Get Married Or Honeymoon In South Africa

Making your wedding ?just perfect? entails a blend of factors, not least of which includes the dress ?to die for? and a great venue. With Cape Town, South Africa as the city of choice for your big day, you won?t have far to look. Cape Town is the city of fair skies, gorgeous beaches, magnificent gardens and an extensive list of wedding and reception venues. Outdoor locations for wedding photographs abound.

Picture the oldest and largest botanical gardens in South Africa, Kirstenbosch, with the eastern slopes of Table Mountain as your backdrop. These gardens alone contain as many as 6 000 floral species and over 22 000 indigenous plants, so whatever your colour scheme and whatever season you choose, there will be blooms to augment and complement your style.

Early morning shoots are probably best for Cape Town?s beaches as the Cape Doctor ? another name for the spring and early summer south-easterly wind that prevails in the city - tends to make its presence felt in the afternoons, although with it comes Table Mountain?s legendary table cloth ? providing yet another perfect photo setting.

Nevertheless, you are spoilt for choice as the Mother City has some of the most picturesque beaches in the world with wide expanses of sand, sparkling water and strategically placed boulders for those ?photo? moments.

From the fashionable beaches of Cape Town?s ?Riviera? ? the Atlantic Seaboard ? including Camps Bay, Llandudno (definitely one of the most beautiful) and Noordhoek with its miles of sand and dunes, to the beaches of False Bay offering some real character beaches, such as St James or Boulders.

The wine estates in and around Cape Town all have a unique beauty of their own. Invariably wine estates lie tucked into picturesque valleys, surrounded by majestic mountains and vineyards heavy with grapes during the summer months.

The Cape West Coast, until recently largely unexplored and unexploited, is a region of unrivalled beauty and geographical diversity. This area of the world is renowned for its spectacular display of wild flowers during spring, its unspoilt beaches and beautiful mountain ranges and picturesque little towns like Darling, St Helena Bay and the fishing village of Paternoster.

And if that doesn?t tempt you then the Garden Route?s shadowy forests, peaceful lakes and wetlands or the Overberg?s numerous quaint villages and the dry Karoo with a sullen beauty all of her own ? flat, sandy plains, shimmering heat and distant smoky-blue mountains ? certainly will.

www.SA-Venues.com is South Africa's leading Travel & Tourism site. To plan your Wedding or Honeymoon visit the South Africa Wedding Guide and South African Honeymoons.

For Romance, Stay in the Honeymoon Capitals

Trying to decide where to honeymoon? Well, let?s face it, the honeymoon world is your oyster, as you have a mind numbing number of options. So, why not narrow your list to the unofficial ?Honeymoon Capitals?: Niagara Falls, The Poconos in Pennsylvania; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls has long been known as the ?Honeymoon Capital of the World.? Some of the earliest honeymooning couples include Theodosia Burr, daughter of U.S. Vice-President Aaron Burr (yes, that Aaron Burr), who honeymooned with her new husband, Joseph Aliston in 1802, and Jerome Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon (yes, that Napoleon), who honeymooned with his new wife, Elizabeth Patterson in 1804.

It may not be the tallest waterfall in the world, but it is certainly the most famous, located on the border between the New York and Ontario. Niagara Falls is actually a collection of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls (called by some the Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, with Horseshoe Falls considered the most spectacular of the three.

The Pocono Mountains:

Did you know the Pocono Mountains is also referred to as "The Honeymoon Capital of the World"? Well, it?s true. As a matter of fact, over 200,000 honeymooning couples each year choose to begin their married life in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which boasts 2,400 square miles of wooded peaks and valleys with crystal clear lakes, rushing rivers, and some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the eastern United States.

The Poconos specializes in honeymoons, with several adult-only resorts available, as well as spas for those who love to be pampered. Choosing a cabin in the Poconos affords you privacy and romance, with access to all the fine spas and restaurants that will make your honeymoon even more special.

If you want to venture out of your cabin or resort there are numerous activities in the Poconos to keep you busy: hiking, biking, boating, golf, tennis, sightseeing, horseback riding, swimming, skiing, sledding, and snowmobiling.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee ? Great Smoky Mountains

Gatlinburg is known as the ?Honeymoon Capital of the South,? so you know it must have great amenities for honeymooners. Gatlinburg is adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which receives approximately 9 million visitors per year. The reason the area receives so many visitors is the incredible beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the availability of lodging and services in nearby Gatlinburg. But, don?t let the number of visitors scare you away. A cabin in Gatlinburg will give you the privacy you need for your honeymoon.

