Love Takes a Holiday

Where on earth should you wed? Your imagination's your only limit. From mountaintop vows to "I dos" with an ocean view, you'll find the nuptial site of your dreams here.

1. U.S.
   Simple to plan and less intimidating for your non-jet-set guests, an American wedding can be as dreamy and different as anything across the ocean. Sonoma is our Tuscany, Vegas our Monte Carlo—and so on. No wonder 72 percent of destination weddings take place in the lower 48.
    
2. Hawaii
   The 50th state is doubly blessed with tropical trappings and the comforts of an American outpost (no need to worry about currency or cellphone plans). The six main islands abound with seaside chapels, clifftop vistas, and savvy consultants. Ask yours to plan a wedding luau, complete with tiki torches, flower leis, hula dancers, and a meal of pit-roasted pork.
    
3. The Caribbean
   With its kaleidoscope of cultures (including West Indian, African, Dutch, French, and British), and the universal glory of sunset on the beach, the Caribbean offers a party for every taste and pocketbook—especially now that Spirit, JetBlue, and other low-cost carriers fly there. Most places have easy marriage laws and a bounty of experienced planners just waiting to order that seashell-decked cake.
    
4. Mexico
   Whether you seal your union by sipping from goblets in a hacienda's chapel or by looping yourselves with a satin lasso on the beach, you'll find yourself treated como una princesa. Legal requirements vary widely, so use a resort with an English-speaking planner or call a Mexican-savvy company, like Weddings on the Move (800-444-6967, idoweddings.com)
    
5. Europe
   A medieval castle, an Aegean isle, a Tuscan villa: There's no shortage of glamour here. Some places make marriage simple—like Scotland, Greece, and the newly hot isle of Malta—but you'll need a coordinator to wade through Italy's bureaucracy. Many hotels have planners, but some brides prefer a Stateside coordinator like Grand Luxe International (201-327-2333, grandluxeweddings.com).
    
6. Globe-trotting
   For those with wanderlust, a wedding means a dream trip to the South Pacific, Africa, or Central America. Make it legal in Kenya and you'll don beaded Masai wedding bracelets; in Costa Rica, you'll party with minimonkeys and blue butterflies.

Editors' note: Wedding rates include ceremony, cake, Champagne, bouquet, boutonniere, legal fees, and officiant; more basic packages may cost less. Residency requirements are listed in business days.

Room-rate tip: You can often get a better deal on your digs than the prices we list here. Try surfing the Web, consulting a travel agent, or calling the resort's reservations line directly.

Hilton Head, SC

Why here? You can have an island wedding without leaving the country.

Sweet spot: Get your party started during the ferry ride from Hilton Head Island to Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa, as dolphins dance in your wake. Relax with a mint julep on the veranda of the antebellum-style Island House or with a treatment at the Breathe Spa. Whether you wed in the oceanfront gazebo or in the First Union African Baptist Church down the road, you'll have an event steeped in Southern tradition. Doubles from $229, March through October; weddings from $3,035; 800-960-9089 or daufuskieislandresort.com.

Fact file: One-day residency requirement; fees from $50. Contact Beaufort County Probate Court at 843-470-5319 or bcgov.net.

Las Vegas, NV

Why here? The original Elopementville offers a world of nuptial locations.

Sweet spot: For vows with a Vegas view, set your ceremony in the natural amphitheater at Whiskey Beach, the eight-acre "backyard" at Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa. This desert hideout, perched high above the glittering Strip, is a playland for wedding parties, with casinos, a golf course, and spa treatments so good, celebs 'copter in for them. Doubles from $149, year-round; weddings from $1,700; 866-782-9487 or greenvalleyranchresort.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $55. Contact Clark County Marriage Bureau at 702-455-4415 or co.clark.nv.us/clerk/Marriage_Information.htm.

Napa Valley, CA

Why here? Plan a vineyard reception with homegrown champagne toasts.

