The Best Destinations for Queer Weddings

Trust an Expert with all the travel details between “Yes” and “I Do”. Looking after you and everyone on your guest list is our specialty. Looking for ideas? Keep reading to see our top picks for destinations LGBTQIA+ Aussies can have destination weddings AND the perfect honeymoon.  

It’s hard to beat Mexico for a stress-free, all-inclusive wedding package, so let’s start here! The legal status of LGBTQ+ marriage in Mexico used to vary state to state but in October 2022, it became legal country wide. While Cancun has a party reputation, you can also find a lot of luxury that will be perfect for your day or head to the Riviera Maya, Tulum or Mexico City itself.  

The beautiful scenery, close proximity and our friendly Kiwi ‘cousins’ have forever made New Zealand a popular place for Aussies to get married. The fact that same sex marriage was legalised in New Zealand years before it was in Australia has meant that LQBTQIA+ Aussies have been tying the knot there for quite some time. Get married in the snow in Queenstown, on a cliff-top just outside Auckland, a glacier in the Southern Alps or if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan - in Hobbiton!  

Costa Rica is another popular place to head for a destination wedding and the good news is it is very gay marriage friendly! The country officially legalised gay marriage in 2018 and was one of the very first Latin American countries to do so. Manuel Antonio and San Jose represent the main LGBTQIA+ communities in Costa Rica, and Liberia is also a very strong choice for a wedding venue. Say "I do" deep in the rainforest on the Osa Peninsula or look out over the sea, on a mountain top on the Central Pacific.  

The United Kingdom has long been where Aussies head to live out their gap-year dreams and it is the perfect place for weddings, including LGBTQIA+ ones. As the UK is made up of several countries, make sure you check the specific legal requirements of the area you plan to get married and for any visas you may need before traveling there to get married (which is something you will do with all destinations). You’ll feel like royalty getting married on an English estate!  

Mykonos might be the country’s most famous gay-friendly travel destination, but there are so many wonderful wedding venues to choose from across the Greek islands including Santorini and Crete. It is important to note though that gay marriage is not currently legal in Greece but there are big political moves to change this in progress. This means that the ceremony will be a unification/symbolic one.  

Spain is one of the most LGBTQIA+ inclusive countries in the world, thanks to its anti-discrimination laws, legal gender changes, and same-sex marriages that have been legally recognised since 2005 but as always, make sure you check specific legalities. While the entire European country offers plenty of gorgeous wedding locations, most couples find the right venue in Sitges, Barcelona, or Gran Canaria. Of course, Spain offers incredible beach weddings, but you could also get married in a pink Moroccan Palace or a castle!  

Can’t pick just one place? Consider a cruise wedding! Many cruise lines offer legal ceremonies, on shore at select destinations, at sea, or even at your home port so non-sailing guests can be included too. Ask our Experts about planning a spectacular seaside ceremony with Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruises, or even Disney Cruise Line!