JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina Presents Luxurious Destination Wedding Options

KO OLINA, OAHU, HI--(Marketwire - Aug 23, 2011) - The luxury JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina continues to be a favorite for destination weddings and now the resort is enhancing the experience with its new Makali'i Bridal Collection, a sophisticated selection of nuptial packages.

"We invite couples to take advantage of all our resort has to offer for their important day," said Dan Banchiu, general manager of the recently refreshed 387-room luxury resort on Oahu. "Our team of bridal and event managers has the expertise and understanding to make any wedding truly memorable."

The experience begins before the big day at the Ihilani Spa's new Ho'onanea Suite, a private setting designed for the exclusive use of intimate groups, including bridal showers. Spa associates can customize hair, manicure and pedicure treatments along with catered food and beverages. Located adjacent to the spa's lap pool, the Ho'onanea Suite is also an ideal dressing area for the bride that showcases well in photographs.

When it comes to the wedding locations on Oahu, the AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort offers three idyllic ceremony sites that fully capture its ocean and garden views.

• Lagoon Lawn - Just steps from the ocean, the manicured lawn is perfectly positioned for sunset watching and provides a beach wedding ambiance without the sand
• Gazebo - Surrounded by tropical flora and fauna, this location is highly recommended for the bride who wants to make a grand entrance along the zigzag pathway, leading to a covered, open-air and intimate gazebo
• Lagoon Lawn Point - Tucked between the main lawn and the white sand beach, the point is a private oasis, ideal for smaller ceremonies

Designed to create the ultimate Hawaiian wedding ambiance, the Makali'i Bridal Collection features four integrated packages for every budget, from a simple yet elegant ceremony to a lavish, sophisticated affair.

• Hoku ("Star") - Ceremony at the private Lagoon Lawn Point with a wedding officiant A'a ("Burning Brightly") - Choice of ceremony site (Lagoon Lawn or Gazebo), butler pass serving of water or orange juice, bride and groom florals, sound system, use of grounds for picture-taking, JW Marriott Ihilani commemorative certificate and one-hour of day-of wedding coordination
• Kapuahi ("Sacred Fire") - Same as A'a package, plus an oceanview room for one night, decorative arch (tropical bamboo at Lagoon Lawn or floral at Gazebo), ceremonial music (vocalist, harpist, guitarist or ukulele player) and assorted rose petals for aisle
• Hokulei ("Star Wreath") - Same as Kapuahi package, with addition of either one-night in the Makali'i Bridal Suite or one-night in two oceanview rooms, plus six chair posies and Hawaiian conch shell blower

Following the ceremony, a celebratory reception can be held at one of the resort's ballrooms:

• The Hokulani Ballroom - The largest and most flexible event space in West Oahu, this venue measures 15,600 square feet and can serve up to 1,000 guests. The Hokulani Ballroom can be configured in up to five separate areas with collapsible walls that allow for an open-air ambiance.
• Ocean Ballroom - For a truly elegant gathering, the exceptional Ocean Ballroom has 3,100 square feet of outdoor patio pre-function space overlooking a picturesque garden, saltwater ponds and waterfalls. Its 5,530 square feet of interior space can accommodate up to 420 for banquet seating or 600 for reception seating. It can also be subdivided into two rooms.

Couples can count on JW Marriott Ihilani associates, including a Marriott Joy Wedding Certified event manager, to make their day run smoothly. To learn more about weddings at JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, please visit the wedding section of Ihilani.com or contact a wedding coordinator at 808-679-0079.

Editors Note: JPGs of JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa is available.

About JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
The luxurious JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina offers 387 spacious guest rooms including 36 suites, which have been completely transformed to feature a residential resort look-and-feel and upgraded amenities including a 42-inch flat screen LCD TV. The AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort fronts the first of four lagoons in the 640-acre Ko Olina Resort & Marina, offering the island's most complete resort experience with a relaxed Hawaiian elegance and gracious, warm personalized service. The resort is ideal for meetings and weddings with a total of 77,694 square feet of outdoor and indoor meeting space, including the newly expanded 15,600-square-foot Hokulani Ballroom. Resort activities include 18 holes of championship play at Ko Olina Golf Club, tennis courts with ocean views and a variety of restaurants showcasing unique and distinctive island cuisine, including the AAA Four Diamond award winning Azul restaurant. The world-class Ihilani Spa, voted one of the "Top Spas in the World" by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines, has been completely redesigned with a new layout, couple's treatment room, the brand new Ho'onanea suite for private events, and a 24-hour fitness center. Ihilani Spa is internationally renowned for its full complement of invigorating body treatments and massages, using products harvested from the honua (earth) and the moana (ocean) here in the islands. The resort recently ranked as one of the "Top 15 Hawaii Golf Resorts" by Conde Nast Traveler, one of the "World's Best Hawaii Resorts" by Travel + Leisure, and number one in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's "Best of the Best Hotel & Resort" poll voted by island readers.

About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of exceptional properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels and resorts cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 54 JW Marriott hotels in 23 countries; by 2014 the portfolio will encompass 76 properties in 28 countries. www.jwmarriotthotels.com

About Marriott International
Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.