One thing you don’t have to worry about is a shortage of incredible locations for destination weddings in the United States. Actually, we have so many unique destinations available to us that parts of the United States often look so different you could easily mistake them for different countries. Planning any wedding can be super stressful but having the entire country to choose from can definitely add to it. I’ve been lucky enough to somehow travel vast amounts of this beautiful country as a wedding photographer and I wanted to lend some of the knowledge from that to ease your wedding planning searches. This is a carefully curated list of the places I recommend for your destination weddings in the united states.
Best locations for destination weddings
O’ahu, Hawaii
You may have a hard time choosing between a lush venue in the mountains or an ocean view on the sand. Whatever you decide, O’ahu like most of Hawaii is known for excellent service that includes wedding planners who are dedicated to crafting your exact vision.
ROY SERAFIN PHOTO CO.
“Unique works of art that perfectly captures you and your partner.
Plan your wedding for Oahu’s off-season (mid-September to the end of November; February – May).
Portland, Oregon
If you want a spring destination wedding, you’ll see cherry blossoms, daffodils, magnolias, and other blooms at incredible venues like Leach Botanical Garden and Lewis & Clark College Gardens. For those wanting pops of reds, oranges, and yellows as a backdrop for a fall wedding, Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum and the views from Kimpton RiverPlace Hotel are the way to go. If you want to go super unique Cathedral Park is under the St. John’s Bridge and makes for the perfect wedding ceremony location.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is one of the most frequented places for elopements in the country and for good reason. It’s a relatively budget-friendly option that doesn’t sacrifice the views or available amenities available for your wedding day. You might want to check out gave of Sedona Wedding & Event Center for traditional weddings or Cathedral rock for those looking to elope.
Las Vegas, Nevada
The best places to wed in Las Vegas, are not all out on the strip. Who doesn’t love a little Viva Las Vegas though? As a matter of fact, Las Vegas is frequently mentioned as one of the best places to marry simply because of how many places are there to do just that. In my opinion, though, Las Vegas is best used as a hub to get to cinematic landscapes & unique venues. It’s two hours away from two different national parks and 45 minutes from one of the most instagram famous landscapes in Nevada. Needless to say, you can have the whole experience of Las Vegas without having to actually have your ceremony in typical Las Vegas.
Miami, Florida
Miami is an exciting and beautiful city, so if you’re planning a destination wedding anywhere in the world, it’s worth taking a look. Tourists flock to Miami for its Art Deco architecture that has been preserved from the 1930s-50s era along with vibrant aesthetics and awe-inspiring beaches like South Beach or Haulover Park or where the incredible botanical gardens! There is no shortage of venues in this city.
Don’t book in March or May as availability is already limited and Miami can be especially pricy this time of year.
Charleston, South Carolina
This historic city has southern charm emanating from every corner, and it’s home to a host of venues possessing an elegant aesthetic that cannot be found anywhere else in the country. While there is an abundance of sprawling plantations and well-established hotels for couples seeking Southern flair on their big day, those with more modern sensibilities will find plenty here as well: sleek modern venues are plentiful; while open-air rooftop spaces provide lovely panoramic views at any time of year.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine has everything from an actual Spanish fort to pristine beaches and gorgeous wedding venues for the perfect destination wedding. Not saying this is important to your wedding but it also happens to have one of the best NY-style pizza places outside of New York itself. If you are looking for beautiful Floridian vegetation and picturesque Spanish architecture, look no further than St. Augustine, Florida.
Issaquah, Washington
Washington state as a whole is one of the prettiest places in the country. The mountains surrounding the major cities give the perfect connection back to nature even in sprawling urban jungles. However, I want to specifically lean in on one venue in particular called Treehouse Point which is a forest venue along the Raging River providing picturesque events with a backdrop of towering trees, lush plantings, a cedar-lined Pond Room, and a tent-able deck.
Austin, Texas
Weddings are bigger in Texas unless you don’t want them to be. Austin has multiple venues with pretty much any aesthetic you could possibly want to have. Even though Austin is a fairly large city some of the venues are on sprawling estates and allow for a combination of classic wedding styles with added greenery. My personal favorite destination wedding venue in the United States for Texas is Camp Lucy which is just outside of Austin in Dripping Springs, Texas.