Best destination wedding locations by budget, 2027

Q: What are the best destination wedding locations?

It depends on where your guests fly from and on your budget. Of the 16 locations in this guide, the Algarve has the lowest estimated cost in Europe: about €57,000 for a three-day wedding with 70 guests, the typical total of its guide’s cost table. Turks and Caicos is under four hours from New York, and Hawaii has the lightest paperwork.

Q: What is the cheapest destination wedding location for 70 guests?

The Algarve in Portugal. Its guide’s cost table adds up to an estimated €57,000 at typical prices for a three-day wedding with 70 guests, VAT included. Mallorca is next, at about €69,500, and Puglia has a summary estimate of €35,000–70,000. These are modeled planning figures, so ask venues for quotes on your own dates.

Q: What are some cheap destination wedding locations outside Europe?

Bali has the lowest line-by-line estimate in dollars on this list: about $85,000 for a four-day wedding with 70 guests, but it is 18–22 hours from the US east coast. Closer to the US, Tulum and Cabo San Lucas are estimated at about $151,000 and $173,500 with a hotel or resort buyout, and about $76,000 and $88,500 without it.

Q: What are the best places for a destination wedding if most guests fly from the US?

From the east coast, Turks and Caicos is under four hours from New York, Tulum is 3.5–4 hours direct to Cancún and Cabo San Lucas is 5–6 hours direct. The Algarve has a summer-only nonstop from Newark to Faro and the lowest estimated cost in Europe. From the west coast, look at Cabo, 3 hours direct, and Hawaii, which has direct flights from there but adds a long leg for east-coast guests.

Q: When should we book a destination wedding venue?

Twelve to eighteen months ahead for most destinations, and 14–20 months for signature venues such as Villa Cimbrone on the Amalfi Coast, Cap Rocat in Mallorca and Soneva in the Maldives. Peak Saturdays in May, June and September can book out two calendar years ahead at the most in-demand properties. Shoulder-month dates are more flexible.

Q: Which destination wedding places are not on this list?

This list of 16 is an editorial selection, not a ranking by popularity or bookings. Aisle has separate guides to the Riviera Maya, Cancún, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Lisbon, Dubrovnik, Marrakech, Phuket, the Scottish Highlands and Irish castles, and to US locations including Maui, Napa Valley, Charleston, Savannah, Sedona and Lake Tahoe.

At a glance

The best destination wedding locations depend on where your guests fly from and what you can spend. The Algarve has the lowest estimate in Europe: about €57,000 for a three-day wedding with 70 guests, its guide’s typical line-by-line total. Near the US, Tulum and Cabo San Lucas are estimated at about $151,000 and $173,500, each with a hotel or resort buyout. Hawaii has the lightest paperwork, and the Maldives has the highest estimate (about $349,000 for 50 guests over four nights, guest villas included). All are modeled planning figures, not quotes.

Low estimate, Europe: Algarve, about €57,000 for 70 guests
Near the US, with buyout: Tulum about $151k, Cabo about $173.5k
Highest estimate: Maldives, about $349k for 50 guests
Lightest paperwork: Hawaii: no waiting period

The best destination weddings for 2027: 16 locations in one table

The best destination weddings for 2027 depend on what you need most: the Algarve for the lowest estimated cost in Europe (about €57,000 for a three-day wedding with 70 guests), Turks and Caicos for a flight of under four hours from New York, and Hawaii for the lightest paperwork.

The table gives one cost figure per location. Where the location’s own guide has a cost table, it is that table’s typical total for a three-day weekend with 70 guests unless noted: venue, catering and bar, planner, photography and video, flowers, music, guest transfers and a contingency. All twelve tables include local tax: VAT, or service charge and GST in the Maldives. Where there is no cost table, it is a summary estimate: a band with no breakdown behind it, on a different basis. All are modeled planning figures, not quotes, so ask venues to price your own dates and guest count.

