(Lainey: Blake & Ryan were married in South Carolina, Hathaway & Portman chose big Sur, Justin Timberlake went to Italy -- the next celebrity destination wedding… Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux? I asked my friend Sara Graham from the travel presse to speculate on the possibilities.)
The destination wedding. For some of us this means getting away from it all, barefoot on the beach with only those you really love surrounding you. For others, it’s a way to avoid all the anticipated drama (and expense) of having every single cousin and their bratty kids at your party.
For celebrities, however, it is all about the drama and the expense. The more lavish the better. The more fantasy crafted around the union of two stars, the more we’re sucked in, and those PEOPLE magazines keep selling. Everyone wins…and I don’t really miss the fiver I just spent.
It was Italy for Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, Tom and Katie, and now Justin and Jessica.
And Jennifer Aniston?
One thing is for sure, she ain’t going back to Malibu.
The rumoured locations to date have included Crete, Kenya and the latest is Julia Roberts’ ranch in New Mexico. US Weekly reported back in August that Jen is intent on a destination, while Justin wants a winter wedding in NYC.
Here are some options -- and since they can easily afford the best of the best, I’ve got vacation suggestions that will do nicely for the rest of us.
Crete makes some sense as Anston’s father is actually from the island. Elounda is a seaside resort area in eastern Crete so luxe resorts abound. The Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites is my pick here for a small, intimate wedding. The views are stunning and the rooms look comfortable, with the right sort of stylish flourishes. That four-bedroom Royal Spa Pool Villa is sweet!
For the rest of us - who want style, without breaking the bank - the Elounda Palm Hotel is a worthy option that’s ideally situated near beaches, shopping and restaurants.
Kenya is a real wild card here. I’ve been and it’s beautiful, but I can’t see them choosing Africa for some reason. (Lainey: Brange were first pictured together, confirming their relationship, on the beach in Kenya. Click here for a refresher.) But if it does end up being an African wedding, Will and Kate got engaged at a Cheli & Peacock Lodge on the slopes of Mount Kenya, although that might be all far too remote for JustJen. The Mara Safari Club is a more likely choice since it can accommodate a large group. The tented accommodations are quite grand and feature four-poster beds and private verandas overlooking hippos lazily bobbing around in the river below. Safaris go out twice per day and the eagle-eyed guides are amazingly good. I know because I’ve stayed there, and can also tell you the resort is worth every penny. If you are going that far, might as well do it right, right?
Now there was recent talk of Jennifer looking at holiday homes in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. She seems to vacation there enough to like the look of the place. Who wouldn’t while having someone else take care of the details at the One & Only Palmilla? This resort is perfect for a sunny celebration and even comes with a lovely Mexican-style chapel that overlooks its beaches.
Where I’d likely end up on a vacay is at the Fiesta Americana Grand, or perhaps at Los Milagros if I wanted to live like a local. The former offers luxury at a fraction of places like One & Only, and it’s ranked #9 on Golf Digest Magazine's list of the Top 50 Best Golf Hotels in the World (assuming this gives the resort a thumbs up from Lainey). The latter just looks super cozy.
A winter white wedding in the city sounds kind of romantic yes? Not many A-listers have chosen NYC, (close one with Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig who went upstate to wed) but it was good enough for Beyoncé and Jay in 2008. Private penthouses aside, The Peninsula is a perfect place to get hitched. The hotel has that quintessential storied glamour combined with a fresh modern atmosphere.
I might head to Manhattan myself for the upcoming holidays, so if I can’t score a rate at Ace Hotel, then I’ll scour Airbnb.com for some cool apartments.
If we’re considering close proximity to LA, I dream of a place like Post Ranch Inn. I’ve been (for a dinner) and it is special, to say the least. A complete utopian getaway nestled high above California’s coastal highway. With 39 guest rooms and two private houses, JustJen could simply take it over.
In addition, there is a treetop spa suite that, aside from the usual suspects, also offers Shaman Sessions. A true blue healer using elemental wisdom “to create physical, mental and emotional well-being”? Please. In the words of Tina Fey, I want to go to there.
For family, friends or a couple touring the area south of Carmel, the Big Sur River Inn is totally charming. Surrounded by redwoods, the place evokes summer camp and has a real take-it-slow vibe that fits the bill.
In the end, if it’s got to be Julia’s place in New Mexico, then all we need to know is who has been there, done that. Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford did it at a private home in 2010.
Here’s Jen at the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund event at Chateau Marmont yesterday.