2020 so far has been widely associated with Covid-19, gathering restrictions and quarantines. Many weddings have had to be celebrated in very small committees, be pushed back to next year, and wedding planning for engaged couples has most likely taken a back seat.
Yet, once a vaccine is widely available and quarantines have ceased, couples will be looking to celebrate their nuptials in some of the best destinations worldwide.
Europe offers the most breathtakingly romantic destinations and wedding venues, certain to offer a truly unforgettable experience to all your guests.
Read more: What to consider when planning a wedding abroad in a pandemic
Greek Island Weddings
Calilo, Ios, Greece
Little-known Greek island Ios in the Cyclades – is more alluring than ever post-lockdown. Set in a secluded corner of Ios, is the new tranquil coastal retreat of Calilo, a boat away from the party islands of Mykonos and Santorini.
This year, Calilo reveals seven new suites with dreamy marble plunge pools, swim-up bars and swinging day beds perfect for the wedding party. Some suites have decadent plunge pools hand-crafted with millions of mosaic pieces or hanging day beds that sway gently over water. Others come with a cascading waterfall, a natural shower open to the elements, a swing over the pool, or an in-water sculpted lounger for the wedding couple.
Also unveiled is a newly created picture-perfect chapel that is surrounded by water and giant letters that spell out LOVE, providing an out-of-this-world remote location for couples wanting to tie the knot in a private luxury.
The woman behind the venue, Vassiliki Petridou-Michalopoulos said: “We have set out to create the physical and emotional space for guests to recharge and reconnect with their families and friends, with themselves and with the natural world. By creating a nurturing environment, far from the pressures of an increasingly chaotic world, we hope to help restore a sense of equilibrium.”
A mixture of nature, art and secluded luxury, this five-star remote resort is the perfect place for a private destination wedding.
Weddings in France
Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, South of France
Nestled in the very exclusive French Riviera, Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild is a magnificent venue ideal for luxury weddings and glamorous parties, offering an elegant combination of romance, opulence and French charm.
This historic French seaside villa is renowned worldwide for its beauty but also for its nine perfectly manicured themed Gardens: Florentine, Spanish, Garden à la Française, Japanese, Provencal, Garden de Sevres, Exotic, Rose Garden, and a Stone Garden.
Villa Ephrussi de Rotschild can host 230 guests for a seated dinner indoors, 300 guests for a seated dinner outdoors in the surrounding gardens, making it the ideal wedding venue for an alfresco summer wedding reception.
Château Vaux le Vicomte, near Paris
From the sites to the spoken language, Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world, making it a truly spectacular destination for your wedding or honeymoon. A popular location for Chinese weddings and American weddings, newlyweds flock to the City of Love for photos, before they dance the night away in a French Château.
As one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris is inevitably a first choice for many couples looking for a spectacular wedding destination. The hidden treasure of Paris’ surroundings, Château de Vaux le Vicomte is a truly magical wedding venue, just 55km southeast of the city of love. This 15th-century French château boasts intricately landscaped gardens, tranquil woodlands and calming rivers setting the scene for the perfect backdrop to outdoor wedding receptions under an elegant marquee.
For couples looking to host an indoor affair, the castle’s opulent Ceremonial Room can seat up to 50 guests for a private dinner. For bigger parties, the Grand Salon can fit up to 220 guests seated, and the exquisite interiors offer for a truly memorable event. Picture high ceilings and breath-taking landscapes in the daytime, candlelit rooms in the early evening, and the grand staircase and gardens lined with flickering candles at night.
Weddings in Italy
Villa Medici, Rome
Villa Medici is a majestic Italian Renaissance villa, and one of the world’s most exclusive wedding venues in the historical city of Rome, the ultimate symbol of romance, with a unique atmosphere.
Ideal for couples dreaming of an al fresco wedding celebration on a warm summer day, Villa Medici’s courtyard is perfectly suited to erect a bespoke glass marquee which can fit up to 800 people. Surround yourself and your loved ones with the Villa’s stunning 16th century style gardens that locals call the jewel of Villa Medici for the perfect backdrop to your wedding day.
This ornate mannerist villa, once home to world renowned philosopher and astronomer, Galileo Galilei will be sure to astonish all of your guests.
Villa Erba, Lake Como
The epitome of Italian luxury, Villa Erba is a breathtaking 19th-century lake-front villa, and a wedding venue highly popular amongst Hollywood’s elite. Majestically sitting on Lake Como in Cernobbio, Villa Erba will ensure couples make a grand entrance to their wedding reception via one of its 19th-century style staircases and balconies, before immersing guests amongst regal interiors, ancient frescoes, and ornate ceilings.
This phenomenal venue boasts an immense botanical park, and a spectacular cathedral hall, especially suited to couples desiring a religious service, civil partnership, or non-religious ceremony.
Suited for indoor and outdoor weddings, Villa Erba’s charming grounds can seat up to 450 guests in a marquee, and up to 150 guests indoors in the dance hall.
Four Seasons, Florence
The Four Seasons Hotel Florence’s rich cultural history, exceptional service, and incredible designs makes it a highly sought-after wedding venue in Italy. With 114 guest rooms and suites and numerous event spaces, this venue is a perfect blank canvas for couples wanting the wedding they have always imagined.
Build your own glass house on the Tempio Lawn to host up to 400 guests seated, host an opulent after-party in the former covent and see your guests dance late into the night. Whatever you had in mind, The Four Seasons Florence will host just that.
Belmond Hotel Cipriani, Venice
The highly sophisticated Belmond Hotel Cipriani is one of the most luxurious wedding venues in Venice. Located across the lagoon from Piazza San Marco, on the island of Giudecca, Hotel Cipriani is only accessible by boat, making it highly exclusive, as well as a tranquil and a peaceful haven, away from the hustle and bustle of Venice’s city centre.
Charming rooms boasting incredible views of the lagoon, the recently refurbished Granaries and the Longhi Ballroom’s original Venetian architecture and beautiful Murano glass chandeliers. The Michelin starred Oro restaurant, the famous ‘Casanova Gardens’, Belmond Hotel Cipriani will spoil you for choice, allowing you to comfortably host 220 guests for a grand banquet.
Weddings in Turkey
Ciragan Palace, Istanbul
Situated on the edge of the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul has been host to the most opulent weddings and parties ever to be held in Turkey.
With a fairy-tale like ballroom featuring breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, and a romantic terrace which will see you and your guests embracing a warm summer breeze, Ciragan palace is the perfect venue for a grand wedding.
The Palace can host 1200 guests seated on the Palace Terrace, 200 seated on the Bosphorus Pier Lounge, 250 guests in the Enderun Ballroom and 850 guests seated for dinner in its flagship Ciragan Ballroom.
Ciragan palace can also be hired exclusively should couples wish to accommodate their friends and family in its private residences and adjacent 5* hotel.
Luxury Destination Wedding Planners
Planning your wedding can be a challenging, time consuming affair, especially during a global pandemic. Scarlet’s luxury wedding planners will guide you through the process and undertake all the work for you, so you can sit back and enjoy the countdown to the most important day of your life!
