Planning a wedding can be as much a fun and creative experience as it is a stressful one – there are about a million decisions to be made in terms of food, flowers, invitations, themes and, most importantly, location.

While stores like Pronovias US can help with dress choices (everything from traditional gowns to helping in your search for mermaid style wedding dresses), picking a place for your wedding / honeymoon is a little more difficult.

The options are open ended, and they don’t exactly come in a catalog; you have to do the research and creative leg work from scratch.

But don’t let the volume of planning overwhelm you, and choose an ordinary location just because it’s simple and easy; if you want to be more unique with your wedding location, use this list of places to consider.

While this is by no means an exhaustive list of original places, with any luck it will get your creative juices flowing, and inspire you to think outside the box so you can find a truly special wedding location.

With your wedding being the single most unique day of your life, it’s fitting that the setting should also be unique.

Location Ideas For an Original Destination Wedding

Farm / Barn Wedding

If you’re planning a destination wedding, and you’re looking to escape to the country, why not plan a farm / barn wedding. So many destination weddings are held at a tourist resort, but this sets the stage to be different.

Of course, the scenery is the biggest perk of this; imagine marrying in the countryside of Italy, and sipping Tuscan wine at your reception right in the vineyard. Or dancing in the desert watching the sunset over Outback Australia.

Homesteads, barns and farm weddings celebrate rustic simplicity and the beauty of the wild. This is a perfect choice for those who love the outdoors, or if you’re typically city people, but looking for a novel escape.

If you want to get truly original, you can embrace the destination you’ve chosen, and incorporate local wildlife into your ceremony (after-all, you have chosen a farm setting!). If in South America, llamas can accompany you down the aisle for instance!

The beauty of a farm venue is its flexibility – you could create glamorous tents for guests and play on the farm theme for the cake.

Boat Wedding

Many people escape to the Greek Islands, or the Maldives for their honeymoon, but why not bring that spirit of the sea into your actual ceremony?!

There’s quite a wide range of options for a boat wedding; you can either charter a wedding yacht for your whole wedding party, and set out for a number of days. You can all book onto a cruise ship, or you can book a boat just for the day.

Typically, a boat wedding will keep the celebration small and intimate, and you can extend your wedding for as long as possible, as a boat can also be used for the honeymoon.

Related Post: 10 of the World’s Most Stunning Tourist Islands

The perk of choosing a yacht or private vessel is that it can transport you to different settings, making your honeymoon perpetually fascinating as opposed to residing in one place.

The pros of choosing a boat also include just having to worry about one venue for both your wedding and the reception, it’s typically very affordable, and you’ll have absolutely incredible views.

Keep in mind though that you will be stuck onboard with your wedding party, so if opting for a multi day cruise, you had better like those who have been invited!

Undersea Lodge

May people pick a destination, and then have their wedding on the grounds of the resort. Which can be a beautiful option as there are many spectacular tourist resorts.

But for a twist on a resort wedding, why not opt for an undersea lodge?

There are actually many undersea hotels around the world, from St Lucia, to Key Largo, Singapore, Dubai, and the Maldives. Most notably, the Shimao Wonderland Intercontinental just opened up on mainland China.

These hotels offer spaces, restaurants and rooms set up to 30 feet below the sea. You’re utterly submerged underwater with a transparent ceiling and walls, integrated into the sea life as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

It’s even possible to find underwater aquariums for a wedding, but you may have to travel some way to find a venue that hosts them.

Nordic Northern Lights

There’s nothing more celebratory and romantic than a snowy backdrop, especially for those who aren’t accustomed to such climates. And, if you head to the arctic, you’ll have the added bonus of photography against the Northern Lights.

One of the world’s most dazzling natural phenomenons, few travel experiences can top witnessing the Northern Lights. Also known as Aurora Borealis, this is mother nature’s most impressive light show, and something almost every traveler has at the top of their bucketlist.

So why not use it for your wedding?!

The Nordic countries are a region in Northern Europe that include Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Sweden. The Danish word “hygge” encompases why the Nordic countries are exceptionally perfect for a wedding celebration; Hygge refers to being cozy, and acknowledging a feeling and a moment.

The Nords know how to do ‘cozy and romantic’, which is perfect for both a wedding ceremony, and honeymoon!

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.