Most weddings take place in churches, beautiful natural settings, or elegant event venues. However, some couples don’t want an ordinary location. Over the years, adventurous brides and grooms have tied the knot in some truly unexpected places. Here are eight of the most unusual wedding venues ever chosen.
1. Underwater
For couples who love scuba diving, an underwater wedding seems like the optimal way to say “I do.” These ceremonies have taken place in multiple locations from tropical coral reefs to large aquariums. Guests either dive with the couple or watch through viewing windows. Since speaking underwater isn’t possible, couples have exchanged written vows or used hand signals. The breathtaking scenery certainly makes for novel wedding photos.
2. Mount Everest Base Camp
While most people never come close to reaching the top of Mount Everest, some adventurous couples have chosen this extreme destination as their marriage venue. Mount Everest Base Camp is nearly 18,000 feet above sea level. Reaching the location requires days of hiking through the Himalayas, making it one of the least convenient wedding locations imaginable. The thin air, freezing temperatures, harsh weather, and stamina necessary only add to the challenge. For mountain climbers, though, no place is as special.
3. A Hot Air Balloon
Instead of walking down an aisle, some couples say their vows while floating thousands of feet in the sky. Hot air balloon weddings come with incredible panoramic views. However, they require careful planning since the weather needs to be nearly perfect. It also requires a short guest list, as space is obviously limited. It’s a small ceremony with over-the-top energy.
4. An Ice Hotel
Every winter, famous ice hotels in places like Sweden and Canada are reconstructed almost entirely from snow and ice. Couples who get married in these gorgeous hotels get to exchange vows surrounded by frozen walls, ice sculptures, and furniture carved from solid blocks of ice. No strapless wedding gowns here; all in attendance bundle up in heavy coats since temperatures stay below freezing. It’s definitely a very cool wedding venue.
5. A Cave
Underground caves have become a popular choice for adventurous couples. Towering rock walls, underground lakes, and natural formations all work to create a moody atmosphere. You can’t find this type of vibe with any traditional venue. Some cave weddings are lit only by flickering candles, giving the ceremony an ethereal feel. The acoustics make spoken vows echo throughout the cave.
6. A Zoo
Animal lovers sometimes want to exchange vows in the company of giraffes, penguins, elephants, or other wildlife. Surprisingly, many zoos now offer wedding packages and even have specially designed event spaces near certain animal exhibits. Depending on the zoo, some animals can even make appearances during the reception. Nothing says romance like a rhino in your wedding photos!
7. Near an Active Volcano
A few super unique couples enjoy a little adventure with their wedding ceremony. Some people have married beside active volcanoes in exotic places like Hawaii, Iceland, and Guatemala. Of course, ceremonies have to be held at safe distances. Still, a steaming volcanic landscape makes for a beautifully haunting backdrop. The rugged scenery is a wedding photographer’s dream, leading to spectacular pictures. It’s a venue that offers a unique form of otherworldly romance.
8. A Haunted Prison
Not every couple dreams of luxury or glamour. Some ghost-loving brides and grooms have chosen to get married in historic prisons that are rumored to be haunted. They happily embrace the spooky atmosphere and lean into the eerie aesthetic. Photo ops include cell blocks, stone hallways, and other centuries-old architecture. This is perhaps the ultimate gothic wedding experience. Whether guests believe the ghost stories or not, they will never again experience an event quite like it.
9. A Gas Station Bathroom
In 2024, a Kentucky couple made headlines by getting married inside a men’s restroom. The bathroom, which was located inside a HOP Shops convenience store, was no ordinary restroom. The spot had gone viral for its disco theme (a button triggered flashing lights and music). Rather than seeing it as a gross place to marry, the couple committed to the quirky local and held a full Valentine’s Day ceremony there. Just when we thought no fairytale could begin in a gas station bathroom…