Top 10 reasons to say "I do" at a Mauritius resort

Breakfast on the beach. They call it pieds dans l’eau (feet in the water). It involves setting up a private table near the water lapping the best stretch of beach in the area. The table is shaded by an umbrella, beautifully decorated, and I’m waited on by attendant servers as if I am a celebrity. But that’s what it feels like when you’re there – whether you’re a local or a foreigner, you get the royal treatment.

Passers-by walk around me, some stealing curious glances, while others build a sandcastle or take photographs right in front of me. The beach is not for exclusive use and anyone is free to make the most of it.

During my visit, Jennifer checks on me regularly while coordinating event celebrations with a four-member team. “If you need anything, please do not hesitate. I am here to assist.” It’s a familiar refrain, which Jennifer repeats in our recent conversation about the resort’s upcoming wedding salon planned for April 2021.

Mauritius is a very popular wedding destination and LUX* Belle Mare is listed among ‘The 50 Best Wedding Venue Hotels’ by Hotels in Heaven. This is what they had to say with their listing: “Surrounded by a glimmering lagoon, white sand beaches and palm trees – this is a one-of-a-kind place to say ‘I do’. The LUX* Belle Mare Resort & Villas on the island of Mauritius is luxurious, exquisite and fabulous. The hotel staff and wedding planners take care of every little detail for your special occasion.”

Says regional general manager Ashish Modak about LUX* Belle Mare: “To be listed amongst the 50 best wedding venue hotels in the world is a huge achievement for our resort and the team. The beauty of the resort and our wedding venues, the elegantly designed rooms and the readiness of the team to go the extra mile ensure that each wedding is indeed unique. LUX* Belle Mare offers all the elements to make the wedding day even more special for every couple!”

Top 10 reasons to get married at LUX* Belle Mare

1. Location: Think pale white beach sand with dreamy sunset or tropical garden gazebo that can be reached via a short wooden walkway that stretches over a tranquil pond. By day or by night, by candlelight, the setting is unforgettable. The ceremony can be as intimate or public as your heart desires.
2. Catering: The local and international chefs at LUX* Belle Mare are famous for their cuisine. You have mouth-watering selections to choose from!
3. Flowers: Being an island paradise means local flowers are plentiful, pretty and colourful. Frangipani and hibiscus are just some of my favourites among the tropical flora. 
4. Spa: Book the couple’s room at the LUX* Me Spa for pre-wedding prep or a lovely relaxing sea-salt scrub and massage afterwards. This can also be conducted in the privacy of your suite or villa. 
5. Hair and makeup: The service providers are expert at creating any look, no matter if you prefer a casual look or sophisticated up style. It’s important to get the makeup right to suit the climate. It can be humid and the stylists know what works for the weather.
6. Photographer and videographer: Lapped by sapphire waters and dotted with swaying palms, LUX* Belle Mare is a sea-view sanctuary on the eastern coast of Mauritius. Consider some footage of you horse-riding together along the edge of the shore. This activity is best soon after sunrise when it’s cooler. The horses know the route well and are used to being photographed under supervision by their jockeys.
7. Entertainment: DJ, one-man band, duo or full band? Mauritius is known for its musical talent and the celebration team can arrange whatever musical accompaniment is required.
8. Accommodation: There are 12 on-sea villas, four ocean suites and the Grand LUX* suite, all designed by renowned interior designer Kelly Hoppen, which provide the ideal accommodation for a hideaway honeymoon. It’s your own private space, in a luxurious, secluded environment.
9. Curated experiences: Turn up the romance with dinner for two on the beach of Mauritius; book a private-chef experience at the Aubergine Farm; enjoy bubbly and taps in the dug-out beach lounge, Flute; and book a bubble bath prepared for you with essential oils, rose petals, candles and, yes, more bubbly. 
10. Renewal of vows: Some couples return years later to renew their vows.

Reasons to go LUX*

The island is currently in lockdown, while the government mitigates the impact of some new Covid-19 virus infections, but no setback is enough to quell the passion and determination of the LUX* Belle Mare team.

Behind the scenes, they swivel and swirl through every new challenge. There’s a reason the sega is the national dance in Mauritius! To dance it effectively you need to be able to adapt to any circumstance, dance on any surface and be super fit. (I’m usually breathless after one dance, and I consider myself fit.) So all efforts in the celebration department are focused on the award-winning resort’s upcoming Wedding Show, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 3 April 2021, from 10am and 8pm.

Put Mauritius top of your post-Covid-19 travel list: Touring the Aubergine Garden at LUX* Belle Mare

Debbie Hathway  23 Jun 2020

If you are planning on tying the knot, and you’re on the island, the Wedding Show is the place to be. And if you’re looking for the perfect venue, this five-star resort ticks all the boxes. I’ve been around when weddings have taken place here and love watching the proceedings from a discreet distance. “We have had quite a few weddings since the pandemic, organised in line with regulations,” says Jennifer. “We normally have 10 guests in the wedding party, maximum 15. We can accommodate up to 50 people for a reception at Beach Rouge, which is right on the beach. It is under a cover but open on all sides, so well ventilated.”

LUX* Belle Mare has all the ingredients for a picture-perfect wedding and honeymoon. There is a range of packages available, which can be tailored to your liking and, of course, Jennifer and her team making sure everything runs smoothly on the day. A wedding on this special stretch of the east coast of Mauritius is as romantic as it gets.

Special offer: Two double junior suites will be offered complimentary on a half-board basis for two nights with all group bookings for a minimum of 100 guests. *A 50% deposit will be required. 

Call Jennifer on +230 5919 1735 or email moc.eramellebxul@essiralc.refinnej for more information. www.luxresorts.com