Travel can be one of the strongest activities which bonds a couple’s love, creating lifelong memories together. It’s not surprising that travel lovers often choose to commemorate their unique love in a unique place – one that may be linked to their fondest travel experiences. If you’re looking for a truly original destination wedding venue, we’ve got some of the best across the globe which will bring to life the magic of Arabian Nights, awaken the spirit of colonial Mexico or take you from the most amazing deserted beaches, via the fields of New Zealand, all the way up to the highest peaks of the Alps.
History Lovers – Quinta Quebrada in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Nestled in the hills of central Mexico, in one of the country’s prettiest cities, you can take a romantic trip back in time at Quinta Quebrada. This vast enchanting home, filled with curiosities, is an exceptional wedding location for history lovers, a true gem offered Pamela H. Murdock Inc.
The center of San Miguel de Allende (a 1.5 hour drive from the Leon airport) has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site thanks to its well preserved colonial era graceful plazas, baroque churches and grand mansions; Quinta Quebrada being the most famous of these opulent casas. This imposing and yet charming 16th century house, hidden behind tall stone walls, has 13,864 sq. ft. of living space on three floors and beautifully landscaped grounds covering almost one acre. The house has a capacity of 200 for the reception and sleeps 22.
“The wonderful staff of 10+ (more are hired for special events) are very used to having large parties and will ensure that everything is taken care of seamlessly,” says Pamela Murdock who’s stayed at the hacienda and knows the owner’s well.
“The house has been the site of many weddings even before ‘destination weddings’ became popular. The ceremony can either take place at a nearby church or at the house itself. If it’s at a church, mojigangas (giant dancing puppet figures) can be hired to lead the wedding procession back to the house.”
Pamela can work with you to arrange exactly what you’re looking for from cocktail receptions to seated dinners or lunches and from fireworks to mariachis and globos (sky lanterns), in addition to the regular wedding necessities like flowers, hair & makeup and photographers.
To find out more about this curious, historic mansion, contact Pamela H. Murdock Inc here.
Culture vs. Beach – Amara Ocean Resort, Myanmar
It can be tricky to find a destination which pleases both culture and beach lovers, a task achieved beautifully at Amara Ocean resort in offbeat Myanmar.
Set on three kilometers of virgin beach on the Bay of Bengal, the resort features 26 70 sq. m. teak bungalows each with a 40 sq. m. terrace with spectacular views of the sea and the Rakhine Mountains. Its size and extremely discrete location, with no other resort or hotel within miles, makes for the perfect beach destination wedding for you and your guests to enjoy a memorable holiday with cultural twists.
The resort works closely with the local community and can arrange an array of cultural activities allowing you to have first hand insight into Myanmar’s history and culture like walks in the neighboring village, visits to traditional pagodas or to a colourful Burmese market, custom clothes made by a trusted tailor. Guests seeking to kick back and relax can lounge by the pool or be pampered with an outdoor massage at their spa.
Your wedding can be a chic yet relaxed affair with elegantly decorated, candlelit tables next to the beach with the waves gently crashing the background. The meal can feature tasty local specialties, or a mix of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, highlighting fresh fish and shellfish, as well as home-grown fruits and vegetables from their own organic garden.
Bring culture and the beach together in this perfect marriage for your wedding day by reaching out the Amara Oceanh.
Nature Lovers – Touch of Spice Te Hihi Estate, New Zealand
Nature Lovers – Touch of Spice Te Hihi Estate, New ZealandNew Zealand has some of the world’s most spectacular scenery and you don’t even have to go far from the city to track it down, like at the Te Hihi Estate by Touch of Spice.
Here you’ll have 92 acres of awe-inspring countryside all to yourselves on this exclusive luxury retreat, situated only a 30-minute drive from Auckland airport.
The country-chic homestead is organized with an open plan living and dining area fitted with large windows, taking in ample light. The billiard room provides a secondary location and has a billiard table, bar and media suite. For overnight guests the homestead has for four deluxe bedrooms for eight and Touch of Spice can assist with other accommodation in the area for other guests.
Spend your days before or after the wedding exploring the natural surroundings of the homestead or relaxing on site at its 15m heated swimming pool with large deck area including a Jacuzzi, bar and BBQ area; complete with open wood fire and covered dining area.
