Muriel Saldalamacchia
For more than 10 years in the destination wedding business, travelling the world for weddings, Muriel is France based, but has also rocked in Italy few years ago.
Asides her travels with her clients, Muriel is also an International Speaker, dealing with her peers onto the Luxury and destination Wedding Market.
Muriel is also a French author, dealing with business methods to international peers accros the globe, while having the clients in the focus of attention. Her first book "The Anti-Ghosting-Method" is available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.
Photo above : Gianni di Natale
So, you decided to have a summer wedding in Europe. In addition to that, you want to do it in grand style and offer a complete luxury experience for your guests. That’s great news! Congratulations! We’ve prepared a list of the most glamorous destinations to get married there. Enjoy it!
How to start planning your luxury summer wedding in Europe
First of all, you need to hire an experienced wedding planner to help you choose the most suitable destination for you. Furthermore, this professional will help you select the best venues and vendors to make your big day simply unforgettable! Just got engaged? See 10 tips to plan your wedding.
Say “I do” in Capri
Located in southeast Italy, the island of Capri is a Mediterranean gem. From my point of view, it is just perfect for a VIP yet still very romantic wedding experience. Also, the region is considered the It-place for celebrity weddings, just like we did with Jacky Heung and Bea Hayden.
Moreover, not celebrating your summer wedding in Europe with a gorgeous sea view would definitely be a waste! Mostly, one of my favorite venues for a destination wedding in Capri is Il Riccio; a Michelin Starred restaurant. Likewise, Capri Palace Jumeirah is also an excellent choice to marry in Capri, since this stunning luxury hotel in Anacapri is surrounded by natural beauty.
To welcome your guests in a genuinely Italian style, one of the best options is to make your rehearsal dinner at Da Paolino Restaurant. Above all, one of the best ways to explore Capri is definitely by boat – please make sure to include the magical Blue Grotto on your tour. If you want to show your guests a stunning view of Capri, you can take the chairlift up to the peak of Mount Solaro. Finally, to have a real taste of Capri, you should visit the Piazzetta – it is the best place for a morning espresso or a cocktail in the evening.
Wedding on the Amalfi Coast
Are you ready to enjoy la dolce vita? First, the Amalfi Coast is unmistakable when saying ‘I do’ in style. Mostly, the region is all about landscapes: forested mountains and hills of lemon groves, with cliff sides with a view of a deep blue sea. You’ll have a full-luxury experience: VIP hospitality, international airports, great partners, and Michelin-star restaurants.
Particularly, to celebrate your wedding on the Amalfi Coast, I am very excited by the new location Giardini del Fuenti, and of course, the incredibly incredible Villa Cimbrone, in Ravello.
Looking forward to entertaining your guests during your summer wedding in Europe? Make sure to visit lovely places like Amalfi Town, Positano, and Ravello. Also, you can plan a limoncello tasting or, if you are the adventurous type, you can hike the Path of the Gods. If you stay longer, you can combine your visit to Pompeii or Naples.
Get married in Lake Como
Above all, you can’t go wrong with Lake Como. Firstly, this is where celebrities like George Clooney and Madonna chose to have their houses. Likewise, there are several Michelin-starred restaurants with jaw-dropping views of the lake.
If you want to have your summer wedding in Europe, then the Villas are the perfect match. These private properties often offer accommodation for the couple and a few guests, making it ideal for enjoying their company. The villas also enable you to celebrate pre and post-wedding events. However, if you prefer, you can also book a hotel – there are excellent luxurious options. See the venues where the ultra-rich get married in Lake Como.
Wedding in the Côte d’Azur
The French Riviera, or Côte D’Azur, is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. It includes cities like Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Cannes, for example, was in the top 5 list of the world’s most luxurious cities by square kilometer.
There, you can celebrate your wedding in palaces/châteaux, hotels, and charming villas. The most enchanting part of it is that in many of these luxurious venues, you’ll be able to enjoy the views of the deep blue sea. C’est super!
