The best places to get married in 2026

Who hasn't dreamed of saying "I do" on a tropical beach or in an exciting, faraway city? The best places to get married around the world hit the sweet spot between bucket-list travel and once-in-a-lifetime romance. But which destinations top the wedding list in 2026? Let's find out!  

Firstly, there are a few things to consider when planning a destination wedding overseas. Hosting your wedding abroad can impact your budget and the number of guests who can attend. You'll also need to consider the transport arrangements for guests, the availability of rooms and plane tickets, the climate, and the local visa rules and legal requirements for wedding ceremonies.

In theory, it's possible to get married almost anywhere, but it's usually easiest in a destination where people have experience of hosting weddings for overseas visitors. There's a reason so many people get married in Italy, Spain and the Caribbean. With the legal complexities, some couples choose to tie the knot in their home countries, and then throw the big party overseas afterward. 

But don't let that deter you from planning a destination wedding somewhere you've always wanted to travel. Weddings abroad have been inspired by everything from the opening of dream hotels to "I've always wanted to try that" activities and settings from much-loved films and TV shows – a trend set to continue in 2026.  

If you're planning an intimate wedding with just a few close relatives and friends, you can be more ambitious than couples who plan to bring the whole clan. But whichever camp you fall into, here are some of the best places to get married around the world in 2026. 

1. Ko Samui, Thailand

When to plan your wedding: The December to April dry season is the best time to get married in Ko Samui, coinciding with the best beach weather in Thailand. However, Ko Samui sees lots of warm, dry days even during the monsoon.
Getting there: Flights run to Ko Samui from Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong, meaning easy connections for guests flying from further afield.

The first two seasons of HBO’s anthology TV series The White Lotus led to a surge in visitor numbers to Hawaii and Sicily, and the 2025 season, filmed primarily at the Four Seasons resort in Ko Samui, is prompting a similar surge in interest in tropical Ko Samui. With balmy temperatures, spectacular seafood, palm-fringed beaches and reasonable costs, this island in southern Thailand is an ideal destination for a destination wedding abroad. 

“Ko Samui is the perfect destination for couples who are looking for a more secluded, quiet location while still having the opportunity to celebrate with beachfront weddings or ocean views,” says Wannida Kasiwong, founder of Wonders & Weddings. “The weather here is different from the rest of the country – the weather is still nice during the middle of the year, while it is monsoon season in Phuket and Krabi.”

Ko Samui is also a great destination for activities. “Nearby are famous Ko Pha-Ngan, known for wellness and relaxation, and Ko Tao, one of the best places in Thailand to dive,” Kasiwong explains. And there’s plenty to explore within the bounds of Ko Samui if you fancy a change from the beach, from visiting beautiful temples such as Wat Phra Yai to hiking to tropical waterfalls and visiting the island's ethical Elephant Sanctuary.

2. Marseille, France

When to plan your wedding: The warm, almost cloudless summer is the most popular time to visit Marseille, but if you plan a destination wedding here, your guests will appreciate the milder weather from March to May and late September to October.
Getting there: Marseille's busy airport receives flights from everywhere, with plenty of budget airline options. Easy train connections from across Europe will add some bonus romantic overland travel to your trip.

Marseille had a starring role in the 2024 Olympics as the host of the sailing competitions, for which the city received significant investment. Since then, France's second city has gone from strength to strength, and 2026 is a great time to enjoy the romantic waterfront that made the Provençal capital famous. 

Proudly emerging from Paris’ shadow, France’s second city is attracting an increasingly stylish following, thanks to its growing prominence in the fashion world. This is the hometown of Instagram’s favorite designer, Simon Porte Jacquemus, and it was the setting for Chanel’s Cruise 2025 show. The port city also has an exciting international vibe, thanks to thriving communities from Italy, Algeria, Morocco and beyond. It's a great choice for anyone planning a wedding abroad with a touch of glamor. 

“This is a melting pot of culture and has a strong identity that reflects in architecture, music and cuisine,” says Mélodie Jay, wedding planner at Julie & Romeo Wedding France. However, it pays to give some thought to the Mediterranean climate. “Don’t underestimate the heat during summer – it can easily reach 35°C (95°F)," Jay advises. "Plan your ceremony later in the day. Provide shade, fans and drinks, too.”

For venues, couples can choose between grand hotels in the city and traditional mas (farmhouses) and châteaux in the surrounding countryside, many within an hour of the airport. But be aware that some venues aren’t available for private rental during July and August. The spring and fall see lower prices and better availability. 

3. Marrakesh, Morocco

When to plan your wedding: The North African climate is the key factor when deciding the best time to visit Marrakesh. Smart travelers avoid the cold winter and the scorching heat of summer, planning a wedding in Morocco for the milder months from March to May and September to October.
Getting there: Flights from across the world serve Marrakesh's Menara Airport, including regular connections from cities across Europe with Easyjet.

Morocco had a turbulent time in 2023, with the Atlas Mountains earthquake causing damage even in the heart of Marrakesh. But the city is bouncing back with vigor, restoring damaged historic buildings to their former grandeur and opening up new luxury hotels and flight routes to tempt back visitors to the atmospheric Djemaa El Fna marketplace and Marrakesh's gorgeous gardens.

“Couples who want to get married in Marrakesh are seeking adventure, to discover new culture, to see something different, and also to bring their families all together,” says Siham Rchidi, founder of La Perle Bespoke Events.

And beyond the bustling lanes of the Medina, Marrakesh offers couples a diverse range of scenery to escape to, from the verdant Atlas Mountains to the rolling dunes of the Agafay Desert. “In one hour, you can be in a different landscape and discover beautiful views,” Rchidi explains.

This means you can choose a variety of settings for your rehearsal dinners, pre-wedding brunches, post-wedding meals and activities, and indeed for the ceremony itself. But consider the desert climate. “We don’t recommend July and August, because the temperature is very high, and then in December, in the evenings, it’s very chilly,” Rchidi says.

4. The Portuguese Riviera

When to plan your wedding: Portugal's climate is influenced by both Mediterranean and Atlantic weather systems – the summer sees great weather for a beach wedding on the Portuguese Riviera, with enticing temperatures on land and in the water. 
Getting there: Lisbon is inexpensive to reach by air or rail from all over Europe, with global connections to bring in wedding guests from all over the world. Easy transfers by local train will get you to the coast. 

The sparkling stretch of coastline just west of Lisbon is lined with pretty resort towns, from the old-world charm of Sintra, with its cobblestone streets, to the sublime sandy beaches of Cascais. If you are looking for a place to get married abroad that blends great weather, good food, stunning beaches and affordability, the Portuguese Riviera is a strong choice.

Growing numbers of couples are catching on to Portugal's huge appeal. “For UK and American couples, Portugal has become so popular, and not just the Algarve. It’s becoming far more popular to look around Lisbon, so you get the benefit of being close to the city,” says Chenai Bukutu, owner of ByChenai Events.

“There is a really thriving wedding economy there now, with a lot of excellent English-speaking suppliers and artisans,” she adds. The country’s famous textile and ceramic traditions are another big draw for couples looking to curate a wedding with a distinctive character. “They produce gorgeous textiles and plateware – all of the stuff that’s really popular for tablescape trends – so you can source really great things in Portugal.”

5. Sydney, Australia

When to plan your wedding: The seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, so Sydney's stunning summer runs from December to February. However, flight prices soar; plan your wedding in Sydney for the shoulder seasons from March to May or late-September to November for affordable nuptials.
Getting there: Sydney is one of the world's major air hubs, but flights can get expensive around Christmas. Prices drop during the Australian winter (June to August), but you'll have to adjust your activities to fit the weather (whale watching and skiing in the Snowy Mountains rather than beach time). 

The hit rom-com Anyone but You put Sydney in the spotlight as the swoon-worthy setting for a destination wedding attended by Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Many of the beach scenes were shot around Palm Beach, a suburb in the Northern Beaches that has emerged as a top location for couples seeking “undiscovered” venues in Australia.

"They’re looking outside the box for somewhere that is really unique, that maybe not everybody has found yet,” explains Jane Riddell, a wedding planner at Planned for Perfection. “While the Opera House and Harbour Bridge remain iconic backdrops, many couples now schedule their photo shoots there the day before or after the wedding, which allows them to celebrate their special day in a one-of-a-kind setting.”

Getting married in one of Australia's best beach wedding destinations also means good eating. “The food scene is huge, and the variety of food options is out of this world,” says Riddell. “Couples planning their weddings can curate menus that feature everything from modern Australian dishes with native ingredients to Mediterranean feasts, Asian fusion creations or Middle Eastern–inspired spreads.”

Another advantage of a destination wedding in Australia is the straightforward paperwork. Civil services can be held in almost any location so long as the wedding is conducted by a registered celebrant, and foreign couples just need to file a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) declaration a month in advance. 

6. Riviera Maya, Mexico

When to plan your wedding: One of the top destinations for snowbirds, Mexico's stretch of the Riviera Maya is busiest with sunseekers from December to April, particularly at Christmas and over Spring Break. The mood is more romantic when the crowds are smaller in May, June and November. 
Getting there: Cancún is Mexico's primary portal to the Riviera Maya, with flights dropping in from airports across the US and the world. Competition can make prices very affordable outside of peak season. 

The picturesque stretch of Caribbean coastline that makes up Mexico's section of the Riviera Maya was the setting for one of 2024's most talked-about celebrity weddings, between Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper and producer Matt Kaplan. The pair tied the knot in an intimate beach ceremony at luxury resort Maroma – and the photos have filled bridal mood boards ever since. 

