Travel Article: Getting Married in the Whitsundays

His T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan No Fear, the ghostly white English backpacker sat on the Whitsunday beach, too afraid to snorkel. Perhaps if the bashful Brit had known he had more chance of getting married in the Whitsundays than spotting a shark, he might have had reason for sweaty palms.

In fact, you don't even need to go all the way to Las Vegas to find an Elvis; the mammoth Maori wrasse fish, named after the King himself, lives in Blue Pearl Bay off Hayman Island.

The Whitsundays is the kind of place where you take the plunge - into the azure waters which frame the exotic island - and for many, into the world of weddings.

 

 With a reef shaped like a heart, a world-famous beach as white as any wedding, and waters which sparkle like diamonds, the Whitsundays is a marriage mecca.

Here, celebrants scuba to the ceremony and brides and grooms take the plunge, literally, off the back of boats.

There's a thousand reasons to travel to the Whitsundays, and for those in search of a romantic place to propose, marry or honeymoon, look no further...

Hayman Island

There's arguably no more exclusive destination than Hayman on which to honeymoon and get married. Between 150 and 200 people choose this exotic location as their wedding venue and around 10,000 people each year choose to honeymoon on Hayman.

Almost anything is possible on the island, although the request for a white pony was turned down because it is a national park.

Couples can choose from a number of ceremony locations including the scenic chapel Stellar Maris, which was built in 1996, the Lagoon Lanai (complete with two elegant white swans), the Formal Gardens, a beach ceremony or on board a luxury yacht.

For more information: Hayman Island

Hamilton Island

From white wedding gowns to white bikinis, around 500 couples marry each year on Hamilton Island, making it the marriage mecca of the Whitsundays.

Hamilton Island weddings manager Rohan Gull says they offer everything, including an on-island photographer who knows all the best locations, and coordinators who have a strict policy of only dealing with the bride and groom, unless permission is granted to speak to other family members.

"You come here and your wedding is coordinated," he says.

"Mums can't interfere and mothers-in-law can't interfere. Brides just love it as it is so stress-free. They come here for the fairytale wedding."

With 10 restaurants, private houses and boats, marriage makers are spoilt for choice on Hamilton Island. Around 60 per cent of couples marry in the island's chapel, which sits high on the hill overlooking the resort.

Couples can also choose to celebrate their ceremony aboard the luxury yacht the Denison Star - a 107ft timber motor cruiser which ploughs the nearby waters around sunset, offering sensational food amid a stunning setting.

For more information: Hamilton Island Weddings and The Denison Star

Daydream Island Resort and Spa

Daydreaming of a romantic wedding location? Look no further than Sunlovers Beach on Daydream Island Resort and Spa. Here, you can be serenaded by a beautiful Balinese band while the sun sets over the secluded cove.

Make sure you speak to the chef about his superbly crafted miniature wedding cakes.

The resort's chapel is built at sea level and its glass windows offer beautiful views of the surrounding Coral Sea.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is also the ideal location for those wishing to indulge in some pre-wedding pampering with a day spa which is arguably the best in Australia.

Couples can partake in pre-wedding treatments or unwind after the wedding with a pampering package.

Daydream Island Resort and Spa also offers competitive honeymoon packages. Those wishing to tee off their marriage on a high note, should also check out the unusual mini-golf course before they go home.

For more information: Daydream Island

Coral Sea Resort

Romantic landlubbers need look no further than the Coral Sea Resort at Airlie Beach for wedding day inspiration.

About 50 couples get married at this absolute oceanfront location each year with its quaint outdoor chapel as close to the Coral Sea as you could imagine.

For those wishing to indulge in a romantic stay, make sure you book into the Coral Sea Suites, which, as the name suggests, sit right on the edge of the Coral Sea and come complete with balcony spas and hammocks.

For more information: Coral Sea Resort

Reefworld and Whitehaven Beach

Be surrounded by one of the world's seven wonders on your wedding day at the Great Barrier Reef with HeliReef Whitsunday.

Board your own private helicopter or seaplane and fly out over Heart Reef before landing at the Reefworld Pontoon from which you can exchange wedding vows among the turquoise waters, coral gardens and tropical fish.

Or set the scene for a white wedding by proposing at the world-famous Whitehaven Beach.

HeliReef Whitsunday will fly you and your beloved over the silicon sands of Whitehaven which will be adorned with a banner asking "Will You Marry Me?".

HeliReef Whitsunday also offers honeymoon daytrips to Whitehaven which includes a champagne picnic.

For more information: Helireef

Sail into the Sunset

At the end of the big day or for those just wishing to sail off into the sunset, Sunsail, which operates out of Hamilton Island, is one of the best bareboat companies around. With a wide range of yachts on offer, and a sailing school for those yet to acquire their sea legs, this provides the perfect option for the real romantic. Sail throughout the Whitsunday Islands and you'll fall in love again with life - as well as each other.

For more information: Sunsail

By Christine Retschlag