Destination Weddings: Where to Go, What They Cost & How to Plan One (2027-28)
A destination wedding comes down to two decisions: where, and how much. Get those right and the rest, the room block, the guest list, the ceremony itself, falls into a known order. This guide answers both with numbers, drawn from Hola Weddings’ database of 530 all-inclusive wedding resorts across Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and the wider Caribbean. The spread is wide: a two-person ceremony at Hyatt Ziva Cancun is priced at $749, while the top package at Atelier Playa Mujeres runs $58,247 for 50 guests.
Below: nine destinations compared side by side (resort counts, adults-only options, real 2027 package prices, airport transfers), what a destination wedding really costs and when a resort waives the package fee, the chains that make it easiest, and a planning timeline. If you’re still at the definition stage, read our explainer on what a destination wedding is first. This page is for choosing, budgeting, and booking.
One thing to know about us: Hola Weddings is a destination wedding planning agency based in Playa del Carmen, and our planning is free for couples and their guests. The resorts pay us, you don’t. If you’d rather talk through a shortlist than read on, book a free consultation and a planner will price your guest count at the resorts that fit.
Destination Weddings by the Numbers (2027 Pricing)
Most “average destination wedding cost” figures online are survey guesses. Ours come from the package price lists resorts give us. Here is the market with 2027 pricing loaded.
- Resorts and venues: Hola Weddings’ database covers 530 wedding resorts with 2,969 wedding venues between them. Mexico leads with 255 resorts, then the Dominican Republic (113), Jamaica (47), and Costa Rica (10).
- Package prices: According to Hola Weddings’ 2027 pricing data, the median all-inclusive destination wedding package costs $3,699, and the middle half of packages fall between $1,500 and $8,469 (1,902 priced packages at 376 resorts). That is the ceremony-and-reception package only; rooms are booked separately and extra guests are billed per person at a rate that varies by resort.
- By guest count: package plus extra-guest fees, the median is $5,640 for 30 guests, $10,120 for 50, and $12,816 for 80 (destination-by-destination table below).
- Free weddings are common: 174 of the 530 resorts (33%) list at least one complimentary wedding package, 238 in total, nearly always tied to a room block or minimum stay.
- Package sizes: the most common guest counts built into packages are 10 (322 packages), 30 (288), two (194 elopement packages), 50 (189), and 20 (173).
- Biggest venues: the 1,500-guest Harmony Ballroom at Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos and the 1,500-guest Sanctuary Ballroom at Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, then the 1,200-guest Grand Ballroom at El Dorado Royale, the 1,185-guest ballrooms at Princess Grand Jamaica, and the 1,100-guest Maracas Beach at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
Where to Have a Destination Wedding: 9 Locations Compared
There is no wrong answer, only trade-offs. Cancun wins on flights and transfer time, the Riviera Maya on choice, Punta Cana on value at scale, Jamaica on price, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta on Pacific scenery, Costa Rica on nature. Every figure below is from our database at 2027 pricing.
Cancun (with Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres)
Best for: the shortest airport transfers we track, the most flights, and big-group venues. Cancun and Riviera Cancun hold 60 wedding resorts (11 adults-only) with 347 venues. The median package is $4,300, the middle half $2,099–$11,199, and resorts list transfers of 10–30 minutes. Just north, Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres add 15 resorts (four adults-only) and 109 venues at a higher median of $5,349 ($2,099–$12,500).
Hyatt Ziva Cancun (547 rooms) seats 500 on Sahara Beach and runs from the $749 For Just the Two of You ceremony to Zama at $19,019 for 52 guests, plus a $51,225 South Asian program for 100. Hard Rock Hotel Cancun’s Sunset Terrace holds 800, and every package there ($500–$5,000) includes 32 guests. Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres has a 700-guest convention center and a 30-guest Crazy in Love package at $999 that goes free with a group contract. Start with the Cancun wedding packages guide, the Playa Mujeres wedding hotels roundup, and the Hyatt Ziva Cancun wedding guide.
Riviera Maya (Puerto Morelos to Playa del Carmen)
Best for: the widest choice anywhere, adults-only couples, and jungle-meets-beach venues. The Riviera Maya is the deepest destination in our database: 96 resorts, 20 adults-only (the most of any destination), 604 venues, and 92 resorts with published pricing. The median package is $4,199, the middle half $1,599–$9,497. Transfers from Cancun International run 15–90 minutes depending on how far south you go.
