If you fancy jet-setting abroad to say your nuptials, congratulations there’s no better experience than hosting your very own destination wedding, be it a micro celebration or a huge party styled event.

Planning your wedding abroad is an exciting adventure and one which starts with sourcing the right venue, needing to co-inside with the logistics of how you envisage your day enfolding, your destination wedding venue also needs to mirror the style, atmosphere and experience you wish to create.

What type of venues can I get married at abroad?

From purpose built eco-venues to authentic, traditional properties, there’s an array of wedding venue options available abroad and whilst many are suited to certain geographical locations there are a collection of venues which are perfectly apt for incredible weddings around the world.

Here’s our shortlist of the best styles or and most popular types of wedding venues abroad alongside some pretty spectacular examples from our exclusive destination wedding venue portfolio.

Wedding Villa or Estate

From country styled mansions to modern designer abodes, wedding villas really do have it all. The major advantage being its exclusivity, hiring a villa or estate abroad allows you to privately celebrate with your guests inclusive of beautiful grounds, facilities and views.

A majority of destination wedding villas include onsite accommodation, making the whole process of getting married abroad much simpler, having your friends and family all staying together.

Notorious for weekend and week long wedding stays villas come with exciting, inclusive extras. Think, deluxe welcome BBQ’s, spa experiences, wine tasting tours and even elaborate helicopter rides.

The best locations for wedding villas

There’s such a wide geographical and style choice of wedding villas available, from intimate Cornish villas and Italian countryside residences to Mexican Cancun estates and trendy Ibizan villas. Not forgetting homely Spanish fincas, opulent villas in Malta and luxurious Portuguese estates.

Europe alone has a huge scope of wedding villas, fulfilling a variety of tastes and styles, be it ultra modern, design-led residences or grand 13th Century mansions.

For a boutique styled, contemporary wedding villa check out Ibiza’s Ca Na Xica, or for a more rustic, countryside vibe Tenuta San Masseo offers a home away from home in central Italy.

If you dream of a sophisticated, lavish destination wedding head to Lake Como’s Villa Balbiano or head to the exceptional Florentine hills to find Villa Il Cerretino and Villa Agape.

Read more | 16 Luxury Wedding Villas Abroad

Trendy Beachside Restaurants or Beach Clubs

If a more laid back, relaxed vibe is your style and you want a seafront wedding setting with top notch cuisine, beachside restaurants and beach clubs are the perfect choice.

Sun loungers, cocktails and blue skies at the ready, having a coastal outlook for your big day is an experience in itself.

Beachside venues create a nonchalant ambiance for wedding celebrations, serving up delicious seafood dishes and fresh Mediterranean platters.

Where to find the best wedding beachside restaurants

It goes without saying the best beachside weddings need a pretty decent beach in view and European islands such as Santorini, Parga, Ibiza and Paros certainly hit the mark.

In mainland Spain, head to the fashionable Marbella region for quality beach clubs like La Cabane Beach Club and Bono Beach and if you’re happy to travel further afield Tulum, Mexico will not disappoint, hosting some of the most trendy beachside venues.

For chic beachfront celebrations we love Santorini’s boho venue Laze and Koom on the Cycladic island of Paros.

Discover | The Best Beachside Wedding Venues

Wedding Resorts & Hotels

High-end resorts abroad not only offer luxury holidays but also wedding packages suitable for inclusive matrimony celebrations of any scale.

Due to its hotel status, the most obvious bonus of hosting your wedding at a resort is the ability to accommodate all of your guests, a positive thought when it comes to the logistics of planning a destination wedding.

Alongside luxury bedrooms, concierge services and onsite restaurants, you’ll often find added well-being and spa facilities plus dedicated onsite wedding co-ordinators ready to bring your vision to life.

Where are the best wedding resorts located?

You’ll find ideal wedding resorts anywhere classified as a luxurious holiday hot-spot, think Mykonos, Ibiza, Ios, Lake Como. Head for the Greek islands for impressive havens and world-class wedding backdrops- Mykonos Lolita, Amirandes and Mandola Rosa are all extraordinary wedding resorts.

For the ultimate Indian Ocean resorts you’ll want to head to the Maldives, COMO Mallifushi and COMO Cocoa Island provide the perfect setting for outstanding tropical island weddings.

Chateau’s, Castles & Castello’s

The finest fairytale fantasy has to be getting married in a castle or as the French would say ‘Chateau’. A sense of regal grandeur and a venue with an overpowering vision of romance there are numerous castles situated across Europe renovated to host memorable events.

For the iconic turrets and authentic French Chateau style head to the Southernmost region of Occitanie which offers a superb collection of wedding Chateau’s, including Château Les Carrasses, Chateau Saint-Martory and Château Plombis.

Then of course there is the alluring, rich history of Italian Castello’s, luxuriously decorated you will find the best ones in some of the most picturesque locations in Italy, from the beautiful Tuscan countryside to the glamour of Lake Como. A couple of our favourites include Castello Di Montauto in Chianti and Tuscany’s Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

Read more | 12 Beautiful French Chateau Wedding Venues

Farms, Vineyards & Wineries

Celebrate amongst the most picturesque countryside and choose a venue a little different, championing a rustic more informal sentiment, farms, vineyards and wineries in the right season provide dreamy wedding settings.

Opting for a premium wine region can provide you with backdrops of artistic vineyards, the Cretan Agreco Farm is a prime example, not only featuring olive tree views but also fresh organic cuisine.

