Top 10 honeymoon destinations and exotic weddings revealed

By
Sarah Gordon

PUBLISHED:

04:13 EST, 26 February 2014

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UPDATED:

04:13 EST, 26 February 2014

For eight years, Sri Lanka has been the idyllic destination of choice for weddings abroad, but according to new statistics, it has now been pipped at the post by Mauritius.

Revealing the latest bookings trends for destination weddings and honeymoons, Kuoni reported that Sri Lanka had slipped down to second place as a wedding destination, placed just before the USA which took the third spot.

The Caribbean also made it into the top five, with St Lucia and Antigua taking fourth and fifth place respectively, followed by Thailand and Barbados.

Beach bride: Sri Lanka had long topped the list of favoured countries for an exotic wedding

Mexico, Jamaica and the United Arab Emirates finished off the top 10 places to get married abroad, with the Caribbean dominating overall, with four islands chosen in total.

Sri Lanka has long been a popular wedding spot for the ability to combine a cultural tour with a luxury beach escape.

Mark Duguid, vice president of commercial product at Kuoni, told TravelMail: ‘With options to tour the island
discovering all the amazing sights such as Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla
Caves, Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, venturing out to tea country in
Nuwara Eliya and spotting wildlife in Yala, the destination has so much
to offer.

‘It also offers palm fringed beaches and it is easy to tag on a
stay at the end of a touring trip, or simply spend time relaxing on the
coast.

Go east: Sri Lanka combines culture with palm-fringed beaches which gives it perennial appeal

‘In addition it offers great value for money and the locals are
genuinely warm and hospitable. Wedding packages are affordable, for
example at The Blue Water on Wadduwa beachfront you can add their Silver
Wedding Package from just £524 per couple and this includes everything
you would need to make it a special day.’

The USA has also been growing in popularity in recent years, jumping from fifth place in 2012 to third last year.

Mr Duguid explained: ‘This could be down to the sheer diversity of options available to couples from the charismatic New York where you can say your vows in Central Park to Glitzy Las Vegas where you can choose the Graceland Storybook Wedding Chapel or a beachfront ceremony in Hawaii.

‘Also USA came top of the “once in a lifetime” destinations that people revisit in a recent poll that we did, proving that people don’t just fall in love with their partner there but they also fall in love with the destination.’

Indian Ocean idyll: The Maldives is still the number one choice for honeymoons

Mauritius managed to beat off the competition by waiving the red tape for couples getting married on the island, making it much easier for them to plan their special break.

But while it is the island of choice for couples looking for an exotic wedding, when it comes to honeymoons, it is a different Indian Ocean destination that tops the poll.

The sprinkling of low-lying atolls that make up the Maldives was the best-selling honeymoon destination for 2013, according to Kuoni, with Sri Lanka once again taking the second spot for its combination of culture and coastline.

Across the Pond: The USA has everything from bustling cities to dramatic landscapes, making it popular for both weddings and honeymoons

The United Arab Emirates is the third-favourite spot for honeymooners looking for the perfect romantic destination, while Thailand and Mauritius also make the top five.

However there are some more unusal destinations creeping into the top 10 honeymoon hotspots, with the USA taking sixth place, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, St Lucia and Italy.

Sheena Paton, Kuoni’s commercial and product manager for Indian Ocean, said: ‘Last year we did a honeymoon survey and found that couples still want that romantic beach idea, but they are also leaning towards a more active, cultural and authentic experience.

‘This could be why we see Mauritius at number five for honeymoons and somewhere like Sri Lanka at number two.’