The best places to get married in the U.S.

For a seaside wedding with Mediterranean vibes, the elegant La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla has been an iconic romantic venue for decades and decades. The garden here is a favorite place to host receptions for up to 130 guests, surrounded by bright bougainvillea and towering palms with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla Cove. The ballroom also has ocean views, accompanied by crystal chandeliers and herringbone wood floors. Known locally as “The Pink Lady,” the iconic hotel also offers pet-friendly rooms for guests wanting to bring Fido, without losing the timeless charm of the historic setting.

With impeccably manicured private lawns and European-style ballrooms and reception foyers, the legendary Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek hosts the toniest weddings in town. Whether the bride and groom opt for a lavish tented outdoor affair behind the peach stucco walls or a more intimate dinner in the palatial manor, the architectural details of this 1920s estate will make you feel a little like European royalty. Plus, you can even get a discount for your honeymoon at other Rosewood Hotels and Resorts.

Buyouts at The Green O are ideal for micro-weddings of up to 24 guests, and you can choose from unlimited outdoor venues across 37,000 acres for your ceremony. Whether you prefer the Blackfoot River, a bluff overlooking the valley, or being nestled in a woodland wonderland, your wedding ceremony will be one of a kind. Executive Chef Brandon Cunningham and pastry chef Krystle Swenson will completely customize your wedding dinner, cake, and dessert. Plus, wedding guests have access to more than 50 outdoor activities ranging from fly fishing and horseback riding to ATVs, mountain biking, dog sledding, or snowmobiling, depending on the season.

There's no doubt that Santa Barbara County Courthouse is the most beautiful courthouse in the country, constructed in 1929 to resemble a Spanish-Moorish castle, with dramatic archways and wrought-iron banisters. Kamala Harris got married here in 2014, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin eloped here in 2003. Weddings are held either at the top of the outdoor staircase or in the sprawling Sunken Gardens, which occupy an entire city block. Plus, weddings here are more affordable than at a luxury resort and can accommodate as many as 250 guests.

If you manage to win the wedding lottery to secure an elusive permit, getting married in peak bloom at the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon, is nothing short of a fairytale floral fantasy, exploding with more than 10,000 roses each summer plus against a backdrop of downtown Portland and Mount Hood. This precious location can accommodate parties of up to 100 guests, with nearby picnic areas and a gazebo.

If you dream of an intimate and luxurious Wine Country wedding, your search ends at MacArthur Place in the heart of Sonoma. This hotel specializes in weddings that range from intimate elopements to celebrations of up to 80 guests, with a variety of indoor and outdoor settings. Count on their seasoned event staff and on-site catering team to meticulously attend to every detail. Your guests will be charmed by the historic hotel, which was once a working ranch and vineyard but has now been transformed into a lavish modern farmhouse-style resort, spanning 20 buildings set amid lush gardens. Its on-site restaurant, Layla, serves vibrant Mediterranean-meets-California dishes, and the hotel recently unveiled a brand new pool, spa, and fitness center.

A quite stunning modern hotel, the Downtown L.A. Proper combines a 1920s landmark historic building with interior designer Kelly Wearstler's colorful, creative vision for a theatrical setting unlike any other. Enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres with sweeping views of downtown Los Angeles at sunset from rooftop Cara Cara, followed by a seated dinner amid lush greenery at Caldo Verde, all catered with California fresh cuisine infused with Latin flavors by James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne. Ceremonies and receptions for up to 130 guests are hosted in the historic Cabrillo Club on the hotel's fourth floor, with the original beamed ceilings, arched architectural windows, and hardwood dance floor.

Take the Silver Queen Gondola up to The Little Nell's incredible wedding deck at the top of Aspen Mountain for a breathtaking ceremony at an elevation of 11,212. Summer and fall weddings are accentuated by wildflowers and views of the Elk Mountain Range for parties of up to 250 guests. In winter and spring, up to 175 guests can enjoy a wedding overlooking 360-degree views of the range. Then, the party starts at ASPENX Mountain Club, and the food and drink at this Relais & Chateaux property are sure to be sublime.

Declare your everlasting love while standing beside an 80-foot waterfall inside Ash Cave, the most spectacular feature at Hocking Hills State Park and the largest recess cave east of the Mississippi. You can even get hitched here in winter, near glittering sculptures of frozen waterfalls. A permit is required, but it's free, and couples are encouraged to leave no trace and be good stewards of the land—so no balloons or confetti. Then, retire to a secret cabin in the woods with its own private hot tub to enjoy champagne under the stars with your beloved.

This quaint coastal tavern and inn outside Charleston is all Lowcountry charm without any pretension. Post House's seven bedrooms are enough room for the bride, groom, and their immediate family or wedding party to stay overnight, while the courtyard and indoor/outdoor dining room can host 125 guests for a ceremony and reception. Micro-weddings of up to 35 guests can enjoy a seated dinner in the rose room under Murano glass chandeliers. Just steps from the Charleston Harbor, Post House's menu is filled with fresh seafood and local purveyors and is perfect for the food-loving bride and groom.

You can get married in front of one of the country’s most iconic pieces of contemporary art, the original Robert Indiana LOVE sculpture, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. The museum campus includes an outdoor option in the 52-acre garden, where more than half a million flowers bloom in the spring and summer. Guests can even roam the art galleries during a cocktail reception upon request.

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This property might seem somewhat unassuming from the modest entry, but tucked away in California Wine Country are 10 acres where The Lodge at Sonoma unravels with multiple event venue options, a romantic spa, and spacious guest rooms. Here, you can pick between an indoor or outdoor ceremony and reception—whether you prefer the late 1800s Stone Building with exposed beams or underneath one of the hotel’s signature spots, a 400-year-old Oak tree dubbed the “Heritage Oak” and surrounded by grape vines. The resort offers a range of customizable options to create a full weekend, from morning-after brunches by the pool to welcoming special guests with champagne and chocolate tasting.

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NOLA knows how to celebrate a wedding. From amazing food to an abundance of local musical talent—and don’t forget the second-line parades!—getting married in the Big Easy is just downright fun. The beauty of the old-world architecture makes for some stunning scenery, too. You can’t get much better or more New Orleans than the ceremony and reception backdrop you get at the wedding venue Race + Religious. Located in the Lower Garden District, this stunning three-building property offers brick courtyards with palms and other natural greenery, juxtaposed with a modern pool, plus plenty of charming indoor spaces.