Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Jashita

Hotel Jashita in Tulum, Mexico, is a hidden gem for honeymooners looking for a secluded beach vacation that's not too far from home. My friend recently returned from a trip to the resort and couldn't stop gushing about how amazing every aspect of the experience was—from the boutique hotel's interior design and prime beachfront locale to the incredible dining experience at the resort's Cafe Sahara restaurant (high praise, considering she's a serious foodie!) to the extremely attentive, friendly, knowledgeable staff. Her rave reviews prompted me to check out this paradise for myself—unfortunately, via Internet and not in person. More photos and details after the jump.

Photo: Courtesy of Palace Resorts

All-inclusive resort company Palace Resorts has teamed up with wedding planner to the stars Colin Cowie to launch the Colin Cowie Wedding Collection at their properties in Mexico (Puerta Vallarta, Cancun, and Riviera Maya) and the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana). The all-inclusive wedding packages start at $1,500 and include wedding planning services, ceremony venue and set-up, flowers, wedding cake, champagne, a post-wedding dinner at the hotel's restaurant (for up to 30 guests), and even a honeymoon package credit. Reception packages are added à la carte per table and include all food, drinks, and rentals.

For more information or to book a Colin Cowie Wedding Collection package, contact Palace Resorts. —Danine Alati

Photo: courtesy of The Icehotel

See all six honeymoon destinations we think are more suitable for the vampire set.—Danine Alati

Photo: Courtesy of Black Tomato

See that? The electric blue-green water and the picturesque rolling-mountain vista? That's your view from the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel in Rwanda, one of Black Tomato's picks for the best honeymoon destinations in 2012. This new resort on the shores of Lake Kivu offers nature-obsessed couples access to Rwanda's national parks, rainforest, and extinct volcanoes on a 10-exploration of Africa's wild side. Of course, Black Tomato's four remaining destinations cater to a range of other relaxation styles, from an ultimate beach getaway to a tour of southern India's diverse culture. Head to Black Tomato's website to find out where in the world you'll be dying to go next year. —Phillip B. Crook

Photo: Courtesy of Chiva-Som

We all know that there are a plethora of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, but how about options for other exotic beach destinations that offer unlimited food, drink, and activities? We've selected a round up of our favorite alternative all-inclusive experiences—ranging from as nearby as Jamaica to as remote as Fiji.

Planning a destination wedding to a faraway locale? Consult our list of vendors outside the U.S.—Danine Alati

Photos: Courtesy of The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts; Ulli Schonart for Six Senses Resorts & Spas; Courtesy of Wilderness Safaris

Not to undermine the comforts typical of most hotel suites—a plush robe, an Olympic-size bed—but little else compares to the luxury of spending your honeymoon in a 19th-century Viennese palace (top). Or an open-air villa in the Indian Ocean (middle). Or an extravagant African tent beneath a canopy of trees (bottom)—and those are just three of the destinations in our roundup of the most breathtaking honeymoon suites, each chosen for their ability to capture the spirit of their location. See the full slideshow to find out where else in the world our tour of wow-factor rooms will take you post-wedding. —Phillip B. Crook

Photo: Adrian Pingstone via Wikimedia Commons

With all the honeymoon destination options, how will you settle on a locale? Try consulting Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2012, the annual travel guide that reports travel trends and offers up the best destinations, journeys, and experiences for the upcoming year.

According to Robert Reid, U.S. spokesperson for Lonely Planet, "The goal here is not to predict where travelers will go in 2012, but where Lonely Planet thinks travelers should go—or consider going." The guide provides top 10 lists for 2012 travel destinations from the best countries (Uganda), cities (London), or regions (Coastal Wales) to the best experiences including "Best-Value Destinations for 2012," "Top Spots to Glamp," and "Best Places for Intrepid Romantics." Number one romantic vacation pick for 2012: Capri, Italy. See the full list after the jump.

Photos: Courtesy of Selous Safari Company

For some people, "all-inclusive" may be a dirty word, but I think the appeal of an all-inclusive getaway is hard to deny: unlimited food, drink, and activities, with no wallet-carrying required. In our recent roundup of all-inclusive beach hotels, we included Ras Kutani, a beautiful boutique resort perched on a stretch of white sand beach in Tanzania. Ras Kutani is owned by the Selous Safari Company, which also runs two all-inclusive safari camps in Tanzania, the Selous Safari Camp and Jongomero Camp, making it easy to combine a beach vacation with a safari adventure for the best of both worlds. And until December 15, tour operator Africa Odyssey is offering an all-inclusive nine-night safari-and-beach experience that includes three nights at the Selous Safari Camp, three nights at Jongomero Camp, and three nights at Ras Kutani. The package, which includes accommodations, food, drink, activities, and internal flights, costs $5,862 per person (a savings of $1,831). Click here to see more of our favorite alternative all-inclusive beach resort picks. —Lauren Matthews

Photos: Courtesy of the Palais de la Méditerranée

The spectacular scenery and glamorous vibe found along the coast in the southeast corner of France has been drawing royalty, artists, writers, and movie stars to the area for hundreds of years. I love the idea of a road-trip honeymoon, and I think the best way to explore the French Riviera is from behind the wheel, without a deadline. This itinerary will take you and your newly minted husband or wife through some of the most romantic spots along the Côte d'Azur. First stop? The charming seaside town of Nice and the grand Palais de la Méditerranée (pictured, above). Most of this historic property's guest rooms feature balconies with views of the city or the sea, but the luxurious junior suites, with their expansive terraces overlooking the Mediterranean, are worth every penny. To read the entire story, click here, and see more road-trip honeymoon itineraries here. —Lauren Matthews

