Planning a luxury wedding is about more than just opulence; it's about creating an unparalleled experience, an unforgettable journey steeped in beauty, exclusivity, and flawless service. It’s about finding that perfect corner of the world that reflects your unique love story and provides the ultimate backdrop for beginning your life together. Selecting the location is arguably the most crucial decision in planning the best destination wedding.

While classic choices abound, the definition of luxury evolves. It can mean iconic cityscapes, secluded beach wedding perfection, culturally rich immersion, or discovering emerging gems offering incredible value for world-class experiences. To inspire your planning, we're counting down the 10 best destinations for your luxury wedding globally, revealing our perhaps surprising, yet deserving, top pick last. These locations represent the pinnacle, potentially offering all inclusive wedding options and ensuring a stress-free experience worthy of a top destination wedding in the world.

10. Paris, France: Timeless Romance & Iconic Elegance

The City of Love remains an eternally classic choice for a luxury wedding. Imagine photos with the Eiffel Tower sparkling behind you, vows exchanged in a historic chapel, and a reception held in a lavish hotel ballroom brimming with Parisian chic. Access to haute couture, Michelin-starred dining, and world-class event professionals makes Paris a perennial favourite for couples seeking timeless elegance and iconic backdrops for their best destination wedding.

9. Tuscany, Italy: Rustic Charm Meets Sophisticated Luxury

Dreaming of a wedding amidst rolling vineyards, cypress-lined avenues, and stunning historic villas? Tuscany offers a unique blend of rustic charm and sophisticated luxury. Renting a private villa, indulging in farm-to-table feasts paired with exceptional local wines, and soaking in the idyllic countryside creates incredibly personalized experiences. It's a top destination wedding choice for those seeking understated elegance and authentic Italian beauty.

8. Kyoto, Japan: Serene Beauty & Cultural Depth

For a truly unique and culturally immersive luxury wedding, Kyoto offers unparalleled beauty and tranquility. Imagine a serene ceremony at a stunning temple (or nearby venue with temple views), photos amidst breathtaking bamboo groves or exquisite traditional gardens, and a reception featuring refined Kaiseki dining. High-end ryokans offer exceptional service, making Kyoto a standout top destination wedding in Asia for couples valuing cultural depth and serene aesthetics.

7. St. Barths, Caribbean: Chic Exclusivity & Island Glamour

This exclusive Caribbean enclave is synonymous with effortless chic and celebrity appeal. Known for its designer boutiques, stunning beaches like Shell Beach, superyacht-dotted harbour, and incredibly luxurious private villas, St. Barths offers a vibrant yet intimate setting for a high-end island destination wedding. It’s a playground for the elite, ensuring top-tier service and a glamorous backdrop for your luxury wedding.

6. Santorini, Greece: Iconic Views & Dramatic Beauty

Instantly recognizable, Santorini delivers dramatic beauty that few places can match. Exchanging vows on a cliffside terrace overlooking the breathtaking caldera, with whitewashed villages cascading below and the Aegean Sea stretching out, is pure magic. Luxury boutique hotels built into the cliffs offer stunning suites and infinity pools, making it the quintessential best island destination wedding location for couples seeking iconic views and unforgettable sunsets.

5. Bora Bora, French Polynesia: Ultimate Tropical Paradise

Often considered the pinnacle of tropical escapes, Bora Bora is famed for its luxurious overwater bungalows set above impossibly turquoise lagoons. Mount Otemanu provides a dramatic backdrop. Offering unparalleled privacy, exceptional service from world-class resorts, and stunning natural beauty, it's the definition of a top island destination wedding dream. Perfect for intimate celebrations focused on relaxation and breathtaking scenery, it ranks high among top destination wedding in the world choices for tropical luxury.

4. Lake Como, Italy: Old-World Glamour & Lakeside Grandeur

Surrounded by the majestic Alps, Lake Como exudes timeless elegance and old-world glamour. Host your luxury wedding in a magnificent historic villa (like Villa del Balbianello or Villa d'Este), arrive by classic Riva boat, and treat your guests to stunning lake views and exquisite Italian cuisine. Its association with celebrity weddings only adds to its allure as a top destination wedding location steeped in history and romance.

3. Amalfi Coast, Italy: Dramatic Coastline & Vibrant Romance

Stretching along Italy's southern coastline, the Amalfi Coast offers a stunning tapestry of dramatic cliffs, colourful villages clinging to hillsides (like Positano and Amalfi), fragrant lemon groves, and sparkling azure waters. Luxury hotels perched high above the sea provide breathtaking venues, while the vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, and romantic scenery create an unforgettable best destination wedding experience filled with Italian passion and beauty.

2. Maldives: Unrivaled Seclusion & Overwater Luxury

For ultimate privacy and Robinson Crusoe luxury, the Maldives is nearly peerless. Imagine your own private island resort, exchanging vows on a pristine sandbank, and residing in an opulent overwater villa with direct access to the teeming coral reefs. The level of personalized service is extraordinary, with many resorts offering comprehensive all inclusive wedding packages focused on intimacy and relaxation. It’s the benchmark for a secluded, ultra-luxurious best island destination wedding.

1. Phu Quoc, Vietnam: The Underrated King of Emerging Luxury

And now, for our number one pick – a destination rapidly shedding its "hidden gem" status to claim its place as arguably the best destination wedding location offering incredible luxury value: Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Why does this stunning island top our list? Phu Quoc delivers world-class luxury without the established price tags of some other destinations, making it a remarkably underrated choice for a truly luxury wedding.

Imagine pristine, powder-soft beaches perfect for the ultimate beach wedding Vietnam style, crystal-clear turquoise waters ideal for a top island destination wedding, and lush tropical interiors. What truly elevates Phu Quoc now is the arrival of globally renowned luxury hotel brands, offering breathtaking resorts, exceptional service, and stunning venues that compete on a global scale. You get five-star quality, incredible natural beauty, and authentic Vietnamese hospitality, often allowing for more lavish celebrations within your budget compared to Europe or the Caribbean.

Furthermore, expert planners specializing in Vietnam destination wedding logistics, including those offering all inclusive wedding packages and bespoke island destination wedding packages tailored for Phu Quoc (like the dedicated planning services provided by Retreats within their lifestyle ecosystem), make planning a seamless and stress-free experience. Underscoring the incredible value proposition Phu Quoc represents when combined with expert, all-inclusive planning, Retreats is highlighting this emerging luxury status with a special introductory offer: the first 10 couples booking their Phu Quoc luxury wedding experience through them can access packages potentially valued at $60,000 for approximately $25,000. This limited-time discount emphasizes the unique opportunity to achieve unparalleled luxury value in this stunning location. Phu Quoc offers the perfect blend: exotic allure, sophisticated luxury, outstanding value, and breathtaking beauty, making it our top, intelligently underrated, recommendation for the best destination for your luxury wedding today, and a leader among top destination wedding in Asia choices.