Your Expert Guide to FREE Destination Wedding Packages
Ever wonder if those FREE Destination Weddings that resorts promote are actually free? How do you get them and what is actually included? Are some free weddings better than others? Spoiler Alert: Yes, some really are better than others!
Read on to find out which ones are actually free, how to earn them, and which ones are our favorites!
Hyatt Inclusive Collection
Why We Love Them
Hyatt Inclusive Collection includes the following brands: Zoetry, Breathless, Secrets, Dreams, and Sunscape. It is one of our favorite brands to work with for destination wedding groups. Their wedding team is responsive, their groups department flexible, they give great rates, awesome concessions/promos, and their properties are top notch. There’s something for everyone - the adults only group that wants to relax or the group that wants to party or the family friendly group that likes excellent food, service, and lot’s of activities for all ages. I’ve never had a complaint from one of these properties and we’ve stayed at so many of their locations!
Our Top 3 Favorite Hyatt Inclusive Hotels
For family-friendly fun: Dreams Riviera Cancun, Dreams Royal Beach, and Dreams Macao Beach
For adults-only groups: Secrets Playa Mujeres, Breathless Riviera Cancun, Breathless Punta Cana
The Free Wedding and How to Earn It
You can get a free Dreams Wedding in Paradise Package, Secrets Wedding in Paradise Package, or First Comes Love Package (Breathless) by staying 7 nights in one of the required room categories or by having your guests book 5 rooms for 3 or more nights.
What actually comes with the wedding package? A symbolic ceremony with an on-site wedding coordinator, preparation and ironing of the couple’s wedding day attire, a complimentary room for the night before the wedding, bridal bouquet(s) and/or groom boutonniere(s), a cake and sparkling wine toast for up to 10 guests, turn down service the night of the wedding, 15% off spa treatments, the Newlywed Package, a welcome letter, fresh fruit, bottle of sparkling wine, breakfast in bed with mimosas, late checkout, and free anniversary nights.
Who it’s Best For
This is best for the couple looking for an elopement or a small intimate, simple ceremony. We recommend enjoying dinner with your small group at one of the restaurants followed by drinks at one of the bars or the nightclub.
If you’re looking for something more inclusive, then we recommend checking out the Beyond Memorable package here for a minimum of 50 guests. The price is great and includes so much of what you need!
Royalton Properties
Why We Love Them
If affordale luxury is your thing, then this is your property. We love selling Royalton properties to groups because you get way more than what you pay for at these properties. They’re beautiful, the food and service is always great, and the wedding team is on point. The groups department is flexible, they give good group rates, and are just overall easy to deal with. Plus, don’t get us started on the amazing wedding ceremony locations like the Ocean Gazebo and the Sky Terrace. Swoonworthy and to die for!
Our Top 3 Favorite Royalton Hotels
Royalton Bavaro, Royalton Riviera Cancun, and Royalton Antigua
The Free Wedding and How to Earn It
The Luxury Complimentary Wedding for up to 10 guests can be earned with 35 room nights of 14 room nights in Diamond Club. Get a wedding planner & onsite coordinator, VIP welcome & late checkout, room upgrade, "Getting Ready" refreshments & fruit platter on the wedding day, 10% discount on spa services for entire wedding group, ceremony location (excluding Sky Terraces), symbolic ceremony, chairs, sound system for ceremony, 1 tropical bridal bouquet, 1 tropical groom’s boutonniere, ceremony table with linen and tropical centerpiece, sparkling wine toast, a 2-hour semi private dinner in a restaurant, 1-tier wedding cake.
Who it’s Best For
Much like the complimentary package from the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, this is ideal for the couple looking for a small, intimate ceremony with their closest family and friends, where a private reception and party all night isn’t a priority.
Palace Resorts
Why We Love Them
Their free private events, credits, free rooms, and more mean that you can really get a free wedding and free travel. It’s next level savings and their properties are top notch fun for the whole family. One of our favorite properties is Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios and the Grand at Moon Palace Cancun.
Our Top 3 Favorite Palace Hotels
Moon Palace Jamaica, the Grand at Moon Palace Cancun, and Beach Palace Cancun
The Free Wedding and How to Earn It
Now this is the free wedding I’m talking about! First, you earn a $20 credit per paid room that you can use towards wedding essentials such as personalized amenities, a wedding cake, flowers, photos, lighting, entertainment, table decor, so many things! Then, the more guests you have, the more rooms they book, the more free private events you get, starting with a free 1-hour private cocktail reception for 10-19 rooms up to unlimited days of events for over 100 rooms.
Who it’s Best For
The bigger your group, the better! If you have a large group, you want to take advantage of Palace’s free private events. With a guest list of 50 people, you can get 9 hours - that’s right, nine whole hours - of free private events. Think rehearsal dinner, welcome dinner, cocktail hour, reception, departure brunch, plus you would get $500 towards wedding essentials. Couple that with the free rooms you can earn, free room upgrades, and Barefoot Bridal Exclusive promos like free flights, and you could have a completely free wedding AND free stay.
