Under the Radar European Destination Wedding Locations

Trafalgar says travellers are increasingly looking to head to lesser-known European destinations, such as Slovenia. (Photo Credit: Jim Byers/TravelPulse Canada)

by Scott Hartbeck
Last updated: 6:00 PM ET, Thu August 17, 2023

Lake Bled, Slovenia

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From grand venues overlooking idyllic lakes to the Venetian-influenced seaside cities, Slovenia is home to several stunning locations to get married. Nowhere is more dreamy than Lake Bled, where you can say your "I Dos" at the castle that overlooks this beautiful body of water or at the fairytale church located on an island in the middle of the lake.

Douro Valley, Portugal

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This gorgeous wine region with a romantic river cutting right through it located near Porto might just match (or exceed) the beauty of some of the most popular destination wedding locations in Italy and France. How does tying the knot on a terrace outside at sunset while the vineyards and Douro River below are bathed in golden light? Rest assured, it will be even better in person.

Dordogne, France

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This bucolic region of southwestern France is home to quaint-as-can-be villages that cling to cliffs over meandering rivers and more than its fair share of breathtaking wedding venues. Sure, the crowds will tell you Provence is where it's at, but you two & and your guests will be ecstatic you did something a little different and got married in the dreamy Dordogne.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

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Croatia's bounty of beautiful islands—almost all home to handsome old towns whose winding streets would make a great backdrop for both nuptials and photos—shouldn't be overlooked, but for the real wow factor head to this national park. Plitvice Lakes is world famous no doubt, but the fact that this waterfall-filled wonderland doubles as a wedding venue is lesser known, so be the first of your friends to make a splash by getting hitched here.

Piedmont, Italy

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Imagine getting hitched amongst rolling hills filled with vineyards and rustic farmhouses at a venue enjoying a sweeping view of the scene. With the amount of press it gets, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Tuscany is the only place in Italy that would offer up that sort of destination wedding proposal, but Piedmont (located in northwest Italy near Torino) can go toe-to-toe with anywhere in the country when it comes to natural beauty, wine and gastronomy. As a bonus, this region also owns a part of the shoreline of Lake Maggiore, which is every bit as lovely as Como.

The Netherlands

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How does a post-ceremony canal cruise with you and your wedding party Or wedding photos in fields of colorful tulips? The Netherlands is home to plenty of romantic backdrops for a wedding and since it's a small country with incredible infrastructure, exploring the country before or after the wedding will be a delight for you and your guests.

Folengandros, Greece

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One of the loveliest lesser known Greek Islands, Folegandros sits a short ferry ride from multiple A-list isles, but gets overlooked often when it comes to destination weddings in Greece. One look at the dramatically perched hill church that is the symbol of the island will show you why it should be on your radar for your very own island nuptials.

It might just be me, but destination weddings in Europe sure seem like they are getting more popular. This summer alone, I personally know—or have met—a handful of Americans who were over in Europe for a wedding, and whether or not the official numbers match up with my anecdotal evidence, there's no question Europe is an important segment of the destination wedding market.

So where do you think you—or your client—would potentially want to tie the knot in Europe? Italy and Greece certainly jump to the forefront, but the list of great places in Europe for a destination wedding is long and loaded with locales that will spark romance. The following list features a couple of places from the aforementioned countries but also expands the map to include some spots you may not have considered.

Formalities and requirements vary from country to country, but regardless if you choose to legally get married abroad or get hitched at home and just have a "symbolic second wedding" and celebration in Europe, the following are some of the best destination wedding locations in Europe that are also a little bit under the radar.