But the times at the Palace, they are a changin’ because the hotel has just regained the use of a prized section of its property, ripe for the bridal audience. The Villard Mansion, built in 1882, was the original residence around which the rest of the hotel and its contemporary towers are built. It was recently vacated by the departure of the venerable restaurant, Le Cirque 2000, and its upstairs room, L’Orangerie, is now available for intimate affairs under the auspices of the Palace’s talented wedding staff. Use it to welcome your wedding weekend with a decadent rehearsal dinner; say adieu to your guests with Sunday brunch; or get married under the twinkling lights of the outdoor courtyard. You can then ascend its nearby steps for dinner and dancing steeped in 19th century French charm within its exclusive and historic walls.

For larger affairs, the main building of the Palace boasts the two-story, grand Villard Ballroom and neighboring Reid Salon that can be arranged in a variety of ways to accommodate ceremonies and traditional receptions for up to 800 of your closest friends. Each detail is conceived and executed with legendary Palace style and surrounded by the opulence of the gilded age. No detail left unattended, the sky really is the limit when it comes to creating the menu and décor of your dreams. This same attention is afforded to your guests, who stay in any of the hotel’s deluxe crop of 897 rooms. The creamiest of the crop live in The Towers, the top fourteen floors of the hotel, best described as a “Palace Within a Palace.” The Towers’ private reception area, high-speed elevators and personal Maître D’Etage butler service are a royal way to begin your newly married life together on your wedding night.

In an effort to avoid a repeat performance of the blackout of 2003 (which left brides-to-be from NYC clear to Detroit in a state of chaos), the New York Palace has also instituted another notable change: a $5 million undertaking to construct and install a “Safe Haven” generator that can provide power to every square foot of the hotel for as long as an outage might last.

New Yorkers in search of a classic venue and sightseeing out-of-towners will relish in the Palace’s amenities, location and exceptional service. The embodiment of luxury located in the heart of the Big Apple, New York Palace is a dream location where you’re destined to feel like a king and queen. (Cumbersome crowns not required.)

Head northwest from Los Angeles and about an hour into your drive, the artificially irrigated landscape takes on a decidedly different appearance. Impressive rock formations, Joshua trees and other natural desert wonders announce your approach into Simi Valley, an area once inhabited (but looks like it still could be) by the Chumash Indians. Located just off the 118 Freeway, (so close you can’t believe it’s been under your nose this whole time) is the stunning, 140-acre Hummingbird Nest Ranch. Redesigned as a world-class equestrian facility, Hummingbird Nest has just begun welcoming weddings, and in doing so, has become the best-kept event secret in Southern California—that is, until now.

For the most part, receptions at Hummingbird Nest are held outdoors. Tenting is always an option, but with the fairly dependable desert weather and the clearest blue skies you’ve ever seen, an outdoor wedding is the absolute best use of the ranch’s immaculate grounds and Spanish dwellings. Sitting Bull ranch house, the main Bonanza House, the luxurious stables and numerous guest houses are spread out over a landscape of olive trees, rock gardens and horses grazing in green, green pastures. Sitting Bull, fully restored to its 1920s character, provides an old Spanish backdrop for a poolside cocktail hour or a seated reception in its charming cobblestone courtyard—just begging to be strung with colorful lanterns. The ranch house is also designed to house a small group—or just the bride and groom—in gracious, secluded style.

Bonanza House, Hummingbird Nest’s brand-new clubhouse which also doubles as a private residence, boasts an indoor dining room for intimate wedding dinners and a series of outdoor patios for larger receptions. Its different levels create a social, circulating atmosphere for a casual fiesta or a formal fête under the stars. Cap off a cool desert evening by sipping wine fireside in the stone gazebo—an idyllic space that allows for seating up to 30 guests. Bonanza House is the ideal vantage point for enjoying 360-degree views of the property, which blurs with the horizon in every direction.

As for the ceremony itself, the property offers several spots for tented or open-air ceremonies and even more opportunities to be creative. As one potential bride was given the grand tour, she fell in love with the idea of exchanging vows in the old-world, circular tack room located in the expansive complex of spotless horse stables. Beautiful, top-of-the-line guest houses enjoying private patios and fully equipped kitchens are also available to keep 50 of your guests close at hand (a nearby hotel can accommodate the rest). And should you require a bit of drama for your entrance, Hummingbird Nest is also outfitted with a helipad.

