So you’re thinking about hosting a destination wedding. Nice! There’s so much to love — for guests and the celebrated couple — about packing up and heading to an extraordinary locale. For many wedding attendees, your wedding destination might not have been on their travel bingo card before they opened your invitation.
So, they’ll be thrilled when they discover that you planned a host of incredible events just for them, ensuring they maximize every minute spent in your chosen place. Group mixology classes, boat tours, and fly fishing are only a few of the fun ideas for shared activities before and after your wedding.
Where is your dream destination wedding? (Photo Credit: @cassidycuevas)
That said, all destinations are different. A beach wedding is not a mountain wedding is not a city wedding. Below, we’ve rounded up great communal activities for each wedding setting, using Kimpton Marlowe Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts as our city wedding venue, Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, Vermont as our mountain wedding venue, and Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa as our beach wedding venue.
Bespoke Activities for City Weddings
Chic venues, world-class cuisine, and a night that feels straight out of a movie? Yes, please, to city weddings. Skyline backdrops and that electric city buzz will keep your guests energized and ready to celebrate.
For a city wedding, head to Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo Credit: Zev Fisher)
There’s so much to love about urban weddings, especially when they occur in a city that is meaningful to you as a couple. Your guests will want to see and do a lot while they’re in town (because, hey, there’s so much to do!), so they’ll appreciate curated recommendations for activities from the special couple.
Spring/Summer City Wedding Activities
Take a Tour by Bike or Boat. There’s no better way to get to know (and fall in love with) a new destination than by taking a guided tour led by a local expert. Biking tours can be arranged through local tour guide companies, and a riverboat tour is an extra special way to experience and learn about the city.
Charles River Boat Company offers fully-narrated, 70-minute sightseeing cruises along the Charles River that are as entertaining as they are educational. Boat tours like these are a totally unique way to take in the cityscape you’ve specially chosen for your wedding… from the water.
Take the group out on the Charles River. (Photo Credit: Juan Domenech)
Get Moving with a Walking Tour. Exploring the city by foot offers a more in-depth and up-close deep dive into what makes the area so special. Step foot onto the Freedom Trail in Boston and enjoy narrated stops at historic landmarks like Boston Common, Park Street Church, Old Corner Bookstore, and Faneuil Hall.
Continue the walking tour over the Charles River into Cambridge, to explore historic Harvard Square. Dubbed the historic heart of Harvard University, the area is bordered by iconic colonial-era architecture, indie bookstores, world-class music, and award-winning pizza.
Walking cities are the best cities. (Photo Credit: Aubrey Odom)
Stroll Around Historical Sites and Monuments. Pick a landmark or historic site and explore it as a group. In Boston, a great example of a fun historical site is that of the Boston Tea Party Ships, which includes interactive exhibits and sometimes even actors portraying the Sons of Liberty.
For the more low-key group that deems visits to old, historic bookstores to be a travel staple, head to The Coop in Cambridge, a historic four-story bookstore that is the official bookshop of Harvard and MIT — we hope you left room in your carry-on.
Explore the historic legacy of Boston. (Photo Credit: Donovan Reeves)
Enjoy Live Music or Catch a Ball Game. In the summer, many public parks’ calendars are filled with live music events. Gather your group and head to the park to enjoy one together. Throughout the summer, the Boston Public Gardens (known for its beauty, swan boats, and Make Way for Ducklings statue) hosts a concert series featuring the US Navy Band and the New Magnolia Jazz Band.
The Boston area is renowned for its die-hard sports scene — grab a group and head out to any number of sporting events. Catch the Boston Bruins or Celtics at TD Garden and the Red Sox at Fenway Park, one of the country’s most iconic baseball stadiums that has been home to the Red Sox since 1912.
Catch a ball game at Fenway Park. (Photo Credit: David Trinks)
Fall/Winter City Wedding Activities
Plan a Group Trip to the Museum. Whether it’s art, culture, anthropology, science, or history, pick a renowned museum that matters to you and your beau and plan a group trip there. In Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is an under-the-radar gem that is home to a renowned contemporary art collection, a jaw-dropping courtyard garden, and a concert series unlike any other.
In Cambridge, the Museum of Science has more than 700 interactive exhibits, ranging from astronomy to earth science to dinosaurs. A short walk from Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, the museum spans the Charles River from Boston to Cambridge. Get lost in the history — you’ll feel like a kid again.
Take a group trip to the museum. (Photo Credit: Tianlei Wu)
Go Ice Skating. Bundle up with your group and head to the seasonal city rink for some fun on the ice. Ice rinks in big cities often make group reservations easy through a dedicated contact page so that all your group has to do on wedding weekend is show up. A popular spot for skating in Boston is the Boston Common Frog Pond, located in Boston Commons.
Bespoke Activities for Mountain Weddings
Magic mountain weddings bring crisp, alpine air and jaw-dropping backdrops that require zero decorations. Celebrating your love over a few days surrounded by towering pines, golden sunsets, and just the right amount of adventure is a memory you and your guests will hold dear forever.
It’s time to say “I do.” (Photo Credit: J and J Photography)
For an idyllic mountain wedding, head to Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, Vermont. (Photo Credit: J and J Photography)
Whether the temperature is warm or there’s a blanket of snow on the ground, all of your guests will smile about the views — from their hotel rooms, from your wedding venue, and from these cool activities that you can plan for them.
