The Most Romantic Destination Wedding Locations In The US

Though love knows no destination and the right union can be successful starting off in a small town courthouse on a Tuesday afternoon, many dream of their perfect wedding day from a very young age. The right venue or destination could bring these dreams to life, whether it be surrounded by all your family and friends or just the bride and groom at a secluded getaway.

Deciding whether a destination wedding is right for you and your partner can be complicated, as you have to consider your budget, the struggles of planning a wedding from a distance, and the likelihood of important guests being able to attend. Even so, up to 25% of celebrated unions are destination weddings. However, choosing to have your wedding domestically could bring down the costs of an out-of-town wedding and help ensure the people who you'd like to be there can more easily make it.

Cities like Paris and Venice may be known for attracting romantics, but the United States has plenty of places that are ideal for weddings and couples who wish to show their love for one another. Whether exchanging vows under city lights, tying the knot surrounded by nature, or breaking the glass on sandy beaches, these U.S. destinations are the most romantic for couples to be wed in.

Disney is as much for former kids as it is for current ones, and the hundreds of couples who get married at Disney World each year is proof that the House of Mouse's most iconic theme park is a place for romance. 

Truly, a wedding at Disney World is nothing short of magical, and the amazing thing is that every wedding at the park can be wildly different from one another. In reality, Disney World has so many different wedding venues within the park to make each wedding feel unique, especially when you consider the many different details aside from the venues themselves.

Every single detail of your event can be planned and provided by Disney from a menu of services, from your cake and food selection to floral arrangements and entertainment. Whether you want to exchange vows in front of the iconic Cinderella Castle, have an epic outdoor wedding, or go the traditional route with a chapel, Walt Disney World can help make sure your big day is flawless.

When you think about destination weddings, the wilderness of Alaska is probably the furthest thing your mind drifts to. Sometimes the last thought is the best, though, as The Last Frontier makes for a perfect backdrop for those with a penchant for nature's extremes.

More than half of designated U.S. wilderness is in Alaska, and it's pretty rough wilderness at that. Between the mountainous terrain, glaciers, and icy waterways, it takes a special kind of outdoorsman to brave the state. For the adventurous couple who love a challenge, the state's many national parks are a great place to have a nature-filled wedding. If nothing else, the wedding photos would be out of this world.

However, there's no need to panic if you're set on a wedding with Alaska's unique beauty in the background but have no desire to explore the wilderness. A cruise to Alaska can fulfill your wishes of a wedding among glaciers without the need to actually traverse them yourself. Exchanging vows at sea comes with its own sets of potential concerns, but as long as you have your sea legs, it can be quite the romantic escape.

What better place to say "'til death do us part" than Death Valley? Despite the ominous name, the national park is actually one of the most unique and stunning places to have a wedding or, if you want a more intimate experience, elope.

You can certainly get married right alongside the extreme nature of Death Valley, but you will need to apply for a special use permit with the National Parks Service. Depending on where you intend on holding your ceremony, you may need to limit the guest list quite a bit. An elopement may be the way to go here, and Death Valley is practically made for an intimate exchange of rings. Locations within the park like Badwater Basin, Artist Palette, and the Mesquite Sand Dunes would make for killer photos.

For couples interested in planning a more inclusive event, the resorts around the area are almost as lovely as the park itself. The Oasis at Death Valley offers accommodations and wedding packages, and choosing this venue is a great way to plan a more structured event while remaining within the park. Alternatively, larger parties may want to head a couple of hours south to Big Bear Lake, which also offers gorgeous venues. However, if you do choose to marry in Death Valley National Park, Big Bear Lake is also a great group destination before the big day.

A mountain wedding makes for a celebration almost as beautiful as your union, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the seasons change the mountains from their namesake color to vibrant reds and oranges. The mountain range is part of Appalachia, which runs from the top of New England to almost the very bottom of the East Coast. However, you'll find the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina.

What makes the Blue Ridge Mountains stick out is their age, which only adds to their beauty. They're some of the oldest mountains in the world and contain the highest peaks in the eastern United States. This creates views that are unlike any other. Wedding ceremonies often take place on overlooks where the eye can see for miles or down in valleys with gorgeous landscape views of the surrounding mountains.

Venues like Sky Retreat and Castle Ladyhawke, both in North Carolina, create a dreamy atmosphere among the mountains, while venues in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley consist of vineyards, farms, and estates that offer panoramic views of the mountains. No matter the venue, the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains can create a romantic and breathtaking wedding for two lucky individuals.

Washington state is known for its diverse environments, from the rocky coasts to Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market. While either of these makes for a wonderful wedding ceremony — yes, you can totally get married at Pike Place — we're going to focus on the state's lush forests. After all, they don't call it "The Evergreen State" for nothing.

A forest wedding is cool and spiritual no matter how you throw it, but taking the party off the ground and into the canopies? Well, that's a whole other level of magic that we are so down to explore. Venues like TreeHouse Point in King County and Emerald Forest in Redmond have created a peak wedding experience. After you exchange vows above the forest floor, you can spend your wedding night in the trees as well. If you ever wanted to feel like a wood nymph or tree fairy on your wedding day, there's really no better way than to walk down the aisle of a treehouse bridge.

The Rocky Mountain region is one of the best natural beauties of the United States. Although all regions of the Rocky Mountains have their own charms, Montana is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful states in the U.S., and its mountains certainly contribute to its natural beauty. Nicknamed "Big Sky Country," the state has overwhelming views of meadows and mountains, creating some pretty epic wedding photos and a scenic backdrop to exchange vows. In fact, the only thing more breathtaking than the Montana landscape will be the view of your partner walking down the aisle.

Glacier National Park, one of the most beloved in the country for its beauty, is one of the best places to go for a destination wedding in Montana. However, you'll need a special use permit, and the demand for weddings in the park is high. The park offers detailed guidelines for where and when you can hold your ceremony. You may also consider Paddle Ridge's Park View Pavilion, which is located right outside Glacier's limits and boasts some of the same views as the park itself.

A ranch in Montana is also a fantastic wedding venue option, and there is no lack of them here. Sky Ridge Ranch and Quaking Aspen Ranch both offer unparalleled views that create a picture-perfect wedding day that couples will bond over and remember for years to come.