Sweet spot: Exchange rings under the redwoods at Meadowood Napa Valley, then mark the moment with some of the finest food and wine in America. This lush haven offers a full menu of activities for weekend nuptials: golf, biking, croquet, vino tastings, and hot-air balloon rides. Doubles from $625, April through November; weddings from $1,000; 800-458-8080 or meadowood.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $70. Contact Napa County Recorder-Clerk at 707-253-4247 or co.napa.ca.us/living.

New Orleans, LA

Why here? Two words: Cajun buffet.

Sweet spot: Indulge your Southern fantasies at the Columns Hotel, one of the mansions lining St. Charles Avenue. (Book all 20 rooms and you can pretend it's your ancestral home.) Marry on the airy front porch, dine on Creole-inspired cuisine, then send your dear ones off the next day with a jumping jazz brunch. Doubles from $120, including breakfast, year-round; weddings from $500; 800-445-9308 or thecolumns.com..

Fact file: Three-day residency requirement (can be waived by officiant); fees from $28. Contact Orleans Parish Marriage License Office at 800-454-9570.

Orlando, FL

Why here? With theme parks aplenty, this town offers dreams by the dozen.

Sweet spot: Walt Disney World's nuptial jewel is the Wedding Pavilion, located on a private isle beside Disney's divine Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. (We love the separate "bride" and "groom" dressing areas.) Cinematic touches include arrival by horse-drawn coach, a castle-topped cake, and Mickey popping in to kiss the bride. Doubles from $475, February through April; weddings from $3,000; 321-939-4623 or disneyweddings.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $94. Contact Orange County Clerk of Courts at 407-836-2067 or orangeclerk.onetgov.net.

Telluride, CO

Why here? Love can't take you higher than this charming village in the Rockies.

Sweet spot: The Inn at Lost Creek is a cozy home base for mid-mountain nuptials. Take a gondola to the top for a scenic first-kiss photo, then return to the hotel for a crackling fire, an elegant celebration, and, finally, some one-on-one hot-tub time. Doubles from $415, January through April; weddings from $500; 888-601-5678 or innatlostcreek.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $10. Contact San Miguel County Clerk at 970-728-3954 or sanmiguelcounty.org/clerk.

Editors' note: Unless otherwise noted, quoted room rates are available year-round.

The Big Island

Why here? Channel the heat of an active volcano for your wedding night.

Sweet spot: With canal boats and a monorail linking hotel, spa, and multitiered pool, the Hilton Waikoloa Village offers all the excitement of a theme park. Among the I-do options: the Hale Aloha, or House of Love, a glass-enclosed chapel where hearts are joined beneath a mosaic of overlapping leis. Doubles from $199; weddings from $1,100; 800-445-8667 or hiltonwaikoloavillage.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $60. Contact the Marriage License Office at 808-586-4544 or hawaii.gov/health/vital-records.

Kauai

Why here? You get a taste of what Hawaii was like before it went Hollywood.

Sweet spot: The Waimea Plantation Cottages, sprawling in chilled-out style on a 27-acre coconut grove, are made for togetherness. You and your guests will bond at the spa, the pool, the beach, and the on-site brew pub. And if you need some alone time, there's always your oceanfront hale (hut) or the stately manor house. Doubles from $195, January through March and June through August; weddings from $1,500; 866-774-2924 or resortquesthawaii.com.

Fact file: See Big Island requirements.

Lanai

Why here? The island plays host to two grand resorts and countless stylish vows.

Sweet spot: Wed at the Four Seasons' Lodge at Koele, a secluded, oh-so-Anglo manor in the Lanai upcountry, and your guests will be seated by a reflecting pond, under Cook pines. As you glide across the manicured croquet lawn, your intended will be waiting at the gazebo. "I dos" are followed by Champagne and coconut shrimp beside the pineapple fountain, and DJ-spun tunes in the library. Doubles from $400; weddings from $7,800; 800-321-4666 or fourseasons.com.

Fact file: See Big Island requirements.

Maui

Why here? Your love will cascade like a waterfall in this posh Pacific paradise.

Sweet spot: At the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, you can have a white-glove soiree with a string quartet and candelabras—or go Hawaiian with an outrigger-canoe entrance. Afterward, a luau with fire-knife dancers and hula girls will light up your big night. Doubles from $385; weddings from $4,800; 800-441-1414 or fairmont.com/kealani.

