Honeymoon Issue Summer 2021
AMAZING DESTINATIONS To Begin Your New Life Together
THE PROPOSAL
Ideas on How To Present The “Ring”
THE RING
Choosing the right Stone
IN COLLABORATION WITH WEDAWAYS
WHAT’S INSIDE 24
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WEDAWAYS Pamela and I are thrilled to partner with Buchhalter International Group and be part of the first edition of the Design Destinations Magazine Honeymoon Issue. It is an absolute joy to present an exclusive selection of beautiful properties to you. We dedicate ourselves to exploring the world and finding properties that discerning engaged couples will fall in love with and envision for their romantic honeymoons. Planning honeymoons as short as a 3-5 day getaway to a month-long adventure infuses excitement in both the couples and the advisors, and it's one of the best parts of the job! I was married on the Isle of Capri and journeyed through Italy for three romantic weeks. Pamela explored new destinations on her 3week honeymoon from Dubai to India to Sri Lanka and more! Wedaways was born out of heart-to-heart, one-on-one conversations between two very independent women, a deeply connected mother/daughter bond, and mutual respect. The concept morphed a bit along the way, but the vision of the business has remained consistent: "to add value to an already existing niche marketplace." We're enjoying the journey. And we hope you enjoy this issue, as well! The best is yet to come!The best is yet to come!
Renée Strauss - CEO & Pamela Goldman - COO
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Letter From our Editor-In-Chief & Founder Once again, we join efforts with WEDAWAYS to bring you Design Destinations Magazine's first issue dedicated to Honeymoons and preparations for the wedding. In this first issue, we present exceptional properties that provide excellent service, have outstanding facilities, and are located in some of the most romantic settings to celebrate the long-awaited honeymoon. We are also proving ideas on how to propose and a brief history of this tradition. Selecting the engagement ring can be a very confusing process, what stone to choose, the cut or shape. We provide an in-depth look at the different cuts, types of precious stones, and bonuses we take you back to when the tradition started. We are grateful to Pamela Goldman and Renee Strauss, owners of WEDAWAYS, for their collaboration in making the idea of a Honeymoon issue a reality. I hope you enjoy this issue and please let us know if you have any ideas for future articles love to hear from you. Franz E Buchhalter
Editor-In-Chief & Founder
Honeymoon Issue Summer 2021
AMAZING DESTINATIONS To Begin Your New Life Together
THE PROPOSAL
Ideas on How To Present The “Ring”
THE RING
Choosing the right Stone
IN COLLABORATION WITH WEDAWAYS
Cover by Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021
DESIGN DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE
THE HONE
Photo by Ethan Robertson
YMOON Everyone knows that the Honeymoon is the postwedding tradition when newly wedded couples begin to enjoy their life together. Why do we call it the honeymoon? The honeymoon has interesting beginnings that date back to the Persian Empire during the 5th century. Newlyweds in ancient Persia were encouraged to drink Mead (an alcoholic liquor made by fermenting honey and water) for a month. Because their calendar was lunar-based, this period was known as the month of honey or what we know today as the "Honeymoon." The word honeymoon derives from the Old English words hony and moone. Hony refers to the new marriage's sweetness, as well as a reference to the European custom of giving newlyweds enough Mead to last a month. Moon refers to how long that sweetness might last or from the changing aspect of the moon from complete to waning. In French, the equivalent word is “l'une de miel”
Photo by Darren Lawrence
In Western culture, the custom of a newlywed couple going on a holiday together originated in early 19th-century Great Britain. Upper-class couples would take a "bridal tour," sometimes accompanied by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding. The practice soon spread to the European continent and was known in France as a “voyage à la façon anglaise” (an English-style journey) from the 1820s onwards. Today, couples use the Honeymoon to learn about each other and to relax after a long time of planning their wedding. The wedding preparations can be stressful and challenging, with too many elements and too many opinions. Therefore, the Honeymoon is one of the most important things that a newly wedded couple will experience.
Photo by Jeremy Banks
AMAZING DESTINATIONS TO BEGIN YOUR LIFE TOGETHER
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
SUGAR BEACH, A Viceroy Resort - St. Lucia
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Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort The luxury St. Lucia resort is ideal to celebrate your honeymoon. Enjoy the privacy and beauty of 100 acres of pristine rainforest on the Caribbean Sea. It’s all at the site of an 18th-century sugar plantation. Seek seclusion in private accommodations amid vibrant gardens and soaring trees. Take the opportunity to reconnect and reflect as you explore every breathtaking angle of this island paradise. 14
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Each of the guest rooms in the St. Lucia Caribbean resort is an indoor/outdoor paradise, elegantly designed in Plantation style. When you’re ready for a social scene, enjoy easy access to the resort’s Great House, swimming pool, and white sand of Anse des Pitons.
