Destination wedding

Launched in July 2019 and the first to market in the UK, Luvana.co.uk is a free-to-use online portal dedicated exclusively to couples planning an overseas wedding in Europe. Set to revolutionise the ever-expanding destination wedding market, Luvana is the first of its kind in the UK to showcase suppliers abroad in addition to those able to operate within the key European destinations. Bringing together a carefully curated directory of more than 2,000 respected brands at launch, alongside an array of functional tools and useful checklists, Luvana is destined to become the essential planning resource for couples marrying abroad.  

Congratulations on your engagement! Now it’s time to look towards planning your special celebration. As a destination wedding planning specialist, there are lots of things I would advise you to consider.

Here are my Top Five Tips to ensure you have a great time on your destination wedding.

A barefoot ceremony on the soft sands of Chaweng Beach, exchanging vows in a traditional Thai wooden sala, or an intimate gathering on a seafront lawn decorated with gently swaying coconut palms - at two of its picturesque properties in Koh Samui, Centara Hotels and Resorts has launched a new collection of personalised paradise wedding packages. 

Nestled within a cove on the island’s pristine southern shore is the discreet Centara Villas Samui for those who wish for an intimate beach ceremony. Whilst catering to couples looking to host a more extravagant celebration with a full banquet and live entertainment is Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, which also has an opulent Royal Suite.

Thinking of a destination wedding? A Majorca wedding could be perfect for you! Whether your eloping, considering a small intimate gathering or a traditional wedding on a larger scale Majorca has countless venue options to choose from: whether at the seaside, in the mountains (in the Sierra de Tramuntana UNESCO Heritage site), in a private villa, a fortress, a historic palace, a farmhouse, unusual locations or luxury estates, Majorca has it all for you. Despite the small size of our Mediterranean island, every corner offers different landscapes and different locations for your wedding.

Not only is The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai the ultimate location for an unforgettable destination wedding but now the hotel has partnered with expert visionaries from My Dubai Wedding to give brides and grooms the most exclusive and unprecedented level of luxury for their special day.

The ideal destination wedding venue has a romantic, celebratory vibe, Instagram-worthy beauty, stress-free customisation, guest appeal and easy access. Most importantly, it is a reflection of the bride and groom and their shared passions. Along Florida’s Treasure Coast, couples can choose from coastal casual, culturally chic and rural-and-rustic settings, creating an experience that resonates with their love and life.

Host a seaside wedding at one of Vero Beach’s scenic beaches, including Treasure Shores Park and Seagrape Trail Beach. There is no fee or permit required for groups less than 50, and locations are available on a first-come first-serve basis.

A haven of tranquillity nestled in the Armagnac vineyards of Gascony France, La Bastide is one of three Michelin star chef Michel Guérard’s guest houses and a picturesque location for an intimate destination wedding *. The five-star property prides itself on creating bespoke, elegant and memorable ceremonies and receptions for soon-to-be newlyweds.

Christie Buet tells Vow's and Venues all about her magnificent destination wedding on the beautiful island of Mallorca located off the east coast of mainland Spain.

From the very moment we got engaged we knew we wanted a destination wedding. Gary and I both wanted our wedding day to represent who we were and what our relationship symbolised. We wanted our love of travel and our desire to embrace other cultures to shine through and it really set the tone for what was truly the best day of our lives. The feeling of being married somewhere so unbelievably beautiful and picturesque can’t be described, but it truly added a completely extra layer of magic and gratitude to our wedding day.

If you’ve been dreaming of a colourful, bohemian wedding or your style is more simple and charming, Es Saadi Marrakech Resort can ensure a dream wedding in Moroccan paradise.

An opulent resort set in 20 acres of palms, banana trees, roses, bougainvillea and bird-song, the Es Saadi Marrakech Resort is an oasis of Moroccan splendour in the heart of Marrakech’s Golden Triangle.  Couples looking for an exceptional and beautiful setting for their wedding need look no further, Es Saadi’s setting looking out onto the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, near the bustling souks and Jemaa El Fnaa square, is the ideal location for a destination wedding.

Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world - so if a destination wedding is what you’re after - it simply must be on your list! And where better than this stunning 18th century fairy-tale venue, Dundas Castle.

From an intimate ceremony nestled within a private garden to a rooftop wedding with views across Scotland’s capital, Dundas Castle near Edinburgh offers couples so many spectacular settings to say ‘I do’.