a royal affair...

Ever since Kate Middleton married her Prince last year, couples everywhere have fantasized about having their own Royal Wedding. And while getting married in West Minster Abbey isn’t a very realistic option, getting married in a castle is a very viable one!

I recently had the privilege of visiting Highclere Castle just outside of London. Set in the gorgeous English countryside, this victorian castle has been home to the Carnarvon family since the early 1600’s. In fact, the Earl and Countess still live here and I had the great honor of sitting down for tea with Lady Carnarvon during my visit.

To visit Highclere is to step back in time.... which makes sense why the popular series Downton Abbey is filmed on location there. It was fascinating to hear Lady Carnarvon talk about how she, her husband, their four sons and three dogs call this 300 room castle home. Yes, it takes a small army (a staff of 100 ) to keep everything running, there are no showers in any of the 80 bathrooms and no TV, but somehow- this family gets on just fine.



As I sat in the drawing room, sipping my tea- I took in my surroundings. Ornately decorated with antiques and glorious oil paintings, the room also had quite a cozy feel to it. A mixture of old and new- the room was filled with photographs- old black & white pictures of the royal family mixed in with colorful snapshots of the Carnarvon’s today. 

The castle has become a wildly popular place to visit due to the popularity of the fictional, UK drama- “Downton Abbey”- set in the Edwardian period and depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of King George V. 

The castle is open for tours, but is also available to rent out for weddings.



There are multiple options within the castle and it’s surrounding grounds to accommodate weddings from 10 to 400 people. They’ve done everything from a proper English Garden wedding for 300 people under a marquis in the garden to a more intimate affair in the library. And while there are no overnight accommodations for guests in the castle itself, there are multiple hotels just down the road.

So for all those ladies out there who want to have a real Cinderella experience on their Wedding Day- Runaway Bride can help you make this happen at Highclere Castle or any of the other beautiful castles throughout Europe!

2012... a symbolic year in the maya calendar

It has been said that once the dust of Mexico touches your soul, you will never be the same. This couldn’t be more true - especially in 2012. This is a very symbolic year in the Maya calendar, a year of renewals and new beginnings. To honor this historic event, couples seeking a truly spiritual experience should tie the knot amid this enchanting culture in some of Mexico’s most sacred places. It goes without saying that the scenery and locales will leave you mesmerized, but there is something to be said about saying “I do” in the shade of ancient Maya ruins or being married by a Shaman in a traditional Maya wedding ceremony.

Here are some tips for couples looking to add an exotic twist to their ceremony:

Traditional Maya Ceremony

To the Maya, a wedding ceremony is a rite of passage, a ritual of purification, connecting a couple’s spirituality with the natural world around them. The couple is surrounded by family and friends who form a circle of energy around them. Candlelight and the smoke of sacred copal incense, create a magical and mysterious atmosphere. Calling upon the four elements as witnesses, the Shaman calls forth: water, air, earth and fire. Ancestral instruments accompanied by traditional chants, replicate the sounds of the ocean, wind, birds and trees. A colored cloth placed on the couple unites them, symbolizing the start of their new life together.

Love Among the Ruins

Combining tradition, mystery and tranquility, the seaside Maya city of Tulum is a quiet place where the warm white sands and Caribbean breeze, lull you into a state of serenity. Here, the sacred ruins can be the backdrop on your special day or you can exchange vows at nearby mystical cenotes (underground sinkholes). The impressive temples of Cobá offer another magical setting for your not-so-traditional nuptials. Tulum is the only known archaeological site located by the sea and it is easily accessible from the popular Riviera Maya “corridor.” Boutique hotels, rustic beachfront cabanas and private rentals provide a great alternative for those seeking a more low key experience.

A Colonial Affair

Beautifully restored 18th century haciendas are the settings for weddings in Merida, located about three hours west of Cancun’s Riviera Maya. Home to some of the world’s most ancient archaeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal, the Maya culture is very much alive in this corner of the Yucatan peninsula. This romantic, colonial city offers a fresh alternative to popular beach destinations, promising unique hideaways and world class accommodations. Couples can exchange their vows in elegant cathedrals or in quaint colonial chapels, followed by outdoor receptions set in lush garden settings and haciendas, evoking the grace and elegance of “old” Mexico.

Traditional Maya Healing Rituals

The practice of healing through pre-Hispanic indigenous rituals is still very much a part of the Maya culture today. These ceremonies have tremendous spiritual and healing power. Laying the groundwork for mind and spirit to become one, many couples incorporate these traditions into their experience. Through the years, Maya have employed different practices for healing - massage being one of them. Natural therapeutic clay is applied to couples during the popular Maya Clay massage, while ancient ritual chants ask the gods to give the newlyweds a long life of happiness. A Temazcal - indigenous sweat lodge - is another unforgettable group experience. The native people of Mexico have been practicing this purifying steam bath ritual for hundreds of years. Based on traditional healing methods that incorporate the properties of fire and water to purify mind, body and soul, this has been a popular treatment with honeymooners and couples the night before their wedding ceremony. 

This intruiging culture is begging to be explored....