Fact file: See Big Island requirements.

Molokai

Why here? Hawaii's most rustic island has no stoplights and countless waves.

Sweet spot: When the coral hues of sunset hit the tide pools of Kaupoa Beach, it's prime nuptial time at the Lodge & Beach Village at Molokai Ranch. The staff will outfit your seaside reception with china and crystal from the lodge, then wave a fond aloha as you disappear into your luxe "tentalow" on the shore. Doubles from $285; weddings from $950; 888-627-8082 or molokairanch.com.

Fact file: See Big Island requirements.

Oahu

Why here? From Waikiki to the North Shore, this isle offers many ways to wed.

Sweet spot: The chic Kahala Hotel & Resort is the kind of place that prompts couples to return for their anniversaries, kids' birthdays, and any other excuse they can dream up. Can you blame them for wanting one more kiss in the oceanfront gazebo, one more photo by the waterfall, and one more Hawaiian-Asian dinner at Hoku's? Doubles from $375; weddings from $3,000; 808-739-8888 or kahalaresort.com.

Fact file: See Big Island requirements.

Editors' note: Unless noted, room rates are for the high season, mid-December through mid-April. Prices drop as much as 50 percent during other times of the year.

Anguilla

Why here? It's so telegenic, the Today show threw a destination wedding here.

Sweet spot: The sun-drenched white angles of CuisinArt Resort & Spa would fit in on any Greek isle. Say your vows beneath an arch of frangipani and bougainvillea on a grass-carpeted dune with views of St. Maarten, then let the chef work Mediterranean magic on your wedding feast. Doubles from $625, January through March; weddings from $1,250; 800-943-3210 or cuisinartresort.com.

Fact file: Two-day residency requirement; fees from $284 ($40 if one partner is on-island for 15 days). Contact the Anguilla Tourist Board at 800-553-4939 or anguilla-vacation.com.

Antigua

Why here? Your stay will be steeped in British tradition and nautical history.

Sweet spot: Elegant, all-inclusive Galley Bay has a glittering beach hot enough for Giorgio Armani to stroll. But the staff's more interested in the couples pledging their forevermores under the buttercup-trimmed oceanfront gazebo. A steel band plays "The Wedding March" while your planner sets aside a slice of fruit-filled cake—perfect for late-night nibbles in the Gauguin Cottage. All-inclusive doubles from $4,125 for five nights, the minimum stay; weddings from $699; 800-858-4618 or eliteislandresorts.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $240. Contact the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism at 888-268-4227 or antigua-barbuda.org.

Aruba

Why here? Chalk-white strands and sunny days make this isle party-perfect.

Sweet spot: The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino has a dozen breezy acres and as many nuptial locales, from gauzy Arabian tents-for-two on the beach to a magnificent palapa that accommodates 250. Say the word, and you'll get a white horse for your man's arrival, a local rabbi for a Jewish ceremony, or monogrammed shoe bags for barefoot-friendly favors. Doubles from $440; weddings from $600; 800-554-9288 or aruba.hyatt.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement, but only ceremonies performed at City Hall are legally binding (many duos still hold blessings at resorts as well); fees from $80. Contact the Aruba Tourism Authority at 800-862-7822 or aruba.com.

The Bahamas

Why here? Only 55 miles from Florida, these 700-plus isles are strewn like love letters across clear Atlantic waters.

Sweet spot: At Pelican Bay at Lucaya, located on Grand Bahama Island, a little love boat will ferry your guests down the shoreline for a secluded ceremony, then shuttle everyone back to be heralded by a junkanoo band. Cowbells, goatskin drums, and whistles mingle with the cheers of your loved ones as the party moves poolside for dining and dancing. Doubles from $349; weddings from $1,079; 800-852-3702 or pelicanbayhotel.com.

Fact file: One-day residency requirement; fees from $185. Contact the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism's Weddings and Honeymoon Unit at 888-687-8425 or romance.bahamas.com.

