{"id":29112,"date":"2023-02-16T07:48:55","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T12:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/?p=29112"},"modified":"2026-03-25T10:48:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:48:17","slug":"all-inclusive-destination-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/all-inclusive-destination-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"All-Inclusive Destination Weddings &#8211; 10 Facts Planners (Might) Skip"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Planning an <strong>all-inclusive destination wedding<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>You should know not all destination wedding planners were created equal!<\/p>\n<p>Some of them might skip over details for their own benefit.<\/p>\n<p>Not us!<\/p>\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/playadelcarmen.com\/weddings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">award-winning destination wedding<\/a> team pride itself on <strong>full transparency and honest advice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Discover the nitty gritty of destination wedding planning right here&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>10 All-Inclusive Destination Wedding Facts Every Good Planner Should Share<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#wedding\">Wedding Packages and the Number of Guests<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#adaptations\">Adaptations to Wedding Packages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#expenses\">Expenses not in the Wedding Package<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#venues\">Wedding Venues at a Premium<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#taxes\">Taxes on a Destination Wedding<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#accommodation\">Accommodation for the Wedding Couple and Guests<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#free\">Free Destination Wedding Packages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#checking\">Checking the Location<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#activities\">Activities and Entertainment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#after\">After the Celebrations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#plan\">Plan Your Destination Wedding with Transparent and Honest Help<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"wedding\">1. Wedding Packages and the Number of Guests<\/h2>\n<p>All <strong>destination wedding packages<\/strong> come with a certain number of guests included.<\/p>\n<p>But what happens if you have more or fewer guests than the package covers?<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ll start by saying that if you have <strong>fewer than the maximum number of guests covered<\/strong> by the package you choose, the <strong>price remains the same<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You won&#8217;t get a reduction.<\/p>\n<p>If you have <strong>more guests than the package covers<\/strong>, you can either look for a different package with a higher number of guests included, or you can <strong>pay extra for each additional guest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget that you also need to consider the <strong>maximum occupancy for venues<\/strong> at your chosen resort.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29119\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-guest-numbers.jpg\" alt=\"a bride and groom walking through a group of wedding guests all dressed in white \" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29119\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heads up&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Remember that <strong>everyone at the wedding counts in the number of guests<\/strong>, including the wedding couple and any children attending.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re thinking of having a big wedding, it helps to choose a suitable resort.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at my blog post for inspiration.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/200-guest-wedding-mexico\/\">&#8220;10 Best Wedding Resorts for 200+ Guests in Mexico (2026)&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"adaptations\">2. Adaptations to Wedding Packages<\/h2>\n<p>Want to swap a feature of an <strong>all-inclusive destination wedding package<\/strong> for something else?<\/p>\n<p>The bad news is that <strong>resorts usually won&#8217;t allow you to<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29120\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-package-inclusions.jpg\" alt=\"a beach wedding setup with chairs decorated with pink bows \" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29120\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can choose not to have a certain package feature as part of your celebrations, but <strong>you&#8217;ll still pay the same price<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to add a feature, you&#8217;ll usually be able to, but <strong>you&#8217;ll have to pay extra for the feature<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Bear in mind this <strong>lack of flexibility<\/strong> when you&#8217;re choosing a destination wedding package.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"expenses\">3. Expenses not in the Wedding Package<\/h2>\n<p>When you&#8217;re working out how much you&#8217;ll spend on your destination wedding, <strong>make sure to include all expenses<\/strong>, not just the major ones.<\/p>\n<p>Features of your celebration, such as the ceremony, reception dinner, and cocktail hour, may be included, depending on which package you choose.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29121\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-expenses.png\" alt=\"someone using a laptop and holding a bank card\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29121\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But if you opt for <strong>additional features<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll need to <strong>factor in the extra cost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you may want to hire a DJ or a videographer.<\/p>\n<p>You may also want to choose extra flowers or luxury decor for the reception space.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-venues-.jpg\" alt=\"Tulum Ballroom at Wyndham Alltra Cancun \" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29122\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Also, don&#8217;t forget items such as your make-up and hairstyling on the day and any transportation costs.<\/p>\n<p>This budgeting may sound stressful, but it&#8217;s actually straightforward as long as you list everything and take account of each expense.