Destination Wedding in Mexico: Frequently Asked Questions

To start, we send you our Venue Research Form.

When we receive the questionnaire answers back, we will schedule a call to go over your answers.

We can go over the details of what you’re looking for in a venue, any obstacles you’re facing; and we can get a better idea of your overall ‘vibe’.

After that, we’ll present you with some different venue ideas that we think could suit your needs.

Yes. We help people book smaller or private venues all the time! They are a popular option for weddings here, as you get a private space to yourselves without vendor fees.

We could still facilitate our normal hotel venue bookings and room blocks for you and your guests at nearby resorts or hotels to the small wedding venue you have chosen - with no added charges from us.

Not formally. However, we do partner with some great planners across Mexico that we work closely with. Our role is centered on everything leading up to your wedding: venue selection, rate and perk negotiations where possible, guest accommodations management, payment coordination for you and your guests, transportation arrangements, and ongoing guest support, including fielding travel-related questions. We also provide overall planning support to ensure a seamless experience. Once your venue is confirmed, the onsite wedding team (or external planner) will take over all event-day details, including décor, table design, menu planning, and execution.

Yes! We can request site visits for you if you want to see your venue before your wedding, or visit a few venues before you book - BUT we need at least 2 weeks notice to get those site visits scheduled for you, and they’re not guaranteed if the staff are booked up. Also, site visits are only scheduled Monday-Thursday. However, we do have a lot of videos in storage of several resorts, so if you're looking for something in particular, just ask, and we'll look for it.

Please note that in Mexico, you cannot show up to a resort unannounced and ask to look around. You have to be pre-approved and on the security gate’s entry list for that day to enter the property.

We are self-licensed and accredited by IATA, a global industry standard that enables us to facilitate travel bookings seamlessly to and from anywhere in the world.

Our team is deeply involved in the destination wedding industry. We proudly serve on the Board of Directors for the Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA) and are active members of Travel Allies. Misti has been recognized among the Top 55 Female Travel Leaders by Travel Allies. We are also members of the Travel Leaders consortium and the Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Leaders Alliance.

We are honored to be recognized as the #1 sellers for Hyatt Inclusive Collection, #2 sellers for Tafer Resorts, and Platinum sellers for AIC resorts. In addition, we are consistently recommended by our industry peers and resort partners for our expertise, professionalism, and results.

We are also proud recipients of WeddingWire’s Couples’ Choice Award for 10 consecutive years, reflecting the trust and experience we deliver to every client.

Yes. We help make sure any additional events are booked with the dates and venues you need.

After a free consultation and before the wedding booking process we require a one time $500 USD retainer fee as a commitment to our service. After that you officially have an expert agency managing the destination wedding booking process for you and your guests.

The benefit of using us is that we have close relationships with the resorts and wedding managers and we are able to bring you the added perks and benefits that a website like Expedia can’t offer you. Plus, we are locals and know most of these resorts inside and out.

Also many resorts will not permit you to book a room block on your own without an agent license, like we have.

We also have tons of experience in working with these resorts at weddings, and we’ve seen the front and back end of these operations. We can tell you which places have terrible reputations for weddings… and which resorts create beautiful, seamless, stress-free wedding days.

We often are able to get the lowest prices available for room blocks.

Where do we start? Beyond our extensive knowledge of destination weddings in Mexico, we bring added value through long-standing relationships and insider access.

What we offer

• Preferred room rates and exclusive perks
• Room upgrades, complimentary nights, and flexible check-in/out options whenever possible.
• Airport transportation perks, including VIP transfers for the couple
• Custom wedding website with all travel details for your guests
• Simple, streamlined guest payment system
• Digital wedding planner for a seamless planning experience
• Custom digital wedding invitations with a personalized booking video
• Complimentary honeymoon planning services

Our expertise includes

• Access to resort wedding calendars for faster date availability
• Insight into vendor fees and trusted local partners
• Guidance on the best (and not-so-best) venues
• Direct relationships with resort management to expedite bookings

Guest experience support

• Ongoing communication and travel assistance for your guests
• Coordination of room blocks, excursions, and transportation

And of course— so much more to elevate your experience along the way.

