Destination Doppelganger Weddings
Are you dreaming of a destination wedding, but want to avoid the hassle of international travel? Imagine exchanging vows in a setting that captures the romantic charm of the Italian Riviera, adorned in elegant pearls. Or, walking down the aisle dazzling in gold jewellery that complements the backdrop of an exotic tropical paradise—all without leaving the UK.
If this sounds familiar, you’re in luck, as your dream destination wedding could be closer than you think. To help you on your way down the aisle, we've analysed reviews of local wedding venues in popular UK doppelganger destinations to find the most romantic settings.
By incorporating local weather data—such as rainfall chances, average temperatures, and wind speeds for capturing the perfect experience—we've created an overall ranking to reveal which doppelganger destination can give you a dream wedding without the need to travel abroad.
Castell Coch, Cardiff - Bran Castle, Transylvania
Castell Coch, nestled in the lush landscapes of Cardiff, stands as a fairytale setting with a solid overall score of 79 out of 100. This enchanting castle is reminiscent of the iconic Bran Castle in Transylvania, famously linked with the Dracula legend. With its conical turrets and whimsical design, Castell Coch exudes a romantic ambiance that makes it a perfect wedding venue. The castle has earned a romantic sentiment score of 55, reflecting its charm and the enchanting experiences it offers to visitors and couples alike. June is the standout month for ideal weather, with warm temperatures of 22°C, minimal rainfall at 21.9 mm, and moderate winds at 16.3 mph. August also offers favourable conditions with the least wind, at 10.4 mph, a temperature of 19.5°C, and rainfall at 14.7 mm. If you’re keen to avoid a wet wedding then you might want to consider skipping over the months of November, December, and July in your planning, as these are recognised as the wettest months of the year in this location.
Durdle Door, Dorset - Nusa Penida, Bali
Inspired by the crystal-clear waters of Penida Island in Bali? Dorset could just be the next best thing. As one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks on the Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door and Nusa Penida share striking similarities thanks to their breathtaking rock formations, making them some of the most photographed destinations in the world. Although temperatures in Dorset might not rival it’s Indonesian counterpart with an overall average of just 12.2 degrees, couples could save themselves a 16 hour journey to the island, with cheapest flights starting at around £890pp. Not only a journey saved, but a fairytale wedding awaits in Dorset. Couples can wed at a nearby castle, with exclusive access to Durdle Door.
Fistral Beach, Newquay - Bondi Beach, Australia
Often called the Bondi Beach of Newquay, Fistral Beach in Cornwall mirrors the sweeping white sands and crystal blue waters of Australia's iconic coastline. Though located on opposite sides of the world, approximately 10,784 miles apart, both seaside hotspots are recognised as the home of surfing, while boasting vibrant beach cultures and scenes of natural beauty. If you’re keen to try and replicate the Aussie weather here, consider a September wedding, as it is the warmest month here with average temperatures around 20°C. If you prefer a drier, less windy day, June is your best bet, featuring the lowest rainfall at 64.5mm and wind speeds up to 14.2 mph.
Your engagement ring is a symbol of love and excitement, whether it boasts timeless lab-grown diamonds or the vibrant allure of a colourful birthstone. Inspired by the Italian Riviera or mirroring the natural beauty of Norway's North Coast, let it be as captivating as your wedding day.
Methodology:
We identified the top UK Doppelganger Destinations by conducting desk research, starting with an initial list of 30 locations. This list was refined to the final top 10 based on a weighted ranking.
For each destination, we analysed 1,000 Google Reviews, focusing on keywords related to romance, weddings, and beauty. These keywords were counted, and the sentiment of each review was assessed. The reviews were ranked based on the number of keywords and their sentiment scores to determine public opinion on matrimonial themes.
Weather data for each location was sourced from the Meteostat API, using 2023 averages. We identified the hottest months by looking at the highest maximum air temperatures and then determining the driest month within the top 50% of these warm months.
Sentiment analysis was performed using TextBlob, which provided scores ranging from -1 to 1, with higher scores indicating more positive sentiment. These scores were multiplied by 100 for readability.