Photos: Courtesy of Wauwinet (top) and White Elephant (bottom)

Need an easy to-get-to, long-weekend beach honeymoon? Summer is almost here (yay!) which means that my favorite East Coast island getaway, Nantucket, just opened for the season. I'll give you the quick sell: the pace of life on this 105-square mile island is beyond relaxing; the beaches are great for surfing; and there are two top-notch properties, the Wauwinet and the White Elephant, that cater to couples.

Overlooking a three-mile beach on the secluded northern tip, the Wauwinet (top) has that typical Nantucket exterior—gray, weathered shingles—and 32 unique rooms, many with four-poster beds, gas fireplaces, and bay views. I loved that it has a homey, B&B vibe, but it's big enough that you don't feel forced to talk to random guests, one of my pet peeves with B&Bs. There's gratis port and cheese in the afternoon, the perfect snack after a day of bike riding through moors. (The bikes are free to borrow, too.) Rooms from $195, with breakfast.

But the Wauwinet's real draw is Topper's—the best restaurant on island, by far, and a meal I can't stop talking or thinking about. You could easily lose three hours here. The chef, Kyle Zachary, is an alum of Chicago foodie-favorite Alinea, and his three-course, $70 tasting menus are outstanding: milk-fed piglet, butter-poached lobster, truffle gnocchi with nettles and sweetbreads, hand-cut fries. Totally worth the big price tag, especially since the attentive staff brings out umpteen little treat courses in between. You will leave fat and happy.

If you'd rather be in the heart of cobblestoned, colonial Nantucket town, try the White Elephant. They've got 54 comfy rooms, a bigger spa, and a little more bar and nightlife action at Brant Point Grill. And destination wedding alert: The White Elephant can host groups from 30-150 on their gorgeous front lawn, with the harbor and sailboats for a backdrop. Rooms from $225.

—Jacqueline Gifford

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Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

Anne and Scott's enviable honeymoon in gorgeous Tahiti struck a rare and perfect balance between rejuvenating relaxation and exciting outdoor activity. "We wanted a beach vacation that was more adventurous than Mexico or Hawaii, but not as far as Australia," says Anne. "Tahiti was the perfect distance (an eight and half hour flight from Los Angeles) and the huts over the water thing really got us!"

After spending their first night at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort in Papeete—which is situated close to Tahiti's main airport and "makes for an easy stay on the way in or out of the country," says Anne—they were off to the smaller island of Moorea.

Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

"Moorea was the most 'active' part of our honeymoon," says Anne. "My husband swam with sharks and sting rays—while I watched anxiously from the boat—and we did a half day guided hike through the mountains, which was fabulous."

Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

Following four nights at the InterContinental Moorea, it was off to breathtaking Le Taha'a Island Resort and Spa. "This place is heaven on earth," says the bride.

Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

Their five-night stay overlapped with a "tropical depression"—known as a baby monsoon to us less meteorologically inclined—but Anne and Scott still loved every minute of their time on the Le Taha'a's lush grounds. "The staff at the Ta ha'a really tried to stay positive about the weather, which we appreciated," says Anne. "But seriously, it gave us an excuse to relax, take a few naps, and really unwind." Their tip for (literally) weathering the storm: Indulge in plenty of rosé and French fries!

Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

The weather certainly didn't put a damper on the cuisine, which was fabulous, says Anne—especially the poisson cru, a Tahitian raw fish salad with fresh veggies, lemon, and coconut milk. "We had a special meal at Chez Louise, which was a short boat ride from the hotel. Louise cooks up a feast for you in her home—hence the name, Chez Louise—and she is quite the character."

Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

Leaving cloudy skies behind them, Anne and Scott wrapped up their tropical honeymoon at the gorgeous St. Regis Bora Bora. "We loved riding bikes around the property and had a great time enjoying the beach, sailing, and kayaking," says Anne. The newlyweds also enjoyed a meal at Lagoon, a Jean-Georges restaurant at the St. Regis. The restaurant is suspended over the water and provides the most beautiful spot to watch a sunset, says the bride.

Photo: Courtesy of Anne Ziegler

To start planning your trip, visit Air Tahiti Nui.

To see more amazing vacation spots, visit our Honeymoon Gallery.

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Photo: Getty

Fresh off their engagement, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie jetsetted to the tropical Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. But the couple wasn't looking for a romantic retreat—the trip was very much a family vacation with each of the six little Jolie-Pitts in attendance. The famous duo rarely travels without their children and even takes turns working on films so they can stick together. With that in mind, we asked Rachel Jacoby, a hotel expert at Oyster.com, to suggest luxurious—and kid-friendly—destinations for a honeymoon that's sure to be a family affair. These five spots offer much sought after seclusion, over-the-top luxury, as well as plenty of amenities to keep the youngsters entertained.

