Here’s a guide to getting a “Free” Destination wedding at some of Mexico’s and the Caribbean’s most popular resorts. Many offer many perks when you book rooms with them, and others even specialize in South Asian weddings including having in-house chefs that offer South Asian cuisine.
As you start the research for a resort to have your destination wedding at, you inevitably come upon an advertisement for a “Free Wedding.” As you start to review the ad or make a phone call, the confusion now sets in and you start to question: Is my wedding really going to be free? To help you better understand this, we breakdown the various Free wedding offerings from some of the most popular resorts companies in the Caribbean and Mexico. These resorts are all-inclusive resorts, which means that for one price, you and your guests will receive your stay, food, drinks and activities.
Dreams Resorts & Spas, Family-Friendly Resorts
Dreams Resorts & Spas, part of the AM Resorts Collection, have 15 resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. Dreams Resorts & Spas offer a high level of luxury for couples and couples with children in ideal beachfront settings. Spacious rooms and suites graciously appointed and luxuriously equipped, provide a picture-perfect vacation experience with welcoming service and romantic inclusions. Each resort has 5-8 restaurants and almost as many bars as well as providing free room service in all rooms.
Dreams’ free “Weddings in Paradise” includes:
• Wedding coordinator
• Symbolic wedding ceremony
• Bouquets and boutonniere
• Preparation of your attire on the day of the wedding
• Wedding cake
• Sparkling wine toast for up to 10 guests
• Romantic turn-down service
• 15% off spa treatments.
• Free nights for your anniversary stay
• Massage for the bride and groom
• Private candle light dinner on the beach
How to Qualify: You’ll need to stay at least seven nights in certain preferred club rooms which vary by resort or book five rooms for yourself and your guests each staying at least three nights.
Fine Print: Locations and times vary by resort, and there is a fee for a judge or minister to perform the ceremony. There may also be a fee to use certain venues at the resort.
Summary: Yes, the wedding ceremony is free as long as you stay long enough in a qualifying room or book enough rooms. The Free package does not include any South Asian Décor or food. It also does not include any music for your events or photography. However, Dreams does have the Dulha and Dulhan South Asian Wedding package. This package includes:
• Welcome cocktail party with private bar and hors d’oeuvres
• Sangeet and Mehndi with décor, appetizer station, buffet and dessert station for up to 4 hours
• Baraat
• Wedding ceremony including mandap, pillows, sound system, shoe check station and beverages during the ceremony
• Wedding Reception including stage, buffet with Indian cuisine, private bar with top shelf brands
• Dedicated wedding coordinator, 20% off at the spa, and a special breakfast in bed for the couple
The cost of the package is $11,999 for 100 guests.
Now Resorts, Family-Friendly Resorts
Now Resorts, also part of the AM Resorts Collection, offer similar perks as the Dreams Resorts & Spas. The Now are also family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts located in Mexico and Punta Cana. Each resort has multiple restaurants and bars and has a no wristband policy, so you don’t have to worry about tan lines in your pictures. The resorts offer many wedding venues as well as constant activities for you and your guests.
Now Resorts’ free “Now Weddings” includes:
• Wedding coordinator
• Symbolic wedding ceremony
• Bouquets and boutonniere
• Preparation of your attire on the day of the wedding
• Wedding cake
• Sparkling wine toast for up to 10 guests
• Romantic turndown service
• 15% off spa treatments.
• Free nights for your anniversary stay
• Massage for the bride and groom
• Private candle light dinner on the beach
How to Qualify: You’ll need to stay at least seven nights in certain preferred club rooms which vary by resort or book five rooms for yourself and your guests each staying at least three nights.
Fine Print: Locations and times vary by resort, and there is a fee for a judge or minister to perform the ceremony. There may also be a fee to use certain venues at the resort.
Summary: Yes, the wedding ceremony is free as long as you stay long enough in a qualifying room or book enough rooms. The Free package does not include any South Asian Décor or food. It also does not include any music for your events or photography. However, Dreams does have the Dulha and Dulhan South Asian Wedding package. This package includes:
• Welcome cocktail party with private bar and horsd’oeuvres
• Sangeet and Mehndi with décor, appetizer station, buffet and dessert station for up to 4 hours
• Baraat proceedings
• Wedding ceremony including mandap, pillows, sound system, shoe check station and beverages during the ceremony
• Wedding Reception including stage, buffet with Indian cuisine, private bar with top shelf brands
• Dedicated wedding coordinator, 20% off at the spa, and a special breakfast in bed for the couple
The cost of the package is $11,999 for 100 guests.
Palace Resorts
The Palace Resorts have eight all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and Jamaica. The most popular for South Asian Weddings is the Grand at the Moon Palace in Mexico and The Moon Palace Jamaica.
Palace Resorts’ Free Wedding Package includes:
• Wedding coordinator
• Wedding ceremony location
• Chocolate-colored ceremony structure with ivory spun fabric and floral appliqué
• Chocolate-colored ceremony podium with two floral spheres as table décor,
• Bridal bouquet of 20 roses and themed boutonniere
• Themed wedding cake
• Silver branches for front of chocolate-colored structure
• Justice of the Peace or minister to perform legal, symbolic or vow-renewal ceremonies
• 30 white avant-garde chairs
• Sparkling wine during ceremony
• One dinner reservation for up to 30 guests
• Discounts on photography
• Breakfast in bed the morning after the ceremony
• CD system available for the ceremony
• Complimentary honeymoon package
Plus, depending upon the number of rooms your guests reserve, you will earn credits for free private events. The resorts have many venues for South Asian events and the Grand even has their own horse and carriage for your Baraat. The resorts also have their own in-house Indian Chef.
