Lomani Island Resort

Description of hotel

Lomani Island Resort is on Malololailai Island, a small island with three resorts on it. Lomani Resort is a small, adult-only resort with 12 luxurious suites and five beach-side bures. There is one pool and one restaurant and the resort faces onto the lagoon. It is a quiet and serene place to really unwind.

View of the hotel and restaurant. The rooms are separate to this.

Getting there
From the Denarau Marina, a catamaran called the Malolo Cat can take you to the island which takes 50 minutes and costs F$70 return.

This is what you see when you arrive at the island. 

Average costs
Rooms at the Lomani Resort range in price from F$760 (A$409.10) for a standard room up to F$840 (A$452.20) for a bure. A dining package which includes lunch and a three course meal every day costs F$112 (A$60.30) per day. Another special offer includes all meals no matter how long you stay for F$360 (A$193.80) in total.

The bures were impressive and faced the beach.

Interior of the bure.

Wedding ceremony
The ceremony can be held on a sand bank out on the lagoon or on the grassy area in front of the lagoon. The sand bank ceremony sounds like a unique experience. It would need to be timed with a low tide and they can predict this a little in advance. Your guests would be transported there by boat in a few minutes and then the bride would travel with Fijian warriors who would lift her from the boat in a chair.

The grassy area was also scenic with a view overlooking the sand and lagoon.

Lawn area where both ceremony and reception can be held

The sand bank is in the middle of the lagoon here.

Reception venues
As this is a small resort, the reception would need to be held on the grassy area (same as above). This area was nice. The grass was a bit prickly but it is a good location. Tables would be set up here and a buffet meal would be provided.

Menu options
The meal we had there at lunch time was disappointing. We both had seafood dishes - the prawn dish was bland and the fish I had was tough. They had just lost their chef, however, so perhaps it is usually better than this.

The only option is to have a seafood buffet dinner for the reception. This would cost F$77 (A$41.45) per person, excluding drinks.

Packages and discounts

A basic wedding package costs F$1634 (A$879.60). This includes the celebrant, a wedding arch, a CD of photos and a champagne bottle.

A Lomani Deluxe wedding package is F$3054 (A$1644) which includes the same items as the basic wedding package but also includes a beachside dinner for two, a wedding video, a massage, hairstyling and a choir.

The resort has a couple of wedding charter options. A wedding charter involves booking the resort exclusively for your wedding. The Deluxe Wedding Charter costs F$60,000 (A$32,300) which includes 5 nights accommodation for 34 people, all meals and the Lomani Deluxe wedding package.

The Short Break Wedding Charter costs F$38,000 (A$20,456) and will accommodate 34 guests for three nights, will include all meals plus a simple wedding package.

Beach outside the resort

Our overall rating

This resort was a lovely, quiet place - ideal if you want a place all to yourself with your guests. The staff were also really welcoming. Mum was concerned that the guests would get bored as there is not much to do on the island. However, there are plenty of water activities such as island hopping, snorkelling, and parasailing (mum just isn't interested in those activities!). I liked the idea of getting married on the sand bank and would have chosen this one but the food was a worry and I wasn't sure that guests could afford to stay here. If we paid for some of the charter package, then it would be affordable for guests.
Our ratings against our priorities are as follows:

• Scenic locations for the ceremony 10/10
• Scenic locations for reception 9/10
• Good food for the reception 3/10
• A good price for the wedding 5/10
• A good price for our guests' accommodation 4/10
• Not too far from Nadi airport 4/10
• A range of activities to keep everyone happy 6/10

Final score: 41/70 or 58.6%

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa

Description of hotel

The InterContinental is located on the best beach on the island of Viti Levu, called Natadola. It is a grand structure, looks very classy and is surrounded by villas. Built in 2009, there are 271 rooms, five restaurants, four swimming pools, a golf course and a range of rooms to choose from.

View of villas/bures from reception area

Grand entrance to the hotel

Getting there
It takes 40 minutes drive from Nadi International Airport.

