Mirihi Island Resort – Where Maldivian Wedding Dreams Can Come True

The Maldives. A destination that many couples can only dream of maybe one day visiting. It is synonymous with ultra wealthy clientele and super luxurious resorts. However, amongst the 26 atolls composed of thousands of coral islands, lies a romantic hidden gem – a small island called Mirihi.

If you are looking for an uber contemporary, high spec resort…then this is not for you. Mirihi is a down to earth island offering guests barefoot luxury that requires you to forget about the rest of the world. You will be charmed after your visit…we certainly were.

The adventure begins…

Mirihi Island Resort is perfect for couples who want a relaxed Maldivian wedding or honeymoon. The resort and all its staff can cater for everything and anything you require. The adventure to Mirihi starts from the mainland, Male, where you’ll find yourself boarding one of the Trans Maldivian Airlines – a seaplane which will take you on a stunning 30 minute transfer to the island. The seaplane is a beautiful introduction to those who have never been to the Maldives before with aerial views of the atolls and eventually of Mirihi where you will land.

Picture perfect expectations…

The Maldives is a well documented destination which most people have seen in photos and on the television and so it is not unfair for expectations to be high and after much research, ours definitely were. We can tell you now however, our arrival at Mirihi did not disappoint.  The bright turquoise waters and white sands, the picturesque jetty, the team of staff that welcomed us onto the island and even the baby reef sharks that came to say hello…it was all perfect and beyond our expectation.

A cold towel and warm welcome into the modern turquoise and white open air lobby plus an invitation to take off our shoes for the rest of our stay. Mirihi works on a (non obligatory) no shoe policy due to the entire resort being sandy – it was something that by the end of our stay, we realised we could get very used to.

The Villas…

There is no honeymoon suite as such at Mirihi because all the villas have something to offer – it depends more on your preference of location. Having been recently refurbished, the decor of all villas is modern traditional with polished floors and all the little luxuries you might want such as Nespresso machines, sound system, air conditioning and outdoor bathrooms. We stayed in one of the six beach villas which had its own sundeck, private access to the beach and our own beach sunloungers. This villa is definitely one for beach lovers (that’s us) who like to wake early in the morning and be able to walk straight out onto the beach and into the sea. It is a dreamy way to start and finish a Maldivian day.

For couples who love the water, there are 30 water villas. Water villas are the quintessential accommodation in the Maldives and so if you dream of having a bath whilst overlooking the Indian Ocean or jumping straight into the turquoise waters directly from your villa steps…then these will be for you. There are even underwater lights for those who enjoy night snorkelling.

Dining…

There are two main options for dining. The more casual everyday restaurant is called Dhonveli and it’s where you can try a selection of international dishes at their daily buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are fresh food stations for those wanting something cooked up for them there and then and every evening offers a different theme from Italian to Japanese Sushi.

If you are looking for something more romantic then Muraka Restaurant offers fine dining and dramatic sunsets out on the Jetty. Couples can relax and enjoy a cocktail before dining on Muraka’s menu which includes Maldivian lobster and Wagyu beef.

Grab a nightcap at the resort’s main bar, Anba Bar where there are over 300 wines and Champagnes to choose from plus the largest collection of fine Rum in the Maldives.

Enjoy once in a lifetime experiences at Mirihi…

To spend a week at Mirihi just enjoying the beautiful waters, beach and accommodation would probably be enough for most newlyweds. The novelty of being able to go from bed to beach and swimming with baby reef sharks within seconds (yes truly) is something we could have done for days.

However, honeymooners may want to take their experience at Mirihi a step further and can do so with an array of excursions and activities. We love the sound of the Sail & Dine where you can sail into the sunset and enjoy a private barbeque under the stars. Thrill seekers can go night diving or snorkelling with over 40 dive sites on the Mirihi house reef and their own wreck.

The location of Mirihi also means it is ideal for spotting and swimming with one of the ocean’s largest mammals, the whale shark.

Or if you’re looking to relax then Duniye Spa provides couple treatments – we received a head, neck and shoulder massage from a wonderful therapist called Lia…all I can say, as an avid spa-goer, is that you generally know within seconds whether you have a massage therapist with experienced hands (long, firm fingers that give perfect pressure). Lia did and so if you spa at Mirihi I highly recommend her.

Getting Married at Mirihi…

If you thought that having a wedding ceremony in the Maldives is out of your league then you are wrong. Boutique by name and boutique by nature, Mirihi offers a small wedding ceremony package with additional services available should you wish.

The backdrop of Mirihi and its reef would be striking for any newlywed’s photos and whilst the ceremony is not legal (you’d need to officially marry first) it offers a day of memorable aspects including traditional Bodhuberu drummers and a cruise on the native Dhoni. You can see more information about weddings at Mirihi here.

Our stay at Mirihi Island Resort was magical and would suit any couple with a love of water and stunning beaches. It is the ideal place for new couples to relax whilst also offering them the opportunity to experience some new adventures together. Mirihi is an affordable luxury and is perfect for couples who might not think that they can have a Maldivian wedding…because here they can.

For more information on Mirihi Island Resort you can visit mirihi.com