Quick answer: What is the best destination for a wedding abroad?
It depends on your priorities. Italy (Tuscany, Amalfi Coast) is the most popular choice with stunning food and romance. Greece (Santorini, Crete) offers the best value in the Mediterranean. Croatia is Europe's budget winner with crystal-clear waters. Thailand is by far the cheapest for tropical weddings. Cyprus is easiest legally. New Zealand impresses adventurous couples the most.
How to choose the right destination for your wedding abroad
Choosing your destination is the most important decision when planning a wedding abroad. It affects everything - from budget and guest list to legal requirements, weather and the overall feeling you want to create. With 24 countries to choose from on our platform, it can feel overwhelming, but it does not have to be.
This guide ranks and compares all destinations across the categories that couples actually care about: budget, romance, beach quality, food, legal simplicity, weather and accessibility. Our rankings are based on data from hundreds of enquiries through our platform, feedback from wedding coordinators in each country and current pricing for 2025-2026.
Need detailed cost breakdowns? Read our complete cost guide by country. Step-by-step planning? See our planning checklist.
Best destinations by category
Best for romance and charm
1. Italy - No country in the world matches Italy's combination of romance, culture and gastronomy for weddings. Tuscany's cypress-lined hills and vineyards, the Amalfi Coast's dramatic cliffs and lemon groves, Lake Como's elegant villas with the Alps as backdrop, and Puglia's whitewashed masserias with crystal-clear waters. Italy is the most popular choice among European couples according to our data. Wedding dinners with 4-5 courses of local pasta, grilled fish and Chianti wine create memories for a lifetime. Budget: EUR 20,000-60,000 depending on region and season.
2. France - Provence's lavender fields, Loire Valley's Renaissance chateaux and the Cote d'Azur's glamour. France has a magic no other destination can replicate. Wedding dinners with cheese boards, champagne and patisserie are an experience in themselves. Prices are comparable to Italy but France has Europe's most complex legal process with a 40-day residency requirement. Symbolic ceremony strongly recommended. Budget: EUR 20,000-50,000.
3. Portugal - Europe's most underrated wedding destination. The Algarve's dramatic cliff formations at Praia da Marinha, Comporta's hidden beaches south of Lisbon and the Douro Valley's vineyard terraces. 20-30% cheaper than Italy and France with the same quality of food and service. Relatively simple legal process too. Budget: EUR 12,000-35,000.
Best for budget - most wedding for your money
1. Thailand - By far the cheapest for a complete destination wedding without compromising quality. Koh Samui has luxury beachfront resorts with professional English-speaking coordinators. Phuket offers dramatic rock formations. Krabi has secluded beaches accessible only by longtail boat - perfect for elopements. All-inclusive from EUR 6,000 for 20-30 guests - half or a third of what the same wedding costs in Southern Europe.
Read more: elopement guide for intimate ceremonies abroad
2. Croatia - Europe's budget winner with the Adriatic's crystal-clear turquoise waters. Dubrovnik's medieval walls, Hvar's lavender fields and Brac's famous Zlatni Rat beach. Prices are 30-40% lower than Greece and Italy. Plus one of Europe's simplest legal processes. Just 2 hours' flight from most European capitals. Budget: EUR 10,000-30,000.
3. Sri Lanka - Exotic tropical wedding at extremely low prices. Golden beaches in Tangalle and Mirissa, tea plantations in the hills and historic temples. From EUR 5,000 for an intimate beach ceremony. More budget options: Dominican Republic (Caribbean budget choice), Vietnam (Asia's cheapest), Turkey (40-50% of Southern European prices).
Best for beach weddings
1. Greece - The world's most photogenic beach weddings. Santorini's caldera with black volcanic sand and golden sunsets. Crete's white sand beaches at Elafonisi and Balos lagoon at significantly lower prices. Corfu's Venetian charm meeting turquoise waters. More in our beach wedding guide.
2. Mexico - Caribbean white beaches with bohemian luxury. Tulum's Mayan ruins above turquoise waters. Cancun's all-inclusive resorts with convenient wedding packages. Budget: EUR 8,000-30,000.
3. Maldives - The ultimate luxury beach destination. Private sandbanks, overwater villas, sunset ceremonies. Exclusively symbolic ceremonies. Budget: from EUR 30,000. Other strong beach destinations: Cyprus (340 sunny days/year), Jamaica, Bali, Costa Rica.