El Dorado Royale (720 rooms) has a 1,200-guest Grand Ballroom. Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya’s Maracas Beach takes 1,100, and its 25 venues are the most of any resort we track. Unico 20° 87° Riviera Maya seats 1,104 in its ballroom and prices every package ($600–$9,500) for 32 guests. Hotel Xcaret Mexico’s Encanto and Paraíso packages run $6,100–$18,500, and Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa (488 rooms) starts at $1,449 for the 10-guest Wedding in Paradise package. Our Riviera Maya wedding packages guide ranks the top 10; the Hard Rock Riviera Maya wedding guide shows a full resort breakdown. Cozumel, a ferry away, adds eight resorts with a $3,534 median.
Tulum
Best for: the boho beach look at all-inclusive prices, now with its own airport. Tulum is small in our database, five resorts (one adults-only) and 39 venues, because most beach-road hotels don’t publish packages. The median package is $4,589, the middle half $1,599–$8,469. Resorts list Tulum International at 40–55 minutes and Cancun at 90–105.
Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa (440 rooms) seats 250 at Central Beach or the Mexican Plaza, with packages from $1,499 to $11,499. Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club is the adults-only option, with a 150-guest rooftop Sky Wedding Gazebo and a ladder from $1,599 to $12,649. Read the Dreams Tulum wedding guide for venue-by-venue detail.
Los Cabos
Best for: desert-meets-Pacific scenery, West Coast guests, and an upscale crowd. Los Cabos has 19 wedding resorts (four adults-only) and 96 venues. The median package is $4,550, the middle half $1,809–$7,499, and transfers run 20–50 minutes from Los Cabos International.
Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos has the largest venue in our database, the 1,500-guest Harmony Ballroom, plus a 1,400-guest beach; its packages ($500–$5,000) all include 32 guests. Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos (591 rooms) seats 500 in the Peninsula Ballroom or on Central Beach and runs $719–$15,015. Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos All Inclusive Golf & Spa has a 900-guest Grand Master Ballroom, and Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort is the adults-only choice. See our Cabo wedding venues and packages guide.
Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit
Best for: Pacific sunsets, a real town to explore, and the shortest median transfer in our data. Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit combine for 41 resorts (three adults-only) and 162 venues, a median package of $4,300 ($1,530–$9,500), and transfers of 5–50 minutes.
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta’s Sanctuary Ballroom ties for the biggest venue we track at 1,500. Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort (363 rooms) hosts up to 600 wedding guests at $1,549–$12,649, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta seats 250 on Pureza Beach at $719–$14,850, and Armony Marival Resort & Spa Punta de Mita runs from $1,530 for 10 guests to $18,550 for 100. Our Puerto Vallarta wedding venues and packages guide has the shortlist.
Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic
Best for: value at scale, long white beaches, and the most complimentary packages outside Mexico. Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana, and Miches hold 81 resorts (12 adults-only) and 395 venues, second only to the Riviera Maya. The median package is $3,995, the middle half $1,499–$8,469, and 39 packages are listed as complimentary. Transfers from Punta Cana International run 15–90 minutes. Country-wide, the Dominican Republic has 113 resorts and 514 venues.
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, adults-only with only 96 rooms, can still seat 800 on Aqua Beach. Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana (500 rooms) has a 700-guest ballroom and the standard Dreams ladder ($1,599–$12,649). Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana seats 600 at the Isle of Wight Plaza with $500–$5,000 packages for 32. Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana (adults-only, 375 rooms) seats 600 on the Larimar Lawn at $729–$22,150. Royalton Bavaro (730 rooms) runs from $769 to $20,899, and its $1,099 Luxury Complimentary Wedding is free with 35 room nights. Read the Punta Cana wedding packages and venues guide, the Dominican Republic wedding venues roundup, and the Hard Rock Punta Cana wedding guide; the Dominican Republic tourism board covers entry requirements.
