Are you dreaming of hosting your destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico?
Have 100+ guests on your invite list and need help figuring out where to start or how to narrow down the resort?
That’s why our expert team of destination wedding travel advisors put together a round-up of the best all-inclusive resorts for destination weddings in Mexico for weddings with 100+ guests.
When we have our initial conversation with couples, many people ask us when is the best time for a destination wedding in Mexico.
The short answer is “it depends”!
Historically, January to March were the most popular months for a destination wedding in Mexico because the weather tends to be warm, unlike in late July and August when it can sometimes be too hot.
The downside is the pricing is also the most expensive.
In the last few years, October and November have become incredibly popular as you’re past hurricane season, and pricing tends to be better than in winter.
We see weddings all year round now as couples balance their work schedules, personal obligations, venue availability, resort pricing, and airfare costs.
Similarly, couples often ask what time of day is best to get married in Mexico.
We’re suckers for a beautiful sunset wedding.
Most of our couples try to secure the last ceremony time of the day, which is usually 5 pm or 6 pm.
If you choose a summer month for your wedding in Mexico, we recommend avoiding a ceremony before 4 pm as the sun will be strong.
For some weddings, such as Indian weddings in Mexico, cultural events occur during the day, so events may start around 11 am or earlier.
According to a study from the Knot, the average destination wedding costs $35,600.
Looking at our data from planning hundreds of destination weddings in Mexico and the Caribbean, we see that couples spend, on average, $20,000.
The cost of your destination wedding largely depends on the resort, wedding package, and how many guests you have, which is one of the key things we’ll discuss in this post.
If you’re considering hosting a destination wedding with 100+ people, you may be worried this will break your budget.
From our experience, a bigger wedding can lead to more significant savings if you plan it correctly.
Let’s get into it!
From planning hundreds of weddings over the years, we consider a large wedding to be at least 100 adults.
One hundred adults works out to roughly 50 rooms at a resort.
With 50+ rooms at your destination wedding, you’re likely to unlock perks at an all-inclusive resort that you wouldn’t otherwise with a smaller resort.
If you have 50 guests at your destination wedding, you can look at our list of resorts here.
With 100+ person weddings in Mexico, it’s not super easy to identify the “right” resort for your special day.
A big resort doesn’t necessarily mean a good resort for a big wedding.
In fact, we work with some “small” resorts that plan and manage incredible destination weddings for large groups.
When we look at resorts that can handle a large destination wedding, we look for a resort with multiple venues.
Every resort in Mexico will offer multiple venues, but only some resorts will offer numerous venues to accommodate a large wedding.
You’re planning a wedding in a beautiful, tropical location and deserve to have beautiful and distinct backdrops for each event.
We have a video on gorgeous wedding venues in Riviera Maya that you can check out here.
In addition to multiple venue options, we look for resorts in Mexico that offer a backup plan in the event of wind, weather, or some other reason that your chosen venue won’t be available.
In this case, we typically look for a spacious indoor ballroom. We’re generally not fans of the backup plan being one of the resort’s restaurants as the layouts often aren’t conducive to a big event, like a 100+ person wedding.
Now we’ve identified how we narrow down our list of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico that can offer venues for a large wedding.
The next step is how we know if they can pull off the wedding events.
It’s one thing to offer beautiful venues. Designing, planning, and managing a large event is another thing.
And that’s something only some all-inclusive resorts in Mexico can handle.
We always remind couples that a resort good for vacation or a small wedding may not be the same as a resort that can handle a large, “complicated” wedding.
For example, an Indian wedding in Mexico often includes three separate events: the Sangeet and Mehendi, the ceremony, and the reception celebration.
Through decades of experience and planning hundreds of weddings, we’ve identified the on-site wedding teams that can pull off large events and nail the details.
Here’s our list of the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico to host a large destination wedding.
Best for: Endless family-friendly activities
Hard Rock Vallarta is a luxurious all-inclusive resort in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.
Some highlights of the resort:
Whether you desire an intimate gathering or a grand affair, Hard Rock Vallarta offers the perfect backdrop, exceptional services, and a rock ‘n’ roll vibe to make your destination wedding a truly extraordinary experience.
Best for: Combining an adults-only and family-friendly resort
Secrets and Dreams Bahia Mita is a luxurious resort in Bahia de Banderas, Mexico, offering two distinct sections: Secrets Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort and Dreams Bahia Mita Seaside Resort & Spa.
Secrets and Dreams Bahia Mita offers the perfect blend of natural beauty, luxurious accommodations, and exceptional services to make your dream destination wedding a reality, especially if you’re looking for a resort with distinct adults-only and family-friendly sections.
Best for: Luxury chic adults only
Le Blanc Los Cabos is an exquisite adults-only resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, offering couples a serene and luxurious retreat.
