Top 10 gay wedding destinations

Sixteen countries now allow same-sex marriage, as do 17 US states and the District of Columbia. Now LGBT couples can tie the knot beside a volcano, atop a glacier or in a countryside church in havens from Scandinavia to Bora Bora.

Our top 10 gay wedding destinations are not only gorgeous and romantic, but they also make it easy to get married on-site.

1. Hawaii

Hawaii is picture-perfect for a wedding. Getty Images/Flickr Select.

In December 2013, same-sex couples joined the long line of lovebirds who take the plunge each year in Hawaii's palm-trees-and-blue-seas paradise. After the wedding, the honeymoon is ready-made: swim in waterfall pools, sway in beachside hammocks, sip celebratory tropical cocktails, ride horses with local cowboys. The Islands' aloha spirit coupled with generations of diverse populations living in sync result in a laid-back, no-one-looks-twice vibe. O'ahu (especially around Waikiki) and Maui are gay hubs, with plenty of beaches, B&Bs and resorts catering to the LGBT community.

2. San Francisco, California

San Francisco's rainbows come in all shapes and sizes. Getty Images.

The rainbow flag flies higher here than anywhere else in the US. For a half-century the Castro District has been the epicenter of American gay and lesbian culture. An unparalleled number of bars, shops, eateries and hotels cater to the crowd. Consider the city's breathtaking (literally) hills, brooding fog and exquisite foodie fare as lucky bonuses.

3. Buenos Aires, Argentina

The La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina would add a colorful backdrop to any wedding photo. Getty Images.

Progressive Buenos Aires is one of Latin America’s gay capitals, and it seduces without shame. When you're not carving into a steak washed down by velvety Malbec wine, visit Evita's grave, see an opera at the Teatro Colón and poke around the San Telmo street market, where tango performers get their groove on. The city offers several places to learn the sultry dance, including the Queer Tango Festival (festivaltangoqueer.com.ar), held in late November. Gay-friendly cafes and guesthouses dot the neighborhoods of San Telmo, Retiro, Barrio Norte and Palermo Viejo.

4. Cape Town, South Africa

The majestic beauty of Cape Town, South Africa. Getty Images/Vetta

Cape Town is Africa's gayest city, and it's a beauty all right. Flat-topped mountains, sculpture-lined parks and golden beaches strike a pose. Bohemian gayborhoods such as De Waterkant entertain. Bucolic vineyards stripe the outskirts. And what other wedding destination boasts penguin-spotting tours and shark-cage diving? Stay for a safari honeymoon and add hippos, giraffes and zebras to the viewing list.

5. Tahiti

Serene resort bungalows in Tahiti. Getty Images/Flickr Open.

With its coconut groves, blue-green lagoons and chalk-white sand, Tahiti is the quintessential Polynesian idyll. Most hotels are geared up to perform weddings, and they don't get any sexier than at Le Méridien on nearby Bora Bora. Picture your own thatched-roof bungalow with a glass floor over fish-speckled water. You'll likely run into rae-rae, cross-dressers or transgendered folks, who are a highly respected and integral part of the restaurant and hotel industries, as they have been for eons in this culture.

6. Queenstown, New Zealand

Perhaps paragliding nuptials in Queenstown, New Zealand? Getty Images/Cultura RF.

Nestled beside a glassy lake and ringed by white-tipped peaks, Queenstown is New Zealand's most popular resort area, known for its daredevil sports. After saying 'I do', newlyweds can test their bond by jet boating, whitewater rafting, skydiving and bungy jumping (the town is bungy's birthplace and provides multiple scream-triggering venues to leap from). It's equally busy in winter, with lots of folks getting hitched during Gay Ski Weekend (www.gayskiweekqt.com) in early September.

7. New York City

New York City is a classic destination for weddings and honeymoons. Getty Images/Flickr RF.

Walk down the aisle at skyscraping Top of the Rock, at Lincoln Center or Central Park Zoo. Granted, you'll need a boatload of money, but the point is anything goes in NYC. Iconic restaurants, Broadway theaters and the très-gay neighborhoods of Chelsea, Greenwich Village and Hell's Kitchen ensure post-wedding festivities galore.

