30 Destination Wedding Spots Americans Search for Most

A destination wedding can turn the ceremony itself into part of the trip, whether that means a historic European city, a Caribbean beach, or a mountain setting halfway around the world. But search interest does not necessarily mean couples are actually booking weddings in those places.

A 2024 study from engagement ring specialist Mark Broumand analyzed more than 900 Google search terms related to international wedding destinations over the previous year. India generated the most search interest by a wide margin, followed by Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The figures below reflect the average monthly search volumes reported in that study, so they should be viewed as a snapshot of search behavior rather than current booking numbers. The source data also includes Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. territory rather than a foreign country. Anyone seriously considering one of these destinations should check current entry rules, marriage requirements, and State Department travel guidance before making plans.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:24,197

India dominated the study with more than 24,000 average monthly searches from the United States. It also gives couples an enormous range of possible settings, from palace and heritage properties in Rajasthan to beaches in Goa and Kerala, mountain regions in the north, and luxury hotels in major cities. Wedding costs vary just as widely, so there is no single useful price tag for an "average" Indian wedding.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:6,583

Nigeria finished a distant second but still generated more than 6,500 average monthly searches in the study. Lagos is the country's largest city and a major center for elaborate weddings, while Abuja is the national capital. Current conditions deserve attention, however. As of June 2026, the U.S. State Department lists Nigeria at Level 3, advising Americans to reconsider travel, with several parts of the country under a Level 4 warning.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:4,518

Ethiopia ranked third in the search study. Unlike the original version of this list suggested, Ethiopia is landlocked, so a beach wedding is not on the menu. The country is better known for its dramatic highlands, historic sites, and high-elevation capital of Addis Ababa. As of August 2026, the State Department advises Americans to reconsider travel to Ethiopia, with several regions carrying stronger warnings.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:3,696

Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, mountain scenery, and historic cities helped it generate nearly 3,700 average monthly searches in the 2024 study. Beirut, the capital, sits along the Mediterranean and has long been one of the region's major cultural centers. The travel picture has changed significantly since the search data was collected, though. As of August 2026, the State Department places Lebanon at Level 4 and advises Americans not to travel there.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:3,608

Italy is practically built for the destination-wedding brochure. Couples can choose among historic cities, Tuscan countryside, Alpine and lake settings, Mediterranean coastlines, and islands including Sicily and Sardinia. Add centuries-old villas, churches, castles, and estates, and it is not difficult to see why Italy ranked near the top of the study.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:2,554

Puerto Rico is the odd one out here because it is not a foreign country. It is a U.S. territory, and travel there from the mainland is considered domestic travel. U.S. citizens do not need a passport to visit, although standard federal identification requirements for air travel still apply. Beaches, Old San Juan, historic forts, tropical scenery, and comparatively simple travel logistics make it an appealing option for couples who want the feel of a destination wedding without leaving the United States.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:2,277

Jordan offers settings that would be difficult to duplicate anywhere else, including the desert landscape of Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and the ancient city of Petra. Amman is the country's capital and largest city. Regional security conditions are important to consider right now. As of August 2026, the State Department lists Jordan at Level 3 and advises Americans to reconsider travel because of terrorism and armed conflict in the region.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:2,274

Poland gives couples plenty of variety without requiring them to pick between scenery and history. Warsaw and Kraków offer major-city settings, while the country also has castles, manor houses, mountain areas in the south, and a Baltic coastline in the north. For guests making a longer trip out of the wedding, there is no shortage of historic towns and cultural sites to explore.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:2,177

Germany's appeal has a lot more to do with what couples can find there today than with events from eight decades ago. The country offers historic cities, vineyard regions along the Rhine and Moselle, castles, forests, lakes, and the Bavarian Alps. Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and smaller medieval towns give couples very different versions of a German destination wedding.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,923

Nepal's biggest visual selling point is obvious: the Himalayas. The landlocked South Asian country contains eight of the world's 14 mountains above 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest on the border with China. Kathmandu and the surrounding valley add historic temples, palaces, and traditional architecture for couples who want something very different from a beach-resort wedding.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,917

Mexico's location immediately gives it an advantage for U.S. couples who do not want guests spending a day getting to the wedding. The country borders the United States and has major resort regions on both its Pacific and Caribbean sides, along with historic inland cities and colonial architecture. Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and other resort areas have long catered to destination weddings.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,860

Albania sits on the Adriatic and Ionian seas, giving it a long coastline alongside mountains, historic towns, and the increasingly modern capital of Tirana. Places along the Albanian Riviera have drawn growing tourism attention, while inland areas offer a completely different backdrop. For couples searching for a European destination outside the usual Italy-and-Greece circuit, Albania offers plenty to look at.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,613

Ghana sits along the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa and offers everything from Atlantic beaches to forests and major cities including Accra, the capital. English is the country's official language, which can make communication easier for American visitors. Ghana also has a large diaspora connection in the United States, although search data alone cannot tell us why any particular couple is interested in holding a wedding there.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,554

Georgia sits in the Caucasus between Europe and Asia and packs mountains, wine country, historic churches, the Black Sea coast, and the capital of Tbilisi into a relatively small country. It is not accurate to describe Georgia as generally being "in the middle of a potential war." As of September 2026, the State Department rates Georgia Level 1 overall, although Americans are warned not to travel to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,510

