Destination weddings remain a popular choice, whether travelling abroad or choosing a scenic spot closer to home.
This part of the wedding market has grown steadily in recent years and is expected to expand further – with a projected increase of 278.8% over the next five years, as more couples opt for meaningful locations from Mediterranean coastlines to iconic cities.[1]
In this article, we break down the cost of destination weddings across 29 countries, track global market growth, explore where couples are travelling from, which destinations attract the most international weddings, and how different countries compare.
Key statistics
- The average cost of a destination wedding is €17,924.
- The global destination wedding market is valued at €42.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach €162.1 billion by 2029, a 278.8% increase in five years.
- Destination weddings make up 17% of all weddings globally, highlighting their growing popularity among couples.
- France is the most expensive destination in the research, with the average wedding in the country costing €30,800.
- Colombia is the cheapest country for a destination wedding, averaging €4,597. That’s nearly €25,000 less than the most expensive location.
- Greece hosts the highest percentage of international destination weddings, with 70% of weddings held there involving couples from abroad.
How big is the destination wedding industry?
Destination weddings remain popular with continuous growth year after year and account for 17% of all weddings globally.[2]
In 2024, the destination wedding industry was valued at €42.8 billion. The market shows strong growth momentum, with projections reaching €56.3 billion by 2025 and €162.1 billion by 2029 – a 278.8% increase over five years.
These figures reflect a rising demand for weddings that go beyond a single day, with more couples choosing to turn their celebration into an experience abroad.[1]
Europe, while smaller in scale, is also showing strong growth. The European destination wedding market is projected to grow from €21.4 million in 2024 to €54.4 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.4%. Destinations such as Greece have become especially popular alongside other European destinations – something we’ll explore in more detail later in the article.[3]
How common are destination weddings?
Domestic vs international destination weddings
Destination weddings can take place either abroad or within a couple’s own country. While some couples travel internationally to get married, others choose locations closer to home, often seeking scenic or culturally significant areas without leaving the country.
Among the most internationally booked locations, Greece stands out with 70% of destination weddings being hosted for couples who have travelled from abroad. Italy follows with 60%, and France with 55%. These countries continue to attract international couples, drawn by historic architecture, Mediterranean coastlines, and favorable weather.
In contrast, countries like India (75%), Canada (92%), and the U.S. (70%) host the majority of their destination weddings for residents travelling within their own country. This could be down to couples choosing culturally significant regions closer to home, such as Udaipur in India, Banff in Canada, or Napa Valley in the U.S.[4]
Share of couples planning a destination wedding (by nationality)
Planning a destination wedding is more common in some countries than others. In Mexico, one in five couples (20%) are planning to marry away from home, the highest among the countries surveyed by Knott Worldwide. The U.S. follows closely at 19%, while India reports 15% of couples planning a destination wedding. [5]
Source [5]
European countries report much lower figures. Only 4% of those in the UK and Portugal plan to marry away from home, in Italy and Spain, it drops to 2%, and in France, just 1% of couples are planning a destination wedding.[5]
How much does a destination wedding cost?
Destination wedding costs can vary significantly depending on the location. The average destination wedding costs €17,924, covering the venue, photography, videographer, DJ or band, florist, officiant, make-up, hair, and other extras.
Some locations are known for being costly, whereas others offer a lot more for your money. France is the most expensive destination in our research (out of 29 countries), with the average wedding cost of €30,649, followed by Italy, costing €29,256, and the USA, where a wedding costs an average of €29,079.[6]
On the other end of the spectrum, some of the more affordable destinations include Brazil (€7,881), Chile (€7,881), and Peru (€7,005). Colombia is the cheapest of all countries analysed, with the average destination wedding there costing €4,597. When comparing the most and least expensive countries, it shows just how wide the price gap can be. A wedding in France costs nearly €25,000 more than one in Colombia.[6]
The cost of destination weddings in Europe
As you’d imagine, there’s a lot of planning, and a lot of costs when it comes to organising a wedding.
When breaking down the various costs of a destination wedding in Europe, you’re looking at costs of €17,358 on average. Add a wedding planner to help coordinate suppliers and venues in the local language, and couples can expect to pay an additional €4,959.
Other key costs include €2,000 for a photographer, €950 for a DJ or band, and around €800 for a hair and make-up specialist. Floral arrangements sourced locally cost about €1500, though this can double if importing specific blooms from abroad.[7]
Comparing global wedding expenses
As mentioned, France stands out as the most expensive destination to get married and when looking at the expenses that make up that total, the venue cost plays a big role. In fact, across all of the destinations we researched, unsurprisingly, the venue was the most costly expense throughout.
