The Most Complete Guide to Destination Wedding Planning 2025-26

Hola and welcome to our complete guide to Destination Wedding planning! This guide aims to cover everything you need to know in order to properly plan a destination wedding in an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.

We built this guide with YOU, the wedding couple, in mind and hope you find it useful. Jump ahead to any section you want by clicking on the portion of the guide you are looking for in our table of contents. 

If you want more information about a particular subject, you can follow the links provided for related blog posts, or contact us directly if you need more information, or someone to talk to! We love what we do and will be happy to help.

Click the links below to jump to that section:

This complete guide to destination weddings will ensure your wedding is a success!

THE BASICS: WHAT, WHY, WHEN, AND HOW?

What is a Destination Wedding?

By definition; a destination wedding is a ceremony that is celebrated outside the wedding couple’s hometown and which requires their guests to travel. And what could be more exciting and beautiful than a beach wedding in a tropical paradise?

Why a Destination Wedding?

A destination wedding is the perfect way to experience an unforgettable special day in a unique setting.

In contrast to traditional receptions, destination weddings offer more versatility, providing couples with the opportunity to escape from their busy lives and come together in a beautiful destination spot. 

Plus, there are plenty of advantages – like bringing your family and friends along for an amazing trip too! So why have a destination wedding? Well, why not? After all, it’s your special day!

Related: Top 10 reasons to have a destination wedding.

Just married couple kissing on the beach
Destination weddings can truly be an affair to remember

How to plan a Destination Wedding?

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now engaged and have decided on a beautiful destination wedding! But where do you start? Start by deciding on these 3 important aspects as they are essential in your wedding planning process:

  • What is your budget?
  • What are your preferred venues?
  • When is your desired wedding date?

This will help the rest to fall into place.

The venues are important because not every resort offers the same possibilities. Want to have sandy toes? A gazebo overlooking the ocean so you can wear heels? A very private sky terrace?

The date will affect the cost of the travel portion, the weather conditions, and the availability of the venue.

There are quite a few different choices. Picking one or reducing the options will help narrow down from hundreds of hotel options to the most relevant to your vision and budget.

Related: 10 Steps to Destination Wedding Planning.

When is the best time to get married?

The most popular months for weddings are April, May, and November to early December. The reason for this is that the combination of room rates and good weather is the ultimate. 

Resorts often offer better group pricing during those months, than the peak times such as Christmas, February, March, and Easter break.

Also, the weather is normally nice with the chances of rain being lower. However, no one can predict the weather so this is more playing on the averages.

a beach wedding ceremony with the ocean and the back and some storm clouds afar
Rain can’t ruin a perfect day!

When to start planning your Destination Wedding?

The best time to start planning is between 12-24 months prior to the wedding date. It gives your guests enough time to get budgeted and organized. 

It also gives you the best opportunity to get the time and date you want at the resort of your choice. Some of the dates do go fast!

That being said, we have organized weddings within a much shorter time frame. Depending on the season and group size anything is possible.

Destination Wedding VS Local Wedding

When it comes to weddings, couples must decide between having a far-flung fiesta or an intimate affair close by. A destination wedding allows for some serious vacation vibes while local weddings bring a sense of tradition and comfort – two things that can’t be bought!

an impressive wedding reception set up in a garden in costa rica with huge tropical flower arrangements
Costa Rica provides unlimited possibilities for fairy-tale weddings

Pros and Cons of a Destination Wedding

Pros:

  • You will have a chance to connect in a deeper way with your family and friends
  • Having a spectacular and exotic backdrop makes for memorable souvenirs and awesome photos
  • No one has to drive home at the end of the night!
  • There are great opportunities to save money
  • You can be sure your wedding will be unique and unforgettable

Cons:

  • Not everyone will have the budget to buy a trip or be willing to travel
  • If you are a control freak it can be hard to plan every little detail from a distance
  • You may need to be more involved in the planning process
  • If you want your wedding to be legal back home, you may need to take a few extra steps
  • You will have your family and friends honeymooning with you if you stay at the same property

We like to think that the good outweighs the bad (kinda like marriage in general!).