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GRACE HOTEL- Santorini, Greece Auberge Resorts Collection
DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 A Cliff-Top Retreat in Santorini Whitewashed abodes, cobalt-domed churches, and black- and red-sand beaches mark the isle of Santorini, an alluring Mediterranean oasis mired in mythology. Believed to be the remaining link to the Lost City of Atlantis, rest in splendor during a luxurious stay in our clifftop retreat in Imerovigli, a village home to Santorini’s most emblematic views. Legend has it Euphemus, son of Poseidon created the island following a dream where he made love to a nymph - and after you enjoy your first sumptuous sunset from the infinity pool overlooking the Caldera, you will experience for yourself how easy it is to become entangled in the spell of Santorini.
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Whether enjoying sunset from your private perch in Imerovigli or sailing through the sapphire waters of the Aegean Sea, the fabled Caldera coastline of Santorini awaits.
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LAS ALAMANDAS, Costalegre - Jalisco, Mexico
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Las Alamandas is Mexico’s ultimate beach hideaway! Located between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo along the famed Costalegre Coast, it is nestled on 1,500 acres of unspoiled nature reserve.This secluded luxury resort with only 16 suites is a delightful Mexican paradise created by Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño offering the exclusive ambience of an elegant private estate with the highest standards of service and hospitality from a warm and caring staff.
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Enjoy privacy in an exceptionally spacious and beautifully appointed suite. Dine on delectable contemporary Mexican cuisine. Indulge in massages and treatments to the sound of the Pacific. Enjoy every activity from tennis and surfing to nature hikes, horseback riding and kayaking.
JASHITA HOTEL - Tulum, Mexico Riviera Maya
DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021
Bathed by the colors of the Caribbean, the gentle aromas of bougainvilleas, and the turquoise blue ocean. Jashita is a luxury boutique hotel located on one of Tulum's most protected and off-thebeaten-track bays: Soliman Bay - Riviera Maya - Mexico. 32
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Take long walks on the beach, swim in the crystalline turquoise blue water, listen to the Caribbean Sea caressing the shores, swaying lazily in our hammocks, watch majestic pelicans swoop over your head, and taste delicious meal on the beach.
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VERDURA RESORT A Rocco Forte Hotel - Sicily, Italy
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Verdura is an oasis, a centre of wellbeing, escapism and indulgence set against backdrop of charming Sicilian villages, ancient Greek and Roman sites and the beautiful, blue Mediterranean Sea. 38
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Space, serenity and sea views: expansive, exclusive Rocco Forte Private Villas with the lifestyle, leisure facilities and fine dining of Verdura Resort, Sicily.
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CASA ANGELINA - Praiano, Italy Amalfi Coast
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Sitting on the high cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, Casa Angelina offers a sublime slice of modern minimalism on the Mediterranean, with an emphasis on elegant simplicity and first-rate food. An airy refuge, the boutique 42-room hotel is a place where guests can rediscover the forgotten rhythms of long, drawn-out days and easy, lingering evenings. 44
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Understated chic is design ethos and subtle details are the raison d’être: Everything is immaculate, from the pillowy and pristine white Etro cotton sheets dressing your bed right down to the carefully placed garnish of garden-grown herbs on your plate. 47
THE ESTATE YOUNTVILLE Vintage House, Hotel Villagio, and the Villa Yountville, California Napa Valley
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Nestled in the charming town of Yountville in the renowned Napa Valley wine region, The Estate is a luxe, new lifestyle destination set on a lush and alluring 22-acre village-within-a-village.
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 The first of its kind, The Estate has redesigned Wine Country experience in a delightfully vino-cultured manner accentuated by two luxury hotels with decidedly different personalities – the sinfully good and oh-so-social Hotel Villagio and its sophisticated counterpart, Vintage House, a chic and tranquil sanctuary.
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CASTEL FRAGSBURG - Merano, Italy Dolomites
YASHITA HOTEL - Tulum, Mexico
DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Spoilt by countless hours of sunshine, Castel Fragsburg is the smallest 5-star hotel in South Tyrol nestled in the 50,000 m2 hotel garden beneath its very own castle. It is a hideaway surrounded by glorious, pristine nature. A hotel that not only stands out for its own style but because it lives by its own philosophy – the art of fine living. With this philosophy, we encourage our guests to see the conventional with eyes wide open and to recognize new avenues here. A place where we sensitively combine down-to-earth, Alpine comfort with Mediterranean sensuality. 56
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Stylish and Unique, just like our guests. And we can only agree because to maintain the unique charm of our five-star hotel, we preserve its historical core and give the historical elements room to shine in the interior design, while our guests can also enjoy all the usual mod cons. Far away from the mainstream, we guarantee individual luxury, perfectly complemented by top-quality service, sumptuous indulgence and sensational spa experiences. A stay at the Fragsburg will certainly leave a lasting impression. 59
CHABLÉ MAROMA - Punta Maroma, Q.R., Mexico Riviera Maya
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VERDURA RESORT - Sicily, Italy
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Chablé Maroma, one of the members of The Leading Hotels of the World, redefines wellness on the coasts of the Riviera Maya. Let yourself be involved by the contemporary design of our spaces that merge with the beaches and its turquoise waters and connect with the rain forest. Experience Mayan culture and its history up close as you celebrate ancient rituals that once made this civilization great. 62
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021 Situated in the Coastline of Quintana Roo, The Riviera Maya is the perfect escape from the routine. The natural richness, history and culture of this region, turns Riviera Maya as a unique place in the world . Magnificent archeological sites, the second largest coral reef in the world, blue turquoise water and beautiful sunrises and sunsets makes this an ideal destination. 65
The Ring 66
Photo by Esther Tuttle
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WHO STARTED THE ENGAGEMENT RING TRADITION? The first step that a future wedding couple takes is to get engaged, and to mark this tradition, a ring is placed on the woman's left hand on the fourth finger to symbolize the engagement. Although there are documents that date the practice to offer a future bride a piece of jewelry as a commitment to as early as the Egyptian times, historians credit the early Romans with the traditional ring. However, in 1214, Pope Innocent III introduced a law stating that couples who wanted to marry had to observe a waiting period between agreeing to the marriage and actually going through with the legal and spiritual contract. During this waiting period, couples were ordered to wear a ring on their finger as a mark of their commitment to each other and their upcoming marriage. It was also at this time that marriages had to take place in a church in order to be ‘official’. Engagement rings then were very simple affairs and usually just made out of any metal. Precious metals were reserved for the elite members of society only.
