When you look up “Fairy-Tale Wedding” in the destination-wedding encyclopedia, you’ll find a photo of Chateau du Sureau on the Estate by the Elderberries, nestled on a hill overlooking the grand Sierra Nevada mountain range. Not far from Yosemite National Park in California, Chateau du Sureau is the romantic inn on the estate where proprietress Erna Kubin-Clanin opened her award-winning restaurant in 1984. She built the inn to accommodate the many out-of-town visitors.

The interior of the chateau matches the charm and graciousness of the exterior. Erna filled the Inn with fine antiques, tapestries and 19th century art from around the world. Inside you’ll find a Grand Salon with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and a circular Music Room with trompe l’oeil frescoes and a spiral limestone staircase. Each guestroom is named for the fragrant herbs and flowers grown on the Estate. All guestrooms have fireplaces, deluxe bathrooms with silky plush bathrobes, oversized tubs and separate chambers for the shower and toilet. As they put it, “Each room represents nothing less than a delight to the senses.” Oh, and did I mention there’s a world-class spa on the grounds? Sounds absolutely divine, doesn’t it?

This storybook setting has several ceremony locations that include an outdoor gazebo by a babbling brook, a small chapel and the Grand Salon, which you see here. And judging from the photos I’ve seen, an autumn or winter wedding here would be as lovely as spring or summer. Although a late fall or winter wedding wouldn’t allow you to use the gorgeous garden terrace for your reception.

As you can imagine, the estate has a few reception sites, too. There are three beautifully appointed dining rooms, depending on the number of guests. But my favorite spot, by far, is the garden terrace. Check it out–it’s a wonderland by night! Get your glass slippers up there, Princess! Your kingdom awaits!

Susan

On July 18th, when “Mamma Mia!” the movie hits theaters in the U.S., you’ll get to see more of this gorgeous Greek island. One of the 11 Sporades Islands off the eastern shore of Greece, Skopelos is the greenest Greek Island and has been officially proclaimed “The Green and Blue Island,” where the “green of the pine-trees and the dense forest mix with the deep blue of sea and sky” to create the picture of unrivalled natural beauty, an idyllic land in a small paradise in the very heart of Greece. With its romantic scenery, caves, picturesque little houses, magnificent churches and crystal-clear water caressing beautiful beaches and coves, Skopelos is a dream wedding destination!

After seeing “Mamma Mia!”, you just might want to tie the knot in the church used in the film, so let me tell you a little about it. The wedding takes place at the spectacular Agios Ioannis church, situated 329-feet high on a sea rock that juts out over the misty Aegean. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is one of 360 on the island. Part of the building was ruined by the 1967 earthquake, but it has been reconstructed. There are 105 steps carved into the rock leading to the chapel.

Not only is the scenery a sight to behold, there are a number of charming hotels and villas for rent on the island. You can’t imagine a more romantic place for a honeymoon. You can easily find these hotels and villas online. Some villas sleep as many as eleven people, and of course, heavenly villas just for two are available as well. Elissiaos villa at the left sleeps six and has a private swimming pool, which is fairly common. Secluded and surrounded by colorful flowers and shady trees, the villas provide an ambience that you and your wedding guests will long remember.

It’s no surprise that the interiors of the villas are as quaint and relaxing as the exteriors, like the Kyparissi villa shown here. If you’re like me, you can’t wait to see the movie! And if you’re looking for a destination wedding venue, pay attention to the scenery! You’ll leave the theater humming ABBA music and imagining your wedding on Skopelos!

Susan

I admit the idea of getting married on Independence Day is a touch oxymoronic, but what a great day to celebrate! And I have found you a lovely place to wed your guy on the Fourth of July! This is George Washington’s River Farm, one of five farms near his beloved Mount Vernon owned by our first president. The grounds are spectacular, particularly in spring, summer and fall, and the farm is nestled along the banks of the history-rich Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. River Farm can accommodate up to 160 guests and transport them almost 250 years into the past.

This lovely wedding venue is also the headquarters for the American Horticultural Society, which explains the exquisite grounds. If you like the venue but would prefer another date, their Web site gives you a schedule of bloom times, so you can essentially choose the kinds of flowers that surround you.

Rental rates are reasonable, and they depend on the number of guests and time of year. The rental is for the grounds only. You’ll have to make off-site arrangements with caterers, florists, photographers, etc. but the Web site gives you an extensive list of vendors in the area. All in all, I can’t think of a more appropriate place and time to begin your “pursuit of happiness” than on the banks of the Potomac River on the Fourth of July! Here’s wishing you a safe and happy Independence Day!

Susan