Unique wedding loction
 

I recently became engaged and know that I will not be having a large wedding.
My family is in Texas and his is in Virginia.
We have decided that we would like to exchange vows amongst our few closest friends.
I am hoping to find that one place that will take my breath away. Location is not an issue as we are willing to travel. I have looked into something in the carribbean but can't find what it is I am looking for. Maybe something in the states
We would be spending 4+ days where ever we go and intend to have 2 other people with us.
If anyone has any ideas or links for me to look at of cabin/villa/vacation rentals/ please let me know.

well howdy fiestygoat- if you could give us a little more information about just what the special place in your mind is like. you mention the islands and if you are thinking a beach wedding i'm pretty sure you could find help on the caribbean forum. there are actually several threads on that subject right now.
so try to describe "your" place to us... the more details the better as there are alot of seasoned travelers here willing to share their experiences.

We are both living in VA right now. And I really have now idea what I want. Maybe I should put more thought into that before I go posting.
As I stated earlier there will be at least 4 of us.
Either the beach somewhere or the mountains. Within the states would be ideal. But I am not throwing anyones ideas out.
Something that will be romantic and memorable.
As I continue my search-I will say that I appreciate all ideas and will update as I have more info.
Thanks you!!

What time of year? What kind of budget? What about the families? Try looking on theknot.com

You might consider the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It's absolutely breathtaking!

Contact the Sanderling Inn in Duck, NC to see what they can arrange for you. A lovely place and a spectacular setting.

ok heres 3 ideas:
if by chance one of you is catholic there is a stunning small chapel called St. Malo near estes park and allenspark in colorado. you can see it at www.saintmalo.org found it by accident years ago and thought at the time that it would be a beutiful wedding spot. it took me a couple hours to come up with the name but it is really lovely.
next is the Chapel of the Transfiguration in moose, wy. no denomination. check pics at webshots or yahoo photo, etc. its a tiny all log chapel with an open window behind the alter that looks onto the tetons (arguably the most dramatic mtns in the lower 48)
or www.secretharbourvi.com a mid-size very very nice condo hotel on st. thomas. lovely beach for a wedding. have their chef make your wedding cake - his recipe is to die for!!!

Anyplace on the beach is nice for a small wedding-how about Hawaii.

Don't know if you are interested in coming west for your wedding. The Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona has a view that takes your breath away.
www.churchrr.com

In Los Angeles (Rancho Palos Verdes) there is the Wayfarer Chapel, that sits on a hill above the Pacific and looks out over the ocean.

I would imagine both of these locations book up pretty quickly. Let us know some of your preferences as others mentioned.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. We are going through each of them. Please continue to send any ideas and I will keep you posted on results. We are favoring out west somewhere.
Thanks

Google these....Post Ranch Big Sur,and, I think Ventana Big Sur. Breathtaking, yes, expensive, yes.

I second Susan CS's recommendation of Thorn Crown chapel. It's constructed entirely of glass and it almost feels as if you're in another century.

Plus, Eureka Springs is a beautiful, town with tons of scenery, shops and accomodations.

Here's a link:

http://www.thorncrown.com/

OK, the googles which work are Post Ranch Inn and Ventana Inn. Believe me, they will take your breath away.

You can get married in the Berkeley Castle in Berkeley Springs, WV. 304-258-4000.

OK, this is not west at all, but...

White Point, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

I got married there a few years ago. It's a breathtaking location.

We went to Nova Scotia with no location for the wedding selected. Someone local told us to check White Point out, it's not the kind of beach/point you'd find on your own.

Good luck with your wedding.

The first thought I had was Lake Tahoe. I have never been, but the pictures of a winter in Tahoe is gorgeous. There is nice Hyatt there. This is on my list of places to see.

www.LitchfieldPlantation.com

It is in Pawleys Island, SC. They also have a beach house where you can get married on the beach but in front of the almost 300 year old plantation house situated at the end of a spanish moss covered live oak lined drive is much more romantic.

