All that’s to say that destination weddings in far-off locations have never been more desirable, with all the necessary proof coming from Sofia Richie Grainge’s Antibes wedding at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc to record executive Elliot Grainge, which many dubbed this year’s royal wedding. Of course, not every bride will be dressed in custom Chanel for an extravagant wedding in the South of France, but that doesn’t mean that a destination wedding is off the cards. “Internationally, we are seeing a growing interest in Portugal,” says Tombs. According to the planner, the country offers couples and their guests a charming, off-the-beaten-path option that hasn’t yet taken off on a major scale, therefore pricing out people who don’t have an extravagant budget. “There are incredible floral designers, rental companies, and venues in Portugal that are often offered at lower costs than other more regularly sought-after European destinations,” he explains. “We also see continued interest in Mexico, Morocco, France, and the UK.”
Travel editor Monica Mendal, whose job it is to find the coolest, most beautiful locations around the world before they became major tourist attractions, adds that Florence and Tuscany in Italy and Mallorca in Spain are both great options for couples to consider given how easily accessible they are compared to smaller, more quaint destinations. “It really depends where most people are traveling from because I do think it’s important to make it easy on everyone traveling and not overcomplicate things,” she says. She’s also expecting the Dolomites in Northern Italy to take off, with the luxurious resort Forestis Dolomites quickly becoming a hot spot for both weddings and honeymoons during the offseason for hikers and the high season for skiers. “The spa is insane,” she notes. Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Bahia in Brazil, José Ignacio in Uruguay, and Liguria in Northwestern Italy were among the other destinations that rolled off her tongue when we asked her for the most impressive destinations stamped in her passport.
If you do plan to hold your wedding away from home, Tombs says there are some important details to consider. For starters, you need to remember that not everyone does things the same way that you’re used to, so it’s essential that you’re flexible with what you want and respectful of local customs. “Understand the sense of urgency and workflow will vary based on the location of your event,” he says. Also, be sure to select a location that offers accommodations at a variety of price points. “Guests should not have to go into debt to attend your wedding,” he notes. “So be mindful of the flight costs, hotel room costs, and other transportation costs.” He also suggests that you consider choosing a location that your guests can easily turn into a family or personal vacation in order to make the cost of getting there more worthwhile.
