the end, he asked me in front of my family (virtually) on Christmas Day. It was a lovely moment, and we were both really excited and couldn’t wait to start planning.
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!
Having worked in the wedding industry for the last few years, I had a rough idea of where to start with the planning process. I’m highly organised and a big fan of making lists – there isn’t a folder in our house that isn’t colour coded, so the fi rst thing I did was purchase a wedding planner to keep track of everything. I also looked through local wedding magazines, made a Pinterest board and joined a few Facebook groups, which are full of community spirit.
Next, Dave and I sat down and made a list of the people we wanted to come to our wedding. A great rule we followed was to wedding. A great rule we followed was to only invite people that we’d spoken to in the only invite people that we’d spoken to in the last six months. It might sound harsh, but last six months. It might sound harsh, but we both have large extended families and we both have large extended families and were concerned it may quickly turn in to a were concerned it may quickly turn in to a big list of people who we don’t really know! big list of people who we don’t really know! We narrowed it down to 40 day guests and We narrowed it down to 40 day guests and an additional 40 in the evening. Once we an additional 40 in the evening. Once we had the list, we were able to start focusing had the list, we were able to start focusing on the dreaded budget, which has been one on the dreaded budget, which has been one of my least favourite parts of the process so of my least favourite parts of the process so far. We looked through guides online and far. We looked through guides online and over-budgeted for everything to ensure we over-budgeted for everything to ensure we don’t have any nasty surprises further down don’t have any nasty surprises further down the line. the line. and budget, we began the exciting part – looking at venues. Due to the restrictions, this was a bit unconventional, with many properties only offering virtual viewings or only communicating via e-mail. Luckily, we managed to view our favourite venue in person the day before lockdown 3.0 began, and I’m so glad we did! We fell in love with it right away, and the staff have been amazing throughout the initial planning process. They were more than happy to answer all of our questions, in particular the dreaded COVID-19 related ones, and quickly set our minds at ease. It was exactly what we wanted with a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space and a barn area for the reception, perfect for our desired summer nuptials. We’re so excited to visit again, and for my mum, who is in full planning mode, to fi nally see it.
Based on our venue’s advice we reserved the date, checked that our local council had a registrar available and once that was confi rmed, we paid our deposit – yipee! I’ve since seen online a few brides who have booked their wedding but have been unable to secure a celebrant or registrar for their date. I’m thankful we followed the advice and checked fi rst, it’s meant we have had a drama-free start to the wedding planning and are excited to see our plans unfold!
Next issue, hear all about our plans for the food – my favourite bit – and fi nding our photographer!
I love the idea of incorporating log slices throughout the day to add a rustic touch. Dave and I want quite a simple cake that’s full of delicious chocolate – yum!
Here’s my moodboard to help give you heaps of inspiration.
Hanging lights are a popular trend that we’re thinking of using in our venue’s grounds.
I adore macrame and have been learning how to do it in my spare time. We’re planning to make an arch to place behind us when we get married. Our plan is to hire long wooden tables mixed with a few round versions. We’ve decided on a sage green and blush pink colour scheme and want to incorporate lots of foliage.
Gold or rose gold cutlery is a must have!
JULY/AUGUST 2021 ON SALE: 8th July, 2021
THE GREAT OUTDOORS Tipis and marquees and tents – oh my!
STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
Venue styling with soul
A SLICE OF THE ACTION Delicious big-day cakes
A-LISTERS
Dresses fit for the red carpet
Your Yorkshire Wedding is just one of our many County Wedding titles − find out more on our website www.youryorkshire.wedding
We love featuring local couples and companies. If you want to get in touch email editor@county.wedding for your chance to grace the pages of next issue
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— Specialist Wedding Hair & Makeup Artists —