How about a cruise ship wedding. You can choose an island, europe or get married on board. Check out: http://www.theweddingexperience.com/cruiseship.html

We were married 3 years ago in October at the Heritage House Inn located in Little River Calif--very near Mendocino. We were married on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Sunset it was breathtaking. The cottages had huge balconies overlooking the Pacific with fireplaces and such. We had dinner after in their dining room and it was excellant. There were just 6 of us and it was perfect. And the weather was perfect too. Website is www.heritagehouseinn.com.

Good Luck

Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas doe s alovel job with weddings, and it is in the mountains of Big Bend.

Agree with the other Linda, the Mendocino coast is awesome. The high cliffs, the roar and squall of the sea ever present, sounds of seals in the distance.. The beach below the headlands at the mouth of the river is HUGE, or you could get married overlooking the ocean and stay at one of the incredibly romantic Inns or B&Bs in town (Mc Callum House, Alegria, etc) The Mc Callum House has 3 day packages available on luxurylink.com I got a 3 day package for $515!!

GoTravel's idea is on point--beautiful. However, they have a beach club on Pawley's Island where you can get married right on the beach. The plantation house is SO pretty, and there is a connected restaurant. We went to a wedding doing just this.
But since there will be just 4 of you, you do have a pretty wide open field, assuming they can handle the fares.

All of you are so awesome!!! I appreciate all the ideas and will continue to update you on where we chose.
Again thank you so much. Forget these bride books and such-when I have you all.
Thanks again!!

How about Napa Valley...

http://www.aubergedusoleil.com/

By the way, I think it takes more than "one of you" to be Catholic to get married in a Catholic church. Rules have changed since the (late 70s, I think) church started recognizing other religion's marriages...but call your local CC to check before you start looking for a place you want but can't have...

Sylvia, non-Catholics can marry in the church provided that they haven't been married before or if they have, that they've received an annulment. They often skip the full mass in that case. However, most Catholic churches require a couple to go through training/counseling prior to the wedding, so that might be a factor.

Linda, I just thought you could not have been married in the Catholic Church previously. I didn't think the church cared if you were previously married in another religious or non-secular cerimony.

Nope, you most certainly have to get an annulment these days if one of you was ever married non-Catholic. PLUS, that annulment has to be through the Vatican (!) and costs a pretty penny. AND the ex of the annuled-to-be has to agree the marriage was never a true marriage. Good luck with that, especially if there were kids. How do I know? I haven't stepped foot into a Catholic Church since they told me all this, and I decided to go to another faith for my ceremony.

It actually makes it worse if you were married before in a civil or non-Catholic ceremony.

Getting an annulment in the Catholic Church is nearly impossible. It takes years upon years, which has angered some politicians (i think ted kennedy got an annulment).

I'm in Colorado and would not recommend Saint Malo - sorry, I thought it looked intriquing too until I visited. It's rather dark inside and right off the highway.

You'll only have 2 other people with you? You could get married anywhere... are there any places you've always wanted to visit? I think Hawaii would be great for a small wedding like that.

Here are ideas on locations in Colorado.

This one is probably good for your small group size and they do weddings.
Romantic Riversong B&B
http://www.romanticriversong.com/

For more traditional sizes:
Arrowhead Golf Club - this is a public course, but seems private. The scenery is awesome and they will marry you outside the clubhouse. The clubhouse is small and holds smaller groups well. The food is excellent.
http://www.golfcolorado.com/linkfram...-frameset.html

Evergreen Lake House - beautiful location and log home feel. Kind of a pain to reserve I think.
http://www.evergreenrecreation.com/elhc_rental.html

Beano's Cabin - Beaver Creek - http://beavercreek.snow.com/info/win...din.beanos.asp

Mah1980, I have to disagree with you that it is nearly impossible to get an annulment in the Catholic Church. I have had friends that have received annulments from the Catholic Church in 6 months or less. In fact, the Vatican has been unhappy with the number of American Catholics granted annulments.

