Nearly one out of five couples choose to have a destination wedding, according to a recent study by The Knot. If you’re one of them, you’re probably discovering that it’s a bit challenging to find a resort that will be meaningful to you and your spouse-to-be while also pleasing your guests, especially if they’ll be traveling quite a distance. To help you narrow down your options, these properties are all ideal, sure to please all from the ceremony to post-events, whether you’re looking for something closer to home or far-flung and exotic.
Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo - Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo offers some of the best beachfront accommodations in Costa Rica, as it’s especially popular for weddings and honeymoons in Guanacaste. There is a myriad of options for a one-of-a-kind wedding with comprehensive destination wedding services available, and the bay-facing gazebo is a fabulous spot to say your “I dos.” Your guests are sure to enjoy the many offerings here, including three farm-to-table eateries, a spa with indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, an adults-only pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and complimentary use of snorkeling equipment, standup paddleboards, kayaks, and electric bikes. The spacious suites include balconies with options for bay views and high-end amenities. Some have private plunge pools.
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora - Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
It’s hard to beat Bora Bora for stunning tropical beauty and Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora offers the ultimate in luxurious South Pacific stays while offering special wedding packages too. Whether you’re looking to say your “I dos” on the sand or in an enchanting chapel, it offers a jaw-dropping setting for romance, complete with an infinity pool, lagoon sanctuary, water sports, and a spa with relaxation lounges. Plus, there are overwater bungalows that are perfect for your honeymoon.
Turtle Bay - Kahuku, Oahu
One of the best places to stay on Oahu’s north shore, Turtle Bay is renowned for its romantic setting and wide range of luxuries. It’s an ideal spot for a dream wedding in paradise with romance packages, wedding services, and a glass-walled chapel that can accommodate up to 70 guests. This is the only resort on the island where you can watch sunrise and sunset, and couples can enjoy many special experiences, like a coconut lava shell massage for two with a bottle of champagne. There are two ocean-view pools, hot tubs, a luxurious spa, and multiple restaurants and bars. Activity options include kayaking, canoeing, biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Accommodation is in standard rooms, beach cottages, and ultra-luxe villas with jaw-dropping ocean views, most of which have lanai doors that open to patios.
Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort - Bali, Indonesia
Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort boasts a stunning cliffside setting, and it even includes a clifftop wedding chapel. The romance honeymoon package includes massages, rose petals, private dining on the cliff, and more. Plus, you and your guests will enjoy access to oceanfront pools, a spa, hair and nail services, wellness programs, healing therapies, and healthy but delicious cuisine. The accommodation options are impressive, with romantic suites, pool villas, and townhouses. The duplex penthouse definitely makes this a honeymoon-worthy Bali resort, complete with a private pool and sundeck.
Half Moon - Montego Bay, Jamaica
Half Moon Montego Bay is a favorite among couples looking for a wedding with a setting that truly mesmerizes. And this Jamaican resort is unbelievable. There are various packages available for intimate to large weddings with wedding planners that can help you with the layout, decor, trusted vendors, and more. It has an astounding 30 different wedding venues to choose from, too, including its famous Sunset Beach Gazebo. Everyone will appreciate the gorgeous pools, idyllic beaches, the incredible Fern Tree Spa, and the excellent dining and drinking options. There’s an 18-hole golf course and a kid’s club, while rooms have king-size poster beds and options for huge whirlpool tubs and ocean-view balconies.
Jade Mountain Resort - Mamin, St. Lucia
One of the most romantic resorts in the Caribbean, Jade Mountain Resort is ultra-luxurious and has just 29 suites. It’s ideal for those seeking more privacy. The resort only hosts a maximum of one wedding per day to ensure that it’s extra special, and couples can choose their own spot to celebrate, like the Jade Mountain Club. The property has its own private beach, an infinity pool, and a spa. A variety of wedding packages are available that include a dedicated wedding coordinator, a wedding cake, and many other features, while rooms have magnificent four-poster beds and bathrooms with whirlpool tubs along with outdoor living spaces featuring plunge pools.
Iberostar Grand Bávaro - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Iberostar Grand Bávaro is an all-inclusive Punta Cana resort right next to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island – Bavaro, the main beach in Punta Cana. Weddings here are popular as everything can be customized, and up to 160 guests can be accommodated with just one wedding hosted per day. The property offers a wide range of amenities, including a two-level spa, three gorgeous pools, four restaurants, several bars, and centers of activities, including scuba diving and sailing. There are 270 rooms and a dozen ocean-view suites with beachy decor, ultra-comfy beds with luxurious linens, and bathrooms with jetted tubs.
Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton - Key West, Florida
If you like the idea of the tropics but need a more convenient location where not everyone who attends your wedding will need a passport, consider Casa Marina Key West – one of the best resorts in the Florida Keys. It sits on a tranquil stretch of beachfront and also offers beautifully manicured lawns with swaying palms, oceanfront pools, a wide range of water sports, a spa, multiple restaurants and bars, and spacious rooms with furnished balconies that face the ocean. The resort will be happy to arrange your beach wedding for up to 300 guests, and you’ll also have the option for a private ballroom reception.
Wailea Beach Resort - Wailea, Maui
Wailea Beach Resort is one of the most luxurious resorts in Maui, located on the sunny south shore. An oceanfront hotel, it offers full wedding services with the opportunity to exchange vows with a magnificent Maui sunset as the backdrop for a fairytale-like ceremony. There are four beautiful pools, including a serene adults-only infinity pool, multiple dining options, and a spa with signature treatments like the Hawaiian-inspired Lomi Lomi massage. The spacious junior or one-bedroom suites with private balconies with dazzling ocean views are ideal for honeymooners
Mykonos Blu - Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos Blu is a five-star property in spectacular Mykonos, known for its whitewashed Cycladic architecture, cosmopolitan vibe, party scene, and magnificent sandy beaches. Popular for weddings and honeymoons, couples have a wide range of venue choices, from private villas and poolside settings to sun-kissed sands. A variety of wedding packages are available with inclusions like white rose bouquets, a wedding cake, sparkling wine, and photographs too. Look forward to jaw-dropping sea views, VIP-level privacy, and a stunning two-level infinity pool built into the resort’s cavern. Newlyweds can stay in one of the waterfront bungalows with romantic beds and ceilings with cloud effects that bring the Cycladic sky indoors.
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Cape is an ultra-chic luxury boutique Los Cabos hotel with sweeping ocean vistas throughout and catering to those with high-end taste. Couples can enjoy everything from a formal, modern celebration to romantic sunset weddings on the sands of Monuments Beach, while up to 180 guests can be catered to. Nearly everything can be customized, including the menu, which is sure to please all with world-class gastronomic offerings. The property includes a full-service spa with hot and cold plunge pools, cabanas along the oceanfront, a glass-enclosed cocktail and cigar lounge, and multiple upscale eateries. For the ultimate honeymoon stay, book a villa with butler service, private hot tubs, optional plunge pools, and afternoon cocktails.
The Brando - Arue, French Polynesia
Located on the private atoll of Tetiaroa, a cluster of French Polynesian islands about 30 miles north of Tahiti, The Brando is an all-inclusive romantic resort ideal for a traditional Tahitian ceremony. There are few more romantic spots than a ceremony by the breathtaking lagoon, and every detail will be taken care of for you. Afterward, celebrate by sipping champagne as you watch the glorious colors of the sunset wash over turquoise waters. Accommodation is in private villas, with huge bedrooms, outdoor tubs, and terraced decking leading to private plunge pools. They sit on the pristine white sands frequented by exotic birds and sea turtles.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa - Poipu Beach, Kauai
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is one of the most luxurious resorts on lush Kauai and offers a variety of wedding venues, including the beach and a beautiful garden with sweeping views of the Pacific. It’s ideal for everything from rehearsal dinners, which can be enjoyed at the twice-weekly luaus, to the reception with fantastic banquet options, including lobster tails and Alaskan king crab. There are sand-bottomed pools, a lavish spa with treatments that can instantly melt stress away, and outstanding restaurants serving everything from Italian to Hawaiian fare. The upscale rooms feature a long list of amenities, including private balconies, some of which boast ocean views.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas - St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas offers unspoiled beaches and a dazzling aquamarine sea, providing an especially romantic setting for saying your vows. Expert event planning and catering services are offered with venue options, including the cliffside gazebo, the beach, or even aboard a catamaran. One of the best resorts in the Virgin Islands, the hotel overlooks Great Bay on the east coast and includes multiple oceanfront restaurants serving authentic Caribbean cuisine with a focus on fresh seafood. The spa provides decadent treatments, with the Stress Relief Massage being a favorite, while every room has at least a partial ocean view. Book one of the Presidential or Executive suites. The Presidential suites come with a bathroom with a huge soaking tub and two showers.
