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Wedding Day – California StyleThe St. Regis Monarch Beach & SpaBy Autumn RheaWhen we arrived at the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, we half expected to hear rumblings of Wayne’s voice over the intercom bellowing “Pilgrim, pick your luggage at the middle counter. No dawdling is allowed.” Instead, we were greeted by the sanitized airport voice, warning us to not leave our bags unattended in several languages. There was a bronzed statue of Mr. Wayne, posed in an aloof stance, which seemed to satisfy the cowboy factor.
The twilight wedding was exquisite, complete with family and friends, a beautiful bride and handsome groom and an amazing resort experience. An event that would have even made John Wayne crack a smile. For more information go to:The St. Regis Monarch
Beach & Spa Images by: The St. Regis Monarch Beach & Spa website |
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We arrived late to my
brother’s wedding rehearsal at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, (due to
flight delays and time zone confusion.) It was a manic rush of relinquishing
luggage, exchanging introductions and a quick surveying of the room. At
first glance, the bathroom was impressive. The wide garden tub with
glass-enclosed shower invited our weary souls but had to wait until later.
Sleek marble countertops and fluffy white robes promised us solace once the
rehearsal was over.
We finally discovered the
rehearsal location and performed our necessary duties. I admired the lush
landscaping and sumptuous flowers lining the gardens. We were asked to
slowly descend the staircases and march to a slow tempo, always smiling. I
managed the staircase without and embarrassing trip and we were free to
investigate the grounds.
The cool Pacific Ocean
breeze beckoned us to the balcony and we admired the incredibly designed
swimming pool overlooking the beach and gold course. Water spilled from
strategically placed fountains and I stood mesmerized. The monumental
pillars enclosed the resort in a formal, but inviting hold.
Later my mother and I
visited the Resort’s Gaucin Spa. It was a serene and tranquil environment
and we were quickly shuttled off to a quiet waiting room for our treatments.
I received a European deep-cleansing facial with special attention to my
skin type. The specialist thoroughly explained how your skin deals with its
environment and how to make improvements. She was highly skilled yet
soothing and shared her expertise effortlessly while offering a deep
cleansing face masque, gentle exfoliation and a heated hand treatment.
My mother’s aromatherapy
massage included lymphatic treatment for a deeper relaxation experience. The
masseuse explained that the massage type allows the body to naturally
release toxins. My mother mentioned that it had made her top two “favorite
massages ever” list. 
We ventured a golf cart taxi
ride down to the beach. On the way, we spotted Barbara Streisand’s beach
house under construction amidst other million-dollar beach homes. Although
it was a bumpy ride, we arrived at our own private beach experience. The
water was too cool for a swim, but merited a toe-dip. We enjoyed the
beachfront restaurant’s lunch delicacies and breathed in the temperate air.