The tropical blue waters and palm trees of the The InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa are so picture perfect it’s right out of a postcard. But there is much more to this ‘resort within a resort’ venue, than the pure white sandy beaches and aqua blue skies that are every tropical destination wedding dream.
The resort, which spans over 35 acres is perfectly family friendly – in fact adjoining rooms, a well equipped kids club, bar, and multiple restaurants mean that it’s the perfect place for little ones. But then there is something extra special, and what became Mr Polka and my favourite feature of all – the Club InterContinental which makes for a perfect sashay through for pre wedding parties, dancing on the beach receptions to secluded, intimate honeymoons.
Despite the resort’s grand size, there is one factor I adore – the resort will only host one wedding a day. So you have no chance of running in to another wedding or competing for the best spot on the waterside.
While couples can choose to marry anywhere on the property (the Navo Restaurant lawn perhaps my favourite outdoor spot) the glass walled Loloma wedding pavilion, which seats 60 frames the classic tropical view to perfection. Air-conditioned, it’s decorated with carved wooden pews and fresh flowers for a wedding arrival – absent guests can even dial in to the chapel’s live feed and watch the ceremony from afar.
Receptions are of course equally as beautiful with the pavilion lawn, situated in front of the ceremony spot, allowing for outdoor receptions and easy access to dance the night away. The adjoining Kama Beachfront is also popular, allowing guests to kick off their shoes (and has a capacity of 350). For something a little more private, Navo Restaurant and its lawns, located on the lagoon, give the best of both worlds – stunning views and award winning cuisine. The resort’s grand infinity pool rounds out the options – although like many things InterContinental your wish is their command, and any area of the resort is available for celebrations.
Everything is taken care of here at the InterContinental – the glowing Jane, who showed us around the property, oversees the weddings here, and works with couples and their InterContinental wedding planners via email, Skype and conference call.
Every wedding booked at the InterContinental includes a Lagoon view room (my favourite room style of this part of the resort), the lawns spill out to the still lagoon and are situated away from the crowds, making them a gorgeous spot for a few pre-dinner drinks with the friends.
Even the most basic package (Vau Vata) includes all the luxuries – from the hotel room, to a private cabana dinner just for two, champagne on arrival, airport transfers, spa treatments, tropical flower arrangements and even a traditional Fijian Choir to serenade you.
From the base package, the guest inclusions only get better. Packages adding on everything from wedding reception tastings, tribal drumming rituals and fire shows, pre dinner drinks and canapés – the list goes on and is only limited by your imagination. The “Sogo Lagilagi” package the crème de la crème, which includes everything from return business class flights, the exclusive use of the club lounge area and club level accommodation for 110 guests. You can only guess how I am envious of the endless inclusions of that amazing, ‘don’t lift a finger’ experience!
When it comes to the wedding day, couples can make the most of the onsite spa – the private Orchid Room bridal suite complete with outdoor spa and twin massage beds has plenty of room for bridal parties and guests to spend their morning in air conditioned comfort.
The wedding team works one on one with you to customize your experience. Want to dance all night? They’ll book out the Jambu bar for you. Want to escape from the main resort for your honeymoon? They’ll work with you to upgrade to the exclusive club level.
And while packages and additions and special treats are the foundation of why the InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa makes such a gorgeous wedding spot, it is the team here that really makes the experience special.
During our stay at the resort, when it was almost full capacity, we somehow felt as if we were the only guests in sight. Team members widening their grin as we came into view, the extra little treats that seemingly came out of nowhere but made our experience that much more memorable, and above all trust – trust that we were being looked after and the team had it under control. And if there is one thing I know about wedding planning, it’s that trusting your wedding team is the most important part of all.
Polka Dot Bride was flown to Fiji and stayed at The InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa as a guest of The InterContinental Fiji Resort & Spa for editorial consideration in accordance with our disclosure policy.
All images taken by Ms Polka Dot.
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