There is no doubt that South Asian destination weddings are popular with engaged couples. It makes total sense to take your loved ones on a fantastic vacation for your wedding. If you love the idea of a poolside welcome party or a rooftop ceremony with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea or a Mehndi and Sangeet night on the beach, a destination wedding can offer your guests so much more, especially at an all-inclusive resort. Most all-inclusive resorts offer unlimited food, beverages, activities, wi-fi, and more so that each of your guests will feel relaxed and well taken care of.
Planning a destination wedding, however, can be an arduous undertaking that often comes with long-distance phone calls and language barriers.
Vacationeeze, a travel company, specializes in South Asian destination weddings and works with some of the most popular resorts in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa de Carmen and Playa Mujeres.
Cancun remains the most popular destination for South Asian weddings and so we asked Vacationeeze to help us pin down the top five resorts that are most perfect for South Asian weddings. Some of the things we looked for were event space for multiple events, ceremony spots, plan B for inclement weather, food, drinks, resort’s knowledge of Indian and Pakistani weddings, aesthetic appeal, activities on the resort for guests and over all wow factor. In no particular order, here are our picks.
Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma Hotels & Resorts:
This is truly a beautiful property which connects to the El Dorado Resorts and the upcoming Nickelodeon Resort in Cancun. The resort is 20 minutes from the Cancun International Airport. Upon arrival you are greeted by a seasonal cocktail and quickly checked-in on an iPad. This is an all-suite resort with complete ocean views. Each room and every restaurant faces the beautiful blue ocean. They also have a private garden area in the El Dorado section which is surrounded by bungalow style suites. Its perfect for private pool parties or a garden ceremony or welcome cocktails. The resort can cater to 100 to 250 guests for multiple events with a plan B for inclement weather. Couples can also choose to host one of their celebrations at the El Dorado Casitas or El Dorado Royale adjacent resorts. Generations also has an in-house Indian chef, who can design an Indian feast which will amaze all of your wedding guests. The resort can also create halal and vegetarian options. Their presentation and pairing of the cuisine are beautiful. It was the best shrimp tikka we have ever had! The best part of the resort is their baraat horse, which is available to all grooms as part of their South Asian wedding package.
Well it’s the Hard Rock, need we say more? It’s dotted with amazing rock and roll memorabilia from Carlos Santana to Madonna. The Riviera Maya Resort has a family section and an adults-only section which works out great for South Asian weddings. The family side, Hacienda, lets the families with younger kids and the grandparents enjoy themselves and the adult’s side, Heaven, lets young adults enjoy themselves! Both sides have pools, beaches, restaurants and bars and the main attraction is the giant water-park at the resort. Heaven also has a nightly midnight buffet and a live concert, so you can keep the party going. It also has a nightclub, Club Heaven, with a pool and hot tub which is very popular with guests. It is the perfect spot for your after party! The resort can accommodate over 500 guests and allows outside catering from a local Indian restaurant. They can also offer gourmet local dishes for your events to accommodate your guests’ palates. The wedding team is well versed in South Asian wedding traditions and has multiple event areas all over the resort and one of the best rooftop terraces in Cancun with spectacular sunset views.
The Grand at the Moon Palace Resort:
This resort is perfect for your 500-person South Asian wedding! Upon arrival your guests are treated to a VIP check-in and welcome drink. The Grand is only ten minutes from the airport. They have multiple event spaces and they are always ready for plan B or C. There are multiple indoor and outdoor locations for your welcome dinner, Sangeet, Mehndi, ceremony, reception and farewell brunch. The outdoor areas include gardens, beach fronts and rooftops. The resort also has a team of in-house Indian chefs who can prepare delicious South Asian fare. They can also create a fusion menu that includes appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The Grand at Moon Palace is in the business of giving your guests an experience of a lifetime with several gourmet restaurants, bars, patisseries, pools and beach clubs. The resort also has an extraordinary water-park for kids and adults. The Grand at Moon Palace is a luxury, inclusive paradise. Each guest room offers CHI products, a CHI flatiron and a CHI hairdryer, a big plus when you have to bring all of your wedding clothes, shoes and jewelry. This was one of our favorite parts of the resort.
Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Resort:
If you have always dreamed of a beach wedding, then Dreams Playa Mujeres is the resort for you! It is located north of Cancun about 30 minutes from the airport. Dreams can accommodate weddings for 200 or more. They have on-site South Asian wedding experts who can help to make every detail of your wedding flawless. There are multiple spots for indoor and outdoor parties that include poolside, rooftops, gardens and beachfront areas. The resort has a deck right on the beach which is perfect for wedding festivities. You can dive right off the deck and into the sparkling ocean. The in-house chefs have curated a traditional Indian menu with modern flare and they have perfected the kulfi in their dessert options. Dreams also has spacious rooms and suites with private pools and ocean views. Guests also have access to the Playa Mujeres Golf Course. Other activities include swimming with dolphins at the adjacent dolphin habitat, which can be an awesome group experience. There are some adults-only pools on the property and a water-park at the resort for all to enjoy.
This resort is in the perfect location right in the heart of Downtown Cancun, perfect if you have a large party crowd. This family-friendly resort is situated on pristine white sand beaches. The resort can accommodate up to 500 guests and they have multiple event sites throughout the hotel for wedding events with various options for plan B. However, our favorite part of the hotel was their rooftop terrace swimming pool. The terrace pool can be reserved for private events and it’s the perfect spot for your bridesmaids’ brunch or a welcome pool party. It has breathtaking panoramic views of Cancun. The Beach Palace’s ideal location allows your guests to enjoy the fun nightlife and the luxury shopping just minutes from the resort. Your wedding entourage can continue the after party at one of Cancun’s famous clubs like Coco Bongo or Senor Frog’s. Beach Palace is a smaller resort and gives off the intimate vibe that’s perfect for South Asian weddings. The resort also has gourmet dining, pools, bars and beach activities for guests. With their on-site wedding planners, a South Asian destination wedding would be perfect here!
