For those who don’t know, I’m originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Before I moved to California with Stephan, this crazy city was my home for 25 years. Rio is a unique city, to say the least. Not a single city in the world has beautiful beaches, mountains, rainforest, urban vibes, and unique architecture all in one place. You could be hiking a mountain at 7 am and end your morning at one of the most beautiful (and famous) beaches in the world by 10 am. And that’s why Rio is a perfect place for an elopement wedding. So here are some of the BEST places for your Rio de Janeiro wedding:

#1 Prainha

No, this isn’t Thailand, I promise you. But it really could be. This beautiful beach is located in a neighborhood called Recreio, one of our favorite ones in Rio. Can you imagine yourself reading your personal vows here as the sun rises? Hell yes!

#2 Pedra Bonita

If you love a good short and sweet hike with great rewards, this viewpoint is for YOU! In under 40 minutes of hiking, you get to witness one of the most beautiful views of Rio de Janeiro. Watching the sunrise or the sunset from this spot is breathtaking!

#3 Mirante Dona Marta

One of our favorite places for sunrise in the whole city – and believe me, there are SO many to choose from! But Mirante Dona Marta gives you one of the most epic sunrise spots in Rio de Janeiro. Located in the middle of the Tijuca Forest, this viewpoint is just a short walk away from the parking lot. Unbelievable right?

#4 Praia Vermelha

One of the hundreds of beaches in Rio, Praia Vermelha is located right by one of the most famous landmarks in the city – Sugar Loaf. It’s also a beautiful place to watch the sunrise and hear the city waking up.

#5 Pedra do Arpoador

If you’ve been to Rio de Janeiro, or know someone from there, you most likely heard of this spot before. Famous even within the Cariocas (people born in Rio), not just tourists, this is one of the best spots to watch the sunset. Since it’s a pretty famous spot, I would always recommend visiting this place on a weekday!

#6 Mansão Santa Teresa

Now, if you’re thinking about adding a couple of guests to your destination wedding in Rio de Janeiro, you might be searching for a venue. Well, Mansão Santa Teresa might be the perfect venue for you! It has one of the most beautiful views, overlooking Sugar Loaf Mountain. And if you’re choosing to get married in Rio, I’m sure you’ll want to do it with a view!

PS. You also might wanna check out these other venues:

• Villa Riso
• Solar Real
• Ilha Azzul (one of my favorites, so unique!)
• Espaço La Playa

#7 Búzios

This beach town located about 3 hours drive from the city of Rio is one of the most charming towns in the world! There are plenty of unique and beautiful wedding venues, but you can also just get married on one of the many beaches!

#8 Pedra do Sino

This is for the adventurous at heart. Pedra do Sino is not an easy task, but it is worth it. Leaving from Petrópolis, a small town about 2 hours drive from the city of Rio, the hike up to this viewpoint takes about 5-6 hours. Erika and Marcelo chose to get married at sunrise, so we decided to go up the day before, sleep in a hut, and then wake up at 4 am the next day for their ceremony! It was one of the most adventurous elopement weddings ever, and we loved every minute of it!

#9 Recreio

Recreio is a neighborhood in Rio with some of the best beaches in the city. Besides that, it’s full of trails and hikes for adventurous couples! We know some secret spots in this area with beautiful ocean views! These spots are priceless at sunrise because you get to have the whole place to yourself, is there anything better than that?

#10 Christ the Redeemer

Last, but not least, the one. Christ the Redeemer. The image that comes to everyone’s mind when you say “Rio de Janeiro”. And YES, you can get married up there! Most people think it would cost an arm and a leg, but it really doesn’t. Weddings at the Christ the Redeemer start at R$2,700 (Brazilian reais!).

That’s a wrap! As a local, I’m here to tell you that I still get mindblown by Rio de Janeiro. And as elopement photographers, who absolutely love shooting weddings in the outdoors with epic views, it would be hard to beat a destination wedding in Rio. I think the hardest part would be picking just one location, with so many to choose from – and that’s a great problem to have.

We are currently based in California, but we are often making trips to Rio, for work, and to visit family. CONTACT US to find out more about our travel dates and availability, and to start planning your destination wedding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!