A wedding venue in France starts from €11,000+, while other costs such as food and beverages (€135+), a wedding planner (€5,000), floral arrangements (€2,200), photography (€2,200), and videography (€1,000+) may be other expenses that need to be accounted for.
Other countries with expensive venues include the USA (€10,000), and Italy (€7,500).[6]
Source: [6]
The most popular wedding destinations
Countries such as Greece, Italy, and France are well-known for attracting couples from abroad. Italy, in particular, stands out, featuring five times in Hitched’s top 25 destination wedding locations. The country attracts over 15,100 foreign couples each year, with many choosing iconic spots such as the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, and Lake Como for their special day.[8]
According to the wedding platform, Hitched, these are the top 25 destination wedding locations:
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Phuket, Thailand
- Istria, Croatia
- Brooklyn, New York City, USA
- Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Cape Winelands, South Africa
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Santorini, Greece
- Var, France – Provence region
- Marbella, Spain
- Lombardy, Italy
- Côte d’Azur, France
- Nantucket, USA
- Paris, France
- Rhode Island, USA
- Puglia, Italy
- Sicily, Italy
- Split, Croatia
- Venice, Italy
- Brazil
- Cyprus
- Seville, Spain
- Havana, Cuba
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Maui, Hawaii, USA
This list offers a clear snapshot of some popular wedding locations, where couples tie the knot abroad, from the Mediterranean coastlines to tropical escapes.
Italy leads the way with five separate regions featured, including the Amalfi Coast, Lombardy, and Venice, making it the most popular country in the ranking. France also has strong representation with Paris, Provence, and the Côte d’Azur, while the U.S. includes a mix of urban and coastal locations such as Brooklyn, Nantucket, Rhode Island, and Maui.[9]
Why are destination weddings so popular?
Nearly one in five couples (17%) opted for a destination wedding in 2021, up 10% from 2020. But what’s driving the rise? [2]
One possible reason is value. Countries like Thailand (€17,420), Mexico (€18,590), and Portugal (€22,913) offer a full wedding experience for less than many major destinations, with Thailand coming in under the average destination wedding cost. Even popular European spots like Italy (€29,256) and Greece (€26,902), despite costing more than most locations, still offer a wedding experience abroad, turning the day into a holiday.
Scenery may also play a role. Destinations such as Greece, Italy, and France offer unique settings with historic buildings, beaches, or vineyard venues. These same countries also attract large shares of international couples. In Greece, 70% of destination weddings are for couples travelling in from abroad.
Ultimately, destination weddings may appeal to those looking to combine their ceremony with a holiday, or to create a more intimate, memorable setting somewhere meaningful or scenic and especially when coupled with great value for money in what’s an expensive market.
Sources
- The Business Research Company. “Destination Weddings Global Market Report,” https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/destination-weddings-global-market-report
- CBI. “Destination Weddings,” https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/tourism/destination-weddings
- Credence Research. “Europe Destination Wedding Market Size, Share, Trends Report 2024–2032,” https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/europe-destination-wedding-market.
- Future Market Insights. “Destination Weddings Industry Outlook,” https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/destination-weddings-industry-outlook
- The Knot Worldwide. “2024 Global Wedding Report,” https://www.theknotww.com/blog/b-company_news/2024-global-wedding-report
- Junebug Weddings. “What Do Weddings Cost in Different Countries?” https://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/what-do-weddings-cost-in-different-countries/
- CG Weddings. “Destination Weddings in Europe: How Much Do They Cost?” https://cg-weddings.com/destination-weddings-in-europe-how-much-do-they-cost/
- White Emotion. “Say I do in Italia: Why Destination Weddings in Italy are Still the Ultimate Trend for 2025,” https://www.whiteemotion.eu/blog/say-i-do-in-italia-why-destination-weddings-in-italy-are-still-the-ultimate-trend-for-2025/
- Hitched. “25 Best Destination Wedding Locations,” https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/honeymoon-articles/destination-wedding/
Methodology
This article explores the size, cost, and scale of the destination wedding industry globally. Destination weddings can include weddings in a country other than where the couple lives, or in a different location in the country where the couple lives. We set out to uncover:
- How much destination weddings cost across different countries
- Which locations are most popular among international couples
- How destination wedding trends vary by country and region
- How market value is changing over time
To do this, we analysed available cost and trend data across 29 countries, using a combination of industry reports, wedding planning platforms, and market research sources. Wherever possible, we used recent figures published in 2023 or 2024.
All local currencies were converted to EUR using exchange rates from Google Finance at the time of writing, in June 2025. This allows for a consistent comparison of prices across countries, even when original sources used different currencies.
We focused on countries where reliable data was available and excluded locations where up-to-date or consistent figures could not be sourced. In addition, countries experiencing ongoing conflict or major political instability were omitted from our analysis to maintain data integrity.