Cabins in Gatlinburg are some of the most luxurious around. For example, America?s Cabins, Inc. have honeymoon cabins available with heart-shaped jacuzzi tubs, hot tubs on outside decks overlooking spectacular mountain scenery, pool tables, washer/dryers, cable and fireplaces. They can be reached at 800-900-7717.

The benefit of staying in one of the ?Honeymoon Capitals? is that the businesses are geared to service honeymooners, and you can probably find many different honeymoon packages which can save you money. And, besides, isn?t it just cool to say you honeymooned in the ?Honeymoon Capital? of somewhere?

Diane McCalley is the creator of Honeymoon Vacations, where you can learn about such things as Poconos honeymoon.

Honeymoon Cruises and Ice Cream Machines

My wife and I had a great wedding. Family and friends on a gorgeous afternoon in the month of May. It couldn?t have gone better and as far as we?re concerned it was the best wedding we have ever been to. But them everyone says that about their wedding, probably even the people who send their wedding videos to those wedding bloopers shows.

But I digress. We chose to go on a cruise for our honeymoon, which turned out to be a lot of fun for both of us as neither of us had ever been on a cruise before. We cruised on one of the Fun Ships from Carnival Cruise Lines out of Port Orlando Florida. Now many of you experienced cruisers out there know all this but for us first timers going on a cruise was a new and novel experience.

Cruise ships are big, and the ship we were on was only considered medium sized. Trying to find our way around took a little getting used to, but by the second day it was pretty hard to get lost. The first thing we did was find out state room and drop of our carry on bags and then we were off to the lunch buffet up on the main pool deck. Now here?s where it gets a little confusing for the first time cruiser. Standing in the line at the buffet it suddenly dawned on me that like most cruises this one was all inclusive, except for alcoholic drinks. That meant I could get as much food from the buffet and it was already paid for. Not only that I could come back as many times as I wanted, not that I did. Realizing that we didn?t have to carry money with us was kind of liberating. All we really needed was our room key which doubled as a kind of charge card for things, such as alcoholic drinks, that weren?t part of the all inclusive package.

After lunch it was time to explore the ship and see what it had to offer. I won?t go into big detail here other than to say there was a lot to be done on a cruise ship. On the upper main deck at the back of the ship was casual dining establishment. It was always open and always had food available. Now as we walked through I noticed towards the back of the dining area a large kiosk. As we approached and came around it from behind it was like a dream come true.

A soft serve ice-cream machine. You know, like the ones at Dairy Queen. It took me a moment to realize that just like the lunch buffet back on the main pool deck; this ice cream was absolutely free. Do you get that, for 5 days and 4 nights I could come and get either vanilla, chocolate, or, and this is the best part, chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream anytime I wanted.

And right next to the bowls and spoons was every topping imaginable. They had chocolate, caramel, sprinkles, hot fudge, peanuts, cherries and whipped topping. It was like getting locked inside a Dairy Queen for the night, only the night lasted for 5 days. I mean, come one, that ice cream machine was more than worth the price of the entire honeymoon cruise.

So if you ever get a chance to go on a cruise make sure to find out if the ship you want to go on has a soft serve ice-cream machine. I know I?m looking forward to the next time my wife and I go on a cruise just for that simple fact.

Andrew Bicknell has gone on a honeymoon cruise and partook of the soft serve ice-cream machine. For more information about honeymoons and cruises check out his website Honeymoon Destinations.

Yellowstone Honeymoon Vacation Ideas

Wintertime Honeymoon Vacation Ideas in the Yellowstone Area

Yellowstone area is a big draw for honeymooners. Honeymoon vacation ideas abound throughout this website. If you're looking for ideas, check out our Top Ten Activities and Winter Activities pages at http://www.yellowstone-area-guide.com. My son and his wife spent their honeymoon in West Yellowstone and the surrounding area just last December (2005). They absolutely loved it.

When most people go on their honeymoon they don't particularly want a set agenda where they need to keep a schedule. Still, there are some that want to squeeze as many activities as they can. I've put together several sample agendas that take the work out of planning your honeymoon. My wife, being the romantic that she is, has helped me put this article together. So here are some great honeymoon vacation ideas.

West Yellowstone Honeymoon

Sample Agenda #1

Wakeup, eat breakfast at your hotel or eat at the Running Bear Pancake House. It's located at 538 Madison Avenue. It's easy to find and they serve an excellent breakfast.

