Georgia: A Perfect Place
to Say "I Do"
Whether you are looking for the ideal location
for a destination wedding or are in search for a
quaint bed and breakfast to spend a blissful honeymoon,
the Peach State has perfect spots that add to the
romance of your special occasion.
Luxurious Resorts
More than 35,000 couples have celebrated their new
lives together in the grand Cloister tradition.
The Cloister on Sea Island offers a picturesque
backdrop to proclaim your commitment as well as
ideal accommodations for the entire wedding party.
Generations of families, royalty and heads of state,
including the entire G8 delegation, have found respite
in the magnificent coastal landscape. In turn, The
Cloister on Sea Island pampers its guests with unparalleled
service and a legendary array of amenities.
The Morgans, Pulitzers, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts
helped nickname Jekyll as "Millionaire's Island."
Join this distinguished list of inhabitors at the
island's exclusive Jekyll Island Club to begin your
lives together. A national historic landmark founded
in 1886, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel offers a surfside
Beach Club, 63 holes of championship golf, indoor
and outdoor tennis, croquet and other lawn games,
a marina and elegant shopping boutiques throughout
the Jekyll Island Historic District, the largest
restoration project in the Southeast.
One beautiful setting for weddings on Jekyll is
the lovely Faith Chapel, located in the heart of
the Historic Landmark District. Faith Chapel's construction,
inside and out, is Tidewater Red Cypress shingle,
and the interior is dominated by two magnificent
stained glass windows -- one signed by Louis Comfort
Tiffany, one of only four of its kind in the United
States. The 1904 electric lighting design is beautiful
and subtle with sconces as the primary fixtures.
Also on Jekyll Island, Villa Marianna, another
popular option for matrimonial affairs, was built
in 1928 by Frank Miller Gould and features lovely
Spanish eclectic style architecture. A 15-foot breezeway
observatory overlooks the walled courtyard filled
with seasonal flowers, and an Italian-style fireplace
and reflecting pool add romantic touches to this
beautiful structure. The courtyards, along with
the openness of a large great room, make Villa Marianna
an ideal venue for your special occasion.
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation includes
approximately 7,000 acres of pines surrounding the
19,000-acre, scenic Lake Oconee. The resort offers
81 holes of world-class championship golf, a Golf
Academy, a 26,000-square-foot Native American-themed
spa, water sports and nearby Equestrian Center,
clay shooting, shopping, antiquing and antebellum
trail mansion tours - something for everyone in
the wedding party. Pampering is also part of the
credo at Reynold's Plantation, some of the amenities
include a dedicated butler/attendant service, cooked-to-order
breakfasts and evening cocktails, poolside lunches,
spa services, nightly options from the drawn bath
and turndown menus, health club access, and unlimited
use of canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and bicycles,
among many other luxuries.
Untouched for centuries, Little St. Simons Island
is a privately owned barrier island with more than
seven miles of undeveloped beaches perfect for a
secluded waterside ceremony. The Lodge on Little
St. Simons Island houses no more than 30 guests
at a time with 15 guestrooms arranged in five charming
cottages dating back to 1917: the Hunting Lodge,
Cedar House, River Lodge, Michael Cottage and Helen
House. The Lodge was recently named one of the world's
top 10 "great escapes" by the prestigious Robb Report.
Barnsley Gardens Resort is on the grounds of Godfrey
Barnsley's 19th century estate and is another charming
venue to celebrate romance and the beginning of
a long life together. Barnsley arrived in this country
in 1824 and a few years later began building his
family a grand mansion in what is today Adairsville.
The estate, which came to be known as Woodlands,
was built in Italian villa style with Italian and
French marble, furnishings from around the world
and elaborate gardens modeled after the architectural
designs of Andrew Jackson Downing.