Hotel Le Bristol (Paris, France)
This 88-room haven first opened its doors in 1925 and has since maintained its reputation as one of the most luxurious hotels in all of Paris. Hotel Le Bristol's amazing amenities include a sunlit indoor pool, a 3-star Michelin restaurant, Epicure, and an indulgent three-story spa, featuring a Turkish bath. This posh spot is family-friendly thanks to their Children's Programme, a chic enclave where the gang can hang out while mom and dad soak in incredible city views and excellent shopping along Avenue Montaigne and the Champs Elysee.

Photo: Courtesy of Oyster.com

Kahala Hotel and Resort (Oahu, Hawaii)
Though it's been a celebrity retreat since 1964 (the privacy here is nearly unparalleled), the vibe at Kahala Hotel and Resort feels way more family-fun than pretentious glitz. Kid-approved entertainment at Kahala includes Dolphin Quest—which offers the only chance to swim with the sea mammals on Oahu—and a dedicated children's pool. For a more romantic honeymoon setting, Brad and Angie can sneak off to the resort's "kissing point," a picturesque spot to steal a few quiet moments after the brood's in bed.

Photo: Courtesy of Oyster.com

Four Seasons Nevis (Nevis, West Indies)
Accessible only by boat—and far the from paparazzi lens—the secluded Four Seasons Nevis offers beautifully decorated rooms with breathtaking views of the nearby mountains and bright blue ocean. And this romantic resort isn't just for lovebirds. Three pools, multiple athletic courts, and a seriously cool kids' club packed with games, toys, and activities based on the native flora and fauna ensure that the little ones are always entertained.

Photo: Courtesy of Oyster.com

St. Regis Punta Mita (Riviera Nayarit, Mexico)
Nestled amongst 22 acres of fairways and tropical gardens, the posh St. Regis Punta Mita is, in a word, stunning. The grounds offer three beach-side pools, acres of peaceful gardens, and an incredible stretch of white-sand beach highlighted with rocky coves. And if Brad and Angie need a break from the sun, they can retreat to the super luxe spa or just enjoy the interior's high-end decor. It should be no surprise that a retreat with this much attention to detail is also just as invested in the experience of its younger guests. St. Regis Punta Mita boasts The Tortuga Children's Club, the most comprehensive (and high end) kids' program in Riviera Nayarit, which features a children's spa, an all-inclusive dining program, and plenty of activities like treasure hunts and piñata-making workshops.

Photo: Courtesy of Oyster.com

One & Only Palmilla (Los Cabos, Mexico)
Although everything at the One & Only Palmilla comes at an exorbitant price, it's worth the splurge—especially on a movie star's budget. A breathtaking infinity pool, ocean-side spa treatment rooms, and four on-site restaurants supervised by a top-notch chef make this hotel hard to pass up. Additional perks like luggage unpacking, daily fruit and cocktail snack deliveries, an aromatherapy turndown menu, and a 24-hour shared butler service set this property far apart from any other resort in Cabo. And don't worry about the kids—their club offers free activities and gifts for the little ones.

Photo: Courtesy of Oyster.com

—Rachel Jacoby

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Photo: Courtesy of Hamilton Island

We've planned the ultimate honeymoon down under—see cosmopolitan Sydney, rugged Tasmania, Melbourne, and the Great Barrier Reef in 15 unforgettable days. See the full itinerary—including the best places to stay, eat, and shop—here.

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Photo: Las Alamandas

I'm just back from one of Mexico's most beautiful honeymoon beach retreats—the famed Las Alamandas, a 16-suite gem two hours south of Puerto Vallarta along the Costalegre. Run the by the well-known British socialite, Isabel Goldsmith-Patino, this resort, set on 1,500, secluded acres, has always attracted high-profile celebrities—Brad Pitt, Christy Turlington, Sandra Bullock, Ellen DeGeneres—and it's perfect for a couple that's looking to totally escape from it all and wants tons of privacy. There are four huge, practically-deserted beaches—one right in front of the rooms that's just over a mile long. The staff will pack a fresh ceviche picnic for you, and take you to any of the other three, which are even more remote.

The suites were all just renovated. If you splurge on oceanfront digs, you get a Jacuzzi on the outdoor patio, and you'll be able to fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. All rooms have cool, contemporary Mexican art, but in terms of design and size, no two are alike, which adds to the charm—some have private, rooftop garden areas, while others have sweeping decks. Some bathrooms have tubs that are elaborately-tiled, while others are more minimalist-chic with polished cement floors and oversize showers.