Barbados

Why here? The sunny Bajans treat every couple like Mr. and Mrs. Tiger Woods. (They got hitched here in 2004.)

Sweet spot: Sandy Lane, where Woods said "I do," limits itself to one wedding a day, so the VIP treatment is yours alone. The hotel can provide a choir and string orchestra to welcome your guests to the Dolphin Circle, a fountain-cooled area set up like an outdoor church. While you make it official, the staff will transform your room into an extravaganza of rose petals and floating candles. Doubles from $1,100; weddings from $2,010; 866-444-4080 or sandylane.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $98. Contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 800-221-9831 or barbados.org.

Bermuda

Why here? Pink sands, pastel cottages, and bright blooms make vows on this subtropical British isle unforgettable.

Sweet spot: Craving casual comfort? Head to the newly renovated Wyndham Bermuda Resort & Spa, where you can make a wish under the moongate (a stone arch that, legend has it, grants lovers' deepest desires), then pledge your troth atop a cliff overlooking the Atlantic. Next up: rum swizzles and fish chowder for everyone! Doubles from $399, May through September; weddings from $2,000; 800-996-3426 or wyndhambermuda.com.

Fact file: Notice of Intended Marriage must be filed with local papers at least 15 days in advance; fees from $231. Contact the Bermuda Department of Tourism at 800-223-6106 or bermudatourism.com.

The British Virgin Islands

Why here? These boat-centric isles are delightful dots for sailing into the sunset.

Sweet spot: Miss Cleo of Biras Creek Resort, on Virgin Gorda, has 19 years' experience in matrimonial magic. She boats you to Tortola for paperwork, helps you pick among view-licious veranda and beach locales, and arranges every detail of the party, right up to a wedding-night disappearance into your oceanfront cottage—one of just 32 on 130 acres. Doubles from $840, including meals, January through March; weddings from $1,100; 800-223-1108 or birascreek.com.

Fact file: Three-day residency requirement; fees from $110 ($50 if couple is on-island for 15 days). Contact the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board at 800-835-8530 or bvitourism.com.

The Cayman Islands

Why here? There's no better place to dive—literally—into marriage.

Sweet spot: The tall casuarina trees that give the hotel its name wave above your heads. Conch shells line an aisle that leads to an altar of sea and sky. "Pachelbel's Canon" plays on steel drums. Welcome to the Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa, where lucky just-marrieds follow their vows with pina coladas and conch fritters on the upper pool deck, then descend for a night of rhythmic celebration. Doubles from $366; weddings from $1,500; 345-945-3800 or westincasuarina.net.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $200. Contact the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism at 877-422-9626 or caymanislands.ky.

Curaçao

Why here? This Dutch isle has a warm bon bini (welcome) for vows of all sizes.

Sweet spot: Destination "I dos" often include children, and no place caters to them like Breezes Curaçao Resort Spa & Casino. Once your flower girls have strewn their petals, they can head to the Kids' Club while the grown-ups get down at the reception. Or the tykes can join you for a family-friendly dinner at Pastafari, the fun-issimo Italian restaurant. All-inclusive doubles from $1,568 for two nights, the minimum stay; weddings free with five-night stay ($300 fee for paperwork); 877-467-8737 or breezes.com.

Fact file: Two months' notification and three-day residency requirement; fees from $60. Contact the Curaçao Tourism Development Bureau at 800-328-7222 or curacao-tourism.com.

The Dominican Republic

Why here? Adventure meets pleasure on an isla of lounging and rafting.

Sweet spot: With its sexy spa, rooftop infinity pool, and 50 graceful, hacienda-style rooms, Casa Colonial Beach & Spa, in Puerto Plata, offers a slew of nuptial possibilities. The mahogany-and-marble gazebo, surrounded by white sand, is one of the loveliest in the tropics. And the food—Asian-fusion preparations of lobster and beef—is muy bueno. Doubles from $350; weddings from $2,800; 800-847-0291 or vhhr.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; fees from $75. Contact the Dominican Republic Tourist Board at 888-374-6361 or dominicanrepublic.com.

Jamaica

Why here? Red Stripe, reggae, and romantic digs make it a wedding classic.

