A destination wedding can be a lot more than a ceremony with an ocean view. For couples willing to turn their wedding into a full-blown vacation, the location can mean private villas, lengthy dinners, beach days, sightseeing, and spending several days celebrating with the people they love.
So where are couples looking when they’re ready to trade in the tradition ballroom wedding for somewhere a little more memorable?
Mexico
Mexico remains one of the biggest names in destination weddings, and for good reason. Besides being relatively easy to reach from the U.S., Mexico offers everything from all-inclusive resorts to fully-staffed, private villas in a wide range of budgets. Riviera Maya, Tulum, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta are particularly popular choices.
Best for: beach weddings, large groups, and couples looking for easy logistics.
Italy
Italy is a wedding destination that practically writes itself. Couples can choose from Lake Como, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, and just about anywhere in between thanks to Italy’s variety of villas, vineyards, historic estates, and coastal venues.
Best for: food, wine, scenery, and maximum romantic drama.
Greece
Greece offers considerably more than Santorini. Crete, Mykonos, Corfu, Rhodes, and the Athens Riviera give couples options from glamorous, intimate festivities to larger, laid-back, private villa parties. Greece is particularly appealing for couples who want their wedding to take place during the shoulder season.
Best for: island vibes, private villas, and multi-day celebrations.
Croatia
Croatia has emerged as a serious contender for couples looking for a Mediterranean atmosphere without automatically defaulting to Italy or Greece. Dubrovnik, Istria, Split, Hvar, and the surrounding islands combine historic architecture, Adriatic views, and plenty of opportunities for guests to turn the wedding into a vacation.
Best for: coastal scenery, historical settings, and smaller group weddings.
Indonesia
Bali is practically designed for the private-villa wedding fantasy. Picture lush gardens, ocean views, infinity pools, tropical architecture, and fully-staffed villas allowing everyone to stay in the same place. Indonesia is particularly compelling for couples looking to blue their wedding and honeymoon into one enormous vacation.
Best for: villa weddings, tropical scenery, smaller celebrations.
Spain
Spain is a remarkably versatile destination wedding location. Mediterranean coastlines, historic cities, vineyards and countryside estates, and everything in between. Couples are looking into destination wedding venues on Mallorca, Ibiza, the Canary Islands, and mainland Spanish locations such as Galicia, Andalusia, and the Basque region.
Best for: nightlife, beaches, culture, and tapas all on the same trip.
Portugal
Portugal has quietly become one of the most appealing alternatives to pricier European wedding destinations. The Algarve, Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, and the surrounding countryside offer everything from oceanfront celebrations to vineyard and estate weddings. Portugal is also currently being singled out as an affordable destination-wedding option for couples looking for luxury without breaking the bank.
Best for: European weddings with a little more value.
Thailand
Thailand offers a huge assortment of options for destination wedding locations. Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi are particularly strong for couples looking to mix a little adventure with their nuptials. You can go from a barefoot beach ceremony to an elaborate resort reception and guests have an entire country filled with temples, beaches, adventure, and incredible food to enjoy.
Best for: tropical weddings with a serious vacation component.
Bottom Line
The appeal of these destinations isn’t simply because they’re beautiful. They’re places where the wedding can become the centerpiece of a much bigger trip. And increasingly, that’s exactly what couples seem to prefer. Instead of wedding guests showing up Saturday and leaving Sunday, weddings are becoming multi-day experiences allowing everyone to actually spend more time together.
