Wedding photographs are always fun to flip through, whether you’re reliving your own fond memories or ogling someone else’s special day. But clicking through the digital album of a destination wedding has its own distinct appeal. For starters, the location and venue are likely more unique than your average country club affair. But a great destination wedding can also induce its fair share of wanderlust. Whether the ceremony is set on the edge of the earth in New Zealand or on a beach in the Bahamas, a well-chosen locale can be just as exciting for the guests as for the bride and groom.
To help kick off wedding season–which runs unofficially from June to October—we give you the best destination weddings in Vogue. A foliage-filled affair in Japan saw one bride walk down the aisle on the outdoor deck at the Four Seasons Kyoto, next to an 800-year-old koi pond, whereas another bride wore custom Schiaparelli to her wedding on Hawaii’s Big Island. Meanwhile, another couple found their dream European wedding venue in Porto Ercole, Italy.
Without further ado, here are the most wondrous, far-flung nuptials. And for those who are wondering where to get married overseas… maybe you’ll find enough inspiration to finally answer your question.
Maia Cotton and Max Feldstein’s Wedding in Queenstown, New Zealand
Maia Cotton and Max Feldstein’s wedding was held in Queenstown, New Zealand, at a private villa overlooking Drift Bay. The bride wore a white dress by Elly Sofocli and her family’s korowai—a traditional Māori cloak that honored her heritage. “There were a variety of Māori traditions that were performed at the wedding, and I wanted to honor these traditions with an outfit that signified my appreciation for this aspect of my culture,” Maia says.
Manisha Seth and Chris Toh’s Wedding in the Maldives
After spending New Year s 2017 in the Maldives, Manisha Seth and Chris Toh knew that they would eventually marry there. Five years later, they wed on the tip of Patina Island—a locale only reachable by boat. Other events in their three-day nuptials included a beach welcome dinner and recovery pool party, which were all held across Patina Maldives resort.
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Madeline Hahnfeld and Marcial Brock in Harbour Island, Bahamas
“The Bahamas has always had a special place in our hearts,” Madeline Hahnfield Brock says of her wedding location. “We both grew up spending idyllic summers soaking up the sun and sea there. But Harbour Island, with its unique blend of laid-back charm and old-school sophistication, stole ours. The pastel cottages, pink sand beach, and getting around by golf cart all make it so special. It’s the kind of place where you can be glamorous in your swimwear, never have to put on makeup, and shoes are optional.”
Elle Chody and Jack Paul’s Wedding in Luzern, Switzerland
Elle Chody and Jack Paul wed at Bürgenstock Resort in Luzern, Switzerland—the same Swiss Alps region where they first met while attending a skiing program in 2009. Their wedding weekend included a boat welcome party at St. Charles Hall and a cocktail reception overlooking Lake Lucerne. Guests were then ushered to dinner with traditional Swiss cowbells.
Alexa Dell and Frédéric Choquette’s Wedding on Hawaii’s Big Island
“Hawaii has been a part of my life since childhood, so it felt meaningful to bring everyone into a place that already holds so many memories,” bride Alexa Dell said of her choice to get married in Kona, Hawaii. The couple worked with local venues for their three-day celebration, which included a pool party and a traditional luau.
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Alexandra Dorda and Stefan Marcu’s Wedding in Seville, Spain
Alexandra Dorda and Stefan Marcu threw a four-day wedding in Seville. What drew them to the southern Spanish city? Its romantic architecture: “I have always found courtyards enchanting, so I knew I wanted to hold my wedding in a series of courtyards," Alexandra says. Their main ceremony took place in Casa De Pilatos, a 16th-century Andalusian palace—and they even transformed the carriage house into a “jungle cathedral” that served late-night cocktails amid hundreds of candles for their after-party.
