There’s so much to consider when it comes to choosing your wedding locale, but the number one priority is selecting a setting that you and your partner will love.
Whether you’re pondering saying your vows in a big city or beachfront, a far-flung spot or an intimate locale, your options may feel endless. To help narrow things down, here are suggestions to help you find the perfect destination match for your wedding day.
Big City Bash
There’s nothing more chic than a sophisticated city wedding, complete with a sleek venue, stunning backdrops for memorable photos and tons of options for the after party.
New York City
A wedding in the Big Apple is all glitz and glamour. You’ll have your choice of historic landmarks, sleek rooftop bars and tiny secret gardens to host your wedding festivities, all with the backdrop of one of most beautiful skylines in the world.
Your Ideal Venue: The St. Regis New York
Chicago
Chicago’s unique architectural landmarks combined with its big-city-meets-lakeside location, offers so many options for your dream wedding. From industrial lofts and sculpture-filled parks, to cruises on the Chicago River and city wineries the Windy City is perfect for a blowout wedding fête.
Your Ideal Venue: The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago
Atlanta
For a big city wedding with all the charm of the South, look no further than Atlanta. Sweet southern sensibilities reign in Atlanta, alongside delicious cuisine for your rehearsal dinner, outdoor venues with cityscape views and tons of clubs to host your wedding after party.
Your Ideal Venue: W Atlanta
Beach Wedding
What could be more romantic than seeing a fiery sunset over azure waters as you say, “I do?” These destinations offer a wide selection of shoreside settings for your nuptials.
Los Angeles
Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu…the Los Angeles area is home to so many beaches, each with their own special vibe. Go with wind-swept hair and bare feet in Venice, or for an elegant oceanfront soiree overlooking the Pacific ocean and jagged rock formations of the California coast.
Your Ideal Venue: Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica
Puerto Rico
Turquoise waters, powdery sand beaches and swaying palm trees make a dream-like setting for a ceremony in Puerto Rico, but its the salsa music and cuisine that will take your wedding over the top. Spend the wedding weekend sipping piña coladas or surfing Rincón beach with your faves, then merengue the night away after tying the knot.
Your Ideal Venue: La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort
Hawaii
You’ve got multiple major islands filled with beaches to choose from to host a beach wedding in Hawaii, each with their own distinct personality. Nearly every coast side hotel offers a customizable package for your big day, from an intimate gathering on Maui’s shores, to a major fete on Wailea Beach.
Your Ideal Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Far Flung & Adventurous
The adrenaline-fueled couple will want their wedding to celebrate all the adventures they’ve had together and the many yet to come. Check out these spots for a wedding weekend filled with fun activities and gorgeous surroundings.
Edmonton, Canada
With the Canadian Rockies as your backdrop, the Edmonton area offers the perfect setting for a rustic-meets-romantic wedding ceremony. Winter weddings offer snow-draped mountain tops, rehearsal dinners over a roaring-fire and afternoons spent skiing and sledding with your friends and family.
Your Ideal Venue: The Westin Edmonton
Latin America
From gorgeous wineries in Argentina and Chile, to rushing waterfalls in Brazil and beaches in Costa Rica, the adventure-seeking couple will have their pick of fabulous settings for their nuptials.
Your Ideal Venue: Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Rocky Mountain (love) highs await in the beautiful mountain resort of Beaver Creek in Colorado, where ski-in/ski-out access at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch makes for an epic year-round locale for an uber-romantic wedding.
In winter, set the mood for your event with a moonlit, snowcat-drawn sleigh ride up the mountain to Zach’s Cabin for a cozy pre-wedding dinner of Alsatian fare. In the summer, wine tours with a hiking guide lead you and guests into the meadow at Larkspur Bowl, carpeted with wildflowers and golden thickets of aspen trees, for a degustation (wine, cheese and charcuterie included) at Beano’s Cabin.
