Recommend a destination wedding location!

[stretchad]

My sister just got engaged a couple weeks ago (SQUEE!) and wants to do a destination wedding. Sounding like she prefers somewhere tropical. Anyone have a place they'd recommend??

[mandapanda18]

My bff did Jamaica and we could opt to stay at the sandals resort (adult and couples only) or beaches (where the wedding was held). It was beautiful, fairly inexpensive for an all inclusive resort and very relaxing! Another friend did Turks and Caicos, it was also beautiful but more expensive for all who attended,

[boiler717]

My BFF did the Cove at Atlantis and it was really nice.

[vtdiamond]

We had a destination wedding in the Turks and Caicos.

[bowies]

Excellence Playa Mujeres. The wedding pavilion is off from the main area so she won't have a bunch of randos wandering around. Plus it's a beautiful (and fun!) resort.

[Deleted]

We went to paradisius LA Perla for a wedding this January. It was great and they treated us like vips.

[v]

If you're west coasters, I'd choose Hawaii. No passport needed.

Or Mexico?  Costa Rica?

Either way, I'd choose somewhere where there is a variety of resorts in close proximity to the wedding location so guests have choices if they want to stay somewhere cheaper/fancier/quieter/bigger/not all-inclusive/etc.

And if she goes the all-inclusive route, don't put a note in with the invitation to please note that if you stay at other than the all-inclusive there will be a change for you to attend the wedding.  We've received *that* invitation before from one of my husband's tacky coworkers. 

[preppy]

Sept 2, 2015 5:55:01 GMT -5 v said:

If you're west coasters, I'd choose Hawaii. No passport needed.

Or Mexico?  Costa Rica?

Either way, I'd choose somewhere where there is a variety of resorts in close proximity to the wedding location so guests have choices if they want to stay somewhere cheaper/fancier/quieter/bigger/not all-inclusive/etc.

And if she goes the all-inclusive route, don't put a note in with the invitation to please note that if you stay at other than the all-inclusive there will be a change for you to attend the wedding.  We've received *that* invitation before from one of my husband's tacky coworkers. 

WTF at charging to attend the wedding?!

[preppy]

I had a destination wedding in Key West at Ocean Key Resort and Spa. If she wants to keep it in the U.S. I highly recommend it:)

[MamaMaui24]

Maui! U.S. so it's easy to get a marriage license.

Excellence Playa Mujeres was also beautiful for a Mexican AI. (I attended a DW here)

[v]

Sept 2, 2015 5:58:26 GMT -5 preppy said:

Sept 2, 2015 5:55:01 GMT -5 v said:

If you're west coasters, I'd choose Hawaii. No passport needed.

Or Mexico?  Costa Rica?

Either way, I'd choose somewhere where there is a variety of resorts in close proximity to the wedding location so guests have choices if they want to stay somewhere cheaper/fancier/quieter/bigger/not all-inclusive/etc.

And if she goes the all-inclusive route, don't put a note in with the invitation to please note that if you stay at other than the all-inclusive there will be a change for you to attend the wedding.  We've received *that* invitation before from one of my husband's tacky coworkers. 

WTF at charging to attend the wedding?!

Well -- all of their guests who stayed at the all-inclusive were free or very cheap wedding guests (because they'd already paid for that day's food and drinks as part of their room rate).  Those who were attending the wedding from other resorts cost more because they hadn't paid for some portion of food.  If I recall correctly, the invitation said it would be $100 per person for off-resort guests.

That was what sealed the deal on our "no" response!

[preppy]

Sept 2, 2015 6:28:29 GMT -5 v said:

Sept 2, 2015 5:58:26 GMT -5 preppy said:

WTF at charging to attend the wedding?!

Well -- all of their guests who stayed at the all-inclusive were free or very cheap wedding guests (because they'd already paid for that day's food and drinks as part of their room rate).  Those who were attending the wedding from other resorts cost more because they hadn't paid for some portion of food.  If I recall correctly, the invitation said it would be $100 per person for off-resort guests.

That was what sealed the deal on our "no" response!

So basically if you stayed at the resort you paid for your own food by already paying to stay there, and if you stayed elsewhere you had to pay an entrance fee to also cover your meal. Classy.

[Muddled]

Sept 2, 2015 6:31:54 GMT -5 preppy said:

Sept 2, 2015 6:28:29 GMT -5 v said:

Well -- all of their guests who stayed at the all-inclusive were free or very cheap wedding guests (because they'd already paid for that day's food and drinks as part of their room rate).  Those who were attending the wedding from other resorts cost more because they hadn't paid for some portion of food.  If I recall correctly, the invitation said it would be $100 per person for off-resort guests.