Average prices
This hotel looked more expensive than others in the area. For one night for two adults, prices range from the King Bed Garden view at F$715 (A$384.90) to the Natadola Suite at F$3,745 (A$2016). We had one lunch meal here and it cost about F$29 (A$15.60) for an entree (e.g. calamari; fish).

Wedding Ceremony
The beach and chapel locations for the ceremony are just beautiful. It can be held at any time of the day. The chapel faces onto the bay, is air-conditioned and has the essentials available (speakers, lighting etc.).

View from inside chapel

Outside chapel on the lawn where you could have cocktails afterwards

This beach is outside the Navo Restaurant

Reception venues

The reception can be held at the Calma Beach Front which is a large area of tiles and sand out the front of the hotel. We were quite impressed by this setting as it faces the beautiful bay and would be under the stars. It is also right next to the chapel.

Where the bride and grown would enter for a reception under the stars

And this is a view of the reception area under the stars - it can be on the sand or tiles.
Behind is the reception building

Another option is the Navo Restaurant which faces onto a lawn and the bay. It needs to be exclusively booked, and a minimum of F$10,000 must be spent. This restaurant looked nice but was too big and roomy for 40 guests. If you have more guests (e.g. 80), this location would be good.

Navo Restaurant

Menus
We sampled the food at one of the restaurants and it tasted pretty good. A lunch standing buffet for the reception would cost F$50, canapes would range from F$35 for 4 canapes to F$60 for 10 canapes per person. Dinners range from:

• BBQ F$85-90
• Buffet F$90-100
• 3 course alternative set F$95

At the Navo Restaurant, food would cost F$100 per person. I did not get a quote on beverage costs and this is not included in the prices outlined above.

Sooo, if we were to have 40 guests at F$150 (A$80.75) to F$200 (A$107.65) including drinks, the final cost for food and drinks would be: A$3,200 - A$4,280.

Packages and discounts
There are three extensive wedding packages:

• Intimate wedding: F$6,000 (A$3,229) which is for the two love-birds only
• Wedding under the stars: F$15,000 (A$8074) which includes chapel hire, buffet dinner for 50 guests (food only) and three nights accommodation for bride and groom
• Navo Wedding Package: F$30,000 (A$16,149) which includes chapel hire, four course dinner at Navo Restaurant for 50 guests, five nights' accommodation for bride and groom and much more.

I haven't mentioned everything in these packages but you can get the details from the hotel.

Our overall rating
We were impressed by this hotel and you could definitely have a very swish wedding here. I don't think it would be affordable for our guests, however, and we would be reluctant to ask them to pay this much. Also, the prices for a wedding here are similar to what I would plan to pay in Australia.

Our ratings against our priorities are as follows:

• Scenic locations for the ceremony 10/10
• Scenic locations for reception 9/10
• Good food for the reception 7/10
• A good price for the wedding 4/10
• A good price for our guests' accommodation 1/10
• Not too far from Nadi airport 7/10
• A range of activities to keep everyone happy 7/10

Total score: 45/70 or 64%

Shangri La's Fijian Resort and Spa

Description of hotel

The Shangri La is a massive resort with a range of restaurant options, three different pool areas, tennis courts, a golf course and about 400 rooms. Its age can be noticed but there is a real tropical and family friendly feel to this resort. Check out their website: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/yanucaisland/fijianresort

Getting there

It takes 50 minutes drive from Nadi airport.

Average prices

Mum and I did a package deal which included flights, and 6 nights stay in a Lagoon view room, for A$1300. Generally their hotel rooms range in price from F$440 per night (above A$200 for the most basic room).

When we were there, meal and drink prices ranged from:

• Cocktail: F$21.50
• Gin and tonic: F$14.50
• Glass of white wine: F$11.00
• Chicken curry: F$35.40
• Tortellini: F$33.80
• Spring rolls: F$18.50

A bus to marina (Denarau Port) to catch boats to other islands: F$40 return

20km in a taxi: F$30

Wedding ceremony

There are quite a few places to hold the ceremony, such as on the lawn facing the beach, on the beach itself or in the chapel.

