Glamour, tick; peerless location, tick; unique surroundings, tick – we asked five leading wedding planners to single out one location they would choose for the party to end all parties. Here are the gorgeous wedding venues they chose
Wedding venues are plentiful, but if money and location were no object, where in the world would you choose? Five leading international wedding planners pick their go-to choices for glamour, location and magical surroundings – and all of them offer something truly unique for the party of a lifetime.
London: One Marylebone
Exclusive London address with endless party possibilities
Located just moments from Regent’s Park with a private off-road entrance, this landmark 19th-century building created by Sir John Soane was sensitively refurbished in 2008 as a wedding and party venue. Standing on its own ‘island’ and with private courtyard garden, it has a variety of awe-inspiring interior spaces capable of hosting parties on a grand or intimate scale. Centrepiece is the fantastic Soane Hall with its grand columns, high ceilings and vast floor space capable of hosting the grandest wedding breakfast or ball. One Events say: “It’s a beautiful blank canvas where there’s nothing that can’t be achieved – from magical winter wonderland weddings to the most opulent black tie affair”.
One Marylebone, chosen by one-events.co.uk
Dubai: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Lavish beachfront setting with a light-filled ballroom
It can be hard to choose just one standout venue in Dubai, but Melissa Paquette, event manager of Quintessentially Dubai singles out Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach for its amazing location and sense of light and space. The glamorous beachfront setting makes this deservedly popular for Dubai weddings and parties. Melissa says: “The Dana Ballroom has the benefits of natural daylight with floor to ceiling windows. The ballroom also opens elegantly onto the enclosed garden terrace leading directly onto beachfront. This makes it perfect for an intimate party setting”. It also offers the legendary Four Seasons service and cuisine to guarantee a wonderful celebration. fourseasons.com/dubai, chosen by quintessentially.com/uae
South of France: Hotel du Cap Eden Roc
A stunning Mediterranean venue steeped in romance
Jamie Landesberg, principal of wedding and event planner 4 the people, describes Hotel du Cap Eden Roc as a south of France location of unparalleled elegance: “It also has a history so celebrity filled and decadent, it’s almost folkloric – and this hotel is also incontrovertibly cool”. Jamie says that part of the appeal for her clients is that it enables them to enjoy the charm of this famous stretch of coastline in a discreet locale shaded from the dazzle of glitzier neighbours Cannes and Saint Tropez (but still within easy reach). She adds: “While the building itself is magnificent, the most notable aspect of Hotel du Cap Eden Roc for any bride is the grand walkway-cum-aisle that leads from the balcony to the Med”.
hotel-du-cap-eden-roc.com, chosen by 4thepeopleuk.com
USA: Private aircraft hangar, Phoenix, Arizona
A unique ‘blank space’ venue for a one-off celebration
While it may be a little off the beaten track, this closed-to-the-public desert setting has proved to be a truly memorable venue for London and New York planners Ruby J. Events, which specialises in bespoke parties – sometimes in unlikely settings. Georgie Simon of the London office says: “We were lucky enough to be able to work within the space of this private hangar for a very special wedding celebration. It was made even more spectacular by the fact that aircraft were taking off and landing as guests arrived”. A blank white space gave ample scope to create the ‘wow’ factor. With doors left open and illuminated aircraft and the night sky as a backdrop, guests were entertained by a DJ suspended 15 feet above them on a grand stage.
Private location in Arizona, as chosen by rubyjevents.com
Paris: Chateau de Villette
A sumptuous French chateau a stone’s throw from Paris
Known as ‘Le Petit Versailles’, this shares the same glorious elegance, but is available for glamorous weddings in a completely discreet setting, say leading wedding planners Lillingston. The period setting is perfect, but the chateau comforts are contemporary thanks to a complete renovation. And, at just half an hour from Paris, Le Bourget, this is also a wonderfully convenient location for an international wedding with star credentials. The 185-acre grounds feature gardens designed by Le Notre, including fountain, cascade and lakes. The formal dining room still has the original 17th-century carved stone buffet and other internal spaces – including the Grand Salon and Music Salon – are dripping with painstakingly restored period features.
chateaudevillette.eu, chosen by lillingston.co.uk
