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    12 Gorgeous & Totally Unique Wedding Destinations In 2020

    By Brianna Lantz
    Unique Wedding Destinations – Washington – The Foxes Photography 3
    Photo by The Foxes Photography

    Brides and wedding planners gather round: if you’re in the throes of venue hunting, you know how time-consuming and complicated it can be! If only there was an easy way to filter venues by location, style, budget, capacity…but wait, there is!

    Enter Wedding Spot, an online site — one of the first of its kind — that lets you search, price, compare, and contact wedding locations. It’s truly a one-stop-shop for wedding planning — no more tracking countless email threads with venues.

    We tested Wedding Spot’s tool ourselves, and of their 13,000+ venues to choose from, we found ten unique U.S. destinations & our favorite venues for the one-of-a-kind wedding of your dreams. Maybe you want to treat your guests to a getaway they haven’t been to before? This is your list…

    Hannah + Marty
    Photo via Hacienda Doña Andrea de Santa Fe

    New Mexico

    If you’re dreaming of a Southwest wedding under a desert sky but you’re tired of the same old scenes from Joshua Tree, Sedona, and Phoenix, look no further than New Mexico.

    Imagine yourself exchanging vows on a terracotta balcony, perched above rolling desert mountains as papel picado banners sway in the breeze above. We’re obsessed with every detail at Hacienda Dona Andrea de Santa Fe.

    Unique Wedding Destinations – New Mexico – Hacienda Dona Andrea de Santa Fe – Alicia Lucia 3
    Photo by Alicia Lucia of Hacienda Doña Andrea de Santa Fe
    Unique Wedding Destinations – Montana – Sage Lodge
    Photo via Sage Lodge

    Montana

    Every Northwesterner knows that there is so much more to Montana than cowboys and cattle ranches. The dramatic mountaintops and clear glacial lakes of Big Sky Country offer a stunning and more cost-effective alternative to your typical Aspen or Vail, Colorado weddings.

    Nestled right in the middle of it all, Sage Lodge would be the perfect spot for a rustic-chic kinda bride.

    Unique Wedding Destinations – Montana – Sage Lodge – Orange Photographie
    Photo by Orange Photographie at Sage Lodge
    Unique Wedding Destinations – Zingermans Cornman Farms Michigan – Angelica Marie Photography 2
    Photo by Angelica Marie Photography via Zingerman's Cornman Farms

    Michigan

    Michigan is having a moment, and we’re here for it. With so many unique venues to choose from, like this castle on Lake Michigan, this farm in cider country, or this dreamy conservatory, this Midwest gem is turning heads.

    And you won’t have to search far for award-winning, talented vendors. Many of our favorite photographers are Michigan born and bred, like Amanda VanVels.

    Unique Wedding Destinations – Alaska – Corinne Graves 5
    Photo by Corinne Graves of Outland Creative

    Alaska

    Alaska may sound like a trek, but oh, is it worth it. If the views alone aren’t enough to convince you, maybe a stay in a yurt at Orca Island Cabins will do the trick. The Gathering Place offers another incredible spot to say “I do” in front of sweeping views.

    Hit up our favorite Alaska photographer Corrine Graves, photographer and owner of Outland Creative, to capture the magic.

    Unique Wedding Destinations – Alaska – Corinne Graves 1
    Photo by Corinne Graves of Outland Creative
    Elegant New England Farm Wedding | Kir Tuben 40
    Photo by Kir Tuben Photography via Bridal Musings
    Elegant New England Farm Wedding | Kir Tuben 41
    Photo by Kir Tuben Photography via Bridal Musings

    Rhode Island

    Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, the Hamptons…so “been there, done that.” It’s time for Rhode Island to have its moment to shine. It may be the smallest state in the country, but it packs a big punch of that Atlantic coastal magic. Rhode Island has dozens of gorgeous spots for beachside nuptials, but breezy and elegant Newport Beach House is a stand-out place to exchange vows with your toes in the sand.

    Looking for a quaint countryside spot? Mount Hope Farm (featured on Bridal Musings!) gives us plenty of New England charm and not to mention the cutest little goats!

    Unique Wedding Destinations – Newport Beach RI – Jessa Schifilliti 1
    Photo by Jessa Schifilliti at Newport Beach House
    Unique Wedding Destinations – Washington – The Foxes Photography 4
    Photo by The Foxes Photography

    Washington State

    I may be biased, but there’s nowhere like Washington state for a summer wedding, where the days stretch long and the weather is (usually) perfect. The upper-left has a dizzying amount of outdoor offerings, from islands to coastlines to lakes to mountains.

    If it were us, we’d take a ferry to the world-famous San Juan Islands and stay in these cozy cabins. We’re also eyeing recently renovated Paradise Village near iconic Mount Rainier — it’s the perfect medley of rustic and luxurious and can hold a whopping 450 guests!

