Do you dream of getting married in the middle of an enchanting forest that looks straight out of Narnia or exchanging your vows on a faraway beach with sand between your toes? Do you love opulent and extravagant wedding ideas with glamorous wedding details? Then a destination wedding is written in the stars for you! For many couples exploring some of the most outrageously lavish wedding venues tucked away in various parts of the globe is the best part of wedding planning! Who wouldn’t love that? From the most romantic Amalfi Coast weddings that promise the sweet balmy breeze from the Mediterranean to the grand Udaipur royal weddings that look straight out of 17th-century royal painting, this article is all about exploring some of the most exclusive wedding venues around the globe featuring top-tier service, divine designs, stately architecture, and immaculate settings.
But before we get started, we also want to discuss that there has arguably never been a better time to host a multiple-destination wedding than now! Why limit yourself to only one destination wedding? Why not plan your bachelorette in the Maldives, exchange your vows in a private ceremony in the Tuscany vineyards, and host a grand wedding in a castle wedding venue? The world is your oyster if you are a travel bug who is ready to party! Of course, what is luxurious to you might not be the same for the other couple. Hence you should pick and choose the kind of venue you want for yourself according to your wedding visions that you had secretly coveted for this long.
The Biltmore Estate, one of the most renowned luxury venues in the country, aims to provide a totally immersive experience for you, your wedding party, and your guests. The luxurious wedding venue features a sizable amount of land, gorgeous landscaping, and much more. It was constructed for George Vanderbilt II and is the biggest privately owned residence in the country. The castle wedding venue, which was finished in 1895 and spans 8000 acres, offers eight distinct settings, including the meticulously kept lawns of the Biltmore House and the tranquil koi ponds in the estate’s Italian Gardens. Hence it can be one of the top exquisite venues to hold your Victorian garden wedding. The Biltmore offers a wide selection of opulent ceremony and reception services, as well as a wedding, culinary, and event team at your disposal.
The marvelous Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India, has been one of Asia’s best hotels for many, many years, and it’s no secret why. The luxurious Indian resort has lavish space for a spectacular reception even though it does not offer wedding ceremony spaces. Due to its outstanding service, cuisine, spa, and suites, this resort is rated as Asia’s and India’s best hotel wedding venues. The resort’s 50-acre footprint faces Lake Pichola and features 450 hand-carved stone columns, gold-leafed domes, and white marble throughout.
The Belmond Hotel Caruso, situated on the Amalfi Coast of Ravello, Italy, comes next on our list of the most opulent wedding locations in the world. The Belmond Hotel Caruso, one of Italy’s most prestigious luxury hotels, is a “haven of romance” housed in a former palace from the 11th century. The castle has opulent furnishings, terraced gardens, fine dining options, and more. It overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea’s coastal cliffs, making it one of the best winter honeymoon destinations in the world.
The Maldives is known to be one of the best tropical honeymoon destinations for winter weddings. This wedding resort in the Maldives makes the statement true by offering a private hideaway for the wedding and reception of a lifetime, sitting pretty on a 109-acre island with a lovely backdrop. The One & Only Reethi Rah has 128 private villas, each with a private pool, and provides a wedding package in addition to additional arrangements like customized menus, private dining, music, and a couple spa with exclusively contracted beauty services.
Due to its expertise in coordinating high-profile weddings, Pleasantdale Chateau is one of the most sought-after celebrity wedding venues in the nation. This 40-acre Victorian estate offers a secret and magical setting perfect for the fairytale wedding of your dreams. Pleasantdale Chateau is a sizable location that can accommodate 350 guests for weddings. Upon arrival, visitors pass through ivy-covered gates that seem to have come straight out of a fairy tale before entering the breathtaking entry hall, the pinnacle of luxury. Friends and family are welcomed inside the hall by a crystal chandelier, limestone columns, and Spanish floor tiles from the 17th century.
This historic French chateau from the 17th century, located within a 1,200-acre park, is only available for a five-hour rental, according to Easton and The Nouveau Romantics. Beautiful gardens designed in the manner of the 17th century can be found at the chateau, as well as ballrooms with elaborate furnishings, candles, and architecture. Your royal-worthy ceremony or reception can take place at this exotic European-inspired wedding venue that looks straight out of a dream.