The resort's signature colors: pink and yellow, inspired by the gorgeous, fuschia bougainvillea that grows in the cobblestoned plaza (which is an amazing place for a 40 person destination wedding, fyi), and by the native, yellow alamanda flower. You'll see the two colors pop up everywhere: in pillows at the 60-foot pool, on your gratis straw beach bag, even on the hot pink speakers by the open-air restaurant. I happened to pack my pink and yellow Havianas and fit right in!
If you're looking to truly disconnect with a perfectly salted margarita, this place is for you; if you want nightlife on your Mexican honeymoon, not so much. But there's plenty to keep busy during the day: mountain biking, kayaking along the nearby river, horseback-riding on the beach, and of course, making new, possibly very famous friends. From $371.

— Jacqueline Gifford

Photo: Courtesy of The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows

On May 12, The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, a favorite of celebrities, Beverly Hills brides, and couples looking for a romantic getaway, will turn 100. The "pink palace"—208 rooms and 23 bungalows over 12 palm-tree studded acres—is about as old-school fabulous as it gets. Marilyn Monroe was a regular in the 50s; Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned here with six of her eight husbands; and modern-day A-listers like Jennifer Aniston and Katie Holmes are always popping by for business lunches. (P.S., when we checked in, Alicia Keys was checking out!)

For a couple that's honeymooning in Tahiti or Fiji, this is a great place to break up the trip for a one or two night stay—you'll have to connect in LAX anyway. Also, if you're planning a California road trip up picturesque Highway 1, starting in Beverly Hills is fantastic because you'll actually get some rest and downtime, as opposed to starting in a really active city like San Francisco.

Your honeymoon schedule at the Beverly Hills Hotel is as follows. Breakfast in the The Fountain Coffee Room (think 1950s soda fountain serving homemade ice cream), which still has the original stools from 1949, as well as the hotel's signature banana-leaf-print wallpaper. (The waffles are amazing.) Next up: Lunch and pool time. Pack a pair of over-size shades and get ready to people-watch. Later, enjoy dinner at the elegant Polo Lounge. You can get all the fancy stuff, like steak tartare and homemade papardelle pasta, but it's really all about the kobe burger with truffle provolone. And we loved that the attentive waiters have mastered the art of the club pour, basically two glasses of wine in one. Room wise, if you're feeling flush, you can splurge on one of the new presidential bungalows—almost 5,000 square feet—complete with a pool, kitchen, library, and outdoor shower (yes, in L.A.!). From $505.

—Jacqueline Gifford

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Photo: Woodward+Rick

I'm just back from one of the USA's most beautiful, destination wedding venues: the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, once the lavish, 250-room "country home" of George Vanderbilt and his family in the early 1900s. Though you can't get married in the mansion itself (and really, the word mansion seems quaint—it's a palace, spreading over four acres, with a swimming pool and bowling alley), the gardens directly in front are a hugely popular spot for destination weddings: think tented, 300-person extravaganzas, farm to table food, and of course, a ridiculous backdrop. Smaller, 30-person destination weddings can book the champagne cellar, an intimate stone-paneled room. For the guests, there's the elegant, 213-room Inn on Biltmore Estate, (rooms from $299), a winery, and a shopping village.

But maybe the Biltmore's coolest amenity is the Land Rover Experience Driving School. Pro-instructors will take you off-roading on the estate's 8,000-acre grounds, through mud, ditches, and massive puddles, in seriously gorgeous cars—the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and LR4 (my fave). A lot of guys do this for bachelor party or groomsmen "bonding" activities, but we don't discriminate—it's great for girls, too. (The cost is $400 for two hours for four people.)

Not going to lie, I was a little freaked out at first, but the cars truly do all the work, even when you're tilted to the side at a crazy angle. All you have to do is (gently) push the gas.

Browse our Real Weddings Gallery for more destination wedding ideas.

—Jacqueline Gifford

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I'm not the most tech savvy girl, but Apple's latest version of the iMovie app has me completely hooked—it's perfect for creating a "mini" honeymoon movie. Basically, you just shoot video of your trip with either your iPhone or iPad, like normal. Then pick from the one of the nine trailer template themes: romance, retro, Bollywood, etc..

A story board pops up, dividing the trailer into different segments, or clips, and tells you a) the time required for each clip, and b) how many people need to be in it. You, the budding filmmaker, look at your videos (say, the two of you hiking, or the two of you drinking margaritas), cut and slot your videos into the clips, write text to set the scene, and boom, there's your trailer. Apple's even created a soundtrack for you (Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer did one of the scores, fyi), and the really fun part is filling in the blanks when it comes to the credits. (Director: Me. Producer: Hubby. Ha.)

I tested this for the first time while I was on vacation in Nevis with my husband, Rob. A couple tips: I shot the video from my iPad, and in hindsight, it's probably easier to use the iPhone, because it's steadier and easier to hold. And I wish I'd asked some poor tourist to take a video of the two of us—otherwise it was me recording him, or him recording me. You can check us out here. But overall, this is an easy, absolutely fun way to immortalize your honeymoon in film, for all of $4.99. We've come a long way from the camcorder.

