Kent

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Passport? Check. Champagne? Check. Something old, new, borrowed – and bound for Provence?&nbsp;Mais oui.&nbsp;Destination weddings are booming – 40% of UK guests will be flying out for “I dos” this year, according to American Express and Google searches are booming.



The A-list is setting the tone: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Venice takeover, Kim and Kanye among Tuscan blooms, Kourtney and Travis goth-glamming in Portofino, Emily Blunt marrying John Krasinski at George Clooney’s Lake Como villa. France has had its moments too – Keira Knightley went Provençal chic in Chanel flats, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas turned a château into a fairytale.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Untitled-design-2025-07-04T172416.805-1000x667.jpg" alt="Destination weddings Photo: David Bastianoni" class="wp-image-114771" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: David Bastianoni</figcaption></figure>



France, Italy and Spain may be the holy trinity of “I do” destinations – all sunshine, scenery and wine lists worth the airfare – but new booking data from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theweddingtravelcompany.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wedding Travel Company</a>&nbsp;shows Brits are widening their horizons. Greece, Cyprus, the Caribbean and even the US are muscling in. Vegas and New York remain elopement classics, but “cowboy weddings” in Nashville and Tennessee are the new countrycore.



The cost?&nbsp;With UK weddings averaging £23,250, an overseas bash (around £7,732) can be a bargain. Smaller guest lists, cheaper wine, jaw-dropping backdrops and built-in honeymoon vibes help the budget – unless you turn it into a three-day blowout. So what’s your vows vibe? From overwater ceremonies in the Caribbean to cliffside kisses on the Med, these are the swoon-worthy venues on our love list.



<a href="https://www.sandals.co.uk/bahamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sandals Royal Bahamian, The Bahamas</a>



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If you’re going to walk down the aisle, why not make it over the Caribbean? This overwater chapel has glass floor aisles that make you look like you’re floating towards forever – and yes, it’s every bit as show-stopping as it sounds. With 360° ocean views, sea breezes in your hair, and space for 64 of your nearest and dearest, it’s basically a Pinterest board come to life. You can pack in the people you love (no awkward “plus one” debates) and, if you’re feeling fancy, say your vows as the sun dips behind the horizon. For a wedding with maximum drama and minimum shoes required, this one’s hard to beat.



<a href="https://www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-olhuveli/">Sun Siyam Olhuveli</a>, Maldives



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If your dream wedding involves bare feet in the sand and zero spreadsheet stress,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sunsiyam.com/sun-siyam-olhuveli/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Olhuveli</a>&nbsp;delivers. Think sugar-white beaches, turquoise water lapping at the shore, and vows under a billowing canopy while the Indian Ocean does its thing in the background. Swap stuffy receptions for dinner on the beach, traditional Maldivian drummers, and cocktails as the sun slides into the sea. With the resort team handling everything from the arch to the after-party, you can focus on looking fabulous, sipping champagne, and perfecting that just-married glow.



<a href="https://fondoambiente.it/villa-del-balbianello-eng" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Villa del Balbianello</a>&nbsp;– Lake Como, Italy



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If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping straight into a glossy fashion editorial (or a Bond film), Villa del Balbianello is your moment. Perched on its own peninsula, this 18th-century beauty comes with vine-draped arches, manicured gardens and views over Lake Como so perfect they look airbrushed. It’s the backdrop for&nbsp;Casino Royale&nbsp;and&nbsp;Star Wars, so expect your wedding photos to have full cinematic swagger. Guests arrive by boat (instant drama), you say “I do” framed by the famous loggia, and everyone toasts with Aperol spritzes as the sun melts into the lake. Intimate enough to feel exclusive, grand enough to make jaws drop – this is destination wedding royalty.



<a href="https://canaves.com/canaves-oia-suites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canaves Oia Suites</a>&nbsp;– Santorini, Greece



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Santorini is the queen of Greek island weddings, and&nbsp;<a href="https://canaves.com/canaves-oia-suites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canaves Oia Suites</a>&nbsp;is her crown jewel. Perched high on Oia’s cliffside, it delivers those swoon-worthy Caldera views without the elbows-and-selfie-sticks of the tourist crowds. Ceremonies happen on private terraces that feel like you’re floating above the Aegean, with a backdrop so gorgeous it doesn’t need more than a few flowers (but of course, they’ll deck it out if you want). After the vows, there’s champagne on the terrace, infinity pools for post-ceremony dips, and even a yacht if you fancy taking the party offshore. It’s chic, intimate, and unapologetically glamorous – basically the Santorini wedding your Instagram dreams have been waiting for.