“All facilities of the vast property are immaculately designed to the highest standard,” explains Touch of Spice founder and C.E.O. Jacqui Spice. “The homestead can comfortably accommodate 120 for cocktails and canapes and 60 for a sit down meal. The private courtyard to the rear of the billiard room is also suitable for a more intimate function. Alternatively, there are a variety of stunning locations on the property which are ideal for setting up a marquee for up to 200 guests.”
Start organizing your wedding at this unique venue by reaching out to Touch of Spice at this link.
White Wedding – Ultimate Luxury Chalets Private Enclave, French Alps
The ultimate white wedding can be exquisitely arranged by Ultimate Luxury Chalets at their private enclave in the posh French ski resort of Val d’Isere. This exceptional location offers complete intimacy for you and around 65 guests spread over five luxurious alpine chalets.
The enclave consists of four chalets which sleep 10-14 and then the larger Le Chardon which sleeps 20. These exquisite winter retreats blend mountain coziness with supreme comfort, featuring carefully selected materials from Travertino marble to 200-year-old reclaimed wood. The large size and excellent common rooms of the chalets naturally create the ideal space for multigenerational families or groups of friends coming together for the special day.
After a day on the slopes of the Espace Killy, warm up in front of a toasty fireplace or rest your sore muscles in the hot tub on your private terrace accompanied by a glass of champagne. Then make your way inside to feast on international and local specialities prepared by your private chef with a phenomenal view of the Manchet Valley.
Ultimate Chalets also has relationships with a network of wedding specialists based in the local area including a humanist celebrant who can perform the ceremony directly onsite or in a pre-selected outdoor location, a photographer, a florist, a hairstylist and an artisanal wedding cake designer.
To ski your way to the altar, contact Ultimate Luxury Chalets here.
Enchanting Arabian Nights – Kensington Marrakech Villas, Morocco
Marrakech is the perfect definition of a sumptuous and exotic destination to set your wedding, plus, since it’s like an extravagant oasis in the middle of the desert where you can perfectly combine luxury with rustic adventure. Kensington Luxury Properties can help you conceive the perfect destination wedding hosting anywhere from your closest family and friends to 500 guests.
Marrakech is a destination which enlivens the senses. For more than a thousand years, it’s been a crossroad between Europe and Africa. The gorgeous red city has streets are lined with olive and palm trees, vibrant markets and tall walls hiding the most magnificent gardens… a place which can transform your special day into an enchanting Arabian Nights’ tale.
Inside one of Kensington’s prestigious villas surrounded by lush gardens and the Atlas Mountains as a backdrop, with sun and warmth all year long, you could not dream of more.
An excellent option for a mid-sized destination wedding is their Jnane Fiestan Villa, a gorgeous property which can accommodate up to 85 people in a closed and private location. For smaller groups, they have an excellent selection of villas of all sizes and price ranges, but all with a very high standard quality of amenities and services and for larger groups, they have several villas which are found within close proximity of each other. The decor can vary from traditional North African luxury to sleek contemporary, however, it always has some local Moroccan flare. Most villas include private pools and many have their own in-house hammams and others their own tennis courts and other facilities.
They can also provide professional assistance with event planner and can assist you in your planning thanks to their exclusive contact list to secure the best of Marrakech for your wedding.
For more information about reserving one or more of these villas, see Kensington Luxury Properties’ profileh.
Design & Divine Beach – Luna2, Bali
Travel to one of the most stylish beaches in the world for your ultra hip design wedding at Luna2 private hotel. It was the first design hotel on Bali’s Seminyak beach and was key in putting this destination on the map.
Luna2 is the ultimate wedding destination, since the private hotel has five bedrooms, guests get the whole place to themselves. Plus, Luna2 studiotel is just a few steps away and offers 14 open-plan studios and an unparalleled playground of venues, ideal for destination weddings.
Bali is an excellent location to celebrate that special moment and the exclusivity of Luna2 where you can be surrounded by your close-knit group family and friends for an intimate, avante-garde beachfront affair.
The Luna2 creative team can work with you to come up with a unique ceremony for up to 40 guests. This could include a wedding bale with white lace & fresh flower decoration, large flower arrangements and bouquets, frangipani petals scattered at wedding altar & flower confetti, a celebrant & certificate of commitment and elegant chairs for the ceremony.
Then their award winning chefs will delight your guests with inventive local or international cuisine. This usually involves a one-hour cocktail reception, with a choice of four canapes, a four-course degustation dinner and four-hours of free-flow soft drinks, juices and imported mineral water.
The sky – and the beach – are the limit at Luna2. Design your ideal day with their team.