The Most Amazing Wedding Venues in the World

Picture this: Instead of walking down an aisle, you and your fiancé stride from opposite sides of a wooden bridge suspended over the water, meeting in the middle to say your "I dos" in a serene cove. Well, that's just one of the many gorgeous wedding backdrops at this small cliffside hotel overlooking the Caribbean (RockhouseHotel.com).

-- Kristin Koch

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There's no more alluring or exotic spot to wed than this mystical hillside retreat flanked by mountains and tropical gardens and forests. Host your nuptials in a traditional open-air pavilion with authentic Balinese flair, or by one of the world's most amazing infinity pools (AlilaHotels.com).

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One of the country's best-kept secrets, this organic farm has the scenic backdrop thing covered. Picture: gardens, orchards, ponds, woods, a lake and three of the Northwest's most breathtaking mountains -- Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount Rainier. And as the name implies, you won't have to worry about guests complaining about the food, with a menu of farm-to-table fare served on the lawn or at Apple House, an indoor/outdoor space with surreal views (MtHoodOrganicFarms.com).

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It doesn't get more New York (or glam) than Carrie Bradshaw's venue of choice. With its impressive marble interiors and towering ceilings, the iconic building makes a dramatic statement worthy of a fancy fete with plenty of pomp and circumstance (NYPL.org).

This idyllic retreat in northern New York feels more like northern Italy. One of the best parts about the location is that you can have a fireside ceremony and then lead guests to a lakeside tented reception. If the views, fresh and locally sourced cuisine, and cozy yet elegant interiors don't already get you, the lodge also offers horse-drawn carriages, fireworks and a vaulted brick wine cellar that's perfect for a rehearsal dinner (LakePlacidLodge.com).

It's only 40 miles outside San Diego, but you'll feel like you're in the French countryside at this charming 200-acre resort. We were skeptical when we heard "health spa" too, but the 17th-century chapel imported from Dijon and oozing with French Provençal style quickly changed our minds. Host your reception in the L'Orangerie, another Dijon relic with the same enchanting ambience, plus panoramic views of the picturesque surroundings (Cal-a-Vie.com).

Pinch yourself (twice) when you look at this palace-like structure. As if the architecture alone weren't enough to make your (and your photographer's) heart race, check out that view. And to make things even more special, guests arrive by boat. So if you're looking for someplace exotic for your nuptials, we really see no other choice (OberoiHotels.com).

Your guests will feel like they've been transported back in time as they enter the gates to this opulent 17th-century castle (that could be a stand-in for Versailles). But the wow-worthy moments will have just begun. André Le Nôtre's gardens provide a picturesque ceremony setting, while the gilded, baroque-style interiors can host a regal affair for up to 400 seated guests. The final touch: fireworks and a horse-drawn carriage exit (Vaux-le-Vicomte.com).

You'll have your pick of gorgeous scenery at this desert resort: Castillo Lucena, a space with 18-foot cathedral ceilings and 16th-century palace double doors from Spain; a lawn with stunning mountains in the background; the classic Valencia Ballroom; or the 15,500-square-foot indoor/outdoor Alhambra Ballroom with a terrace. Plus, customizable wedding packages, on-site wedding pros and a convenient location near the Phoenix airport make for stress-free nuptials (Montelucia.com).

You won't have trouble finding a venue with mountain views out West. But what makes Vail Mountain stand out is the Wedding Deck, an outdoor amphitheater built into the mountain -- so your guests look down at you exchanging vows, with the Rockies below, for the most dramatic ceremony vantage point you could ever treat them to (Vail.com).