Top 3 Most Popular Resorts for Destination Weddings

Destination weddings are on the rise and there’s good reason for it. Brides want an experience and to savor every moment instead of spending a year planning a wedding only to see it rush by in just a few hours and from the sidelines, barely able to enjoy the wedding itself. Couple that with the rising cost of domestic weddings and a destination wedding is a no brainer.

With destination weddings increasing in popularity, brides have many questions and one of the biggest is where to get married. With over 100 weddings a year, we can say for certainty that some resorts are more popular than others for weddings.

Which of these 3 would you (or did you) choose for your wedding?

#1 Dreams Royal Beach

Coming in as our top most popular resort for destination weddings, it’s no question why Dreams Royal Beach is so popular. Known as an excellent brand for family friendly vacations, Dreams Royal Beach has everything a bride could want: great food at numerous restaurants, a swim-up bar, excellent service, a nightclub shared with the adults only property next door, Secrets Royal Beach, all on a beautiful stretch of beach on the famous Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana. Just a short 20 minute ride from the airport, your guests can get to their vacation fast and transfers won’t break the bank. I could go on and on about all the great things, like the swim-up suites, suites with private plunge pools, a water park, and incredibly affordable rates, but there’s also the great wedding venue options and amazing wedding packages.

Wedding Venues

While many brides want to get married on the beach, some want to get married with a beach background but not on the sand. Luckily, Dreams Royal Beach has several options, including a very beautiful beach if that’s your thing (it was mine - I got married on Bavaro Beach!) and a gorgeous gazebo overlooking the ocean where you can still wear a gorgeous set of heels.

A ballroom is available if an indoor reception (aka air conditioned) is what you’re looking for or want a back-up option in case of rain, plus you can have your reception at the Garden View Pool, the Sea Side Grill, or the Eclipse Night Club.

Wedding Packages

There are so many great wedding packages to choose from, too. Our favorites are the Dreams Ultimate Package and the Beyond Memorable Package.

The Dreams Ultimate Package is $3,799 (or $3,599 from August through October) and includes so much! A semi-private dinner for ten, on-site wedding coordinator, complimentary room the night before, bouquet(s) and/or boutonniere(s) for the wedding couple plus 2 coursages and boutonnieres for the bridal party, a south system, hair and makeup for one, ceremony decor including 20 chairs with white covers, a wedding cake and sparkling wine for up to 30 guests, the Gold menu private cocktail hour and private dinner reception, one floral centerpiece for the sweetheart table and one for the ceremony table, live music during the cocktail hour, 50 full color photos and wedding album, and a 30 minute video of the ceremony, plus so much more.

If you’re looking for more events for a larger group, the Beyond Memorable package is an excellent option. Ranging in price from $8,999 to $14,399 depending on whether you have 50 to 79 or 80 to 100 guests and time of year, this package includes (among many other things) an on-site wedding coordinator, one hour welcome cocktail party, two hour rehearsal dinner, a private symbolic ceremony, beach pergola or gazebo drapery, bouquet(s) and/or boutonniere(s) for the wedding couple, white linen covered chairs, shoe check station if the wedding is at the beach, a three-hour private wedding reception with a buffet, sweetheart table with upgraded linens, private bar with bartender, and dessert station with couple’s choice of wedding cake.

The Shaadi Package for South Asian Weddings includes 6 events for 75 guests for $25,999. They also have a Dulha and Dulhan Package for $7,999 for up to 50 guests or $12,499 for 100 guests. Most information about what is included in these packages can be found here.

#2 Royalton Riviera Cancun

Our second most popular resort is Royalton Riviera Cancun. You can read a full review of a wedding at the resort as both a destination wedding planner and a guest here, but to sum it up, this is another incredibly affordable family-friendly property that mixes luxury and fun with delicious food, beautiful wedding venues, and a top notch wedding team.

Wedding Venues

There are so many absolutely stunning venues: the beach, the Ocean View Gazebo, the Sky location, and with the complimentary luxury package, you can have a semi-private dinner reception in one of the beautiful restaurants. I can’t decide if the Sky location or the Grazie Terrace is my favorite for a reception, but that Ocean View Gazebo is truly epic.

Wedding Packages

The Refined Wedding Package is $4,199 for 30 guests and includes the ceremony, cocktail hour, and a private reception. The Exclusive Wedding Package is a great splurge option. Plus, their Luxury Complimentary Pacakge for 10 guests and only $20 USD per additional guest is a great cost-effective option.

#3 Dreams Playa Mujeres

Unlike Dreams Royal Beach which sits adjacent to sister property Secrets Royal Beach, but does not have exchange privileges, what we love about Dreams Playa Mujeres (other than it’s beautiful, the service is great, food is delicious, need we go on?) is the exchange privileges with Secrets Playa Mujeres next door, which gives you access to an entire second property with more restaurants, more pools, more everything. What more could you ask for? How about an absolutely stunning glass floor, over water venue option? Ok, they have that, too. How about a beach bar, swim-up bars, lazy river, multiple pools, a fast casual option to grab food and go, an ice cream parlour… yes, all that, too!

Wedding venues

They have so many amazing options. A beach gazebo, the beach itself of course, and a stunning Presidential Suite option that is just swoon-worthy. Other options include the Paramount Suite, the Central Garden or the Platform in the Central Garden, their amazing over the water location, and indoor options, as well.

Wedding packages

Their wedding packages mirror the ones for Dreams Royal Beach and our two favorites are still the Beyond Memorable and the Dreams Ultimate packages. You know what else we love? their Outside Vendor Fees are just $150 per person for Photography, Hair, and Makeup! Most resorts are $500-1000 per vendor.