After breakfast drive or walk on over to #208 Electric Street. Once there, find Yellowstone Arctic Yamaha, go inside and rent 2 snowmobiles. Get a good map of the trails in the West Yellowstone and Island Park area, and go have a blast. Another option; call beforehand and make reservations (406 646-9636) to take a guided snowmobile tour inside Yellowstone Park. There is really nothing like seeing Yellowstone with a blanket of snow covering everything. Make it a half-day or full-day excursion. Take a lunch.

After eating, go to the Yellowstone IMAX. Each show starts on the hour beginning at 9 am and running until 9 pm.

When the show is over, if you haven't had dinner, go to Bullwinkles Saloon and Eatery. They are at #19 Madison.

Go back to your room and relax.

Winter Sample Agenda #2

Wake up and get breakfast.

Go cross country skiing on the Rendezvous Trail System. It's an olympic class trail. You can rent skis at Bud Lillys Trout Shop or FreeHeel and Wheel. If you're a novice, they can give you some basic instruction. It?s an activity that you can do for an hour or all day long.

Jackson Hole Honeymoon

Winter Sample Agenda #3

Get breakfast.

Spend the rest of the day downhill skiing. You have 2 resorts to choose from; Snow King right in Jackson or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at Teton Village. Both offer great skiing.

In the afternoon or evening when you get done with your hike, instead of driving straight back to Jackson, swing around to the west and stop at the Mangy Moose in Teton Village. They have a restaurant as well as a bar.

After dinner, head back to your hotel for some R & R.

Winter Sample Agenda #4

Get breakfast.

Drive to the elk refuge and take a sleigh ride out to feed the elk. Rides are on a first come first served basis. They depart 3 or 4 times every hour.

Get some lunch.

In the afternoon go to Teton Village and take a tram ride up the hill and back. Remember, though, that the tram will be closed until 2008. Even though the main aerial tram is being replaced, you can still get up the mountain on the Bridger Gondola.

In the evening take a Solitude Cabin sleigh ride and dinner. They serve roast prime rib au jus, filet of broiled salmon, or vegetarian entree. Good stuff. Call their phone number at (307) 739-2603 to make reservations.

These are some good honeymoon vacation ideas for you to look over. If you don't like a set agenda, you can still glean from these ideas and do what you want at your leisure.

Roger Turner is the webmaster of http://Yellowstone-area-guide.com. He also teaches music and loves the outdoors.

Cruise Honeymoon

Many dream of a perfect wedding; exchanging vows at the beach, drinking champagne at an exotic place, and enjoying the special moment with family and love ones. So after the ceremony comes the best part: the honeymoon. Well, it is not a personal statement. If you ask most couples what type of honeymoon is the best, many would answer, ?cruise honeymoon?.

And why not?

Imagine you and your wife travel anywhere in the world and enjoying the calmness of the sea and enjoying each other?s company together with nature at its best. Imagine you have all the time in the world, sleeping at any hour of the day, watching the stars in the sky and relaxing in a luxurious ship that seems to be designed for both of you. Imagine you get all the luxury in the world while witnessing the beauty of it all at the same time and at the same place.

Yes, all these you can get if you take the honeymoon cruise.

If you can imagine it, then you can get the real sense of it. Booking for a honeymoon cruise is easier and much cheaper nowadays. Many ships have given special attention to newlyweds to enjoy their first days of married life. This result to honeymoon cruise packages. These packages include everything you need; dinner for two, luxurious suite, champagne, and other on-board amenities you need to fully enjoy your honeymoon.

Cruise ships are much easier to locate. With the help of the internet, you can locate cruise liners that offer honeymoon cruise. Here are some cruise lines that offer honeymoon cruises and honeymoon packages: Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Costa Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Holland America, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Orient, Royal Caribbean, Radisson, SeaBourn, Windstar and SilverSea. All these provide the best honeymoon experience you expect.

If in case you want to get married on board, there are several honeymoon cruises that offer this service. Some of these are Disney Cruise, Princess Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.

And if you think of destinations, honeymoon cruises offer a worldwide vacations that suite your desire. You can have tropical cruise, Caribbean cruise, European cruise, Hawaii cruise, and more.

The bottom line here is, whenever you want to go, whatever kind of luxury you need, and whatever experience you desire, honeymoon cruise could satisfy every single nerve in your body that would make this once in a lifetime experience worthwhile.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on honeymoon & other useful information, please visit http://honeymoon.articlekeep.com

Candles Go Only So Far: Five Ideas for a More Romantic Honeymoon

 Candles, rose petals, satin, succulent foods, perfumeyoure probably already familiar with all of these time-honored ingredients for creating a romantic mood on your honeymoon. But candles, rose petals, and other sensual ingredients only go so far. The real key to creating a romantic honeymoon is to spend time celebrating your relationship and your new life together as a married couple. After all, romance is more about the heart than the body.

