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“We’ll have a destination wedding in Europe!”
How can you not get excited when you make such an announcement to your friends and family? Whether you’re tying the knot in a secluded farmhouse in Provence, along the coast of Amalfi in Italy, inside a dreamy castle in Germany, or 700 feet above seawater at the edge of an Irish cliff, your wedding, or shall we say elopement in Europe, is bound to astound.
Destination elopements have become a trend for the past decade, and it’s becoming even more popular nowadays. An elopement or a micro wedding is a celebration of love with zero to only a handful of guests, which seems to be the most sensible option when you’re flying miles from home.
To rescue you from the vast sea of options, we’ve rounded up the most astonishing locations for a dreamy elopement in Europe.
Photo: K Photography
Ireland is that one destination in Europe that will never run out of dreamy castles for beautiful weddings. Some of these castles are surrounded by hundreds of acres of private land with idyllic gardens and stunning Irish landscapes while some have an imposing baronial or gothic facade that lovers of classic novels and history would drool over.
No matter which castle you get married in, you are sure to enjoy the modern comforts, grand interiors, and sumptuous dining experiences that they provide.
Photo: K Photography
Do you envision a rustic elopement in Europe? If yes, then you’ll fall in love with Irish wedding venues sitting amidst breathtaking nature. Take for example this charming thatched-roof cottage in the middle of the Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve. Where pines, bushes, and flowers grow naturally all year round. You can have an outdoor ceremony right in front of a century-old tree here and enjoy the venue’s majestic outdoor vibe.
Aside from rustic venues like this, there are many other nature spots in Ireland that are reserved only for the most adventurous couple. There’s this famous Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare where you can recite your vows overlooking the wild Atlantic. There’s also a chapel by the lake in Co. Cork that is fully consecrated for traditional Catholic wedding ceremonies.
Photo: K Photography
Historic church ruins are a sight to behold in Ireland. They offer a unique historic vibe for couples who want a medieval theme for their destination wedding. In Ireland, there are castle derelicts sitting next to a cliff or high on the hills, hidden between the farms and the fields. Reciting your vows in one of these century-old structures will give you vibrant greens and a historic building as your wedding backdrop. How’s that for an extraordinary place to celebrate your big day?
Photo: K Photography
If you’re a fan of nature and history, nothing will impress you more than decades-old wedding venues by the river, tucked in the mountains, or next to an alpine lake. There are so many wedding venues located in these dreamy nature spots within the Austrian border.
Austria may not be as popular as France or Italy as a wedding destination but adventurous couples who love nature and the arts should start tapping the potential of Austria as a dream destination to say your I do’s.
The options are limitless, from lakeside Renaissance castles in Salzburg, mountain lodges in the Alps, riverside 5-star hotels, picturesque chalets in the mountains, and many more!
Photo: Flora & Grace
Witness the glorious pastel buildings of Amalfi when you choose to get married in one of its hotels or villas in Positano or Sorrento. If you opt to have a sunset wedding in one of these Italian venues, brace yourself for the most breathtaking ceremony backdrop.
The majestic sun slowly fading on the horizon and the pastel-coloured villas, hotels, and houses arranged vertically along the coast!
Photo: Moon Weddings
Venues along the Amalfi coast offer terraces and botanical gardens as the perfect spot for wedding ceremonies.
Photo: Two Little Birds Photography
If you get married in the Tuscan countryside, you should choose a venue that shows the picturesque landscape of this lovely Italian region. That’s what you’re getting when you celebrate your wedding outdoors in one of the Tuscan villas or country houses.
Tuscany has long been a wedding capital in Italy, that’s why their venues have dedicated ceremony spots that offer perfect views of the Tuscan hills, Italian vineyards, and olive groves!
Expect nothing but a tranquil ambience of the Italian countryside when you choose this region for your destination wedding in Europe.
Photo: Two Little Birds Photography
Dreamy elopement ceremonies happen in Italian villas perched along one of Italy’s famous attractions, Lake Como. Find a wedding villa or hotel with an ideal ceremony spot where you can see the panoramic view of the lake, the rolling hills of Northern Italy, and Italian villages with their carefully-preserved buildings.
