The Mediterranean
Wedding Playbook.
Everything we'd tell a couple over lunch — choosing a coastline, what it costs, when to marry, and a month-by-month countdown. It's all below — print it or save it as a PDF. Want our planning guides in your inbox? Drop your email.
Choosing your coastline
| Destination | Known for | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| Bali, Indonesia | Clifftop temples, rice terraces | May–Oct |
| Tuscany, Italy | Vineyards, historic estates | Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct |
| Florida, United States | Beaches, historic estates | Nov–Apr |
| Phuket, Thailand | Pool-villa resorts, Andaman clifftops | Nov–Apr |
| Provence, France | Vineyards, lavender, châteaux | May–Jun · Sep–Oct |
| Morocco | Palace hotels, Atlas kasbahs | Oct–May |
| Newport, United States | Gilded Age mansions, the bay | Jun–Sep |
| Manhattan, United States | Landmark ballrooms, rooftops | May–Sep |
| Malibu & LA, United States | Malibu hills, ocean-view estates | Mar–Nov |
| Ibiza, Spain | Cliffside, secluded fincas | Apr–Jun · Sep–Nov |
| St. Moritz, Switzerland | Palace hotels, Engadin peaks | Jun–Aug |
| Central Bohemia, Czechia | Baroque châteaux, landscaped parks | Jun–Aug |
| Saint Lucia | Piton views, open-wall suites, hillside resorts | Dec–Jun |
| Amalfi Coast & Sorrento, Italy | Amalfi villas, lemon groves | May–Jun · Sep–Oct |
| Charleston, United States | Lowcountry, antebellum houses | Mar–May · Nov |
| Copenhagen, Denmark | Grand hotels, Tivoli Gardens | Jun–Aug |
Budget at a glance
Venue prices are rarely like for like. Before you compare two numbers, check the minimum number of nights, whether the price is for a weekday or a weekend, who sleeps on site, whether you must take the whole place, and whether catering is included. A worked example and starting prices by destination are in What it costs.
The 12-month countdown
Set a budget and a guest count. Choose your coastline. Shortlist 3–5 venues and enquire — peak dates go 18 months out.
Confirm the venue and date. Book a planner (essential abroad) and your photographer. Reserve a guest room block.
Design direction, florals, catering tasting. Send save-the-dates with travel notes — guests are flying.
Invitations. Finalise menu, drinks, production. Legal paperwork for marrying abroad (often a civil ceremony at home first).
Final numbers, seating, timeline. Transfers and welcome dinner. Confirm suppliers and the running order.
Welcome guests, hand over to the planner, and enjoy a wedding that has become a three-day holiday.
Marrying abroad — the essentials
- Legalities. Many couples complete the legal marriage at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the venue — simpler than navigating foreign residency rules.
- A local planner is not optional. Suppliers, permits, language and logistics all run through them; budget for it from the start.
- Guests are travelling. Give 6+ months' notice, a room block, and a one-page travel guide (airports, transfers, what to pack).
- Weather & season. Shoulder months (May, June, September) give the best light and kindest temperatures; August is hot and busy.
- Confirm everything in writing. Currency, deposits, what the venue fee includes, and the music curfew.