With just a few weeks remaining until the much anticipated July 2 fairytale nuptials of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II and elegant South African Olympic swimmer Charlène Wittstock, Monaco’s renowned hotels are inviting guests to experience the romance with special royal wedding packages throughout the summer.
“This summer is an especially exciting time for Monaco as we are graced with a truly momentous royal wedding – marking a time to rejoice and celebrate our country’s traditions and rich heritage with the rest of the world. The hotels of Monaco are showing guests the royal treatment as they experience, first-hand, the romance and enchantment of the Principality,” said Maguy Maccario, consul general and director, North America, Monaco Government Tourist Office.
Royal Wedding Packages
For a special romantic getaway, Hotel Metropole, recently named “The Best Hotel in the World” by Leading Hotels of The World, is setting the mood of romance with a breath-taking ‘Garden of Eden’ display in the lobby featuring a cherry blossom tree, white flower arrangements and white and red roses planted along the hotel’s discreet archway entrance. The hotel’s “Celebration” package, available through October 15, 2011, and priced at €625, features one nights’ accommodation for two for in a Superior Room, a VIP welcome with a complimentary bottle of champagne, American breakfast in the Joël Robuchon Restaurant Monte-Carlo and the choice of dinner for two at the Joël Robuchon Restaurant Monte-Carlo or a one hour treatment each at the Metropole ESPA Monte-Carlo.
The Fairmont Monte Carlo, with its central location and outlook over the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, offers the “Princely Wedding,” package starting at €429 per night, which includes accommodation for two nights in a luxurious room, a welcome gift of champagne, canapés or sweet treats, chocolate and flowers, daily buffet breakfast, and a special “Princely Wedding” gift. The Fairmont Monte Carlo’s “Princely Wedding” package is available from June 20 – July 10, 2011.
The celebration continues at the Monte-Carlo Beach with a “Royal Wedding” package available from June 30 to July 3, 2011. Starting at €925, the “Royal Wedding” package includes three nights’ accommodation in double sea view room, buffet breakfast per person, VIP romantic welcome with Champagne “Les Amours de Deutz,” a romantic dinner for two at the restaurant La Vigie, ‘honeymoon’ bungalow or cabana at the Beach Club, in-room surprise daily, a “souvenir de Monte-Carlo” gift and membership in the Cercle Monte-Carlo loyalty card program with benefits and access to various venues within the Monte-Carlo SBM Resort.
The Columbus Monte-Carlo, a contemporary haven facing the Princess Grace Rose Garden and the Mediterranean, is offering “Royal Engagement,” featuring two nights in a double deluxe room with English buffet breakfast, a Cocktail Grace served on arrival, dinner for two on the terrace, and a special souvenir wedding gift. Packages start at €695 and are available from June 30 to July 2, 2011.
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort offers guests the royal treatment with its “Royal Wedding” package, available June 30 to July 4, 2011. Starting at €711, this package offers two nights in a double sea view room with buffet breakfast, a romantic welcome of champagne, flowers and sweets, a Royal Lulur two-hour ritual at the SPA5Mondes for two, a “souvenir de Monte-Carlo” gift and membership in the Cercle Monte-Carlo loyalty card program with benefits and access to various venues within the Monte-Carlo SBM Resort.
Le Méridien Beach Plaza, the only hotel in Monaco with a private beach, is offering a royal wedding package featuring two nights’ accommodation with buffet breakfast at L’intempo Restaurant, a welcome “Princess Grace” cocktail upon arrival and a barbeque dinner by The Pool featuring dishes from Monaco paired with wines from South Africa, live music and a water ballet show. Package starts at €958 and is available from July 1 to July 3, 2011.
In celebration of the princely wedding, the Novotel Monte-Carlo is launching a new cocktail called “Alliance”. Made with cranberry juice, peach liqueur, lychee liqueur and champagne on a layer of white vanilla jelly, “Alliance” will be served in the hotel’s bar starting June 27, 2011.
In addition, several restaurants and spas throughout the Principality will offer special wedding menus and packages. Bakeries will sell special red and white – the official colors of Monaco – macaroons and éclairs to celebrate the occasion and Perrier-Jouet has produced a special wedding “cuvee” which will be available for purchase at various venues. The famous Oceanographic Museum will be open late until 10pm on Friday, July 1, 2011 and will offer free ice cream during the day. Parking garages, buses and museums (excluding the Oceanographic Musuem which will be at a special rate) will be free of charge on July 1 and 2, 2011. Tourists can also enjoy special €50 rate for Heli-Air helicopter transfers from Nice which include an additional loop over the Rock during the wedding weekend.
Fairytale Wedding
On July 1, 2011, the civil wedding ceremony of Prince Albert and Miss Wittstock will take place in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace. Later that evening, a free concert will be offered by the newly-wedded couple at the Port for all residents and visitors: Jean-Michel Jarre will present a unique sound and light show. To kick-off the celebration, the royal couple will also host a free concert on June 30 featuring legendary rock band The Eagles for Monegasques, residents, neighboring towns and people working in Monaco at the Louis II Stadium.
On July 2, 2011, the religious wedding ceremony will take place in the Main Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace. To be celebrated by Monseigneur Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, more than 3500 invited guests will witness the wedding on giant screens in the vicinity of the Palace and additional screens will also be set up at prime locations throughout the Principality to enable residents and visitors to watch the ceremony. After the wedding, the couple will take a special procession route in a Lexus luxury hybrid vehicle, underscoring Prince Albert’s commitment to environmental conservation, to the Church of Sainte Dévote where the bride will lay down her bouquet.
The official dinner and a gala ball will be held at the Salle Garnier and the Terraces of the Casino later that evening for more than 450 guests followed by fireworks for all of Monaco to enjoy. The official wedding dinner will be prepared by world-renowned Chef Alain DUCASSE, whose restaurant La Trattoria recently reopened for the season at the Sporting Monte-Carlo. A Mediterranean-inspired menu will feature local products from the region, including those from the Prince’s own estate located in nearby Rocagel.
It has been reported that Giorgio Armani has been commissioned to design Miss Wittstock’s wedding gown. Prince Albert will wear his summer white carabinier uniform.
For more information, please contact the Monaco Government Tourist Office (MGTO) at 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017; phone (800) 753-9696 or (212) 286-3330; or via e-mail at info@VisitMonaco.com. Information and links are available via the Monaco Government Tourist Office web site at VisitMonaco.com. Follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