Related: 7 key questions to ask yourself when planning a destination wedding.

a wedding party group having a great time on the dance floor
Destination weddings are fun!

CHOOSING YOUR DESTINATION, RESORT, VENUE, AND WEDDING PACKAGE

How to choose the perfect destination for your wedding?

There are a few factors that come into play when deciding where to have your wedding. The main ones are:

  • Accessibility for you and your guests
  • Type of ceremony you want
  • Is it a same-sex union?
  • Cost (again!)

You want to try and make it easy for your guests to travel to the destination. Frequent and affordable flights will help to make sure that the people you want with you are present. 

You also will want to evaluate the costs of getting to the destination and local currency. Larger destinations such as Cancun, Riviera Maya, Punta Cana, and Puerto Vallarta will have a greater range of possibilities when it comes to the range of resorts offered. Smaller islands in the Caribbean have less frequent flights and normally higher resort pricing.

You also want to consider what type of ceremony you want. Most destinations will offer symbolic ceremonies. However, different destinations have different requirements and/or procedures for the marriage to be legal and recognized in your home country. Also, not all destinations will offer same-sex weddings.

Related: Get inspired with our top 16 destination wedding ideas for a perfect wedding!

Interracial couple dressed in beige colors getting married in an arch of flowers and greenery
Punta Cana offers beautiful locations for weddings

How to choose the perfect Destination Wedding resort?

Picking the ‘best’ resort can be a little overwhelming. There are so many options available that at one point they tend to all look the same and all blend together. Here is what you should consider to narrow down the resort for your wedding:

  • Type: Adults-only or family-oriented. Are you planning on inviting children or not?
  • Size: Large resort with a ton of restaurants and activities, or a smaller more intimate location with a more limited offer. Does it have elevators and/or a shuttle service across the resort?
  • Cost: I know, cost comes back a lot! However, it is important to know which resort will fit your guest’s budget. Setting an average or maximum price (per person/per night) will help in your decision process.
  • Distance from the airport: How long will it take to get to and from the resort?
  • Wedding venue: Does it have the type of venue you have imagined for your wedding?
  • The number of weddings: How many weddings per day are performed at the resort? Does this even matter to you?
  • Backup location: No one ever wants to think about that! However, if it comes down to 2 resorts, it could be the tie-breaker.

A little more on how to choose the perfect resort for your destination wedding.

How to choose a wedding venue?

Depending on the type of wedding event you want to have, there could be different venues involved. For most weddings, there will be three. One for the ceremony, one for the cocktail hour, and one for the reception. The most common options are:

  • The Beach
  • Solid platform overlooking the ocean such as a gazebo or pier. (Heels anyone?)
  • Garden/Jungle
  • Sky Terrace
  • Catholic Ceremony Venue

Here are some of the factors you will want to take into consideration to evaluate and picking a venue:

  • Privacy: How private do you want the location to be? The beach is great but not always the most private. However, some of the garden locations and sky terraces are superb and partially or completely hidden from the rest of the hotel guests.
  • Capacity: How many people can it hold? Will it be big enough for my group, or to the contrary will it feel too vast?
  • Extra Cost: Some resorts consider certain venues to be premium and charge a fee on top of the wedding package to use them.

Still not sure what’s the best destination, resort, and venue for your wedding? Watch TONS of real videos, 360* views, and tips on our YouTube Channel. Remember to subscribe!

Wedding ceremony setting at a rooftop terrace with a circle of flowers
For dramatic views, choose an elevated terrace or rooftop

All Inclusive Destination Wedding Packages

Here are a few criteria and tricks to help you understand the wedding packages, so you select the right for your wedding group.

