The weird and wonderful places that you can get married in

Valentine’s Day - an event that celebrates all things love, in its many forms. Whether that’s love for a family member, partner or pet, it’s seen by many as a yearly occurrence to remind someone, or something, how much they mean to you.

Another way to acknowledge the power of love? A wedding, of course! Weddings can come in all shapes and forms. They might take place in a religious building, or in a register office. They could take place on a warm sandy beach or in a snow-filled forest.

But one thing is for certain - no wedding is the same. BBC Bitesize gets all loved up and takes a look at five weird and wonderful venues that could host a wedding. And if you’re feeling inspired, remember – when it comes to planning a bold wedding, it's advisable to speak to a reputable company who have lots of experience planning and organising events that are a bit different and more adventurous.

Under the sea

Something that fills many with dread is the thought of getting wet on their wedding day. Others, though, dream of a special day with water at its heart.

One of the earliest examples of an underwater wedding took place in 1954 when Bob Smith, a diving clown, and Mary Beth Sanger, a synchronized swimmer, said “I do” in the place they first met. Fast-forward 70 years, and weddings underwater are rather popular. They have been recorded to have taken place across the world, from the warm Caribbean waters of St Lucia to diver training tanks in Scotland.

One of the largest underwater weddings took place in Poland in 2011 and was attended by 303 divers. The couple and the priest used water-proofed paper and sign language to communicate with one another.

Dracula’s Castle, Romania

If you are planning a wedding, it can help to have a theme. It could be sport-themed, or inspired by a fairy tale or a music festival. One popular style is the gothic wedding, which incorporates all things dark and eerie. For lovers of the spooky and mysterious, getting married in Dracula’s Castle is a dream come true.

Bran Castle, found in the Transylvanian Alps, is often identified as the fictional Castle Dracula - home of the blood-sucking Count in Bram Stoker’s gothic novel, Dracula. In the novel, the vampire lives in a castle located above a valley in Transylvania. Because Bran Castle is the only castle in the area, many believe it to be the home of Count Dracula. Stoker is not known to have visited the area or mentioned Bran Castle in the novel.

But for many, its appearance and likeliness to the castle in the novel is enough. And for some lucky lovers, it’s the perfect place to hold a wedding. Since 2012, weddings have been held inside the 14th-Century building. The castle organises around four to five weddings every year, with lovers travelling from across the world to have their special day at this grand venue.

A volcano

When it comes to getting a good backdrop for your wedding photos, how does a volcano sound? It would definitely be a talking point.

In March 2021, a volcano in Fagradalsfjall, Iceland began erupting, the first time in 800 years. It erupted for six months causing flight disruptions and chaos. Although it was a relatively small eruption, it was a sight to behold and attracted 45,000 visitors in the first month.

For some, it was the perfect time to have a wedding. Couple Sumarliði and Jón wed in April 2021 on the Fagradalsfjall mountains in front of the erupting volcano.

If the idea of getting married in front of an erupting volcano is too hot to handle, how does hosting the special ceremony inside a dormant one sound? Thríhnúkagígur volcano, also located in Iceland, has welcomed wedding parties inside its dormant caves to host their special day.

Kensington Palace, United Kingdom

A royal wedding can attract the attention of the media and public worldwide. Whether viewers are tuning in to witness history in the making, or to see what beautiful dress the bride will be wearing, royal weddings can attract millions of watchers across the globe.

For some people, the idea of being a princess or prince on their wedding day is just what they want. Some arrive on a horse-drawn carriage, some take outfit inspiration from royal weddings themselves and some decide to get married in a real palace.

Kensington Palace has been home to British royalty since the 1600s. The palace was the home of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and is the official London residence of William, the Prince of Wales, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and their three children.

A limited number of couples each year can host their wedding in the historic palace. Some of the spaces in which weddings can be held are the gardens, orangery and the King’s gallery.

Mount Everest

A wedding might make you feel like you’re on top of the world. That’s certainly the case if you were to get married on Mount Everest.

Located on the border between Nepal and China, Mount Everest’s summit is believed to be the highest place in the whole world, making it a pretty special wedding location. To be able to say you exchanged vows at such a location is one that few couples can claim.

In 2005, two Nepalese climbers became one of the first couples to get married on the summit of the mountain. Since then, others have decided to take the incredible hike for their wedding.

The majority of weddings that have been recorded have taken place at base camp, the area where hikers prepare to climb the mountain, which is within a lot more people’s capabilities of reaching. Preparations for the special day include having to wear appropriate clothing and understanding you might get a little altitude sickness, as well as the typical pre-wedding nerves.

This article was published in February 2025