Passport to forever: The global boom in luxury destination weddings
Imagine saying “I do” beneath a golden Mediterranean sunset, the scent of sea salt on the air, and friends and family soaking in the magic of Amalfi’s cliffs. Around the world, couples aren’t just planning weddings—they’re crafting unforgettable getaways that blend romance and travel into lifelong memories.
A market in bloom
The global destination wedding market was valued at $34.2 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $78.9 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.2% according to Fortune Business Insights. Other analysts are even more bullish: The Business Research Company estimates growth from $36.2 billion in 2024 to $135.9 billion by 2028, a staggering CAGR of 30%.
Europe is a hotspot. Radical Storage reports that the European market jumped from €42.8 billion in 2024 to a projected €162.1 billion by 2029, a 279% rise in just five years.
Why the surge?
Couples today see their wedding as part of an immersive journey—blending ritual, escape, and experience. Italy hosted over 15,000 foreign couples in 2022, a 64% increase on 2019, according to AP News. Capri, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast remain perennial draws, particularly for American couples seeking both romance and culture.
Ireland is another favourite for elite celebrations. The Times reported that international weddings there often exceed €500,000, with some running into the millions.
And at the very top end, “super-weddings” are rewriting the rules of scale. The Wall Street Journal revealed that Jeff Bezos’s Venice celebration cost upwards of $10 million, with estimates ranging as high as $30 million.
Europe’s romance is irresistible
Italy continues to reign supreme in wedding tourism. Tuscany alone accounts for more than one-fifth of foreign weddings, while destinations like Puglia and Lake Como are growing fast.
Meanwhile, Greece and Spain are seeing a surge in luxury ceremonies that combine beachside settings with historic backdrops. France, with its châteaux and vineyards, remains a favourite for couples seeking timeless elegance.
What planners say
Luxury planners describe destination weddings as “narrative experiences,” weaving local culture, cuisine, and adventure into the ceremony. Italian-French designer Ksenia Ridolfi says her aim is to create “moments with emotional clarity and visual poetry,” ensuring each celebration feels like an authentic story, not just a spectacle.
Learning to lead this kind of romance
Behind every unforgettable wedding is a planner who understands logistics, culture, and creativity in equal measure. That’s why formal training matters. Institutions like Les Roches offer specialised event management programmes that combine strategy, design thinking, and real-world practice—preparing students to deliver weddings that are both extraordinary and flawlessly executed.
A celebration of connection
Luxury destination weddings aren’t just growing—they’re evolving. From vineyard vows in Tuscany to castle fêtes in Ireland and multi-day extravaganzas in Venice, couples are investing in experiences that feel both personal and spectacular. The message is clear: in the age of global travel, love has found its stage—and its passport to forever.
