Ah... Venice.

The Creed Of Luxury: Aman Venice. This past weekend, the world watched as celebrity after celebrity descended

upon Venice, Italy for one of the most high profile weddings in years.

But "Sophisticated Weddings" was there first. 😉

As seen in Sophisticated Weddings' Wanderlust: As the purported mecca of hedonists, Aman resorts have amassed a coterie of loyal holidaymakers that maintain they know something we don’t. Is the in-crowd hype to be believed, or is it a case of smoke and mirrors?

It is one thing to be an enthusiastic traveler. The kind that always anticipates their next trailblazing adventure. Perhaps, even, the type of person or couple that seeks out world class accommodations, experiences, and amenities. 

And then there’s a special set of luxury travel seekers best known as “Amanjunkies’’. The cultivated loyalists live, work, and exist to experience each and every one of Aman’s 35 hotels, resorts, and residence developments in 20 countries, often many times over. It is with bated breath that they eagerly await the unveiling of its next destination, which is handpicked by Aman’s development team. For all intents and purposes, they wholeheartedly subscribe to the notion that Aman serves as unearthed perfection; a space where relaxed elegance is assured. Upon one’s first experience, all others will have become effectively ruined. 

In order to adequately understand the essence of a hotel group which has amassed such a significant cult following, it would be necessary to set aside the conjecture that Aman is merely an ultra-luxury destination. It’s neither uncommon or unique in today’s day and age to book a suite at a hotel with plush blankets and special touches. Where Aman soars, as rumors would have it, is in its unrivaled personalization that extends beyond exceptional hospitality.

IYKYK

The sanctuary collective, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’, strives to provide a level or service and experience that is peerless in every way. Aman makes no assumptions about who you are and what you like. Naturally, the foundations of luxury are built into each of the properties’ exquisite groundings, but the experience manifests from their commitment and dedication to learning guests’ particular tastes and preferences. As though there could be a Ph.D. degree in you, they will study what paradise uniquely means on an individual basis, and in effect, understand each guest better than their mother or partner does (in only the best ways). 

There’s a great deal of commonality among Amanjunkies and discerning couples in pursuit of a flawless wedding day (or weekend). Each aligns their hopes and desires with an experience that is seamless, expressive, meaningful, and divine. They value luxury, intimacy, symbolism, and personalization. Ultimately, where every moment counts, an experience worth looking forward to should be exceptional in every way. Unsurprisingly, there’s a quiet subset of Amanjunkies that belongs to none other than couples planning their weddings and honeymoons.  

The Distinction

In order to determine, once and for all, whether Aman lives up to its puffery, it would be logical to inspect two of its properties, in wholly different parts of the world. For this reason, we traveled to Venice, Italy and Marrakech, Morocco, to unlock the truth of the experience among the destinations separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Spoiler alert: cookie cutter, this is not.

Aman Venice

“It is always assumed that Venice is the ideal place for a honeymoon. This is a grave error. To live in Venice, or even to visit it, means that you fall in love with the city itself. There is nothing left over in your heart for anyone else.” -Peggy Guggenheim

Aman Venice has a thing for first impressions. Within minutes of one’s arrival at Marco Polo Airport, it becomes readily apparent that accommodation begins before the destination has been reached. Commenced by a swift transfer in a top of the line Mercedes S-Class vehicle, it will be the last time they see an automobile for a while. Travelers make their way to a private speed boat that transports them to the property in a scenic 35-minute ride, an uncommonly lavish experience in its own right. 

As the boat approaches the hotel, it becomes impossible not to notice the grandeur of its beauty, which gracefully complements its prime surroundings. Devoid of any signs that scream “new development,” Aman Venice’s structure reads like an authentic Venetian that could tell centuries worth of royal tales. It is curiously without pretense for a hotel group that only made its mark in the floating city in 2013.

Aman’s setting character as a whole may be best described as modern minimalist with holistic elegance, but the architecture among the properties will not be pigeonholed to meet the collective beat. The distinctive sanctuaries and spaces bear commitment to remain authentic to its regional geography and cultural heritage. This not only  introduces versatility among the properties, it ensures that the essence of its exterior boundaries is not lost in the experience. This facet is perhaps most evident at Aman Venice, which is anything but simple.

