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Top 10 Destination Wedding Locations

Most Popular Destinations for the Perfect Wedding

From the white dress, the prince charming husband, to the cake, it’s a day most women have dreamt about since they were little girls. It’s your wedding day. The one day where everything is to be flawless--from the way you look to the manner in which your special day flows. You want to feel like a princess and be swept off your feet by the sheer magnitude of the moment, recalling every romantic, breathtaking minute forever.

St. Thomas Wedding
St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands offers beaches and beauty.

Traditionally, weddings are a ceremony held in front of hundreds of your closest friends and family members. But if you are a bride picturing something a little more original, perhaps exchanging vows with your fiancé on a tropical beach as your closest friends and family watch on, you are not alone. Destination weddings have become increasingly popular in recent years, with over 16 percent of all American weddings being destination.

With so many great choices throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii, how are you supposed to find the perfect spot for your wedding? Don’t reinvent the wheel; here are the top 10 wedding destinations of the year. These favorite destinations have been identified from the data of several thousand weddings being planned by the specialists at DestinationWeddings.com.

#10: Turks and Caicos
This destination has consistently been recognized for its amazing natural beauty, and touts its motto as “beautiful by nature”. Endless beaches and surrounding coral reefs make for an incredible experience for beach and diving lovers. Turks and Caicos also has over 300 square miles of protected area, many of which are available for your exploration and enjoyment.

#9: St. Thomas
This U.S. Virgin Island is always on the list of most popular locations for a destination wedding. This is because it is a U.S. territory that boasts beaches that have been recognized as some of the best in the world, world-class duty-free shopping, and nature preserves.

#8: Costa Rica
Central America has been a recent new-comer to the list, with Costa Rica being the first location to become popular for destination weddings. This area offers incredible value combined with the unspoiled beauty of amazing rainforests, volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches, and countless other wilderness wonders. From the minimalist to the luxury-seeker, there is a resort for everyone in Costa Rica.

#7: St. Lucia
Rich, cultural heritage and cuisine rank St. Lucia’s diversity amongst the best in the world. The region is known for its mixture of British and French influence as well as its rich volcanic soils. The volcanic make up of the island has created a lush tropical paradise of mountains, valleys, forests and beaches, all of which are stunning backdrops for destination weddings.

#6: Aruba
Sitting far south in the Caribbean, Aruba enjoys a near constant 80 degree temperature year-round, with an incredibly low average rainfall, which makes it popular for destination weddings. Never ending sandy beaches are backed by popular resorts offering fine cuisine and casino gambling, along with plentiful nearby shopping opportunities make this the number six location for favorite wedding destination.

#5: Nassau/Paradise Island, Bahamas
Just off the coast of Florida, Nassau and its bridge-connected Paradise Island offer a great combination of nightlife, casino gambling, luxury resorts, and miles of fine, white sandy shorelines that merge into the crystal clear ocean waters. The culture is colorful and friendly, with the famous Junkanoo Dancers always a must-see.  

#4: Hawaii
Hawaii combines Polynesian legend and creation with stunning waterfalls, forests and botanical wonders that simply enchant. Six gorgeous islands - Maui, Oahu, Big Island, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai - which are surrounded by magnificent beaches and sparkling, blue ocean making Hawaii weddings truly spectacular.

#3: Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is home to a host of world-class all-inclusive resorts, making it a perfect spot for couples looking for value, natural beauty, and glorious beaches. Much like Jamaica, the “D.R.” has many choices from the lush mountains and valleys of Puerto Plata, to the spectacular beaches of Punta Cana and La Romana, there is something for everyone.

#2: Jamaica
Jamaica is an amazing combination of exquisite natural beauty, and friendly and fun culture. The beauty of lush tropical forests, waterfalls and endless beaches is accentuated by the island’s continual party atmosphere and friendly locals. And if you are looking for options, Jamaica has at least four for your destination wedding to include the beaches of Negril, highlands of Montego Bay, waterfalls of Ocho Rios and the caves of Runaway Bay.

#1: Mexico
Mexico claims its seat as number one destination wedding location with little challenge. This country has two main areas of attraction for weddings: Cabo San Lucas on the west coast, and Cancun/Riviera Maya area on the east coast. Cabo boasts an incredible location, being on the tip of the Baha Peninsula-where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific. Cancun is the quintessential party town with incredible nightlife and beaches. The Riviera Maya also enjoys a great location just south of Cancun with unbelievable beaches, archeological ruins close by for exploration, and luxurious all-inclusive hotels. 

Destinationweddings.com has planned thousands of weddings throughout the tropics, and is the largest destination wedding planner in North America. 

(Source: Destination Weddings)