Photos: Courtesy of the Hotel Martinez

When it comes to honeymoon destinations, I find that couples are often torn between a relaxing beach vacation and a romantic European getaway. For a compromise-free honeymoon spot that allows you to experience both beachfront lounging and mainland luxury (Michelin star restaurants, window shopping at Louis Vuitton), check in to the Hotel Martinez in Cannes. A celebrity favorite, especially during the Cannes Film Festival in May, the five-star hotel definitely falls into the splurge category (rooms start from 610 euros per night) but I think the price is justifiable for a honeymoon. The hotel opened in 1929, so the 409 rooms feature modern Art Deco-inspired decor and views of the sea or the city. Book a relaxing massage at the spa, then head across the street to the hotel's private beach. Finish the evening with an extravagant meal at La Palme D'or, the hotel's two-Michelin star restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean. Visit hotel-martinez.com for more information, and head to our Honeymoons Index for more vacation ideas. —Lauren Matthews

Photos: Via Fast Co. Design

Those of you making the exhausting trip directly from your wedding reception to the airport en route to a honeymoon may soon be in luck. Moscow-based design firm Arch Group just unveiled a prototype for SleepBox 01, a bed-away-from-home plopped down in the middle of a terminal. The first SleepBox is now in Moscow's airport, where tired travelers can rest for up to several hours. Two bunk beds and an ash veneer create the look (and size) of a boat cabin, where a fold-down desk, an LED lamp, blinds, and an electronics charging station offer you and yours everything you'll need for a little shut-eye before jetting off to some exotic location. No word yet on when we might expect to see operational SleepBoxes in airports worldwide, but honeymooners can still hope. —Phillip B. Crook

Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Lautner

Remember that stunning retro-tinged W Magazine photo shoot starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie lounging around a midcentury modern home in Palm Springs? Well, if you felt like crawling into the photos and living there, then I would suggest booking a honeymoon stay at the new Hotel Lautner in Desert Hot Springs, California. The cozy desert hideaway, originally built by celebrated architect John Lautner in 1947, has spent the last three years undergoing meticulous renovations. The landmark building, formerly known as the Desert Hot Springs Motel, reopens this month as a four-suite boutique resort featuring midcentury vintage furniture, private gardens, and a luxe pool area—so dreamy. Introductory rates start at $200 per night; book through hotellautner.com. For even more honeymoon ideas, visit our Honeymoons Index. —Lauren Matthews

An awesome prize for one lucky hula-loving couple! Tell us about your dream day in Hawaii and you could win four nights at the Four Seasons Maui (where Jen Aniston stays) and four nights at the Four Seasons Lanai Manele Bay (Ashley Tisdale's a fan). Plus, we're throwing in $3,500 cash for booking amazing activities—stand-up paddling, anyone? Visit brides.com to enter.

—Jacqui Gifford, Travel Editor, BRIDES Magazine

This sweeps is now closed. Visit Brides.com/win for our latest promotions.

Photo: Courtesy of Beach Tomato

Fashion and travel site Beach Tomato just came out with their wedding issue. I loved their article on DIY beach wedding makeup tips from Australian makeup artist Clare Read, so I asked if I could excerpt a few of her tips here for you guys:

As with any beach visit, you need to go for an 'I-naturally-look-like-this' look...the best duo of products for this is Shu Uemera Under Base Mousse SPF 30 and new MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF15. The base evens your skin tone so there's no unevenness or red blotches. The tinted moisturizer has a great light texture with great tones and a beautiful natural finish.

A touch of color on your cheeks is a must. Use MAC's Surf, Baby! Skinsheen Bronzer Stick in Tan-Tint. Apply it where the sun will naturally hit your face: your cheekbones and bridge of your nose. Becca Beach Tint in Grapefruit will give you just a hint of color and freshness.

A matte [lipstick] is more likely to stay on between swimming and the hot sun. My favorite bright colors are Heat Wave by NARS, Ruby Woo by MAC, and Revlon's Pink Pout (this color looks great on both pale and tanned skin.)

If you are getting married pre-sundown, give your bridesmaid a can of Avène's Thermal Spring Water spray to cool you down.

Read more of Clare's tips and the rest of Beach Tomato's wedding issue by clicking here, and find more makeup tips on our Beauty & Makeup Index page. —Lauren Matthews

Photo: Courtesy of Grace Hotels/Serge Detalle

I inevitably forget to bring something like my toothbrush or camera charger whenever I go on vacation, so I can't wait to use the new "Saving Grace" app for iPhones from boutique hotel group Grace Hotels. Designed to make sure you don't forget anything on your honeymoon, the app lets you customize a personal packing checklist—you can add or delete items on any of their pre-set lists—then check them off once they're packed. From beach bags and passports to electrical gadgets and jewelry, the various lists take everything into account: choice of location, length of stay, season, even planned activities (surfing, cycling, golf, diving, fishing, camping...) so you'll be sure to have everything needed for your honeymoon, whether you'll be skiing in the Rockies or lounging by a pool in Greece (like at the Grace Mykonos, pictured above). To download the app for free, head to the Apple App Store. And be sure to browse ideas for your honeymoon on our Honeymoons Index. —Lauren Matthews