2023 is the year of claiming your freedom and exploring the beauty of this world. Now we all know Sagittarius are known for traveling and they know all about the importance of an adventure. However, each sign can benefit from a vacation or two often, and this is the year to put some of your destination dreams and bucket lists into motion. With more areas around the world lifting restrictions and travel being more prevalent in 2023, we’ve broken down some of the best places to travel in 2023 based on your zodiac sign.
ARIES
Pawel Toczynski/Getty Images
MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Marrakech is all about the vibe and energy, something Aries excels in. You want a vacation that is fun, exciting, and something that you planned yourself and that you find positive direction in. Marrakech is known for its five-star restaurants and spas, lush gardens, diversity of nature, rich cuisine, fashion, markets, and overall luxury services. Marrakech is the tourist hub of Morocco, and there is so much to do there to fuel your infinite amount of energy, Aries.
TAURUS
Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images
DUBAI
Taurus is the chill, down-to-earth earth sign, but those who know you well know you love a little luxury in your life. Taurus wants the best of the best for themselves and works hard on getting there. Take a trip to Dubai in 2023 to explore one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and enrich yourself with the beautiful culture there. Dubai is on many people’s bucket lists and rightfully so. Some things to do while you’re visiting are to go to Burj Khalifa, ride a camel in the desert, go to the Jumeirah Mosque, explore their many shopping areas, and more.
GEMINI
Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images
JAPAN
With travel restrictions lifted in many areas of the world now, Japan is one of the most popular places to visit in 2023. There is something futuristic about Japan and its culture, and this energy screams Gemini. Some things to do while visiting are to go to visit the Tokyo Skytree, go to Mount Fuji, enjoy some delicious Japanese cuisine, learn more about the history of Japan, explore the architecture, and you can even party with robots in Tokyo. As a Gemini, you want to explore your inner curiosities and expand your knowledge always, and a vacation that gives you that is everything.
CANCER
Sharon Lapkin/Getty Images
AMALFI COAST, ITALY
Now we all know your favorite place to be is in the comfort of your home, but a nice getaway is good for the soul, Cancer. With all of the Italy hype over the past year, you can feel a little more comfortable going to this destination spot as you know it’s been well-visited and adored. The Amalfi Coast is on the edge of the water, filled with charming towns and restaurants. The views are impeccable and one of the best times to visit is during Cancer Season in July. A birthday trip to Italy is perfect for you this year, Cancer.
LEO
Marcel Abraham / EyeEm/Getty Images
CHILE
Chile is one of the safest countries to visit in South America. It is known for its impeccable food and drinks, views, land, and more. It also happens to be one of the best places in the world for stargazing, which fits perfectly for a star like yourself, Leo. You can visit Isla Magdalena and play with penguins, explore the art and culture there, enjoy their famous wine or beer tasting, stargaze in the desert, and visit one of their many national parks. Chileans know how to have fun, and that is what 2023 is calling for Leo, more fun!
VIRGO
pawopa3336/Getty Images
BALI
Virgo, if anyone needs a getaway, it is you. You tend to work more than you play, and even when you do take time off, it’s typically spent worrying over other things you can be doing. However, productivity also includes putting the right time and focus into leisure time and things that reboot your energy. Bali is the perfect spot to visit this year, as this spiritual destination is all about nature, exploration, and peace. Although the plane ticket there can cost a pretty penny, the area itself is very affordable and budget-friendly. Explore the beautiful vastness of this vacation spot in 2023, Virgo.
LIBRA
James O'Neil/Getty Images
PARIS
Libra, with your romantic soul, a trip to the city of love is perfect for you in 2023. This is an important year when it comes to relationships with the South Node moving into your sign this year and a time when you will be exploring this area of your life more. Relationships are going to be feeling a little more pressure this year, and you are on the journey of figuring out where you can let go, and where you can move forward in love. Paris is the perfect spot to go to do just that. Paris is known for its romance, art, and fashion- all the things that you love, Libra.
SCORPIO
Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images
TURKS AND CAICOS
Visit the islands of Turks and Caicos this year, Scorpio. You are an emotional soul, and with that comes times of trying to navigate your deep emotional world. Sunshine and water are therapeutic for you, and that is where you should focus your plans when thinking about where to vacation this year. When it comes to Turks and Caicos, stay at an all-inclusive resort or rent your own villa for the best experience, and make sure to stick to a budget while you’re there as things can get pricy. This is the best place to go to feel those vacation vibes and relax in luxury. Not to mention, there is a fun nightlife to explore while visiting as well for some more fun.
SAGITTARIUS
Maximilian Müller/Getty Images
COSTA RICA
Costa Rica has been a popular travel destination over the past few years, and may just be one place you haven’t ventured to yet. This year, explore the vast jungles of this country. Costa Rica is known for its beautiful national parks with so many activities to do there. Sagittarius loves a vacation that involves trying something new and most importantly, having fun. In Costa Rica, you can do ziplining, river rafting, visit waterfalls, go on hikes, and more.
CAPRICORN
Travelpix Ltd/Getty Images
ICELAND
Now Iceland may not be the first destination on your bucket list but here me out. Capricorn is the sea goat and thrives in mountains and on land. You can see the beautiful northern lights, bathe in the Blue Lagoon, visit ice caves, and more. Iceland has been getting more tourist attractions recently and is quite honestly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Venture away from the norm this year and try something new when it comes to choosing a destination spot.
AQUARIUS
James O'Neil/Getty Images
JOSHUA TREE, CA
Aquarius thrives both in community and isolation. You value your friendships and your people, however, you do need a lot more alone time than most. A good trip to take this year is a journey through the desert. Joshua Tree is only a few hours away from Los Angeles and is the perfect place to escape away from a busy city. You can visit the Joshua Tree National Park and hike through the area, visit some of the best vintage shops in all of California, take a dip in the hot springs, and stay at some of the most unique and relaxing Airbnbs in the U.S.
PISCES
Justin Crowder / EyeEm/Getty Images
THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas is the perfect balance between relaxation and fun. There is so much to do in the Bahamas and it is the best place for Pisces as it's known for its beautiful beaches, a Pisces' fondest love. While you’re there you can try snorkeling or diving with your fellow fish friends, go on a boat tour, visit one of their luxurious private islands, eat delicious Bahamian cuisine, and dance and learn from the locals. With Saturn moving into Pisces this year where it will remain for the next few years if there was ever a time to vacation, it is now, as you are going to need it.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Westend61/Getty Images
- The Best Place to Travel According to Your Zodiac Sign | Jetsetter ›
- How To Travel This Year, According to Your Zodiac Sign | Well+Good ›
- Here's Where You Should Go on Vacation, Based on Your Zodiac Sign ›
- Where You Should Travel Solo, Based on Your Zodiac Sign ›
- Every Zodiac Sign Has a Dream Travel Destination—Here's Yours ... ›
- The Destination You Should Visit in 2022, Based on Your Zodiac Sign ›
Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
