Places that are traditionally popular with the LGBT community can be hard to beat for hosting a destination wedding to remember. San Francisco is a focal point for the gay movement, and has now become an iconic destination for LGBT weddings. The cupola at the top of City Hall is a popular—and beautiful—place to tie the knot in an urban setting. Another iconic spot is the Golden Gate Club, a former enlisted men’s club with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge. For a more casual location that requires less planning ahead, the monumental Cupid’s Span art installation in the two-acre Rincon Park fits the bill perfectly, and the view of the Bay Bridge seals the deal.

In Los Angeles, West Hollywood has chic hotels, sleek restaurants and swanky nightlife; an open attitude towards same-sex marriages; and venues that range from traditional high-end hotels to history-rich nightclubs such as The Roxy and House of Blues, to rooftop eyries, like the private Petit Ermitage Rooftop Club. Or, up the coast, opt for San Luis Obispo favourite the Madonna Inn, with its 110 themed rooms, six banquet rooms and a famously free-spirited take on hospitality.

In the Greater Palm Springs region, choose from mid-century modern hotels to luxurious resorts, such as the Parker Palm Springs or romantic Two Bunch Palms Spa & Resort in Desert Hot Springs. For a more rustic setting, try Guerneville, a long-standing gay hub in Sonoma County, with relaxed retreats in redwood-shaded glens and along the Russian River.