No, unfortunately we cannot guarantee rates or price matching from what you may see as a temporary promo online.

We can always ask for you, but resort pricing and policies are ultimately up to the resorts. Typically travel agency group rates are the lowest to be found.

Of course, it depends - as all weddings are custom to your vision.

Many of the quotes you’ll see online only reflect a resort’s basic wedding package, typically covering a simple setup with dinner and drinks for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception for a set number of guests (for example, "up to 50 people" with an additional per person price after that).

In reality, most weddings go well beyond that base package. Additional elements such as upgraded décor, florals, DJ or live music, dance floor, photography and videography, hair and makeup, and other enhancements are typically added à la carte. It’s also important to note that these extras are subject to a 16% tax (the flat tax in Mexico), which should be factored into your budget from the beginning.

For a more realistic expectation, an average destination wedding in Mexico with 60–75 guests typically starts around $30,000+, depending on the resort, level of customization, and overall experience you’re creating.

Non-All-inclusive (AKA: European Plan) resorts often price higher, as they tend to offer more elevated and luxury experiences.

Guest accommodations are another key part of the investment. For 2027–2028, room rates at a great mid-tier resort are averaging around $350 per person, per night. More luxury resorts can exceed this, while more budget-friendly options with fewer amenities may fall closer to the $250–$300 range.

We should also note that prices depend on the season; Christmas through Easter is the most expensive time period for room rates. August through mid-October tends to have the lowest room rates.

Our advice? Plan and budget early, and give your guests plenty of time to prepare. This makes the entire experience smoother and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

With us, your guests can have a monthly or weekly payment plan to pay off their trip well before they arrive.

Many resorts charge a fee for each outside vendor, averaging about $1,000. Sometimes it's more cost-effective to add those vendors to your room block for the 3-night minimum instead of paying the vendor fee, and we help you figure out which makes sense.

We also keep a list of every resort's vendor fees and rules, and some of our partner resorts waive vendor fees for our couples.

Once you've decided on a venue, it's time to start working with that venue/resort. We will reach out on to that resort/venue via email to introduce you and check on their open wedding dates and times, and the deposit required to reserve your date, and any additional information needed. Though we are not attorneys, we are available to help you review resort/venue contracts that we are familiar with.

After finding out if your wedding date is available, we will reach out to room block suppliers to get room quotes for your wedding week.

If you like the room block quotes, we will go back to the wedding department and first secure your wedding date (most importantly!)

Once the wedding date is secured via contract and deposit, you’ll secure your room block via contract and deposit!

Fun facts about room blocks

• You need a 10-room minimum.
• Most resorts have a 3-night minimum for all guests.
• Most resorts will hold up to 50 rooms for $100 per room, which you get back later.
• Room blocks save the exact rooms that you want for your guests and prevent the rates from going higher.
• Room blocks include a lot of perks like free welcome parties, cashback refunds on rooms, upgraded rooms, and more.
• There is no need to be scared of a room block. As long as you give the excess “unsold” rooms back to the resort before check-in, there are no penalties! :)

Guests typically pay for their own flights and rooms. Many couples host a welcome party or cover a group activity as a thank-you. With us, your guests can have a monthly or weekly payment plan to pay off their trip well before they arrive.

A valid passport for air travel, their flights, and their room booked through your room block. We send guests everything they need through your custom wedding website.

Typically about 60% of invited guests attend a destination wedding. We help you size your room block around that so you're not over-committed.

We do not book flights for you and your guests and that will be up to them how and when they fly to your wedding event. We’ve found that wedding guests overwhelmingly prefer to choose their flight times, layovers, prices, credit card mileage, etc themselves.

Yes. However, most people do a “Symbolic Ceremony” here for their destination wedding in Mexico and get legally married before or after the trip in their home country. With a symbolic ceremony, you can have any of your friends or family act as a minister to perform your ceremony if you’d like.

