Top 12 Alternative Destinations for Weddings Abroad

Destination Weddings

Image courtesy of Prague Wedding Planners

When it comes to weddings abroad, the same locations get mentioned over and over again. Starting with the international capital of romance featuring more Elvises than people you know – we’re talking Las Vegas, baby – there are some very much tried-and-true locations being advertised to brides all over the world, most often featuring the sun and sea. Our goal is to take you somewhere a bit more extraordinary – here is our selection of some of the best and most unique places to get wed abroad, for a day unlike anyone else’s.

Please note – as with all weddings abroad, you must check with the relevant authorities whether your marriage ceremony will be recognised in the Republic of Ireland as legally binding.

1. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Image courtesy of Dubrovnik Event

Everyone has heard of Dubrovnik, but many don’t know where it is. A lesser known gem on the Mediterranean, Dubrovnik is the capital city of Croatia, and romantically known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. Just by choosing this unique city, you’ll have a wedding like nobody else’s – and if you’re a bride who loves an adventure, well… this may just be the place for you. Thanks to the mild climate, you can get married there all year round. The Croatians are well-known for their hospitality, so you’re guaranteed the very best welcome and service from start to finish. You should ask your planner to prepare a list of top attractions you should see while you’re there, and we recommend arriving a few days before the wedding, or staying after, to do the tourist thing and take in all the beauty of Dubrovnik.

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Image courtesy of Prague Wedding Planners

Such a gorgeous place and only a short flight away – do give Prague serious considerations. The city is simply stunning, and if you’re really into having beautiful wedding photos, this is the one for you. Because of its location and excellent transport links, there is no better starting point for your European-trek honeymoon – everything is literally just a train-ride away. This is the city for romantics and adventure lovers alike. And, you’ll want to go back there again and again, guaranteed. Prague Wedding Planners tell us that the most popular wedding themes chosen by brides abroad are: fairytale, medieval, garden and historic. And it’s no wonder, because Prague has all that in abundance and more.

3. Austria

Image courtesy of Austrian Wedding

Austria is so beautiful with so much to offer, we’ve had the hardest time picking just one city – so in the end, we didn’t. The interesting thing is that everyone knows about Austria, but hardly anyone ever goes there. Well, you just don’t know what you’re missing. Bill Bryson himself said, and we quote loosely, that should aliens land on Earth, they’d surely think Vienna was the capital city of the whole planet. The country is simply steeped in culture, sophisticated and gorgeous, and the choices for wedding locations are endless. Snow-topped mountains, forests, castles, farmhouses, historic towns like Salzburg (Mozart’s birthplace) or of course – the magnificent Vienna, whatever choice you make, it’ll be a brilliant one. And they seriously love their food too. The planners at Austrian Wedding can help you get married anywhere you wish, and whatever you choose, it’ll be an unforgettable wedding.

4. Tuscany, Italy

Image courtesy of Al Fresco Wedding

A vineyard wedding in Tuscany… just imagine having these words printed on your wedding invitations. Immediately, the mind conjures up the most glorious Italian sunshine, rolling hills covered in ripening grapes, food that’s so heavenly you’ll never want the feast to end… that’s your Tuscan “wine wedding”. The Al Fresco Wedding company has prepared this very special experience for couples wishing for something that tugs at the heartstrings – and the guests will never forget it. There’s a huge variety of locations, like cottages, villas, or historic buildings and you can have the perfect rustic theme to complement the site, or anything else you dream about; it’ll all look stunning in those surroundings. Hundreds of personalisation options are available – just ask. Italy is a country just made for celebrations, with its love of life and all the good things in it.

5. Amalfi Coast, Italy

Image courtesy of The Italian Wedding Event

Be warned – we’ve never met a single person who went to the Amalfi Coast and didn’t want to stay there and never come back. The place is… just amazing. Everywhere you turn, you’ll want to take a picture. Love is in the air. The food – we have no words. Can you get married there? Oh yes! But before you do, you’ll wonder whether to get married in Ravello, or maybe Positano, Sorrento or Capri? The solution is of course – marry in one, and stay on for a few days to see the rest. The Italian Wedding Event planners tell us that the options for locations are endless – a sea-front eaterie, or a five-star gourmet hotel terrace with stunning views? A luxury villa or a cliffside café? Whatever you choose , your wedding will be unforgettable – and we’ll drink to that with a glass of Limoncello of course!

6. Sintra, Portugal

Image courtesy of Algarve Wedding Planners

It’s Lisbon that usually gets all the attention, but just a short distance away lies a hidden gem – Sintra. Getting more tourist attention over the last 10 years, it’s time you had a think about it too, for a perfect fairytale wedding. Algarve Wedding Planners say that the Monserrate Palace (pictured above), located just 4km away from Sintra city centre, is absolutely breathtaking, and offers indoor and outdoor weddings in a variety of spaces, each so stunning, you simply can’t make a wrong decision. Your photos will be impossibly beautiful. The food will have you wishing you could eat like that every day. And of course, your guests will have a most amazing adventure. A wedding with a difference is what Sintra offers.

