One of the most important parts of my job as a destination wedding travel agent is to thoroughly understand all-inclusive resort wedding packages inside and out.
Knowing that a resort offers a package that’s a good fit for my couple is a big piece of the initial puzzle when I’m helping them find the right resort for their wedding—along with things like: the resort experience/cost/location, venues available, and the wedding team.
Destination wedding packages vary by resort.
I wish I could tell you that there was such a thing as a “standard” destination wedding package—it would make things A LOT easier when someone asks me how much is a destination wedding in Mexico, or how much does it cost to get married in Jamaica—but, as you may have already discovered, each resort handles their wedding packages differently and there isn’t a one size fits all in terms of what’s included versus not included, pricing, etc.
To give some perspective, the Mexican Caribbean area alone (east coast of Mexico) has about 200 all-inclusive resorts so you can imagine how many different types of packages there are throughout all of Mexico and the entire Caribbean!
So, instead of trying to list the details of every wedding package here (which would be outdated tomorrow anyway because things are always changing), I want to share some general information and some specific examples that I think will be really helpful.
Are there free destination wedding packages?
First things first. Let me answer a question that comes up a lot—are there free destination wedding packages in Mexico and the Caribbean?
Yes, many all-inclusive resorts do offer a complimentary destination wedding package. These are often based on you (or your group) staying for a minimum number of nights and they usually only include the essentials for a basic ceremony—not a private reception.
Example: Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres in Mexico offers a free wedding package when your group has at least 15 rooms staying for seven nights (or 105 room nights total). This package includes things like a sound system for your ceremony, tropical bouquet and boutonniere for the wedding couple, wedding cake, sparkling wine, and a non-private dinner in one of the resort’s restaurants.
Why do I need to pay for a private reception at an all-inclusive resort?
Another question that a lot of couples have is, why do I have to pay for a private reception when I’m staying at an all-inclusive resort?
The reason that resorts charge for private receptions is because they need to have additional wait staff, bartenders, set up/tear down crew, etc. that are dedicated to only your event.
What's included in a destination wedding package?
Ok, now let’s say you’re like most of my couples and want to have a private reception after your ceremony. Pretty much every all-inclusive resort offers this option.
What you’ll find as you start looking at all-inclusive destination wedding packages is that a lot of them will say they include a private reception for up to 20-30 guests. Don’t let this throw you off. It doesn’t mean that you can only choose this package if you have less than 20-30 guests. You can add guests beyond this for an additional per person rate.
Example: Dreams Flora in the Dominican Republic has an Eternal Love package that includes a private cocktail hour and private dinner reception for up to 20 guests (price currently ranges from $4100-$5300 depending on the month/year), but you can add additional guests for $98 per person.
Like I previously mentioned, the details of each specific package are going to be different, but here is a list of what an all-inclusive resort wedding package like this typically includes to give you a general idea:
+ Resort wedding coordinator for help with planning the details of your celebration
+ Wedding officiant for a symbolic ceremony (or you can usually opt to have a friend or family member serve this role if you prefer that instead)
+ Tropical bouquet and boutonniere for wedding couple (may also include a certain number of these for your wedding party)
+ Sound system during the ceremony (microphone and speaker for your vows)
+ Small table for ceremony with tropical floral centerpiece
+ Basic white chairs for your guests during the ceremony and basic white chairs and tables during the reception
+ Simple wedding cake and sparkling wine toast for after the ceremony
+ Private cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres
+ Private dinner reception (you can usually select a menu from specific options and whether you want plated or buffet-style)
+ May also include some special perks for you as the wedding couple like a complimentary room for one member of the wedding couple the night before the wedding (based on availability), special turndown service the night of the wedding, spa discounts, free anniversary nights, etc.
What's NOT included in a destination wedding package?
At this point you may be wondering, so what’s NOT included in this type of wedding package? Great question! Here are some things that are usually not included in a destination wedding package:
X Photography & videography – some packages will include limited photography services but they are very limited
X Hair & makeup – sometimes this is included for the bride but it’s often an extra cost
X Lighting – this can be decorative lighting like string lights, which always add so much atmosphere in my opinion, but it can also be functional lighting if your event is held at a venue that doesn’t have any permanent lighting e.g. the beach
X Florals – adding a lot of flowers to your ceremony and/or reception can drive up the price quickly as they’re more expensive in tropical destinations due to the cost of sourcing them, refrigeration, transporting, etc. (some resorts will let you move the flowers from your ceremony to the reception to save some money but they may charge a small fee for this service)
X Décor – ceremony arch (some venues have a fixed structure like a gazebo which helps cut costs), tablescapes, aisle runner, upgraded chairs (e.g. wood Chiavari chairs), upgraded tablecloths, etc.
