We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Traveling to someplace different—whether it’s nearby or far-flung—is always exciting, so it’s easy to imagine how incredible it would be to say “I do” in a stunning destination. Especially for those couples with a penchant for travel, tying the knot within the hallowed halls of a storied hotel is truly a dream come true.
Choosing your special destination is just part of the process. Once you know where you want to tie the knot, you still need to find a wedding venue. Hotels can serve as the most romantic backdrop for the big day, whether it’s a glamorous icon, like Ireland’s Dromoland Castle, or a modern darling of the industry, like Utah’s canyon-framed Amangiri. And those that provide excellent wedding packages can make everything so much easier, especially when you’re planning far from home.
Photos by KT Merry / Design by Tiana Crispino
When planning a destination wedding, Layne Povey, founder of The Lynden Lane Co., a company that specializes in destination weddings, emphasizes the importance of working with a venue, vendors, and planners that have a deep knowledge of your chosen location. “Since the wedding experience of a destination event relies heavily on the venue and/or accommodations, our hotel partners impact almost every aspect of a celebration,” she says. “Great service and hotels that truly care about the guest experience will change the entire event from day one of planning to your actual wedding day. Working with hotel partners that have great team members is key to perfectly executing destination events.”
Photos by Stuart Thurlkill / Design by Tiano Crispino
Below, you’ll find a list of hotels (each with that aforementioned great service) that go far beyond providing a jaw-dropping setting. They each offer unique wedding packages that ensure every type of couple will have the most memorable experience possible. From on-site event coordinators who understand the nuance of a couple’s vision to award-winning food and beverage services—and sumptuous accommodations—these hotels do it all and more.
Our Top Picks
The Bespoke Ranch Wedding: The Resort at Paws Up and The Green O
A Classic New England Soiree: Wauwinet
Luxury Beachside Elopement: Tokoriki Beach Resort
Where the Great Outdoors Meets Elegance: Amangiri
The Intimate Wedding-to-Honeymoon in Mexico: Rosewood Mayakoba
A Fairy-Tale Castle Wedding: Dromoland Castle
Timeless Romance in France: Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc
Wedding Bliss in Turks & Caicos: Sailrock Resort
The Bespoke Ranch Wedding: The Resort at Paws Up
Courtesy of Paws Up / Photo by Stuart Thurlkill / Design by Tiana Crispino
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: Horseback ride entrance, extensive catering menu, photography services
Capacity: 150
On their website, The Resort at Paws Up writes that “no two events are ever the same” at this property—and they mean it. For the couples looking for a totally customizable wedding experience in a stunning setting (37,000 acres of it, to be exact), this iconic Montana ranch is a wonderful choice for everything from a black-tie event to a rustic gathering. With a variety of event offerings (elopements to micro weddings to events for up to 150 guests), the coordinators at Paws Up will ensure every detail from the couples’ vision makes its way into the big day.
Venues range from outdoor options, like the Wedding Knoll or the banks of the Blackfoot River, to charming indoor locations like the Bull Barn or the Saddle Club. And when it comes to accommodations, depending on the season guests can stay in safari-style glamping suites or within the resort’s peerless wilderness estates and multi-bedroom homes. Your family and friends can spend days doing on-site activities like fly fishing, cattle driving, and ATV rides before looking forward to a night of dancing under a blanket of stars, dining on award-winning cuisine, and celebrating the happy couple in this special location.
A Classic New England Soiree: Wauwinet
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: On-site coordinator team, AAA Five Diamond cuisine and wine service, Jitney shuttle service to town, vintage Woody car on-site for photos
Capacity: 80
The epitome of coastal New England charm, the Wauwinet is where romantic island dreams come true. Nestled 30 miles out to sea along the shores of Nantucket, this elegant hotel offers sophisticated and comfortable interiors at one of the best waterfront wedding locations on the East Coast. Couples can exchange vows on the waterfront lawn, then retreat to the hotel’s awning-covered restaurant, Topper’s Deck, for a reception with panoramic ocean views and a dinner banquet with local catering and catch-of-the-day seafood. Wedding attendees can enjoy island bike rides, lobstering with an on-site fisherman, and s’mores on the beach, all coordinated by the hotel staff, leading up to the wedding day.
