Looking to wed on the sand? Our Forbes Travel Guide editors found five fabulous spots for beachfront weddings.
This cozy bed-and-breakfast institution sits oceanside in laid-back Key West and is divided between two separate buildings: La Mer Hotel, loaded with Victorian charm, and Dewey House, with its lovely beach-cottage vibe. Get hitched on a white-sand beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by tiki torches and rose petals, before a beachside reception dinner.
On the Kona-Kohala Coast of the Big Island, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu feels every inch the authentic Hawaiian retreat with bungalows set amid lava rock (there’s no hotel tower here), a salt-water pool and lush tropical gardens. For the ceremony, the Five-Star hotel has several spectacular spots. Choose one of the gorgeous beach locations or go for the “Wedding Tree,” which is perched on black lava bluffs overlooking the beach and faces west for optimal viewing of the stunning sunsets.
If you’re looking for ocean views but don’t want your guests to get sand in their shoes, consider the Five-Star St. Regis Monarch Beach located on 172 secluded acres above the Pacific Ocean. Couples have a slew of venues to choose from, including a grand Mediterranean-style botanical garden with views of the ocean and an intimate wine terrace overlooking the ocean, lawn and pool.
On the southern tip of Palm Beach Island, this Five-Star resort is the epitome of a luxury beach resort — it sits waterfront with an open-concept design, so it feels intimate even though it’s sprawled out over seven acres. Hold your ceremony on the beach before heading into your reception at The Ocean Ballroom, which has wide, sweeping views of the Atlantic.
Caneel Bay sits on 170 acres and has seven secluded beaches and a laid-back luxury feel you just can’t replicate outside of the Caribbean. There are several ceremony spots to choose from, but many couples go for Turtle Bay Point and its dramatic views of Pillsbury Sound. The Sugar Mill Ruins is an utterly unique place to have a reception dinner — you’ll be surrounded by 18th-century stone ruins in an open-air, torch-lit, oh-so-romantic location.
Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons and Caneel Bay
