Getting hitched, tying the knot, joining your souls for eternity, or killing your bachelor/bachelorette self; however you want to say it, getting married is a huge deal. It could be the biggest decision (or worst mistake) of your life, which means you should make it memorable. A nice, quaint ceremony in a church or out on the lawn is fine, but if you really want to keep up with the Joneses – not to mention the Beyoncés – you need to step up your wedding game.
These days, nothing happens unless it’s on the Internet, and it’s only going to get the clicks and the retweets if you go all out. That means seeking out one of the 19 most unusual wedding venues to give your guests and your grandkids a story for the ages. If you’re at a loss, we’ve got some ideas to spark your creativity.
Cave
Anyone can have a wedding out in the forest or in a botanical garden, but geologic formations can provide just as much beauty as a fully outdoor wedding, and offer a controlled environment far from the weather. A little spelunking and a few dramatic lights are all that is required.
Bridge
Some of the grandest and most mechanically adept architecture in the world goes into building bridges, yet most of us never give them a second thought. Symbolic in that it shows crossing from single life into a life together, and unusual enough to draw more than few admiring glances.
Mid-Air
There’s a lot of options available for a mid-air wedding. Host it on a private jet with just family and friends in attendance, or book a huge platform suspended by hot air balloons for a chance to take the leap into a life together. Parachutes or bungee cords recommended.
Roller Coaster
Thrill-seekers who need to add even more nerves and adrenaline to their blessed event should consider terrifying the entire wedding party by taking a ride on the wild side and saying their final vows just as the camera snaps on Splash Mountain.
Museum
Historic and lovely, museums come in all shapes and sizes. You can select to have your first dance beneath the bones of your favorite dinosaur, or under the stars of a planetarium. Observatories work for star-gazers, or head to the wonder that is Cleveland’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Library
As gorgeous as many chapels, but a bargain at a fraction of the cost, pick the right library and your wedding can not only be lovely, but offer guests an educational diversion should the ceremony start to drag on. You can even take a quick trip to the Erotica section for a little help with the wedding night.
Underwater
Just like going high above the clouds for entering wedded bliss, there’s several ways of doing the deed down below. Scuba diving, private submarines, or just lowering yourselves into shark-infested waters help make your marriage memorable, and puts a time limit on the length of your vows.
Race Track
Track stars or gas-guzzlers alike can celebrate a shared passion for the ponies or a love of fiery death via Formula 1 crashes. The world is covered with tracks that are laden with asphalt, but also those that are as quaint as any botanical garden, complete with a little off-track betting on how long your bond shall endure.
Ice Chapel
Book one that exists, or shape one yourself when the snow starts to fly, an Ice Chapel is far more memorable than any luau and will avoid anyone overstaying their welcome.
Nudist Colony
A couple should have no secrets from each other. Baring all at a nudist resort is a fun, playful way to prove you have nothing to hide, and helps eliminate nervousness since picturing your audience in their underwear will be far easier.
Glacier
Like love, glaciers are slow, patient, and cover everything in their path. Outdoorsy couples who don’t want to be another pair on the beach should ditch the sandbox for matrimony on one of the most incredible natural wonders to cover the globe.
Volcano
An element of danger always helps keep guests on their toes, and few things are more catastrophic than a volcano. Boring brides and grooms can select ancient calderas, while those who like dodging falling magma can go for an active mountains with guaranteed obsidian gift bags for all survivors.
Ruins
Current buildings will charge you a small fortune for rentals, but those whose time has come and gone can be had for a pittance. The beautiful mixture of man-made architecture with natural growth is inspiring, while building a life on the wreckage of the past is rebirth personified.
Music Festival
Instead of booking a single band, go ahead and book several. Refreshments are already provided, and a few quick queries and some bills in the right hands can easily get you all the illicit substances you could want.
Cemetery
It might seem macabre on the surface, but cemeteries are lovely locations that are well-groomed, well-kept, and allow you to have attendees who have shuffled off this mortal coil. What better way to honor a deceased family member than to let them in on the festivities posthumously?
Castle
Many women say they want to feel like a princess for a day when they tie the knot. By booking one of the ancient castles that dot the landscape you can ensure that she gets the whole princess package. Those who prefer to stay local can choose a lighthouse, the castles of the modern world.
Trailer Park
There’s trailer parks of all kinds, with luxurious ones that can also give accommodations to any family and friends who plan on staying in town. It’s also easy to go from betrothal to chili cook-off in an afternoon; which suits the hootenanny sensibilities of many a modern couple.
In the Trees
Forest weddings and those in idyllic gardens have been done to death. Book a treehouse collective or one of the unusual arboreally-based hotels in the world and you’ll be able to do your nuptials Lord of the Flies style.
Theater
Theater lovers, opera fanatics, death metal rockers, and actors can all enjoy the glory of a theater. Seating is included, as is dramatic lighting, and with a raised stage there’s no possible way anyone’s eyes can be drawn away from the newlyweds, no matter how hot bridesmaid #3 is.
