Romance and destination wedding specialists reveal what’s trending for 2026 and beyond
COUPLES ARE CELEBRATING BEYOND THE BIG DAY
“The biggest trend that we’re seeing with destination weddings is the desire for elevated guest experiences. The focus isn’t necessarily only the wedding itself but a whole week of experiences for the group, including culinary cooking tours, catamaran cruises, wellness options like yoga mornings and cultural immersion experiences. For example, our travel agency offers volunteer activities where the group can give back to the community they are visiting such as painting a school classroom in Costa Rica to donating to women in need in Jamaica or volunteering at a community centre in Mexico. Travelers seek unique memories and destination wedding groups are no different.” –Laurie Keith, president, Romantic Planet Vacations
“Couples are focusing less on a single wedding day and more on creating a vacation experience for their guests. We’re seeing more welcome parties, group excursions, longer stays, and a lot more flexibility around destinations and travel dates to maximize value.” –Stephanie Griffiths, CEO/destination wedding specialist, Mangata Escapes Inc.
MEXICO CONTINUES TO BE A HOT SPOT FOR DESTINATION WEDDINGS
“For me, Los Cabos has absolutely exploded in popularity over the past year, and I don’t see that slowing down anytime soon. While Cancun has long been the most popular destination wedding location for my South Asian couples, I’m finding that many new brides are looking for something a little different. For couples on the West Coast especially, Los Cabos offers a more convenient travel experience while still delivering stunning ocean views, luxury resorts, incredible food, and amazing wedding venues. It has a completely different vibe than Cancun, and couples are really gravitating toward that. It has quickly become one of my go-to destinations, and it’s a location I genuinely love recommending for couples looking for a fresh alternative to the traditional destination wedding hotspots.” –Preety Jaswal, director and founder, Preety Weddings & Travel
“Costa Mujeres continues to gain momentum. Couples love the newer resorts, beautiful beaches, and the fact that it offers a more relaxed feel while still being easily accessible from Cancun Airport.” –Stephanie Griffiths, CEO/destination wedding specialist, Mangata Escapes Inc.
CLIENTS ARE BOOKING EARLIER THAN EVER
“The biggest shift I’m seeing is that couples are booking earlier than ever. With prices changing quickly and popular dates selling out, planning ahead has become one of the best ways to secure value and availability for both the couple and their guests.” –Stephanie Griffiths, CEO/destination wedding specialist, Mangata Escapes Inc.
OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH LOCATIONS ARE ON THE RISE
“We’re actually seeing more off-the-beaten path locations. Even within the main all-inclusive destinations, there’s an allure for more boutique-style or areas outside the main tourist hubs like Samana or La Romana in the Dominican Republic, Cozumel in Mexico and Negril in Jamaica. We’ve also seen an uptick in more unique beach destinations like Columbia and Curacao. Europe has also been steadily trending over the last few years and often follows the main destinations offered by our Canadian tour operator partners, such as Paris, Glasgow, Dublin, and Rome. We’re also excited to have just sold our first wedding to the Azores. I can see this destination becoming more popular for wedding couples who want that historic European backdrop, incredible cuisine and culture without the long flight.” –Laurie Keith, president, Romantic Planet Vacations
SOUTH ASIAN COUPLES ARE FUSING CULTURES
“For South Asian weddings, the biggest trend I’m seeing is fusion, more than ever before. Couples are embracing both sides of their identity by blending traditional cultural ceremonies with modern Western wedding elements. That might look like a traditional Anand Karaj or Hindu ceremony followed by a Western-style reception, personalized vows, contemporary décor, signature cocktails, or unique guest experiences. Rather than choosing one style over the other, couples are creating celebrations that reflect the two worlds they live in. In many ways, that’s the beauty of a destination wedding, it gives couples the freedom to honour their traditions while adding a modern, personalized flair that feels uniquely their own.” –Preety Jaswal, director and founder, Preety Weddings & Travel
TIPS FOR THE TRADE
As a South Asian and Indian destination wedding specialist, Preety Jaswal, the director and founder of Vancouver-based Preety Weddings & Travel, has learned firsthand that destination weddings require real-time problem-solving.
“No matter how much planning goes into an event, there will always be unexpected challenges, whether it’s weather, vendor issues, timeline changes, or last-minute guest requests,” she shares.
Jaswal says the key is adapting quickly, finding solutions seamlessly, and keeping things moving without creating stress for the couple.
“If you’ve done your job well, the couple will never know about the countless behind-the-scenes adjustments, phone calls, and contingency plans that made their wedding day a success,” she notes. “At the end of the day, our role is not just to plan a wedding, it’s to create an experience where the couple can be fully present and enjoy every moment, while we handle whatever comes our way behind the scenes.”
