12 of the Most Luxurious Wedding Venues in the World

Do you dream of getting married at an enchanting castle or in the middle of lush, royal gardens? Are you a fan of all things opulent and extravagant? Do you simply just love browsing breathtaking works of art? If any of those apply, this list of luxurious wedding venues is for you.

In this post, we explore some of the most outrageously lavish wedding venues located throughout the world. From a castle on the Italian coast to a palace in India, we review 12 of the most luxurious wedding venues that offer awe-inspiring architecture, top-tier service, divine design, and so much more. 

But before getting started, it's worth noting that there are thousands of luxurious wedding venues located throughout the world, and what's luxurious to one couple may not be to another. The point of this list is to simply highlight various types of luxurious venues spanning the globe — many of which can be found right on Wedding Spot!

Discover 12 of the most luxurious wedding venues worldwide

1. The Biltmore Estate | Asheville, NC

The Biltmore Estate boasts expansive acreage, stunning landscaping, and so much more. Built for George Vanderbilt II, the castle is the largest privately-owned home in the United States. Completed in 1895 and sprawling across 8,000 acres, the venue offers eight individual settings to choose from that include the perfectly manicured lawns of the Biltmore House and the peaceful koi ponds located in the estate’s Italian Gardens.

One of the most highly regarded luxury venues in the U.S., the Biltmore Estate strives to offer “a totally immersive experience for you, your wedding party, and your guests.” With a wedding, culinary, and event team at your service, the Biltmore offers a wide array of luxury ceremony and reception services.

2. Belmond Hotel Caruso | Ravello, Italy

Next on our list of 12 of the world's most luxurious wedding venues is Belmond Hotel Caruso, located on the Amalfi Coast of Ravello, Italy. One of the most exclusive luxury hotels in Italy, the Belmond Hotel Caruso is a “haven of romance” located in a former 11th-century palace. Overlooking the coastal cliffs of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the castle features fine dining options, terraced gardens, opulent furnishings, and so much more.

Fun Fact: The venue offers multiple ceremony options for couples, including religious weddings, civil weddings, and blessings.

3. Pleasantdale Chateau | West Orange, New Jersey

Pleasantdale Chateau is considered one of the most sought-after celebrity wedding venues in the country, as the venue specializes in high-profile wedding coordination. This 40-acre turn-of-the-century estate provides a hidden and magical landscape capable of hosting the fairytale wedding of your dreams. A large venue, Pleasantdale Chateau hosts weddings for up to 350 guests.

Upon arrival, guests enter through ivy-covered gates plucked straight from a storybook before making their way into the breathtaking entry hall, the epitome of luxury. Inside the hall, a crystal chandelier, limestone columns, and 17th-century Spanish floor tiles welcome friends and family.

4. Châteaux Vaux-le-Vicomte | Maincy, France

Designed in the 17th century by Louis Le Vau, the Châteaux Vaux-le-Vicomte is a theatrical and majestic event venue, capable of hosting weddings of unparalleled luxury. Home of the original French Formal gardens, a landscaping trend that took Europe by storm, the noble gardens and bountiful fountains of Vaux-le-Vicomte were integral in the inspiration for Versailles.

A mere 50k from Paris, the “city of love,” Vaux-le-Vicomte offers ceremonial chateau rooms for weddings, anniversaries, and other private events. Ceremonial rooms offer luxury furnishings, a private salon, and a stunning view overlooking the formal gardens. One of the most luxurious wedding venues in the world, Châteaux Vaux-le-Vicomte offers helicopter service for guest transfer, fireworks, carriage rides, and more.

5. Velaa Private Island | Noonu Atoll, Maldives

If you’re looking for a destination wedding venue that offers one-of-a-kind views, luxury service, and total privacy, look no further than Velaa Private Island. Providing the “ultimate island escape,” Velaa offers private island weddings in one of the most serene, tranquil settings in the world, the Maldives.

Offering both elopement and wedding services for up to 50 guests, engaged couples can select one of Velaa’s tailor-made wedding packages. Stay for your honeymoon and experience all the island has to offer, such as snorkeling, big game fishing, and rock climbing, or play golf on one of the world’s most beautiful courses.

Fun Fact: Velaa guests have access to the latest innovations in high-tech water toys including electric surfboards, hoverboards, and an unbelievable tandem jetovator.

6. The Langham Chicago | Chicago, Illinois

Within walking distance of Millenium Park, Navy Pier, and the retail hub of North Michigan Avenue sits The Langham, a luxurious wedding venue and hotel. With views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, The Langham is an elegant wedding venue that holds 268 guest rooms, 48 suites, and over 15,000 sq. feet of event space.

In 2019, The Langham launched a $500,000 “ultimate luxury wedding package,” which included a $15,000 couture gown credit, luxury wedding design courtesy of Rishi Patel, wedding party spa service, and entertainment. Traditionally, The Langham offers three luxury wedding packages with prices starting at $270 per person, and couples can relax knowing that every detail of their event is being managed by the hotel’s professional on-site wedding planner.

7. Oheka Castle | Huntington, NY

European-inspired architecture, ethereal gardens, and fountains abound at the historic Oheka Castle, one of Long Island’s landmark wedding destinations. The castle, which sits on 23 acres atop the highest location in the island’s Cold Spring Harbor, holds 127 guest rooms and can host weddings with up to 700 attendees. One of the most luxurious wedding venues New York has to offer, the venue only hosts one wedding each day, providing serenity and privacy for your celebration.