Le Blanc Los Cabos is one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Los Cabos to host a destination wedding. The incredible wedding team there will turn your dream destination wedding into a reality.
The best part? With a 100+ person wedding, many of your events will be free. Seriously. You’ll earn credits for all the rooms booked that will add up to thousands of dollars in savings for your events.
Best for: Luxury all-inclusive
Grand Velas Los Cabos is a luxurious all-inclusive resort located in Los Cabos, Mexico, offering an unparalleled experience for couples seeking a destination wedding.
Grand Velas Los Cabos offers exceptional services, luxurious accommodations, and breathtaking wedding venues to make your destination wedding an extraordinary celebration of love.
Best for: Top family-friendly all-inclusive resort
The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun is a luxurious all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico, offering a stunning setting for destination weddings. If you’re looking for a wedding venue in Mexico, the Grand at Moon Palace Cancun is our top pick.
The resort’s dedicated wedding planning team is committed to creating personalized and unforgettable wedding experiences, assisting with every detail to make your dream wedding come to life.
Whether you envision a romantic beach ceremony or a lavish indoor celebration, The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun provides exceptional services, luxurious accommodations, and stunning venues for your destination wedding in Mexico.
Best for: Affordable, family-friendly fun
Moon Palace Cancun is a luxurious all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico, renowned for its stunning beachfront setting and world-class amenities.
It’s one of the most convenient resorts, only a 15-minute drive from the Cancun airport.
Moon Palace Cancun is one of the best family-friendly resorts in Cancun for your wedding celebration.
From the various activities for all ages to the multiple wedding venues around the resort to the extremely talented on-site wedding designers, Moon Palace Cancun is one of our favorite resorts for a large destination wedding.
Best for: Wedding design team
Generations Riviera Maya and El Dorado Royale is located only 20 minutes from Cancun airport and combines family-friendly and adults-only sections, making this one of the most popular resorts for a destination wedding in Mexico.
Generations and El Dorado especially shines when it comes to big weddings, as the venues, staff, and resort amenities are a notch above and stand out to make your wedding day memorable.
While many resorts are beautiful, have great amenities, are fun, and make for a good wedding venue, Generations and El Dorado stand out as one of the top resorts in Mexico for a large wedding.
The wedding team at Generations and El Dorado is unbelievable. We’ve seen them pull off incredible events – sometimes with 400+ guests across multiple days.
They can transform any wedding venue into your dream destination. The team is responsive, understands the current trends, and is a delight to partner with.
Best for: Beyond Memorable wedding package
Dreams and Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort are luxurious all-inclusive resorts in Playa Mujeres, Mexico, offering a picturesque setting for destination weddings.
Technically these are two resorts next door to each other, with Dreams being family-friendly and Secrets being adults-only. Adults staying at either property can access the amenities at both resorts.
Dreams and Secrets Playa Mujeres presents a great venue option for destination weddings. You can double your amenities, activities, and restaurants, and adults can stay at the adults-only Secrets. Still, you can host your wedding events at Dreams so kids can join.
The Beyond Memorable package is one of the best wedding packages, given the value included.
We love the wedding team at Dreams and Secrets Playa Mujeres and feel confident in their ability to design and plan a large wedding making this one of our favorite resorts.
Best for: Nobody goes bored
Hard Rock Riviera Maya is a vibrant all-inclusive, family-friendly resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, offering a unique and rock ‘n’ roll-inspired experience for destination weddings and vacations.
Hard Rock Riviera Maya has beautiful wedding venues, a water park, a skate park, and various room categories, making it a terrific choice for a large destination wedding, especially if you have guests of all ages.
The main thing to remember is don’t just pick a large resort for a large wedding.
We often find a sea of mediocrity with resorts in that they may be great for vacation, but they cannot pull off the type of wedding events you’re imagining.
We look for wedding designers, not wedding factories.
The best resorts in Mexico understand what couples are looking for and can help turn your dream destination wedding into reality.
Thinking of hosting a smaller destination wedding? We have you covered with our list of resorts perfect for 50 guests on your list.
Our experienced wedding planners at Destination Weddings by Vacationeeze are with you every step of the way.
With decades of experience planning hundreds of weddings, our team understands what couples are looking for and how to navigate working with the resorts.
Our dedicated team will work with all your friends and family so you can focus on planning your dream wedding.
Ready to start planning your big day?
Call us at 215-454-2070 or get in touch with us here.
Looking forward to chatting soon!
Jared is a certified destination wedding travel advisor and has been recognized as a top agent by Palace Resorts, Karisma Resorts, Lomas Hospitality, and Hyatt Inclusive Collection.
He caught the travel bug early in his life as his parents (the founders of Vacationeeze!) instilled a passion for travel and adventure in him and his siblings.
Please provide your details and we will call you back.