And while the couple and guests may want to spend the entire time exploring the outdoors, the Wauwinet’s 32 guest rooms, suites, and private cottages are magnificent, mimicking the stunning light characteristic of the island through large windows and neutral-palette linens and décor.
Luxury Beachside Elopement: Tokoriki Beach Resort
Courtesy of Tokoriki Island Resort / Design by Tiana Crispino
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: On-site Romance Coordinator, Adults-only policy, Minister for the ceremony, Fijian choir, one-hour personal photoshoot, on-site chapel
Capacity: 10
As if being in Fiji isn’t special enough on its own, Tokoriki Resort brings the magic of this island paradise to a whole new level. Perfect for intimate ceremonies and elopements, the resort offers multiple packages for those looking to exchange vows in a beautiful and calm setting by the ocean. Whether couples choose to hold the ceremony with the on-site minister in Tokriki’s charming chapel or say “I do” under the sun along the white-sand beach, the striking backdrop of the Matamanoa Islands, paired with Tokoriki’s warm Fijian hospitality, will make this an event to remember for life.
Before and after the ceremony, couples can relax at the resort’s award-winning spa (which features unlimited 60-minute massages on the menu), go snorkeling or dive in the crystalline waters surrounding the island, and enjoy beachside picnics. The well-appointed accommodations are just as delightful as the surroundings; guests can choose from 36 Fijian bures or villas overlooking the water.
Consider booking the Exclusive Jetty Dinner for the ultimate private dining experience. Couples will enjoy a three-course menu with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot—complete with butler service and a serenade—at the very end of the property’s jetty under the stars.
Timeless Romance in France: Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: 24-hour room service and concierge service for all guests, on-site babysitting, a team of wedding hairdressers and makeup artists at Spa Eden-Roc, on-site florists, luxury limousine service included
Capacity: 450
If you’ve spent any time looking at photos of stunning hotels in the South of France, you’ve likely come across Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc; the property is as picturesque as it is iconic. White umbrellas dot a patio adjacent to a sparkling infinity pool that—you guessed it—sits atop the expansive panorama of the Mediterranean Sea. This Côte d’Azur hotel offers two package options for couples: a “wedding buy-out” or an “intimate wedding” package. The former is ideal for those with a guest list of over 100 people and includes all 118 accommodations on the property, as well as exclusive service from the entire hotel staff. The latter is perfect for smaller weddings (think 40 to 100 guests) and includes up to 20 accommodations and a ceremony at the Champagne Lounge. As to be expected in France, guests can look forward to top-tier cuisine courtesy of a Michelin Star-winning chef.
The Wedding-to-Honeymoon in Mexico: Rosewood Mayakoba
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: Private live music performance, award-winning dining service, dedicated wedding specialist on-site, included spa services, traditional Mayan ceremony
Capacity: 550
While the package options for wedding celebrations at Rosewood Mayakoba are bountiful (you can have up to 550 guests at the largest venue on the property), the discrete Boda y Vida package is particularly eye-catching. This option is ideal for the couple in search of a private ceremony that seamlessly transitions right into the dreamiest of honeymoons. Boda y Vida includes a traditional Mayan ceremony (with a Shaman present), florals for the bride and groom, décor and setup, a private dinner, and two hours of live music by local talent. Once the wedding day is over, couples can look forward to daily breakfast in-villa, a 90-minute massage at Sense Spa, exclusive butler service, and nightly resort credit for food, drinks, and spa treatments.
Ask your on-site wedding specialist about booking a live Yucatan trio music performance.