Augusta Hoffman and Jonathan Swygert in Porto Ercole, Italy
Augusta Hoffman and Jonathan Swygert wed at the famed Il Pellicano resort, which is located on the coast of Tuscany. Their wedding had been delayed due to the pandemic—making their destination nuptials that much more meaningful: “It felt like a dream to be in another country with all of our favorite people after such an intense period of being apart. We were so unbelievably grateful just to be there.” Guests drove Fiat Pandas up to a private garden that overlooked the ocean, where the couple exchanged their vows surrounded by olive trees.
Haein Dorin and Giovanni Dorin s Wedding in Lake Como, Italy
“We wanted it to feel like an intimate and luxurious garden party in our own backyard, which was surprisingly very hard to find in Como. But, the second we walked on the property during our venue search, Giovanni and I had goosebumps and knew it was the one,” Haein Dorin says of her and her husband Giovanni s wedding at Villa Regina Teodolinda. Guests arrived via boat to the 18th-century villa, and were greeted by a string quartet as well as Champagne at the jetty.
Rei Kawano and Matthew Yoder’s Wedding in Bali, Indonesia
The L.A.-based couple Rei Kawano and Matthew Yoder wed at the bride s family hotel in Bali. “Growing up I spent every summer and weekend living out of Villa 1009, which I would later use as my bridal dressing room,” Rei explains. On Friday, they held a welcome dinner on a pier overlooking the Indian Ocean: “It almost felt like we were floating on water,” said Rei. The next day, they wed amid thousands of frangipani trees in the resort s Champa Garden.
Yolande Wilson and John Prah s Wedding in Puglia, Italy
Yolande Wilson and John Prah decided to get married in Puglia, Italy—the location of one of the first vacations they had taken as a couple. “We had visited Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast but were drawn to the novelty of Puglia, which for many of our guests who have been to Italy would be their first time visiting,” Yolande says. They exchanged vows at Masseria Amastuola Wine Resort—a historic family-owned farmhouse dating back to the 15th century.
Melissa Jacobs and Austin Landow s Wedding in Antibes, France
Austin Landow proposed to Melissa Jacobs at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France. Afterwards, the couple decided it was exactly where they wanted to get married, too. “The idea of celebrating our marriage with all of our closest family and friends—in one of our favorite places—was so exciting for us,” Melissa says. Their aisle, which was lined with lavender, green, and white flowers, led to a sparkling vista of the Mediterranean Sea.
Carly Cucco and Austin Barnard’s Wedding in Capri, Italy
Carly Cucco and Austin Barnard wed at the UNESCO World Heritage site Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri. “It is an ancient cloister and being there, out of the bustle of Capri, it feels like you’re being transported back in time,” Carly said. “Our ceremony was described by a lot of our guests as ‘heaven on earth.’ The venue is all ancient stone arches and is extremely serene.” A reception followed at Li Galli, a private island originally owned by Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev.
Anisha Patel and Arjun Mehta’s Wedding in Bodrum, Turkey
Anisha Patel and Arjun Mehta wanted to wed in a location that felt like a vacation for their family and friends, eventually settling on the Turkish Riveria. “Bodrum struck us as a place that would be entirely new for many of our guests,” Anisha said. “It has deep historical and cultural roots, stunning scenery, and a very fun vibe.” The bride wore 13 different outfits over their four-day nuptials at the Mandarin Oriental.
Ari Emanuel and Sarah Staudinger’s Wedding in St. Tropez
Ari Emanuel and Sarah Staudinger’s south of France wedding included a welcome party at Sénéquier, a day soirée at iconic beach club Gigi’s, and a sunset ceremony at a private estate where Larry David served as the officiant. Their wedding cake? A gigantic Tarte Tropézienne, the famous dessert of St. Tropez.
Matthew Owens and Michael Lindenberg’s Wedding in Stellenbosch, South Africa
“As soon as we were engaged, we decided that we wanted our wedding to be an opportunity for our friends and family from the States to plan an adventure they’d never forget, so Cape Town and the Winelands made for the perfect destination,” South African native Michael Lindenberg says of his Stellenbosch wedding to Matthew Owens. The couple held all the weekend s events at Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the area.