That doesnt mean you should put the candles away, but start setting the mood early by reveling in your relationship. Here are five ideas to get you started.

1. Explore uncharted territory
Intimacy is a key ingredient for creating a romantic mood. In its most basic sense, intimacy is about revealing our interior selves to another personthe part of ourselves that we normally hide from others. When we do this, we honor the other person as someone we cherish and trust. Since its often difficult to start sharing in this way, a game or book of questions can help. The classic game of relationship questions is the Ungame, while the classic questions book is (appropriately enough) The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock. Each of these products contains hundreds of questions on topics ranging from ethics (What would you do if . . . ?) to feelings and ideas. These are just two of many similar products that you can use in almost any settingeven in the car or airplane on the way to your honeymoon destination.

2. Combine Your Photo Albums
Buy your first photo album together, if you don't get one at your wedding. Bring out your photo albums and choose the best photos of each other from your dating days to put in your new albumit's a great way to relive old memories.

3. Write a Dream Letter
Write letters to each other about your dreams for your marriage. What do you hope your marriage will look like in ten, twenty, or thirty years? Exchange the letters on the first day of your marriage, and then save them to read on your wedding anniversary.

4. Leave Memory Notes Everywhere
Nothing creates a romantic mood better than remembering your best moments together as a couple. Purchase some small notepaper or post-it notes and spend some time digging up your favorite memories of your spouse. How did you meet? How did your first kiss come about? What is the goofiest thing he or she ever did? When was your spouse there for you when you needed him or her the most? Then spend some time thinking of the memories youd most like to share with your spouse over the course of your marriage. Write these all down on the note paper, and hide them all over the place at your honeymoon destination (on the pillow, in the luggage, in the rental car, etc.).

5. Share the Love
The funny thing about love is you get more by giving it away. That's as true for newlyweds as for anyone else, so find ways to share your love with others. Start by committing random acts of kindnessboth toward each other and complete strangers. Visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation web page for inspiration (http://www.actsofkindness.org/). One of our favorite stories there is about a young woman who was caught in the rain when a complete stranger gave her his own umbrella. When she asked how she would return it to him, he just smiled and walked away. Creating great memories like that adds a magical twist to your honeymoon.

That doesnt mean you should put the candles away, but start setting the mood early by reveling in your relationship. Here are five ideas to get you started.

1. Explore uncharted territory
Intimacy is a key ingredient for creating a romantic mood. In its most basic sense, intimacy is about revealing our interior selves to another personthe part of ourselves that we normally hide from others. When we do this, we honor the other person as someone we cherish and trust. Since its often difficult to start sharing in this way, a game or book of questions can help. The classic game of relationship questions is the Ungame, while the classic questions book is (appropriately enough) The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock. Each of these products contains hundreds of questions on topics ranging from ethics (What would you do if . . . ?) to feelings and ideas. These are just two of many similar products that you can use in almost any settingeven in the car or airplane on the way to your honeymoon destination.

2. Combine Your Photo Albums
Buy your first photo album together, if you don't get one at your wedding. Bring out your photo albums and choose the best photos of each other from your dating days to put in your new albumit's a great way to relive old memories.

3. Write a Dream Letter
Write letters to each other about your dreams for your marriage. What do you hope your marriage will look like in ten, twenty, or thirty years? Exchange the letters on the first day of your marriage, and then save them to read on your wedding anniversary.

4. Leave Memory Notes Everywhere
Nothing creates a romantic mood better than remembering your best moments together as a couple. Purchase some small notepaper or post-it notes and spend some time digging up your favorite memories of your spouse. How did you meet? How did your first kiss come about? What is the goofiest thing he or she ever did? When was your spouse there for you when you needed him or her the most? Then spend some time thinking of the memories youd most like to share with your spouse over the course of your marriage. Write these all down on the note paper, and hide them all over the place at your honeymoon destination (on the pillow, in the luggage, in the rental car, etc.).

5. Share the Love
The funny thing about love is you get more by giving it away. That's as true for newlyweds as for anyone else, so find ways to share your love with others. Start by committing random acts of kindnessboth toward each other and complete strangers. Visit the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation web page for inspiration (http://www.actsofkindness.org/). One of our favorite stories there is about a young woman who was caught in the rain when a complete stranger gave her his own umbrella. When she asked how she would return it to him, he just smiled and walked away. Creating great memories like that adds a magical twist to your honeymoon.

Susan and Jerry Windley-Daoust are co-founders of the website Creative Honeymoon Ideas.