  • Inclusions: How many guests are included in the base package? Does it include a private or semi-private reception? A cocktail hour? Rehearsal dinner? DJ or Band?
  • Extra guests: What is the cost for extra guests above what is included in the package?
  • Outside vendor fees: How much does the resort charge if you want to use vendors that are outside their preferred vendor list?
  • Budget: Always a deciding factor…. Once you add in your extra guests and the ‘must-haves’ on your list, does it meet the price point you wanted to pay?

Depending on the wedding packages, some services are an extra charge and have to be taken into consideration. The most common are the following:

  • Hair and Make-up
  • Photos
  • DJ or live band
  • Extra decor and lighting
  • Premium wedding venues

THE MAGIC QUESTIONS: COST & BUDGET

What is your Destination Wedding budget?

No one likes this question, but there is really no way around it unless it is unlimited! And, this wouldn’t be the complete guide to destination weddings if we didn’t talk money so your budget will come up quite a bit in this guide…

Establishing the maximum you are willing to spend really helps in finding the perfect spot and establishing priorities. All budgets are workable and at least with a number (even if approximate), it allows you to find out what you can get for that amount of money.

There are two main cost considerations:

  • The cost of the wedding event itself
  • The cost of the travel portion for you and your guests

Fixing a general guideline will help immensely to not look at properties that are out of reach for you or your guests.

Get help. A good destination wedding travel agent can help you narrow down your choices and help guide you in the right direction. Learn more about the top destination wedding costs to consider when planning your big day.

A beach wedding reception with elegant furniture and the ocean at the back
There is a lot to factor in when calculating a destination wedding budget

How much does a Destination Wedding cost?

There are a ton of components that come into pricing a Destination Wedding! The main two will be:

  • The wedding package
  • The travel portion (flights + hotel).

Of course, these will vary immensely based on the type of resort you choose. An all-inclusive resort can cost anywhere from $150 per person per night up to $500++ per person per night. The majority of resorts will fall between $190 per person per night to $250 per person per night.

For the wedding packages, they will also vary greatly depending on the resort and inclusions

Related: How much does a destination wedding in Mexico really cost?

Are Destination Weddings cheaper?

This will depend on how you see it! A venue in the US is about $18,000.00 and the total cost is close to $25,000 per wedding. If you base yourself on the venue vs the all-inclusive wedding packages, the latter is less expensive.

However, if you consider the cost of travel, the overall cost would be higher. However, this normally includes a certain amount of vacation time not included in a “regular” wedding.

following our complete guide to destination weddings can help you achieve the wedding of your dreams
With a little planning, a destination wedding can save you a considerable amount of $$$

Who pays for the Destination Wedding?

In general, the wedding couple or their family pays for the wedding event itself and the guests for their travel portion.

However, it is fairly common to see couples pay a portion of the travel for the wedding party and/or some of their guests.

Also, some couples choose to pay for a group excursion or a special activity that includes all guests as a thank-you for traveling and celebrating with them.

How to get a free Destination Wedding?

Free packages normally come with certain conditions and exceptions. Some resorts will limit what time or what day you can have your ceremony and many will require a minimum amount of booked room nights or a certain room category to be reserved, in order for the package to actually be free of cost.

Most resorts also offer compensation based on the group size. These could be free rooms, credit on the wedding packages, and/or extra events.

Related: Read how to get the best group rates for your wedding.

TYPES OF CEREMONIES & LEGALITIES

Types of wedding ceremonies

There are 3 main types of wedding ceremonies offered in all-inclusive resorts: Symbolic, Legal, and Religious. The majority of couples will decide on a symbolic ceremony as it is the easiest one.

You can have an official ceremony back home for the legal side of it and then have the symbolic ceremony and big fiesta in the destination. There is no importance as to the order you want to do it, do what works best for you! Also, you don’t need to be legally married to have a symbolic ceremony.

Religious ceremonies can also be offered. However, in the case of a Catholic ceremony, there are extra requirements that you will need to coordinate with the priest here and your local parish at home to make it official.

Legal ceremonies also involve different steps to be taken and will usually require a few extra days in destination prior to the wedding.