The Langham, a chic wedding venue and hotel, is close to Millenium Park, Navy Pier, and the shopping district of North Michigan Avenue. The Langham is a classy wedding location with views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, 268 guest rooms, 48 suites, and more than 15,000 square feet of event space. It is one of the top dream wedding venues across the US as the $500,000 “ultimate luxury wedding package” was introduced by The Langham in 2019 and included a $15,000 couture gown credit, luxury wedding design by Rishi Patel, wedding party spa service, and entertainment. The Langham typically offers three opulent wedding packages, and couples can unwind knowing that every aspect of their event is being handled by the hotel’s skilled on-site wedding planner.
Always dreamt of getting married at one of the glorious museums and art gallery wedding venues around the world? Located in Manhattan, The New York Public Library is a magnificent wedding location and a historic landmark with stunning marble interiors and captivating ceilings. The two venues, Astor Hall, which can be rented for cocktails, and Celeste Bartos Forum, which can accommodate up to 450 guests, are where celebrations are typically held. The Library only permits civil wedding ceremonies and requires a professional wedding planner.
One of the most famous wedding venues on Long Island is the historic Oheka Castle, which features European-inspired architecture, ethereal gardens, and fountains in abundance. One of the most dreamy destination wedding venues for an exotic wedding, the castle has 127 guest rooms and can accommodate weddings with up to 700 guests. It is located on 23 acres atop the island’s highest point in Cold Spring Harbor. The venue, one of the most opulent wedding locations New York has to offer, only hosts one wedding each day, giving your celebration peace and privacy.
The Odescalchi Castle in Italy’s Abruzzo region In this castle from the fifteenth century, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married before Scientology got in the way. The Hall of the Caesars, the Secret Garden, a historic tower, and gardens with a 500-year history can all be found in this castle, which is situated on the shores of Lake Bracciano. Easton recommends this location because of the romantic ambiance it has to offer- lighting, floral accents, and music performed by the castle and its top international partners. The cost will vary depending on the number of guests because the castle can accommodate up to 1,000 people.
You can reserve the entire island exclusively in this small setting as it is considered to be one of the best beach wedding venues in the US. On the sand, at the end of Sunset Dock, or in any other location on the island of your choice, ceremony spaces are available. To give you the devoted attention you require on your special day, the island only permits one wedding per day. When you rent the entire island, you can have up to 60 guests, and the kids must be at least 16 years old.
A one-of-a-kind wedding location, The Richard Nixon Library, and Birthplace exude the ideal harmony of history and luxury. The Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace is a huge wedding venue in California that has an event center, a grand ballroom, and an outdoor event space. It can accommodate 700 guests. The magnificent property includes expansive grounds, the only existing replica of the White House East Room, and a cottage hidden inside towering pepper trees. Couples can choose from a variety of gorgeous ceremony and reception locations at the Nixon Library. Say “I do” in the First Lady’s Rose Garden, the largest public Rose Garden in Orange County, California, or host your dinner reception in the East Room, where terrazzo floors, Italian silk drapes, and three glamorous chandeliers create an air of stately elegance.
700 acres of unspoiled paradise can be found on Musha Cay, which is one of the Copperfield Bay Islands. The perfect location for your spring destination elopement, this location is also ideal for a private ceremony because it is one of the most remote places on earth. However, you can only have an intimate guestlist of 24 people with a five-night minimum stay.
The enormous Umaid Bhawan Palace, the sixth-largest private residence in the world, is both an emblematic piece of Rajasthan’s history and a “symbol of new Jodhpur.” Umaid Bhawan Palace, which houses the royal family of Jodhpur, has 70 Art Deco-style rooms, colonnaded verandas, and an underground Zodiac pool. Couples can stroll through winding gardens with dancing peacocks while their guests take in the historic views of the Blue City. This is where back in 2018, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra hosted a four-day star-studded wedding.
The 25 villas on this private island resort, which spans 4.5 kilometers of the island, offer an unparalleled level of seclusion and luxury. Beautiful natural features include coral reefs, mangroves, tropical rainforests, volcanic mountains, and picture-perfect beaches making it one of the most unexpected honeymoon destinations for you. Luxurious spa treatments that use traditional Fijian therapies are also available to visitors. Your wedding will be filled with adventure and relaxation for up to 80 guests!
The Beacon Grand Hotel, which is in the heart of San Francisco was founded in 1928. The iconic building, known at the time as the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and designed to resemble the World’s Fairs of the time, has a long history of luring artists, businesspeople, and opportunity seekers. In fact, the hotel was referred to in the era’s press as “a glittering monument to the progress, hospitality, and undying beauty of San Francisco.” Later rebranded as the Beacon Grand, the contemporary iteration aspires to preserve the legacy of the first opulent hotel while diminishing its significance in San Francisco’s past. The location, which is close to Union Square, has 17 meeting spaces, including a 3,081-square-foot grand ballroom.