Hard Rock Hotels
Why We Love Them
Not to be outdone by Palace, Hard Rock Hotels has a very similar free private events promo. Hard Rock Punta Cana is one of our all time favorite properties if large properties with lot’s of pools, dining options, a beautiful beach, and a lively atmosphere is what you’re looking for. Rock and Roll fun for all ages, with so many different activities included, and amazing service and food. You must try their chicken tenders, they’re famous for a reason. Yum!
Our Top 3 Favorite Hard Rock Hotels
Hard Rock Punta Cana, Hard Rock Riviera Maya, Hard Rock Vallarta
The Free Wedding and How to Earn It
Once again, Hard Rock is great if you have a huge guest list since the more guests you have, the more rooms they book, the more free private events you get, starting with a free 1-hour private cocktail reception for 5-9 rooms and two free 5-hour private functions if you have 90+ rooms. Don’t worry, free room nights can be earned, too. As for the wedding itself? There is a complimentary wedding that includes: white pergola arbor, white ceremony podium, 32 white avant garde chairs, one bouquet of white roses and a white rose boutonniere (or two of each for same-sex couples), themed 1-tier wedding cake for up to 32 people, nondemoninational minister for a symbolic ceremony, sparkling wine for 32 people during the ceremony, honeymoon wishes wedding website and registry, audio system for the ceremony, event consultant and onsite wedding coordinator, and the complimentary honeymoon package.
Who it’s Best For
The bigger your group, the better! Like Palace, if you have a guest list of 50 people, you can get a free 1-hour cocktail reception as a welcome event and then a free 3-hour private event for your wedding reception.
Majestic Hotels
Why We Love Them
The team at Majestic is amazing. They’re super responsive, flexible, and their properties are amazing. Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres is brand new and so popular for very good reason. Majestic Mirage is the newest and most modern resort out of the 3 options in Punta Cana. The food is great, the beaches beautiful, we stan this brand!
Our Top 2 Favorite Majestic Resorts (there’s only 4!)
Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres and Majestic Mirage Punta Cana
The Free Wedding and How to Earn It
With 105 paid room nights (since most groups average 4 nights per room, that’s about 27 rooms booked or less if you and your guests stay longer), you’ll get all the following amenities: wedding planner, choice of ceremony location between beach, chapel, or gazebo, room upgrade and early check in/late check out, special bracelet with access to all resorts in Punta Cana, officiant, wedding cake, tropical table bouquet, tropical bride bouquet, tropical groom boutonniere, bag of rose petals, ironing of groom’s tux and bride’s dress, sound system and translation of ceremony if needed, marraige certificate delivered by DHL, post ceremony champagne for the group, 10% off hair and makeup for the bride, welcome selection of sweets, bridal boudouir refreshments, non-private dinner in a restaurant for up to 60 guests, romantic breakfast in suite, romantic candelit dinner for the couple, complimentary massage and use of humid area for couple, bottle of champagne twice during stay, room service, and additional services upon inquiry. Couple this with earning every 16th passenger free and we’re talking big savings!
Who it’s Best For
The medium sized group who is looking for an amazing and fun resort, but doesn’t require a completely private wedding. Not all resorts will allow a large group in a restaurant for free for dinner, so this really is a big way to save. There’s plenty of bars and fun places to hang out after dinner if you want to party and don’t care for a private reception.
Hyatt Ziva and Zilara
Why We Love Them
There hasn’t been a Hyatt Ziva or Zilara property we’ve been to and not liked nor have we ever sent a group to one of these (or honeymooners) and had a single complaint.
Our Top 3 Favorite Hyatts
Hyatt Ziva Cancun, Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, and Hyatt Zilara Cancun
The Free Wedding and How to Earn It
With 25 room nights booked in qualifying categories, you can get a free wedding up to 10 guests that includes a symbolic marriage certificate, ceremony performed by a bilingual secular officiant, bouquets and/or boutonnieres, wedding location, sparkling wine toast, wedding cake, special decoration of the couple’s suite, late check-out, onsite services of wedding specialist, online wedding registry and website, ceremony table with white linen and white folding chairs for guests, sound system for the ceremony, 25-min massage for the couple, and a romantic oceanfront dinner for the couple.
Who it’s Best For
If you’re looking for an excellent hotel (family friendly or adults only) and a small, classic and simple ceremony, this is the one for you. Don’t forget to stop at the churro cart at Hyatt Ziva Cancun after your wedding for some really delicious dessert!
Disclaimer
All information on this blog post was found directly from wedding packages and websites from the resorts themselves. Any information should be confirmed with the property of your choice. All information on this blog post is subject to change by the resorts at any time and may not be immediately updated.