Sweet spot: Opened in 2005, Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa is tucked on the undeveloped South Coast. You'll tie the knot in a seaside wedding pavilion (for a fee, you can choose a package designed by celeb party planner Preston Bailey), then dine by candlelight before you retreat to a room with a view—and, if you've booked a premium suite, a butler. All-inclusive doubles from $1,500 for two nights, the minimum stay; weddings free with five-night stay; 888-726-3257 or sandals.com.

Fact file: One-day residency requirement; fees from $65. Contact the Jamaica Tourist Board at 800-233-4582 or visit jamaica.com.

Nevis

Why here? This tiny, sombrero-shaped isle coddles duos with old-world charm, lofty mountains, and vervet monkeys.

Sweet spot: Make it official in one of the island's many historic, volcanic-stone churches, or wed in a sugar-mill ruin right on the grounds of the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. The hotel specializes in beach parties, lobster bakes, garden teas, horseback excursions, and glow-golf tournaments (complete with twinkle-lit trees, bright balls, and neon necklaces for players)—more than enough activities for a four-day celebration. Doubles from $645; weddings from $1,295; 800-332-3442 or fourseasons.com.

Fact file: Two-day residency requirement; fees from $100 ($20 if the couple is on-island for 15 days). Contact the Nevis Tourism Authority at 866-556-3847 or nevisisland.com/.

Puerto Rico

Why here? This U.S. outpost is known for Latin spice and tropical good times.

Sweet spot: Leave the veil and train at home when you marry at the Water Club San Juan. This hot property specializes in nontraditional affairs. Brides wear linen sheaths, moms lounge on Eurostyle sofas, guests nosh on hand-rolled sushi, and everyone gasps when they spot the pool's 360-degree sea-and-city view. Doubles from $289; weddings from $1,600; 888-265-6699 or waterclubsanjuan.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement, but blood test and license from the mainland must be authorized by a local doctor; fees from $25. Contact the Puerto Rico Tourism Company at 800-866-7827 or go to puertorico.com.

St. Lucia

Why here? Your photos will thank you for marrying by the lush Piton peaks.

Sweet spot: Up to 56 can stay at the 16 tropical bungalows of Stonefield Estate Villa Resort, many with private pools, outdoor showers, and Piton views. Wed on the beach beneath an arch of bougainvillea, anthurium, and ginger lilies, then shake your thing at the reception to music from a local shak-shak band. Doubles from $190; weddings from $1,170; 758-459-7037 or stonefieldvillas.com.

Fact file: Four-day residency and application requirement; fees from $166. Contact the St. Lucia Tourist Board at 800-456-3984 or stlucia.org.

St. Maarten

Why here? The Dutch side of St. Martin/St.Maarten is known for buzzy casinos and hassle-free matrimony.

Sweet spot: Everything's simple and friendly at gingerbread-trimmed Mary's Boon Beach Plantation, just south of Princess Juliana International Airport on a three-mile beach. Get hitched right outside your room in a private garden. (St. Maarten law requires six witnesses, but the staff loves to assist.) Then share a quiet oceanside dinner before heading back to your Queen Anne four-poster bed. Doubles from $175; weddings from $500; 599-545-7000 or marysboon.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement, but paperwork must be filed 14 days ahead; fees from $51. Contact the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at 877-956-1234 or st-maarten.com.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Why here? This sailboat-crazy archipelago has the softest sand ever to tickle the toes of a barefoot bride.

Sweet spot: Opened in 2004, Raffles Resort Canouan Island has just-built boudoirs and overwater spa rooms. The only thing not daisy-fresh? The 17th-century stone church, site of many new "I dos." Guests are chauffeured there in golf carts; the bridal party commands a stretch version, trailing coconut shells. Doubles from $750; weddings from $1,295; 784-458-8000 or raffles-canouanisland.com.

Fact file: One-day residency requirement; fees from $195. Contact the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Tourism and Culture at 800-729-1726 or svgtourism.com.

Trinidad and Tobago

Why here? This is where the steel band was born, so you're guaranteed a party.