Forever." By 1990, diamond engagement rings reached 80% of all the total engagement rings sold worldwide. Some of the most famous engagement rings in history include the engagement ring that Napoleon Bonaparte gave to Josephine in 1796. This ring carried two teardrops in sapphire and diamond, two stones to symbolize the joining of their two hearts (1). Queen Victoria received a unique serpent wrap engagement ring from Prince Albert accented with a large emerald, rubies, and diamonds (2). In 1923, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, (mother of Queen Elizabeth the II) received an oval halo diamond and sapphire engagement ring (3) when she became engaged to the future King of England. When Queen Elizabeth II became engaged to Prince Phillip in 1947, he presented her with a diamond ring consisting of a 3 carat round center stone flanked by ten smaller pave diamonds (4). Prince Rainier III of Monaco gave the American Actress Grace Kelly an emerald-cut diamond of 10.48 carats and flanked by two sparkling baguettes (5).
In 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the first diamond engagement ring for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy. This trend for diamond rings became popular amongst the European aristocracy and nobility. During the Victorian era, the engagement ring became known as the "Regards Ring." The new traditional ring had a ruby, sapphire, emerald, garnet, amethyst, or a diamond stone. In 1939 only 10% of all the engagement rings had Diamonds. In 1947, the famous English jeweler DeBeers created the marketing slogan "Diamonds are
One of the most famous engagement rings to a younger generation is the ring presented to Diana Spencer by Prince Charles; the engagement ring consisted of 14 diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire, set in 18 Karat white gold (6). The same engagement ring was later was presented to Kate Middleton by Prince William. But not all famous engagement rings belong to royalty. President J. F. Kennedy gave Jacqueline Lee Bouvier a 2.84-carat emerald and 2.87-carat diamond (7). 67
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MAKE IT A YES! Planning the Proposal 68
Photo by Taylor Brandon
DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021
FIVE IDEAS ON HOW TO PRESENT THE RING You’ve found the person who you want to spend the rest of your life with, and now it's time to let them know that you wish to marry them? How do you do it? Should it be a simple “get on your knees and ask?” Or should it be an elaborate production? Whatever you are thinking depending upon your budget, here are a few ideas. #1 Decorate the bed with balloons and flowers and post on the headboard a sign that reads "Will you marry me?" - This is a reasonably simple task to achieve. All you need is time to get the balloons, flowers, and the sign. Placing some rose petals on the bed would be a bonus, and don't forget the champagne! And if your loved one is a dog lover? Have the dog carry the ring tied to their collar and a scroll that has the question. All you need is a cooperative furry friend.
Photo by Dylan Sauerwein
#2 Gather photos of the two of you, place them on a board, and have the words "a: Will b You c Marry d Me? And give a clue so they can turn the photos in sequence. For this, you’ll need to be a little creative. Gathering the pictures should be easy. Have them enlarged and on the back past a note with the corresponding word. #3 Go to your favorite restaurant or to the one where you first went together and have the waiters bring a cake with the words "Will You Marry Me?" This task will require time to plan. Call the restaurant and talk to the manager and explain what you want to do they will be happy to cooperate and coordinate this for you. #4 Plan a short vacation to a place you both enjoy or would like to go, and use idea number 1 and pop the question. #5 Meet your loved one at an open location and have friends carry letters with the words “Will You Marry Me?” At the right moment, have them raise the letters while you get on your knee. Photo by Karsten Winegeart 69
“Knights would get down on one knee in front of their lord as a display of respect, obedience, and loyalty….”So when a courteous gentlemen was proposing to his lady, pledging his allegiance to her and declaring his funding love for her, getting down on one knew was the natural thing to do”
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DESIGN DESTINATIONS Honeymoon Issue 2021
Photo by Ethan Robertson
Photo by Jonathan Borba
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Photo by Tiraya Adam
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Design Destinations Magazine is a publication produced by Buchhalter International Group
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