The MolenVliet Wine Estate, one of the top wedding destination venues in the world and one of the top must-visit places for a honeymoon with your partner, is situated along the banks of the Dwars River in the Banhoek Valley. The estate never falls short of providing a stunning wedding venue, whether you decide on the magnificently landscaped gardens or right in the middle of the Vineyards.
Couples who reserve a wedding at The Savoy can count on plenty of support from a range of wedding specialists. The team at London’s renowned wedding venue helps couples through the planning process with the help of planners, florists, butlers, and banqueting specialists on hand. The Savoy can accommodate 400 guests in the Lancaster Ballroom and offers 276 guest rooms, the culinary prowess of renowned chef Fabrice Lanson, as well as other smaller ceremony and reception locations. If you are looking for one of the top luxurious honeymoon hotels for a romantic stay, this is the place to be.
The stunning Loeb Boathouse, which is proudly located in the center of Central Park, can be reserved for a minimum of five hours for your wedding. This lovely boathouse has been around for more than 150 years, and in addition to the peaceful lake views, it also has gardens on the north and west, making it one of the best natural settings in New York without having to travel to far-flung locations for your wedding.
The mesmerizing Alila Villas Uluwatu is known for being one of the most cultural and wellness-focused honeymoon places in the world. It offers guests an absolutely unforgettable view because it is situated on an elevated plateau that connects to the limestone cliffs that lead to the ocean. We believe Alila Uluwatu to be one of the best resorts in the world, not just in Bali. The wedding planners here do a fantastic job of bringing the theme of exotic weddings with a tropical landscape to life, and the best part is that you can select from a variety of venues, like the Cliff-edge Sunset Cabana or the more private wedding villas.
Located amidst the much-famed White Mountains of New Hampshire, this mountain-inspired wedding venue in Whitefield has been a historically significant destination since its inception in 1865. Known to be home to beautiful mountain weddings in New Hampshire, it can be the ultimate destination for a chic winter wedding with panoramic mountain views as your ceremony backdrop. Nestled amidst 400 acres of sweeping, landscaped grounds, this historical resort wedding venue in New Hampshire features stunning indoor and outdoor ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner settings, breathtaking mountain vistas, fine on-site restaurants, luxurious guest rooms, and suites, and award-winning spa and wellness center. One can only imagine the gorgeousness as you glide down the grand staircase of this wedding venue, wearing your favorite winter bridal accessories and looking like a dream.
The Pelican Hill resort is the ideal location if you picture your ideal wedding taking place just a short drive from Los Angeles. The five-star resort which is situated along the coast of Newport Beach doesn’t have pre-set wedding packages because every wedding is tailored to the couple’s preferences. The stunning Mar Vista venue only hosts one wedding each day, though additional locations are available. A complimentary bungalow for the bride and groom, a wedding butler, a choice of menu, and spa packages available to brides in a private Spa Suite are additional services that are also provided.
What better place to start the list off than Megan Markle and Prince Harry’s preferred setting? Among British royalty, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle is a well-known wedding location. Among other royal weddings, it served as the setting for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ union. It is considered to be one of the most royal wedding venues in the entire world. St George’s Chapel is a place of worship for The Queen and the Royal Family as well as a church serving the local community. It is also one of England’s finest medieval chapels to get married in a royal way. The grounds of this royal-inspired venue can turn out to be the exquisite wedding venue for your Victorian garden wedding.
Although it may seem strange to see a farm listed this high among the most opulent wedding venues, we promise that the Blackberry Farm is totally worth it. This charming farm, located in the Smoky Mountains, offers an Estate Wedding Package that includes two-night stays for up to 138 guests, meals prepared by some of the nation’s top chefs, cutting-edge wines, and the required reception and ceremony.
The beauty of wedding planning is that you have infinite options to own your big day! From incredible mountain locales to breezy seaside towns to sparkling city lights, everything is a recipe for an amazing destination wedding when you are ready to incorporate the element of travel and adventure into your wedding celebration. From choosing a destination wedding spot within your hometown to jetting off to a far-flung destination, the point is to host your wedding in one of the luxurious wedding venues which sit right with your wedding checklist.