Those are the three main ones but there are quite a few different options as well. South Asian weddings, Jewish ceremonies, Muslim weddings, Mayan ceremonies, and more can be done at different locations depending on your needs and vision for your wedding.

A multi cultural couple getting married in a lush tropical garden
Weddings are great opportunities to express your love, tradition, and faith

RELATED: Best wedding ceremony ideas.

If you choose a legal ceremony, there are a few hoops to jump through, but YES, your wedding should be legal once you get home.

In the case of same-sex weddings, it also needs to be legal in the state or province where you will register your marriage.

In most places, there are specific marriage certificates or certain forms that need to be completed and signed by authorized personnel before the marriage is considered legally binding. Requirements can change from country to country and even from state to state. In general, you will need:

  • To be at least 18 years old
  • Official photo ID
  • Marriage license or application form
  • Mexico requires blood tests to be performed at the destination
  • Witnesses, which can be your wedding guests

Get the legal requirements for a destination wedding in Mexico here.

Get the legal requirements for a destination wedding in Costa Rica here.

How long before the wedding will we have to arrive?

Most hotels require 2 business days for symbolic ceremonies and 4 business days for legal ceremonies. Business days do not include Saturday or Sunday.

Where can I have a same-sex wedding?

Same-sex marriage is recognized in Mexico as well as Costa Rica (well done, CR, the first country in Latin America to legalize it!)

The Dominican Republic does not allow same-sex unions. We suggest avoiding Jamaica where they are still intolerant to same-sex couples for the most part.

lesbian marriage ceremony with two women holding hands and flower bouquets
Love wins!

AND MORE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS…

Can my friend / uncle / loved one officiate my wedding?

If your ceremony is symbolic, then yes, most hotels will allow you to have your own officiant.

In the case of a legal wedding, this must be performed by someone that will allow the legalization of the marriage.

Can kids attend a destination wedding?

Only if you want them to. Yes, if you choose a family-friendly resort, children will be able to attend the wedding or part of the wedding. Some couples choose to have children only at the reception and not the ceremony. Completely up to you.

Kids at a beach wedding party holding maracas
Kids love destination weddings too!

How does a room block work?

A room block is a set of hotel rooms that are specifically assigned and held for your wedding group. You will want to get one since the more rooms you book, the more benefits, and perks you get!

Plus, having a room block contract will ensure you have enough rooms for your wedding group, and they will have the best possible rate.

What kind of wedding dress or wedding outfit should I wear?

Any kind you want. However, most couples do take heat and humidity, the location, and the time of the day the events will take place into consideration.

How to pack a wedding dress?

Make sure to use garment bags made specifically for delicate fabrics like silk, satin, lace, and tulle. Consider using extra cushioning such as micro-beads or acid-free tissue paper around the folding areas or high-stress points like the zipper area or bodice. 

Finally, place the bag at the top of your suitcase to make sure it doesn’t get squished, and voila! Your destination wedding dress is ready for takeoff!

Also, make sure that you carry the bag onto the plane if possible. Just imagine for some reason, your bags end up in Cancun instead of in Los Cabos! Why risk it?

Get more tips in this video made by Luly Yang from Luly Yang Couture.

What should my guests wear?

You can choose the vibe you want and the level of formality for your wedding. That said, since you are in a tropical destination, you can opt for less traditional options and invite people to go barefoot, wear all white, wear shorts (or funky tropical shirts), or stick with lightweight linen clothing.

What is the best hairdo for a destination wedding?

Again, this is YOUR wedding so the only ‘best’ is what you choose. Factors to consider are the heat and humidity, whether or not you are in a windy location (sky terraces can be VERY windy), and whether or not you have a veil.

Our advice is to find a couple of options you LOVE and discuss them with your stylist when you have your hair and makeup trial.

When should Destination Wedding invitations be sent?

Ideally, invitations should be sent out at least eight months before the big day – this will give your guests enough time to make the flight, lodging, and other arrangements, while also giving you an opportunity to keep tabs on guest numbers in order to ensure you don’t book any more or fewer rooms than necessary. 