Where the Great Outdoors Meets Elegance: Amangiri
Photos by KT Merry / Design by Tiana Crispino
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: Daily group hikes and fitness sessions, numerous outdoor and poolside ceremony venues, property buyouts include a personal event and itinerary coordinator for the couple
Capacity: 110
It’s no secret that desert weddings have become one of the most stylish types of marriage celebrations in recent years—and Amangiri takes the cake for the ultimate desert wedding location. The picture of elegance, Amangiri’s setting is reason enough to travel out to the vast Southern Utah desert to exchange nuptials among the arid canyons; there is something undeniably romantic about the cacti-strewn landscape and sweeping views in every direction. True to form, the Aman hotel group designed Amangiri to seamlessly mirror and mimic the movement and curves of the canyons and endless horizons through striking architecture across the 600-acre property. Couples can choose to buy out the property in its entirety by booking a minimum of 15 rooms, which ensures exclusive use of the entire hotel and Camp Sakira—and gives the couple access to a personal event coordinator to help plan a full itinerary of activities and spa treatments around the ceremony. Venues for exchanging vows and enjoying post-nuptial celebration include Chinle Site, a private location surrounded by towering canyons, the poolside terrace amid the sandy mesas, or many more unique spots located within the hotel’s impressive acreage.
A Fairy-Tale Castle Wedding: Dromoland Castle
Courtesy of Dromoland Castle / Design by Tiana Crispino
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: Ceremony ring delivery via falcon, an award-winning dining service, an on-site wedding coordination team, outstanding grounds with many venue options
Capacity: 300
It’s hard to beat the fairy-tale-come-to-life scenario that is getting married at a castle. Dromoland Castle, nestled along Ireland’s west coast in County Clare, is an ancestral estate with a history as vast as its 450 acres of exquisitely manicured grounds. For the couple in search of an unforgettably opulent celebration, Dromoland will deliver on all fronts. Perhaps you’d like to arrive by horse-drawn carriage, or fancy having your rings delivered to the ceremony by falcon? No problem. Award-winning cuisine? Absolutely. A ceremony within the stately walled garden, followed by dancing the night away on the tented lawn? But, of course. From the authentic Irish cuisine to the picturesque grounds and the peerless accommodations, marrying at Dromoland is as close to a fairy tale as it gets.
Wedding Bliss in Turks & Caicos: Sailrock Resort
See Rates on TripAdvisor
Notable Wedding Amenities: On-site wedding and event manager, local music and entertainment, numerous waterfront ceremony locations
Capacity: 50
With multiple packages and a la carte add-ons available—something for those eloping and also for couples who want friends and family to join—Sailrock Resort on South Caicos island offers tranquility and beauty at every turn. Nestled on a spit of land between Caicos Bank and the Atlantic Ocean, venue options for exchanging vows at Sailrock include either of the two beaches, open-air terraces, personal villas, and more. The property’s dedicated wedding and event manager will coordinate all details from locally-sourced floral bouquets to a multi-course seasonal menu and live, local music. From the moment couples inhale the salt air, set foot at the resort, and are greeted with a bottle of champagne, life just feels worry-free.
Ask your wedding and event manager about sunset ceremony options.
Final Verdict
Choosing a destination, let alone a venue, can be overwhelming. If you’re not sure where to start, you can’t go wrong with any of these phenomenal hotels. As Povey explains, be sure to consider both season and weather before choosing a destination. From there, evaluate the destination’s hotel choices based on your budget, the size of your wedding, and how far guests will be expected to travel. Domestic options like the Wauwinet, Amangiri, and The Resort at Paws Up may make more sense for larger weddings where guests are mostly already in the U.S.
However, if you’re planning to elope and want a once-in-a-lifetime experience, an option like Sailrock Resort in Turks & Caicos, Tokoriki in Fiji, or the Rosewood Mayakoba in Mexico may be the best fit. Of course the timelessness of a European wedding will never fade, and rest assured that both Dromoland Castle and Hotel du Cap Eden Roc will yield memories that last a lifetime.
Methodology
We evaluated dozens of top-rated, award-winning hotels and resorts around the world and curated this list based on first-hand experience at the properties and hotel expert insight. We looked at everything from the venues and accommodations to the service and restaurant/bar offerings. When possible, we read numerous guest reviews. We paid special attention to wedding ceremony and celebration offerings and different package options that these hotels offer before settling on this final list, with our readers in mind.
Credit: Source link