Photo: Moon Weddings
De toute beauté! Relish the romantic ambience in a charming French chateau that sits at the very heart of Southern France. These beautiful chateaux are ideal elopement venues for couples who travel to European destinations for grandiose architecture and an excellent gastronomic experience.
Photo: Kristine Krupenny Photo
Wedding chateaus in the French countryside offer world-class accommodations and elegant ceremony spots for dreamy elopements in France. If you’re looking really well, you can even scout one with a Michelin-starred restaurant!
Tucked in the picturesque hills of Germany, in the middle of a woodland, or next to scenic vineyards are fairytale castles that date back to the 12th- and 14th-century.
Most of these historic venues were built in medieval times with astounding brickwork and towering heights. Some of them have chapels for religious ceremonies, restaurants featuring German cuisine, and wide courtyards to accommodate all wedding sizes! Every spot inside these castles is rich in history and oozing with elegance.
Photo: Flora & Grace
For the love of authentic European wines, elope to a German region that boasts scenic vineyards and an evergreen landscape!
We recommend wedding castles and country houses to wine-loving couples who would love a tour of big hectares of vineyards and hundred-year-old wine cellars. Recite your vows at these venues’ gardens and have the picturesque vineyards for a backdrop!
Photo: Flora & Grace
Bavaria never runs out of elopement venues that offer unique ceremony spots for adventure-loving couples: rustic platforms with views of the mountain and castle terraces overlooking the Alps. The other features to die for in nature wedding venues are their infinity pools overlooking the Alps and panorama decks that can be privatized for your special ceremony.
Photo: Flora & Grace
We’ve been talking about fairytale castles since the beginning of this post, but worthy of mention is this unique garden in Wonsees that is tucked inside a mystical forest. You can have an elopement ceremony right in the middle of these unique rock formations!
Photo: The DeLauras
Portugal is known for scenic sunsets along its long 1860-km coastline. What better way to take advantage of it than by getting married on the terrace or beachfront of boutique hotels with views of the Atlantic ocean? The day after your elopement ceremony, wake up to the view of its turquoise waters fronting your hotel room!
Pick a venue filled with natural light, Portugal’s rich history, and breathtaking ocean views. Prepare to be transported back in time when you choose to get married in medieval wedding hotels located at the nation’s capital that offer no less than a perfect view of the Atlantic!
When you have the chance to get married in a luxury European hotel with a 360-degree view of the Atlantic, wouldn’t you take it?
There are modern golf resorts near Cascais that are perfect for luxurious destination weddings in Portugal. When we say luxurious, we mean modern European hotel features, a world-class dining experience, plenty of outdoor and indoor options with spectacular views of the Portuguese landscape! You can either have a ceremony by the beach or inside a lavishly decorated function room.
Spain is, hands down, the European country with the most number of heritage sites and the most golden of all sunsets. It could be a perfect wedding destination for you if you’re a beach-loving couple who loves history, culture, and scenic ocean views.
There is a certain location in Spain called the Balearic Islands where everything feels high-end. It’s a celebrity holiday destination. Beach clubs, hotels, villas, and restaurants here are top-notch and the theme of the islands is boho. Its 5-star luxury vibe is magnetic, and you can tie the knot either by the beach or inside a club!
It’s impossible to disassociate Spain from wines. Wines are engraved in the Spanish culture and economy, and not surprisingly, even in their wedding industry.
Spain is dotted with romantic vineyards, bodegas, and wineries, and their owners saw the potential of their properties as wedding venues for wine-loving couples. Fast forward to today, Spanish wineries and bodegas have opened their doors for weddings inside their wine cellars, function rooms, and gardens overlooking lovely vineyards as far as the eye can see.
The most elegant of them are located in Salamanca, Barcelona, and Catalonia where you can have an indoor or outdoor ceremony with vineyards and wine elements everywhere. How do you feel about having an intimate ceremony inside a wine cellar with barrels and a rustic vibe inside?
Now that you’ve seen the list of fifteen unique and exhilarating types of wedding venues in Europe, are you convinced that a destination elopement here is the best way to make your big day extra special? Get in touch with a destination wedding planner in Europe to help you get the ball rolling!
This post was written by Peach Perfect, a boutique wedding planning agency specalising in European weddings.
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