Location	Estimated cost	Best months
Algarve, Portugal	About €57,000	May, June, September
Mallorca, Spain	About €69,500	May, June, September
Tuscany, Italy	About €78,000	May, June, September
Santorini, Greece	About €82,000	Late May, June, September
Provence, France	About €84,500	Late May, June, September
Amalfi Coast, Italy	About €105,000	May, June, September
Lake Como, Italy	About €119,500	June, early September
Mykonos, Greece	About €121,000	Late May, June, early September
Puglia, Italy	€35–70k, summary estimate	May, June, September, October
Ibiza, Spain	US$30–55k for 50–80 guests, or €60–120k for 80–120; summary estimates	May, June, September
Tulum, Mexico	About $151,000, with a hotel buyout	Late April, May, early June
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	About $173,500, with a resort buyout	November, May, June
Hawaii	$75–180k for 60–80 guests at a Maui resort, summary estimate	April, May, September, early October
Turks and Caicos	$90–200k, summary estimate	February, March, April
Bali, Indonesia	About $85,000, four days	May, June, September
Maldives	About $349,000 for 50 guests, four nights, guest villas included	January to March

Locations compared

Ten in Europe, four near the US, two long-haul

€57k

Lowest estimate

Algarve, 70 guests, typical total

$349k

Highest estimate

Maldives, 50 guests, typical total

Best places for destination weddings, by where guests fly from

The best places for destination weddings are the ones the larger part of your guest list can reach on one direct flight: the Algarve, Mallorca, Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast from EU capitals, and Turks and Caicos, Tulum or Cabo San Lucas from the US east coast.

Guests fly from	Shortest trips on this list	Flight
EU capitals	Algarve (Faro), Mallorca (Palma), Tuscany (Pisa or Florence), Amalfi Coast (Naples plus a transfer)	Under 3 hours
US east coast	Turks and Caicos; Tulum via Cancún; Cabo San Lucas	Under 4 hours from New York; 3.5–4 hours; 5–6 hours, all direct
US east coast, to Europe	Algarve (Newark to Faro, summer only); Lake Como (Milan Malpensa); Mallorca (Newark route listed, or via Madrid or Barcelona); the rest of Italy via Rome	About 8 hours direct; 10–12 hours connecting
US west coast	Cabo San Lucas; Hawaii	3 hours direct; 5–6 hours direct
Long-haul	Bali, Maldives	18–22 hours to either from the US east coast

Palma’s airport lists the Newark route with United Airlines but gives no months or frequency, so check the schedule. If you are searching for wedding locations abroad from the UK or Ireland, use the EU row as a starting point and check routes from your own airport. The guest travel cost estimator prices flights and rooms for each guest group by departure city.

Affordable destination wedding locations, cheapest first

The most affordable destination wedding locations on this list are the Algarve, at an estimated €57,000 for a three-day wedding with 70 guests, and Mallorca, at about €69,500; Puglia has a summary estimate of €35,000–70,000. Priced in dollars, Bali has the lowest line-by-line estimate, about $85,000 over four days. Tulum and Cabo San Lucas follow, but each guide prices a hotel or resort buyout.

Location	Estimated cost, 70 guests	The trade-off
Algarve	About €57,000	The Newark nonstop runs in summer only
Puglia	€35–70k, summary estimate	Italian paperwork for a legal ceremony
Mallorca	About €69,500	A legal ceremony needs a partner who lives in Spain or is Spanish
Bali	About $85,000, four days	18–22 hours from the US east coast
Tulum	About $151,000 with a hotel buyout; about $76,000 without	Hurricane and sargassum windows to avoid
Cabo San Lucas	About $173,500 with a resort buyout; about $88,500 without	5–6 hours from the US east coast

Mainland Greece (Nafplio and the Peloponnese) has a lower summary estimate, €30,000–60,000, but less venue infrastructure. For more, see the affordable wedding destinations collection.

Best destination wedding locations on a budget

The best destination wedding locations on a budget are the Algarve and Mallorca, estimated at about €57,000 and €69,500 for 70 guests over three days, and Puglia, on its summary estimate. Near the US, Tulum’s estimate falls from about $151,000 to about $76,000 without the hotel buyout, so ask venues what they charge without one.

