Over-the-top Wedding Venues

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
NEON MUSEUM
If what the locals say is true, there’s been a gold rush of couples to the Sliver State ever since Nevada legalized same-sex marriage in October of 2014. Sure, many of them are flocking to the resorts dotting the Strip, or to one of many quickie wedding chapels Sin City has become so famous for over the years, but there’s another option. In downtown Las Vegas, a hotbed of new cafés, bars, and retail of late, there is the Neon Museum, a gorgeous boneyard where guided tours showcase the oversized neon signs that have made Las Vegas so fabulous. Say “I do” with up to 400 friends and loved ones while the ghosts of the Sahara, the Stardust, the Moulin Rouge, and countless others loom large. Wedding packages include photo options and exclusive catering. 770 Las Vegas Blvd North. Tel: 702-387-6366. www.neonmuseum.org

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver

MAUI, HAWAII
HAIKU MILL
Weddings in Hawaii have been blessed with the trademark aloha spirit for decades, and Maui serves as one of the top Hawaiian islands to get hitched. There’s no shortage of five-star resorts in Maui, and they all offer stunning settings and excellent packages for weddings, but going off the radar and outside the resort has proven to be a popular option, most particularly at Haiku Mill, a venue that’s unanimously considered the dream wedding spot on the island. Haiku Mill is a storybook, historic sugar mill dating back to 1853. It’s rustic and romantic, exotic yet ever so familiar. The visionary secret garden is where one can imagine the fabled Sleeping Beauty or even modern Queen Bee getting married. Wedding parties admire the historic stonewalls, handpicked worldly antiques, abundant, vine-draped gardens, fragrant blossoms, and old-world charm. Wedding planners personally work with couples to help design and customize seamless, elegant weddings that are quite intimate and private on an island popular with tourists. At night, Haiku Mill transforms into a magical nature-inspired setting, capturing an elegant ambience and mood with string lights offering impressionable moments. Most weddings take place around evening to capture the beauty of dusk, and it gives paradise a whole other meaning. It’s dreamy and opulent with an ethereal glow that truly encapsulates the magic of Hawaii. There’s no wonder why Haiku Mill is constantly voted as one of the top wedding venues in the world! 250 Haiku Road. Tel: 808-575-9994. www.haikumill.com
—JimmyIm

NEW YORK, NEW YORK
UNITED NATIONS DELEGATES DINING ROOM
Why not make your wedding ceremony a world-class event at a world-class site? If you’re having a secular wedding (no religious ceremonies are permit- ted here), you can make a spectacular statement. Imagine tying the knot where the footsteps of the sheiks, princes, presidents, prime ministers, and potentates have gone before yours. Heads of state, including the president of the United States have dined here, maybe decided major global events right at the spot where you’ll be standing, cutting your cake. The United Nations has just completed a three-year renovation, including the refurbishing of the glass-walled Delegates Dining Room. Picture the panoramic views from the east, including sky and river, soaring bridge, the new Four Freedoms Park, and the iconic Pepsi Cola sign. To the west, see the flags of the United Nations and the Manhattan skyline, including the Chrysler Building. Sip cocktails with your guests on the terrace, possibly the largest outdoor event space in the city. Move inside for lunch or dinner, where the tables in the din- ing room will be decorated with your choice of simple or elaborate sparkle. Weddings as small as 50 or as large as 650 can be accommodated. Your friends will be required to appear on a guest list and will be checked at the front gate by your own representative and United Nations Security. Drivers’ licenses or passports are required for identification. Call it add-on ceremonial drama; in a venue this eminent, it’s part of the deal. So is a perk that often offers the host and guests a private tour of the United Nations. A wed- ding here is not only about sophistication and having an unforgettable ceremony in an auspicious setting, it is also your declaration to those countries around the world who would forbid your union as same-sex weddings are specifically welcome here. 1 United Nations Plaza. 212-963-7029 www.delegatesdiningroomun.com
—Marlene Fanta Shyer

Great Hall at the Hampton Court Pa

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
THE LEGION OF HONOR
Located on a 100-acre patch of green space in the northwest corner of the city known as Lincoln Park sits the elegant Legion of Honor, a full-scale replica of the French Pavilion at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition done in neoclassical style. Nevermind that the museum is home to a collection of ancient and European art spanning more than 6,000 years, the real draw for romantics is the opportunity to wed on the museum’s lawn overlooking the Golden Grate Bridge and shimmering city views. After- ward, up to 400 guests can celebrate in the Rodin Galleries using one of the institution’s nearly dozen preferred caterers while the couple has their pictures snapped in some of the museum’s many iconic locations, including the Court of Honor. No wonder so many leave their heart in this city. 100 34th Ave. Tel: 415-750-3600. www.legionofhonor.famsf.org
—Jason Heidemann

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
BELMOND EL ENCANTO
If the French Riviera is out of reach, the perfect option is the American Riviera of Santa Barbara, where Belmond El Encanto offers an enchanting appointment with history for rehearsal dinners, weddings, post-ceremony brunches, and more. Heralded as “the most beautifully situated hotel in California” when it opened in 1918, the property, fully refreshed and reopened in 2013, sits on seven lush acres high in the hills between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara’s oldest hotel and only Forbes Five-Star resort, El Encanto’s 92 accommodations combine luxury suites with private California Crafts- man–style bungalows once frequented by stars of vintage Hollywood (and still today). Available for buyouts, the property is ideally equipped for ceremonies of up to 200 guests. Amid the backdrop of ocean views and landscaped gardens lush with wisteria, bougainvillea, and eucalyptus, outdoor venues include the Arbor and Lily Pond, and Channel Islands Terrace, while versatile indoor options include the Riviera Ball- room, with dance floor and exclusive patio. Honeymoon sanctuaries include the Wishing Well Suite, featuring private terrace, fireplace, and kitchenette, and the private bungalows, where couples are greeted with romantic touches such as an oversized candelabra and pillows person- alized with their initials. For relaxing and rejuvenating, there’s an out- door infinity pool with panoramic ocean views, and the luxurious Spa at El Encanto, where treatments include “Couples Indulgence” and “Love + Affection” couples massage. On the dining front, Chef Leo Andres Ayala works with couples to customize every item according to their most intricate desires. El Encanto is the sole West Coast property of elite international hospitality group Belmond. Last December, the brand, a Silver Member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, introduced www.belmond.com/lgbt-travel, and a one- stop portal where LGBT travelers can explore the collection’s holiday, celebration, honeymoon, and group offerings. 800 Alvarado Place. Tel: 805-845-5800. www.belmond.com/el-encanto-santa-barbara
—Jeff Heilman