5 Island Wedding Destinations Not In The Caribbean

It should come as a surprise to no one that the Caribbean is one of the top spots for a destination wedding, but with all its upside, like accessibility and price, it also comes with downsides, such as hurricane season and a bottleneck of people who are also planning trips there. Here are five alternative island wedding destinations that are just as fabulous:

KAUAI

All of Hawaii’s islands make great wedding destinations, however, Kauai seems to offer an intimacy and quietness that you don’t always get on the other islands. Even still, visitors have access to great luxury hotels that make for beautiful venues, such as the Sheraton Kauai and Kaua’i Marriott Resort, which both offer beautiful backdrops. For something more upscale, there’s the St. Regis Princeville Resort, characterized by beautiful mountainous and oceanfront views.

BERMUDA

Bermuda often gets overlooked since it’s so far off mainland America, located several hundred miles due east of the Carolinas, yet that’s often just the exclusivity you want from your wedding. Nonetheless, Bermuda offers some of the same exclusivity and budget-friendliness of the Caribbean, such as direct and one-stop flights can be as low as $400 from the East Coast. Some of the best wedding hotels in Bermuda include a couple of Fairmont properties, including the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, one of the most historic Fairmont properties, which dates back to 1885.

WHITSUNDAYS

For a bucket list type of wedding, there are the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. Characterized by 74 islands, the Whitsundays are perhaps most known for their proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, making for a great adventure honeymoon. Of the 74 islands, Hamilton Island is one of the best for weddings, since it’s the largest. It’s home to a number of picturesque venues, such as the luxurious Qualia Resort, which Taylor Swift and her entire crew have been guests of. For a really unique Australian wedding, do a “rent-a-yacht” wedding.

MALDIVES

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, one of the only places you can properly have an underwater wedding, since it’s home to Ithaa, the world’s only undersea water chapel (don’t worry, you and your guests don’t get wet). Other great wedding hotels include the Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru.

SAN JUAN ISLANDS

Serene, offbeat and beautiful, the San Juan Islands often get overlooked as a destination, with its location in the Pacific Northwest. Yet it’s a destination many Americans never visit, let alone get married on. Here you have your pick of unique backdrops, from getting married in a field of lavender at Pelindaba Lavender Farm to a lighthouse wedding at Lime Kiln Society Lighthouse to a hotel wedding, such as Rosario Resort and Spa on Orcas Island. The largest of the San Juan Islands, Orcas Island offers the largest variety of wedding venues.