You do have the option of getting “Legally Married” in Mexico, but that requires a blood test (a chest x-ray in some Mexican states), 4 witnesses, and a minister legally accredited in Mexico to perform the ceremony. You and your 4 witnesses also have to arrive at least 4 days before your wedding day.

We recommend starting 12–18 months out. Popular resorts book weekend dates and peak season (Christmas through Easter) early, and November and April are the most competitive months for wedding dates.

Send save-the-dates about 8–12 months ahead so your guests can budget and request time off.

December through April has the driest weather and the highest prices. August through mid-October usually has the lowest room rates, but it falls within hurricane season (June–November), so we recommend trip protection.

Statistically, July is the driest month of hurricane season.

Cancun has bright, hypnotizing turquoise water, but a little rougher surf. It is mainly high-rise hotels with lots of activities.

The Riviera Maya is more jungly, and the resorts are more spaced out. You can find really large or really small resorts here.

Tulum is compact and a little pricey; however, it offers great jungle and boho vibes.

Los Cabos is a neutral-toned desert setting. There are not as many all-inclusives here; most resorts are European plan. Waves are large, and there are only a few places where you can safely get in the water.

Puerto Vallarta has green, jungly mountains that flow into the sea. Not all beaches are swimmable. There are many all-inclusives here, although many still need renovations.

A good reminder: Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Tulum give you sunrises on the water, while Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta give you sunsets on the water.

All-inclusive resorts make things simple for your guests, with meals, drinks and activities covered. Private villas and haciendas give you the space to yourselves and often have no vendor fees, and we can still set up room blocks at nearby hotels.

It depends on your guest list. We'll match you with resorts that fit, whether you want an adults-only celebration or a resort with kids' clubs and family suites.

If only a couple of kids are invited, we always recommend asking their parents whether they actually plan to bring them. We've seen couples choose a family-friendly resort for a couple of children, only for the parents to leave the kids with the grandparents, leaving an adults-only group at a family-friendly resort. Always double-check before you book.

Luckily, the Riviera Maya and Mexico in general, do not experience a lot of major hurricanes- that doesn’t mean however that it can’t happen. We feel that it’s important (especially after 2020) to encourage the purchase of trip protection. Of course, this is optional and we can provide you with the trip protection insurance companies that we use ourselves.

Many resorts are also flexible in letting you reschedule your date in case of emergency.

Yes, absolutely. We have a lot of admiration and respect for South Asian cultures.

We love the beauty, the family camaraderie (and sometimes competition, haha) and of course the food! We are IshqRocks certified for South Asian weddings and have many cultural contacts to help you find the best vendors for your events.

The most important things we need to start our conversation about your South Asian / Indian destination wedding are these 2 things:

• Which events would you like to incorporate into your wedding festivities?
• What is your approximate headcount? This will make sure that we are looking for venues of the right size.

On a personal note: Growing up a vegetarian in Oklahoma, I always had a kinship and friendship with the Hindu kids in school, which made me feel closer to the culture. My mom's boss and mentor was also a man from India, and I grew up going to some Desi family festivities :)

Yes, 100%! Everyone on our team is an ally, and we are happy to help you find resorts and venues that are LGBTQ+ friendly as well :)

Yes, all the time! We can help you navigate your wedding day timeline with the events needed, cultural vendors, or resorts that offer in-house kosher kitchens or kosher catering.

Yes, we plan Caribbean weddings as well. The most popular destinations are Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Aruba is a fantastic option if you can only have a summer wedding, because it sits outside the hurricane belt.

Yes. Whether you want to stay near your wedding venue or explore a completely different city or area in Mexico, we can make that transition seamless. There are so many unique places to discover that weren't the right fit for a wedding but are perfect for a newlywed escape.

Yes! We have a list of excursions partners that we work with and recommend like Xcaret theme parks, Catamaran Sailing, Golf Outings and even a Private Cenote.

We can chat with you about what you’re interested in, and we’ll get that booking made for you and your guests.