Did you know that most destination weddings take place within the US itself? As much as jet –setting to a foreign country may sound like an adventure, the fact of the matter is that there are tons of amazing locations for weddings right here that you can choose from.
If you’d like a small taste of what’s out there, here are the 7 best states in the US for a destination wedding:
Vermont
With picturesque natural beauty and stunning scenery, Vermont serves up a wealth of options for destination weddings. Its best venues range from lakeside beaches to snow-capped mountain tops, rustic barns, wooden lodges, or historical churches.
Each season in Vermont will transform the landscape of potential wedding venues completely. If you want you could get married amidst the freshly blossomed flowers of spring, the warm sun and lush green of summer, the reddish hues of autumn foliage, or even the pristine white snow blanket of winter.
Rhode Island
Most famous for its scenic coastal venues, Rhode Island is one of the more popular places to host a destination wedding. Its best venues vary from historical buildings to gilded age mansions, beautiful gardens, farms, boutique hotels, waterfront restaurants, seaside resorts, and more.
Many people opt for a destination wedding in Rhode Island because it has tons of options for a classic and elegant wedding. There’ll be plenty of places of interest to visit while you’re there, and the state is known for its welcoming, relaxed, and laid-back vibe.
California
Being warm and sunny all-year round, California is a great location for destination weddings – especially if you’re planning on having one outdoors. It has a diverse range of landscapes that are perfect for weddings including its sandy beaches in the south, rocky coastline in the north, vineyards in Napa Valley, or orchards if you get married in Redlands.
The only downside of a destination wedding in California is that you can expect it to be expensive. Still, if your budget allows for it there’ll be no shortage of things to do which is what makes it an amazing destination for a wedding coupled with a vacation or honeymoon.
Hawaii
With its pristine sandy beaches and lush green rainforests, it should come as no surprise that the tropical paradise that is Hawaii makes for a great destination wedding. It has tons of scenic venues in the form of hotels and resorts that are surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.
Getting married in Hawaii also presents the opportunity to experience Hawaiian traditions. Guests can be greeted by hula dancers, and your marriage ceremony can include blowing the conch shell at the start, an exchange of leis, and various other cultural elements.
Colorado
For outdoor weddings in the mountains there are few locations that are as impressive as Colorado. It has many venues with scenic views of the famous Rocky mountains and you can choose to get married in winter if you’d like a white wedding and maybe some skiing or other winter activities.
A summer wedding in Colorado can be just as interesting however as you’ll be able to hike, go on wagon rides, explore nature, ride horses, or go river rafting – all while enjoying the warmth of that time of year.
Florida
Another state that has sunny weather and sandy beaches making it perfect for a wedding is Florida. Its many beachfront resorts and hotels will present you with a numerous options, or you could even look into some of its nearby islands if you want a truly special venue.
Keep in mind that while the weather in Florida is great most of the year, it does have a hurricane season so you will want to plan accordingly. Leaving that aside however, you should be able to have a wedding with a relaxed and chill vibe in this state.
Montana
Known for its natural beauty, Montana is a great state for a destination wedding if you enjoy the great outdoors. Its venues stretch across a variety of settings, but the most popular tend to be lakeside, mountain views, or ranches.
When looking at options a good place to start is Yellowstone country, but you could also check out the grasslands and rolling hills in the southwest, Flathead Lake, or the Glacier National Park. In theory it is possible to have a wedding any time of the year in Montana, but heavy snowfall may pose a challenge in winter.
Conclusion
See how each of these states presents unique and exciting options for a destination wedding? Honestly this is really just the tip of the iceberg, and you should definitely make it a point to look into other states too as you’ll find no shortage of great venues for your dream wedding right here in the US.