Today, the ruins of Woodland provide a beautiful
backdrop to the restored gardens and luxury resort
that has become Barnsley Gardens. The resort comprises
a 19th century-style English village and contains
33 English-style guest cottages with 70 individually
decorated suites. The luxurious cottages feature
wood-burning fireplaces, custom-made king size beds
dressed in Egyptian linens, ball and claw tubs and
porches overlooking individually designed gardens;
it is a breathtaking setting to tie the knot and
reunite with loved ones.
Situated on 18 bucolic acres in the heart of central
Georgia, Henderson Village is a charming 24-room
country resort. This quaint, yet sophisticated accommodation
offers couples and entire wedding parties southern
hospitality at its best in the form of 12 historic
homes beautifully restored and relocated amidst
thousands of acres of open prairies, pine forests,
cotton fields, pecan orchards and lake waters. From
tenant cottages to turn-of-the-century homes, indulge
at Henderson Village in whirlpool tubs, on private
porches and in front of gas fireplaces. Guests can
also ride horses, fish, golf and take part in unique
gaming experiences.
Romantic Bed & Breakfasts
From the sultry tunes of its First City to the charm
of its small, Southern towns, from historic ambiance
to serene natural surroundings, Georgia boasts a
number of bed and breakfasts for honeymooners, romantic
weekend getaways and more.
The Gastonian is one of the most majestic and upscale
of Savannah's historic inns. Built in 1868, it is
known the world over for its legendary hospitality
and historic charm. It provides an inviting, elegant
world of 19th century ambiance and history coupled
with every imaginable modern comfort and service.
Another Savannah accommodation worth noting is the
Ballastone Inn. Andrew Harper embraced the Savannah
small luxury hotel for his 2005 "Hideaway of the
Year" Grand Award and Money magazine named the intimate
inn among its top six great romantic getaways. This
four-story antebellum mansion built in 1838, combines
old-fashioned elegance and charm with modern-day
convenience. Expect pampered amenities to include
an exceptionally attentive staff and a southern
pace of peaceful privacy. Saunter in the various
cozy corners of the inn, or mellow amid the lush
private garden courtyard. Georgia's First City entices
visitors from around the globe for its history,
architecture and authentic Southern cuisine. Come
unlock the mystery of this saucy, yet elegant bell
of the Georgia coast and experience fun-filled days
and nights.
Originally built in 1900 as a home for Lucy and
Thomas Carnegie's daughter, Margaret Ricketson,
the Greyfield Inn on Georgia's pristine Cumberland
Island was opened in 1962 by Margaret's daughter,
Lucy R. Ferguson, and her family. This grand and
graceful mansion on Georgia's largest and southernmost
coastal island boasts a distinctive character, finely
decorated and set apart by family heirlooms and
antiques. This area is also known for its diverse
wildlife. It is not uncommon to find wild horses
running on the beach and notice the complex ecological
system of interdependent animal and plant communities.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were a
couple that basked in the charm of this area and
decided to marry in a small chapel on the island
and honeymoon at Greyfield Inn.
Modern day casual elegance meets old-world charm
and grace at the 1906 Pathway Inn. Located in Americus,
the heart of pastoral Georgia, this inn showcases
English Colonial Revival style architecture with
a circular rocker-filled veranda, perfect for sipping
tea and wine or toasting newlyweds. Each of the
five rooms is adorned with beautiful stained glass
and woodwork and romantic fireplaces offering the
ultimate in ambiance. While in Americus, visit the
international headquarters of Habitat for Humanity,
the Global Village and Discovery Center or the many
other community landmarks.
The Claremont House Bed & Breakfast is a classic
Victorian mansion offering a unique experience for
your stay in Rome. Nestled in the midst of large
live oak and magnolia trees, the Claremont House
was built in 1882 and is listed on the Historical
Register as the finest example of Victorian Gothic
architecture in Georgia. The 14-foot ceilings, 11
fireplaces, remarkably carved woodwork and Victorian
antiques take visitors back in time. History abounds
in Rome, from the Chieftain Museum commemorating
the National Trail of Tears to the Major Ridge Home,
which celebrates Cherokee and American history in
the area.
