HAMILTON ISLAND WEDDINGS
If you’re after an island wedding, this is it. Situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island boasts breathtaking views at every corner. I was half-expecting the postcard view to fall to the floor and reveal a green screen. All week. This is probably why more than 400 couples choose to tie the knot here each year.
With more than 10 different ceremony locations and 15 reception venues, Hamilton Island covers all tastes and styles, ranging from a barefoot beach ceremony to a lavish soirée held in the exclusive grounds of qualia.
As Hamilton Island is a privately owned island, a wedding package with Hamilton Island Weddings is a prerequisite. This ensures that no other island guest or wedding couple’s plans interfere unnecessarily on the day. Plus, you are assigned a Wedding Planner who will tie everything together with wedding product and service suppliers on Hamilton Island. Pretty neat service. However, being a privately owned island, there is a monopoly on everything, from photography to bouquets. The only thing you may ‘BYO’ is the celebrant.
For the chilled out couples: A barefoot ceremony on Catseye or Whitehaven Beach (the former being the Island favourite). Or a small ceremony in the quaint All Saints Chapel on the hillside overlooking Catseye Bay – as the name suggests, the chapel is non-denominational so it can play host to a range of different ceremonies.
For the extravagant couples: there’s a reason why qualia was voted the number one resort in the world last year. The name itself means “a collection of deeper sensory experiences” and that’s exactly what you’ll get. A synonym for complete Hamilton Island luxury, this six-star resort is situated on the secluded northern-most tip of the island. Options range from intimate dining for up to 12 people in the Long Pavilion to a grand outdoor poolside dinner for up to 120 in the Pebble Beach Precinct. Or for the Wolf of Wall Street couples of the world, opt to take qualia resort sole use and create your own two-day itinerary for your guests. Note that each wedding and/or reception guest must stay the night of the wedding at quaila and the bride and groom must also stay the night before the wedding. At upwards of $1000 a night per room, I don’t think the tradition of the father of the bride covering the bill is going to stick.
Optional extras include helicopter transfers, a harpist and even butterflies (individual or cage release). 50 butterflies fetches a fee of $822.
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Check out www.hamiltonislandweddings.com for more info.