Gabriella de Givenchy and Ugo de Mallman’s wedding in Capri, Italy
Gabriella de Givenchy and Ugo de Mallman chose Capri for their summer nuptials because “we had such great memories of going there together,” the bride said. Their ceremony was held in the hilltop location of Anacapri, while dinner was held at the famed Lido del Faro where guests dined on gamberi crudi, lobster, tomato pasta, and local sea bream.
Giorgia Gabriele and Andrea Grilli’s wedding in Lake Como, Italy
Giorgia Gabriele and Andrea Grilli wed at Villa Babliano. “Ultimately, our goal was to create a wedding that felt like a party most of the time—full of joy, but always keeping every detail chic and sophisticated,” Gabriele says. The day after the ceremony and reception, lunch was held at the Villa D’Este.
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Shirley Muland and Alexis Houssou’s wedding in Alentejo, Portugal
Shirley Muland and Alexis Houssou wed at L’And Vineyards in Portugal, an all-white hotel surrounded by green vines and a lake. The couple chose the scenic locale after going on a weekend trip to Lisbon. “It was my first time in Portugal, and I fell in love with Lisbon and its surrounding towns,” said Muland. “By the end of the weekend, we decided that Portugal would be the place where we would get married.”
Makeda Saggau-Sackey and Thomas Rabioux s wedding in Poitiers, France
Makeda Saggau-Sackey and Thomas Rabioux held their wedding in Poitiers, France on Labor Day, where they chose Château le Clos de la Ribaudière as their venue. “We wanted to give our guests a taste of Southwestern France,” Saggau-Sackey said. As a nod to their respective heritages, the couple incorporated Ghanaian and French traditions throughout their wedding weekend.
Nicole Warne and Luke Shadbolt’s wedding in Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
Nicole Warne, also known by her Instagram username of Garry Pepper Girl, married her photographer husband on a biodynamic vineyard in New Zealand while wearing Valentino Haute Couture. It was an affair that felt look it took place at the edge of the earth, with sweeping views of Lake Wanaka and bridal party photos taken upon a mountain reachable via helicopter.
Ashley Furnival and Christopher Hench’s Wedding in Joshua Tree, California
Ashley Furnival and Christopher Hench chose a 20-acre ranch in Joshua Tree for their desert wedding under a supermoon. The ceremony took place against a backdrop of the dramatic Pioneer mountains, and the reception’s bar was fashioned out of an old horse trailer. Dancing went on well into the morning.
Emily DiDonato and Kyle Peterson’s wedding in Beaver Creek, Colorado
“It was the perfect combination of rustic elegance with breathtaking views of the mountains,” Emily DiDonato said of her wedding at the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch, where the Rocky Mountains served as a dramatic backdrop. Rather than opt for rustic decor, the couple chose an elegant aesthetic of white flowers and detailing accented with draping greenery.
Louisa and Christofer de la Motte’s wedding in Antigua
The bride wore Dolce Gabbana to wed her financier husband at Antigua’s Mill Reef Club, where the pair had first met three years earlier. The rehearsal dinner took place on the beach, the ceremony overlooked the sea, and a reception was held on a golf green at sunset.
Feiping Chang and Lincoln Li’s wedding in Capri, Italy
Feiping Chang and Lincoln Li held a three-day wedding extravaganza on the Amalfi Coast isle of Capri, which included a welcome dinner at Da Paolini, a day party at Conca del Sogno, and the ceremony and reception at Villa Lysis. “The architecture and the mountaintop location are incredible,” said Feiping. “It also has a romantic, almost mystical history, and holds a lot of sentimental value to the people of Capri.”
Katie Lee and Ryan Biegel’s wedding on the Amalfi Coast
Katie Lee and Ryan Biegel chose the quiet Amalfi town of Nerano for their dolce vita wedding, where a welcome party was held on a sailboat at sunset, the ceremony on a dock out on the crystalline waters, and the reception at local restaurant Lo Scoglio. Naturally, plenty of pizza was served.
