Tahiti - Part deux

Last week I returned from Tahiti, known for its overwater bungalows and crystal-blue water. And when it comes to weddings and honeymoons, I found these South Pacific hotspots don’t skimp on romance.


When I arrived at Le Meridien Bora Bora, I was promptly greeted with a lei and coconut water (in a coconut of course), then escorted to my room. Large glass floors open to the water below, a private deck looks out to the sea, and, should you want to explore, they even give you your own snorkel, mask and fins. It’s enough to make you never want to leave your bungalow! But when you can tear yourself away, the resort’s turtle nursery and more than 100 other species of critters wait for you in the lagoon. Now on to the wedding deets:

The event spaces
While a traditional Polynesian beach ceremony is always popular, their new overwater chapel has ornate stained-glass windows, a shell-made altar and a windowed floor that looks into the neon-blue water below.


Want an underwater wedding? They can do that too. Your non-diving guests can even watch your nuptials from above. After the ceremony, the newlyweds cross the lagoon via canoe for a Polynesian celebration with dancers, music and Tahitian cuisine. (Planning up to nine months in advance is recommended, but I hear they can pull it off in less than three.)


Personal highlight
I’m about to make a bold statement: The diving here is some of the best I’ve ever experienced. I rank it among my top three dive spots — hands down! Bora Diving Center took us out for a two-tank dive, and while I was told we were going to see sharks, I have learned never to get my hopes up. (It is nature.)


On our first dive at Toopua, we not only found soft corals, spotted eagle rays, a giant trigger fish (that followed us the entire time), anemone fish and Tahitian butterfly fish, but we were also greeted with a few lemonsharks. I was stoked! In between dives they served us coconut Tahitian cookies and warm tea (so yummy) before we got in for our second dive at Tapo, where we saw so many lemonsharks and blacktips that I didn’t know which one to look at first. It seriously doesn’t get much better than that. I found my happy place.



Thinking of planning a wedding or honeymoon in Tahiti? Send me an email — I’ve got tons of ideas!

Dress-hunting? Susan and I are New-York bound for bridal market where I’m sure we will have lots to fall in love with. Stay tuned!