<\/p>\n<p>Plus&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>As local experts, we&#8217;ll ensure you <strong>get the best bang for your buck<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"venues\">4. Wedding Venues at a Premium<\/h2>\n<p>When you choose a package for your all-inclusive destination wedding, <strong>a venue for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception is usually included<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll find that these venues are <strong>romantic and decorated for your big day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>However, <strong>resorts consider some venues to be premium locations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If you choose one of these venues for your wedding celebrations, <strong>you&#8217;ll have to pay an extra charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29123\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-premium-venues.png\" alt=\"Sky Terrace at The Fives Playa Del Carmen\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29123\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A good example of this is that a beach location is included in a popular wedding package, but a couple wants to say &#8220;I do&#8221; on the outdoor roof terrace.<\/p>\n<p>The terrace is a premium location with breathtaking views, so there&#8217;s an additional fee to pay.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking at a specific location for your wedding, <strong>always check for any extra fees attached<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"taxes\">5. Taxes on a Destination Wedding<\/h2>\n<p>When you see the costs of a destination wedding package listed, the listing will say <strong>whether tax is included or not<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the time, <strong>tax is part of the cost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>But that&#8217;s not the whole story&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Costs for extra services and guests you pay for attract extra tax.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, the <strong>rate of VAT in Mexico is 16%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29124\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-tax.png\" alt=\"the word tax written on the key of a computer keyboard \" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29124\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You also need to add in the cost of <strong>service fees for features like catering<\/strong> when calculating the taxes you can expect to pay.<\/p>\n<p>The members of our team are experts in this area, and we&#8217;re more than happy to help you understand any taxes payable as part of our destination wedding planning services.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"accommodation\">6. Accommodation for the Wedding Couple and Guests<\/h2>\n<p>Opting for a <strong>destination wedding package<\/strong> is a great way to save money on your celebrations.<\/p>\n<p>But it&#8217;s important to remember that not everything is included.<\/p>\n<p>Some packages include a complimentary room for one member of the wedding couple on the night before the wedding.<\/p>\n<p>However, generally, accommodation for the wedding couple isn&#8217;t included, so you&#8217;ll need to <strong>arrange accommodation for you and your partner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You can do this separately, or you can<strong> make a block booking for you and your wedding guests.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29125 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-accommodation.jpg\" alt=\"all inclusive destination wedding facts every good planner should share\" width=\"760\" height=\"760\" data-id=\"29125\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also important to realize that <strong>all-inclusive resorts have accommodation rules in place<\/strong> if you want to host your wedding there.<\/p>\n<p>Normally, they require that <strong>a minimum of 80% of your guests stay at the property<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Also, if any of your guests stay elsewhere, they&#8217;ll need to buy a day pass so they can attend your wedding.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"free\">7. Free Destination Wedding Packages<\/h2>\n<p>You&#8217;ll often see <strong>the word FREE attached to wedding packages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This seems like an amazing deal, right?<\/p>\n<p>Be aware that there are <strong>restrictions to these packages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>They&#8217;re <strong>often pretty limited<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>For example, they normally include only a small number of guests, and they&#8217;re usually only for weekdays at certain times, such as 11:00 a.m. or 1 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, other features, such as a cake and a cocktail hour, are normally not included.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29126\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-free-packages.jpg\" alt=\"a wedding couple with a large freestanding love sign in a garden location\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29126\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So, these packages are often only suitable for elopements or very intimate occasions.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, the free option is often only available if <strong>certain accommodation booking requirements are met<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29127 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-wedding-packages.jpg\" alt=\"all inclusive destination wedding facts every good planner should share\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29127\" \/><\/p>\n<p>These requirements often involve <strong>booking a certain number of rooms in a specific category<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This category is most often amongst the most expensive in the resort.<\/p>\n<p>Given the restrictions and requirements, free packages are often not as appealing as they may seem initially.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"checking\">8. Checking the Location<\/h2>\n<p>Your destination wedding is a major expense in your life, so you want to <strong>make the right decisions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>One of your most important choices is <strong>the location for your celebrations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Destinations like the Riviera Maya are stunning, but you still have to ensure the place you choose is right for you.<\/p>\n<p>You also need to decide on the perfect <strong>all-inclusive resort for your wedding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29128 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-location.png\" alt=\"all inclusive destination wedding facts every good planner should share\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29128\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Often the best way to do this is to <strong>visit the location before your wedding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Some resorts offer special deals, so you can do this.<\/p>\n<p>If you can&#8217;t visit beforehand, we&#8217;re happy to help you get a better understanding of what to expect.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re experts on <strong>destination weddings in Mexico,<\/strong> and we have first-hand knowledge of the resorts, venues, and packages you can choose for your celebrations.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll <strong>always be completely honest with you<\/strong>, and we&#8217;ll never recommend any resort or experience unless we know they&#8217;ll deliver.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"activities\">9. Activities and Entertainment<\/h2>\n<p>The wedding celebrations are just part of the story regarding your big event.<\/p>\n<p>You and your wedding guests need other entertainment and activities to keep you entertained outside of the celebrations that are part of <strong>all-inclusive destination weddings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Some of these activities are a feature of your stay at an all-inclusive resort.<\/p>\n<p>However, you may also want to check out the local area.<\/p>\n<p>For example, we&#8217;ll arrange <a href=\"https:\/\/playadelcarmen.com\/activities\">tour and activities<\/a> for you when we help you plan your<strong> destination wedding in Mexico<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The tours we book include visiting the ancient site of Chichen Itza.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29129\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-actvities.png\" alt=\"Chichen Itza\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29129\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;re planning trips and activities for you and your wedding guests, don&#8217;t expect everyone to want to join in.<\/p>\n<p>Most guests will want to spend some time exploring on their own.<\/p>\n<p>Not giving them time to do this is a mistake that many wedding couples make.<\/p>\n<p>Check out my blog post for more info about this.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/destination-wedding-mistakes-to-avoid\/\">&#8220;Top 15 Destination Wedding Mistakes to Avoid \u2013 Your Ultimate Guide&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"after\">10. After the Celebrations<\/h2>\n<p>You may be attracted to <strong>all-inclusive weddings<\/strong> that include free honeymoon nights.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;d recommend that you think carefully about the pros and cons of this offer.<\/p>\n<p>If you choose to stay on at the same resort for your honeymoon, <strong>you may bump into your wedding guests<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-29130 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/things-planners-dont-say-after-the-wedding.jpg\" alt=\"all inclusive destination wedding facts every good planner should share\" width=\"760\" height=\"500\" data-id=\"29130\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is especially likely if any of your guests decide to extend their stay and enjoy a family vacation.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on how much privacy you want, this may not be a problem.<\/p>\n<p>If you really don&#8217;t like the idea of having other people around, you may prefer to <strong>move elsewhere for your honeymoon<\/strong>, or you could even <strong>delay it until a later date<\/strong>, so you get to extend your celebration period.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever you decide to do about your honeymoon, there are some <strong>resorts we recommend for this romantic experience<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Take some time to read my blog post for more advice about this.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/romantic-honeymoon-resorts-cancun\/\">&#8220;10 Most Romantic Resorts For Your Honeymoon in Cancun 2026&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"plan\">11. Plan Your Destination Wedding with Transparent and Honest Help<\/h2>\n<p>Need some help <strong>organizing your destination wedding in Mexico<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s fabulous news.<\/p>\n<p>Our team at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/playadelcarmen.com\/weddings\">PlayaDelCarmen.Com<\/a>\u00a0is excited to help you.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll put our <strong>local knowledge and insights<\/strong> to use to ensure you get the wedding of your dreams.<\/p>\n<p>And we&#8217;ll always be completely honest with you, so there&#8217;ll be surprises.<\/p>\n<p>Call us at\u00a0<a href=\"tel:8885379797\">888-537-9797<\/a>\u00a0 or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/weddings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">complete the contact form<\/a> on the website to discuss your wedding plans and start your planning journey.<\/p>\n<h3>Have questions about all-inclusive destination weddings?<\/h3>\n<p>If you have any questions about <strong>all-inclusive destination weddings<\/strong>, I&#8217;m here to help.<\/p>\n<p>Just pop your questions in the comments, and I&#8217;ll get on it.<\/p>\n<p>And, if you loved this post, it would be fantastic if you would share it on social media.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>All-Inclusive Destination Wedding Blogs You May Find Useful<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/right-wedding-planner-or-coordinator-for-you\/\">Guide to Choosing Destination Wedding Planner or Travel Agency<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/your-guide-to-saving-money-on-a-destination-wedding\/\">Your Guide to Saving Money on a Destination Wedding <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/best-resorts-all-inclusive-destination-weddings\/\">10 Best Resorts for All-Inclusive Destination Weddings <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planning an all-inclusive destination wedding? You should know not all destination wedding planners were created equal! Some of them might skip over details for their own benefit. Not us! Our award-winning destination wedding team pride itself on full transparency and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":29132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[795],"tags":[1391,1250,1243],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29112"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29112"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31714,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29112\/revisions\/31714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}