Best Destination Weddings: Top Locations for Getting Hitched Abroad
Set the Stage for a Beautiful Destination Wedding
Are you and your fiance avid travelers? Perhaps you already have a couples bucket list written out, in preparation for the many years ahead of you to adventure together. Why not get a head start on that list and go away for not just a honeymoon, but your wedding as well?
Close your eyes and imagine your special day — where are you? On a pristine beach beside the ocean? In front of a castle breathing in the crisp autumn air?
Destination weddings make getting married all the more magical. If you want to find the best destination wedding location to exchange your vows in, look no further.
Perhaps you aren’t looking to go too far and would be satisfied getting hitched in one of the most romantic destinations in the U.S. But read on if you are in search of locales that are unique, breathtaking and postcard-perfect.
Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island, Bahamas
While a beach wedding is wonderful in itself, can you imagine saying your “I dos” on gorgeous pink sands? Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island kicks things up a notch with its ultra-soft, powdery, pink-hued sands that edge crystal clear, glistening, turquoise waters.
This three-mile-long beach is often rated as one of the best five beaches on Earth, and it offers lots of room for your guests and your wedding party as well. After the ceremony, you’ll have your pick of idyllic honeymoon cottages for the ultimate honeymoon too.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle is a breathtaking masterpiece of 19th-century architecture, inspired by Romanesque Revival. Set upon a hilltop in Bavaria, Germany, it’s surrounded by dramatic mountains and enjoys some of the most glorious sunsets.
This is one of the top destinations for the bride-to-be who wants to feel as if she’s part of a modern day fairy tale. In fact, the castle is said to have been the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland as well as the Cinderella Castle at Disney World.
Choose a wedding package that offers a variety of services including locations where you can exchange vows in view of the castle, Bavarian horse and carriage rides, candlelit dinners and much more.
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Makena Cove Beach, Maui, Hawaii
For a tropical wedding that doesn’t require you or your guests to have passports, consider the soft golden sands and brilliant azure waters of Makena Cove Beach on Maui. The awe-inspiring sunsets and swaying palms add to its allure, making it one of the most magnificent places for a destination wedding you’ll find anywhere.
The small walled-in cove also provides an impressive combination of surf, sand and rocks that make for spectacular wedding photos. Although, due to space limitations, this one is best for more intimate ceremonies.
TreeHouse Point in Issaquah, WA
If you and your beloved are the type of couple who enjoyed playing in treehouses as kids, and still love taking walks through the woods, tying the knot in a treehouse may be ideal. Located just 30 minutes from Seattle, tucked within a lush forest, here you can read your vows among the soaring trees as the sounds of the river provide nature’s best music.
It’s one of the best treehouse hotels in the world, perfect for a honeymoon too.
Petit St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Petit St. Vincent is a private island resort spread across 113 acres in the Caribbean, ringed by two miles of picture-perfect sands. The sea is a dazzling array of deep sapphire blue to pale turquoise, and due to the intimacy of the resort, the only sounds you’re likely to hear are the gently lapping waves and the songs of the birds.
As it’s a private island resort, that also means that you, your wedding party and guests will have the beach all to yourself. You can choose your own favorite spot along the stretch of unspoiled sands for the ceremony, and afterwards head out on a sunset sail, toasting to your new life together amid the spectacular surroundings.
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Juneau, Alaska
If you two love the great outdoors and the wilderness of Alaska calls to your soul, consider a destination wedding near Juneau, the picturesque capital of the state, nestled between the Gastineau Channel, Mount Roberts and Mount Juneau in its southeast region.
The fact that it can only be reached by boat or plane merely adds to the adventure. Just a short drive from downtown you’ll find Mendenhall Glacier, one of the 38 major glaciers that extend from Juneau Icefield — and you can hold your ceremony right on top of one.
Honeymoons here include the chance to take glacier cruises, enjoy whale watching and lots of other wildlife viewing, hiking and much more.
San Juan Island, WA
Just a scenic ferry ride away from mainland Washington State and you’ll find the opportunity for a unique, lush island ceremony with no passports required. San Juan Island, the largest in the archipelago, hosts a historic property known as Roche Harbor Resort, which sits at the edge of the sparkling blue waters of the Salish Sea.
It’s been named Best of Northwest Destination Wedding Sites, and ceremony options include the beautifully landscaped Sunken Garden and the hilltop Lady of Good Voyage Chapel. Afterward, take part in relaxing pursuits such as indulging in world-class spa treatments or wine tasting at San Juan Vineyards.
You can also pursue outdoor adventures such as kayaking, biking and some of the best whale watching in the world.
Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland
Ashford is considered the ultimate fairy tale wedding venue, and offers access to the entire magnificent estate. Dating back to 1228, this castle — which is considered one of the most breathtaking in all of Europe — was transformed into a luxury hotel in the 1930s.
It features elegant rooms adorned with antique furnishings, some with open fireplaces, claw foot tubs and four poster beds. The lush open lawns, lakeside woodland pathways and Victorian walled garden provide ideal settings for wedding photos too.
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Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica
Jamaica is one of the most popular spots in the world for a destination wedding. Its numerous accommodation options include everything from budget-friendly hotels to all inclusive resorts, many that are just steps from the sea.
Seven Mile Beach in particular is renowned for its jaw-dropping sunsets, and hosts more weddings than any other beach in the Caribbean.