Also, if you want to provide a full-luxury experience for your guests, you can start by chartering a yacht, which gives you the freedom to explore the Riviera coastline. For those who wish to offer an unforgettable gastronomic experience La Vague d’Or, in Saint-Tropez, is a good choice. There, you’ll experience a memorable meal prepared by chef Arnaud Donckele, who was awarded three Michelin stars. Want to avoid the busy summer roads? An excellent way to explore the region is by helicopter. With that, you can explore different parts of the Riviera in a blink of an eye.
Celebrate your wedding in Monaco
Welcome to the crème de la crème in Europe! Monaco is a sovereign city-state and part of the French Riviera. You’ll find highly luxurious options to entertain your guests and celebrate your summer wedding in Europe. It is no wonder that movies like James Bond and Iron Man 2 were filmed there.
Wondering what are the best places to get married in Monaco? Well, why not get inspired by Princess Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier and choose Hôtel de Paris as your wedding venue? During the sunny days, you and your guests can enjoy their beach club and the sea view!
On the other hand, if you want to celebrate your summer wedding in an open-air venue surrounded by nature, you have options like Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Cap Estel Hotel, Villa Ephrussi, and Ville La Vigie. You can also have pre and post-wedding events such as pool parties, welcome drinks, rehearsal dinner, and cocktails in those places. See an essential guide to getting married in Monaco.
If you plan a destination wedding in the summer, don’t leave Monaco without taking your guests on a boat ride through the Mediterranean. Check out everything you can do in a 3-day destination wedding in Monaco.
Marry in Tuscany
Located in the center of Italy, the region of Tuscany is worldwide known for its recognizable Renaissance art and architecture, being some of the most famous artwork Michelangelo’s “David” statue, Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery, and the Duomo’s basilica. Cities like Florence, Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano and Lucca are a part of the region. It offers an amazing experience for summer weddings in Europe.
For the ones who wish to enjoy the romantic atmosphere of Tuscany on the big day, some of the best spots are the charming vineyards and olive groves. Also, you can celebrate your wedding in luxury resorts like Castello di Velona, Borgo Santo Pietro, and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco. Also, Castello Banfi is one of the most exclusive wedding venues in Tuscany.
As you can imagine, there are many activities available if you want to provide a luxurious experience for your guests during your summer wedding in Europe. For wine lovers, a must-see is the vineries like Chianti, Valpolicella, and Soave wine regions. Once in Italy, you must have exceptional gastronomic experiences like cooking classes in a farmhouse in the hills of Florence. If you appreciate art, you are in paradise – you can visit museums like Gallerie Degli Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia, and Museo Leonardiano.
Wedding in Provence
The lavender fields, the sound of cicadas, the vineyards, the olive groves…this is a lovely and romantic place to fall in love and get married in France. Provence is a region located in the Southern part of the country, and it includes cities like Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Marseille, Arles, Gordes, Cassis, and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Also, if you are an art lover, this region inspired many famous painters such as Cézanne, Vincent Van Gogh, Enguerrand Quarton, Marius Granet, Joseph Vernet, and François-Xavier Fabre.
For those looking for the perfect countryside wedding with a romantic atmosphere – you’ve just found it! In Provence, you can choose among iconic chateaux, charming properties with lush gardens, and self-catering cottages. See 8 of the most gorgeous places to get married in Provence.
Suppose you choose a private property to celebrate your destination wedding in Provence. In that case, you can enjoy some festivities together with family and friends in those places – which is a fantastic opportunity to get closer to your guests.
Looking forward to entertaining your guests? You can take them to a wine-tasting experience, wander around Cours Mirabeau (the most famous street in Aix-en-Provence), hike the Calanques de Cassis (if you feel adventurous), or visit the fields of lavender and sunflowers. Indeed, you’ll feel refreshed from all those activities.
Most common questions about weddings in Europe