7. Bentota, Sri Lanka

Image courtesy of Saman Villas

Getting further afield now, this one is for all the couples who want to stay on for the honeymoon. If you think Sri Lanka comes across as all exotic, you’re completely right of course, but don’t forget to throw a little luxury in the mix. Saman Villas, blessed with most incredible views of the Indian Ocean, is set in lush greenery and with access to the best beaches on the coastline. And they know a thing or two about hospitality as well, with top class service and welcoming ambience. For your wedding, you can have everything from dancers and drummers to elephants, or you can have it completely personalised as you wish. While there, you can get to know the local culture, get fantastic souvenirs, take the catamaran down the river, and eat the incredible local food. Getting wed in Sri Lanka is definitely for those who love to expand their horizons through travel – and of course, have those one-of-a-kind stories to tell when they come back.

8. Cuba

Image courtesy of Havanatour-Cuba

“I’m getting married in Cuba!” certainly has a ring to it, doesn’t it! A place unlike any other, bleached by the sun and yet full of colour, Cuba is not just for holidays – it’s a perfect wedding destination for couples seeking something alternative. It’s a Caribbean celebration with a difference, but with guaranteed fun in the sun. The choice of hotels and resorts alone will make you feel like you’re in some kind of a surfing adventure with a Beach Boys soundtrack: Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria, Guardalavaca… choose from all-inclusive packages, or have something completely bespoke – they’ll take care of everything to make sure you feel absolutely perfect. Make sure to see Havana where you can rumba in the street, follow the footsteps of Che Guevara, drink a toast to Hemingway, have a cigar, taste the cuisine, and tour the city in a classic 50s car. What a trip.

9. Rhodes, Greece

Image courtesy of Atrium Hotels, Rhodes

Mamma Mia came out over five years ago, making Greece one of the most popular places to wed,  and its popularity has definitely not wavered in all this time – in fact, it’s done the opposite. What brings couples there? In one word – hospitality. In many other words – the cuisine, the views, and the beaches. Don’t worry about the best place to go – we suggest Rhodes. A perfect destination if you want both the adventure and the leisure, give yourself a star treatment without the star price tag at the Atrium Hotels, at a venue of your choice, with a dedicated coordinator and everything taken care of exactly as you wish. The city of Rhodes has lots to offer so you’ll never be bored – museums, churches, an old Medieval town, beaches, springs, and much more. You’ll be taking photos aplenty – not to mention your wedding photos, which will be absolutely stunning.

10. Costa Blanca, Spain

Image courtesy of Your Dream Wedding in Spain

As with many other European destinations, Spain has a selection of places that everyone goes to – and many more lesser-known ones. Costa Blanca is one of those places. Due to its very mild climate, there’s an average of 300 sunny days a year, so you can have a sunny celebration virtually all year round. A huge choice of venues, from modern to rustic, guarantees that you’ll find the perfect one. The flight is a short one, the food incredible, the ambience fun, and when the time comes to go back home, you’ll be very sorry to leave indeed. If just thinking of a wedding makes you feel stressed, then you can forget all that when you choose Costa Blanca – an intimate celebration with only your closest family and friends is exactly what you can have.

11. Malta

Image courtesy of Dreemz Planners

Where do you get an average of over five hours of sunshine per day, even in December? In Malta, that’s where. Known as the ‘Hidden Gem of the Mediterranean’, your Malta wedding would be all about fun. Whether you want to get to know the local festivals and experience a true spirit of the island, or you want a languid celebration by the sea in the warm breeze, or even something in between, you can certainly have it all. The choice of venues is very wide, a popular one is renting a private villa and have your celebration in the garden, on the terrace, or by the pool. Most brides want to get married by the water, guaranteeing spectacular views, balmy breeze, and fabulous photos. It’s a place where any choice is a good one, and your guests will enjoy it too.

12. Lanzarote, Spain

Image courtesy of Lanzarote Weddings

Think colourful parasols on a sandy beach, with the sun and the breeze while you and the groom exchange vows in front of a lovely group of guests in a luxuriously delightful ceremony – that’s what you’ll get in Lanzarote. Add the sounds of Spanish guitars, the clinking Champagne glasses, followed by a feast of steak, ribs, freshly caught seafood, and local produce. Spend the rest of the evening dancing under the stars late into the balmy night. Sounds good, doesn’t it? And if that isn’t enough, you can continue the celebrations next morning with a swim and a luscious lunch. This is your no-stress wedding – where all you have to do is enjoy yourself.

To find more amazing wedding abroad options, visit our supplier directory!