From affordable beachfront ceremonies to breathtaking Euro Luxury, these five destination wedding locations might just sway everything about how you imagined your big day.
The major question is: Why settle for a ordinary ballroom when your destination wedding could take place next to turquoise waters, shaded in tropical tree palms, or overlooking the Mediterranean?
The perfect destination wedding combines needs the holy trinity: unforgettable beauty, exceptional value (especially compared to the US, jeez…) and an experience you and your loved ones will remember forever.
Whether you’re searching or daydreaming about your destination wedding, we’ve ranked the Top 5 MOST incredible places to have your destination wedding. The judgement variables are based on scenery, affordability, and overall experience.
#5. Algarve, Portugal: Europe’s Hidden Destination Wedding Paradise
Best for: Affordable Euro elegance
Budget: $$-$$$
Imagine exchanging vows with your soulmate perched on a golden cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, followed by a candlelit reception at an enchanting Portuguese estate.
Welcome to Algarve, one of Europe’s most underrated destination wedding locations.
With dramatic costal scenery, secluded beaches, historic architecture, and a heck of a countryside, Portugal delivered an extraordinary romantic destination wedding experience.
Unlike some of Europe’s most expensive weddings hot sights (Lake Como), the Algarve offers a wonderful selection of venues at a variety of price points.
Reasons to love this destination wedding location:
Spectacular oceanfront cliffs and secluded beaches.
Elegant villas, vineyards, and historic estates.
Often better value than Europe’s most exclusive wedding destinations (sorry George Clooney).
Incredible seafood, and Portuguese wine (you seriously need to try it).
#4. Riviera Maya, Mexico: The BEST Affordable Destination Wedding
Best for: Beautiful beach weddings when you’re balling on a budget.
Budget: $-$$$
Imagine your dream destination wedding included white-sand beaches, turquoise Caribbean water, luxurious resorts, and a tropical paradise, without spending a fortune.
That’s exactly what makes Mexico’s Riviera Maya so irresistible.
Stretching along Mexico’s Caribbean coastline, the Riviera Maya is one of the world’s most accessible destination wedding location for couples all around the world (and the name is unforgettable).
With countless all-inclusive resorts offering wedding packages (and unlimited booze), you can enjoy a seriously breathtaking destination wedding experience, while maintaining considerable control over your budget.
Some resorts even offer complimentary basic wedding packages when qualifying accommodations requirements are met (slipping the waiter a $20)!
Why you’ll love this destination wedding location:
Gorgeous white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water.
Affordable all-inclusive destination wedding packages.
Convenient flights from many major U.S airports.
Resort wedding coordinators who simplify your planning process.
Plenty of activities for your guests before and after the wedding (you’ll often see them at the bar way too much).
#3. Bali, Indonesia: The BEST Bang-for-Your-Buck Destination Wedding
Best for: Incredible luxury without the European luxury price tag
Budget: $$-$$$
If you’ve ever dreamed of a destination wedding that looks like it belongs in a luxury travel magazine, Bali deserves your attention.
Imagine breathtaking infinity pools, virgin tropical cliffs, lush jungles, magnificent private villas, and elaborate floral arrangements (for an actual good price).
Bali is truly one of the world’s most extraordinary destination wedding locations.
What makes Bali particularly appealing is the incredible variety of wedding experiences available.
Depending on your venue, guest count, and services, you can create an incredibly lux destination wedding experience for considerably less than some of Europe’s most prestigious locations.
From private-villa ceremonies to dramatic clifftop celebrations, Bali offers a newly endless selection of breathtaking settings.
Why you’ll love this destination wedding location:
Extraordinary private villas and five-star resorts (without five star prices).
Spectacular oceanfront and jungle wedding venues.
Beautiful floral styling and elaborate wedding decor.
Exceptional honeymoon opportunities.
A fantastic range of wedding packages for different budgets.
One downfall: Flights from the US can be expensive, making Bali especially attractive for a more intimate wedding.
#3. Lake Como, Italy: The Most Luxurious Destination Wedding
Best for: Timeless romance and unforgettable luxury
Budget: $$$$
Now I know we gave Lake Como a little bit of flack earlier in the article, but how could we leave it out. I mean, have you seen Oceans 12?
Imagine arriving at your destination wedding aboard an elegant wooden boat, surrounded by historic Italian villas, perfectly manicured gardens, and breathtaking mountain scenery.
Its the type of celebration that feels straight out of a Hollywood movie (because they literal movies have been filmed here).
However, luxury does often come with a price.
Lake Como is among the more expensive destination wedding options on our list, particularly when booking exclusive historic villas or hosting a large celebration.
Why you’ll love this destination wedding location:
Historic Italian villas with spectacular lake views.
Breathtaking mountain scenery and romanic gardens.
Extraordinary Italian food and wine.
Elegant boat arrivals and unforgettable photographs.
A truly exclusive destination wedding atmosphere.
#1. Santorini, Greece: The MOST Beautiful Destination Wedding on Earth
Best for: Unbelievable scenery and once in a lifetime romance.
Budget: $$$-$$$$
And finally, taking our number one spot for the most incredible destination wedding location in the world…
Santorini, Greece.
Imagine standing on a spectacular whitewashed terrace, hundreds of feet above the brilliant blue Aegean Sea.
Behind you, an iconic blue-domed church and beautiful Greek architecture overlook the dramatic volcanic coastline.
As you exchange vows, the sun slowly begins to set over the Mediterranean.
Its difficult to imagine a more breathtaking destination wedding setting.
Santorini offers one of the most recognizable and visually extraordinary landscapes on Earth.
From intimate cliffside ceremonies to luxurious receptions overlooking the caldera, this destination wedding location creates a truly magical atmosphere.
Although premium venues can be costly, the extraordinary scenery makes Santorini especially appealing to couples who value intimate celebrations and unforgettable wedding photography (even if they have to travel 1000s of miles to get there).
Why you’ll love this destination wedding location:
Unbelievable cliffside views overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Iconic whitewashed architecture and blue-domed churches.
World-famous sunsets and romanic seaside villages.
Extraordinary boutique hotels and luxury wedding terraces.
Some of the most breathtaking destination wedding photography opportunities imaginable.
Which Destination Wedding Location Should YOU Choose?
Every couple dreams of something different, and that’s exactly what makes planning a destination wedding so exciting.
Here are our final winners:
Cheapest Beach Destination Wedding: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Best Bank for Your Buck: Bali, Indonesia
Most Beautiful Destination Wedding: Santorini, Greece
Most Luxurious Destination Wedding: Lake Como, Italy
Best Underrated Euro Wedding: Algarve Portugal
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