Cap Juluca

Anguilla, British West Indies

Italy and the Caribbean both have wonderful resorts for destination weddings, but deciding whether to head to the tropics or the Mediterranean involves more than choosing between conch or calamari. "There's a whole different mindset from one to the other," says JoAnn Gregoli, head of Elegant Occasions, who has arranged destination weddings at properties from the Amalfi Coast to the Caribbean Sea.

"Italy is for more adventurous couples," explains Gregoli. "There's a lot of sightseeing to do, experimenting with restaurants 'foodies' pick Italy." So do couples who want to immerse themselves in history and an ancient culture, she says: if sitting on a beach for more than half a day makes you antsy, seek out a resort in the land of Dante, da Vinci, and Donatello.

On the other hand, says Gregoli, the Caribbean is "an escape from real life the total opposite of what real life is." Couples who choose an island wedding often want to spend their first days together relaxing on the beach, doing nothing more strenuous than dipping a foot in the ocean or ordering another pia colada from the valet.

Italy, you might say, is more about scampering, while the emphasis in the Caribbean is on pampering.

Anguilla's Cap Juluca resort, ironically, has more than a touch of Mediterranean influence: this Moorish-inspired resort is a mecca for destination weddings famed for its beachfront and clifftop ceremonies. In classic Caribbean style, Cap Juluca weddings are casual and comfortable: think bare feet or flip-flops, not pumps and stockings. The resort staff builds sandcastles on the beach for decor, says Gregoli, while ottomans and big pillows are arranged on the sand for the ultimate in post-ceremony comfort.

If you've dreamed of inviting your friends and family to share your nuptials on your own private island paradise, The Palms resort in Turks & Caicos rolls out the welcome mat with secluded beaches and a world-class spa. Gregoli says couples love the resort's creative group activities for wedding parties, from beach barbecues to catamaran tours and volleyball tournaments. Attendants transform lying on the beach into spa-like spoiling, bringing cool towels and refreshing sorbets to sun-warmed guests.

The posh One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island provides a dash of nightlife to destination weddings, marrying the luxury of a private oceanfront Bahamian estate to the excitement of the adjoining Atlantis resort, with its casinos, nightclubs, and world-famous pool area. Couples who want to say "thank-you" to their guests with a dazzling array of wedding weekend activities adore the new Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, a Seven Mile Beach resort with world-class amenities like a Greg Norman golf course, La Prairie spa, Nick Bollettieri tennis academy, and a pair of restaurants by Eric Ripert.

Italy's Palazzo Sasso rewards wedding guests and couples in other ways. This intimate resort, perched on a cliff above the town of Ravello, has "breathtaking, almost surreal views" of the Mediterranean, Mount Vesuvius, and the Amalfi Coast, says Gregoli. Small enough to buy out for a destination wedding of up to 70 people, the resort has a beautiful garden terrace for one-of-a-kind ceremonies and exclusive villas that provide sanctuary for couples. Group events feature the best of Italy, from wine tastings at the resort to cooking classes in Ravello.

The Hotel Splendido is "the most beautiful piece of heaven you can imagine," says Gregoli: this luxurious former monastery sits on the shoulder of the famous Portofino harbor, its curved terraces offering timeless views of the town and its fleets of yachts and fishing boats. The La Terrazza restaurant can host indoor and outdoor receptions or private dinners, while motor launches are on call for tours of nearby harbor islands or excursions to exotic Monte Carlo.

In the streets of Portofino, guests will find exquisite shops and cafes; couples can spirit their newfound treasures back to suites adorned with hand-painted frescoes and graceful balconies overlooking a sea of flowers and the harbor below.

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sought out an Amalfi hideaway while filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith, they booked suites at the five-star Santa Caterina hotel. With just 62 rooms, this is another hotel that couples can take over for a romantic destination wedding, pampering friends and family with spa treatments and fine dining at the whitewashed Restaurant Santa Caterina or the open-air Restaurant Al Mare, both with astonishing views. Elevators whisk guests from their cliffside rooms to a private beach and a seawater swimming pool, snug on a rocky seaside ledge.

The exclusive resorts in the Caribbean and Italy specialize in creating unique experiences, which is really what destination weddings are all about. Choosing one over the other is a matter of personal preference with a nod towards the interests of those who will share some of the most important days of your life.

"Destination weddings are by far the most memorable type of wedding for all those involved," says Gregoli. "Whether wine-tasting in Italy or parasailing in the Caribbean, these are memories that will last a lifetime for you and your guests."

Written by Bob Curley