That was what sealed the deal on our "no" response!

So basically if you stayed at the resort you paid for your own food by already paying to stay there, and if you stayed elsewhere you had to pay an entrance fee to also cover your meal. Classy.

It's standard for resorts to have day pass fees, but, like v, I think the bride and groom should eat the cost.

[egishere]

My BFF got married at the Royal Playa del Carmen - great location where you can walk to town and the food and wedding were really great! It adults only but there is a sister resort next door that families with kids can stay at and they can come over for the wedding.

I love Excellence playa mujeres too

[lishie]

We got married in the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix. We chose the Buccaneer resort. I loved the resort. At that time, a wedding for 30 was reasonable there. Most of our guests stayed there, but it wasn't an all inclusive, so our other guests were able to come for the wedding, or to eat with us at the resort, with no issues.

I liked that fast that with a US territory, we didn't have to do a separate ceremony at home to avoid issues with getting the marriage recognized. It also made travel for our guests easier.

[Deleted]

I think a destination wedding in Maui would be amazing!

[boxerdog]

My sister has researched this a bit and is looking at Turks and Caicos, St Thomas, and Grand Cayman.

They all look gorgeous but really expensive!

[boxerdog]

Sept 2, 2015 9:08:41 GMT -5 lishie said:

We got married in the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix. We chose the Buccaneer resort. I loved the resort. At that time, a wedding for 30 was reasonable there. Most of our guests stayed there, but it wasn't an all inclusive, so our other guests were able to come for the wedding, or to eat with us at the resort, with no issues.

I liked that fast that with a US territory, we didn't have to do a separate ceremony at home to avoid issues with getting the marriage recognized. It also made travel for our guests easier.

Oh!! This is one of the places my sister is looking at. Thanks for posting this.

[lishie]

Sept 2, 2015 9:26:49 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Sept 2, 2015 9:08:41 GMT -5 lishie said:

We got married in the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix. We chose the Buccaneer resort. I loved the resort. At that time, a wedding for 30 was reasonable there. Most of our guests stayed there, but it wasn't an all inclusive, so our other guests were able to come for the wedding, or to eat with us at the resort, with no issues.

I liked that fast that with a US territory, we didn't have to do a separate ceremony at home to avoid issues with getting the marriage recognized. It also made travel for our guests easier.

Oh!! This is one of the places my sister is looking at. Thanks for posting this.

We were married 11 years ago, so things may have changed, but at that time the resort was amazing. Tons of personal attention, we had a great experience wedding planning. I did it all via telephone and email, and when we arrived things were perfect. Our only issue was with flowers, but that was because a hurricane was in the area (hit another island, not St Croix) and kept the delivery from coming in.

We had a room in the honeymoon dubloons, and it was large and right on the beach.

We really want to go back, but have taken trips to all new locations since our wedding, but we will get back to the Bucaneer again.

[boxerdog]

Sept 2, 2015 10:13:18 GMT -5 lishie said:

Sept 2, 2015 9:26:49 GMT -5 boxerdog said:

Oh!! This is one of the places my sister is looking at. Thanks for posting this.

We were married 11 years ago, so things may have changed, but at that time the resort was amazing. Tons of personal attention, we had a great experience wedding planning. I did it all via telephone and email, and when we arrived things were perfect. Our only issue was with flowers, but that was because a hurricane was in the area (hit another island, not St Croix) and kept the delivery from coming in.

We had a room in the honeymoon dubloons, and it was large and right on the beach.

We really want to go back, but have taken trips to all new locations since our wedding, but we will get back to the Bucaneer again.

Awesome, thank you!!

[stretchad]

Sept 2, 2015 5:21:10 GMT -5 bowies said:

Excellence Playa Mujeres. The wedding pavilion is off from the main area so she won't have a bunch of randos wandering around. Plus it's a beautiful (and fun!) resort.

I see that it's adults only. Do you know if there are other family-friendly places nearby?

[egishere]

Sept 2, 2015 10:58:56 GMT -5 stretchad said:

Sept 2, 2015 5:21:10 GMT -5 bowies said:

Excellence Playa Mujeres. The wedding pavilion is off from the main area so she won't have a bunch of randos wandering around. Plus it's a beautiful (and fun!) resort.

I see that it's adults only. Do you know if there are other family-friendly places nearby?

I'm pretty sure they have a resort right next door now that they own that is family friendly.  I think its called Beloved or something like that...i get emails from Excellence and see it on there.

[redheadbaker]

I'm getting married in St. Thomas next summer.

[Deleted]

We're going to a DW in Maui in February. Practically everyone is flying from Seattle. I can't wait!

I desperately wanted a DW.

[lilles]

Puerto Rico