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Destination wedding guide

Best destination wedding locations, with scored vendors

Compare 21 of the best places for a destination wedding by season, flights and legal rules, then book local vendors scored out of 100.

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21 destination guidesLocal vendors scored /100Legal and symbolic notes
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Couple on a black-sand beach with sea stacks behindCouple standing in a wide open landscape
The short answer

Where is the best place for a destination wedding?

The right place is one your guests can reach, in its dry season, where your ceremony can be legal or happily symbolic.

For guests in Europe, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus pair short flights with civil ceremonies open to non-residents. North American families favour Mexico and the Caribbean for close time zones. Islands such as the Maldives and Bali offer overwater villas and rice paddies, but rarely legal vows for visitors.

Many couples assume the ceremony abroad has to be the legal one. It rarely needs to be. In Spain, Bali, the Maldives and Morocco, visiting couples commonly sign the paperwork at home, then hold a symbolic ceremony away. That lets the setting, not the registry office, decide where you go.

Compare all 21 destinations
Europe

Best wedding destinations in Europe

Europe's best wedding destinations for most guests are the ones with direct flights and clear civil rules. Seven countries have their own guide.

Venice canal and the Rialto bridge, Italy01
Lakes, coast and villas

Italy

Non-residents can marry legally with a Nulla Osta, so a Lake Como or Amalfi Coast ceremony can be the legal one, not just the party.

Italy guide
White stairs above the sea on Santorini, Greece02
Islands and town halls

Greece

Town-hall weddings start with a short notice in a local Greek newspaper. April–May or September–October avoids the peak summer heat.

Greece guide
Madrid skyline, Spain03
Fiestas and fincas

Spain

A civil wedding needs a partner resident in Spain for two years, so most visiting couples choose a symbolic ceremony and celebrate freely.

Spain guide
Riverside town in Portugal04
Atlantic light

Portugal

Civil weddings at a registry have no residency rule, and Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports put Sintra, Cascais and the Algarve close by.

Portugal guide
Palm trees and a pool at sunset in Cyprus05
Quick legal weddings

Cyprus

Two visiting partners can marry at the town hall of any municipality with no residency rule, which keeps a legal ceremony simple.

Cyprus guide
Cobh cathedral above coloured houses, Ireland06
Plan the notice first

Ireland

Every couple gives at least three months' notice to a civil registrar, resident or not, so start the paperwork before you book flights.

Ireland guide
Edinburgh skyline at dusk, Scotland07
Highlands and cities

Scotland

Each partner sends a marriage notice to the local registrar at least 29 days ahead; councils suggest allowing 10 to 12 weeks.

Scotland guide
Paris bridge at dusk08
The wider continent

All of Europe

Short hops for most European guests and a choice of civil or symbolic ceremonies. Our Europe guide covers the countries not listed here.

All of Europe guide
Islands and beaches

Best island for a destination wedding

The best island for a destination wedding depends on its dry season and whether a legal ceremony is possible there for visitors.

Overwater villas in the MaldivesOverwater and barefootMaldives

Private beaches and overwater villas, but non-Muslims cannot marry legally here, so resorts hold a non-legal vow ceremony instead.

Maldives guide Rice terraces in BaliJungle and rice terracesBali

Jungle retreats and beachfront resorts. A legal Indonesian wedding needs a shared religion and a civil registry record, so many go symbolic.

Bali guide Beach umbrellas under a palm, MauritiusIndian Ocean civil weddingsMauritius

Two non-resident foreigners can hold a civil wedding after applying to the Central Civil Status Office in Port Louis well ahead of the day.

Mauritius guide Train crossing the Nine Arches bridge, Sri LankaSouth-west coastSri Lanka

The south-west coast is driest from December to March. A legal wedding needs a notice at the registrar, then a wait of at least 14 days.

Sri Lanka guide Turquoise Caribbean water by a pierMany islands, many rulesCaribbean

Close time zones for American guests, with rules set island by island: Jamaica can marry visitors 24 hours after they arrive.

Caribbean guide Longtail boats below limestone cliffs, ThailandGulf islands and BangkokThailand

Ko Samui's dry season runs December to April. Legal weddings are registered at a district office (amphur); a temple blessing alone is not.

Thailand guide
Beyond Europe

Beyond Europe: the best wedding destination abroad

Further afield, the best wedding destination abroad is often the one closest to most of your guests, from Mexico to New Zealand.

Colourful colonial street in Mexico
Riviera Maya and Tulum

Mexico

Cancún flights reach the Riviera Maya and Tulum. A civil judge conducts legal weddings and rules vary by state, so confirm early.

Mexico guide
 New York skyline, USA
Fifty states, one passport

USA

American guests need no passport. Each state issues its own marriage licence, from Hawaii's beaches to Napa's vineyards.

USA guide
 Dubai skyline
Winter sun

Dubai

Non-Muslim couples can marry in a civil court ceremony when one partner lives in Dubai; the cooler winter months suit outdoor plans.

Dubai guide
 Kasbah and palms in Morocco
Medina, mountains, desert

Morocco

Marrakesh pairs the medina with the Atlas Mountains and Agafay Desert. Many visiting couples marry at home first, then celebrate here.

Morocco guide
 Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, India
Multi-day celebrations

India

A civil wedding under the Special Marriage Act needs one partner living in the district for 30 days before notice is given.

India guide
 Table Mountain above Cape Town
Mountain and winelands

Cape Town

Warm, dry summers and mild winters, with Table Mountain and the Cape Winelands close by. Foreign couples bring passports to the marriage officer.

Cape Town guide
 Lake and mountains at Queenstown, New Zealand
Reversed seasons

New Zealand

Apply online for a marriage licence at least three working days ahead. Summer runs December to February, opposite to Europe.

New Zealand guide
 Overwater restaurant at an island resort
One booking, one venue

All-inclusive resorts

One booking covers rooms, meals and the ceremony space, which keeps guest planning simple. See how resort wedding teams are scored.

Resort list
Compare at a glance

Best destination wedding locations compared

This table compares each destination on its usual best months, main arrival airports and what a legal ceremony involves for visitors.

Legal rules change and vary by nationality. Confirm with the local registry or your embassy before you book.
DestinationBest monthsGetting thereLegal ceremony note
MexicoDec–Apr peak; quieter May, Jun, NovCancún for the Riviera MayaCivil judge conducts it; rules vary by state
ItalyMay–Jun and Sep (avoids Aug heat)Rome, Milan, Naples, PisaOpen to non-residents with a Nulla Osta
GreeceApr–May and Sep–OctAthens, plus island airportsTown hall, after a local newspaper notice
BaliMay–Sep (dry season)Denpasar (Ngurah Rai)Shared religion plus registry; often symbolic
ThailandDec–Apr (Ko Samui dry season)Bangkok; Ko Samui connectionsRegistered at a district office (amphur)
CaribbeanDec–May; storms Jun 1–Nov 30Varies by islandVaries; Jamaica: 24 hours after arrival
IrelandMay–Jun and SepDublin, ShannonThree months' notice to a registrar
MaldivesDec–Apr (dry season)Malé (Velana)Not legal for non-Muslims; vow ceremony
ScotlandMay–Jun and Sep (fewer midges)Edinburgh, GlasgowNotice to the registrar 29+ days ahead
DubaiCooler winter monthsDubai International (DXB)Civil, non-Muslims; one partner resident
MoroccoMar–May and Sep–OctMarrakesh MenaraMany marry at home, then celebrate here
New ZealandDec–Feb (southern summer)Auckland, ChristchurchLicence 3+ working days ahead
MauritiusMay–Oct (dry, cyclone-free)Mauritius (SSR International)Civil; apply to Port Louis office early
Sri LankaDec–Mar (south-west coast)Colombo (Bandaranaike)Registrar notice, then a 14-day wait
IndiaOct–Mar (Nov–Feb peak)Delhi, Mumbai, GoaCivil: one partner resident 30 days
USAVaries by stateMany international hubsLicence issued by each state
SpainMay–Jun and Sep–OctMadrid, Barcelona, MálagaCivil needs a resident; symbolic is common
PortugalSummer for beach weddingsLisbon, Porto, FaroRegistry office; no residency rule
CyprusMay–Jun and Sep–OctLarnaca, PaphosAny town hall; no residency rule
Cape TownDec–Feb (warm, dry summer)Cape Town InternationalPassports to a marriage officer
Couple silhouetted on a hill at sunset
Four checksbudget · season · guest travel · legal route
How to choose