Jamaica
Best for: the lowest typical package price of the major destinations, adults-only couples, and Sandals loyalists (see our Sandals wedding packages guide). Jamaica has 47 resorts (14 adults-only) and 307 venues across Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, and the south coast. The median package is $2,500, the middle half $1,300–$6,300, and 37 packages are complimentary. Transfers from Montego Bay’s Sangster International run 15–90 minutes.
Sandals Montego Bay Resort & Spa and Sandals South Coast Resort & Spa share one adults-only ladder: $799 ReTie the Knot, $1,000 Sweetheart for 10, $2,500 Bliss for 11, and $7,600 Epic for 51, with the two smallest free on a seven-night Club or Butler stay. Princess Grand Jamaica in Negril has the island’s biggest spaces, 1,185 in the ballrooms and 1,088 on its Private Dream Island, with 13 packages from $500 to $15,000. Moon Palace Jamaica seats 950 on South Beach at $2,000–$15,000, free with 30 paid nights. Royalton Blue Waters (228 rooms) runs $769–$13,199. Our Jamaica wedding packages guide compares them all.
Costa Rica
Best for: nature-first couples, smaller guest lists, and Guanacaste sunsets. Costa Rica is the smallest destination here: 10 resorts (one adults-only), 33 venues, eight with published pricing. The median package is $3,199, the middle half $1,599–$5,299, and Guanacaste resorts list Liberia International at 20–30 minutes.
Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica (202 rooms, adults-only) seats 240 in its Amphitheatre and follows the Secrets ladder, $1,599–$12,649. Riu Palace Costa Rica (538 rooms) and Riu Guanacaste Costa Rica (701 rooms) each host 200 on the beach or in the garden, with collections from $1,599 to $9,599. Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton has a 120-guest rooftop, packages from $769 to $4,599, and a $1,099 Cherished Wedding Celebration that is free with 35 room nights. Our Costa Rica wedding packages guide ranks all of them with current pricing; see also the Westin Reserva Conchal venues page and the official Visit Costa Rica site.
Other Caribbean islands
Our database also covers Barbados (14), Aruba (11), the Bahamas (7), Saint Lucia (7), and Turks and Caicos (6). Fewer resorts there publish packages, so pricing is quoted case by case; our Caribbean destination weddings guide has the island-by-island picture.
All destinations compared
| Destination | Resorts | Adults-only | Venues | Median package | Middle 50% of packages | Airport transfer (resort-listed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun & Riviera Cancun | 60 | 11 | 347 | $4,300 | $2,099–$11,199 | 10–30 min |
| Playa Mujeres & Costa Mujeres | 15 | 4 | 109 | $5,349 | $2,099–$12,500 | 20–40 min |
| Riviera Maya & Playa del Carmen | 96 | 20 | 604 | $4,199 | $1,599–$9,497 | 15–90 min |
| Tulum | 5 | 1 | 39 | $4,589 | $1,599–$8,469 | 40–55 min (TQO) / 90–105 (CUN) |
| Los Cabos | 19 | 4 | 96 | $4,550 | $1,809–$7,499 | 20–50 min |
| Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit | 41 | 3 | 162 | $4,300 | $1,530–$9,500 | 5–50 min |
| Punta Cana & Cap Cana | 81 | 12 | 395 | $3,995 | $1,499–$8,469 | 15–90 min |
| Jamaica | 47 | 14 | 307 | $2,500 | $1,300–$6,300 | 15–90 min |
| Costa Rica (Guanacaste) | 10 | 1 | 33 | $3,199 | $1,599–$5,299 | 20–30 min |
If two rows look equally good, that’s normal. Most couples narrow to two destinations on flights and guest convenience, then let the resort shortlist decide. Our find-my-resort tool does that matching, and the destination wedding locations page lists every area we plan in.
What a Destination Wedding Really Costs
Resort packages are priced by the guests they include, so the fastest way to budget a destination wedding is to find your guest count in the table. Prices are 2027 list prices from our database.
| Package tier | Guests included | Typical 2027 prices (examples) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elopement | 2 | $599 (El Dorado Royale, Love Bliss for Two) · $749 (Hyatt Ziva Cancun) · $769 (Royalton Bavaro, Planet Hollywood Costa Rica) · $950 (Finest Playa Mujeres, Lovebirds) | Just the two of you, or a legal signing plus dinner |
| Intimate | 10–12 | $1,099 (Royalton Luxury Complimentary Wedding) · $1,449–$1,599 (Dreams and Secrets, Wedding in Paradise) · $1,809–$1,890 (Hyatt Ziva/Zilara, Intimate Elegance, 12 guests) | Immediate family; the tier most often waived with a room block |
| Mid-size | 20–32 | $3,300–$3,650 (Moon Palace Classic, 30) · $3,500–$5,000 (Hard Rock, 32) · $4,599 (Royalton Refined, 30) · $4,849–$5,349 (Dreams and Secrets, Eternal Love, 20) · $5,299 (Riu Caprice, 30) | The most common destination wedding size |
| Large | 40–50 | $5,500 (Finest Playa Mujeres, Everlasting Memories, 40) · $9,100 (Grand Palladium Tropical Bliss, 50) · $9,599 (Riu Indulgence, 50) · $12,000 (Moon Palace Prestige, 50) · $15,015 (Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos Luxury, 40) | Full reception with a private dinner and dance |
| Big | 79–100 | $11,499–$12,649 (Dreams and Secrets, Beyond Memorable, 79) · $17,600 (Grand Palladium Garden Blooms, 100) · $20,899 (Royalton Bavaro Heera, 100) · $51,225 (Hyatt Ziva Cancun South Asian, 100) | Multi-event and South Asian weddings |
What 30, 50, and 80 guests actually cost
A package price only means something next to a guest count. So for each resort we took the package built for the closest group size (the largest included count that doesn’t exceed the group) and added the resort’s own per-person fee for every guest beyond it. The table shows the median of those totals by destination at 2027 pricing; the last column is how many resorts publish both a package and an extra-guest rate for that group size.
| Destination | 30 guests | 50 guests | 80 guests | Resorts priced (30 / 50 / 80) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun & Riviera Cancun | $5,999 | $11,399 | $13,695 | 39 / 33 / 26 |
| Playa Mujeres & Costa Mujeres | $5,500 | $8,019 | $12,100 | 15 / 15 / 8 |
| Riviera Maya & Playa del Carmen | $5,200 | $10,450 | $12,100 | 70 / 69 / 44 |
| Tulum | $5,889 | $7,969 | $17,912 | 5 / 5 / 2 |
| Los Cabos | $7,499 | $12,399 | $14,946 | 11 / 9 / 6 |
| Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit | $5,700 | $9,674 | $12,814 | 21 / 18 / 11 |
| Punta Cana & Cap Cana | $4,599 | $9,100 | $12,100 | 57 / 59 / 32 |
| Jamaica | $5,750 | $11,399 | $13,800 | 35 / 30 / 17 |
| Costa Rica | $5,299 | $8,709 | $10,699 | 5 / 5 / 4 |
| All destinations | $5,640 | $10,120 | $12,816 | 298 / 272 / 164 |
Two things stand out. Going from 30 to 50 guests roughly doubles the cost, because most resorts step you up to a larger package rather than charging 20 extra-guest fees; going from 50 to 80 adds far less, since the big packages already include 79–100 guests. And the spread between destinations is narrower than the headline medians suggest: at 50 guests every major destination lands between roughly $8,000 and $12,400, so choose on flights, venues, and guest convenience rather than on package price.
How the “free wedding” actually works
The free destination wedding is real, and 174 resorts in our database offer one, but it is always an exchange: the resort waives a package, usually the smallest tier, for guaranteed room nights. The conditions fall into a few patterns, taken from the resorts’ own terms:
- Dreams, Secrets, and Breathless (Hyatt Inclusive Collection): the Wedding in Paradise package ($1,349–$1,599 list, 10 guests) is complimentary with at least seven nights in a qualifying room category, or five rooms of any category booked for at least three nights. This is the most common rule in our data.
- Sandals and Beaches: ReTie the Knot and Two Love Birds are complimentary with a seven-night stay in a Club or Butler category.
- Royalton and Planet Hollywood: the Luxury Complimentary Wedding ($1,099 list, 10 guests) is free with 35 room nights, or 14 in Diamond Club categories; 75% of the group must stay on property.
- Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara: Intimate Elegance is complimentary with 25 room nights (three-night minimum per room) in qualifying categories, and the two-person package with a seven-night stay; free weddings run Monday through Wednesday only.
- Bigger blocks elsewhere: Majestic asks for 105 room nights; Barceló for 70; Paradisus waives a 15-guest package with 30 room nights; Finest Playa Mujeres with 20; Moon Palace Jamaica with 30 paid nights; Grand Palladium requires a group contract.
- RIU: lists a Free Wedding Collection package for 10 guests; the room-block condition is confirmed per resort, so ask your planner.
A worked example: 40 guests at Royalton Bavaro
Take a hypothetical 40-guest wedding at Royalton Bavaro in Punta Cana, using 2027 list prices. The Refined Wedding package is $4,599 and includes 30 guests; the 10 extra guests are billed at $90 each, so the package comes to $5,499. Alternatively, the $1,099 Luxury Complimentary Wedding becomes free once the group books 35 room nights. Forty guests traveling as 20 couples for three nights is 60 room nights, well past the threshold, provided 75% of the group stays at the resort. The choice is then $5,499 for the larger package, or the free base package plus reception add-ons.
For 30 guests at Riu Palace Costa Rica, the math is simpler: the Caprice Wedding Collection is $5,299 and covers all 30 (guests beyond 30 are $75 each), with Classic ($1,599 for 10) and Royal ($3,199 for 20) as the smaller steps. None of these figures include rooms, flights, outside-vendor fees, or private-event upgrades. Our destination wedding cost Q&A covers those, and our roundup of destination wedding packages under $10,000 and the current resort promotions help when the budget is tight. Faster still: schedule a call with our planners and we’ll run your guest count at two or three resorts, free.
Resort Chains That Make Destination Weddings Easy
Choosing a chain before a resort is a reasonable shortcut, because most chains price weddings the same way at every property: book a Dreams resort in Tulum, Punta Cana, or Costa Rica and you’ll see the same Wedding in Paradise, Eternal Love, and Beyond Memorable ladder. Here is how the biggest chains compare on 2027 package medians.
| Chain | Resorts in our database | Median package | Package range | Free-wedding rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riu Hotels & Resorts | 40 | $4,199 | $1,099–$12,699 | Free Wedding Collection, 10 guests; conditions per resort |
| Dreams Resorts & Spas | 20 | $4,849 | $1,349–$24,039 | 7 nights qualifying room, or 5 rooms for 3 nights |
| Secrets Resorts & Spas | 21 | $5,349 | $679–$18,100 | 7 nights qualifying room, or 5 rooms for 3 nights |
| Sandals Resorts | 19 | $1,599 | $799–$22,499 | 7 nights in Club or Butler category |
| Iberostar Hotels & Resorts | 23 | $3,418 | $2,199–$9,597 | None listed |
| Royalton Luxury Resorts | 20 | $1,500 | $769–$20,899 | 35 room nights, or 14 in Diamond Club; 75% of group on property |
| Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts | 10 | $6,300 | $999–$23,599 | Group contract with minimum room block |
| The Palace Company (Moon Palace) | 7 | $3,650 | $950–$81,730 | Moon Palace Jamaica: 30 paid nights in the group |
| Hyatt Ziva | 4 | $6,659 | $719–$51,225 | 25 room nights or a 7-night stay; Monday–Wednesday only |
| Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos | 6 | $4,000 | $500–$5,000 | Ask your planner |
| Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts | 17 | $2,599 | $689–$8,469 | None listed |
Two chains have full guides here already: the RIU wedding packages guide (all 40 resorts; the RIU official site lists them) and the Hyatt Ziva Cancun guide, the template for the Ziva and Zilara ladder. For Dreams, start with the Dreams Puerto Morelos wedding guide; for Iberostar, the Iberostar Quetzal and Tucan guide; for Sandals, the Sandals wedding packages guide above; for Grand Palladium, our Palladium resorts and venues page. Chain-wide guides for Dreams, Iberostar, and Moon Palace are in the works.
How to Plan a Destination Wedding (Without Becoming a Travel Agent)
A destination wedding is a wedding plus a group trip for 20 to 100 people, and the group trip is the part that eats weekends. This is the order we use with couples.
- 12–18 months out: pick the destination and a three-resort shortlist. Use the table above and check flights from your guests’ main cities.
- 12-15 months out: lock the date, venue, and package. Decide now whether you’re chasing a complimentary package; the room-block rule shapes everything after.
- 12–15 months out: open the room block and send save-the-dates. A group contract holds a rate for guests and earns you the room nights that unlock perks; see how to get the best rates for your wedding group. You want to give your guests as much lead time as possible. Send out digital save-the-dates or invites with booking information asap.
- 6–12 months out: guests book. An agency becomes the single contact for every guest question, deposit, and room change. Our destination wedding guest etiquette guide answers the who-pays-for-what questions.
- 3–4 months out: details with the resort coordinator. Menus, decor, the welcome party, the timeline, outside vendors.
- 60–90 days out: final counts and payments. Confirm the guest total against the package’s included count. The complete guide to destination wedding planning goes deeper on every step.
Legal or symbolic?
Most couples we plan for marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the resort. It looks identical to guests, every package here supports it, and it avoids the document, translation, and lead-time requirements of a legal ceremony abroad. If a legal ceremony matters to you, our guide to getting married in Mexico covers the paperwork and our planners’ Q&A on marrying legally before your destination wedding weighs the trade-offs. Some resorts price the routes differently: Hotel Xcaret Mexico lists Encanto at $6,100 for a symbolic or Catholic ceremony and $7,820 for a legal one.
Resort coordinator, travel agency, or wedding planner?
Every resort here assigns a wedding coordinator who runs the day itself, but not your room block, your guests’ bookings, or a comparison with the resort down the beach. That is the job of a destination wedding travel agency or planner, and the resort pays the agency a commission, so the couple gets a planner without a planner fee. Our guides on how to pick a destination wedding planner and how to choose a destination wedding travel agency explain what to look for; our services page lists what we handle. Couples planning multi-day celebrations should also see our roundup of resorts for South Asian weddings.
Destination Wedding FAQ
How much does a destination wedding cost?
A destination wedding package at an all-inclusive resort has a median price of $3,699 at 2027 pricing, according to Hola Weddings’ database of 530 wedding resorts, with the middle half priced $1,500–$8,469. That covers the ceremony and reception package only; rooms, flights, and extra guests are separate, and 33% of resorts offer a complimentary package with a qualifying room block. With extra-guest fees included, the median cost is $5,640 for 30 guests, $10,120 for 50, and $12,816 for 80.
Where is the best place to have a destination wedding?
The best place for a destination wedding depends on your priorities: Cancun for flights and 10–30 minute transfers, the Riviera Maya for choice (96 resorts, 20 adults-only), Punta Cana for value at scale (81 resorts, $3,995 median package), Jamaica for the lowest median package ($2,500), Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta for Pacific scenery, and Costa Rica for nature-first weddings.
Can you get a free destination wedding?
Yes, a free destination wedding package is offered by 174 of 530 resorts in Hola Weddings’ database, in exchange for room nights. Typical rules: Dreams and Secrets waive a 10-guest package for a seven-night stay or five rooms booked three nights; Royalton requires 35 room nights; Sandals requires seven nights in a Club or Butler suite.
How far in advance should you plan a destination wedding?
Plan a destination wedding 12 to 18 months out. That window lets you lock a popular date and ceremony venue, open a room block so guests get a held group rate, and give guests six to nine months to book flights. Complimentary packages depend on the room block filling, so starting earlier also protects the free-wedding conditions.
Do you need a wedding planner for a destination wedding?
For a destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort, the resort’s coordinator handles the ceremony day, but a destination wedding planner or travel agency handles resort comparison, group rates, and every guest’s booking. Agencies such as Hola Weddings are paid by the resort, so couples get a dedicated planner at no cost, which is why most resort weddings use one.
Start Your Destination Wedding With the Numbers in Hand
Planning a destination wedding gets simple once you hold three numbers: the median package where you want to go, the guest count your package includes, and the room block that might make it free. Everything here comes from our database and is refreshed as resorts update their 2027–28 pricing. The next step is a conversation. Book a free consultation with a destination wedding planner, request a free quote for a specific resort, or get matched with the right resort in a few clicks. Resorts pay us, you don’t.
