Swoon-worthy wedding destinations for your big day

Ideal for elopements and intimate ceremonies, Ibiza offers laid-back island vibes and golden hour glitz in spades. Home to many secluded coves, this island is not short of places to celebrate your love. Tie the knot with the sound of the Mediterranean sea lapping gently against the sun-soaked, paper white sand with the last rays of the day casting a rich, honey glow over you and your loved ones. Choose boho add-ons such as acoustic guitar playing, eco-friendly floral arrangements and a sunset dinner to make the day even more special.

Then, check into one of Ibiza's top hotels to enjoy your wedding night and even add on a few days of holiday to recover from the pre-wedding stress. Hop on a yacht to explore the coast, shop for interesting finds at the flea markets, or simply enjoy the comfort of the hotel and indulge in poolside cocktails and spa treatments. Whatever you choose for your big day, Ibiza is one of the best wedding destinations for soulful, free-spirited lovebirds.

Why choose between a wedding and a honeymoon when you can have both in one impossibly dreamy location? The Maldives, with its sugar-white sands, crystal-clear lagoons, and castaway-chic villas, is the ultimate destination wedding location for a picture-postcard celebration of love. Imagine saying your vows, barefoot beneath swaying palms before slipping straight into post-nuptial bliss with candlelit coastal dinners, sunrise snorkelling adventures and top-notch spa rituals designed for two. With luxury resorts like the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives, it is easy to enjoy wedding packages that blend romance and indulgence so that you arrive and depart floating on cloud 9. If you are looking for an all-in-one destination that feels effortlessly elegant, the Maldives is the ticket. 

For some couples, butterflies in the stomach go hand in hand with a shot of adrenaline. If you are one to mix heart-stirring romance and wide-eyed adventure, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cappadocia, delivers a love story like no other. Imagine a mountaintop wedding surrounded by honeycombed hills and ancient cave dwellings where you exchange vows as hot air balloons soar into the candyfloss sky. 

Once you have tied the knot, hike the surreal landscape to explore fairy chimneys and secret valleys and at night, toast to forever as you indulge in Anatolian cuisine under the stars. Of course, your Cappadocia wedding can’t all be an adventure. This intimate destination wedding wouldn’t be complete without checking into one of Cappadocia’s top hotels for some well-deserved R&R and spa treatments.

Certain bragging rights come with saying you got married in Aruba. Barceló Aruba provides the ideal backdrop for a beachfront wedding in Aruba. With personalised service, a dedicated wedding planning team, and complimentary honeymoon accommodation for the newlyweds, it offers everything needed for a seamless and unforgettable celebration.

If a sun-drenched celebration with a touch of island flair is on your wishlist, Aruba knows exactly how to deliver. Tucked in the southern Caribbean, this breezy paradise offers golden beaches, cerulean seas and a laid-back charm that sets the stage for an effortlessly elegant wedding. Sink your feet into the warm, buttercream sand as you say “I do” beneath swaying palms and then dine al fresco as steel drums play into the night. When it comes to wedding destinations, Aruba brings out all the stops. Think bespoke beach ceremonies, barefoot receptions, and sunset sails for two, all with a warm island welcome. It’s romance wrapped in tropical luxury. 

For couples seeking a Caribbean escape with a deeper meaning, the Riviera Maya offers more than your usual beachfront celebration. Here, ancient Mayan culture[1]  is still very much present in local life. Mexico offers an array of wedding hotels, from the sun-drenched shores of the Riviera Maya to the dramatic coastline of the Pacific. Couples can choose beachfront venues like Barceló Maya Beach or Occidental Costa Cancún, or swap the Caribbean for the Pacific and enjoy scenic views at Barceló Karmina. For those seeking a religious ceremony, options such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel at Barceló Maya Grand Resort make it easy to combine tradition with a tropical setting.

Yet, in the Riviera Maya, there is also the possibility to mix local culture into your love story. Here, whether you get married at a resort hotel or a hacienda, your wedding can include a traditional Mayan ceremony led by a local shaman, complete with blessings, incense, and sacred chants beneath a jungle canopy or beside a cenote. This sacred Mayan ritual honours the four elements with flowers, offerings, and symbolic gestures to bless the couple’s union, culminating in the exchange of vows within a sugar-drawn circle and the gifting of the Popol Vuh, the Mayan Bible. It’s a powerful, spiritual experience that connects your union to centuries of tradition. Paired with luxurious resorts, vibrant Mexican cuisine, and golden Caribbean sunsets, the Riviera Maya is a timeless, tropical and exotic place to get married..

Where else to spend the first day of the rest of your lives together than Dubai? The city’s modern, future-focused outlook makes Dubai one of the most sought-after wedding destinations for couples. Whether you are tying the knot, renewing your vows, or planning the perfect honeymoon, Dubai’s luxury hotels are the top choice. Here, your wildest dreams are possible. From beachfront resorts to lavish ballrooms, couples seeking a high-end celebration will be spoiled for choice with opulence and innovation at every turn. Hotels such as the Dukes, The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, offer wedding planner services, helping take the stress off the couple's shoulders by organizing every detail for a perfect day. Of course, aside from the glitz and glamour, Dubai is also home to Emirati traditions such as henna ceremonies and oud-infused rituals that add a rich layer of meaning to your special day. So, if you are looking for luxury destination wedding venues, you may just find what you are looking for in the United Arab Emirates.

If the idea of a desert wedding appeals, but you don’t fancy the cosmopolitan city of Dubai, Marrakech, Morocco, could be the unique wedding destination you have been looking for. Hotels such as the Barceló Palmeraie Oasis Resort offer wedding planner services and inspiring spaces to make your big day as dreamy as possible. Or alternatively, hold your ceremony at the hotel, then journey out to the Agafay Desert or even further to the golden dunes of Merzouga for a celebration like no other. Imagine celebrating your love against a backdrop of endless golden sand, Bedouin-style tents, lanterns flickering in the sand, and a blanket of stars above. This magical setting offers a dream wedding destination for those looking for an alternative to a traditional ceremony. Add Moroccan touches such as a mint tea ceremony and Gnawa music before diving into a wedding feast of tagine and baklava. 

If you dream of a winter wedding from the pages of a fairytale, Budapest offers a magical setting where romance meets old-world charm. Picture saying “I do” in a snow-dusted city filled with grand architecture, twinkling lights, and the soft glow of candlelit receptions. The wedding planners at the Barceló Budapest can turn your vision into reality. From elegant ballrooms decorated just how you like, to intimate ceremonies overlooking the Danube on the hotel’s Sky Bar, there are many ways to bring your winter city wedding to life. After the ceremony, guests can warm up with mulled wine and Hungarian delicacies, while you take your wedding photos beneath the city’s famous Chain Bridge or with the panoramic views from Fisherman’s Bastion. A winter wedding in Budapest is nothing short of spellbinding.

Yes, it is possible to get legally married abroad as a British citizen, but it depends on the laws of the destination country. For instance, legal marriages in places like Cyprus or Gibraltar, as well as Denmark and in some parts of the Caribbean are recognized in the UK if proper documentation is provided. However, in countries like Spain or Mexico, British nationals generally cannot marry legally unless they are residents. This is why many couples opt for a civil ceremony in the UK and a symbolic celebration abroad. Always check local regulations and consult your wedding planner or embassy.