The World’s Best Wedding Destinations

Today’s couples are finding destination weddings more appealing than ever. Whether it’s a winter wonderland or sunset extravaganza you’re looking for, the most spectacular luxury wedding locations await you worldwide.

Warm is wonderful, but head north for a luxury wedding experience on ice. The impermanence of the setting can be irresistible, and the experience represents the height of cool chic. Sweden’s Icehotel, available December through April, offers elegant packages in its ice church on the Torne River, and requires a visit to the local Tax Office for a certificate on “consideration of impediments to marriage.” North America’s, Hotel de Glace in Canada offers its own standard of luxurious wedding packages, from the ultra romantic to the ultimate luxury wedding experiences. For the luxurious wedding dresses that can stand up to the cold, check out the collections of designers Justine Horrocks or Marie Ange, who have both designed dresses specifically for the ice hotel experience.

But if a wintry wedding just isn’t your style, there are plenty of warm wedding spots from the Mediterranean to Maui that will fit the bill, starting with Santorini, Greece. Choose the simple elegance of the black sand beaches, the distinguished atmosphere of the Santo or Antoniou wineries, or any number of historic chapels with stunning views of the sea.

If your penchant for wine will make or break your ultimate luxury wedding, consider the Chateau de Marcay in France’s Loire Valley. Its 15^th century charm includes an on-site vineyard, and provincial design and atmosphere.

We are all familiar with the popular destinations south of the border, such as Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, and Cancun. But for luxury weddings, the rest of the Riviera Maya surrounding Cancun serves the more exotic tastes, with its powdery beaches, and colorful night life. And one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets is Costa Alegre. Located only two and half hours from the Puerto Vallarta airport by car, Costa Alegre’s opulent hotels and private resorts make it an exciting alternative for destination weddings.

Before drifting too far afield, consider our own domestic treasure for your destination dream wedding: Hawaii. With a long list of luxury resorts and unbelievably beautiful vistas on each of the islands, the stage is set for any luxury wedding event from a sunset extravaganza on the beach, to the many lush garden and waterfall venues. Cultural traditions infuse a unique vibe into the experience. And since some of the best of views of the islands are from the ocean, a wedding at sea in a traditional teak sailing vessel or private Catamaran is an ideal choice.

As with any event that involves travel, your checklist should include having all your paperwork in order (passports, visas etc.), as well as a key team of specialists like a good travel agent, and a wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings.