Before you say ‘I do’, explore some of the most romantic wedding locations in Europe and, with expert tips from three top wedding planners, discover which one is for you.
Wedding planner Sarah Linow has a great starting point. “At the first stage, adjectives are important,” she says. Consider her suggestions – “elegant, stylish, urban” or “relaxed, rural, in nature” – and then select your own keywords and let the fun begin.
“Intimate, refined, timeless”
Brown’s Hotel, London
For some couples, the dream wedding isn’t defined by grandeur, but by intimacy — a day shared only with their closest family and friends. They want to savour every conversation, every laugh, every toast, ensuring each guest feels truly part of their story.
For those seeking an elegant celebration on a smaller scale, Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair offers the perfect setting. Its beautiful reception rooms, accommodating up to 120 guests, provide a refined and timeless backdrop for a close-knit gathering. Michelin-starred Executive Chef Adam Byatt curates each wedding breakfast menu with seasonal finesse, while the hotel’s expert sommelier pairs wines to perfection.
Beyond the ceremony, the hotel’s prime Mayfair location adds to the sense of occasion — moments from London’s most charming streets, leafy squares and world-class boutiques, and easily reached from major international airports.
What makes a Brown’s wedding truly special, however, is the warmth and intuition of its team. Each guest is treated with the same care as the couple themselves — a hallmark of the hotel’s signature hospitality. For an extra touch of history, couples might choose the Roosevelt Room, named for former US President Theodore Roosevelt, who stayed here the night before his wedding in 1886. Or stay in the Kipling Suite, where the famed author once wrote The Jungle Book, before taking afternoon tea in the Drawing Room — a supposed favourite of Queen Victoria.
“Heavenly, destination, holiday”
Verdura Resort, Sicily
Having worked in partnership with our team at Verdura Resort, London wedding planner Emma Gold can personally endorse the appeal of this Sicilian retreat – particularly for the growing number of couples who want their weddings to feel more like a holiday, surrounded by loved ones.
This requires a venue with plenty of things to do. “For destination wedding weekends, it’s great to have a venue with activities for the guests in addition to the wedding celebrations,” says Gold. She’s drawn to Verdura Resort precisely for this reason. Guests can go horse-riding on the beach; cycle to ancient ruins; play golf on renowned courses; learn to cook the Sicilian way; or relax in the spacious Irene Forte Spa.
Longer weddings also require more settings, Gold says. “With a variety of locations we can make the guest experience fun and engaging. Flexibility with different spaces is something that Verdura does very well. Each of the day’s events – from the ceremony to the reception, dinner and dance – can be hosted in different areas. If the guests are staying, space is key to ensure minimal disruption while adding the surprise factor.”
“Classical, traditional, elegant”
The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
Lauren Delemarre, in-house wedding planner at The Balmoral, believes that the landmark Princes Street hotel is the place that people imagine when they close their eyes and think “Classic Scottish wedding”. It has it all: the grand ballrooms; the gorgeous banqueting; the balcony photo opps with Edinburgh Castle in the background.
Lots of the couples who marry here are of Scottish descent, but they might not live in Scotland and so are seeking an authentic connection to the Auld Country. Delemarre makes the connection clear: “The Balmoral is iconic to Edinburgh – a genuine landmark in this historic town.” She adds that she particularly loves working with couples who want that “true Scotch” feel which she achieves through “perhaps a piper, a quaich toast and a ceilidh”. The banquet menu incorporates haggis too, of course, though only if the couple want (and they usually do).
Delemarre also pointed out that all-in-one solutions are a necessity for destination weddings where the couple might not live locally. “They are looking for a venue that has the key elements included, such as the furniture, crockery, guestrooms etc,” she says. The Balmoral is that place where the dream comes to life, as Delemarre holds your hand and guides you through the wedding you imagined – featuring grand ballrooms, the elegant gown and, of course, lots and lots of dancing.
A Rocco Forte wedding starts by making a perfect match between you and the most beautiful venues in Europe. Just start with your three word moodboard and we’ll be with you to create a moment worthy of the occasion.
You may also like
Coastal modernism, Sicilian Style: New Suites at Verdura Resort
Verdura Resort has always drawn its character from its surroundings – the wide sweep of Sicily's south-western coastline, the olive groves and macchia mediterranea stretching back from the shore, the quality of a landscape that shifts hour by hour with the sun. When Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, working closely with Olga Polizzi, began designing the resort's new collection of sea-facing suites and rooms, that relationship between interior and place was where they started.
The Language of Flowers: Inside our Suites
Every suite is, in some sense, a portrait of where it stands, grounded in the history, the stories, the particular light of its city. At Hotel de Russie in Rome, the Valadier Suite takes its name and its lush colour palette from the architect who designed the hotel's own Secret Garden; at Hotel Amigo in Brussels, the Tintin Suite pays tribute to Belgium's most beloved cultural hero. The floristry follows the same instinct.
London in Three Acts
Some travellers fall in love with a city all at once. Others come to know it gradually, season by season, until they understand not just where to go, but, perhaps more vitally, when. London, with its Royal parks and cobbled courtyards, layers of heritage and history, rewards the latter handsomely.