Best Resort in the American West for Weddings: Don’t Want to Risk A Rainy Wedding Day?

The InterContinental Montelucia Sees, On Average, a Mere Five Inches of Rain a Year!

By Si Si Penaloza

I’m a hopeless dreamer at heart - a lover of travel, history and romance. And if all three come wrapped up in the perfect climate rather than the pages of a Nicholas Sparks novel, then the formula is damn near faultless as far as I’m concerned. Which makes the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa our perfect winter wedding destination, since it combines all three elements.

Perched at the base of Camelback Mountain, Montelucia merges perfectly into the environment like an inverted mirage. Heavy Spanish antique doors and olive wood furniture give an authentic vibe, and walking along the pathways at night, with their hypnotic lighting scheme, is almost a religious experience. Geometric blocks of light, shade and architecture create stunning vistas and windows into the oasis. There’s real beauty in the simplicity - think Goya’s studio meets Penelope Cruz’s bedroom. As the sun begins to dip, the dunes become luminous, looking laser-cut, precise and perfect.

Imagine arriving at your wedding stress-free and energized. Let the dilligent staff do the planning and you’ll enjoy a relaxing day filled with wonder, beauty, and magic. Montelucia can customize the occasion to accommodate any special needs or individual wishes of the wedding couple and include a choice of romantic ceremony locations on the property.

What could be better than exchanging your vows with sensual Andalusia style? Whether you want your Arizona wedding to be a private affair or a full desert cultural experience, Montelucia will make sure your wedding is an perfectly executed occasion.

As Arizona’s only luxury resort with a private wedding chapel, Castillo Lucena, Montelucia offers an ideal atmosphere for the perfect social gala or wedding celebration, accommodating from 10 to more than 1000 guests. Brides and their bridal party can prepare for the event in their very own intimate bridal preparation room - playfully named Isabella’s Parlour -offering privacy and direct access to Castillo Lucena. The Groom and his best man can rehearse vows and speeches in a parallel holding room, Ferdinand’s cellar, which happens to be one of our favorite spaces on the property. Some of Montelucia’s finer vintages are kept in this room, which is adorned with an impressive antique door from the ancestral birthplace of King Ferdinand of Spain.

With more than 27,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, including the astounding 9,216 square-foot Grand Andalusian Ballroom, 4,650 square-foot Junior Ballroom and 16 separate meeting rooms, the resort easily caters to wedding both intimate and grand. Capitalizing on the enjoyable year-round weather is 70,000 square feet of event space in seven outdoor venues. Innovative catered food and beverage service is available for all events.

Montelucia staff are committed to making sure that your unique personality and individuality are expressed for your wedding. From the elegantly catered dinner, to the joyous ‘I-dos’, and the final farewells, Montelucia offers an event your guests will cherish. Your wedding album will capture countless shades of a brilliant Paradise Valley sunset—a spectacular setting to begin a new life together.

Anna Kournikova: Tennis Star Lives At the Top of Her Game in Miami

A Place Where Sun-Kissed Divas

Don’t Have to Worry About Bronzer Application

Miami resident, tennis bombshell and K-Swiss fashionista Anna Kournikova loves her South Beach lifestyle. She ran the Nautica South Beach Triathlon as part of a HOTTIE celebrity relay team that included Olympian Dana Torres (swimming) and model/triathlete Katya Myers (biking). Kournikova and boyfriend Enrique Iglesias obviously thrive in the sunny climate of SoBe:

“I just love the area and the water and the weather and the people. I travel so much for work that when I come home, it’s like I am on vacation. I like the relaxed lifestyle and being able to wear flip-flops and shorts. In a city like New York you can’t go outside and relax, and I don’t have time to worry about how I look. And I like that it’s a small community. I just like everything about it.

The Perfect Weekend Itinerary

Blink your eyes, the saying goes, and Miami changes yet again. Yesterday’s dollar store pedestrian mall becomes today’s concourse for Parisian perfumeries. The international crowd’s moved in, the city has reinvented itself, and it’s the season for a new wave of galleries and hipster haunts.

Five Things You Must Do:

1. Sip a sidecar at the freshly minted and restored Art Moderne jewel, the luxurious South Beach Ritz Carlton. Since its inauguration, the SBRC’s enjoyed the instantly smitten loyalty of socialites and starlets alike. 1 Lincoln Road (305) 793-8268

2. Make an appointment to view the renowned Margulies Collection of contemporary art. 591 NW 27th Street 305-576-1051

3. Check out Art Basel Miami Beach in December. This is an A-List affair. www.artbaselmiamibeach.com

4. Spend a highbrow afternoon at the austere Wolfsonian Museum. The collection explores the persuasive power of design in the modern world, giving Miami a cultural oasis of international importance. 1001 Washington Avenue (305) 535-2626

5. Meet up with friends at the Shore Club. With such asset franchises on site as Oribe and Nobu, the hotel rivals The Delano as the name-dropper’s destination du jour. 1901 Collins Avenue (305) 695-3100

Where to Find Your Dream Ottoman:

The Miami Design District occupies an 18-block area centered at Northeast Second Avenue. Alongside 125 high-end showrooms, the drowsy 1930s factories now house vibrant galleries, restaurants, and clubs. When galleries hold opening receptions, the area explodes into a sophisticated block party. Holly Hunt is a chic 25,000-square-foot mecca of contemporary home furnishings by the likes of Christian Liaigre and Rose Tarlow. Kevin Bruk Gallery has an impressive mix of blue chip such as Ed Ruscha.

To Book this Trip visit the official tourism site for Miami.