Many hopeless romantics dream of meeting their special person and getting married someday. However, what some people don’t see is all the drama that happens behind the scenes of a wedding. Finding a budget-friendly venue in the United States is becoming more challenging each year. Creating the guest list is another stressful factor. You have to ensure that everyone attending your wedding is fed with plenty of drink options for themselves.
Because of the rising costs in the United States, people are looking abroad for their weddings. Engagement ring specialist Mark Broumand compiled a study of the most popular places Americans are looking to host their weddings abroad. The number one most commonly searched country that people from the United States are searching for is India. Considering the cost of having a wedding relative to the United States, people are spending roughly $14,000 in India compared to $33,000 in America.
According to Broumand, it’s no shock that India comes in first place. The second most popular country where people are looking to host their weddings according to Broumand is Nigeria. The cities in Nigeria are filled with welcoming people and bustling culture, while the outskirts of the country have amazing wildlife and scenic views. Nigeria as a wedding destination is considered a dream vacation for those in attendance at the ceremony. For more wedding content, click here to read about when gay marriage was legalized in each state.
To compile this list of the most-searched marriage destinations abroad for US couples, 24/7 Tempo consulted one insightful wedding-related source. MarkBroumand.com provided 24/7 Tempo with the data necessary to complete this list.
India
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 24,197
The number one country abroad that couples from the United States are looking at for wedding venues is India. According to Broumand, more than 24,000 people are looking into getting married in the Asian country each month. Considering there’s a large population of people who live in the United States with family members from India, it makes sense that so many want to get married in the land of their ancestors.
Nigeria
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 6,583
The second most popular country Americans are researching for wedding venues is Nigeria. The urban life in Lagos, which is Nigeria’s largest city, allows for a unique experience for anyone to get married in. People who are African-American are proud of their heritage and have been making more trips to Africa in recent years. There’s plenty of beautiful land in Nigeria for travelers to experience things they’d only be able to in the African country.
Ethiopia
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 4,518
Another African country Americans are curious to get married in is Ethiopia. In 2024, Ethiopian food and culture has become more popular in America. The country has plenty of beach areas, which are perfect for couples to tie the knot at. Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is located in the middle of the country. Whether you want a beach background or cityscape wedding, Ethiopia has it all.
Lebanon
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 3,696
Lebanon has worked long and hard to become a beautiful destination for anyone to get married in. The small country in the Middle East backs up to the Mediterranean Sea, giving picturesque backgrounds to anyone looking to spend the rest of their lives together. Beirut, the country’s capital, backs up to the sea as well. There’s plenty of amazing things to do in Lebanon, making it easy to see why so many people want to get married there.
Italy
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 3,608
Plenty of people in the United States fantasize about life in Italy. The food, wine, and beautiful scenery in seemingly every square inch of the country make it easy to understand why so many people from America are looking into getting married there. There are multiple backdrops in Italy that everyone can appreciate. The mountains, the sea, and the urban life consume Italy. The size of the Catholic church and its ties to Italy are another reason why so many couples are researching the country for their weddings.
Puerto Rico
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 2,554
Puerto Rico offers people from the United States so many benefits compared to other countries on this list. For starters, since Puerto Rico is owned by the United States, there’s no passport required for entry. It also is situated in the Caribbean Sea, making it an easier flight than most of the countries on this list. Puerto Rico has tons of historical buildings to take beautiful pictures in front of, as well as the amazing ocean behind it.
Jordan
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 2,277
There’s certainly a new interest in getting married in the Middle East. The desert backdrop and different lifestyle is appealing to people from the United States who are looking to say “I do.” Jordan is the seventh most popular country for people researching wedding venues. The capital of Amman is one of the largest cities in the Middle East. It’s clear that people are curious to experience life and marriage in the Middle East.
Poland
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 2,274
There’s something special about hosting a wedding in a place like Poland. The European country allows wedding guests tons of chances to explore its historical beauty. It’s a destination that guests can make a true vacation out of. Aside from that, Poland is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world by many travelers. It’s no wonder why people are curious about unifying their relationships there.
