According to Fora's first-ever Wedding & Honeymoon Trend Report, drawing on booking data from March 2024 through February 2026 and a survey of advisors across its network, couples today are seeking destination-driven celebrations over traditional ceremonies.
More than half of Fora advisors (54%) report an increase in destination wedding inquiries over the past year, with wellness programming, cruise ceremonies, safari itineraries and phased "mini-moon" timelines all on the rise.
Here’s a look at the trends.
Wellness Weddings
Wellness has woven itself into nearly every stage of the wedding journey. Advisors are noting growing requests for yoga, sound baths, saunas, cold plunges and health-forward catering as core elements of the wedding weekend — not just honeymoon extras. Post-wedding brunches are evolving, too, with spa treatments and IV bars becoming increasingly common the morning after the celebration. Wellness-minded properties are also surging for Fora: Miraval Austin Resort & Spa, for example, saw a 73% increase in bookings year over year, while Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection, climbed 71%.
Domestic Destination Weddings
Fifty-three percent of advisors report a rise in U.S.-based destination weddings as couples seek celebrations that feel transportive without international hassle. Western and desert markets are leading the charge: Las Vegas is up 145% in Fora bookings, Montana 143% and Utah 113%. New England remains a stronghold, with Martha's Vineyard up a remarkable 278% and Rhode Island bookings up 136%. The Carolinas, meanwhile, are emerging as a breakout region, with South Carolina up 157% and North Carolina up 141%, earning both a spot on Fora's 2026 Hot List.
Cruise Weddings
Cruise weddings have moved firmly into the mainstream, with couples embracing ships as seamless, all-inclusive venues with built-in multi-destination itineraries. Luxury brands are seeing the results: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is up 261% for Fora, Princess Cruises grew 218%, Norwegian Cruise Line rose 198% and Virgin Voyages is up 101%.
Off-Peak Honeymoons
With 64% of Fora clients spending $10,000 or more on their honeymoon and 64% of advisors reporting a shift toward off-season travel to maximize value, a new class of destinations is emerging for honeymooners. In Italy, the Dolomites are up 173% overall, with May bookings alone up 800% year over year. In Greece, Naxos has surged 450% and Paros and Antiparos grew 244%, with October bookings up 400% for both. Japan's fall season from October through December has quietly become the honeymoon high season, with bookings up 178% overall. New Zealand is gaining momentum too, up 62%, with April specifically up 570% year over year.
Safari Honeymoons
Safari honeymoons remain at the top of advisors' most-requested experiences, often structured around the classic "bush-and-beach" pairing. Kenya is up 295% in Fora bookings and Tanzania 287%, while Seychelles has climbed 150% and South Africa 112%. An emerging shift: Sri Lanka is up 170% as couples increasingly look to Asia for wildlife-forward itineraries, particularly leopard safaris in Yala National Park.
Phased Honeymoons
The all-at-once honeymoon is no longer a given. Some 59% of couples are opting for a shorter "mini-moon" immediately after the wedding while reserving a larger trip for later. One in 10 advisors report an uptick in "pre-moons" taken before the wedding, and a growing segment is combining elopement and honeymoon into one seamless "elope-moon."
How Generation Shapes the Approach
Each generation is celebrating their wedding milestones in its own way. Gen Z couples are more budget-conscious but still want a polished, memorable experience, often opting for micro-weddings or all-inclusive packages. Millennials continue to prioritize experiences, drawn to immersive, culturally rich and multi-stop trips. Gen X couples, meanwhile, tend to have a clear vision, favoring luxury, bucket-list destinations and smooth, stress-free planning over following trends.
Across all age groups, one shift stands out: traditional themes are fading, destinations are taking center stage and travel advisors are becoming essential in making these celebrations happen.
