Let’s pause momentarily and imagine a destination wedding at a dreamy all-inclusive resort (I know you want to!).
Many of us picture a sunny, sandy beach ceremony against a backdrop of Caribbean seas, but where does your wedding or honeymoon budget go from there?
How much money people spend on destination weddings at all-inclusive resorts should never be a “one size fits all” deal.
These five factors affect the cost the most:
- Time of year (high, low, shoulder season) room costs
- Destination and hotel rating
- Personalization of ceremony and reception decor
- Reception catering and entertainment
- Related costs like airport transportation, airfare, and luggage fees.
To help you determine your budget, here are three examples of a high, medium, and budget-friendly destination wedding (or elopement!) with cost estimates.
Destination Wedding Planning Tip: Check for Wedding Specials and deal with a Wedding Planning team at your chosen resort. Remember to get all the details about who will officiate your wedding (and if this is an added cost) to ensure your marriage is legal!
High-End Destination Wedding Scenario
I chose Sandals Saint Vincent in Jamaica for a high-end destination wedding location.
This is a brand-new (March 2024) luxury-included property on the relatively unspoiled island of Saint Vincent. Please note that this resort provides accommodations for adults only.
Let’s examine this choice with all of the cost factors included:
Time of Year Room Costs
Experience unparalleled hospitality and indulge in the beauty of this tropical paradise.
The typical winter season in North America is always prime vacation time in the Caribbean. This generally means higher all-inclusive room costs, ranging from approximately $7,700 a week for two people to almost $25,000 per week at Sandals Saint Vincent.
Destination and Hotel Rating
Saint Vincent is described as “nestled between two seas at the edge of the lesser Antilles—its natural beauty untouched and ripe for discovery.”
This island nation, officially known as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is considered an “upper-middle-income” country with a higher standard of living. Sandals Saint Vincent is currently rated 4.7 on Google Maps.
Destination Wedding Planning Tip: Sandals Saint Vincent is located about 45 minutes away from Argyle International Airport. Guests staying in Butler Suites can select a free luxury boat transfer featuring an onboard bar with local beers, water, and packaged snacks.
Personalization of Ceremony and Reception Decor
The preferred ceremony location for couples getting married at Sandals Saint Vincent is the Over the Water Wedding Chapel, currently available for an additional charge of $750. Your Sandals wedding planner knows all the details!
You have infinite choices with wedding inspirations for your ceremony and reception decor. Keep this catalog link handy because it breaks down the costs of practically every decor piece for destination weddings.
Here are decor price examples to get you started:
- Top-of-the-line decor vases can be rented for $1,300 each
- Premium floral aisle arrangements are $1,250 each
- White Pedestal Of Chic Blooming Lanterns are $300-360 each
- Reception floral centerpieces range from $118-590 each.
You have many choices for ceremony and reception seating, dinnerware and barware, and lighting. The link provides descriptions, photos, and prices for everything relating to wedding and reception decor!
Reception Catering and Entertainment
I chose the “Epic Wedding Package” for a high-season destination wedding at Sandals Saint Vincent. This “grand” choice is designed for wedding groups of 26 to 70 rooms, and please note that this resort is for adults only.
The Epic wedding package includes:
- A wedding planning team to help prepare marriage documents and onsite event coordination on your wedding day
- Templates for your wedding website and a gift registry
- 1-hour welcome cocktail reception on arrival at the resort
- 2-hour private rehearsal dinner
- Standard rose floral bouquet and boutonniere package for wedding party (upgrades available)
- 1-hour cocktail reception post-ceremony and 2-hour dinner reception with choices from plated and buffet menus, premium bar drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea
- Three-tiered white fondant cake, rose topper, upgrades available
- DJ service for two hours.
You can also design your photo and videography upgrades with your Sandals wedding planner.
The Grand wedding package includes credits ($500 credit towards the photo package and $500 credit towards videography).
As of this publication date, the Grand Wedding Package starts at $7,600 for up to 70 people, $10,120 for up to 98 people, and $13,900 for up to 140 people (accommodation extra).
Medium Cost Destination Wedding Scenario
I chose Sandals Antigua during shoulder season for a beautiful, affordable destination wedding.
Destination Wedding Planning Tip: Sandals Antigua is popular with couples, and accommodations are available for adults only. If you’re looking for a “kiddo-friendly” resort for your destination wedding, check out Beaches Turks and Caicos!
Time of Year Room Costs
Voted the “World’s Most Romantic Resort” year after year, adults-only Sandals Grande Antigua is located on Antigua’s best and most famous beach, Dickenson Bay.
Mid-April throughout June is considered shoulder season in Antigua, and all-inclusive room rates range from over $4,800 lower end to $14,238 high-end for two people staying one week.