Choosing the best place to have a destination wedding

Choose with four checks in order: budget, season, guest travel and the legal route. Each one narrows the shortlist.

  1. 01

    Set the budget split

    Decide what you pay and what guests pay. Flights, rooms and nights away shift costs onto them, so agree that before choosing a country.

  2. 02

    Match the season

    Pick the month, then the place. A dry season, a shoulder season or a storm season can change the same island completely.

  3. 03

    Map guest travel

    List where guests fly from. Direct routes, transfer times and passports matter more to a grandparent than the view does.

  4. 04

    Legal or symbolic

    Decide if the ceremony abroad must be legal. If not, sign at home and the list of options grows to include the Maldives and Bali.

Once those four checks are done, the best places to do a destination wedding usually come down to two or three. Compare them on the vendors you can actually book there, not only the photographs.

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Let the setting, not the registry office, decide where you go.
Verified Wedding Awards · destination guide
Why scored vendors

How our awards help you plan a wedding abroad

Our awards help by scoring local wedding vendors in each destination out of 100 and publishing every score, so you compare evidence.

Long reception table with colourful flowers in warm light
i.

Vendors scored on evidence

Shortlist planners, venues and photographers abroad with confidence. Each entry is scored on photos and video, client reviews and professional standards.

ii.

Destinations are award areas

Each destination is a full award area, so a Santorini photographer competes with local peers, not with studios in another country.

iii.

Scores you can read

See why a vendor won before you email them. The score out of 100 and its parts are shown on every winner's profile.

Destination winners are announced from January 2027, then added to each guide.

FAQs

Destination wedding questions couples ask

Where is the best place to have a destination wedding?

The best place to have a destination wedding is one your guests can reach easily, visited in its dry season, with a ceremony route that suits you. For European guests that often means Italy, Greece, Portugal or Cyprus. For North American guests, Mexico and the Caribbean keep time zones close.

Which destination wedding locations allow a legal ceremony for visitors?

Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Mauritius and Ireland all allow visiting couples to marry legally, each with its own paperwork. Italy asks for a Nulla Osta. Ireland needs three months' notice. Spain, Bali, the Maldives and Morocco are usually symbolic for visiting couples.

Can we marry legally in the Maldives?

A legal wedding in the Maldives is not possible for non-Muslim couples under Maldivian law. Resorts instead hold a non-legal vow ceremony with a certificate. Most couples marry legally at home before or after the trip.

When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?

The Atlantic hurricane season, which affects Caribbean weddings, runs from 1 June to 30 November. Couples who want the lowest storm risk often look at December to May instead. Weather and marriage rules differ by island, so check the island you choose before fixing a date.

How do Verified Wedding Awards scores help us choose vendors abroad?

Verified Wedding Awards scores every entry out of 100 using photos and video, client reviews and professional standards, plus an optional email-verified couples' bonus. Scores are published on each winner's profile. That lets you compare vendors in a destination you have never visited.

Are the Verified Wedding Awards destination guides free?

The Verified Wedding Awards destination guides are free for couples. So are the winners directory and best-of lists. Wedding businesses pay to enter the awards, never to appear in results. Each guide links to scored local vendors once destination results are published.

For couples

Find scored vendors where you marry

Browse award winners by destination and category, each with a published score out of 100 and the parts behind it.

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