Amazing Destination Wedding Photos

Choosing the perfect wedding location is often one of the most challenging planning decisions for the bride and groom. In many ways, your wedding venue plays the largest role in informing the tone of your big day. If you choose a luxe rooftop lounge overlooking the city, a black-tie vibe might feel most appropriate, but if you've been dreaming of a garden wedding, a laid-back, flower-filled event is probably more fitting. When you're planning a destination weddings, however, you're bound to be inspired by more than just the venue itself—if you're tying the knot in a beloved far-flung locale, you'll be hard-pressed not to be inspired by the vibe of the entire location.

Although planning a faraway event requires lots of careful work, the payoff you'll receive in the form of breathtaking photos is more than worth the extra effort. To prove it, we're showcasing some of the most epic photos from real destinations around the world. While many of these celebrations are elopements or intimate ceremonies, you'll also find that destination weddings are conducive to larger guest lists, too. Regardless of the look and style you're going for,  you're bound to find a location to add to your list of spots to consider here. Into the idea of heading somewhere with an adventurous spirit? Then look to this couple for inspiration. They found their perfect big-day venue in the ruins of Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan temple. The weekend-long event consisted of hiking, cave tubing, and snorkeling and was attended by just 30 of their closest family members and friends.

Whether you want to have your ceremony in the California desert or throw an all-white wedding in snowy Utah, know that your photos will be anything but boring. The following destination wedding photos are sure to get your planning wheels turning.

This pair headed to Tuscany to tie the knot in the ancient ruins of the San Galgano Abbey.

A beach wedding initially comes to mind when we hear "Malibu," nut this couple managed to find a sprawling hillside and green landscape at Cielo Farms Winery.

Santorini's rolling, dried-out hills contrasted against the deep blue water of the sea of Crete, providing a picturesque setting for this duo's destination wedding.

One bride's moody black dress fit right into the misty air and dark mountains of Lake Como in Northern Italy.

It's clear why these newlyweds chose Tirtha Uluwatu in Bali as the venue for their wedding. The location's surroundings teemed with vibrant green bushes and an ocean view that seemed to go on for miles.

Consider the season when planning your destination wedding. The dreamy, snow-covered grounds in Utah inspired this couple's white-and-gray color palette.

Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic provided these newlyweds with a stone balcony straight out of Romeo and Juliet for their ceremony.

For their elopement, this couple took to the expansive landscape of Cannon Beach in Oregon. We love how the giant rock forms framed their ceremony perfectly.

Many couples take a trip to the "City of Light" for their faraway days. However, if you really want a photo that makes an impact, take note from these newlyweds who opted for a location with a perfect view of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

This faraway wedding was a hike (literally!) for this couple. In order to get to the beautiful waterfall at Abiqua Falls in Oregon, this couple had to walk down a slick path using ropes for support. Who wouldn't for that photo?

To celebrate their shared loved of art, history, and classic luxury, this pair decided to wed in historic Venice, Italy. Its narrow streets boasted many options for an after-wedding photo op.

For their ceremony, this couple said their vows in front of the desert mountains at Colony 29 in Palm Springs, California. To showcase their destination even more, they opted for a muted, cream color palette with metallic and leather accents.

The Slieve Bloom Mountains in Ireland provided this duo with an ideal location for their active families. There, guests could hike, boat, and horseback ride all weekend long.

As a nod to the bride's heritage, this wedding took place in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands—her childhood home.

Although Banff, Canada, features a rugged terrain and a moody, foggy atmosphere, there's an undeniable level of romance in the location. Just look to this couple's portraits for proof.

You don't have to make the trek to Italy to throw a Tuscan-inspired event. The beaten paths and vineyard of Malibu Rocky Oaks still gave off an Italian feel for this couple's day.

The Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California, was an obvious choice for these newlyweds who wanted a weekend of relaxation. The ocean venue also inspired the wedding's blue-and-gold color palette.

We love how the sun lit up the Ayana Resort's all-white balcony, and how the atmosphere didn't drown out the bride's sparkly Inbal Dror gown.

Italy boasts many romantic options for your destination venue, but we are partial to the Hotel Villa Cimbrone in Ravello. The hotel's balcony overlooks a seemingly endless body of water.

Move over Will and Kate, this venue is fit for royalty. A Very Beloved Wedding planned this duo's big day at the scenic (and exclusive!) Brympton House in Somerset, England.

After this couple's ceremony at the Julia Morgan Ballroom, they decided to walk the bustling streets of San Francisco.

As if this jetty on Lake Champlain at sunset wasn't dreamy enough, scattered candles brought an even more ethereal feel to the location.

These brides tied the knot at the Ojai Valley Inn overlooking scenic, rolling hills.

Paris isn't the only option for a French-themed event. Instead, guests enjoyed baguettes, Champagne, and a croquembouche at a venue that overlooked Old Montreal.

This pair's venue choice was a no-brainer. They were particularly drawn to the food, the scenery, and the architecture of Antiparos, Greece. The photos prove it was a great choice.

This couple took photos in front of the New York City skyline for a modern and industrial touch to their rustic wedding at 26Bridge.

Not only was the Sulamani Temple in Bagan a gorgeous backdrop for these newlyweds' vows, it was also the spot where the couple got engaged.

The orange-hued brick walls of The Pergola and Hill Garden in London blended beautifully with the tones in the bride and groom's traditional Nigerian attire.

For their elopement this couple took to the big city. Who can say "no" to the lush green trees of Central Park?

This couple said their vows in their ancestral homeland at the 4th century temple ruins in Vietnam. The elopement resulted in a gorgeous—and intimate—ceremony.

Having spent several holidays skiing in Aspen, the mountain town held a special meaning to this couple. That's why it provided a sentimental location for their Colorado nuptials.

These Milan natives wed at L'Andana, a boutique luxury resort in the heart of the Maremma, run by the Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. Historically the Medici summer villa, the 16th century estate has a storybook landscape with rows of cypresses, centuries-old olive groves, and views of the Tyrrhenian coast.

This duo's wanderlust led them to choose an exotic wedding venue—the Rayavadee resort in Thailand, a beachside property near Krabi Marine National Park. Here they share a moment post ceremony on Phranang Beach.

During their reception, these newlyweds snuck out to take in the scenic views of the Teton Range, which served as a breathtaking backdrop for the day's festivities at Jackson's Snake River Ranch. 

Because this bride knew she didn't want a hometown affair—and she had always dreamed of a wedding in Paris—the couple flew to the City of Light to tie the knot. 

After this couple got engaged, they revealed where they imagined getting married at the count of three. Their responses were identical: on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The brides researched the location and found Anderson Canyon, a private estate on the seaside cliffs of the California town.

Friends and family members joined these newlyweds for their wedding on Wadmalaw Island, just miles from Charleston, South Carolina, a town the twosome considers their home away from home.