Georgia: A Perfect Place to Say "I Do"

Whether you are looking for the ideal location for a destination wedding or are in search for a quaint bed and breakfast to spend a blissful honeymoon, the Peach State has perfect spots that add to the romance of your special occasion.

Luxurious Resorts
More than 35,000 couples have celebrated their new lives together in the grand Cloister tradition. The Cloister on Sea Island offers a picturesque backdrop to proclaim your commitment as well as ideal accommodations for the entire wedding party. Generations of families, royalty and heads of state, including the entire G8 delegation, have found respite in the magnificent coastal landscape. In turn, The Cloister on Sea Island pampers its guests with unparalleled service and a legendary array of amenities.

The Morgans, Pulitzers, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts helped nickname Jekyll as "Millionaire's Island." Join this distinguished list of inhabitors at the island's exclusive Jekyll Island Club to begin your lives together. A national historic landmark founded in 1886, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel offers a surfside Beach Club, 63 holes of championship golf, indoor and outdoor tennis, croquet and other lawn games, a marina and elegant shopping boutiques throughout the Jekyll Island Historic District, the largest restoration project in the Southeast.

One beautiful setting for weddings on Jekyll is the lovely Faith Chapel, located in the heart of the Historic Landmark District. Faith Chapel's construction, inside and out, is Tidewater Red Cypress shingle, and the interior is dominated by two magnificent stained glass windows -- one signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, one of only four of its kind in the United States. The 1904 electric lighting design is beautiful and subtle with sconces as the primary fixtures.

Also on Jekyll Island, Villa Marianna, another popular option for matrimonial affairs, was built in 1928 by Frank Miller Gould and features lovely Spanish eclectic style architecture. A 15-foot breezeway observatory overlooks the walled courtyard filled with seasonal flowers, and an Italian-style fireplace and reflecting pool add romantic touches to this beautiful structure. The courtyards, along with the openness of a large great room, make Villa Marianna an ideal venue for your special occasion.

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation includes approximately 7,000 acres of pines surrounding the 19,000-acre, scenic Lake Oconee. The resort offers 81 holes of world-class championship golf, a Golf Academy, a 26,000-square-foot Native American-themed spa, water sports and nearby Equestrian Center, clay shooting, shopping, antiquing and antebellum trail mansion tours - something for everyone in the wedding party. Pampering is also part of the credo at Reynold's Plantation, some of the amenities include a dedicated butler/attendant service, cooked-to-order breakfasts and evening cocktails, poolside lunches, spa services, nightly options from the drawn bath and turndown menus, health club access, and unlimited use of canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and bicycles, among many other luxuries.

Untouched for centuries, Little St. Simons Island is a privately owned barrier island with more than seven miles of undeveloped beaches perfect for a secluded waterside ceremony. The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island houses no more than 30 guests at a time with 15 guestrooms arranged in five charming cottages dating back to 1917: the Hunting Lodge, Cedar House, River Lodge, Michael Cottage and Helen House. The Lodge was recently named one of the world's top 10 "great escapes" by the prestigious Robb Report.

Barnsley Gardens Resort is on the grounds of Godfrey Barnsley's 19th century estate and is another charming venue to celebrate romance and the beginning of a long life together. Barnsley arrived in this country in 1824 and a few years later began building his family a grand mansion in what is today Adairsville. The estate, which came to be known as Woodlands, was built in Italian villa style with Italian and French marble, furnishings from around the world and elaborate gardens modeled after the architectural designs of Andrew Jackson Downing.

Today, the ruins of Woodland provide a beautiful backdrop to the restored gardens and luxury resort that has become Barnsley Gardens. The resort comprises a 19th century-style English village and contains 33 English-style guest cottages with 70 individually decorated suites. The luxurious cottages feature wood-burning fireplaces, custom-made king size beds dressed in Egyptian linens, ball and claw tubs and porches overlooking individually designed gardens; it is a breathtaking setting to tie the knot and reunite with loved ones.

Situated on 18 bucolic acres in the heart of central Georgia, Henderson Village is a charming 24-room country resort. This quaint, yet sophisticated accommodation offers couples and entire wedding parties southern hospitality at its best in the form of 12 historic homes beautifully restored and relocated amidst thousands of acres of open prairies, pine forests, cotton fields, pecan orchards and lake waters. From tenant cottages to turn-of-the-century homes, indulge at Henderson Village in whirlpool tubs, on private porches and in front of gas fireplaces. Guests can also ride horses, fish, golf and take part in unique gaming experiences.

Romantic Bed & Breakfasts
From the sultry tunes of its First City to the charm of its small, Southern towns, from historic ambiance to serene natural surroundings, Georgia boasts a number of bed and breakfasts for honeymooners, romantic weekend getaways and more.

The Gastonian is one of the most majestic and upscale of Savannah's historic inns. Built in 1868, it is known the world over for its legendary hospitality and historic charm. It provides an inviting, elegant world of 19th century ambiance and history coupled with every imaginable modern comfort and service. Another Savannah accommodation worth noting is the Ballastone Inn. Andrew Harper embraced the Savannah small luxury hotel for his 2005 "Hideaway of the Year" Grand Award and Money magazine named the intimate inn among its top six great romantic getaways. This four-story antebellum mansion built in 1838, combines old-fashioned elegance and charm with modern-day convenience. Expect pampered amenities to include an exceptionally attentive staff and a southern pace of peaceful privacy. Saunter in the various cozy corners of the inn, or mellow amid the lush private garden courtyard. Georgia's First City entices visitors from around the globe for its history, architecture and authentic Southern cuisine. Come unlock the mystery of this saucy, yet elegant bell of the Georgia coast and experience fun-filled days and nights.

Originally built in 1900 as a home for Lucy and Thomas Carnegie's daughter, Margaret Ricketson, the Greyfield Inn on Georgia's pristine Cumberland Island was opened in 1962 by Margaret's daughter, Lucy R. Ferguson, and her family. This grand and graceful mansion on Georgia's largest and southernmost coastal island boasts a distinctive character, finely decorated and set apart by family heirlooms and antiques. This area is also known for its diverse wildlife. It is not uncommon to find wild horses running on the beach and notice the complex ecological system of interdependent animal and plant communities. John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were a couple that basked in the charm of this area and decided to marry in a small chapel on the island and honeymoon at Greyfield Inn.

Modern day casual elegance meets old-world charm and grace at the 1906 Pathway Inn. Located in Americus, the heart of pastoral Georgia, this inn showcases English Colonial Revival style architecture with a circular rocker-filled veranda, perfect for sipping tea and wine or toasting newlyweds. Each of the five rooms is adorned with beautiful stained glass and woodwork and romantic fireplaces offering the ultimate in ambiance. While in Americus, visit the international headquarters of Habitat for Humanity, the Global Village and Discovery Center or the many other community landmarks.

The Claremont House Bed & Breakfast is a classic Victorian mansion offering a unique experience for your stay in Rome. Nestled in the midst of large live oak and magnolia trees, the Claremont House was built in 1882 and is listed on the Historical Register as the finest example of Victorian Gothic architecture in Georgia. The 14-foot ceilings, 11 fireplaces, remarkably carved woodwork and Victorian antiques take visitors back in time. History abounds in Rome, from the Chieftain Museum commemorating the National Trail of Tears to the Major Ridge Home, which celebrates Cherokee and American history in the area.