10 Most Unique Wedding Venues in the World

When choosing a wedding venue for our big day, many couples choose to get married in their hometown or their partner’s hometown. But sometimes we cast a wider net and consider a destination wedding. Destination weddings are exciting and exotic, and they also help keep the wedding intimate and low-key. While a local church wedding might have 300 guests, it’s unlikely that 300 people will fly to Europe for your wedding.

Choosing a wedding venue abroad is a great way to cut down on excess and include the people who really matter. But if you’re looking for unique destination wedding venues, here are some great options that will make the wedding itself part of your honeymoon.

10 Most Unique Wedding Venues in the World:

1. Hotel Rangá, Iceland

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Set in the secluded countryside of southern Iceland, the luxurious Hotel Rangá is an elegant and rustic oasis specialising in unique weddings.

Why choose between taking your wedding photos under the crystal clear Gluggafoss waterfall or at the foot of a volcano when you can take a super jeep to both? Get married under the stars, on a glacier or on a beautiful black sand beach and stay in one (or two, why not?) of the wonderfully crazy continental-style master suites at Rangá Hotel.

2. Hedonism II, Negril, Jamaica

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On a white sandy beach is the all-inclusive, adults-only, clothing-optional resort Hedonism II. Weddings and vow renewals are always free, and tuxedos and traditional white gowns are definitely optional. You can opt for a sparkling white bikini and black speedo, or nothing at all.

Wedding packages include a personal wedding planner, choice of venue (white sand beaches, lush tropical gardens or lagoons with waterfalls), minister, marriage license, champagne, wedding cake, flowers and music.

3. In Punta de Mita, Mexico

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Couples looking to tie the knot in an authentic Mexican destination off the beaten track should consider W Punta de Mita, a chic beach resort in Mexico’s desirable and tranquil Riviera Nayarit. The resort is surrounded by lush jungle that stretches along winding, tree-lined paths—so tucked away that guests are escorted to the check-in desk in private tuk tuks decorated with authentic Mexican designs. (One study found that Mexico is the most popular destination for weddings.)

With features like oceanfront suites with private infinity pools, two stunning beachfront pools, a 375-meter jungle spa, and dining options ranging from Jean Georges’ Spice Market to Mesa1—an ultra-exclusive outdoor venue where you can sit under the stars once a day—this vibrant, bohemian beach escape is the perfect setting for an unforgettable, secluded wedding.

4. Casa Palopó, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

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On the shores of Lake Atitlán, in the Guatemalan highlands, a private home has been transformed into a luxury boutique hotel, offering the lake and its magnificent volcanoes as the backdrop for a traditional Mayan wedding. Casa Palopó invites couples to tie the knot with a Mayan shaman-led wedding ceremony, followed by a personalized Mayan shaman blessing.

The ceremony can be held outdoors on lush green grass, amidst magical views of three volcanoes and indigenous villages across the shore. Or, for more traditional couples, there is an elegant chapel just atop a hill near the hotel.

Back at the hotel, the newlyweds and their guests can enjoy an intimate candlelight reception. Casa Palopó offers wedding packages for up to 100 guests, which include accommodations, hotel transfers, food and beverages, ceremony, reception, party set-up, décor, music, floral arrangements and photography.

5. Aruba Marriott Resort, Aruba

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Those looking for an exotic Caribbean beach wedding venue need look no further than the Aruba Marriott Resort. Here, couples’ wedding dreams come to life with barefoot beach ceremonies under the native Kunuku gazebo or in an extravagant ballroom overlooking the beach, with cocktails served in coconut shells at the reception.

Couples getting married at the Aruba Marriott Resort now have the option to bring all of their guests along to their wedding with a new live streaming service. Whether it’s just the ceremony or a few minutes in the bridal suite while guests get ready, the ceremony and parts of the reception, this service is an addition to the resort’s a la carte wedding menu.

6. Kilkea Castle Hotel Resort and Golf Club, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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Kilkea Castle is a 12th century fortress and estate that has been transformed, now combining medieval history with modern luxury in a magical castle. It is a great place for couples, as the castle team take care of everything from make-up and hair to horse-drawn carriages. But it is also a great place for guests to enjoy a real holiday on site (golf, tennis, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, archery, falconry) and the couple’s wedding.

7. Palace Hotel Tokyo, Japan

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Located in the heart of Tokyo’s Maranouchi district, with sweeping views of the surrounding Imperial Palace gardens, planning a wedding at the Palace Hotel Tokyo is easy. The hotel has six different wedding venues: two ceremony venues, including a Japanese Shinto shrine and a beautiful chapel with a thin arch of hand-woven metal rods, and four ballrooms.

The hotel also offers a personalized “Vera Wang Wedding Package,” which includes a wedding dress from the Vera Wang Bridal boutique in Ginza, as well as catering, a wedding cake, beauty stylists, a photographer, floral arrangements and accommodation in a hotel suite.

8. Anam Cam Ranh, Vietnam

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Anam has hosted intimate and large wedding ceremonies on its expansive lawn overlooking a pristine stretch of beach. For weddings, the resort sets up an arch adorned with fresh flowers, as well as walkway decorations and chairs against a backdrop of turquoise waters and dramatic headlands. Considering that Cam Ranh averages over 300 days of sunshine a year, there’s a good chance that your big day will be a clear, blue sky.

The resort’s planners take care of all the essentials of a wedding, including a cake, sparkling wine and a MC for the cocktail reception and dinner, with the option of a large formal dinner in the resort’s elegant ballroom. Multiple venues include reflecting pools and paved paths.

9. Mantra Samui Resort, Thailand

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Tucked away in the jungle overlooking Bophut Beach, Mantra Samui Resort provides couples with a tropical backdrop for their nuptials, without the sandy implications. The resort’s outdoor pool deck can be transformed into a ceremony space, filled with tropical blooms and stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand.

The Thai ceremony includes a blessing of water by holy monks and a traditional long drum procession through a silver and gold gate. Prices include planning services with a wedding planner, ceremony, flowers, a romantic private rooftop dinner, bride’s hair and makeup, spa treatments for two, wedding cake and a bottle of champagne, breakfast for the couple and airport transfers.

10. Hotel Kakslauttanen Igloo Village, Finland

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Hotel Kakslauttanen is located on the road to the Arctic Sea, close to Urho Kekkonen National Park, in one of the purest natural environments you will ever visit. Looking for a real northern adventure? Spend the night in one of the snow igloos.

“Get married at the Ice Chapel or Pine Chapel, arriving by reindeer carriage. For lodging, opt for your own personal igloo; probably the most unique part of the hotel, where you can watch the Northern Lights through a glass ceiling. The rustic-chic cabins are made of kelp pines and include a fireplace and sauna,” Semeniouga says.

So, do everything you can to make your big day special. Hopefully, you’ll only have one. On the bright side, research from the University of Virginia shows that the bigger the wedding, the happier the marriage.

Alice Walansky is a New York-based lifestyle writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work regularly appears in dozens of digital and print publications.