New luxury hotel openings are keeping the Riviera Maya in the headlines in 2026, along with the coast's convenient travel links. “It’s easy to get here – lots of direct flights from major US cities, Latin American countries and Europe,” explains Anastasia Savos of Mango Weddings and Events. While a bit of splurging is de rigueur for a wedding in the Caribbean, all-inclusive destination wedding packages at local hotels can help you keep control of costs.

Getting married in Mexico doesn’t have to mean a toes-in-the-sand beach ceremony, either. “There are many different ways to do a wedding here, from the convenient all-inclusive resorts and their economical wedding packages to magical private venues deep in the jungle of Tulum, to high-end resorts with breathtaking venues surrounded by lush jungle and lagoon. Imagine the bride arriving at the venue on a boat!”

Variety is part of the appeal of getting married on the Riviera Maya, alongside operators who are used to catering to couples from across the globe. “I think that’s what makes Riviera Maya stand out,” says Savos. “We have done all sorts of weddings, from Indian weddings with full-blown baraat on a horse to Orthodox kosher weddings with a mashgiach supervising the meal prep to meet the highest of kosher standards to Chinese tea ceremonies to Persian sofreh aghd.”

7. Athens Riviera, Greece

When to plan your wedding: June to August is high season in Athens, but many couples choose the cooler shoulder seasons from April to May and September to October for a less heat-crisped ceremony.
Getting there: Athens is one of the busiest air hubs in the Med, with low-cost fares on carriers such as Easyjet and Ryanair, and easy transfers to the beach resorts on arrival. 

Just 30 minutes from Athens airport, the sun-drenched Athens Riviera coastline is undergoing a major revamp thanks to The Ellinikon, a US$8 billion urban-redevelopment project that is transforming the site of the city's old international airport into a green oasis.

Phase one of the project is due to open to the public in 2026, and airlines are preparing for the anticipated upsurge in tourism with the introduction of new flight connections between Athens and Shanghai, Delhi, Naples, Sharjah and Dallas, among other destinations. 

Alongside a string of new hotels opening at The Ellinikon, glamorous resorts such as the One&Only Aesthesis, Four Seasons and Grand Resort Lagonissi continue to be some of the top venues for a destination wedding, with Greece enjoying a long-lasting wedding tourism boost thanks to the Mamma Mia! movies.

This is a destination with romantic appeal in every season. “We have around 300 sunny days a year, and the weather is fantastic even in summer, because there’s always a lovely breeze,” says Xenia Hajipetrou, owner of Riviera Blu Events. Plate smashing – usually done with plaster plates rather than the hotel's best porcelain – is an option, but far from mandatory. 

Once vows are exchanged, the Athens Riviera offers plenty of ways to enjoy the Med, from water sports on the beach to island-hopping around the Saronic Gulf islands by ferry or chartered speedboat or yacht. “There are quite a few options about half an hour or an hour away,” Hajipetrou notes. “The two most popular islands are Hydra and Spetses, or you can go to other close-by islands like Aegina, Tzia, Agistri and Poros.”

8. Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

When to plan your wedding: June to August is the high season in Montenegro, but things don't get quite as busy as in nearby Croatia, even in summer. April, May, September and October are good months for weddings, with smaller crowds and still pleasant weather.
Getting there: Seasonal flights to Tivat near Kotor are the best way to bring in guests for your big day, avoiding the inconvenience of transferring by road from Podgorica, the Montenegrin capital.  

The Balkan nation of Montenegro has experienced a significant boost in tourism in recent years, with new air routes making the Bay of Kotor more accessible than ever. The country's preparations for EU membership are also putting the country on the travel radar, with Montenegro set to become a formal member state in 2028. 

As an added plus, this small nation is less expensive than many of its Adriatic neighbors. “It’s new-ish on the radar. We’ve done a couple of weddings there already, and it’s sort of like 20 years behind Italy, as in, it’s quite unspoiled still. It’s absolutely beautiful,” enthuses Matthew Oliver, director of Matthew Oliver Weddings. “For a wedding, it’s perfect, with loads of different palaces and castles, and it’s very affordable, very reasonable.”

With its tumbling mountains and fjord-like inlets, Montenegro's Adriatic coastline is brimming with spectacular locations for a destination wedding, from historic Kotor Fortress and the romantic waterside Hotel Forza Mare in Boka Bay to 18th-century baroque mansions such as Perast’s Hotel Admiral.

You can even exchange vows in one of the Bay of Kotor's most photogenic landmarks. “Our Lady of the Rocks is this little church on an island, and you can have a boat trip around it, or you can even get married there. You’re surrounded by the ocean and all the orange roofs of Montenegro. It’s really pretty,” says Oliver.