Germany
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 2,177
Over the years, Germany has worked hard to restore the reputation it gained in the 1940s during World War II. In 2024, it’s become a popular place for people to travel to for wedding dates. Because of what happened in the 40s, tons of Germans escaped to the United States. These days, many German people want to go visit the place where their ancestors came from with hopes of tying the knot there.
Nepal
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,923
The Himalayan Mountains provide one of the most beautiful settings in the world to get married in. Nepal is the 10th most searched country for people from the United States to go to for their wedding. Aside from the beautiful backdrop, Nepal is known for being peaceful and having delicious foods to indulge in. Kathmandu, the country’s capital, has amazing places to take pictures at to remember the big day.
Mexico
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,917
It’s difficult to find a place that has the beaches, food, and resorts that Mexico does. The country is neighbors to the south with the United States, making it easy to fly into compared to countries in other parts of the world. Because the United States has a large Mexican population, it makes sense that so many weddings would take place in the country. A wedding on the beach of Mexico is a dream day for plenty of people.
Albania
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,860
Southeastern Europe offers a unique setting for a wedding. Albania has beautiful beaches and landscapes for a wedding out of a fairytale for most people. The country is home to amazing food that’s locally grown. Tirana, the capital of Albania, is considered one of the sunniest places in all of Europe. Considering how many people in the United States want to get married in Europe, it makes sense that the sunniest place would crack this list.
Ghana
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,613
Another African country people from the United States are interested in is Ghana. The nation connects to the Atlantic Ocean and offers those who get married a different experience than most countries. Like other African nations on this list, Ghana has plenty of other beautiful, natural landscapes to get married at. Because those who live there speak English, there’s no language gap between Americans and native Ghanaians.
Georgia
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,554
Even though the country is in the middle of a potential war, people from the United States are still interested in going to the nation of Georgia to get married. The small country near Russia is best-known for their beautiful landscapes and snowy weather that provides people with amazing pictures. There’s no telling what’s going to happen to Georgia in the future, so some people want to visit the country and get married there before it’s too late.
Costa Rica
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,510
The Central American country of Costa Rica has become a popular place for people from the United States to visit over the years. The beautiful rainforest and dreamy beaches are enough to make nearly everyone who’s getting married think about going there to tie the knot. Costa Rica is also known for having delicious food for guests to eat during the ceremony. Americans will likely always be fond of Costa Rica and consider it as an ideal wedding destination.
Bahamas
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,458
The Bahamas is where countless people from the United States go whenever they need beach access and mental resets from daily life in America. The beaches are legendary and the weather is spectacular nearly year-round. This makes it easy to see why so many couples from the United States have a desire to get married there. Unlike other Caribbean nations, the Bahamas is known for being incredibly safe and reliable, which is another detail plenty of people consider when getting married.
Dominican Republic
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,423
Another Caribbean island that people from the United States fantasize about for weddings is the Dominican Republic. The crystal clear water and amazing culture are just some of the reasons people want to say “I do” on the island. The island is one of the biggest in the Caribbean, meaning there are plenty of different places to visit before deciding on one. The city of Santo Domingo is the largest of the country. It’s where most of the action in the Dominican Republic takes place for those who want an urban setting.
Iraq
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,338
It might feel somewhat shocking to see that Iraq made the list of popular places for Americans to research regarding wedding destinations. However, considering so many Americans have spent time in the Middle Eastern country during different wars, it makes sense that they know the best, and safest, places to tie the knot. Many Americans have developed relationships with the locals of Iraq over the years. Even though it’s where war has taken place recently, there’s a reason people still might want to get married in Iraq.
Japan
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,303
Americans have grown in their fondness and fascination of Japanese culture over the last decade. The popularity of anime and sushi are just two things from Japan that people from the United States adore. Naturally, two people who love Japanese culture with wedding plans might look into going across the Pacific Ocean to tie the knot. Japan offers beautiful backdrops and allows those coming to the ceremony the chance to have the vacation of their dreams.