One of the best Italian wineries can be found in Emilia Romagna- Roncolo 1888, opening it’s classic Estate to luxe wedding receptions the venue is renowned for producing organic sparkling wines and balsamic vinegar but we just love its lush scenery and idyllic wedding terraces.

Wedding Terraces

Saying ‘I Do’ on a sun-kissed wedding terrace has to be one of the most iconic destination wedding scenes. Allowing you to not only take in the countries beauty through panoramic views but also to revel in favourable climates in a modern setting.

Tailored towards smaller guests number wedding ceremonies, elopements and micro-weddings, wedding terraces can be enjoyed from 2 to over 100 guests and if chosen well the landscape does all the talking so decor can be kept to a minimum.

The best wedding terraces can take you from ceremony to wedding breakfast and evening reception offering quick set-up turn arounds whilst you host cocktails and drinks in other areas of the venue.

Where can you find the best wedding terraces in the world?

Islands provide the best wedding venue terraces, quite simply because they have incredible views. The most iconic destination for wedding terraces has to be Santorini, the famous Cycladic island offers a collection of luxurious suites and high-end villas with volcanic, ocean and island backdrops.

For an intimate ceremony overlooking the Aegean Sea Cocoon Suites provides a modern, glass fronted terrace suitable for up to 25 guests or for a ‘wedding in the sky’ Rocabella Santorini can host up to 180 on its contemporary deck.

If you want to head off the tourist tracks, the pretty island of Ios hosts private retreats with breathtaking terraces to exchange vows, we recommend Cycladic Gem Luxury Villa and Ios Club.

Historic Monuments

If you a classic styled wedding is your idea of heaven then opting for a historic monument can add a sense of authentic charm alongside backdrops for the most enviable wedding photography.

From Italian convents and monastries to protected properties and iconic attractions, a wedding venue with a rich historical past is an exciting prospect.

One of the most famous monuments in London, Tower Bridge offers the most romantic spot in the world to host your wedding and views across the city skyline are divine.

Tucked away in Florentine hills, the glamorous 15th century property of Il Salviatino fuses rich historic character with hand-restored opulent detailing- ideal for Tuscan weddings with a touch of magic!

Complete with charming cloisters and authentic halls, convents make the ideal wedding setting, imagine long tables adorning the historic walkways and wondering through the Italian gardens framing the buildings. A couple of our favourite wedding convents include Convento dell’Annunciata and Certosa di Pontignano.

Botanical Gardens & Woodlands

Calling all nature lovers, surround yourself in luscious blooms and established greenery for an incredible wedding. From national parks to world-renowned botanical gardens or magical woodlands stepping into nature as you say ‘I Do’ brings your entire destination wedding to life.

For a dazzling display of Mediterranean plants alongside a favourable climate head to Gibraltar’s Botanic Gardens where you can pronounce your vows amidst blooming honeysuckle, daisies, jasmine and wild olives.

Add a dazzling coastline backdrop to the mix and your botanic garden wedding will be somewhat of a dream. Jardín Botánico Marimurtra not only features 4,000 plant species from five continents but also a front row display of the exquisite Costa Brava coast.

If an enchanted forest sounds more your style the UK offers some of the most stunning woodlands designed to host wedding celebrations. Two Woods Estate in West Sussex is spread acres 42 acres including 100 redwood trees- a forest worthy of magical ceremonies.

Read more | Enchanted Woodland Wedding Venues in the UK

Industrial, Warehouse style spaces

A modern approach to design led weddings, industrial and warehouse spaces offer stylish blank canvas venues suitable for contemporary events. Providing large indoor areas you can add decor to suit your personality and revel in the industrial touches, like large metal framed glass panes and original beam work.

Geographically you will find unique warehouse spaces worldwide and in larger cities you are more prone to finding industrial units converted for event use. London and its surrounding areas have a collection of urban wedding spaces, from chic studio spaces such as Shoreditch Studios and Loft Studios to the industrialist, alternative venue The Shack Revolution.

A couple of our favourite industrial style wedding venues happen to be situated in the US, inspired by Palm Springs glam Mojave East is located only 10 miles from downtown Cincinnati boasting a large, original structure poised for personalised weddings. For an authentic industrial meets modern venue, Empeiria 110 is the place to head with its weathered wood, brick, metals and concrete wedding space.

Quirky Alternatives

Completely throw out the wedding rule book and the world really is your oyster- a yacht, a desert or maybe even a mountain range. There’s no real reason why you have to conform when saying ‘I Do’!

From the extraordinary to the quirky and the astonishing alternatives, if a traditional wedding venue just doesn’t make the cut, you need to opt for a more unique wedding space.

Where can I find a unique wedding venue?

By opting for a symbolic or non-religious ceremony abroad you can discover a world of unique wedding experiences. How about being moored in one of Europe’s most exclusive harbours whilst saying your vows onboard the 5-star super Sunborn Yacht or walking down the aisle in the trendy museum of contemporary art Zeitz MOCAA Events in South Africa?

Intimate, desert weddings can be truly spectacular and Morocco hosts some incredible Sahara venues specialising in creating the ultimate destination wedding- Luxury Camp in Sahara Desert is perfect for beautiful sand dunes and magical sunsets.

Discover your unique place to say ‘I Do’

Whether you wish for a desert hideaway elopement, a beachfront island ceremony or a luxurious villa wedding in Europe, discover extraordinary wedding spaces in the Wedinspire Venue Finder.