Below about $35,000 all-in for 70 guests, a wedding closer to home is probably better value than any place here. Above that, set aside a 15% contingency (the budget breakdown gives 10–15% of the subtotal), and ask every venue to quote the same guest count, accommodation, meals and event schedule.

The destination wedding budget tips guide covers where to save. The budget calculator builds a starting budget by destination and guest count: venue, catering, vendors, attire, a welcome dinner and guest transport, with flights and accommodation left out.

Europe: ten locations from the Algarve to Lake Como

Ten of the 16 locations are in Europe. The typical line-by-line totals for 70 guests run from about €57,000 in the Algarve to about €121,000 on Mykonos; Puglia and Ibiza have summary estimates only. June and September are among the best months at every one.

Algarve, Portugal. The lowest estimate in Europe, with a summer nonstop from Newark to Faro.
Puglia, Italy. Masserie (fortified farmhouses), trulli villages and the longest season: May, June, September and October.
Mallorca, Spain. Fincas and Tramuntana villas at a mid-tier estimate.
Ibiza, Spain. Beach-club takeovers on the Balearic party island.
Santorini, Greece. Caldera views and sunset-timed ceremonies. Plan around the meltemi wind and limited capacity.
Tuscany, Italy. Villa estates in Chianti and the Val d’Orcia.
Mykonos, Greece. Hotel and beach-club buyouts on a party-first island, with the same meltemi wind.
Provence, France. Luberon mas and Alpilles bastides. Lavender season sets the date.
Amalfi Coast, Italy. Cliff, sea and citrus. The roads are narrow, so guests move by van.
Lake Como, Italy. Historic villas with boats between the shores, at an estimate above the Amalfi Coast’s.

The table below puts four of them side by side. For more, see destination weddings in Europe.

Four European locations, side by side.

Estimated cost for 70 guests, best months, flights and paperwork for the Algarve, Mallorca, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. The cost row holds the typical total of each guide’s line-by-line cost table for a three-day weekend: modeled planning figures, not quotes. All four totals include VAT. The winning cell is highlighted; no cell is highlighted where two locations tie.

Metric

Overview

This guide

Algarve

Portugal

Mallorca

Spain

Tuscany

Italy

Amalfi

Italy

Estimated typical cost · 70 guests

—

About €57,000

Value

About €69,500

Mid-tier

About €78,000

Mid-premium

About €105,000

Premium

Best months

—

May · Jun · Sep

Flight, EU capitals

—

< 3h

FAO direct

< 3h

PMI direct

< 3h

PSA or FLR

< 3h

NAP + transfer

Flight, US east coast

—

EWR nonstop

4x weekly, summer only

EWR direct

or via MAD or BCN, 10–12h

Via FCO

10h

Via FCO or NAP

10h

Paperwork

—

Light

4 weeks, no residency

Residency rule

One partner in Spain or Spanish

Heavy

Nulla Osta + translations

Heavy

Nulla Osta + translations

Destination wedding places near the US: Mexico, Turks and Caicos, Hawaii

The destination wedding places closest to US guests are Tulum and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean, and Hawaii.

Tulum, Mexico. Boutique hotels between jungle and beach. Avoid the hurricane and sargassum windows.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Resort buyouts along the Tourist Corridor, reliable dry-season weather, and the premium Mexican option for the US west coast.
Turks and Caicos. Resorts on Grace Bay Beach, a quick flight for east-coast guests, premium pricing. Visitors can apply for a marriage license after 48 hours on the islands.
Hawaii (Maui, Kauai, Big Island). Direct flights from the west coast and a US marriage license with no waiting period, but a long trip from the east coast and Europe. See the Maui wedding guide.

On cost, Tulum and Cabo San Lucas are the two with a line-by-line estimate: about $151,000 and $173,500 for 70 guests over three days, each with a hotel or resort buyout. Turks and Caicos and Hawaii have summary estimates only.

The table below compares the estimates, months, flights and storm seasons. For resort packages, see all-inclusive destination wedding packages; for more of the region, Mexico and Caribbean wedding destinations.

Mexico, Turks and Caicos and Hawaii, side by side.

Each location’s planning estimate with its guest count, then best months, flights from the US east coast, paperwork and storm season. Tulum and Cabo show the typical total of their guides’ cost tables, each with a hotel or resort buyout. Turks and Caicos and Hawaii show summary estimates that are not itemized, so no cost cell is highlighted. None is a quote.

Metric

Overview

This guide

Tulum

Mexico

Cabo

Mexico

Turks & Caicos

Caribbean

Hawaii

USA

Estimated cost

—

$ 151k

70 guests · line by line

$ 173.5k

70 guests · line by line

$ 90–200k

70 guests · summary estimate

$ 75–180k

Maui, 60–80 guests · summary estimate

Best months

—

Late Apr–early Jun

Nov, May–Jun

Feb–Apr

Apr–May, Sep–early Oct

Flight, US east coast

—

3.5–4h direct

CUN

5–6h direct

SJD

Under 4h direct

PLS; 90 min from Miami

10h via west coast

HNL, OGG

Paperwork

—

Moderate

Confirm with Tulum registry

Moderate

Baja California Sur registry

Light

48 hours on-island, then apply

Light

US civil process

Weather risk

—

Hurricane + sargassum

Atlantic season, Jun–Nov

Hurricane

Pacific season, May 15–Nov 30

Hurricane

Atlantic season, Jun–Nov

Tropical storms

Aug–Oct

Top destination wedding locations at the luxury end

The top destination wedding locations by estimated cost are the Maldives (about $349,000 for 50 guests over four nights, guest villas included) and, for 70 guests over three days, Cabo San Lucas with a resort buyout (about $173,500), Tulum with a hotel buyout (about $151,000), Mykonos (about €121,000), Lake Como (about €119,500) and the Amalfi Coast (about €105,000). Turks and Caicos has a summary estimate of $90,000–200,000.

Private-island resorts, exclusive villas and full hotel buyouts are what push an estimate that high. In the Maldives the wedding takes place on a single resort island, which is why that estimate is for 50 guests and the per-guest cost is the highest on this list. For more places at this level, see luxury wedding destinations.

Unique destination wedding locations: Bali, the Maldives and Puglia

For a unique destination wedding location, look at Bali (cliff chapels at Uluwatu, rice terraces at Ubud, private villa compounds), the Maldives (single-resort private islands) or Puglia (masserie, the region’s fortified farmhouses, and trulli villages).

Bali is estimated at about $85,000 for a four-day wedding with 70 guests and is best in May, June and September, but it is 18–22 hours from the US east coast, and a legal Indonesian marriage requires a religious ceremony in a religion both partners share. The Maldives is best from January through March and has the highest estimate here; resort weddings there are symbolic.

Puglia is the European option: a summary estimate of €35,000–70,000 for 70 guests, best in May, June, September and October. For places beyond these 16, browse every destination on Aisle.

Best destination wedding spots by month

The best destination wedding spots for May, June and September are in Europe and Bali. For November, look at Cabo San Lucas; for January to March, the Maldives; for February to April, Turks and Caicos. No location on this list has July or August among its best months.

Month	Locations at their best
January to March	Maldives; Turks and Caicos (February and March)
April	Hawaii, Turks and Caicos, Tulum (late April)
May and June	All ten European locations (Lake Como from June; Santorini, Mykonos and Provence from late May), Bali, Cabo San Lucas, Tulum (until early June), Hawaii (May)
September	All ten European locations (early September for Lake Como and Mykonos), Bali, Hawaii
October	Puglia; Hawaii (early October)
November	Cabo San Lucas

For any outdoor wedding, ask about the weather contingency, and in the Americas check the storm season row in the comparison table above.

Best countries to get married in, and where visitors can marry legally

The best countries to get married in as visitors, judged on paperwork alone, are the United States (Hawaii) and Portugal: neither asks for residency. Turks and Caicos, after 48 hours on the islands, Greece, Italy and Mexico also marry visitors, with more steps. Spain and France require a local tie, and resort weddings in the Maldives are symbolic.

Where	Can two visitors marry legally?	Official guidance
Hawaii	Yes	No waiting period; no residence or US citizenship requirement. Apply online, then meet a license agent together no sooner than 30 days before the ceremony.
Turks and Caicos	Yes	Visitors must be on the islands 48 hours before submitting the application.
Portugal	Yes	Residency is not required. Processing usually takes a minimum of four weeks; marry within six months of approval.
Greece	Yes	No need to live in Greece. The license is generally issued eight days after you apply, but town halls differ: Mykonos asks visitors for a license from home. Allow eight to ten weeks.
Italy	Yes	A Nulla Osta (for US citizens, a declaration sworn at a US consulate in Italy), legalized at a Prefettura, then a declaration at the town hall. US citizens may also need an Atto Notorio. Allow nine to twelve weeks.
Mexico	Yes, in a civil ceremony	Only a Civil Registry marriage is legal. The Tulum and Baja California Sur lists ask for four witnesses and medical tests valid for 15 days; Tulum’s state repealed its medical certificate in July 2026, so ask that registry.
Spain	Only if one of you lives in Spain or is Spanish	The application goes to the civil registry or a notary where one partner lives. Approval can take up to 45 days.
France	Only with a tie to the commune	One of you, or a parent, needs a home in the commune or at least one month of continuous residence. For two foreigners who do not live in France, the government lists only their consulate, an overseas collectivity or New Caledonia.
Indonesia (Bali)	Only in a religion you share	A religious ceremony is required, in one of six recognized religions that both partners share.
Maldives	Symbolic at resorts	Resorts are licensed for symbolic weddings, which create no legal obligations.

Several of these pages address US or UK citizens, so confirm with the office where you will marry and your own consulate before booking flights. Where the rules do not fit, marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony abroad. The legal requirements guide goes country by country.

How to choose from this list

Work through four filters in order, and the 16 should come down to two or three places.

Guest travel. Find where the larger part of your guest list lives, then compare routes, connections and flight costs for your season.
Budget. Use the estimates to rule places out, then get quotes for the same dates, guest numbers and services.
The legal route. A legal ceremony on site, or a symbolic one after marrying at home.
Setting and month. Cliff, sea and citrus; cypress and vineyard; or jungle and reef.

The guide to choosing a destination wedding location takes each step further and is the place to start for destinations inside the US. With a shortlist in hand, browse wedding venues abroad and in the US and ask for quotes.

Is a destination wedding right for you?

If three or more lines in the yes column describe you, shortlist from the 16 locations above. If the no column fits better, a wedding closer to home is likely the better plan.

This guide fits

a destination-wedding couple

✓Half or more of your guests will fly and stay three-plus nights
✓You are prepared to marry legally at home if the destination requires it
✓You have a 12–18 month runway before the date
✓Your guest count is between 30 and 120; above that, logistics simplify if you pick a full resort
✓You value the setting as much as the ceremony mechanics
✓You can absorb a 15% contingency on the budget

Look elsewhere

destination may not fit

–Under 20 guests and looking for a true elopement, consider an elopement-specific guide instead
–Half your guest list cannot travel or afford a trip
–You need to marry legally on a specific date and cannot absorb paperwork delays
–You want a wedding in under six months
–Budget under $35,000 all-in for 70 guests; staying domestic is probably better value
–You are not prepared to manage guest logistics across flights and hotels

Who wrote this

About this article

Written by Walt Lafky. Sources and revision details are listed here. If you spot an error, email us.

First published: 28 March 2026
Last revised: 7 October 2026
Author: Walt Lafky
Corrections: hello@aisle.wedding

Common questions

What are the best destination wedding locations?+

It depends on where your guests fly from and on your budget. Of the 16 locations in this guide, the Algarve has the lowest estimated cost in Europe: about €57,000 for a three-day wedding with 70 guests, the typical total of its guide’s cost table. Turks and Caicos is under four hours from New York, and Hawaii has the lightest paperwork.

What is the cheapest destination wedding location for 70 guests?+

The Algarve in Portugal. Its guide’s cost table adds up to an estimated €57,000 at typical prices for a three-day wedding with 70 guests, VAT included. Mallorca is next, at about €69,500, and Puglia has a summary estimate of €35,000–70,000. These are modeled planning figures, so ask venues for quotes on your own dates.

