If you are choosing Jamaica as the perfect destination for your dream wedding then congratulations!
With the crystal clear Caribbean ocean, reef-lined beaches, mountains, delicious cuisine, and friendly locals this will certainly be a wedding – and vacation – to remember.
Here we discuss everything you need to know about having a wedding on this stunning island and how to choose the perfect resort with an all-inclusive wedding package from the beautiful array of Jamaica wedding venues available.
Our list of top 5 family-friendly resorts in Jamaica for a destination wedding
Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall
Overview
- A stunning all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay offering luxury at every turn with some of the best Jamaica wedding venues you’ll find.
- Beautiful suites with ocean views and swim up pools will delight you and your guests.
- Loads of activities to keep you entertained from dance classes to snorkeling to drinking margaritas while the sun sets with Jamaican music playing in the background
Key amenities
- 12 restaurants, bars and lounges (We love the Brazilian steakhouse)
- Kids club for the younger guests
- Zen Spa on-site
- Watersports such as kayaking and snorkeling
- Jamaican dance, music and theatre
- Premium private dining opportunities
Wedding highlights
- Multiple wedding locations for up to 1,000 guests including beachfront venues and indoor ballrooms.
- The wedding specialists at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall will help you design the perfect menu for your dream wedding.
- Free wedding package ‘Intimate Elegance’ for up to ten guests including beach ceremony and toast for the whole group plus a couples massage and a beachfront romantic dinner for the happy couple.
Best for couples wanting a large Jamaica wedding
Zoetry Montego Bay
Overview
Overview- This five-star boutique resort is a gorgeous and intimate option with only 49 luxury suites and rooms, making it one of the smaller Jamaica wedding venues for you to consider.
- Tucked away on its own private beach in the upscale Rose Hall neighborhood, this is a luxurious laid-back paradise where the staff gets to know your name (and your drinks order!) on your very first day.
Key amenities
- 3 high-end restaurants where the cuisine is inspired by authentic Jamaican flavors (we love the jerk chicken hut!)
- Lots of little touches here like a local bottle of rum for each guests on arrival
- You’ll receive a very personal service, with amazing and attentive pool butlers
- Beautiful spa for you to relax and unwind
- For guests who want to party, the busier nightlife of Montego Bay is just ten minutes away in a cab.
- Plus the Zoetry have a relationship with larger resorts Breathless and Secrets so you and your guests can enjoy the nightlife and restaurants of these bigger locations nearby
Wedding highlights
- Only one wedding per day
- You’ll get the full attention of the wedding planning team on the ground
- Beautiful locations for you to tie the knot including a pier overlooking the crystal blue ocean
- The ‘Gift of love’ package is free for up to 25 people if you book a minimum of ten rooms for at least 3 nights.
- As the resort is so small you can work with the chefs who will tailor your menu to meet your wishes
Best for couples who want a small and intimate destination wedding in Jamaica
Moon Palace Jamaica
Overview
OverviewOne of our favorite resorts to work with, the Moon Palace Jamaica is a large tropical Oasis in the Ocho Rios area of the island – offering 700 luxury rooms with swim-up suite options.
An all-inclusive tropical oasis you’ll find there is lots do for guests of all ages here, your whole wedding party will love it.
Key amenities
- Up to 2 kids aged 0-17 can join you for free
- There are 6 restaurants including a food court and delicious international cuisine
- There are 2 vast wide beaches and 3 pools on site
- You’ll find a water park for the whole family including a Flo-Rider so you can try surfing
- Multiple Kids clubs to cover all ages
- There are several bars with games, pool and live music plus a nightclub on site
- You’ll find dazzling entertainment and shows each evening
- More buzzing Jamaican reggae clubs and nightlife just 2 minutes away
- The best waterfalls and jungles in Jamaica are near the Ocho Rios area
- Free airport transfers
Wedding highlights
- An array of beautiful locations for you to choose for your wedding, including a pier, pool decks, gardens, gazebos and patios
- If you’re having a wedding of around 50-60 guests we can pretty much get your wedding for free here – certainly your reception and cocktail hour.
We can advise you on which packages will work best for you and your party and get you the best deals on Jamaica wedding venues. - You can earn credit within the resort for every guest you have coming, meaning you can use this credit against lots of elements such as flowers, cake, decor and more.
Best for larger weddings with lots of kids joining you
Azul Beach Resort Negril by Karisma
Overview
The Azul Beach Resort Negril is a small beautiful option in Negril just 50 feet from the white sand.
