The Philippines Is Among the Top 10 Wedding Destinations in the World, Study Shows

From sprawling beachfront resorts in Palawan to intimate garden receptions in Tagaytay, the Philippines has steadily become a go-to setting for destination weddings, not just for local couples, but for balikbayans and international travelers.

Now, a new study places the country among the world’s top wedding destinations, ranking the Philippines 10th globally alongside places like Portugal, Greece, and Thailand.

According to DressPreservation.com, the Philippines earned an overall score of 59.2 in its ranking of the best global wedding destinations.

The study evaluated countries using factors closely tied to destination wedding planning, including climate, yearly sunshine hours, tourism infrastructure, luxury hotel availability, and affordability. Wedding-related Google search interest was also included to measure international demand.

Among the report’s biggest findings was the Philippines’ position as the most affordable luxury destination within the top 10. According to the study, the median cost of a one-night stay in a five-star hotel in the country is $94 (around P5,700), considerably lower than many of the destinations that ranked above it.

The Philippines also recorded the second-highest wedding-related search interest in the ranking, with 63.40 searches per one million internet users. Combined with an annual average temperature of 32°C, the findings reflect continued global interest in tropical wedding destinations.

Portugal took the top spot in the study with a score of 68.54, followed by Greece, China, Turkey, and Thailand. Qatar, New Zealand, Australia, and Morocco also made the top 10.

In a statement shared in the report, DressPreservation.com CEO Kunal Madan said destination weddings are increasingly being driven by experience-focused travel.

“The rise of destination weddings reflects a clear shift in how couples are choosing to celebrate, with more prioritizing meaningful experiences abroad over traditional local ceremonies,” Kunal said, according to DressPreservation.com.

He added that the Philippines continues to stand out for its accessibility, scenery, and value.

“The Philippines continues to attract attention as a tropical wedding destination, combining affordability with strong international interest and a wide variety of island and beachfront settings,” he said.

According to the study’s methodology, countries were assessed using data from Booking.com, Google Hotels, WeatherAndClimate.com, and World Population Review. Metrics included five-star hotel density, median luxury hotel costs, annual temperature, sunshine hours, and wedding-related search interest. Countries under high-level travel advisories were excluded from the ranking.