Pakistan
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,248
The country of Pakistan has beautiful mountain ranges to get married at in the Middle East. The locals are kind and excited to show off how amazing their country is. There’s also beautiful desert areas that give couples amazing backdrops for pictures throughout their big day. The food is amazing and tons of couples believe getting married in Pakistan will be a memorable experience.
Sudan
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,244
One of the largest countries in Africa is Sudan. The nation in the eastern part of the continent touches the water, giving anyone who dreams of a beach wedding the chance to have one. There’s also tons of safari land and open areas in Sudan where different animals live. Anyone who wants to experience wildlife as part of their wedding usually considers Sudan whenever they’re planning their wedding. The food and culture of Sudan is another reason people heavily consider the African country.
Aruba
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,233
The next Caribbean island on this list is Aruba. Even though it’s a sign of good luck, plenty of people are afraid of rain falling on their wedding day and having to adjust to wet weather. Because of Aruba’s location in the Caribbean, the country experiences little rainfall each year.
While your wedding day on the beach might be hot, you can rest assured knowing that there’s not going to be rain on your wedding day in Aruba. The country is known for being calm and safe, giving travelers the peace of mind they need while spending time on the island.
Jamaica
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,230
The last Caribbean island to make this list is Jamaica. Given the amount of people in the United States who have family or ancestry from the island, it makes sense that so many want to go get married there. Jamaica is known for having some of the best food of all the islands in the Caribbean. The beaches and rainforests around the country offer lovely backdrops for any wedding.
Serbia
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,223
Another European country that people from the United States have become interested in for their wedding plans is Serbia. The nation is known for having amazing landscapes and plenty of open areas where people can tie the knot. The food served at Serbian weddings is second to none, and those who want to also celebrate the night with liquor know Serbia has tons of alcohol flowing.
Ireland
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,117
Given how many people in the United States are Irish and how adored different Irish traditions are in America, it’s no wonder so many people dream of having their wedding in Ireland. The country is recognized for having beautiful cliffs and open areas that overlook the oceans. There are also large cities like Dublin for those who want urban weddings. Irish weddings often serve plenty of alcohol for couples interested in that. The weather in Ireland can get super cold, though, so wedding dates can be decided based around that.
Saudi Arabia
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,080
There are plenty of different areas in Saudi Arabia to get married at for those who want to go there. There are tons of beach backdrops and beautiful views. The capital city of Riyadh lights up with tons of different colors each night of the week for couples who love seeing cityscapes. Riyadh also has little rainfall, for those who dread the idea of rain falling on their wedding day. The weather is always warm, meaning you’ll never be too uncomfortable by the temperature.
Portugal
Coimbra, Portugal - May 4, 2012: A female student walks by the main building of the University of Coimbra. The University of Coimbra is a Portuguese public university. Established in 1290, it is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world, the oldest university of Portugal, and one of its largest higher education and research institutions.
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,077
Portugal is one of the closest European countries to the United States, in terms of flight time. This means anyone who wants to get married in Europe in great weather often considers Portugal. The beaches in the country have been circulating on social media as some of the most amazing in the world. Plenty of people dream of having a vacation in Portugal, which means it’s the perfect place to get married and start your honeymoon at.
Greece
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,023
Seemingly everywhere you visit in Greece has a backdrop that will make your mouth fall wide open with admiration. The scenery and historic buildings are the perfect place to have a wedding. Plus, those who want a European honeymoon are starting off in the perfect place by choosing Greece. The food is delicious and the people are amazing there, making it an ideal place to get married.
Brunei
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,020
The country of Brunei is exploding in popularity for weddings among Americans. The country has decadent food and year-round warm weather. Anyone who’s hoping for a little rain to fall for good luck on their wedding day might consider Brunei. That’s because the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan experiences some of the largest quantities of rainfall in the world.
Iceland
- Average Monthly Search Volume: 1,007
The small European island nation of Iceland is another country that’s grown in popularity since the explosion of social media. Couples in America can see how amazing the sights of Iceland are. It’s obvious that the lush greenery is special. Couples can always check the best times of year to get married in Iceland if dry weather and warmth are important to them. For more wedding content, click here to read about the states with the most interracial couples.