8. Iceland

Iceland's magical landscapes make a perfect backdrop to any ceremony. Getty Images.

Soon after Iceland legalized same-sex marriage in June 2010, the prime minister - the world's first openly lesbian head of state - married her partner. So it's no surprise the scene is incredibly welcoming. Take your pick of mind-blowing backdrops for the ceremony: beside a thundering waterfall, in a rustic wood church or surrounded by hulking blue glaciers. Pink Iceland (http://www.pinkiceland.is) can make the arrangements.

9. Vancouver, BC, Canada

Big city meets rugged wilderness in stunning Vancouver, British Columbia. Getty Images/Flickr RF.

Vancouver is like the gay Vegas for destination nuptials. There are easy-to-follow instructions to tie the knot (see www.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage/howto.html), and a thriving LGBT community to drink and dine among. But it's the mountain-and-sea beauty that's the big attraction. Adventure-seeking spouses add on a trip to nearby Whistler for world-class skiing and mountain biking.

10. Boston, Massachusetts

The beautiful, old streets of Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images.

Boston draws couples with its cobbled colonial lanes, Paul Revere-era churches, oyster houses and ocean vistas. Gay and lesbian justices of the peace and wedding planners abound, and swanky boutique hotels like the XV Beacon (www.xvbeacon.com) regularly host cozy queer weddings. They've had lots of practice: Massachusetts was the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage, back in 2004.

Additional LGBT nuptials hotspots

These gay-wedding-friendly countries also make sweet retreats, though typically one partner needs to be a resident:

• • The Netherlands and Belgium: The Netherlands led the way in same-sex marriage, legalizing it in 2001. Amsterdam is the center of action, with glinting canals, candlelit cafes and gabled, Golden Age buildings... plus a throbbing nightlife scene for the hedonists in the crowd. Next door, Belgium followed as the second country to allow gay nuptials. Medieval, jewel-box towns like Bruges enchant, as do the free-flowing Trappist ales and fruity lambic beers.
  • Spain: Spain was the third country to permit same-sex unions. Barcelona is the place to soak it up. Think siestas by day, flamenco (the dance of love and passion) by night, and picnics of olives and sparkling wine in between. The beach town of Sitges, a stone's throw down the coast, is Spain's booming, queer-friendliest town.
  • France: Renaissance châteaux, rolling vineyards and hot-body beaches fill France's sexy landscape, but it's hard to get past Paris. The very name conjures images of amorous walks along the Seine, wine in cafes and naughty cabaret revues. The nickname 'Gay Paree' sticks for a reason: the whole city is quite open, though its gay heart beats in the Marais.

• The Netherlands and Belgium: The Netherlands led the way in same-sex marriage, legalizing it in 2001. Amsterdam is the center of action, with glinting canals, candlelit cafes and gabled, Golden Age buildings... plus a throbbing nightlife scene for the hedonists in the crowd. Next door, Belgium followed as the second country to allow gay nuptials. Medieval, jewel-box towns like Bruges enchant, as do the free-flowing Trappist ales and fruity lambic beers.

• Spain: Spain was the third country to permit same-sex unions. Barcelona is the place to soak it up. Think siestas by day, flamenco (the dance of love and passion) by night, and picnics of olives and sparkling wine in between. The beach town of Sitges, a stone's throw down the coast, is Spain's booming, queer-friendliest town.

• France: Renaissance châteaux, rolling vineyards and hot-body beaches fill France's sexy landscape, but it's hard to get past Paris. The very name conjures images of amorous walks along the Seine, wine in cafes and naughty cabaret revues. The nickname 'Gay Paree' sticks for a reason: the whole city is quite open, though its gay heart beats in the Marais.

And now, the honeymoon! For inspiration, read our best honeymoon destinations for 2014 or our gorgeous coffee table book Great Escapes, which showcases romantic getaways, culinary adventures, musical journeys and family holidays.