In the past, weddings were relatively straightforward — tuxedos, veils, chapels. But now ceremonies are evolving into holistic, wellness-focused experiences. As wellness continues to weave itself into everyday life, couples are moving from traditional venues to wellness retreats, garden buildings, and jungle-focused resorts that concentrate on peace, healing, and human interconnectedness.
Tracy Lee, founder of TLEE Spas + Wellness, highlights the shift, citing weddings like one at Grand Wailea’s Kilolani Spa in Maui, where self-care and ceremony blend seamlessly. Lee’s 2025 “Future of Wellness” forecast predicts that alternative venues promoting mindfulness will continue gaining popularity, especially as urban environments feel increasingly incompatible with serenity.
Living Landscapes and Zen Sanctuaries
South Florida’s Living Sculpture Sanctuary exemplifies this new wedding philosophy. A lush, former nursery transformed by May Luz Rodriguez Alvarez and her husband Robert McKee into a ceremony space, it’s now a haven of tropical flora, koi ponds, and sacred energy. Couples wed amid waterfalls symbolising love, abundance, and health, guided by the five natural elements — earth, fire, water, air, and spirit. This boutique venue hosts up to 120 guests, with expansions underway, and offers fully bespoke packages for those craving more than cookie-cutter ceremonies.
Globally, destinations like Mexico’s Unico 20°87° Riviera Maya, Costa Rica’s Hacienda AltaGracia, and Hawaii’s 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay are also riding this wave. From “Soul Green” weddings under floral-draped wooden arches to spa-adjacent jungle ceremonies, nature is no longer just a backdrop — it’s central to the experience.
On what Adam Schwab, CEO of Luxury Escapes calls “Harmless Unfamiliar Names”, resorts are inter-standardizable, and ecology may surprise couples by saving them dollars and restoring peace. A secret garden in Costa Rica or a healing waterfall in Florida? The shift from weddings to journeys is apparent: weddings are not only about rings and receptions, but about rooting love to something that is real, green, and restorative.