Your Ideal Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
Traditional & Historic
If you live by the code: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, a traditional wedding is most likely in your future. These cities offer historic churches, ornate ballrooms and sculptured gardens for a traditional wedding.
Montreal
Wherever you look in Montreal, you’re likely to see a steeple or majestic dome somewhere on the horizon. The city is filled with 18th and 19th century era churches and cathedrals, including the grand dame gothic revival style Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.
Your Ideal Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
Boston
Boston’s Colonial heritage makes for the perfect setting for a traditional wedding, particularly in spaces like The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston, which is housed in a 19th-century historic landmark – the site of the legendary Charles Street Jail.
From the grand Boston Public Library to the old-world Alden Castle in nearby Brookline to the multi-level Museum of Science right on the Charles River there are so many one-of-a-kind venues to choose from for your classic nuptials.
Your Ideal Venue: The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston
Spokane, Washington
A tiny jewel in eastern Washington state, Spokane gained fame as a historic railroad hub, and today draws nature lovers (and romantics!) to its teeming waterfalls and sprawling parks, including Riverfront Park, which played host to the 1974 World’s Fair.
Foodies will also find something to celebrate – the region cherishes its wine and craft beer culture, along with locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients … perfect for sating wedding guests on the big day.
Your Ideal Venue: The Historic Davenport, Autograph Collection
Intimate & Cozy
If the big, traditional wedding has never been your thing, an intimate wedding with 50 to 75 of your closest friends and family is for you. It’s still a wedding with all the bells and whistles, with less stress, less expense and a fabulous time had by all.
St. Louis, Missouri
From charming restaurants in historic Lafayette Square to rustic barns and wineries with views of the Missouri countryside, St. Louis is the perfect mid-sized city for an intimate wedding. Keep the wedding weekend casual with trips to the St. Louis Gateway Arch, a tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery and a Cardinals game.
Your Ideal Venue: Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
San Francisco, California
Obviously San Francisco is a great city for a blowout wedding bash, but there’s a wide selection of gorgeous, unique venues for a smaller celebration with plenty of activities for guests. Go completely tropical at the Conservatory of Flowers, or opt to explore the city’s neighborhoods and scenic spots on foot.
Your Ideal Venue: The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
San Juan Capistrano, California
Explore the historic heart of California in San Juan Capistrano, tucked into a cozy hub filled with arts, culture and plenty of charm. Wedding goers can get a dose of history at Mission San Juan Capistrano and historic Los Rios Street or spice things up in the downtown district, dotted with restaurants, boutiques and more.
Your Ideal Venue: Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Autograph Collection
Elopement
So many couples just do not want to deal with the hubbub of a formal wedding and the good news is, you don’t have to! The best part about an elopement is that you can usually plan the whole shindig in a beautifully wrapped package. Try these cities if an elopement is in the cards for you and your love.
Orlando
Though there are plenty of pretty gardens and chapels to have your Orlando elopement, how can you go to Orlando and not get married at the happiest place on earth? You can even opt for a ceremony in the sky with an Aerophile Balloon Wedding.
Your Ideal Stay: Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, Autograph Collection
Aspen, Colorado
Panoramic views of the Colorado Rockies offer a majestic setting for an elopement. Sites like Independent Pass, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet, or the evergreen-filled valley of the Maroon Bells Amphitheater are incredible places to find alone time surrounded by natural beauty.
Your Ideal Stay: The St. Regis Aspen Resort
Washington D.C.
There are so many iconic places to have an elopement in Washington D.C. Choose springtime for a elopement draped by Cherry Blossoms, or if you’re a culture buff, you can savor your time together at the Smithsonian Institution or share your love right in front of the steps of the Supreme Court.
Your Ideal Stay: The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C.
From romantic receptions to guest room blocks, there’s a lot to cover when it comes to wedding planning. Marriott Bonvoy® Events is here to make the process as seamless as possible with unique wedding venues for every couple. Find the ideal setting to bring your vision to life with access to our 30 extraordinary hotel brands.
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