1. At the One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius, the Lavish Wedding/Honeymoon Package. Dazzle your guests with a lavish pool side experience, go barefoot on the private peninsula or take to the waters for a unique castaway island memory, the dedicated wedding team ensures you’ll have the most captivating experience imaginable with every detail tailored to your needs. Days of playful discovery are enjoyed in the water, at the spa and around the island. Nights are filled with delectable dining experiences, fine wine, superb service and endless enchantment. A serene sanctuary with its own private lap pool. From $3,835; lesaintgeran.oneandonlyresorts.com
2. Owned by Richard Branson of the Virgin empire, aptly located in the Virgin Islands and uninhabited until the late 20th century, Necker Island is surrounded by coral reefs and beaches. Features private pools, tennis courts, watersports equipment and a staff of 60-odd. During your 7 nights on Necker you’ll share the island with other couples, meeting at mealtimes ‘Celebration Weeks’ offer an opportunity to experience it without the exclusive rental. From $6,900 /N ; neckerisland.virgin.com
3. Made (even more) famous and exclusive by Britain’s latest royal couple, North Island, Seychelles, has 11 guest villas, a spa, helipad, pool, library and beaches with a beach bar. Villa North Island has its own private ‘spa al fresco’, huge (1.2x2m) bath and ‘hanging’ outdoor shower. From €4800 per person for the premiere Villa North Island; www.north-island.com
4. Part of the Exuma chain of resorts, Fowl Cay Resorts, Bahamas, is a great site for deep-sea fishing (good incentive to cook your own breakfast in your own villa kitchen?). Each villa comes with its own boat, so sail off to the beach of your choice with a picnic lunch packed by your chef and ‘villa host’. Once you’re done luxuriating by day, in the evening take your own golf cart to the Hill House for cocktails and dinner. There is watersports equipment and fishing gear as well as housekeeping and internet and fax facilities. From $26,000 weekly for the largest, 3-bedroom villas; fowlcay.com
5. The tagline at The Rania Experience, Maldives is ‘one island, one yacht, one million possibilities’. And they are serious about the yacht, which once belonged to a rich sheikh (I couldn’t make this up, I swear!); can sleep 12 in the four villas; dining, drinks and spa experiences included in price; private seaplane transfers and crewed speedboat and fishing boat ditto (yes, in addition to the yacht that’s yours three hours a day). Also PADI dive courses and escorted diving, watersports equipment and staff of 25, give or take, oh, five? All for a mere $10,000-20,000. See raniaexperience.com
6. Isla del Burguillo, Spain is a miniature (two acres) and almost-affordable island complete with a six-bedroom castillo and vineyards, row boat and private pier. Does not include staff or housekeeping but this is a very family-friendly little castle. €2,800per week; isladelburguillo.es
7. Private island on Lake Mälaren: Reached by boat from the town of Mariefred and with a view of Castle Gripsholm, the island getaway includes a sauna house and access to a small motorboat and life vests. From $70,000 for two weeks; grandtripsweden.com
8. Tavanipupu was once a coconut plantation owned by Norwegian traders in the Solomon Islands. It’s now privately owned and reached by an eight-seater Islander plane. There are eight villas/bungalows and a spa, or you can hire the whole island for 30 of your closest friends. Watersports equipment and kayaks available to explore the reef and lagoon. Rates begin from $1,200 (SBD)/N for Island Bungalow to $1,950 (SBD)/N for Family Bungalow, daily food package per person per day is $660 (SBD). See tavanipupu.com