Mere meters from the iconic Rialto Bridge, Aman Venice rests in the 16^th Century Palazzo Papadopoli on the Grand Canal, emanating period elegance and utmost sophistication. Arriving by water, it’s easy to be enthralled by its Venetian tradition and consummate privacy, as the enchanting historic site is graced with literal royalty. It is here where travelers and wedding-makers can actually stay and celebrate like aristocrats and royals. The extravagant and primely situated hotel impressively stands with 24 rooms and suites beneath the private apartments home to none other than Count Gilberto and Countess Bianca Arrivabene. 

To play devil’s advocate, however, it’s not hard to fall in love with Venice in itself. Despite what Peggy Guggenheim might say, it is among the most obvious destinations for weddings and honeymoons abroad. It is perfectly reasonable to deduce that Aman relies on the famously exquisite region of northern Italy to spruce its refined atmosphere. 

Sure, the walkable city of Venice is exquisite, but one can’t help but indulge upon the discoveries right from within this not-so-humble abode. Leather wall coverings imported from Cordova date back several generations, casting a fragrant throw that bears an earthy resemblance to notes of sandalwood and frankincense. Theatrical frescoes tucked behind a secret door to the Alcova Tiepolo Suite offer a remarkable opportunity to live among the gilded ceilings from one of the greatest decorative painters of 18th Century Europe. (If that’s not enough to sway you, it’s worth pointing out that this is where George and Amal Clooney chose to honeymoon.) If romance were a physical and tangible space, it would be the Grande Canal Suite, which magnificently blends its period art detail with modern fixtures and mesmerizing views of gondolas floating along the glistening canal. 

The property as a whole strikes an ideal balance of old world Venice and modern day, and the inspired setting which features a palatial ballroom, two private gardens (a rarity in Venice), sumptuous dining rooms (catered by its resident culinary mecca, Arva), a salon, bar, and a library and games room. Vows may be exchanged in the Canal Garden or in the ballroom which overlooks the Grand Canal before commencing with a candlelit reception set to a live opera or string quartet. A wedding at Aman Venice in its prime will entail a full bookout of the hotel, which can accommodate between 48-52 overnight guests, and up to 150 between its spaces for a majestic ceremony and reception. 

Blessed with an unrivaled location along the canal, Aman Venice is a gateway to this romantic city by boat or by foot – just don’t expect to find any cars here. An ideal first and gradual approach to the floating city is Aman Venice’s luxurious private charter sunset tour. Outfitted with Prosecco and canapes, this luxury cabin taxi boat jetted us along the lagoons, passing directly beneath some of the 400 bridges around Venice. Timed to twilight, absorbing Venice’s serene expanse from a position of serenity, is one of the most unforgettable experiences to be had.

Once settled in, Venice awaits like a boundless labyrinth, yet the concierge ensures its guests are never aimless. Leveraging their priceless relationships with Venice’s cultural scene, securing private tours and experiences generally considered unattainable, be it with Orsoni (the last furnace legally allowed to operate with fire in the city of Venice) or Marino Menegazzo (the last remaining gold leaf beater in Venice), arrangements can be made, seemingly without effort.

The accommodations are posh – arguably more so than your average five-star hotel, with enormous bathrooms and living quarters. Yet still, the distinction is in the details, right down to the cotton swab supply, whether or not you knew to look for them. 

Take Arva, for instance, the hotel’s resident fine Italian dining establishment for all meals including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With the first course, the dining staff furnishes the place setting with Aman’s own premium olive oil, brought in Sicily. It tickles the palate in a superior way, it’s as though the house blend reinvented the EVOO wheel. The slightest indication that its patrons are a fan, there appears to be an unspoken edict that they will return home with a bottle to call their own. On the menu, plentiful options of farm and sea grace its glossary, with a medley of creature comforts and unexpected treasures. Breakfast stands out tall from the rest, a treat we wouldn’t dare spoil for New York brunch foodies with a penchant for the cutting edge. Hardly the stiff palace its surroundings would suggest, the vibe lays low in modest nature as the staff create a warm and personalized atmosphere that is keen to understand its guests’ needs and desires.

There is little doubt that Aman Venice lives up to its reputation with whispers of luxury and earnest authenticity. It naturally introduces a prime position for an intimate destination wedding and resplendent honeymoon.