Whether you want to combine your wedding and honeymoon destination or you are looking for the ultimate paradisiacal honeymoon holiday, the world is your oyster.
A number of countries and resorts offer wedding and honeymoon packages so you can say “I do” barefoot on a beach or even half way up a mountain.
Some people prefer to sit on a white-sand beach for their honeymoons while others are looking for more adventurous activity holidays for a honeymoon with a difference.
Whatever your wedding and honeymoon dream, travelling abroad to tie the knot can offer much better value for money than a more traditional wedding at home.
Italy, the Maldives and Bali are perennial favourite honeymoon destinations. If celebrities can do it why can’t you?
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ wedding in Italy hit the headlines a few years ago thanks to its all-star guest list, intriguing secrecy and, most importantly of all, the charming romance of Bracciano, the Italian town hosting all the drama.
Italy is one of the most romantic holiday destinations in the world and although most people are unlikely to have Hollywood stars flocking to their wedding, getting married in Italy may be much easier than you think, with coordinators Weddings in Italy available to sort out all the details.
Of course there are plenty of potential honeymoon holiday options in Italy. Whether you want to be pampered in a spa overlooking the Tuscan countryside or stay in a castle, you won’t have to go far to find your perfect honeymoon holiday.
Our pick of the top five Italian wedding destinations are Venice, Positano, Rome, Florence and Lake Garda.
Palazzo Cavalli is a 16th-century Venetian palace furnished with 18th-century paintings, furniture and ceramics and is ideal for a magical, grand wedding. The palace has views over the Grand Canal and Venice’s landmark Rialto Bridge as well as the added bonus of being in one of the world’s most romantic cities.
Positano on Italy’s Amalfi coast has been charming visitors with its spectacular scenery since the 1950s. An inspirational place for writers and artists, the town makes a wonderful venue for a wedding to remember in Italy.
The Positano town hall offers an authentic Mediterranean setting for your ceremony, and also has a lovely terrace to enjoy a drink and take in the sea views. Stay in the five-star Poseidon hotel, which has its own fitness and beauty centre, ideal for preparing for the big day.
The ‘Sala Rossa’ on the Capitoline Hill, the smallest of Rome’s seven famous hills, is a great place to soak up the magic and drama of Rome. The Sala Rossa (meaning red hall), is located on Piazza del Campidoglio, which was designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, and makes a perfect setting for wedding photos.
The 14th-century Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is one of the most lavishly decorated places to be married in Italy. Located close to the Ponte Vecchio, couples can stay at the four-star Degli Orafi, which offers panoramic views of the city from its fifth-floor bar.
If you find the romance and charm of a medieval castle hard to beat, Castello Malcesine, surrounded by Italian gardens and perched on a hilltop overlooking Lake Garda, is the perfect Italian wedding destination. Stay in the four-star hotel Sirmione overlooking the lake, with a waterside terrace restaurant and thermal treatments available.
Britons keen on avoiding the unreliable British weather by getting married abroad can take advantage of comprehensive wedding packages on the Greek island of Rhodes.
The Unique Weddings in Rhodes website has been launched to give couples a wide range of wedding possibilities on the island, from traditional locations to more unusual options such as exchanging vows on a boat or holding your wedding at one of Rhodes’ visitor attractions.
Through the website holidaymakers can have many of the arrangements for the big day taken care of, from catering and flowers to all the legal requirements and necessary documents, with extras such as hen or stag parties, honeymoons and pre-ceremony beauty treatments also available.
At the moment Unique Weddings in Rhodes is offering credit crunch beating weddings for only £700!
Rhodes has 300 days of sunshine a year, a number of five-star places to stay as well as many locations ideal for weddings.
In Thailand Sarojin has created a six night luxurious honeymoon experience, designed to provide a level of personalised service and hospitality that makes the honeymoon just as special as the wedding day.
The experience begins with a luxury private car transfer from Phuket airport, with refreshments and cold towels on hand during the 55 minutes journey to the 56 room resort.
Upon arrival, guests are escorted to one of beautifully decorated guest residences, where a chilled complimentary bottle of sparkling wine awaits, together with flowers and a basket laden with Thailand’s exotic fruits.
Also included in the package, and to be arranged at your convenience, is a private Candlelit Jungle Waterfall Dinner Experience just for two, as well as two 90 minute Royal Oriental Spa treatments at the Sarojin’s award winning Pathways Spa, and daily a la carte breakfast with sparkling wine.
The Sarojin’s unique style of hospitality is further enhanced by its very own Imagineer, an ultimate personal concierge whose expertise and imagination helps turn guests’ wishes into reality. Jowell Philemond-Montout is The Sarojin’s Imagineer and his in-depth knowledge of the hidden treasures of the surrounding five national parks, combined with the amenities of The Sarojin, allow him full reign to create unique guest experiences.
A deluxe holiday experience, it is a wonderfully indulgent romantic retreat and priced from approximately £1,560 per couple, and the Luxurious Honeymoon Experience includes the extras that make such an occasion truly memorable.
The volcanic island of Mauritius is a popular destination for those seeking out luxury wedding and honeymoon holidays thanks to its warm climate, beautiful beaches and gorgeous scenery, together with a rich culture infused with Portuguese, Chinese and Indian elements.
Getting married in Mauritius is straightforward and couples are able to get married the day after the posting of their marriage banns, although they must obtain a certificate from the prime minister’s office stating that they are not residents or citizens of Mauritius in advance and this must reach the registrar of births, deaths and marriages ten days before the wedding.
There are so many potential wedding venues in Mauritius, ranging from hotels and plantations to private island bookings and even onboard a boat.
Highlights of a honeymoon in Mauritius include superb local cuisine, relaxing spas such as those at the Hilton and the Oberoi, and some excellent facilities and courses for golf enthusiasts.
Popular beaches on Mauritius include Grand Baie, Pereybere, Belle Mare, Blue Bay and Le Morne & Tamarin, although less populated beaches are also scattered around the island for couples wanting as much time alone as possible on their Mauritius honeymoon holiday.
If you’re looking to sightsee as well as relax on the beach on a Mauritius honeymoon, the island is home to some spectacular natural beauty spots, most notably the Black River Gorges in the south-west.
Watersports fans can also go diving in the seas around the island to take a look at the coral beds and wide array of sealife residing there, as well as the several shipwrecks located off the north coast.