How to Qualify: Book a stay of 4 nights or more in a required room category or book 5 rooms for 3 nights or more.
Summary: Yes, the wedding package is free and if you have over 80 rooms of guests you will probably receive a free welcome cocktail party, free food and beverage for the Sangeet and Mehndi as well as free food and beverage for the reception. Additionally, your guests will earn up to $1500 per room in resort credits they can use for excursions, room upgrades, spa treatments and many other things.
Azul Beach Resorts by Karisma
Azul Beach Resorts have four gourmet, inclusive resorts in Mexico and Jamaica. Azul resorts are known for their upscale food, top shelf brands of liquor, service of their staff and their ability to customize any event you can imagine. Your guest will all receive 24-hour room service no matter what room they stay in. Azul is also known for their Sky Weddings, which are 100% private roof top venues with views of the ocean.
The Free “Always and Forever” wedding package includes:
• Signature Wedding Designer
• Romantic ceremony location with special aisle runner
• White garden chairs
• Sound system and microphone.
• Non-denominational minister and a wedding certificate and witnesses if needed.
• Dinner reception in one of the resorts restaurants with personalized menu cards.
• Onsite attendant for 3 hours during the wedding
• Groom’s room the day of the wedding with special bites
• Honeymoon package that includes a private candle light dinner on the beach
• Special breakfast in bed
• 15% off spa services
• One-night, return-stay voucher
How to Qualify: You must stay at least 7 nights in a specific room type which varies by resort or book 5 rooms for 3 nights each for your guests. Features differ by resort and are based upon availability.
Summary: Yes, they do offer a comprehensive Free wedding package. They also have many upgraded options and décor packages. Their design team is one of the best around, and the chefs’ can custom design any menu you can dream up. Azul also offers other Free private events and an in-house Indian Chef. Depending upon the number of rooms you book, you will earn credits to offset the cost of your private events, which vary depending upon the menus you choose.
Generations Resort Hotels and El Dorado Resorts:
Generations Resort Hotels and El Dorado Resorts are also part of the Karisma brand and are located within 20 minutes of the Cancun Airport in the Riviera Maya. They too are known for their upscale food, top shelf brands of liquor, service of their staff and their ability to customize any event you can imagine. Your guest will all receive 24-hour room service no matter what room they stay in. El Dorado Resorts are also known for their branded Sky Weddings, which are 100% private roof top venues with views of the ocean.
Generations and El Dorado Resorts “Always and Forever” Free wedding package includes:
• Signature Wedding Designer
• Romantic ceremony location with special aisle runner
• White garden chairs
• Sound system and microphone.
• Non-denominational minister and a wedding certificate and witnesses if needed.
• Dinner reception in one of the resorts restaurants with personalized menu cards.
• Onsite attendant for 3 hours during the wedding
• Groom’s room the day of the wedding with special bites
• Honeymoon package that includes a private candle light dinner on the beach
• Special breakfast in bed
• 15% off spa services
• One-night, return-stay voucher
How to qualify: You must stay at least seven nights in a specific room type which varies by resort or book five rooms for three nights each for your guests. Features differ by resort and are based upon availability.
Summary: Yes, they do offer a comprehensive Free wedding. They also have many upgraded options and décor packages. Their design team is one of the best around. The chefs’ can custom design any menu you can dream about. They also offer the Free private events and an in-house Indian Chef. Depending upon the number of rooms you book, you will earn credits to offset the cost of your private events, which vary depending upon the menus you choose.
Hard Rock All-Inclusive Resorts
The Hard Rock has resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. If you are looking for an upscale, active vibe with many activities to keep your guest busy and good food and entertainment, then Hard Rock is the place for you. Hard Rock has partnered with famed wedding planner Colin Cowie to create amazing wedding packages.
Hard Rock’s “Complimentary Collection” Free wedding package includes:
• Wedding planner
• Wedding ceremony location
• White ceremony structure
• White ceremony podium with a golden manzanita branch and a gold mirrored vase filled with white roses
• 32 white avant-garde chairs
• Themed one-tier wedding cake for 32 persons
• Bridal bouquet and Groom’s boutonniere
• Justice of the Peace or minister to perform legal, symbolic, or vow renewal ceremonies*
• Sparkling wine for 32 persons during ceremony
• CD system available during the ceremony
• Witnesses, if required
• Complimentary Honeymoon Package
How to Qualify: Couple must stay at least six nights in a qualifying room or book five rooms for three nights or more for their guests.
Summary: Hard Rock does offer Free wedding packages. They also offer many varied décor packages and upgrades. One of the great benefits at Hard Rock is that depending upon how many rooms you book for your guests, you will earn free events such as welcome parties, private cocktail parties and even a three-course sit down reception or buffet. Hard Rock Resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya have their own in-house Indian Chef. Other resorts will work with a local Indian chef to cater your events. With only 70 rooms for three nights or more, you will receive a free reception as well as a free cocktail party. In addition, guests will receive resort credits that they can use for the spa, excursions, swimming with the dolphins, room upgrades and at the saloon.
Companies such as Vacationeeze have been helping clients create and host their dream destination weddings for years. Vacationeeze focuses on helping South Asian families plan stress-free destination weddings. Because of their experience and relationships with the resorts, the team at Vacationeeze should also be able to provide you other Free perks such as free rooms for the bride and groom, free resort credits for guests at the resort, free spa treatments for you and your guests, Free airfare for the bride and groom and much more. The important thing is to find the right resort that matches your dreams and budget so that you will be the most important guest at your event. For more information on the most up-to-date offers and promotions from these and other resort please feel free to contact Jack Benoff at Vacationeeze at Jack@vacationeeze.com or 215-454-2080.
Images Courtesy of Vacationeeze