Spring/Summer Mountain Wedding Activities
Set the Tone with a Morning Hike. Your guests want to get out on the trails and experience the natural beauty of the mountain destination you’ve chosen as the backdrop to your wedding weekend. So plan a group hike!
Since you’ll likely have attendees of all ages and skill levels, be sure to choose an easy-level trail (guests wanting more of a challenge can peel off afterward) like the Emerald Lake Trail in Manchester, Vermont, 1.5 miles out and back along a 20-acre lake with a beautiful green tint.
Clear the senses with a morning mountain hike. (Photo Credit: Marcus Lewis)
Finally Learn to Fly Fish. Casting your rod over the crystal-clear waters of mountain streams and rivers is an almost meditative experience. It also brings groups together and bonds them over learning or up-leveling a popular mountain activity.
The best time to fly fish is often the summer months, as this season coincides with peak insect hatch season, making a greater abundance of food for the fish to feed at the surface. The Orvis Fly Fishing School in Vermont offers a one-day school that will give guests all the skills they need to fish confidently.
Head out on the water for a fly fishing experience. (Photo Credit: Kelly Sikkema)
Hit the Road in Cool Cars. The mountains afford many scenic drives, so arrange an opportunity for your guests to take four wheels on winding mountain roads to witness the region’s stunning vistas. In Vermont, the Land Rover Experience hosts a 5.2-mile drive along Mount Equinox Skyline Drive through forests, picnic areas, and parks.
Fall/Winter Mountain Wedding Activities
Plan Visits to Historical Sites and Museums. Soaking in a bit of mountain culture is easy at museums and historical sites famous to the region. In Vermont, Hildene, the Lincoln family home of Robert (son of Abraham Lincoln), serves as a museum and memorial to the Lincoln family. The Southern Vermont Arts Center is a multi-disciplinary arts museum that hosts exhibitions featuring local and regional artists in a beautiful Georgian mansion.
It’s time to hit the slopes. (Photo Credit: Triyansh Gill)
Group Ski, Snowshoe, or Snow Tube. Winter in the mountains calls for getting active in the snow. Skiing, snowshoeing, or even snow tubing are all fun ways to add some thrill to your wedding weekend. Head to Stratton or Bromley Mountain in Vermont for activities like these. The resorts there often help arrange group lift tickets and equipment, so your group can show up, gear up, and race down.
Bespoke Activities for Beach Weddings
Mother Nature has the ultimate venue, complete with a golden-hour glow requiring zero filter. Beach weddings involve ocean views and a built-in soundtrack of crashing waves, so they feel supremely relaxed. Your guests will, too. Wow them with these add-on leisure activities that will only add to their coastal getaway.
For a beach wedding, head to Vero Beach, Florida. (Photo Credit: @vitalicphoto)
Say hello to the perfect wedding destination. (Photo Credit: @verolastudio)
Spring/Summer Beach Wedding Activities
Hop on a Boat Tour. Let’s face it, it’s fun to celebrate on a boat. Since your wedding weekend is one of celebration, a boat ride or boat tour offers guests a chance to kick off their adventures nautically. Boat tours also give guests a sense of arrival to the coast — and a unique perspective on your chosen coastal destination.
In Vero Beach, Florida, the Environmental Learning Center’s Lagoon Boat Tour gives up to 12 attendees a deep dive into the local Indian River Lagoon on a cool pontoon boat. Your guests will love learning about the waterways and wildlife that are endemic to the region.
Explore the lagoons of Florida. (Photo Credit: Gabriel Soto)
Fall/Winter Beach Wedding Activities
Savor a Local Brewery Tasting Experience. Cold one, anyone? Local breweries with a beach vibe are fun places to hang out, so hosting your group for a tasting experience at one of them is sure to please. In Vero Beach, Sailfish Brewing Co. is one of the best craft breweries in the state, offering tastings of curated selections alongside an interactive beer experience.
Shake Things Up with a Mixology Class. Some cocktails just taste better on the coast (we’re looking at you, mojitos). Your guests will loosen up and enjoy learning how to make famous seaside cocktails through a hands-on mixology class.
At Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, head mixologist Jacob Turner lives and breathes (and drinks!) cocktails, so he walks guests through making three of his favorites, discussing each spirit, garnish, and technique.
Sign the group up for a mixology class unlike any other. (Photo Credit: Edward Howell)
Take it Back to Art Class. What better inspiration for art than the soft, natural landscape of the coast? Whether it’s a guided painting class or something as unique as collage, group art experiences are fun for all ages. Plus, your guests will love bringing a unique memento from their trip home.
Look up local art clubs and community programs to find an instructor — our recommendation is the Vero Beach Art Club, which offers a variety of classes for adults, including mixed media, still life painting, and watercolor.
Take an art class and bring a piece of your trip home. (Photo Credit: Birmingham Museums Trust)
Telling your love story is so much fun when the setting aligns with your personalities and interests. Whether that means a city wedding, a beach wedding, or a mountain wedding, unique and location-specific activities make the destination wedding experience oh-so-fun for guests — like a vacation they would have picked for themselves.
The next step is deciding on your venue. Kimpton Hotels has superb destination wedding venues all over the world, including those mentioned above. Learn more about weddings at each of these three special venues below:
City (Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts) Wedding: Kimpton Marlowe Hotel
Mountain (Manchester, Vermont) Wedding: Kimpton Taconic Hotel
Beach (Vero Beach, Florida) Wedding: Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa
