There’s an All-Inclusive Resort Destination Wedding Option for Everyone!- A Guest Post From Caribbean-Wedding.Com

If you’re considering a destination wedding, but have an idea in your head that they’re all the same- think again! All-inclusive resorts have stepped up their game and have surprisingly diverse options that would make any bride happy. Whether you have your heart set on a certain look, need to incorporate religious traditions, or don’t want to do much planning at all- there’s an all-inclusive resort wedding option for you!

Read more on our Caribbean Weddings Blog!

All-Inclusive Resorts with 1 Wedding per Day- Caribbean and Mexico

On your big day, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t want your thunder stolen by someone else’s equally big day! Many resorts hold multiple weddings per day, some even at the same time- earning the nickname “wedding factories”. On my honeymoon, I saw 3 brides walking around a resort for wedding photos, at the same time and in plain view of each other! While they didn’t seem to mind, I can understand why someone would want to avoid this situation. For the bride who asks “Which resorts only hold one wedding per day?“- we list our recommendations:

Iberostar Resorts– Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica
Paradisus Resorts– Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico
Zoetry Resorts– Dominican Republic, Mexico (Riviera Maya and Cabo San Lucas)
Royal Hideaway Playacar– Mexico
Live Aqua Resort– Mexico
Fiesta Americana– Mexico
Coyaba Beach Resort– Jamaica
Calabash Cove– St. Lucia
Anse Chastanet– St. Lucia
Jade Moutain– St. Lucia
Galley Bay– Antigua
Hermitage Bay– Antigua (This resort only allows one wedding per week!)

This list is not exhaustive, just major brands and a few smaller resorts that we’re familiar with and support. There are a few more small, boutique-style resorts that you can find online, like Pelican Bay in the Bahamas or Moon Dance Cliffs in Jamaica. (Tip: to get more accurate results, make sure to put “one wedding per day” in quotes for your search).

If you don’t mind that there’s a small chance of another couple getting married the same day, then we have more options for you. In doing our research, we found a few resorts that don’t have a “one wedding per day” policy, but still usually only host one ceremony each day. The wedding coordinators indicated that on a few occasions, there may be 2 ceremonies on the same day, but it’s rare.

Velas Resorts (including Grand Velas)– Mexico (Their wedding sales manager, Karla, responded to my email in less than 15 minutes!!)
The Reef Resort– Grand Cayman ( If two weddings occur the same day, they must be at least 4 hours apart)
Palm Island Resort– Grenadines
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort– St. Lucia

Many resorts have policies where they’ll have multiple weddings per day, but at different times and locations. This is a very smart practice, and if you don’t mind- go for it! You’ll still get tons of attention and will feel like the only wedding of the day.  Here are two we learned about in our research:

Sandos Cancun in Mexico holds 2 weddings per day, 1 morning and 1 afternoon. For a fee of $1500, you can be the only wedding of the day.
Occidental Resorts holds 2 weddings per day, at different times and venues. Locations in Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

The majority of the big resort brands that we don’t have listed here will have multiple weddings per day, up to one wedding per hour- but make sure to check with the wedding coordinator to confirm, since every resort is different. Even with one wedding per hour, the resort will still make sure your big day is special and goes perfectly. We hope this helps! Check out our destination wedding planning page  and Caribbean Weddings Website to get more information about getting married at an all-inclusive resort.

Grandparents and Destination Weddings: The Story of A Bride and Her Grandmother

Many couples are hesitant to consider a destination wedding due to making relatives travel, especially if you have elderly loved ones. Just let us know what special needs your guests have and we will help you find the perfect resort! Below are reviews from a newlywed Bride and her grandmother, who just got back from a destination wedding at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach in Jamaica. At first, her grandmother wasn’t too keen on a destination wedding and having to travel, but she ended up loving the trip and having unique memories of her granddaughter’s big day! We start with the bride’s review, then her grandmother’s.

” I already sent a glowing report to Trip Advisor about the resort and I am happy to tell you that everything went off without a hitch!  Megan did a fantastic job organizing our trips and I especially appreciated her efforts to accommodate a last-minute additional guest- even  managing to get him a private room.  Megan was efficient and very personable on the phone.

      As for the folks at Iberostar itself, the staff were wonderful.  They anticipated our needs, were friendly and fun.  The resort was very clean, the food at all the restaurants we visited (and the buffet as well) was terrific and I was pleased to see so many local foods used in the buffet.  I was also very happy to note that the Iberostar chain takes sustainability seriously and does not use throwaway plates or cups- even on the beach.  (Puerto Rico could learn a few things from Jamaica!)

      My family and I were completely satisfied with the vacation and wedding and we all had a very memorable time.  I will not hesitate to recommend Honeymoons Inc. and Iberostar to anyone considering a destination wedding!

Regards,

Lori P. (Bride)”

 

“I would just echo Lori’s comments. At my age, the thought of a wedding far from home was not appealing. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. I think I could go to an Iberostar in many places and be happy. This event, however, was handled extraordinarily well by all of you and it must not be that easy to do. It was a real treat to not see or hear people on cell phones and laptops – working or just chattering. The Jamaicans are sweet, cheerful and with genuine smiles – very hospitable and fun to be around. All the arrangements were superior.

Cordially,

Lorraine P. (84 year old grandmother of the bride).”

 

No matter what you choose for your wedding, someone will be unhappy- so in the end, be true to yourselves. You may end up pleasantly surprising your loved ones and changing their minds about a destination wedding!