Top 10 Destinations for Weddings Abroad
Many couples are now heading overseas to get hitched, opting for a more exotic location where they can combine their wedding and honeymoon in one. Whether you’re looking for white-sand beaches, an elaborate château, or even your own private island, there’s a destination to suit everyone.
Here, We Love Weddings Abroad (WLWA) share their top 10 destinations to tie the knot in 2016.
Nihiwatu, Sumba
Located on the island of Sumba, 400 kilometres to the east of Bali – almost entirely preserved from urban development – sits Nihiwatu, an eco-friendly luxury retreat. Sumba’s amazing landscape creates the perfect setting for a truly special wedding, offering stripped-back luxury that no other destination can offer. Although a remote island, Nihiwatu can cater to your every need and offers lush gardens, private infinity pools and stunning ocean views. There are many activities for guests to enjoy, including surfing, diving, fishing, safari excursions and sunset horse riding.
One&Only, Hayman Island
Offering a world of relaxation from the moment you step off your private yacht, we dare you to find anywhere else that offers the luxury of Hayman. With its premier location on the Great Barrier Reef, Hayman Island offers many activities, such as helicopter tours, diving and snorkeling. Choose from a range of wedding packages and options to create a truly bespoke and unforgettable experience. One&Only Hayman Island has a range of beautiful verdant spaces, among landscaped gardens and tropical rainforest and can accommodate wedding showers, bridal lunches and rehearsal dinners, receptions and ceremonies.
The Edge, Bali
Teetering on the southernmost point of the island, The Edge showcases spectacular, uninterrupted views of the ocean. The resort offers a range of outdoor options for your wedding with the most beautiful on a tiered garden. Packages are available from 10 to 150 guests, including food, beverages and accommodation. Make reservations at the resort's spa, which defies gravity by clinging onto the rock face above the sparkling ocean beneath.
The Four Seasons, Bora Bora
Surrounded by an azure lagoon and an impressive barrier reef, there are not many other places that can offer a backdrop as stunning as the one at Bora Bora. The Four Seasons hotel combines everything the Island has to offer – including its exclusive on-the-beach location – in order to give you and your guests the ultimate luxury. The hotel offers space for up to 480 wedding guests, with a host of ways to make your wedding day special, including photograph opportunities in front of an extinct volcano. To keep your guests occupied there are activities including sunset cruises, discovery tours, parasailing, helicopter rides and even a submarine scooter dive.
Velaa Private Island, Maldives
Velaa Private Island offers an entire resort for you and your guests to relax, party and explore from sunrise to sunrise. Overwater houses allow you to step straight into the sparkling lagoon, while the Romantic Pool Residences are accessed only by boat for that extra level of privacy. Guests can enjoy yoga, beach volleyball and an onsite library. Head out on the exclusive Prestige yacht, complete with bedrooms and an onboard chef to create the most memorable honeymoon breakfast.
Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
Cambodia’s first luxury private island resort, Song Saa, spans the islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, which are connected by footbridge. The resort offers tailored wedding packages, encompassing alabaster beaches, rainforests and world-class cuisine. Vows can be exchanged at a number of locations throughout the resort and, afterwards, Song Saa’s overwater restaurant and lounge, provides fantastic fine dining. Full island buyouts cater for 70 guests and staff can arrange everything from a wedding cake to floral arrangements and fireworks.
La Mamounia, Morocco
Just minutes from the bustling medina you'll find Marrakech’s grand dame, La Mamounia. The restored palace combines a number of rooms, suites and riads (private houses). The hotel boasts three superb restaurants and a luxury spa, offering more than 80 treatments including a traditional hammam ritual. Wedding plans are a luxurious and discreet affair, which has made it a hotspot for celebrities. Ceremonies can be conducted within its gardens, covering 17 acres, and receptions are held in the Le Marocain restaurant.
Castello di Vicarello, Tuscany
This secluded 12th-century castle – overlooking the Tuscan countryside – is home to a number of elegantly appointed suites as well as magnificent gardens overflowing with lavender, rosemary and olive groves. For weddings of more than 80 guests, the hotel can arrange a marquee in the gardens, while the two pools offer a sublime setting for a ceremony or buffet.
Gstaad Palace, Switzerland
Searching for a fairytale winter wedding? Look no further than the five-star Gstaad Palace in south-west Switzerland. This incredible alpine retreat is nestled amid the Bernese Alps, offering you and your guests everything from roaring log fires to cosy carriage rides. The hotel features a number of restaurants on site – with the option of private banquets – and spectacular views from every suite. Guests will be kept busy with a vast program of activities, including glacier skiing and hot-air ballooning.
Château de Challain, France
Situated in the beautiful Loire Valley, the 19th-century Château de Challain – replete with vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and grand staircases – guarantees a fairtytale wedding. The château offers a wide rang of services to make your wedding memorable, from talented musicians to live theatre and fireworks, as well as world-class cuisine and easy access to some of France’s finest vineyards. Celebrations can be held in the acres of the garden and in the château itself.
For more information, including wedding packages visit: www.weloveweddingsabroad.com.
