These are the destinations of ‘I do’ dreams.
When it comes to exquisite wedding venues, the world is your oyster, with everything from the paradisiacal to the historic and the eclectic awaiting to provide the backdrop to your big day.
Whether your couple vibe is barefoot and beachy or no-expense-spared glamour, you’re eloping just two of you or taking the whole family along, you’re sure to find ‘the one’ among these destination wedding venues.
Read on to discover some of the dreamiest destination wedding venues in the world.
The glamour wedding: Atlantis The Royal, Dubai
If all-out luxury is what you desire (and let’s be honest, deserve) for your big day, you won’t find a venue glitzier than the new Atlantis The Royal. This architectural marvel in Dubai wows from the offset and that’s before you’ve encountered its genre-defying entertainment (Beyoncé kicked off its grand opening), world-leading dining (including Nobu by the Beach and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal) and astonishing design (check out Cloud 22, with its sky-high infinity pool and submerged loungers). The resort is so sprawling that there are several different backdrops to choose from for ceremonies, whether you prefer the majesty of the Dubai skyline or the intimacy of a garden setting. The resident cakemaker (Mich Turner of Little Venice Cake Company) has produced masterpieces for none other than Queen Elizabeth II. No matter the space you choose for exchanging vows, showstopping wedding photos are guaranteed.
The boho wedding: Six Senses Ibiza, Spain
For lovers of sun-kissed island living, the White Isle is ‘the one’ for walking the aisle; barefoot Bohemian ceremonies are followed by starlit nights. Six Senses is renowned for its low-key luxury and wellness-led approach, so any celebration here is underpinned by tasteful, nature-inspired decor and seasonal, organic dining. Say your vows beachside, where guests congregate on hand-woven rugs and scatter cushions amid the rocks. The perfect ambience is complete with a crackling fire pit and glowing lanterns. After a bespoke botanical cocktail created specifically for your guests, move onto North by Eyal Shani (where festivities play out on shared wooden tables beneath the fairy-light-strung olive trees), or The Beach Caves, carved into the rockface beside the crashing surf.
The paradise island wedding: Soneva Fushi, Maldives
As one of the most paradisical settings on the planet, the Maldives is a true bucket-list wedding destination. Every scene is like a postcard, with powdery-white sands, lofty palms and crystalline lagoons guaranteeing perfect pictures, every time. And a special day demands an equally special resort. Step forward Soneva Fushi, whose quietly confident brand of luxury allows the experiences to take centre stage. Exchange vows barefoot on the sand before dining under the stars on a sandbank or amid the tropical jungle. Every moment is a memory waiting to be made: swimming with manta rays, island picnics, snorkelling the house reef, dolphin safaris, celebrity guest classes and glass-blowing are all in a day’s work here. And don’t miss Flying Sauces, the world’s first ziplining restaurant, requiring you to soar 200 metres through the canopies before arriving at the treetop dining platform.
The traditional wedding: Grantley Hall, UK
Could there be anything more romantic than marrying amid the setting for one of the greatest literary love affairs of all time? The story of Heathcliff and Cathy in Brontë’s Wuthering Heights unfolded on the Haworth Moors at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, which also happen to be home to Grantley Hall, a grand manor-house hotel that hosts weddings large and small. This 17th-century estate provides quite the backdrop, from the perfectly pruned gardens scented with English lavender to the ornate Music Room with its carved pillars. Luxury is a given: the hotel is part of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux collection, and its restaurant, Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, is Michelin-starred. A cocktail bar, clay pigeon shooting, live music in The Orchard and a serene spa with an 18-metre pool, hydrotherapy pool and Nordic Spa Garden ensure the festivities keep flowing before and after.
The unconventional wedding: One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda
Are you the couple that never plays by the book? Surprise guests by swapping vows in the ancient African rainforest, where the raw beauty of nature provides endless, spontaneous moments of magic. Set on a working tea plantation on the fringe of Nyungwe National Park, One&Only Nyungwe House is surrounded by mist-covered canopies, home to rare chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. Here, you can expect the immersive experiences that are a signature of One&Only resorts, such as hiking, wildlife safaris, Rwandan village visits, farm-to-table dining, and a jungle spa using Africology skincare. It’s the experience of a lifetime in its own right so there’ll be no need to wander far for a honeymoon.
The foodie wedding: COMO Castello Del Nero, Italy
If there’s one thing Italians do well, it’s living la dolce vita. Tear-and-share cuisine and good times with family are all part of life here, which makes it perfectly suited to wedding festivities. Heritage properties are dotted like gems throughout the rolling countryside here and one standout is COMO Castello Del Nero in the Chianti wine region. This converted 12th-century castle boasts an ancient chapel and Michelin-starred restaurant, La Torre, plus 10 distinct ceremony and reception locations to choose from within the 740-acre estate. Celebrate al fresco with the Tuscan hills on the horizon, among vineyards and olive groves, beneath vaulted ceilings or even in the 900-year-old original castle kitchen.
Feature image: Six Senses Ibiza.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out Date Night: Gold Coast’s Most Romantic Restaurants.