Costa Rica gives couples both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, plus rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, and a large ecotourism industry. Beach resorts are an obvious draw, but couples can also find jungle lodges and mountain settings farther inland. As with any international wedding, season and region matter, especially because rainfall patterns vary considerably across the country.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,458

The Bahamas is an Atlantic archipelago close enough to Florida to make it one of the more accessible tropical destinations for U.S. couples. Nassau, Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, and the Out Islands offer plenty of waterfront resort options. It should not be described as universally "incredibly safe," though. As of July 2026, the State Department rates The Bahamas Level 2 and advises travelers to exercise increased caution because of crime.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,423

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern portion of Hispaniola, the Caribbean island it shares with Haiti. Resort areas including Punta Cana and La Romana offer the kind of beach setup many couples picture when they hear "destination wedding," while Santo Domingo, the capital and largest city, provides a more urban and historic setting. As of 2026, the State Department advises U.S. travelers to exercise increased caution because of crime.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,338

Iraq appeared in the 2024 search data, but that should not be mistaken for a recommendation to hold a destination wedding there today. The country has extraordinary historical and cultural significance, including sites associated with ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. As of August 2026, however, the State Department lists Iraq at Level 4 and tells Americans not to travel there because of terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, crime, health risks, and limited U.S. emergency assistance.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,303

Japan gives couples a huge range of settings without reducing the country's appeal to anime and sushi. Tokyo and Osaka offer modern cityscapes, Kyoto is filled with historic architecture and gardens, and other regions provide mountains, coastlines, traditional inns, and seasonal scenery. Couples hoping for a legally recognized ceremony should check Japan's documentation requirements well before the trip.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,248

Pakistan is in South Asia, not the Middle East. Its landscapes range from deserts and fertile plains to the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain systems in the north, while cities including Lahore and Islamabad offer historic and urban settings. Current travel conditions are a major consideration. As of June 2026, the State Department lists Pakistan at Level 3 and advises Americans to reconsider travel, with some regions under Level 4 warnings.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,244

Sudan does have a Red Sea coastline and a long archaeological and cultural history, but the circumstances today are radically different from the picture painted by the original copy. Armed conflict has continued in the country since 2023. As of May 2026, the State Department lists Sudan at Level 4 and says Americans should not travel there for any reason. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has also remained suspended since the conflict began.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,233

Aruba is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and sits in the southern Caribbean just off the coast of Venezuela. Its climate is relatively dry compared with many Caribbean islands, which can make outdoor wedding planning a little less nerve-racking.

That does not mean rain is impossible, of course. Aruba still receives rainfall, and weather is never something a wedding planner gets to order off the menu. What couples can count on are long stretches of coastline, resort infrastructure, and warm conditions throughout the year.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,230

Jamaica combines Caribbean beaches with mountainous interior scenery, including the Blue Mountains, and a well-developed resort industry around places such as Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios. It also has deep cultural and family connections with communities in the United States. As of June 2026, the State Department rates Jamaica Level 2 and advises travelers to exercise increased caution because of crime and health risks, with stronger warnings for some areas.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,223

Serbia is a landlocked Balkan country with a mix of cities, monasteries, fortresses, river valleys, and mountain landscapes. Belgrade, the capital, sits at the meeting point of the Danube and Sava rivers and offers the liveliest urban setting. Couples looking outside Europe's usual destination-wedding circuit may find Serbia more interesting than the original copy's promise of unlimited booze suggests.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,117

Ireland offers castles, country estates, coastal cliffs, green countryside, and cities including Dublin, Cork, and Galway. Strong Irish-American family connections may also make it appealing to some U.S. couples, although the search data does not tell us why individual people looked it up. The climate is generally mild but famously changeable, so an outdoor wedding should probably have a Plan B that involves a roof.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,080

Saudi Arabia has Red Sea and Persian Gulf coastlines, major cities, desert landscapes, and a tourism industry that has expanded substantially in recent years. Riyadh, however, is inland, so couples looking for a waterfront setting would be looking elsewhere in the country, including around Jeddah and the Red Sea. As of September 2026, the State Department lists Saudi Arabia at Level 3 and advises Americans to reconsider travel because of armed-conflict risks, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,077

Portugal sits on Europe's Atlantic edge, which makes it one of the more accessible European destinations from the eastern United States. Lisbon and Porto provide historic city settings, while the Algarve is known for beaches and coastal cliffs. Wine regions, estates, and smaller towns give couples plenty of choices beyond the obvious seaside ceremony.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,023

Greece has the kind of scenery that practically advertises destination weddings by itself. Couples can choose among historic Athens, mainland mountain and coastal areas, or islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas. Santorini may get most of the wedding-photo attention, but Greece has hundreds of inhabited islands and a much wider range of settings than the famous white buildings and blue domes.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,020

Brunei is a small, wealthy sultanate on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It has a tropical equatorial climate, so warm temperatures and frequent rainfall are normal throughout the year. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital, is known for elaborate mosques and riverfront scenery. Anyone considering a wedding there should also research Brunei's local laws and marriage requirements carefully before making arrangements.

• Average Monthly Search Volume:1,007

Iceland finishes the list with just over 1,000 average monthly searches in the study. The North Atlantic island offers volcanic terrain, glaciers, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, hot springs, and enormous open landscapes. The tradeoff is weather that can change quickly and stay cool even in summer, so couples planning an outdoor ceremony should build some flexibility into the day.