If you’re having a destination wedding somewhere especially remote or difficult to get to, then it’s wise to allow yourself even more time between sending out invites and saying “I do” so no one gets left behind!

wedding group photo at the beach
Sending the invitations at the right time will ensure your loved ones are there with you

What is de difference between a semi-private reception and a private reception?

When a resort includes a semi-private event, they will reserve an area within an existing restaurant or bar for your group. This limits a few things: you cannot play your own music or have a microphone for toasts or announcements. That said, it tends to be a lot less expensive than a private reception.

A private reception is an event that will be set up exclusively for your group. The area will be set up only for your guests and depending on the services you want to include, you will be able to hire a DJ, dancefloor, or even just an audio system.

How do I choose a Destination Wedding photographer?

My way of gauging whether or not something is right for me is “Hell, YES!”. Whether it is my sandwich for lunch or a big life decision, unless I am in LOVE and feeling passionate about it, I let it go. The same goes for your photographer.

Your wedding day photos will represent your big day and the photographer will be in your personal space on one of the most important days of your life. Make sure you feel that they are ‘the one’.

a wedding couple on a beach in the ocean getting splashed by a big wave
Wedding pics are the best memory of your special day. 50MM Art Studio

Related: Learn all kinds of tricks and Pro Tips from a Destination Wedding Photographer.

Can I bring vendors from home?

As a general rule, hotels will allow you to bring vendors from home for certain services and if they stay as part of the wedding group at the resort, they will waive the vendor fees.

Examples are photographers, hairstylists, makeup artists, and DJs. Normally for the DJ, the hotel will need you to rent the equipment from their audiovisual vendor, however, your DJ can play MC and your favorite music all night.

Can I make or bring my own decorations?

DIYers rejoice. Yes, most hotels will allow you to bring your own decorations. There will be set-up fees that vary according to the amount, type of decor, etc, but if you want to get crafty and make your own centerpieces or favors – craft away.

calligraphy and macrame name tags at a wedding
You can get crafty and add personality to your wedding with little details here and there. PIXAN Photography

Related: A Real Bride’s Tips: How to save money on your destination wedding.

Are Destination Weddings selfish?

Destination weddings can be wonderful experiences for those involved. However, there is certainly the potential for them to be seen as rude if one isn’t careful.

On one hand, destination weddings are an exciting way to see the world while celebrating a special occasion with friends and family; on the other hand, destination weddings can be seen as a massive imposition on the wedding guests who are expected to travel long distances at their own expense.

For couples planning a destination wedding, it is important to consider the needs of their guests and try to make the event as accessible and affordable as possible. By ensuring everyone feels welcome and considered, you can ensure that your destination wedding is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

More about this topic, and a great informative video in this link.

Do I really need a Destination Wedding Travel Agent?

There are countless reasons why adding a destination travel agent to the equation will save you time, and will ease the wedding planning process. Just to mention a few:

  • Free services: most of them will not charge you for what sometimes feels like help sent from heaven!
  • Expertise: travel agents have been to the resorts and know the wedding staff and vendors. Their advice can truly make a difference before, during, and after the wedding.
  • Perks: working with a travel agent can help you get the best rates, concessions, and even money back.

Read why HOLA WEDDINGS is your favorite destination wedding travel agent.

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap! After reading this complete guide to destination weddings, you are now officially ready to start working on the details of your destination wedding. You’ve got this!

Now you have all the information you need to select the perfect destination, find the right hotel, and wedding package. You know how to save money on your wedding ceremony and reception, and you even have some great tips for traveling with your wedding party.

If you need help bringing your vision to life, we would love to talk with you about how we can turn your dream destination wedding into reality.

Having planned hundreds of destination weddings gives us a little insight that we are happy to share! Did we miss anything in this guide? Do you have more questions?

Get in touch today and let’s get started!

1-888-472-7077 

[email protected]

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