Caitlin Mociun and Tammer Hijazi’s wedding in Puglia, Italy
Caitlin Mociun and Tammer’s wedding took place at Il Convento di Santa Maria di Costantinopol, a former convent, turned hotel. The reception was held at a gazebo in a rose garden, and the reception took place by the pool. In a break from tradition, the bride wore a colorful-striped ballgown from Carolina Herrera rather than a classic white dress.
Malin Akerman and Jack Donnelly’s wedding in Tulum
“The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and the first time we saw it in person we fell in love with the boho vibes and gorgeous beach. We knew that having our own private section of the hotel would make our celebration feel even more special,” Malin Ackerman says of why she chose Tulum, the Yucatan Peninsula beach region, for her 2018 wedding. Rob Thomas played for guests while tamales, esquites, and tacos were served up as snacks on the beach.
Morgan Curtis and Thomas Mahl’s wedding in Casares, Spain
Morgan Curtis and Thomas Mahl wed at the Finca Cortesin Hotel in the tiny Andalusian town of Casares, Spain. The reception was held in an olive tree grove where two long wooden overlooked the sea and fairy-light curtains hung from the hotel archways.
Chryseis Tan and Faliq Nasimuddin’s wedding in Kyoto
The service of Chryseis Tan and Faliq Nasimuddin’s Japanese wedding was held by the 800-year old koi pond at the Four Seasons Kyoto. The aisle was lined with pampas grass and flowers in pale pink tones.
Shirley Chen and Nick Haslett’s wedding at Canyon Point, Utah
Shirley Chen and Nick Haslett’s decided to wed Amangiri resort in Utah—a property surrounded by national parks Horsehoe Bend, Bryce Canyon, and Monument Valley—because it was both “both vast and intimate,” said Chen. “It felt immediately true to Nick and me with its minimal, modern architecture set in a timeless, nostalgic landscape. Being there is a bit like feeling at home on Mars.”
Kristen O’Neill and Brett Shapiro’s wedding in Positano, Italy
Kristen O’Neill and Brett Shapiro’s ceremony took place at Villa Treville, the beloved Amalfi coast hotel with a private beach and sweeping views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. “The grounds of the hotel are very natural and lush,” says Krissy. “I wanted the aesthetic for the weekend to reflect that. I didn’t want to transform the space into something it’s not.”
Kyly Zakheim and Ryan Rabin wed in the groom’s home country of South Africa at Londolozi Lodge—a place that doesn’t typically allow weddings. Yet, after promising that they wouldn’t transform Londolozi in any way, the property acquiesced. “The overall aesthetic was to blend seamlessly with the bush and not disrupt the existing ecosystem,” said Zakheim.
Gabriella Campagna and Mario Milana’s wedding in Cali, Colombia
Gabriella Campagna and Mario Milano wed at “La Mañanita,” the bride’s grandparents’ home in Cali, Colombia. “It was honestly the happiest day of my life,” Campagna said of the affair, where they were surrounded by 250 guests. “I was overwhelmed by the love of friends and family that surrounded us.”
Sofía Sanchez Barrenechea and Alexandre de Betak’s wedding in Patagonia, Argentina
Sofía Sanchez Barrenechea and Alexandre de Betak’s Patagonia wedding included a gaucho-inspired picnic at Estancia Arroyo Verde, and a ceremony at the end of the Nahuel Heap Lake. After a wedding breakfast—where guests danced under a light rain—an evening reception was held in a bar adorned with fairy lights.
Nell Diamond and Teddy Wasserman’s wedding in Antibes, France
Nell Diamond and Teddy Wasserman’s cinematic wedding was held at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, arguably the world’s most famous hotel. The ceremony took place in the property’s gardens, where an hour before it began, they had to widen the aisle so the bride’s train would fit.
