When planning your honeymoon vacation, remember to do your research. But, if you’re like most busy brides, let us handle the Google-ing and time it takes to find a good place to visit for you. This week’s destination–Lebanon! Most newlyweds only think to visit commercial hotspots like Hawaii, Europe, and tropical islands, which as a result can end up burning a huge hole in your wallet. Many of these well-known destinations can be pricey without getting the most bang out of your buck. Lebanon offers golden beaches, scenic mountains, urban city landscapes and rural rustic adventures for all types of travelers. Visiting this beautiful Mediterranean country is as affordable as $45 US dollars a day (average daily travel costs), and roundtrip flights can be less than the cost of your floral arrangements!
Whether your honeymoon takes place in the winter or summer, Lebanon’s climate is accommodating. You can have your winter wonderland or experience a “Sex and the City 2″ exotic adventure. In the wintertime, especially around the holiday season, there are Christmas decorations and parades in cities like Beirut.
There are many historic sites you can visit, such as the ruins in Jeitah.
For those looking to test their luck, there are many resorts and casinos to enjoy in Lebanon. The entertainment and night life in Lebanon is thriving
Let’s not forget one of the most important reasons to visit this amazing country–the food! You can feel at home with many of the commercial restaurants and cafes or feel like a local and chow down on delicious Lebanese gourmet. According to the Ministry of Tourism for Lebanon, some of the traditional cuisines include, “kibbeh (minced lamb, bulgur wheat, onions, pine nuts prepared in different ways), half of a chicken with rice, grilled chicken or lamb on skewers, or fish served with tahini sauce.”
Photography credits: Habeeb.com and Nahid Farhoud.
Did you feel inspired from our last blog on Lebanese Weddings and the grandeur surrounding them? Lebanon is a truly beautiful country, and even if you can’t visit anytime soon, you can still pull from its cultural beauty to compliment your wedding theme! The name itself comes from the Semitic root lbn, meaning “white”, a color heavily emphasized in Lebanese wedding decor and floral designs. The color white symbolizes “purity” from the bride, an important aspect of Lebanese weddings. Whether you’re of Lebanese descent or not, these pictures are undeniably breathtaking! Many of the floral designs and event decor are grand and make a statement.
We especially love how regal and memorable these entrances are for the couple! Can you imagine having your sweetheart table inside that huge throne?
The fusion of Lebanese traditions and pops of color using flowers makes for a unique and eye-catching walkway to the ceremony or reception.
There’s just a touch of an exotic and far away feel when you use draping, flowers, and lighting the way these couples did.
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Weddings in Lebanon are truly elaborate on a scale unlike any other in grandeur, cost, and entertainment. The Middle Eastern culture and Lebanese specifically, believe there is no spending ceiling because there is no cost when it comes to celebration and entertaining their loved ones with music, dance, and copious amounts of food. These elements combine to create a spectacle of an affair and tend to be the reason why the party lasts till dawn!
Celebrations go on for 3 days and simple or grand, a Lebanese wedding isn’t truly Lebanese without a ‘zaffeh’, the act of escorting the bride to her husband, in celebration of their holy marriage. Even the ‘zaffeh’ is a form of entertainment, celebration and dance because, on the third day, the groom is led by a group of dancers, as they play music, sing and dance on their way to the bride’s house.
Entertainment is an essential and important priority in Lebanese weddings. Music and dance are the hallmarks of celebration and fun in Lebanese families and culture.
A Middle Eastern wedding celebration, is one where the dancer has a special place. Usually a belly dancer or singer will entertain the guests and more luxurious weddings will have more than one entertainer.
As you can clearly see, the Lebanese truly believe a wedding is a celebration and there is no costs to keeping guests entertained.
Lebanon is a great place to visit and an even better place to get married. Boasting a plethora of choices, you can wed in the mountains, beaches, city, and historical sights of a city drenched in time and beauty. Below is a mini travel and venue guide for marrying in Lebanon and remember, choosing a venue is dependant upon your taste and of course the weather!
Beach Weddings: There are many venues surrounding the Mediterranean Sea that capture the beauty of the water and the exotic locale. The beaches in Lebanon are breathtaking and stay warm from April until October and even sometimes November.
You can also enjoy a beautiful sunset wedding overlooking Al Rousheh a very historical spot in the beaches of Beirut.
Mountain Weddings: The mountains of Lebanon, like Faraya, boast gorgeous views and venues for a wedding and can be used in both the summer and winter months.
For those who envision a white wedding, the mountains of Lebanon are a gorgeous setting and full of natural beauty.
A Different Take: Other venues include: cathedrals, castles, and the gorgeous homes that portray the history, grandeur, and beauty of Lebanon all at once.
Night Weddings: For the couple who wants something a little more fun or a wedding at night, the city of Beirut boasts multiple venue choices.
A venue speaks volumes about a couples taste and style on their wedding day. For a destination wedding, Lebanon is one of the most historical places you can choose that gives you an abundance of choice when it comes to venues from the mountains with snow to the Mediterranean Sea and even castles!
When traveling abroad, it’s always good to know these couple of tips… be sure sure to wear socks on the plane and try to take short walks so your feet will not get swollen, and always take all of your prescription medications with you. As for children, have them chew something when the plane is taking off or landing to try to avoid the pressure on their ears.
Read up about the country you are going to… Lebanon is called the Paris of the Middle East, so if you are up to fashion, you are in the right city. Although, this time of year tends to be cold so dress warm. Be sure you have comfortable shoes, as there are a lot of sights to see and sometimes it is faster to walk than take a taxi or drive a car.
The nature in Lebanon is spectacular, lots of historical places to visit. I will talk about few of them in my next blog.
Nahid Farhoud founder and owner of Wedding Elegance by Nahid is internationally recognized for combining passion for design and décor with her extensive knowledge of different cultures, to create wedding events that are unique, festive and memorable.
(619) 920-2976
Our Persian bride Anna and Western Jewish groom Gregg were both doctors in New York City, only to meet and fall in love in medical school. Traditional to their cultures and prior to their Park Hyatt Aviara Resort ceremony, the couple was to first meet in a private room with only Read more →
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