There was a time, not too long ago, when getting married in Lake Como or at a villa in Tuscany felt like a pretty adventurous decision. These days, there's a chance you've already attended a wedding at one, or at least seen enough of them on Instagram to feel like you have. And before we go any further, let's be clear: Italy will always be one of the most beautiful places in the world to get married. We wouldn't dream of suggesting otherwise. But couples are starting to look beyond the usual destination wedding favourites, and we have to say, we like where this is going.
For some, that means heading somewhere a little more remote and making an adventure out of the wedding weekend. Others are finding beautiful historic settings in places that haven't traditionally been on the wedding shortlist. And with some seriously impressive venues to choose from, there's a lot to get excited about. So, where exactly are couples going next? Here are 11 destination wedding locations we're particularly excited about.
Istria, Croatia
Picture a wedding at an old countryside villa, with the ceremony overlooking the vineyards and everyone sitting down to a long dinner under the stars. Tuscany, right? Not quite. We're talking about Istria, a peninsula in northern Croatia, right near the Italian border. And while the Italian influence is pretty hard to miss, Istria has plenty going for it in its own right. Unlike Dubrovnik, which has become a familiar name in destination weddings, this part of Croatia still feels a little less expected. The coastal town of Rovinj has beautiful old buildings right along the waterfront, while nearby Bale is a little medieval town with winding stone streets and some lovely countryside estates in the surrounding area. So, before you put down a deposit on that Tuscan villa, we'd suggest doing a little research on Istria first. Just don't be surprised if your plans change.
South Africa
The hardest part about planning a wedding in South Africa might actually be deciding what kind of wedding you want to have. Not a bad problem to find yourself with, as far as wedding planning goes. There's the wine regions of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, where you could quite happily take over a beautiful old estate for the weekend, with vineyard views and the mountains practically on your doorstep. Or you could go a little more wild, and take the whole thing into the bush for a safari wedding, And that's without even getting into the beachfront properties or everything Cape Town has to offer. South Africa has been a major travel destination for years, and with this much choice, we wouldn't be surprised to see it become an even bigger name in weddings abroad.
Lijiang, China
Considering just how enormous China is, it's a little surprising that more of its beautiful regions haven't made their way onto the international destination wedding radar. That is, until now. Take Lijiang, a historic city in Yunnan province, in the southwest of the country. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town is full of traditional wooden buildings and stone courtyards, with mountains rising in the distance. And before you start wondering about the luxury hotel situation, Aman actually has a property here. Amandayan overlooks the historic rooftops, and with its beautiful courtyard suites and private event spaces, it's not hard to see why someone would want to get married there. There's also Banyan Tree Lijiang, with gorgeous private villas and views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It's the sort of place that makes you wonder why you hadn't considered getting married in China before.
Iceland
There's a good chance Iceland isn't the first place that comes to mind when someone mentions a destination wedding. And if your immediate thought is of getting married in a ton of snow, you might want to consider visiting when there isn't any. Reykjavík, the country's capital, is a great place to base a wedding, particularly if you want the otherworldly Icelandic scenery without having everyone stay somewhere completely remote. There are some beautiful hotels in the city, including The Reykjavík EDITION, and you're within reach of waterfalls and those famous moss-covered lava fields. Summer would be our pick, when the landscape is much greener than you might expect and the sun barely sets. Which, when you're planning a wedding, opens up some pretty interesting possibilities for the schedule.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Asking your guests to fly to New Zealand is a big ask, especially if most of them are coming from the US. But by the time the jet lag wears off and everyone gets a proper look at Queenstown, we doubt you'll hear too many complaints. Located on the South Island, about a two-hour flight from Auckland, Queenstown is surrounded by enormous mountains and sits beside a beautiful alpine lake. It’s a place where the backdrop is almost guaranteed to be one of the most talked-about parts of your wedding. The region also has some exceptional luxury lodges, while nearby Gibbston is known for its vineyards and wineries. If you're a fall person (we certainly are), Queenstown is particularly good this time of year. The changing leaves against the mountains are reason enough to consider an autumn wedding. Of course, part of Queenstown's appeal is just how much there is to do beyond the wedding itself. It's a long way to travel, especially from the US, but it's also somewhere your guests might have been hoping to visit for years.
