10 Most Unique Destination Weddings

Celebrating 10 years as a destination wedding photographer I wanted to share my 10 most extraordinary destination weddings. Not neccessarily the best or my favourites, but weddings that were just a little bit different.

Elephant Camp Elopement in The Golden Triangle

Let’s begin with Billy and Viv’s unforgettable Golden Triangle Elopement, accompanied by majestic elephants. Historically infamous as the world’s largest opium-producing region, the Golden Triangle has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Today, it is renowned for enchanting elephant trekking experiences and breathtaking retreats like the exquisite Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, perfect for a destination wedding.

Billy & Viv | Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

Côn Đảo Prison Island Elopement in Vietnam

Next is Stephanie & Jeff’s elopement on Con Dao prison island In Southern Vietnam. Con Dao Island, located off the southeastern coast of Vietnam, has a history dating back over a century as a prison complex. The island’s use as a prison began during the French colonial period in the late 19th century and continued through the Vietnamese independence struggle and the subsequent Vietnam War.

Today, Con Dao Island is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty, pristine beaches, and historical significance. The former prison buildings have been preserved as a museum, allowing visitors to learn about the island’s dark past.

Stephanie & Jeff | Six Senses Con Dao Island

Motorbike Adventure Wedding in Northern Vietnam

Thuy and Digby’s incredible motorbiking destination wedding trip in far North Vietnam. Pan Hou Village Ecolodge, hidden at the heart of the High Song Chay mountains, Ha Giang province offers some of the most striking sceneries in Vietnam.

Thuy & Digby organized 70 guests, 35 motorbikes & 4 jeeps from Hanoi to Lao Cai on the China border, for their Motorbike Wedding. After an overnight train journey, we met our own new form of transport for the day’s ride to Hoang Su Phi. A rainy start didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm and the sun come out on their motorbike wedding day and kept shining for their honeymoon ride back to Hanoi. Without a doubt, one of the most unique and spectacular wedding trips I have ever had the pleasure of joining!

Digby & Thuy | Ha Giang Motorbike Wedding Adventure

Bedouin Camp Elopement in the Jordan Desert

‘Vast, echoing, and God-like’ are the famous words that Lawrence of Arabia used to describe Wadi Rum. An Arabian fairy tale, it is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. Nomadic Bedouin tribes inhabit “The Valley of the Moon,” which Hollywood depicts as Mars in several feature films.

Brian and Aneela’s story started back in 2010 when I had the pleasure of photographing Aneela and Brian’s elopement in Khao Lak Thailand. It was my first wedding in Thailand and their celebrations were featured in Trinidad Weddings Magazine where Aneela is from.

Brian & Aneela | Wadi Rum Jordan Elopement

Stone Age Cave Wedding in Northern Vietnam

Their magical Halong Bay wedding dinner setting was inside Hon Trong. According to researchers, Drum Cave is also an archaeological site of Soi Nhu Culture dating back from 7,000 – 18,000 years ago.

Legend has it that long ago, in a floating fishing village in Halong Bay, there was a beautiful woman and a hard-working fisherman who fell in love. Despite their poverty, the woman was forced to marry a wealthy man in the village, but she disagreed and fled to a deserted cave. On a stormy day, the woman was overcome with fear and turned to stone.

Van & Cody | Bhaya Cruises Halong Bay Wedding

Laotian Wedding in a UNESCO World Heritage Site

As with any Luang Prabang wedding, it started with the Baci ceremony. The wedding guests gathered at the enchanting Sunset Villa, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the groom, Phakakone, and his groomsmen, who were set to perform the exhilarating Human Block or ‘Hae Keuy’ ceremony. The energy and excitement of the crowd were palpable, setting the stage for the enchanting Baci ceremony that followed.

As the night fell, the destination wedding continued with a Western-style Luang Prabang wedding at the breathtaking Villa Bankhoy. With the Mekong River flowing serenely in the background, the couple exchanged their vows, surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of the natural surroundings. It was a wedding to remember, a perfect fusion of traditional Lao and Western customs, a celebration of love, life, and culture.

Phalakone & Chansouda | Laotian Luang Prabang Wedding

Buddhist Floating Wedding on Inle Lake Myanmar

The Inle Lake region is one of Myanmar’s most beautiful destinations. A vast, serene lake fringed by marshes and floating gardens, where stilt-house villages and Buddhist temples rise above the water, and Intha fisherfolk propel their boats along via their unique technique of leg-rowing. An incredible backdrop for a destination wedding.

From the Inle Princess resort, we took the boat to the floating village of Ywama where Nga PheKyaung Monastery is located. After playing some fun door games the couple was allowed inside where their Buddhist ceremony was performed. After feeding the monks we took the boats around the lake before heading back to Nyaungshwe. Wow, what a wedding!

Kyle & Taylor | Inle Lake Buddhist Wedding Nyaungshwe

Dinosaur Museum Wedding in Melbourne Australia

Dan and Sam’s choice of venues for their Melbourne destination wedding was nothing short of inspired. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church provided a stunning backdrop for their ceremony, with its soaring ceilings and elegant architecture. And the Melbourne Museum, with its world-class exhibits and beautiful surroundings, was the perfect setting for their reception.

The Carlton Gardens, with the majestic Royal Exhibition Building as a backdrop, provided the perfect location for the couple’s photo shoot. I was able to capture some truly stunning shots of Dan and Sam amidst the lush greenery and historic architecture, and these photos will no doubt be cherished for years to come.

Dan & Sam | Melbourne Museum Wedding Australia

Disneyland Wedding in Lantau Island, Hong Kong

This was a new destination wedding me on so many levels. For a start, it was the first time I have captured a wedding ceremony at Hong Kong Disneyland. It is also the first time I have photographed a wedding for 17 hours straight!

I wouldn’t usually post many photos of the wedding car but it was the first time I have seen, let alone photographed an HK$80 million Maybach 62S! But most importantly, it was my first traditional Chinese wedding and a real privilege to be part of.

Ivy & Ben | Hong Kong Disneyland Wedding

Private Island Elopement in Southern Cambodia

Welcome to the enchanting world of Song Saa, a luxurious and sustainable haven tucked away in the hidden gem of Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago.

Katie, Nick, and their little one Luca refused to let a pandemic dampen their spirits and ruin their long-awaited fairytale destination wedding in the stunning destination of their dreams. After all the uncertainty and obstacles, they finally made the journey all the way from the UK to exchange their vows in an intimate beach ceremony, with the sparkling turquoise waters as their witness.

Nick & Katie | Song Saa Private Island Elopement

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About the Author

Aidan Dockery

Originally from the UK, Aidan Dockery has photographed all over the world and captured countless weddings with his easy-going style and energizing spirit.