These venues around the world offer picturesque backdrops and deluxe experiences that ensure every couple’s special day is a perfect one.
Venues play an integral role in ensuring celebrations are both a special and memorable. This holds true—perhaps even more so—for weddings. After all, every bride and groom wants to exchange their vows in a beautiful place, one that really encapsulates their love for each other. What better way to kick off a life spent together than a celebration in a scenic spot that offers unforgettable experiences?
Granted, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder; every couple has a unique vision for their wedding. Some may want to keep things simple and intimate, while others desire a grand event with panache. Regardless of these parameters, a number of venues around the world, including Asia, offer backdrops that make for the perfect “blank canvas.”
What these spots have in common is their breathtaking scenery, as well as rave reviews from top publications and a variety of newlyweds. They possess a wonderful sense of place, a certain je nais se quois, yet provide enough space for couples to orchestrate the wedding of their dreams.
So whether you want your special day to be quaint or opulent, small or large, by a lush riverside or on a splendid estate, below are six destination venues worth checking out as you do your planning:
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Castello del Monsignore —Tuscany, Italy
Those who’ve wished to have their wedding in a picturesque historical spot need not look further than Castello del Monsignore in Italy’s Tuscany region. Known as the “cradle of Galateo,” the estate is where Florentine writer Giovanni della Casa created Galateo—arguably the most important treatise on manners in all of Europe.
Historical significance aside, the Castello del Monsignore is the ideal venue for a fairytale wedding by the Tuscan countryside. Here, brides and grooms can enjoy the amenities and splendor of a Renaissance villa, with its discrete and competent staff, mouthwatering cuisine through the estate’s Enoteca del Monsignore restaurant or even a private chef, and wellbeing treatments at the villa’s in-house spa.
Other exclusive offers for couples looking for a touch of glamor include luxury car services, a personal butler, photography services, shopping assistance, a rentable helicopter or private jet, and yes, even a bodyguard and security team. Meanwhile, charming rooms can keep 100 guests comfortable, while the estate’s spacious, centuries-old park provides a verdant backdrop for a romantic “I do.”
Villa Balbiano — Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy
Destination weddings in Italy have become incredibly popular recently, which is why we’re including another top venue for these special celebrations: Lake Como. More specifically, the sophisticated Villa Balbiano, which epitomizes Italian luxury at its finest. Its vibrant view of the mountains and Lake Como, paired with a private pier and large Italian garden (which received praise from the British Society of Garden Designers), make it a go-to venue for weddings of all kinds.
Besides hosting a collection of six luxurious suites, the property also features a jaw-dropping collection of paintings, furniture, and antiques sourced from renowned auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
These include untouched, 17th-century frescoes by the Recchi brothers and Agostino Silva—certainly a plus for couples who appreciate culture and the arts. One can only expect the best from an estate that famous cardinals have owned over the centuries: a historical spot where elaborate festivals, banquets, and dances for high society have taken place.
Chiswick House & Gardens — London, UK
Make your period drama-worthy wedding a reality in London’s Chiswick House & Gardens. Located in the affluent yet cozy town of Chiswick, this exclusive venue will make bride and grooms feel like they’ve stepped into a Jane Austen novel.
The estate features the Chiswick House, a stunning 18th-century villa that’s hosted its fair share of famous, extravagant celebrations, namely those of Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire and members of the British royal family. The home can house 90 guests, with a seated dinner for 80. A bride and groom can choose to enjoy their special day in many of the villa’s elegant spaces, including its domed saloon and stately Galleries.
Yet the villa itself is only the beginning, as the property features charming courtyards (which can take around 90 to 120 guests) and a garden pavilion surrounded by a green lawn (which accommodates 200 people). Whether you want your celebration to be an intimate or grand one, the property offers a spectacular space for every need.
Amanzoe — Porto Heli, Greece
Greece has always felt like an ideal place for a romantic wedding—and not just because of the ever-influential Mamma Mia (though it’s certainly had a hand in the destination’s popularity). There’s something spellbinding about exchanging vows in ancient grounds, in a country that seems unchanged by time in all the best ways.
Amanzoe in Porto Heli encapsulates this, providing a luxurious venue by the Aegean sea that feels at once modern and ancient. Greece’s historic architecture has certainly influenced Amanzoe, yet the luxury hotel and resort puts a fresh spin on the classics with sleek, contemporary designs. This results in a place that feels timeless, melding the greatest aspects of history and the now.
A bride and groom can take comfort in the accommodation’s wide range of premium services, including discrete and efficient event planners who can ensure their wedding is exactly how they want it to be. Guests and the soon-to-be-weds can enjoy a wedding reception unlike any other in Amanzoe’s Amphitheater, with degustation pairings and live performances that harken back to those in ancient Greece.
Receptions or more intimate ceremonies can also take place in Amanzoe’s fire pit with its panoramic views of the Aegean Sea and Peloponnese hills. These are just a few of the offerings from the legendary Aman group, which promises that no request is “too great” and detail “too small.”
Bulgari Resort — Bali, Indonesia
Couples who reside in Asia need not travel to the Northern Hemisphere to experience the wedding of their dreams. The Bulgari Resort in Bali, Indonesia, proves that the best destination wedding venues don’t have to be ones far from home. It’s an ideal venue for those who want to revel in the marvelous beauty of Indonesian island life within the comfort of a modern, luxe setting.
Choose between four incredible wedding venues, each one with its own unique backdrop and features, yet all of them featuring vibrant surroundings that everyone will certainly remember for years to come.
Bulgari Mansion
Immerse your special celebration in Balinese culture and design with a ceremony at the resort’s Mansion (designed by the Italian architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel), which is seated atop a secluded hill overlooking the Indian Ocean. A transparent floor on the Mansion’s pool creates a sparkling walkway for a truly private and cozy exchanging of vows.
Bulgari La Terazza and Chapel
Meanwhile, the resort’s La Terraza is a more casual yet equally sophisticated outdoor area for intimate ceremonies for 12 guests and a beautiful dinner for 30. Then of course, there’s the Bulgari Wedding Chapel—the very first in the world—which the resort has crafted from Bali’s traditional Paras Kerobokan stone. It also features a hand-crafted floor-to-ceiling glass paneling, creating an unparalleled ambiance for the bride, groom, and all their guests.
Bulgari Villa
Last, but certainly not least, is the Bulgari Resort’s Villa. Its terrace and gazebo can accommodate all kinds of receptions and ceremonies, alongside an upper level with an expansive reflecting pool for that perfect wedding snapshot.
Song Saa Private Island — Cambodia
If reserving a private island is your idea of a wonderful wedding celebration, then Song Saa in Cambodia may be the place for you. Two secluded islands make up Song Saa, which is Khmer for “The Sweethearts” —probably one of the most fitting names one can think of when it comes to a wedding destination. There’s a homey and refreshing simplicity to Song Saa that makes it a great spot for more private, beachfront celebrations.
Like Bulgari Resort, Song Saa offers different venues for a bride and groom to enjoy their special day in. Of course, there’s the Beachfront, which is the island’s most scenic location, featuring a ceremonial gazebo set against a panoramic view of the sky and waters.
Then there’s the Vista Overwater Restaurant & Lounge, which sits by the island’s shoreline, with the island’s marine reserve and house reef surrounding it. The venue can seat 36 people, with 12 more guests on the open air deck. Food, of course, is also a notable feature, with a selection of global cuisine made from fresh, local seafood and organic ingredients straight from the island’s gardens.
A bride and groom can hire the entire island for a group of 12 to 48 guests, depending on their needs, and can customize the entire experience with the help of a Song Saa wedding planner.
