Photo: Courtesy of TripAdvisor
Thinking about a destination wedding? Consider throwing your celebration at a villa. You'll get to bunk with your family or friends in a gorgeous home, and unlike at a resort, you won't have to worry about other guests wandering into your wedding photos. To ring in the summer, we asked the experts at TripAdvisor — which handles more than 55,000 rental properties — to recommend 10 gorgeous vacation rental homes that can double as wedding venues.
Eagle's Watch Villa — Malibu, California
With a name like that, you know the view's got to be good. Located on top of a cliff, this three-bedroom villa has, yup, jaw-dropping 360-degree views, which you can see above, of La Costa Beach and Malibu. Post-wedding, guests can chill in the rooftop hot tub, or in front of one of two cozy fireplaces. From $995 per night.
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Barbados Bungalow — Barbados
Imagine getting married in a cliffside gazebo with sweeping Caribbean views. That's just one of the perks of renting this six-bedroom property — two bedrooms in the main house, four in each of the two adjoining cottages — built around a 17th century sugar mill. Rather wed on the sand? You can do so in a private cabana on famous Gibbs beach. From $2,400 per night.
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Villa Sixty-One — Anguilla
Lucky guests: Every one of the four bedrooms at this 7,000-square-foot villa with ocean-inspired decor has a balcony overlooking the sea. So it's only fitting that you say "I do" on a terrace with views of the Caribbean Sea. And if that's not enough for you, there's also a chic infinity pool and a private butler. From $3,500 per night.
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Villa Vista Ballena — Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Get hitched in your own private hacienda with a swim-up bar and killer views of the Sea of Cortez. Kitted out with Mexican tile, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a Jacuzzi, the five-bedroom has a huge terrace that's perfect for parties. In between events, you and your wedding party can hit the sand or the greens — the oceanfront house is located smack on the Cabo del Sol golf course. From $4,200 per night.
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Villa Bellissima — Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Built into a cliff high above the Sea of Cortez, this eight-bedroom villa in the exclusive Pedregal neighborhood is all about the drama: Think sleek modern architecture, a curvy infinity pool, and tons of terraces. It also has an in-home gym, a movie theater, an outdoor billiard table, and a hefty wedding capacity: You'll be able to comfortably host 150 people for the ceremony and reception. From $3,168 per night.
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Villa Machiavelli — Tuscany, Italy
Perched 20 minutes outside Florence in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, this restored 16th century villa has five guest suites, a sparkling pool, and a frescoed terrace overlooking the 750 acres of vineyards and olive groves. (Think of the photos!). Need more room? There's another villa in the vineyard you can rent. Bonus: the in-house chef specializes in authentic Tuscan cuisine. Oh, did we mention the helipad? From $4,683 per night.
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Villa Oia — Santorini, Greece
Tie the knot as the sun dips into the Aegean Sea at this recently renovated former sea captain's house in Oia. Outside, guests can check out the view via the deck's telescope, while inside, they'll take in the vaulted ceilings, antiques, and Venetian mirrors. From $1,040 per night.
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Almiral de la Font — Sitges, Spain
Hello, vineyard wedding! This eight-bedroom Catalan-style manor in the Penedes wine region offers panoramic views of mountains and sea, plus 300 acres of olive groves, fruit trees, and grape vines — all just a 30-minute drive from Barcelona. From $1,585 per night.
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Balinese Villa Bayuh Sabbah — Bali, Indonesia
To see why this five-bedroom cliff-top villa is such a popular venue (it can host 150 wedding guests), all you need to do is take a walk through its tropical gardens or peek out at the Indian Ocean from its thatched-roof open-air pavilions. Couples rave about the staff — the Balinese are known for their hospitality — as well as the two infinity pools and in-house gym. From $1,875 per night.
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Chalina Estate in Bali — Bali, Indonesia
Surrounded by lily ponds and lawns, this seven-bedroom thatched-roof Balinese estate on the Pangi River is party-ready. There's a 30-meter pool, a full staff (including a driver), and rice-terrace views — not to mention a wedding-night-perfect master suite with a balcony vistas of Bali's second-highest volcano, Mount Batukaru. From $1,260 per night.