Best weather - least rain risk
Cyprus has the most reliable weather in the Mediterranean with 340 sunny days per year and virtually zero rain from May to October. Greece and Spain (especially the Canary Islands with year-round sunshine) follow closely. Greece and Spain (especially the Canary Islands) follow closely. For winter weddings: Dubai has zero rainy days November-March. Thailand and Maldives have dry season December-March.
Easiest legally - least bureaucracy
Cyprus is Europe's Las Vegas — married within 3 working days with no banns period or residency requirement. Croatia follows with minimal documentation and a 1-2 week process. Croatia follows with minimal documentation. New Zealand has the world's simplest process outside Europe - digital licence online 3 days before. Avoid France and Spain if legal simplicity matters. Full guide: Legally valid wedding abroad.
Best for adventurous couples
Iceland — northern lights, glaciers, waterfalls and black lava landscapes. Elopements at Kirkjufell or before the Seljalandsfoss waterfall create images that no other country in the world can match. The dramatic black sand beaches of Vik and the ice caves of Vatnajökull glacier add even more photographic possibilities. New Zealand — cinematic nature with helicopter weddings above the fjords of Queenstown and Milford Sound. The Lord of the Rings landscapes are real and even more impressive in person. South Africa — combine wine tasting in Stellenbosch with safari in Kruger National Park and dramatic beaches at Cape Town's Clifton Beach where Table Mountain meets the Atlantic Ocean. Morocco — desert weddings under the stars in the Sahara, riads in the medina of Marrakech, and windsurfing in Essaouira. Costa Rica — rainforest, volcanoes, beach and adventure in Manuel Antonio.
Best for intimate ceremonies (elopement)
Iceland and Faroe Islands for dramatic Nordic nature without crowds. New Zealand with helicopter ceremony above fjords. Switzerland with crystal-clear alpine lakes and mountain villages. Norway with midnight sun, fjords and the white beaches of the Lofoten Islands. Krabi in Thailand with secluded beaches only accessible by longtail boat.
Best for large guest lists (50+ guests)
Spain (especially Mallorca, Costa del Sol) has the best venue options for large parties at reasonable prices — fincas with pools, sea views and space for 200 guests. Turkey offers fantastic venues at 40-50% of Southern European prices. Mexico with all-inclusive resorts in Cancún where the resort handles all logistics. Italy (Puglia, Sicily) for large wedding celebrations in masserias and haciendas.
Europe vs tropics: detailed comparison
One of the most important decisions is choosing between Europe and the tropics. Both have distinct advantages and it is not just about budget.
Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Portugal, Croatia) offers shorter flights (2-4 hours from most European capitals), no jet lag for guests, familiar food culture and easier logistics. Most guests can join for a long weekend. Legal marriage is possible in most European countries. Downside: peak season prices June-September.
Tropics (Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica) give exotic wow-factor, significantly lower prices (30-60% cheaper), warmer weather and an experience guests never forget. Downside: long flights (8-12 hours), jet lag, fewer guests typically attend. The middle ground: Turkey and Dubai offer exotic feel with shorter flights and competitive prices.
Best season by destination
The wrong season can ruin your entire wedding — the right season makes it magical. Here is the optimal time for each region based on weather, prices and availability.
Mediterranean (Italy, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, Turkey): May-June and September-October (perfect weather, lower prices). July-August: best weather but maximum prices. Tropical Asia: November-March (dry season). Caribbean: December-April. Nordic/adventure: June-August for midnight sun, January-March for northern lights. Southern hemisphere (New Zealand, South Africa): October-March.
Travel distance from Europe
Flight time and accessibility affect the guest list more than most couples realise. Here is a realistic guide based on direct flights from major European cities.
Under 4 hours (the whole family can come): Croatia (2.5h), Greece (3h), Spain (3h), Italy (2.5h), France (2.5h), Portugal (4h), Turkey (3.5h). Direct flights from most European capitals. Guests can come for a long weekend — this is the strongest argument for European destinations.
4-6 hours (most guests can come): Cyprus (4h), Malta (3.5h), Morocco (4h), Dubai (6h). Still reasonable for a long weekend but requires more planning.
8-12 hours (only the closest): Thailand (10h), Bali (14h with connection), Sri Lanka (11h), Maldives (10h), Mexico (11h), Jamaica (12h), Costa Rica (13h), South Africa (11h). Expect your guest list to halve compared to Europe. On the other hand, those who come stay longer and you get more quality time together.
