Cruise Weddings Are the New Big Thing — With Safari Honeymoons Right Behind Them
New travel advisor data shows couples are rethinking traditional weddings and putting more focus on travel, wellness, and once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon plans.
Weddings are looking a little different these days, and not just because more couples are choosing destination celebrations.
According to Fora’s first-ever Wedding & Honeymoon Trend Report, over half of its advisors said they have seen an increase in destination wedding inquiries over the last year. The report, published March 24, 2026, points to a broader shift away from more traditional celebrations and toward weddings and honeymoons that are more personal and experience-driven.
A few of the biggest trends stood out right away: cruise weddings are gaining traction, safari honeymoons are still high on couples’ wish lists, and wellness is starting to shape everything from bachelorette parties to the post-wedding brunch.
Cruise weddings are having a moment
One of the more interesting takeaways from the report is that cruise weddings are becoming a bigger part of the conversation.
Fora says couples are increasingly embracing ships as built-in wedding venues, with the appeal centered on seamless logistics, more upfront pricing, and the chance to turn the celebration into a multi-stop trip. Advisors highlighted strong booking growth across several cruise brands, including The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which saw a 261% increase in Fora bookings, along with Princess Cruises at 218%, Norwegian Cruise Line at 198%, and Virgin Voyages at 101%.
That all makes sense. For couples who want something that feels a little more memorable than a standard banquet hall wedding, a cruise can double as the venue and the honeymoon setup.
Safari honeymoons are still topping bucket lists
On the honeymoon side, safari trips continue to be a major draw.
According to the report, safari honeymoons remain one of the most in-demand experiences, with couples often pairing them with a beach destination for the classic “bush and beach” itinerary. Kenya posted a 295% increase in Fora bookings, Tanzania saw a 287% increase, Sri Lanka was up 170%, Seychelles rose 150%, and South Africa increased 112%.
That is a pretty clear sign that couples are not necessarily looking for the most conventional honeymoon anymore. They are going big, and in many cases, choosing trips that feel more once-in-a-lifetime than fly-and-flop.
Author’s note: If you’re looking for an incredible safari lodge for your honeymoon, I highly recommend Saruni Samburu in Kenya.
Wellness weddings are becoming a real thing
The report also found that wellness is becoming a bigger part of the wedding experience itself.
Fora says advisors are seeing growing demand for yoga classes, Pilates sessions, sound baths, sauna and cold plunges, plus recovery-focused touches after the wedding like spa treatments and even IV bars. Wellness properties are also seeing strong growth, with Miraval Austin Resort & Spa up 73% year over year in Fora bookings and Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection, up 71%.
That does feel very on brand for where weddings are headed right now. Not every couple wants a full weekend built around late nights and a packed dance floor. Some clearly want the celebration to feel a little more restorative and a lot more tailored to how they actually like to travel.
Weddings are getting less traditional and more travel-driven
The bigger takeaway here is that couples seem increasingly willing to build the wedding and honeymoon around the kind of experience they actually want, rather than following the usual formula.
If you want to keep going down this rabbit hole, I also have a piece on the wedding venues people think could host a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce-level celebration, as well as a look at the biggest travel experience trends for 2026.
This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing.