A destination Wedding is more than an experience. It is a celebration of two lives that choose each other to spend their entire lives together. It's full of fun, excitement, and lifelong memories. Choosing a picturesque or exotic location can be daunting when planning a wedding.
Imagine exchanging vows on a pristine white beach, celebrating in a picturesque Mediterranean village, or marrying beneath the Northern Lights. Destination weddings transform your day into an unforgettable experience.
It can be overwhelming to choose from the endless options for destination wedding locations. The most popular sites offer stunning scenery, seamless planning tools, guest accommodations, and memorable experiences after the wedding.
This guide presents a tour of the world's top 10 destination wedding venues, each offering unique character, breathtaking beauty, and the potential to make your dream wedding a reality. This list is curated to help you create meaningful moments with loved ones.
Destination weddings provide small, intimate parties with immediate family, built-in honeymoons, exotic locations, long parties, and, in most cases, they are more economical than the usual grand weddings. According to recent statistics, 18 percent of couples opted for destination weddings because of a location with personal meaning or something special for the guests. When we plan a destination wedding, it’s not just a wedding—it’s a getaway everyone will remember. Therefore, selecting a location is an important decision we should carefully consider. Here, we have highlighted some of the top locations to help you decide which is the most stunning for you.
1. Santorini, Greece
At the top of the best wedding locations is Santorini, an island with whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, and breathtaking views of the caldera.
Why we like it: Spectacular sunsets, traditional buildings, and small cliffside venues with views of the Aegean Sea make for postcard-perfect ceremonies.
Highlights include Greek hospitality, renowned cuisine, local wines, and nearby archaeological sites. The best time to visit is between April and October, with May, June, and September offering ideal weather and fewer crowds.
2. Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany is among the most romantic destination wedding locations in Europe, with rolling vineyards, medieval hilltop towns, and centuries-old villas.
The Reason to Pick It: With historic estates, boutique wineries, and Renaissance cities, there is a wide range of venue options, from rustic to refined.
Unique characteristics: Farm-to-table Italian culture, wine tasting, cooking classes, and art-filled cities. Shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) are mild and offer more venue availability.
3. Riviera Maya, Mexico
Pristine beaches, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and luxury resorts make this tropical destination ideal for weddings.
Reason to Select It: Small-scale beach weddings, large resort tableaus, and all-inclusive packages make planning easy.
Highlights: Tulum ruins, cenote swimming, coral reef snorkeling, and the vibrant culture of Mexico. Its easy accessibility from North America and its year-round warm climate make it especially convenient for guests.
4. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a top Asian destination, known for its exotic beauty and spiritual serenity, making it an exceptional wedding location.
Reasons to choose it: Lush rice terraces, dramatic coastlines, ornate temples, and welcoming Balinese hospitality create a magical setting.
Special Features: Temple visits, gamelan music, traditional blessing, rice terrace walks, and a world-class spa. Most couples hold lawful ceremonies at their residences, and afterward they organize fictitious ceremonies in scenic locations in Bali.
5. Maui, Hawaii
Maui is a tropical wedding paradise that offers the comfort and convenience of being part of the United States, making it one of the top destination wedding locations for US couples.
Why Go There: Maui offers much to explore, including volcanic craters, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and top resorts.
Highlights: Hawaiian luaus, lei ceremonies, snorkeling, whale watching, and the Road to Hana. Maui offers a perfect setting for unforgettable celebrations.
6. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Known as the jewel of the South Seas, Bora Bora is one of the most luxurious destination wedding sites.
Reasons to choose it: Overwater bungalows, turquoise lagoons, Mount Otemanu views, and premium resorts create an ideal romantic backdrop.
Highlights: Overwater chapel services, private beach receptions, and Polynesian entertainment. Ideal for small gatherings (20–50 guests) that emphasize luxury and privacy.
7. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai offers contemporary luxury and stunning architecture, making it a trending and captivating wedding destination.
Reasons to choose it: Luxury hotels, impressive architecture, beautiful beaches, and desert scenery blend modern style with traditional elegance.
Highlights: Excellent accessibility, world-class hospitality, Michelin-starred cuisine, desert tours, and abundant flight options to many destinations worldwide.
8. Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most picturesque destination wedding spots in Europe, with dramatic cliffside villages and iconic Mediterranean style.
Why to Choose It: Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi offer terraced gardens, historic villas, and breathtaking sea views—high-end settings that remain imbued with Italian warmth.
Highlights: Sea excursions, fresh seafood, limoncello, colorful villages, and direct access to Capri, Pompeii, and Naples.
9. Iceland
Iceland offers a supernatural charm for adventurous couples seeking a truly unique destination wedding location.
Reasons to choose it: Surreal landscapes of waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers, geothermal springs, and the Northern Lights.
Highlights: Seljalandsfoss waterfall, glacier hiking, ice caves, and the Blue Lagoon. Best suited for intimate weddings (20–50 guests) where dramatic nature takes center stage over traditional formality.
10. Koh Samui, Thailand
Koh Samui is gaining popularity for its combination of Thai hospitality and tropical scenery.
Why Choose It: Pristine beaches, high-end resorts, and wellness retreats create a tranquil environment during the summer, especially compared to other Thai destinations.
Special Features: Temple visits, cooking classes, traditional massages, and night markets. The opening of new luxury hotels and resorts has established Koh Samui as one of Asia's top wedding destinations.
Choosing a top destination wedding venue is just the beginning. The true magic happens when you craft unique experiences to make your celebration unforgettable.
Spur Experiences change how destination wedding planning is done by providing curated experiences that last multiple days. Whether it is the welcome dinner experiences or post-wedding adventures, our platform connects couples with local experiences, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the destination of their choice.
Pre-Wedding Arrangements: Book group cooking lessons in Tuscany, catamaran trips in Santorini, cenote swims in Riviera Maya, or wine tastings anywhere—activities that help guests relax and create lasting memories.
Post-Ceremony Parties: Book a spa day, plan adventure outings, arrange cultural tours, or organize food-and-beverage events to keep the festivities going and encourage guests to arrive early or stay longer.
Guest Experience Enhancement: Spur Experiences offers more than 4,000 experiences across 100+ destinations worldwide, enabling you to create an all-encompassing wedding weekend that makes your destination wedding feel more immersive.
Most wedding sites align with your vision, budget, and guest considerations. Ask yourselves:
What atmosphere do we want? (Tropical beach, European, exotic adventure)
What should be convenient for our guests?
What do we wish to do except for the ceremony?
How much of a budget do we actually have for travel and accommodation?
What is the meaning of our relationship?
It is important to remember that the best destination wedding locations are not only popular but also resonate with your love story and provide the right environment to begin a new stage of your married life.
And whether you go to the romance of sunsets in Santorini, the vineyard beauty in Tuscany, the spiritual beauty found in Bali, or the dramatic scenery of Iceland, your wedding destination will bring you memories that will last much longer than a traditional one. It is time to start visiting these amazing places and fantasize about which chapter of your love story you will experience there.