Destination and Hotel Rating
Antigua is described as perfection for “beach bums” because there are 365 white sand beaches on this sweet Caribbean island, one sandy stretch for every day of the year.
Sandals Antigua currently has an overall 4.3 rating on Google Maps, and some of the best reviews are for onsite weddings during the shoulder season.
Reception Catering, Decor, and Entertainment
I looked at Sandals Antigua’s “Bliss Wedding Package” option, which is a medium-cost wedding available for “intimate” groups of 6-25 rooms.
Here are some of the biggest differences with a Bliss wedding package at Sandals:
- You receive “20 digital images” of your wedding day and a $200 credit towards a videography package (upgrades available)
- The floral bouquet and boutonniere are limited to the wedding couple and one member of the wedding party (upgrades available)
- Wedding entertainment is an upgrade.
You receive the services of a wedding planner before and on your wedding day, and you can choose to personalize your decor and upgrade your venue according to your budget.
As of this publication date, Bliss wedding packages (not including accommodation) are priced at $2,500 for up to 20 people, $3,400 for up to 40 people, and $3,850 for up to 50 people.
Most Budget-Friendly Destination Wedding
Undoubtedly, Sandals Ochi is a party destination in the Caribbean and one of the most affordable destination wedding resorts for couples on a budget.
Many have eloped or held a small wedding here for up to 5 rooms, and I checked out the elopement and “Sweetheart wedding” prices for a “petite” group.
Check out our Sandals Ochi review to find out what your “weddingmoon” can be!
Time of Year
Modern chic and private exclusivity, meet in the heart of Jamaica in a resort that features the best of both worlds.
The weather in the Caribbean is hot and humid during the low season, and it’s important to remember that hurricane potential is most active between June and November.
Still, if you plan to elope and your dates are flexible, you can get fantastic deals on a last-minute wedding at Sandals Ochi.
Low-season rates range from just under $3,300 for an all-inclusive room for two people to $18,248 for a one-bedroom suite in a villa with a private pool.
Destination and Hotel Rating
Located in stunning Ochi Rios, Sandals Ochi is great for travelers to enjoy the natural surroundings, including the spectacular Dunn’s River Falls.
It takes approximately 90 minutes to get there from the airport, and shuttle transportation is complimentary, although some guests have confessed that the drive is pretty bumpy.
The resort is known for its nonstop fun Beach Club, and green fees are included so you can golf at the Upton Estate Country Club. Sandals Ochi currently has a 4.3 rating on Google Maps.
When You Desire a Smaller, More Intimate Wedding
The Sweetheart wedding package is a great combination of the beautiful basics for a small wedding.
You can upgrade certain details, and many couples choose to say their vows in the Over-the-Water Wedding Chapel at Sandals Ochi (the approximate cost of this upgrade is $750).
A Sweetheart wedding package at Sandals Ochi includes:
- A wedding planner during booking to help prepare marriage documents, wedding website templates to choose from, and a gift registry
- Onsite wedding coordinator
- $200 credit on “select photo packages” and $200 credit on “select videography packages”
- Musical recording for wedding processional
- Dendrobium Orchid bridal bouquet and groom boutonniere (white or magenta)
- 1-hour wedding reception with “chef-inspired hors d’oeuvres, sparkling wine toast, signature cocktail, and non-alcoholic beverages, cocktail tables with white linen”
- White, two-tier wedding cake made of fondant with dendrobium orchid topper (white or magenta) served on white linen reception table cushioned chairs.
The Sweetheart wedding package is currently offered at $1,000 for up to 10 people (accommodation extra), but there’s a twist, so check out our tip below!
Destination Wedding Planning Tip: The Sweetheart wedding package is complimentary when a wedding couple books seven nights or more in a Club or butler-level suite. A Sandals wedding planner can advise you of any restrictions and the terms and conditions.
An Exciting and Inexpensive Elopement Can Be Yours
Sandals Ochi is a favorite with lovers who want to escape it all and get married in Jamaica!
The elopement package is called “Two Lovebirds,” and here are the main differences between this package and the Sweetheart wedding package:
- Choosing the Two Lovebirds wedding package is strictly for eloping couples (two people max)
- You receive the same wedding planning and onsite coordinator service
- You’ll enjoy a “Scents of Love” couples massage before your wedding
- There is a “bridal attendant” provided to witness your nuptials
- You’ll receive ten digital images of your wedding (photo and video upgrades available)
- Rose bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
- You two enjoy a private cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, sparkling wine, and a white, two-tier fondant wedding cake followed by a private four-course dinner (with prosecco) served under candlelight.
The Two Lovebirds wedding/elopement package does not include your accommodation, but it’s a fantastic way to get married in Jamaica and head straight into your honeymoon!
At the time of publication, the Two Lovebirds package costs $1,300 for the bride and groom.
