You only get one go at it (in theory) so if you’re travel nuts, getting married at home is probably not going to cut it. We recently heard about a private island in the Maldives where tying the knot can be as eccentric as you like – and all the extras, from lobster feasts to your own beachside butler, make it all sound rather delicious to get married at Anantara Kihavah Maldives. So how are you going to get hitched? Well, take your pick:
1) I *bubble bubble* doooo *bubble bubble*
An underwater wedding certainly makes a statement. But when you're a diver who barely comes up for air, I can imagine this might be a must-do. Your altar is a coral bed, your rings presented in a white shell. You can exchange vows with a dive-certified minister as your witness, with the whole thing captured by the resort’s underwater photographer. Adopt a coral to memorialise the occasion, and you’ll have a good excuse to return on an anniversary to see how it blooms.
2) Underwater love (part 2)
Keep the bubbles in your glass and make your vows underwater, without the scuba gear. Anantara Kihavah also have their signature underwater venue SEA, so you can profess eternal love to each other as fish swim past you through the floor-to-ceiling glass. It’s all white tablecloths, mirrors and flower sprays – as well as your fishy surrounds – so there’s enough traditional stuff to keep your mum happy.
3) Get stranded on a desert island together
You know that old question, who would you like to be stranded on a desert island with? You can test out the theory by getting married on an entirely deserted island just out from the resort. Good for those couples who aren’t good with crowds.
4) Private yacht ceremony
Pack the family, some beers and all your Kennedy-Onassis fantasies and get married on the resort’s private yacht, the Ocean Whisperer. The traditional navy-and-timber colour scheme, complete with its gorgeous timber decking, make for some enviable photo ops.
5) Toes in the sand
I know we’re getting downright traditional compared to your other options, but the Maldives does have some of the most incredible beaches in the world. You can choose pretty much any spot in the resort and the on-site wedding planner can make it happen. Since Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is a private island with only 80 villas dotting lush grounds, exclusivity is assured.
No matter which option you go for, the whole experience begins on land with professional hair styling and make-up for the bride. After you’ve done the deed, dine on barbecued lobster prepared by your chef for the evening, and served by the butler on a candlelit stretch of beach, then you retire to your villa for a ‘Slumber Guru’ experience: a soak in essential oils in a candlelit bath. Unwind side by side with a lavender oil massage, then fall into the deepest of sleeps. The next morning, champagne breakfast is served in bed and if you haven’t melted into twin puddles of happiness by then, you’re all set for a happy-ever-after.
For more information on Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, visit
www.kihavah-maldives.anantara.com. Wedding packages start from US$4,400 for two. Weddings at Kihavah can accommodate up to 200 guests. It’s important to note that ceremonies in the Maldives (being a Muslim country) are not legally binding.