Sweet spot: Eco-conscious duos love the beachfront Hilton Tobago Golf & Spa Resort, with its natural lagoon and protected mangrove forest. Some of the most beautiful nuptial footage in the West Indies is shot in its hibiscus-and-buttercup garden. Doubles from $270; weddings from $600; 877-464-4586 or hiltoncaribbean.com/tobago.

Fact file: Three-day residency requirement; fees from $54. Contact Trinidad and Tobago Tourism at 868-624-5082 or visittnt.com.

The Turks and Caicos

Why here? The bonefishing will occupy sporty guests, while the endless white sands will astonish sensual ones.

Sweet spot: Provo's new Palms Resort & Spa already has a reputation for romancing wedding parties with sunset ceremonies featuring the distant silhouettes of sailboats and stallions. From there, move to the courtyard for cocktails devised by a British mixologist, then to dinner on the beach—grilled wild shrimp with mango, anyone? Set up the band beside the massive reflection pool, beneath an 80-foot water wall; tiki torches and round cushions on the grass complete the scene. Doubles from $450; weddings from $945; 866-877-7256 or thepalmstc.com.

Fact file: Four-day residency requirement and application process; fees from $50. Contact the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board at 800-241-0824 or turksandcaicostourism.com.

The U.S. Virgin Islands

Why here? Because three friendly American islands (St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix) are better than one.

Sweet spot: Want to be pampered all the way down the aisle? Then get your engaged selves to the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas. From salt-sprayed vows aboard the property's Lady Lynsey catamaran to a refined reception on the terrace over Great Bay, wedding consultant Marlene Buckridge will ensure that all the details come together—down to your post-bash butler-drawn bath, filled with petals. Doubles from $699; weddings from $5,000; 800-241-3333 or ritzcarlton.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement, but paperwork must arrive eight days ahead; fees from $100. Contact the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism at 800-372-8784 or usvitourism.vi.

Cancun

Why here? This popular Caribbean resort town has turned matrimonios Americanos into an art form.

Sweet spot: Last year, the folks at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort built a glass chapel (perfect for Catholic ceremonies) overlooking the sea. You'll get the same view from the gazebo, which the staff loves to decorate in a sunburst of flowers and organza, as white lights twinkle in the palm trees above. All-inclusive doubles from $752, December through May; weddings free with three-night stay; 800-635-1836 or palaceresorts.com.

Fact file: Blood test required; fees and residency requirements vary, so a savvy wedding planner is essential. Contact the Cancun Visitors and Convention Bureau at cancun.info.

Puerto Vallarta

Why here? Its Old Mexico spirit has lured lovers since Burton and Taylor.

Sweet spot: The lush, heart-shaped garden at the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center can be spiced up with multicultural flair—a bamboo chuppah for a Jewish duo, glittering fabrics for Hindu nuptials, and a tropically decorated broom for African-American vows. Doubles from $319; weddings from $460; 800-433-5451 or sheratonvallarta.com

Fact file: Blood test required; fees and residency requirements are subject to change, so a savvy wedding planner is essential. Contact the Puerto Vallarta Convention and Visitors Bureau at puertovallarta.net.

San Miguel de Allende

Why here? This colonial village, designated a national monument, has oodles of artsy charm.

Sweet spot: Wedding planner Susan Cordelli spent childhood summers in her expat grandparents' hacienda, which she now runs as a boutique hotel. Casa Schuck's courtyard hosts fiestas for up to 120, complete with a donkey bearing a tequila barrel, dancing mohiganga dolls, and dazzling fireworks, all at south-of-the-border prices. Doubles from $140, including breakfast; weddings from $500; 937-684-4092 or casaschuck.com.

Fact file: Blood test required; fees and residency requirements vary, so a good planner is essential. Contact the Mexico Tourism Board at 800-446-3942 or visitmexico.com.

Scotland

Why here? Velvet-green landscapes, turreted castles, whiskey toasts, and tours aplenty—what's not to love?

