Over Two-Thirds of UK Weddings Take Place Between April and September, While Late-Spring Dates Stay in Demand
Dragonpass Highlights Five April and May Destinations Worth Booking Before Peak Summer Arrives
For couples planning a destination wedding, the smartest dates are not always the height of summer. April and May offer something more appealing: warmer light, fewer crowds, easier travel, and a sense of occasion before Europe’s best-known wedding hotspots tip fully into peak-season mode. For Dragonpass, the leading travel expert, shoulder-season weddings are becoming an increasingly attractive way to get the dream setting without the full summer pressure, especially for couples flying out from London and looking to stretch the ceremony into a more memorable honeymoon escape.
Bridebook says more than two-thirds of UK weddings take place between April and September, while Hitched has previously identified May as one of the most in-demand months for couples choosing their date. With late spring already carrying clear wedding appeal, Dragonpass is spotlighting five destinations which feel especially well suited to April and May, before peak summer prices, temperatures and crowds fully arrive.
Madeira, Portugal
For couples who want spring colour, dramatic scenery and a ceremony that feels quietly cinematic. Madeira in April and May has a freshness to it, with gardens in bloom and the Atlantic light making everything feel a little more elevated.
Bonus honeymoon: Stay on for a few days of clifftop walks, sea views and long, slow lunches that make the wedding feel as though it never quite ended.
Valletta and Mdina, Malta
For couples drawn to warm stone, old-world romance and a setting that feels elegant without trying too hard. In spring, Malta has all the glow of a Mediterranean wedding destination, but with a calmer, more polished mood than high summer.
For the honeymoon: Turn the trip into a sun-soaked minimoon across Malta and Gozo, with harbourside dinners and a slower pace once the celebrations are over.
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
For couples after something striking and a little less expected. Kotor brings together still water, mountain backdrops and old stone architecture, giving a spring wedding a sense of scale without losing intimacy.
After the wedding: Stay by the bay for boat trips, waterfront mornings and the kind of scenery that does not need much dressing up.
Puglia, Italy
For couples who like the idea of Italy, but want something softer and more understated than the usual marquee names. Spring in Puglia already feels relaxed and beautifully styled, with whitewashed towns, masserias and olive groves doing much of the work.
Stay on for: Keep things local with a few extra days of village-hopping, late lunches and countryside stays among the olive trees.
Marrakech, Morocco
For couples who want an atmosphere from the moment guests arrive. In April and May, Marrakech feels rich, warm and full of detail, with gardens, riads and historic architecture giving the whole occasion a more transportive feel.
Then linger for: Extend the trip with a riad stay and a few quieter days in the desert or the Atlas Mountains.
About Dragonpass
Founded in 2005, Dragonpass is a global digital platform for loyalty, travel and lifestyle services, serving over 40 million members worldwide. The company works with more than 200 banks, card issuers and telecommunications providers, helping partners strengthen customer engagement through integrated, experience-led benefits.
