Destination weddings are often lambasted as expensive undertakings that drive guests up the wall. But if you know you want to get away for your big day, your guests will be thrilled if you pick an accessible, beautiful location that they can turn into a vacation spot. For a destination wedding that feels romantic to you and relaxing to your guests, you can’t beat these five locations.
The Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains extend across much of the southeastern United States, meaning there are dozens of locations to choose from. You can opt for warm, sunny weather, cool, dry mountain weather, or some midway point between the two. Even better, this destination is still a relatively unknown one, which means you can get married for cheaper than you would at most destinations.
Mexico
Mexico offers hundreds of diverse locations, ranging from tropical forests to cooler mountain ranges. Cancun is far and away from the most popular sport in Mexico for destination weddings, but you can score a sweet deal if you opt for a lesser-known location. And for couples on a budget, small towns in Mexico offers tons of local flair, but at a fraction of the price.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas isn’t just for couples who want to elope. It offers tons of full-service hotels, as well as gorgeous desert scenery just outside the city. If you want a glamorous, modern wedding, you can’t beat Vegas. And if you love the outdoors but are sick of seeing photos of beach weddings, you can get something a bit more stark – and a lot more unique – with desert scenery.
Georgia’s Barrier Islands Craving a beach wedding but don’t want to pay the premium price? Georgia’s barrier islands are a great option, each with its own personality. For the nature lover, Cumberland Island is pristine and quiet, making it the ideal location for a quiet wedding. Prefer a party atmosphere? Tybee Island has loads of bars and plenty of glorious beachfront scenery. The barrier islands are one of the U.S.’s best-kept secrets, which means you can get a shockingly inexpensive wedding filled with luxury.
Napa Valley
For the most sophisticated wedding imaginable, you can’t go wrong with Napa Valley. The gorgeous scenery is the perfect elegant backdrop for all of your pictures, and if you’re a wine devotee, you won’t be disappointed. Meanwhile, your guests can take jaw-dropping, breathtaking tours of wine country while you relax in one of the area’s hundreds of spas.
Take a little time to shop around, and you’ll likely find a package deal that can save you a boatload. For even more savings, consider having your honeymoon at the same location as your wedding. This also makes for a stress-free transition from the reception to the trip of a lifetime.