Sweet spot: A carriage drawn by Clydesdales is the preferred nuptial transport at the Westin Turnberry Resort. Whether you alight for vows on the famous golf course, in a nearby clifftop castle, or at the Turnberry lighthouse is up to you—just be sure to hold your after-party in an opulent, firelit room with views of the Irish Sea. Doubles from $670, including breakfast, May through September; weddings from $1,600; 800-937-8461 or westin.com/turnberry.

Fact file: No residency requirement, but paperwork must be filed four to six weeks ahead; fees from $167. Contact the Scottish Tourist Board at 800-462-2748 or toscotland.com.

Greece

Why here? Everyone looks good when bathed in the light of this timeless Mediterranean mecca.

Sweet spot: Nowhere is the unearthly beauty of the island of Mykonos more evident than in the cluster of sugar-cube bungalows that is Grecotel Mykonos Blu. Exchange rings in the village church or the hotel bar (a soaring space of turquoise, white, and natural woods). For your reception, the staff will carpet the beach with Oriental rugs, light up the night with candles, and serve you a meal from the hotel's Aegean Poets restaurant, one of the finest in the country. Doubles from $489, including breakfast, July through September; weddings from $618; 800-323-7500 or grecotel.gr.

Fact file: No residency requirement; you may be able to use a U.S. marriage license to wed here—ask your planner; fees from $300. Contact the Greek Embassy at 202-939-1300 or greekembassy.org.

Italy

Why here? Italian-American duos will relish a taste of their heritage; everyone else will enjoy a slice of la dolce vita.

Sweet spot: When David Bowie and Iman took over the 37-room Villa La Massa for their vows in the '80s, they established this Renaissance estate as the premier nuptial site in Tuscany. After a few days of wine-tasting, you can say your "I dos" in the 16th-century stone chapel or in the rose garden, framed by cypress trees. Doubles from $532, including breakfast, April through July and September; weddings from $1,237; 800-223-6800 or villalamassa.it.

Fact file: Three-day residency requirement; fees vary by city, so hire a coordinator. Contact the Consulate General of Italy at 212-439-8600 or italconsulnyc.org.

Costa Rica

Why here? Make marital magic among flying butterflies and swinging monkeys.

Sweet spot: At 2,400-acre Paradisus Playa Conchal, every marrying couple gets a handcrafted album covered in leaves; fill yours with pictures of the ceremony site (a natural chapel of palms on the beach wound with red and orange heliconia vines), your candlelit dinner by the pool, and your room-service breakfast in a suite carpeted with petals. All-inclusive doubles from $658, January through April; weddings free with five-night stay; 888-956-3542 or solmelia.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement; documents must be authenticated by local U.S. consulate. Fees from $400; a wedding planner is essential. Contact the Costa Rica Tourism Board at 866-267-8274 or visitcostarica.com.

Fiji

Why here? Just try finding a place that's more exotic—and more welcoming.

Sweet spot: The gown: a Fijian wedding frock of tapa cloth. The entrance: in a canoe heaped with blooms. The music: a local choir, singing a capella. The honeymoon: right here, at Turtle Island Resort, in one of 14 private bures (huts) overlooking the lagoon. All-inclusive doubles from $12,640 for six nights, the minimum stay, year-round; weddings from $2,500; 800-255-4347 or turtlefiji.com.

Fact file: One-day residency requirement; fees from $12. Contact the Fiji Visitors Bureau at 800-932-3454 or bulafiji.com.

Kenya

Why here? Spying on lions is a good excuse to cling to him—and vice versa.

Sweet spot: The two American women who run VirginBush Safaris know every chic wedding spot in East Africa. They've even had a stone altar built on the floor of the Rift Valley at Shompole Lodge. Ask them to plan a sexy safari honeymoon, complete with wildlife viewing and accommodations ranging from a white bedouin tent with antique carpeting to Princess Caroline of Monaco's island home off the Kenyan coast. Doubles from $1,300, year-round; weddings from $3,000, June through February only; 888-432-8681 or virginbushsafaris.com.

Fact file: No residency requirement, but paperwork must be filed three weeks ahead; fees from $242. Contact the Kenya Tourist Board at 866-445-3692 or magicalkenya.com.