What are some cheap destination wedding locations outside Europe?+

Bali has the lowest line-by-line estimate in dollars on this list: about $85,000 for a four-day wedding with 70 guests, but it is 18–22 hours from the US east coast. Closer to the US, Tulum and Cabo San Lucas are estimated at about $151,000 and $173,500 with a hotel or resort buyout, and about $76,000 and $88,500 without it.

What are the best places for a destination wedding if most guests fly from the US?+

From the east coast, Turks and Caicos is under four hours from New York, Tulum is 3.5–4 hours direct to Cancún and Cabo San Lucas is 5–6 hours direct. The Algarve has a summer-only nonstop from Newark to Faro and the lowest estimated cost in Europe. From the west coast, look at Cabo, 3 hours direct, and Hawaii, which has direct flights from there but adds a long leg for east-coast guests.

When should we book a destination wedding venue?+

Twelve to eighteen months ahead for most destinations, and 14–20 months for signature venues such as Villa Cimbrone on the Amalfi Coast, Cap Rocat in Mallorca and Soneva in the Maldives. Peak Saturdays in May, June and September can book out two calendar years ahead at the most in-demand properties. Shoulder-month dates are more flexible.

Which destination wedding places are not on this list?+

This list of 16 is an editorial selection, not a ranking by popularity or bookings. Aisle has separate guides to the Riviera Maya, Cancún, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Lisbon, Dubrovnik, Marrakech, Phuket, the Scottish Highlands and Irish castles, and to US locations including Maui, Napa Valley, Charleston, Savannah, Sedona and Lake Tahoe.

Reckoners

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Sources

Sources and editorial notes

2026Hawaii State Department of HealthMarriage and civil union licensesOpen →
2023Registrar General’s Office, Turks and Caicos Islands GovernmentApplication for special licence: requirements to obtain a marriage licenceOpen →
2024U.S. Embassy & Consulate in PortugalMarriage in PortugalOpen →
2026U.S. Embassy & Consulates in ItalyGetting married in ItalyOpen →
2025U.S. Embassy & Consulate in GreeceGetting married in GreeceOpen →
2025GOV.UK · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeGetting married in SpainOpen →
2025U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Spain and AndorraMarriageOpen →
2021Boletín Oficial del EstadoMarriage authorization before a Spanish notaryOpen →
2026Service-Public, French governmentMarriage in France: eligibility and documentsOpen →
2021U.S. Embassy & Consulates in MexicoMarriageOpen →
2026Baja California Sur Civil RegistryCivil marriage registration, including foreign nationalsOpen →
2026Tulum Civil RegistryMarriage requirements for Mexican and foreign applicants, second quarter 2026Open →
2024U.S. Embassy & Consulates in IndonesiaMarriage in IndonesiaOpen →
2020Visit MaldivesA fairytale wedding on the beach: symbolic weddings in Maldivian resortsOpen →
2026AenaPalma de Mallorca Airport destinationsOpen →
2026Congress of Quintana RooCivil Code for the State of Quintana Roo, consolidated text (last reform published September 7, 2026)Open →
2026U.S. Embassy & Consulates in ItalyGetting married in the consular district of NaplesOpen →
2024Municipality of Mykonos, Civil Wedding OfficeRequired documents for foreign residents abroad (in Greek)Open →

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The 16 best destination wedding locations for 2027.

At a glance

The best destination weddings for 2027: 16 locations in one table

Best places for destination weddings, by where guests fly from

Affordable destination wedding locations, cheapest first

Best destination wedding locations on a budget

Europe: ten locations from the Algarve to Lake Como

Four European locations, side by side.

Destination wedding places near the US: Mexico, Turks and Caicos, Hawaii

Mexico, Turks and Caicos and Hawaii, side by side.

Top destination wedding locations at the luxury end

Unique destination wedding locations: Bali, the Maldives and Puglia

Best destination wedding spots by month

Best countries to get married in, and where visitors can marry legally

How to choose from this list

Is a destination wedding right for you?

This guide fits

Look elsewhere

About this article

Common questions

Now do the maths.

Sources and editorial notes

Related reading

Put your guest plans in one place.