Oh gee, this is a travel link, but friends, I am a former Protestant turned Catholic who got Archdiocese music certification so I really am an expert at this! I got an annulment in one year. I paid about 200 dollars for processing fees, etc, which was entirely voluntary and isn't really bad because they literally contacted every person who knew me or was related to me when I got married to a Catholic in 1977. Many of them chose not to cooperate. They never tell you that info. The questions they ask you are brutal, but it was an experience which caused me to look into my soul. Annulment is misunderstood by most. It doesn't mean your children are illegitimate, etc. It means that you weren't fully prepared or committed to the responsibility and many, many more things. Until you talk to a very good priest, you may not understand. I got an annulment not to remarry, but to join the church! my husband isn't Catholic, we weren't married in the church, but I am a Catholic and can receive communion. Okay, that's enough, LOL! if anyone has questions, email me at [email protected] and i will happily answer them.

The problem is, many are indeed fully prepared and/or committed when they first marry, but things change(esp if you marry as a young person). As a Catholic trying to marry a divorced non-Catholic, I can say, from experience, it was no simple $200 and 6 months. It was a ridiculous, money-centric, STUPID procedure that involved trying to get people to say things that weren't true. It caused me to bail, and I was raised strictly in the faith. Opened my eyes. (But I suppose everyone's experience is different--I, for example, only had yardsticks broken on my desk by irate nuns, never had my ears pulled as my brother did. Did him good.)

p.s. If you can buy an annulment to a sacred solemn ceremoney, just a different faith, in 6 months with $200, what does that tell you?

sorry for any confusion re saint malo. i am not catholic and was reporting the information they have posted on their website. it is not a church with a congregation rather a chapel for retreat, roadside stops to reflect and weddings.
the road is a quiet one even by colo standards and i found the relative darkness to be cool and comforting on the hot summer day i was there. i am accustomed to the older, darker churches of he east coast.
i personally would opt for the islands.

MAMMOTH CAVE, a cave in Kentucky, U.S., about 10 m., the largest in the world, and rising at one point to 300 ft. in height, with numerous side branches leading into grottoes traversed by rivers, which here and there collect into lakes; name also of another of smaller dimensions in California.

Fiestygoat, I can't recommend a specific cabin etc., but if you are looking out west, Jackson Hole, WY is gorgeous. One of my favorite areas!

Virginia you are right St. Malo is a beautiful chapel. When I attended summer camp there many years ago we had to attend morning mass every day. What torture for pre-teens!

Sylvia, the price of an annulment has gone up. I was a witness several years ago and my friend paid $600. The questions I had to answer were inane.

Mammoth Cave is really awesome, but I'm not sure if that would work. They have scheduled tours and times and only use the lights during those times. Also, the temperature is 55 degrees year round, so wear long sleeves!

For the record, I was quoting another poster's price of $200; it would have cost me WAY more than $600, even way back when, and it would have taken (according to my priest) about a year. IF it was approved. Ah, the price of love...

How wonderful to be so flexible!! If you are looking for natural beauty, here are the places that spring to my mind:

Moraine Lake in Banff (Canada)
http://www.morainelake.com

Yosemite - in the Chapel, at the Ahwahnee, at Glacier Point - all beautiful. . .
http://yosemiteweddings.com/locations/ywlocations.html

Big Sur (I agree with the post about Ventana and the Post Ranch, but you could also consider the Ragged Point Inn, which also has a gorgeous setting and is a bit less pricey.)
www.raggedpointinn.com

Lake Tahoe
http://www.edgewood-tahoe.com/

Princeville Resort in Kauai (photos cannot do this place justice)
http://www.princeville.com/index-flash.html

I am also planning my wedding and would LOVE to get married in any one of these places, but have too many out-of-town guests to consider. Best of luck to you!!

Thank you so much for all your replies. We have settled on a location in Canada:
Moraine Lake in Banff (Canada)
http://www.morainelake.com

finngirl2 sent this to me and we have fallen in love with this location.

Again thank you.