The Scottish Highlands
If period dramas have taught us anything, it's that falling in love looks considerably more romantic in the Scottish countryside. So why not get married there too? Granted, Scotland's reputation for rainy weather might not make it everyone's first choice for a destination wedding, but we'd argue that's part of the charm. A little mist over the hills only adds to the whole period-drama feeling anyway. And the castles aren't just for looking at. Around Inverness, in the north of Scotland, there are quite a few that can be hired for weddings, including some where you can have the entire estate to yourselves. And if you're bringing everyone all the way to the Highlands, there's no reason to limit the trip to the wedding itself. Loch Ness is nearby, with plenty to explore around the lake, whether you're interested in hiking or visiting the local whisky distilleries.
Kyoto, Japan
A wedding in Kyoto during cherry blossom season? We'd have a very hard time saying no to that. About two hours from Tokyo by bullet train, Kyoto is far enough from the capital to feel like a completely different side of Japan. And as you might have guessed from our opening line, spring is a particularly beautiful time to be here, when the cherry trees are in bloom. Of course, Kyoto has plenty going for it beyond a few weeks of pink blossoms. Its old streets and traditional architecture are a huge part of what makes the city so special, and there's an impressive selection of luxury hotels that host weddings, too. For something smaller, you can also look into private venues and traditional Japanese properties. We'd be tempted to plan a few days around the wedding itself, especially with so much of Kyoto worth exploring. And if spring is your season of choice, just be prepared to book well ahead. You're certainly not going to be the only person with the same idea.
Egypt
Egypt has been getting a lot more attention from couples planning weddings abroad over the past few years, and we can certainly see why. What could possibly top getting married with the Pyramids of Giza as your backdrop? It's one of the most recognisable sights in the world, and not exactly something your guests are going to forget. But there's more to Egypt than the pyramids when it comes to weddings. The Nile is another beautiful option, with luxury hotels overlooking the river and cruises that could make for a pretty incredible wedding weekend. You could even take the celebrations further south to Luxor or Aswan. Still, if you've always imagined getting married in front of the pyramids, certain locations around Giza can accommodate private wedding celebrations with special permission. And really, that's a hard setting to compete with.
Vancouver Island, Canada
A castle wedding on Canada's Pacific coast sounds like an unlikely combination, but Vancouver Island has a few surprises up its sleeve. Around Victoria, you can actually get married at historic castles surrounded by beautiful gardens, with some looking like they belong somewhere in the English countryside. But travel across the island to Tofino and you might as well be considering a completely different destination. This is the wilder side of Vancouver Island, where enormous stretches of beach meet old-growth rainforest and luxury hotels look straight out onto the Pacific. The Wickaninnish Inn is particularly worth knowing about if a wedding by the ocean is more your thing. What makes the island so interesting is that you could be planning a rather grand, traditional celebration in Victoria or something much more intimate on the western coast, all without leaving the same island.
Da Nang, Vietnam
Vietnam has some seriously beautiful places to get married, but Da Nang is one we'd be keeping an eye on. It's on the country's central coast, where you have long beaches with mountains rising just behind them. The part we'd be most interested in, though, is the Son Tra Peninsula. It's a little removed from the busier parts of Da Nang, with secluded bays and some pretty spectacular spots for a wedding overlooking the water. And if you're asking guests to come all the way to Vietnam, it helps that there's plenty to see nearby. Hoi An, with its historic Old Town, is less than an hour away and well worth making time for. We'd be surprised if more international couples didn't start considering this part of Vietnam for their weddings.
Bodrum, Turkey
For years, Bodrum has been tipped as the next French Riviera. These days, it's becoming quite the wedding destination in its own right. On Turkey's southwestern coast, the town has attracted some of the biggest names in luxury hospitality, and there's certainly no shortage of beautiful places to get married. The coastline is dotted with private villas and beach clubs, with that ridiculously blue Aegean water everywhere you look. And personally, we'd be looking into a wedding weekend that involves at least one day out on a boat. Bodrum is a big summer destination for a reason, and a wedding here seems like a pretty good excuse to enjoy it properly.
