Planning Your Maldives Wedding, Honeymoon or Holiday
Ah, the Maldives…
A tropical paradise on earth. Perfect pink sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. It’s no wonder it’s known as the ultimate beach destination. But choosing a Maldives resort to celebrate your wedding, honeymoon or other special occasion can be tricky. There are so many resorts on offer, each boasting pristine white sand beaches, azure blue waters and an array of luxurious facilities. But which resorts are the best in the Maldives for a wedding? And what should you look for when planning your getaway to the Maldives? Here I’m sharing the best Maldives resorts I’ve stayed at or photographed, and what you need to know to plan an unforgettable destination wedding, honeymoon or holiday there.
Why Choose The Maldives
The Maldives is the perfect location for a wedding, a photo shoot or indeed any excuse to celebrate. It most certainly made my list of the best destination wedding locations. This stunning chain of islands in the Indian Ocean is nestled between Sri Lanka, India and either southern or northern Africa depending on which direction you’re headed. This isolated island chain has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and coral lagoons, spectacular sunsets, bountiful sea life and is home to tropical reefs. Many of the resorts are built on stilts over water, making it seem like they are floating on top of the ocean.
The islands have beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise blue sea. The large temperature variation between day and night makes this tropical holiday destination an ideal place to relax and indulge. Which is why it has been a trusted honeymoon destination, romantic hideaway or wedding destination for so many couples.
My Adventures in The Maldives
I’ll never forget the first time I traveled to the Maldives, back in 2014.
We traveled for days. As in—literal days. We left on a Monday and arrived at the small, remote island on Thursday. Between the massive time change; several international flights and layovers; an overnight stay in the capital of Malé, a seaplane and a speed boat—we arrived.
Let’s just say that the Maldives is not for the faint of heart. You’ll need my Traveler’s Guide to Jet Lag when you go.
That said, it’s absolutely worth the journey. It’s unlike any other island I’ve visited. And shooting a wedding there is incredible, as you essentially transport your guests to another realm of luxurious existence.
Today I’m sharing the best Maldives resorts I’ve had the pleasure and opportunity to visit, as well as a couple of tips for planning your special shoot, wedding or holiday in the Maldives.
One of my favorite aspects of this property? Every inch of it is picture perfect. You won’t find an undesirable corner in the whole resort. While almost all the properties in the Maldives are luxurious, not all of them lend themselves so well to photography. Literally every square foot of this resort was a photo opportunity. Something I gladly took advantage of.
Cheval Blanc Randheli
We photographed Baby Florence’s 100th day celebration on this remote and breathtaking island. Our clients utilized the private island villa, which offered the most luxurious experience with the utmost privacy. It was the perfect venue for this intimate multi-day celebration.
The level of service and style of Cheval Blanc is world-renowned, this unique property, set in the turquoise waters of the Indian ocean, was no exception. See some of the different photo opportunities in the Journal post here.
Four Season Resort at Landaa Giraavaru
Between an event in Hong Kong and the Maldives, we found ourselves with a rare few days of downtime. And after reading about the Four Seasons’s commitment to sustainability, we decided to visit their properties. Sustainability is a big issue throughout the Maldives, and for many luxury resorts. So we were hopeful to find a place that was genuinely embracing sustainability.
To get to Landaa Giraavaru, we needed to overnight at the Maldives Kuda Huraa property. It was a lovely stop over (we loved visiting their Turtle Conservation Program headquarters), but it was no replacement for the much more remote Landaa Giraavaru.
Upon arriving at Landaa Giraavaru, we were shown our beachfront villa complete with its own pool, outdoor shower and lookout. The island property prides itself on their turtle rescue and sustainability efforts—something we loved learning about between our incredible, locally grown meals and snorkel sessions.
When looking at properties to shoot and visit, here are some things you’ll want to think about:
Types of Shoots
For the first wedding I photographed in the Maldives, I was very lucky. Peony and Richard were a fun-loving couple that was open to all my suggestions. From throwing on their suits and getting in the water, to standing in a boat to get the perfect shot. When traveling so far for such an important occasion, think about the different types of shoots you can achieve. Often this means several shoot sessions over a period of a few days.
Style and Design
While the experience of your stay at a resort is crucial, photographing them is a different animal. When you’re exploring them for a shoot or wedding, you also want to ensure that they lend themselves to photography. Some properties have less photogenic architecture and less open spaces, such as overwater pathways and beaches. It’s all something to consider when selecting your location.
Sustainability
I know myself well enough to know that if there were plastic bottles everywhere or tourists stepping on coral, there is no way I could relax. Luckily, the Maldives as a whole, and much of the rest of the world, is embracing sustainability. Many of the island properties are working to be as self-sufficient as possible by aiming for zero-waste, eliminating single-use plastic and the need for diesel, installing solar panels, growing fruits and vegetables locally and sharing sustainability with tourists. It’s these kinds of efforts that made our stay at the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru so much more peaceful.
Overall, the turquoise waters, the bungalow villas and the dramatic sunsets all add up to breathtaking photo opportunities and experiences. I can’t wait for my next adventure at one of the best Maldives resorts. And another opportunity to create in such a beautiful place.
Explore more of my top destinations for a celebration:
've spent the past decade capturing love and chasing beauty across the globe, and I believe every story like yours is different and special, and deserves to be told exceptionally.
Drawing on years of experience in the fashion and editorial photography industry, my photographs are graceful, honest and boldly natural, while completely intentional. Whether it’s the opportunity to narrate the retelling of once-in-a-lifetime wedding days, or the ability to communicate issues of global importance, or all the stories in between, I look at photography as the method by which I get to leave the world a little better than I found it.
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