— Jacqueline Gifford

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Photo: Courtesy of Park Hyatt Sydney

For our May issue, we profiled Australia, a honeymoon destination that is fabulous, but can be quite pricey to fly to. Not to fear, says Brian: With advance notice you can score free seats. Here's how.

1. Turn credit card points into miles. Roundtrip awards to Australia are hefty, starting at 72K-100K for coach and 125K-150K for business, based upon availability and capacity control, so you'll likely need to top up those frequent flier accounts. "I like both the American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards programs because they allow you to transfer points to a number of airlines, at one point to one mile, which is a great rate," says Kelly.

2. Study airline partners and alliances. "American doesn't fly from the US to Australia, but, Qantas, their partner and Australia's national carrier does," explains Kelly. "Just redeem those American miles on Qantas. And though United and Delta fly to Sydney, it's worth checking out their respective partners, Air Canada and V Australia. They could have better availability."

3. Always book over the phone (yes, even though there's that annoying surcharge). "You can't trust what you see on an airline website—they're notorious for not showing partner award tickets—so you've got to call for the real scoop on seats," says Kelly. And be super-friendly. "These agents hear from angry people 24/7. Explain that this is for your honeymoon! I've found that a little kindness goes a long way."

Browse our directory of Honeymoon Locations to find your dream honeymoon destination.

—Jacqueline Gifford

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Photo: Jacqueline Gifford

The Caribbean is full of amazing islands, perfect for a honeymoon—and one of them is Nevis, which has a handful of lovely, intimate resorts. It's a little more under-the radar (you fly to St. Kitts, then hop a boat) which is why I love it. Just recently, I stayed with my husband at the lovely, 36-room Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, (above) where guests come year after year because of the amazing staff. There's the gorgeous, cheerful yellow Great House, a romantic place for dinner and cocktails (the plantation setting makes you feel like you're in the 1700s), and then a lovely green lawn, dotted by cottages, sloping to the beach. Locals and guests hang out together—truly cool and unique—come Thursday nights at the beach bbq. I pigged out on macaroni pie, and then danced to the fabulous steel drum band. From $391, with meals.

We saw tons of honeymooners at Nisbet and at the Four Seasons, just down the road. It's a bigger resort experience, better for those who need all the fancy trimmings: golf, a huge spa (each treatment room is its own adorable, gingerbread cottage, and the therapists are pros), 24-hour room service. The water off the beach is gin-clear, and the adults-pool is pretty fabulous, with attendants bringing treats like fresh sorbet and mint-infused water. From $345. Either way, if you're looking for a Caribbean honeymoon, you can't go wrong.

—Jacqueline Gifford

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Photo: Jacqueline Gifford

I'm just back from a travel trade show in Berlin—what an amazing, young, fun city. It's perfect for someone who wants a city honeymoon that's a little edgy, or someone who's done the usual Europe (Paris, London, Rome). People here love to party. Nothing even really gets going until 2 a.m., and there's a vibrant art and food scene. And amazing history. I squeezed in a stop to Checkpoint Charlie, once the crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. (The rain and grey sky seemed like appropriate weather.) Another highlight: the department store KaDeWe, where TomKat and Brangie shop when they're in town. The sixth floor was amazing—think mini-restaurants, selling everything from sausages to pates to lobster to strudel to pretzel bread to Moët et Chandon champagne (my favorite). I could have spent a whole afternoon there.

— Jacqueline Gifford

Photo: Courtesy of Persol

I collect sunglasses like it's nobody's business: Ray-Ban aviators, oversize, Jackie O shades from Prada, and $10 pairs off the street. Persol's new Capri Edition just hit stores, and I'm saving up for a splurge. This sleek blue pair was inspired by the Italian island's gorgeous waters and grottos—I love that they're slightly 80s, too (from $310, stores nationwide). Is it summer yet?

Persol Capri Edition sunglasses, from $310, available at Sunglass Hut

—Jacqueline Gifford

Photo: Courtesy of Marriott

—Jacqueline Gifford

Photo: courtesy of ABC

Tahiti, Fiji, St. Lucia...contestants on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette travel to amazing places. In this Bachelor Ben season, the cast and crew nixed the idea of an exotic beach locale in favor of Interlaken, Switzerland! Wouldn't have been my first choice, but surprisingly, this quaint town in the Alps brought on the romance. First up, there was Ben and Nicki, helicoptering over stunning mountains and drinking champagne in a chalet. Lindzi got my least favorite date—rappelling down a 300-foot gorge—but Ben made up for it with a steamy hot tub session and a multi-course dinner in a five-star restaurant. And Courtney got to ride a charming train through green countryside and drink wine (Not bad!). To stay where Ben did, check out the spa-focused Victoria Jungfrau resort (from $557), specifically room 414. Awkward run in with Kacie not included.

—Jacqueline Gifford