All your catering needs can be attended to by Hummingbird Nest’s executive chef, who honed his skills at the Beverly Hills Hotel. For a casual, ranch-inspired cocktail hour or a no-holds-barred sit down feast, the culinary offerings are as diverse and customizable as the property’s layout. Because the options are so plentiful, our insiders tell us that coming to Hummingbird Nest with your own wedding coordinator is a definite plus. A hidden gem nestled in unassuming Simi Valley, Hummingbird Nest Ranch lends itself to the couple that possesses a wealth of ideas but is in search of a worthy location.

Location:	2940 Kuehner Dr., Simi Valley, CA
Contact:	Sheryl Daley, Director of Special Events
Phone:	805-577-1816, ext. 165
Web:	hummingbird nest ranch.com
Email:	sheryl @ hummingbird nest ranch.com
Ceremony Site:	Numerous outdoor and several indoor locations
Capacity:	Up to 2,000
Outside catering:	Yes
Alcohol:	Provided
Guest Accommodations:	Yes
Valet parking:	Yes
Wheelchair access:

Most brides and grooms look forward to the honeymoon as an opportunity to get away from it all: drink in the gorgeous scenery, splurge on gourmet meals, pamper in the spa and feel like they’re in the middle of nowhere—with nothing at all to worry about except each other. Now imagine this kind of experience actually taking place before the honeymoon, at your wedding, and you’ve just transported yourself to Lajitas, The Ultimate Hideout. Lajitas is a luxurious, secluded resort-meets-Old-West-retreat where first-rate service (which includes a dedicated wedding coordinator) and well-appointed accommodations cater to the discerning traveler—and outlaw—in everyone.

Located about 300 miles from the nearest major city, Lajitas is a sanctuary occupying 25,000 acres between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park in West Texas. This makes for quite a breathtaking vista and more than enough space for a range of wedding locations and activities that are designed to inspire any couple that dreams of roughing it the five-star way. Cowboy Elegance, Borderland Fiesta and Stunning Starlight are just a few of the names Lajitas has given its elegantly themed weddings, each boasting a twist on the rugged luxury Lajitas prides itself on. But if Mexican Martinis and a fireworks finale, BBQ served from an antique chuckwagon followed by some two-stepping or a candlelit, five-course wine pairing meal overlooking the Rio Grande don’t grab you, the team at Lajitas is ready and willing to accommodate that which does. Instead of exchanging vows in the resort’s own historic chapel (built in 1898), Lajitas indulged a recent couple who preferred to say “I do” atop a nearby mountain but declined traditional transportation in favor of arriving on horseback.

Whether you prefer a saddle or a seat, reaching this exclusive paradise has just been made easier by the addition of weekly commercial flights from Dallas. You will be delivered right to the resort’s doorstep, via Lajita’s own airport, where a fleet of private Leer jets are also available for charter. Once you arrive, feel completely free to play a round on the e18-hole Ambush golf course or prep for the big day at the 30,000-square-foot Agavita Spa, because each and every last wedding detail has already been arranged for you. Being in the middle of nowhere means relying on the resources at hand, and luckily for you, the vendors associated with Lajitas are top notch. Likewise, the the 92 guest rooms (with more on the way) are housed in enclaves—Badlands Hotel, Cavalry Post, La Cuesta and Officers’ Quarters— that are spread across the sprawling property, decorated in an authentic style as distinctive as their names.

From the start of your rehearsal dinner cookout to the farewell of your Mexican Sunday brunch, Lajitas provides a fantastical weekend experience truly unlike any other. There are dude ranches and there are Southwestern hotels, golf resorts and spas, but there is no other place that combines all these elements into one deluxe experience—and it’s ideal for creating the refuge your wedding should be, but rarely ever is.

Location:	HC 70, Box 400, Lajitas, TX
Contact:	Revis Daggett, Catering Manager
Phone:	432-424-5176
Web:	lajitas.com
Email:	weddings @ lajitas.com
Ceremony Site:	Numerous outdoor and indoor locations; private chapel
Capacity:	Up to 1,000
Outside catering:	No
Alcohol:	Provided
Guest Accommodations:	Yes
Valet parking:	Yes, even for your jet
Wheelchair access:	Yes