Westworld Alberta

kristy ryan S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 | W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A 31 Good to know: Two weeks prior to the wedding, a non-impediment form needs to be submitted, along with passports, birth certificates and an affidavit of marriage (issued at least four weeks prior), plus any documentation of divorce, annulment or death of a former spouse. After the ceremony, a marriage cer- tificate is available from the National Registry Office. Italy: In a Hillside Villa Cupid has taken aim at many a lovestruck couple in Italy. George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin had a lavish Venice wedding last September. K im Kardashian and Kanye West got married at the 16th-century Forte di Belvedere in Florence last May. But beyond the cities lies the romance of the countryside and coast. Tuscany is dotted with lovely villas, like Il Mulino di Ferraia in Chianti, a restored 16th-century windmill that guests have nicknamed Casa delle Fate (House of the Fairies). Set your cere- mony and reception by the river, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. en explore this storied area further with a visit to nearby Vallombrosa Abbey, and indulge in wine tastings and a cooking class. Or there's the Amalfi Coast. Hole up in Villa The Big Five AMA's most-booked wedding destinations are popular for a reason Albertans are choosing destination weddings by the droves – to escape winter, keep nuptial costs down and make lasting memories with friends and family in tow. These are our top five spots for getting hitched outside the country: Mexico. The Mayan Riviera is AMA's No. 1 wedding des- tination, thanks to luxurious resorts with wedding pack- ages galore, turquoise Carib- bean waters, Mayan cultural sites and ecological parks. Dominican Republic. This island nation in the West Indies is a white- sand paradise. Punta Cana, on the east coast, with its palm-lined, electric-blue waters and powder-soft beaches, is especially sought-after for weddings. Jamaica. Although more expensive than Mexico and the Dominican, Jamaica is chock-full of resorts with wedding packages to suit all budgets. Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril offer a dreamscape of beaches, parks, friendly local faces and chilled-out culture. Cuba. The most budget- friendly wedding destination, Cuba entices with miles upon miles of white-sand beaches and eclectic local culture. Most couples marry at a Varadero resort and take day trips to Havana to explore the vibrant city streets. Costa Rica. The spot for active couples and nature lovers who would rather sleep in a treehouse than set foot in an all-inclusive. Isolated beaches, volcanoes and deep jungles packed with wildlife are all close at hand – and make for perfect diversions after an intimate oceanside ceremony. (left) Sarah and Josh Walk eloped to Iceland last year and posed for photos in front of Gullfoss, the country's famed 32-metre-tall waterfall; (right and below) Danielle West and Mark Relf got hitched in a rustic villa under the Tuscan sun. iPad readers: Download the spring issue to get two more wedding destinations: Ireland and Greece!

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