<a href="https://www.haciendanaxamena-ibiza.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hacienda Na Xamena</a>&nbsp;– Ibiza, Spain



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If Ibiza makes you think of all-night dancing and questionable 4am decisions, allow Hacienda Na Xamena to rewrite the script. Set high on a clifftop in the island’s quiet north, it’s pure Mediterranean glamour with panoramic sea views that’ll have your guests too busy gasping to check their phones. The walk down the aisle leads to a sun-drenched terrace that looks like it was built for champagne toasts and smug newlywed photos. The vibe is barefoot luxe – crisp white walls, cascading pools, and golden light bouncing off the water below. And when the sun dips, you’re just a short hop from Ibiza Town if you&nbsp;do&nbsp;want that late-night dance floor moment. It’s the perfect mix of serene island romance and a little Balearic sparkle – destination wedding goals without the package-tour vibe.



<a href="https://www.fonscolombe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Château de Fonscolombe</a>&nbsp;– Provence, France



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When it comes to Provence wedding venues, this one’s top shelf. An 18th-century beauty in the heart of the countryside, it’s wrapped in lavender fields, olive groves, and that golden Provençal light that makes everyone look like they’ve had a flattering filter slapped on. Ceremonies can spill out onto manicured lawns or take place under the shade of centuries-old trees, with the château’s honey-stone façade as your backdrop. Afterwards, it’s Michelin-level dining, endless wine, and dance floors that last until the cicadas start their morning chorus. It’s grand but not pretentious, luxe but warm – a Provençal love story served with a generous pour of charm.



<a href="https://www.sandals.co.uk/royal-barbados/">Sandals Royal Barbados</a>&nbsp;– Sky Terrace, Barbados



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Rooftop infinity pool? Check. Sweeping views over Barbados’ pristine shoreline? Double check.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sandals.co.uk/royal-barbados/">The Sky Terrace</a>&nbsp;takes your wedding to literal new heights – perched above the resorts with a backdrop so good it barely needs flowers. It’s exclusive (only 50 guests max), chic, and just the right mix of glamorous and laid-back island style. Imagine walking out to say your vows with the ocean stretching below you, then clinking glasses as the sun melts into the horizon. If you want your wedding to feel like a private, sky-high party in paradise, this is your spot.



<a href="https://www.sanysidroranch.com/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=business-listing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Ysidro Ranch</a>&nbsp;– California, USA



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If it’s good enough for JFK and Jackie’s honeymoon, it’s good enough for your big day – and given it’s been described as the&nbsp;world’s most romantic hotel, you know you’re in for something special. Tucked in the Santa Ynez Mountains with the Pacific shimmering in the distance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sanysidroranch.com/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=business-listing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Ysidro Ranch</a>&nbsp;is pure Californian romance – all fragrant rose gardens, vine-draped cottages and just the right amount of old-Hollywood swagger. Say your vows in a garden that smells like a perfume ad, then glide into the Stonehouse Restaurant for cocktails by the fire and dinner with creekside views. It’s intimate, glamorous, and just far enough from LA to feel like you’ve escaped to your own movie set.



<a href="https://www.scottdunn.com/usa/hotels/brush-creek-ranch" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brush Creek Ranch – Wyoming, USA</a>



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If your dream wedding involves saying “I do” under big Western skies, Brush Creek Ranch delivers the romance with just the right dose of ranch swagger. Think&nbsp;Yellowstone, but with more Veuve and fewer family feuds. Whether it’s the storybook Cowboy Chapel &amp; Dance Hall, the wild drama of Platte Canyon, or the refined charm of the Cheyenne Club, every backdrop here looks like it belongs on a film set. Between vows, guests can swap stilettos for saddles (or archery bows, or fly-fishing rods) and live out their cowboy fantasies – minus the TV drama. Come nightfall, it’s all roaring fires, star-studded skies, and a party that feels both glamorous and gloriously unpretentious. For a wedding that’s part romance, part rugged adventure, this is your frontier fairytale.

Saying ‘I do’ with a view: How to master the destination wedding game

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