After a woman says “Yes” to the marriage proposal, what happens next is a flurry of fun, exciting – although sometimes stressful activities: planning the wedding.
Once the date is set, the soon-to-be-married couple goes through decisions about where the wedding ceremony and reception will take place, what the theme and colors for the wedding will be who will be the caterer, photographer, and videographer – there are literally a thousand and one little details to attend to and dozens of decisions to make.
However, these small details should all fall into place once you have decided where the wedding ceremony and reception will take place.
Here are a few things that you should consider when choosing a venue for your wedding ceremony and reception:
• Would you like to have a grand, lavish wedding ceremony or do you prefer to keep things simple?
• Is there a particular city or country which has significance in how you two met as a couple?
• Should the wedding be held in a place which is easily accessible to your friends and family – or is an offshore wedding a possibility?
• What is the theme that you would like your wedding to have? [Wedding theme]
The last item is particularly important because there is a suitable venue no matter what type of wedding it is that you would like to have.
If you’ve always wanted to get married in a dreamy castle, if you prefer to have a period-themed wedding or if you want to say your “I do’s” in a simple white dress and an old, romantic church somewhere exotic – you can find a wedding location that will suit your taste.
10 Best Wedding Locations In and Out of the US
So which places do soon-to-be-married couples consider to be the best places to say their “I do’s”? From grand castles without ever leaving the American soil to white sand beaches in the Indian Ocean, here are the 10 best wedding locations in and out of the US:
1. Falkenstein Castle
Location: Burnet, Texas
If you would like to utter your vows in a venue which is modeled after the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany without ever having to leave the United States, then the Falkenstein Castle is the location for you.
Situated between Burnet and Marble Falls in Texas, the Falkenstein Castle is actually rated as the third best wedding castles in the US as ranked by “The Knot”.
The grand structure is that of a Gothic chapel which has arched doors, ultra-high ceiling and a French altar which is hand-carved. [Wedding chapel selection]
There’s no better place to take your before and after wedding ceremony photos than the scenic Lily Pond or the breathtaking Butterfly Garden.
2. Belcourt Castle
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Romantic is as romantic gets. Any bride who wants to feel like a fairy tale princess during her wedding can never go wrong when choosing the Belcourt Castle as a wedding location.
The Belcourt Castle is a 60-room chateau which was built in 1891.The ceremony can be held in the French Gothic Ballroom, after which the wedding guests can convene at the Italian Banquet Hall for the reception.
This setting is perfect for those who are going for that age-old, romantic feel during their wedding day because your guests can even dine on antique tables which are centuries-old, while they’re being given a lesson on the castle’s art collection.
3. Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate
Location: Huntington, New York
Yet another swoon-worthy castle which is considered to be one of the best wedding locations in the United States is the Oheka Castle Hotel & Estate. Located in Huntington, New York, the castle is just one hour away from Manhattan.
It’s also considered to be the second largest private residence built in the country which now serves as a hotel, spa and an event’s location. The good news is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg just to hold your wedding ceremony and reception at the Oheka Castle.
Even if you’re holding an intimate ceremony where only family and friends are invited, there’s a spot in the castle for you: the Addie Kahn Room. For bigger wedding parties, there are several rooms which can accommodate up to 450 guests.
4. Iolani Palace
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
First, here’s a bit of history about the Iolani Palace. It is the only official royal palace in the United States which housed two of Hawaii’s last monarchs: King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.
The structure itself is made up of 104 rooms which were built in 1882, in the American Florentine style. The wedding ceremony can be held at the Iolani Palace grounds, after which the guests can proceed at the private open-air courtyard of the historic ‘Iolani Barracks.
This exclusive Honolulu property has it all – a garden setting in a tropical island, as well as close proximity to the lush beaches of Hawaii.
5. The Central Park Boathouse
Location: New York City, USA
New Yorker or not, there’s no better place which is considered to be the most quintessentially romantic spot to get married than Central Park. There are terraces and windowed rooms which overlook the lake.[Outdoor wedding]
The park itself is a great venue for the before and after wedding photos. You can plan for a small to a medium-sized event because the boathouse can hold a minimum of 80 to a maximum of 230 guests.
6. Grand Hotel
Location: Florence, Italy
Feel like a Hollywood celebrity as you hold your big day outside of the country, which is one of the most romantic cities in the world as well. Go to the Grand Hotel in Florence, Italy and have the type of wedding that almost every woman dreams about.
The Grand Hotel is located right in the heart of the city on the River Amo – and it used to be an 18th century palace which was converted into a luxury hotel. If you want to go all out on the wedding ceremony and reception, you can hold them both at the hotel’s grand ballroom.
7. Le Ch?teau d’Esclimont
Location: France
The Le Ch?teau d’Esclimont in France is about 45 minutes away from Paris, and is just a stone’s throw away from Versailles. Live out your princess-marrying-her-prince-charming fantasy as you wed in style at this lovely French ch?teau.
While you’re at it, why not give your closest friends and family members a weekend that they will never forget by setting up a weekend-long stay in the ch?teau? They can fish at the enchanted lake which serves as a lovely background for the ch?teau.
The entire property is a 150-acre estate where guests can ride horses, relax and basically just have a grand time while awaiting your wedding event [Entertain wedding guests].
8. Tandjung Sari Resort
Location: Bali, Indonesia
If an exotic beach wedding is something that you and your husband-to-be have always dreamed about, there is no better place to hold an intimate reception and ceremony than in Bali, Indonesia.
The Tandjung Sari Resort, located in the village of Sanur, is a 26-bungalow resort which has an amazing view of the ocean. The hotel’s beach is where you can hold the wedding ceremony – and this amazing place in Bali should be on top of your best wedding locations list.
9. Le Saint G?ran and White Sand Beaches
Location: Mauritius, Indian Ocean
Another ideal beach wedding location is the Le Saint G?ran and White Sand Beaches in Mauritius. Located right in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about 500 miles east of Madagascar, it’s a perfect two-for-one wedding spot.
The beautiful beach is where you can hold the wedding ceremony, after which you can jump right into an African safari honeymoon.
10. Top of the Mountain
Location: New Zealand
Top of the mountain isn’t the name of a resort in New Zealand – it’s literally a wedding location on top of the mountain! Fly by helicopter and enjoy a panoramic view of the New Zealand landscape as you utter your vows. Or, you can hold the wedding ceremony and reception in one of the many charming churches in the country.
These are just 10 of the best wedding locations in and out of the US. Finding the perfect spot where you can say your “I do’s” is a great leap in your wedding planning – so make your choice now and proceed with planning your dream wedding!
Neelima Reddy, author of this article writes for PerfectWeddingZone.com. Perfect Wedding Blog is an online resource that provides complete information on wedding. Know more about Wedding Accessories, Wedding Cake, Wedding Gifts, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Invitations and many more things. Visit Perfect Wedding Blog