Fun Fact: Oheka Castle has been featured in a variety of TV shows and famous films, including Citizen Kane and The Others.

8. The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace | Yorba Linda, CA

The Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace is a one-of-a-kind wedding venue that exudes the perfect balance of history and luxury. An enormous venue that includes an event center, grand ballroom, and outdoor event space, the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace can host events for 700 guests. In addition to large grounds, the magnificent property features a cottage nestled inside towering pepper trees and the only White House East Room replica in existence.

The Nixon Library offers multiple alluring ceremony and reception locations for couples to choose from. Host your dinner reception in the East Room where terrazzo floors, Italian silk drapes, and three glamorous chandeliers create an air of stately elegance, or say “I do” in the First Lady’s Rose Garden, the largest public Rose Garden in Orange County, California.

9. Umaid Bhawan Palace | Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Both a representative piece of Rajasthan’s heritage and a “symbol of new Jodhpur,” the immense Umaid Bhawan Palace is the sixth-largest private residence in the world. Home of the Jodhpur royal family, Umaid Bhawan Palace has 70 Art Deco-style rooms, colonnaded verandas, and a subterranean Zodiac pool. Engaged couples and their guests will enjoy historic views of the Blue City as they explore winding gardens complete with dancing peacocks.

Fun Fact: In 2018, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra hosted a four-day star-studded wedding at Umaid Bhawan Palace.

10. Beacon Grand Hotel | San Francisco, CA

Located in the center of San Francisco, the Beacon Grand Hotel originally opened in 1928. Named the Sir Francis Drake Hotel at the time, the landmark venue, modeled after the World’s Fairs of its era, is known for its long history of luring creatives, entrepreneurs, and pursuers of opportunity throughout the ages. In fact, the hotel was dubbed “a glittering monument to the progress, hospitality, and undying beauty of San Francisco,” by the press of the age.

Rebranded later as the Beacon Grand, the modern reiteration aims to honor the legacy of the original luxury hotel while recementing its position in San Francisco’s history. Next to Union Square, the venue holds 17 meeting rooms, including the grand ballroom, which measures 3,081 square feet. With so many places to host your wedding at the Beacon Grand, we recommend contacting the hotel’s event team for a personalized wedding quote.

11. The Oceana Restaurant | New York, NY

Located a few steps from Rockefeller Center and Radio City, the Oceana Restaurant resides right in the heart of “The City That Never Sleeps.” A legendary staple of the NYC restaurant scene, the elegant restaurant is also a sought-after wedding destination.

Known for a floor-to-ceiling display of the restaurant’s legendary wine collection and superb service, the Oceana Restaurant provides an expert team of chefs, coordinators, and sommeliers to ensure a delicious and luxurious wedding day. One of the smallest wedding venues on our list, the Oceana can accommodate 80 guests in the Grand Salon, 18 in the Wine Room, and a party of up to 150 in the main dining room.

Fun Fact: The Oceana Restaurant is renowned for its fresh and innovative seafood-forward menu.

12. The Savoy Hotel | London, UK

Couples who book their wedding at The Savoy can expect ample assistance from a variety of wedding professionals. With a staff of planners, florists, butlers, and banqueting experts available to assist, the team at London’s iconic wedding venue guides couples through the wedding planning process.

Offering breathtaking views of the river Thames, 276 guest rooms, and the expertise of celebrated chef, Fabrice Lanson, The Savoy can accommodate 400 guests in the Lancaster Ballroom, with smaller ceremony and reception locations available.

Frequently asked questions about the world’s most luxurious wedding venues

Why are wedding venues so expensive?

There are a wide variety of expenses and behind-the-scenes costs that factor into wedding venue prices. If you think of venue rental as only renting a room, the cost may seem high. Consider, however, the additional costs that wedding venues incur, such as property and liability insurance, equipment rental, event staff, electricity, water, marketing, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. The most luxurious wedding venues may offer services beyond that of a traditional venue, so costs can be even higher.

What is the most popular luxury wedding destination?

In 2019, Harper’s Bazaar asked the same question to expert wedding planners. In response, destination planners named many of the most beautiful places in the world, including Italy’s Amalfi Coast, London, Ireland, and Bali.

What was the most expensive wedding ever?

Although celebrities and corporate heirs are well-known for shilling out major bucks on over-the-top weddings, not even A-listers can match the amount of marital money Britain’s Royal Family spends. The weddings of Prince William and Prince Harry both cost tens of millions, but no wedding has ever come close to that of Prince Charles & Lady Diana. Featuring 27 wedding cakes, high-profile security costs, a glass coach, and a bridal gown adorned with 10,000 pearls, the wedding cost an estimated $110 million, according to FinancesOnline.

Let the most luxurious wedding venues in the world inspire you!

If you love the elegance, prestige, and pampering offered by the most luxurious wedding venues around the globe, you might be a maximalist. A style that embraces “more, more, more,” maximalism is sweeping the wedding world. Up next, we explore that concept and celebrate excess in the maximalist wedding guide. We look at maximalist wedding designs, fashion trends, décor ideas, and more.