X Entertainment – DJ, dance floor, live musicians, Mariachi band, steel drums, fire dancers
X Special touches – cold fireworks, 360 photo booth, water drums, champagne wall
X Most resorts have wedding venues that are included in their wedding packages, but then there can also be some venues that have an additional venue fee. Think rooftop terraces and overwater venues, like the beautiful overwater chapels at certain Sandals resorts. Privatizing one of the resort’s restaurants for your event, like the gorgeous oceanfront Blaze restaurant at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, comes with an added fee and there can also be additional set up fees for events held on the beach at certain resorts.
Destination wedding package considerations.
Aside from what’s included and not included, there are a few other things to keep in mind as you start looking at destination wedding packages at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Besides add-on’s, the biggest determining factor in terms of cost is going to be the number of guests. Less people means lower cost and more people means higher cost. Check out my blog post called How Much Does a Destination Wedding Cost? to learn about the other factors that will impact the cost of your wedding in Mexico or the Caribbean.
Did you know that the same wedding package can cost more during peak season and/or on a weekend versus a weekday? Yep, it’s true. And, some resorts consider the weekend to be Thursday through Sunday.
I’ve found that Mondays can actually be an excellent day for destination weddings because guests can still take advantage of traveling over the weekend and it’s easier to get the date that you want. Plus, some resorts require a minimum number of guests (e.g. 80-100) to have a wedding on the weekend.
All-inclusive resorts have a list of approved/preferred vendors that they work with for things like photography, florals, entertainment, hair and makeup, etc., which makes things really easy for you so you don’t have to find all of these different vendors and coordinate everything with them on your own.
Resorts have established these relationships with local vendors because it makes the process simpler on their end as well; the vendors have already been fully vetted and are really familiar with their properties. For example, a DJ needs to know what the set-up requirements are for different venues and all of the equipment they need to bring.
If you choose to work what’s referred to as an outside/external vendor that’s not on this approved list, the resort will charge you a fee. This fee varies by resort but can be anywhere from $500-$2000 per vendor per service; some resorts will waive this fee if the vendor is staying at the resort for a minimum number of nights but not all do this—and some resorts don’t allow any outside vendors at all for some services.
Taxes and service fees aren’t always included in rates so it’s important to clarify this anytime pricing is being quoted.
Some wedding packages, like the Beyond Memorable package at resorts like Secrets and Dreams, may need to be confirmed at least one year prior to the wedding date.
You can almost always customize your package by adding onto it for an additional cost—the resorts can usually create just about anything you can imagine—but substitutions aren’t usually allowed.
For example, you can choose to upgrade your bouquet with different/more expensive flowers, but you can’t remove the bouquet from the package and have the package price reduced or substitute something else in its place.
Because of this, I usually recommend choosing a simpler package and then adding on just what you need versus choosing a more expensive package with all the bells and whistles that you may not be interested in.
Destination wedding group concessions.
The other big thing to talk about when it comes to destination wedding packages is something called “group concessions.” These are basically perks that you can earn as the wedding couple based on the number of guests who book through your room block.
Based on my experience, the two types of group concessions that provide the most value are complimentary events and free room credits that you get back as a refund after travel.
Example: Unico Riviera Maya in Mexico gives you a complimentary dinner reception with only 10-19 rooms (or 30-50 room nights) in your group—they offer more perks for more rooms—and you earn a free room for every 12-15 rooms booked, max three to four (varies by season). That’s a huge savings!!
Ready to simplify your wedding planning?
Whew, that was a lot. Are you still with me?
If this all feels very overwhelming already and you’re ready to push the easy button, I’m here to help! As a travel agent who specializes in only destination weddings, this is my area of expertise and I can help make this process seamless and stress-free for you. Get in touch and let’s get started planning your destination wedding!
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