My Dream Overwater Wedding in the Maldives: An Unforgettable Experience

Say “I do” while tropical fish, sting rays, and reef tip sharks glide beneath a glass-bottomed aisle.

As a travel writer, I had always envisioned my partner and me seeking a beautiful destination for our wedding with cherished friends and family. However, as COVID made traditional gatherings complicated, we opted for an intimate legal ceremony in Connecticut with just our families. Nonetheless, we still yearned for the luxury and excitement of a destination wedding experience. Therefore, we set out to discover the ideal location for this special occasion.

During my childhood, I had a photo of the Maldives as the desktop wallpaper on my middle school computer. The Maldives, an archipelago encompassing 26 atolls in the southern Indian Ocean, has represented paradise in my mind ever since. Thanks to my career, I’ve had the privilege to visit the Maldives several times, continually falling more deeply in love with its enchanting beauty. When my then-fiancé and I learned that the Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru features an overwater wedding chapel, we immediately recognized it as the unique, intimate venue we had been seeking.

Every element of our wedding experience highlighted the stunning blue vistas of the Maldives. The chapel is situated in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, rich with marine life. While exchanging vows, my new husband and I were able to witness tropical fish, sting rays, and reef tip sharks gracefully gliding beneath our feet.

We also valued how seriously Landaa Giraavaru approaches ocean conservation. All guests are invited to participate in the Reefscapers program, which enhances existing reef ecosystems and fosters new coral growth. We decided to sponsor a coral frame to commemorate our marriage and eagerly anticipate returning to observe its growth in the future.

The adventure extends beyond the ceremony alone. For a seamless wedding and honeymoon experience, it is advisable to stay for at least a week in the Maldives, and plan to allocate time at Kuda Huraa. This stunning resort is just a 25-minute speedboat ride from Malé airport and represents a short seaplane trip from Landaa Giraavaru. Begin your married life together with a soul-soothing spa visit at Kuda Huraa, located on its own private island and accessible solely by traditional dhoni boat. The spa treatments occur in huts that overlook the limitless sea and sky, creating a serene atmosphere ideal for relaxation before the wedding or during a honeymoon retreat. For a particularly distinctive experience, enjoy the Kuda Huraa Healing Waters treatment, where cushions filled with warm water assist in lulling you to sleep as you receive a massage.

Speaking of relaxation, all spa treatments at Landaa Giraavaru focus on the ancient Indian medicinal practice of Ayurveda. The hotel’s Ayurvedic doctor is available to assess your dosha, offer lifestyle insights, or assist with healing. The day preceding our ceremony, we enjoyed a couples’ floral bath, soaking in warm water infused with frangipani flowers harvested from the spa’s garden. During our ceremony, I could still detect the delightful fragrance of frangipani on my skin.

Lastly — to elevate your celebration even more — allow Landaa Giraavaru to arrange a romantic private dinner on the pristine sands of the Blu beach club. I will forever cherish the moment my husband cut into a piece of our dream wedding cake on the beach as the sun set. The flickering lanterns on our table swayed gently in the ocean breeze as tiny hermit crabs hurried into the lapping waves. This picturesque setting was undeniably the perfect way to commemorate the start of our next grand adventure.