You’re never too old for anything, and that includes getting married. Wedding shows, magazines, and planners seem to only cater to the younger crowd, but weddings for the over-50s are becoming increasingly popular. Second marriages, late marriages, and vow renewals make up a significant part of modern weddings.
If you are, you probably want to do different things than you were in your 20s and 30s, and hotels and venues understand that. Whether you’re looking for something low-key and relaxed or lavish and luxurious, the perfect destination for your wedding is out there.
Here are six great wedding venues for mature brides and grooms.
1. Positano, Italy
Beautiful Positano is located on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, 90 minutes from Naples International Airport and around 3 hours from Rome. The ferry terminal in Salerno is very close to the Salerno train station, which has direct trains to and from Rome.
The Hotel Poseidon in Positano offers intimate and reserved ceremonies and receptions in its restaurant or on its terrace. The hotel is located in the center of Positano, in the middle of the hills on the Amalfi Coast, so guests have great views from every point. Additionally, the family who own and run the hotel live on-site year round, working directly with customers before and during their special day to make sure everything is exactly how they want it. The hotel does not see itself as a wedding venue, but rather as a hotel that offers intimate rooms for ceremonies and receptions in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Don’t miss a drive along the coast while staying in the hotel’s 1971 Volkswagen Beetle Cabrio. It belongs to one of the owners, a collector of vintage cars. You can drive it yourself or the hotel can find a driver for you. The hotel is also known for its homemade limoncello. You should offer it to your guests either during reception or during cocktail hour.
Pro tip: Buses connect Positano with Amalfi and Sorrento. The company is called SITA and there are two main locations in Positano. During the summer season, Positano is also connected by ferry to Sorrento, Amalfi and Salerno.
Where the wilderness is
2. Jukkasjarvi, Northern Sweden
No two winters are the same in Jukkasjarvi, so every experience is unique. If you like the idea of something different and appreciate the feeling of a winter wonderland, this is the perfect place for a wedding in the snow.
To really get that winter wedding vibe, get married in the ice chapel in the ice hotel. The ice chapel is available from December to April. But you can also get married on a mountain top, on a jetty, in a rustic tipi or around the campfire. It is even possible to have your ceremony under the Northern Lights (however, this option is never guaranteed as the weather permits). Where The Wild Is offers private airport transfers from Kiruna Airport and can arrange a package of events and experiences that suits you.
The Icehotel 365 is open all year round and is cooled by solar energy in summer. The ice suites are handcrafted by artists from all over the world. You can also stay in a chalet or hotel room.
If you’re struggling, get your Sauna Masters degree. You can book this experience for up to 20 people so that all of your wedding guests can be included. This 10 step experience will teach you how to sauna like a local. Ice sculpture, reindeer racing, and northern lights safari experiences are also available.
Pro tip: If you are getting married in Sweden, you will need written consent from the local authorities. It is recommended that you obtain this 12 to 14 months prior to your marriage. In addition, the couple walks down the aisle together. This might be suitable for older couples, especially if the traditional father of the bride is not an option.
Highland Escape
3. Loch Ness, Scotland
For complete tranquility and a wedding in beautiful historic surroundings, consider Highland Escape. The hotel is located on Loch Ness and is an old mansion for up to 12 people. You can have your stay completely catered for or do your own thing. You never know – you might even see Nessie!
So far north that there is only 4 hours of darkness each day in summer, this area is remote and wild, but still only 10 minutes from Inverness. With nightfall at 11:30 p.m. and sunrise at 3:30 a.m., no artificial lighting is required – just the dark pink Highland hues. In the summer, watch the highland deer emerge from the thick wall of trees at the top of the hill. During the spring you can even watch the gladiator fights of the rutting season. In winter, the nights are often adorned with the aurora borealis. And you can see the Milky Way from your front door!
No matter when you get married, you will feel far from the outside world in this little pocket of the Highlands, with castles within sight, nature all around and a legendary lake on your doorstep.
4. Ios Island, Greece
The lesser-known Greek island of Ios is perfect for couples looking for a Mediterranean ceremony that is theirs. This 70 square mile island is home to 365 churches, so you will have no problem finding a location for the ceremony. However, if you choose the five-star Calilo Resort on Papas Beach, you can have it all. The little white chapel at the resort is an island in a beautiful blue pool of water. Next to it rises a sculpture that expresses the word “love”.
In keeping with the romance theme, you can visit the final resting place of the great poet Homer. But perhaps the most romantic thing to do in Ios is to name an olive tree. 535 olive trees, some of which are 800 years old and come from the Peloponnese, give the property more than a touch of history. The trees were to be felled and sold for firewood, but they were saved by the Michalopoulos family, the owners of Calilo, who transported hundreds of them to Ios by land and sea. The guests are invited to adopt a tree with a special name and to follow its rebirth and development to save eternity.
Pro tip: There is no airport on the island. Most guests fly to Athens first and then take the 5-hour ferry. However, you can get more of your trip by visiting some of the surrounding islands that have airports and are also easily accessible by ferry.
Denbies
5. Surrey, England
What better place to tie the knot than at a vineyard in the beautiful and picturesque English countryside? At Denbies in Surrey, you can get married among the grapevines, knowing that your reception desk has top quality wines for your guests!
Denbies is surrounded by 265 acres of vineyard in the Surrey hills and offers ceremonies for up to 180 guests and intimate affairs for just 15 people. On site is the Vineyard Hotel with 17 rooms. You can rent out the entire hotel and use the Gallery Restaurant with 60 seats or the Conservatory Atrium with 250 seats.
If you’re in the area, why not take a vineyard tour and indulge in a wine tasting. There are many vineyards in the area so it is easy to jump from one to the next!
The wedding cake
6. Ontario, Canada
You’re unlikely to find a place that says “wedding” like Wedding Cake Cottage in Ontario. Wedding Cake Cottage was built in the 1860s and oozes old-time charm. It is the ideal place for couples who want a quiet and intimate wedding. You can invite a few guests, but no more than 40, or you can do the whole thing with just the two of you. Wedding Cake Cottage caters to couples who want their special day to be just for them – private, intimate, and with an emphasis on the ceremony and wedding of the two.
One of the great things about this venue is that it is the only former country church in Ontario where couples can get married and then stay overnight. The choir loft has been converted into a hidden suite so you can get married in the cabin and then just tip toe to your honeymoon suite!