    Unique Wedding Destinations – Washington – Wandering Backpack
    Photo by Wandering Backpack at Paradise Village
    Unique Wedding Venues – The Hill Country Texas – Phillip Thomas Photography – The Creek Haus
    Photo by Philip Thomas at The Creek Haus

    Texas Hill Country

    Three words: Texas Hill Country. Not convinced? How about a whole roasted pig cookout with live twangy guitar, majestic rolling hills, while also just a short drive from the amazing barbecues, artists, and vendors in Austin? Yeah, we thought so. The Creek Haus looks like SUCH a good time.

    Unique Wedding Venues – The Hill Country Texas – The Creek Haus – Alyssa Nikole Photography
    Photo by Alyssa Nikole at The Creek Haus
    Unique Wedding Destinations – Westport CA – Switzer Farm – Brandon Bibbons 1
    Photo by Brandon Bibbons of Switzer Farm

    Northern California Coast

    California’s Northern Coast offers stunning alternatives to the ever-popular weddings of the Bay Area and So Cal. Just look at the breath-taking coastal scenes like the ones at Switzer Farm and Agate Cove Inn. *Swoon*

    Unique Wedding Destinations – Westport CA – Switzer Farm – Brandon Bibbons 4
    Photo by Brandon Bibbons of Switzer Farm
    Unique Wedding Destinations – Vermont – Snapdragon Inn
    Photo via Snapdragon Inn

    Vermont

    Vermont may just be one of the best-kept secrets of the wedding world. Not only is it much less crowded and far cheaper than New Yorker hot spot Hudson Valley, but it boasts loads of Airbnbs and breweries and plenty of mountains, farms, and pastures for a scenic outdoor wedding. Step back in time at Snapdragon Inn, a stunning 19th-century estate nestled beside a serene pond.

    PS: If you find yourself in Burlington, you must visit one of our favorite bridal boutiques, Everthine!

    Colorful Vermont Lodge Wedding (With Sparkler Magic!) | Molly Lichten Photography 24
    Photo by Molly Lichten Photography via Bridal Musings
    Owls Hoot Barn Wedding – Unique Wedding Destinations – Bridal Musings
    Photo via Owl's Hoot Barn

    Hudson Valley, New York

    But if you don’t feel like making the trek to Vermont, two and a half hours up the Hudson River from NYC is the picturesque grounds of Owl’s Hoot Barn. City folk can live out their barn wedding dreams in this over-the-top beautiful 1800s Dutch barn ready for dining, dancing & outdoorsy getaways.

    Owls Hoot Barn Wedding – Unique Wedding Destinations – Bridal Musings 3
    Photo via Owl's Hoot Barn
    Unique Wedding Destinations – New Orleans – Southern Oaks Plantation – 3
    Photo via Southern Oaks Plantation

    New Orleans

    We’d be hard-pressed to think of a cooler wedding destination than New Orleans — there’s really nowhere else like it. Between the incredible food, culture and music, planning an unforgettable wedding weekend in NOLA is as easy as King Cake.

    We think the colonial-inspired, Spanish moss-laden grounds of the Southern Oaks Plantation would be a gorgeous spot to say your “I do’s.” And with a 400 guest capacity, you’ll have plenty of room to laissez les bons temps rouler.

    Unique Wedding Destinations – New Orleans – Southern Oaks Plantation – Hi Volt Studios 1
    Photo by link text of Southern Oaks Plantation
    www.masonandmegan.com
    Photo by Mason & Megan at Flying Caballos Ranch

    San Luis Obispo, California

    Possibly Socal’s best-kept secret, San Luis Obispo has plenty to offer surfers, outdoorsmen, foodies & wine lovers alike. San Luis Obispo, commonly known as SLO, sits fifteen minutes from beaches in one direction, and fifteen to Paso Robles wine country in the other. The college town is a quiet, pristine agricultural paradise. With a chic downtown boasting world-class dining & hosting the state’s biggest farmer’s market, the town is literally for ‘all types’.

    It would seem we could happily choose just about any venue in SLO, but Flying Caballos Ranch has our top pick with its 100-year-old barn & views of the Central Coast’s gorgeous green rolling hills.

    Flying Caballos Ranch – San Luis Obispo – Unique Wedding Venues for 2020 – Bridal Musings – Mirelle Carmichael – Style Me Pretty
    Photo by Mirelle Carmichael at Flying Caballos Ranch
    Flying Caballos Ranch – Mason and Megan – Bridal Musings
    Photo by Mason & Megan at Flying Caballos Ranch

    Essential Info

    To find your own perfect venue, visit Wedding Spot’s website.

    Follow Wedding Spot on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest & the Wedding Spot Blog for venue inspiration a-plenty!

    This post was made in partnership with Wedding Spot.

    photo
    Brianna Lantz
    Writer
    A Pacific Northwest-based writer & globetrotter, Brianna has a penchant for the bohemian. Ever the day-dreamer, she can usually be found curled up somewhere cozy with a journal, plotting her next adventure. She believes there's nothing a Tom Petty song and a long, aimless drive won't fix.
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