There is a small beach next to the Takali Cabana where you could have your ceremony. It is nice but a bit small.

This is another section of the beach where you can get married. It is called the Coral Beach. This is also pretty nice but can be accessed by other guests. There is also a pool nearby.

This is the same beach as above.

The chapel is the most beautiful location by far and would be what I would choose if we were to have the ceremony at the Shangri La. It will fit about 40 people and is airconditioned. You have two choices for the ceremony time – either at 3pm or 5pm. It is expected that the ceremony will go for 15 minutes. 

I explored having cocktails and canapes on the lawn outside the chapel after the ceremony. If you book the 5pm slot, you can definitely have your cocktails on the lawn but there is not much daylight left by 6pm which is why I’d prefer the 3pm timeslot. If you choose the 3pm timeslot, there is a chance that there will be another ceremony at 5pm which means you will need to be hurried out. 

Check out this little bit of footage I took of the chapel - very amateurish but gives you an idea.

Reception venues

The venues for the reception can be on the beach strip at Lagoon Beach (next to the kiddie pool and must be buffet), the Takali Pool Deck (great view, would fit 30-50 people; also near a pool), and the Golden Cowrie which is on a terrace overlooking the water.

Beach location for reception

Lawn area for reception

Pool deck area for reception

Shangri La only have their receptions from 6-10pm which is disappointing as the view will mostly be gone when the sun goes down (around 6pm in the winter months). However, guests can keep partying after 10pm at the Marlin Bar which is open 'til 1am.

Menus

We sampled all the food at the hotel and were not impressed. It was pretty bland and Westernised –which we were not expecting. The buffet menus for weddings look more varied, and may be better but there was no way to confirm this. 

Buffet costs per head is F$92 (A$49) plus F$89 (A$47.55) per person for a four hour beer, wine and spirits menu. Therefore the total for each person would be around A$96 per person, plus more if you want canapés and cocktails.

Soooo, if we were to have 40 people, the total cost for food would be: A$3,840.

Packages and discounts

Wedding packages include the Seaside wedding chapel package. This costs F$3,990 (A$2130.80) and includes a range of things which can be located on the Shangri La website. The more simple Fijian Wedding Package costs F$2,750 (A$1468.60).

Special rates can be organised for groups. For 10 paid rooms, the room will be F$325FJD + 20% VAT for ocean and lagoon view rooms (this ends up costing F$390 or A$208).

Our overall rating

It depends what you are looking for but our ratings against our priorities are as follows:

• Scenic locations for the ceremony 10/10
• Scenic locations for reception 7/10
• Good food for the reception 4/10
• A good price for the wedding 8/10
• A good price for our guests' accommodation 3/10
• Not too far from Nadi airport 7/10
• A range of activities to keep everyone happy 9/10

Total score: 48/70 or 67%

Wedding scouting in Fiji

The idea was simple: we thought we'd get married overseas to avoid the hassles of a wedding back home. We weren't keen on blowing between $20-40,000 on a day that would rush by without really having time to enjoy it. By having our wedding overseas, we hoped to have a celebration with our closest friends and family which would last for several days. We also pictured that a wedding overseas would be easier to organise as the packages appeared to organise everything for you.

After being swept away with the idea to get married on the ski slopes of Japan, we settled on Fiji (Japan was very complicated to organise plus very expensive for our guests to get to). I emailed many Fijian wedding coordinators, and went on a range of forums, but couldn't get a real sense of what our wedding would be like. We'd never been to Fiji and didn't want to base our decisions purely on idyllic photos online.

An impulsive decision later, my mum and I were on a plane to Fiji (my fiance couldn't get time off work). What follows is an account of our research of four of the resorts that looked the best online according to our needs. Some important factors for us were:

-Scenic locations for the ceremony and reception
-Good food for the reception
-A good price for the wedding
-A good price for our guests' accommodation
-Not too far from Nadi airport
-A range of activities to keep everyone happy

I hope this blog helps other brides and grooms-to-be who are stressing over possibly having their wedding in Fiji. Please get in touch if you want to find out more!