12+ hours (elopement or small group): New Zealand (24h with connections), Vietnam (12h). Perfect for elopements or very intimate ceremonies with 5-15 guests.
What experienced wedding coordinators recommend
We asked wedding coordinators in all 24 destination countries which mistakes couples make most often and what they recommend.
"Don't choose your destination based on Instagram." The most photogenic destinations (Santorini, Amalfi, Maldives) are also the most expensive and most fully booked. Crete, Puglia and Sri Lanka deliver equally beautiful photos at half the price.
"Think about your guests — not just yourselves." A wedding in Bali with 40 guests sounds dreamy but means each guest spends EUR 1,500-2,500 on flights and hotel alone. Croatia or Portugal deliver a fantastic experience without bankrupting your guests' holiday budget.
"Book a coordinator BEFORE you book the venue." A local coordinator knows which venues have hidden costs, which work best within your budget and which to avoid despite attractive website photos. Invest EUR 300-800 in a coordinator — it is the single best investment you will make for your wedding.
"Don't underestimate weather risk." "We'll take a chance with October in Greece" often ends with rain and wind. Book within the safe season and always have a Plan B with roof cover. Cyprus and Dubai are the only destinations where you are virtually guaranteed no rain.
Top 5 by couple type
Romantics: 1. Italy 2. France 3. Portugal 4. Greece 5. Switzerland
Budget-conscious: 1. Thailand 2. Croatia 3. Sri Lanka 4. Vietnam 5. Dominican Republic
Beach lovers: 1. Greece 2. Thailand 3. Mexico 4. Maldives 5. Cyprus
Foodies: 1. Italy 2. France 3. Spain 4. Portugal 5. Thailand
Adventurers: 1. Iceland 2. New Zealand 3. South Africa 4. Costa Rica 5. Morocco
Practical couples: 1. Croatia 2. Cyprus 3. Portugal 4. Greece 5. Jamaica
How to choose - three steps
1. Set your budget first. Under EUR 15,000? Thailand, Croatia, Sri Lanka. EUR 15,000-35,000? Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Mexico. Over EUR 35,000? Italy, France, Maldives. Details in our cost guide.
2. Beach or no beach? Beach: Greece, Thailand, Croatia, Mexico, Bali, Cyprus, Maldives. No beach (vineyard, castle, mountains): Italy (Tuscany), France (Provence), Switzerland, Iceland. Both: Portugal, Spain, Turkey. See our beach wedding guide.
3. Legal abroad or symbolic? 70% of couples choose symbolic ceremony abroad and marry legally at home. If you want it official on the day - choose Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, New Zealand or Jamaica. Guide: Legally valid wedding abroad.
Sources and reliability
Rankings are based on platform data (enquiry volumes, average prices, feedback), interviews with wedding coordinators with 5+ years experience in each country and current supplier pricing for 2025-2026. We have verified prices and legal information with official sources including national tourism authorities and consular services.
This guide was produced by the editorial team at Wedding Abroad in collaboration with experienced international wedding coordinators across all 24 destination countries. Last updated March 2026. Information does not constitute a binding offer - contact suppliers via our platform for current prices.
Detailed comparison: Europe vs tropics
One of the most important decisions is choosing between Europe and the tropics. Both have distinct advantages and it is not just about budget.
Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Portugal, Croatia) offers shorter flights (2-4 hours from most European capitals), no jet lag for guests, familiar food culture and simpler logistics. Most guests can come for a long weekend rather than needing a full week of holiday. Legal marriage is possible in most European countries. Downside: peak season prices June-September, popular venues book 12-18 months ahead and weather can be unpredictable in shoulder months like May and October.
The tropics (Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica) deliver exotic wow-factor, significantly lower prices (30-60% cheaper for the same quality level), warmer and more reliable weather in the right season and an experience guests will never forget. Downside: long flights (8-12 hours), jet lag, fewer guests can typically attend. On the positive side, those who do come tend to stay longer and you get more quality time together. The middle ground: Turkey and Dubai offer exotic feeling with shorter flights (4-6 hours) and competitive prices. Turkey has fantastic food and venues at 40-50% of Southern European prices. Dubai guarantees sunshine November-March with luxury hotels and beach.
"Remember transport logistics." Many couples forget how guests will get from the airport to the venue. Greek islands require a ferry or connecting flight. The Tuscan countryside requires a rental car. Thai islands may need multiple transfers. Include a transport plan in your wedding planning from the start.