There are no high-rise buildings higher than a palm tree in Negril, so there’s a really lovely and relaxed feel in this part of the island.
This is a great option for those with a young family.
Key amenities
- 280 rooms on offer (the oceanfront options are like 15 feet from the sand here!)
- There is an adults-only section of the hotel, so some of your guests can be placed there if they don’t have kids
- There are 18 great restaurants and bars here offering Italian, Jamaican, and seafood
- The Rasta lounge with a reggae attitude dedicated to Bob Marley is awesome
- Great activities from scuba diving and kayaking to yoga and spa
- The Azul Beach Negril offers a rare and fantastic supply of baby kit for young kids under 3 – they’ll provide all amenities such as a strollers and cots or specific food and formula saving guests from bringing their own
- There’s also a great Kids club here
Wedding highlights
- Gorgeous wedding venues – our favorite is the Sky deck which is 100% private and overlooks the ocean
- There’s an amazing wedding team on site here to help you with every element of your destination wedding planning
- We can typically negotiate a free reception for you with an open bar for and maybe even a welcome cocktail party – they are very flexible here
Best for families who love being right on the beach
Beaches Negril
Overview
This luxury all-inclusive small resort is located on the widest stretch of Negril’s famous 7-mile Beach – you just can’t beat being by on the fine white sand and that crystal blue water.
Despite this not being the largest of the Jamaica wedding venues there are 18 different room categories, so if you need for example a 3 room suite they’ll have it!
We also love that you can pair a room block with Sandals Negril, a stunning adults-only property right next door.
Key amenities
- Great accommodation options including the all-new beach-front villas
- 9 world-class restaurants plus great bars offering fine wines
- This is the only hotel in Negril that includes motorized water sports like scuba diving and wakeboarding in its all-inclusive offering
- Pirates Island Water Park is a kids’ fantasy with huge waterslides, pools, a lazy river, and a thrilling turbo tube slide
- Beaches has a partnership with Sesame Street so kids can play every day with their favorite furry friends and take part in fun-filled activities like Baking with Cookie Monster, Puppet Making with Bert & Ernie
- For the grown-ups, an array of massages and treatments are available at the Red Lane Spa
Wedding highlights
- A team of wedding planners are on hand to customize your perfect destination wedding in Jamaica – you choose the decor, ceremony inspiration, food
- Beautiful venues with breathtaking backdrops to tie the knot
- Depending on your numbers and time of year we can usually help you get a full reception for free
- There are some great free perks to be used at this resort
- There’s also a fantastic Honeymoon package offered to you to be taken 30 days after your wedding date
Best for couples with lots of families in their wedding party
How to choose from all of the Jamaica wedding venues?
Quite simply there are some beautiful Jamaica wedding venues across the island, but how do you choose the perfect one for you?
Before you make your decision you’ll need to work through various factors… how many guests are you having? What is your budget? What time of year are you considering? Are you inviting kids to your destination wedding?
You’ll find that the resorts in Jamaica differ in size, meaning that they have different levels of amenities for you and your guests to enjoy.
That also means the venues and vibe will be different.
If you have 100 people at a smaller resort (under 250 rooms) you may feel like you’re running into everyone from your wedding party all the time.
This can be a pro for some, but a con for others!
How much does a destination wedding in Jamaica cost?
A destination wedding in Jamaica for 50-100 people typically costs between $10,000 to $20,000.
When you’ve decided which of the Jamaica wedding venues best suits you and your partner, you’ll need to think about the number of guests and which kind of wedding package you want.
Some resorts will offer free wedding packages so if you are having a small wedding then it’s certainly worth checking – you’ll find there’s usually a minimum night stay required and other terms.
Most of the Jamaica wedding venues we work with offer packages to accommodate a variety of different budgets which is always good.
Our team can work with you to help curate the perfect Jamaica wedding for you – we can help you negotiate the best perks, calculate how many room upgrades you get (some resorts offer great incentives), and where possible get inclusions for free.
We wrote more about the average cost of a destination wedding, which can be found here.
What are the best Jamaica destination wedding packages?
Each of the venues we discussed in Jamiaca will have different wedding packages for you to choose from.
As an example, we want to share two popular wedding packages in Jamaica that couples love.
The ‘Lavish and Opulent’ package available at Hyatt Resorts, including the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, is a great option at $6,099 for the couple and up to 20 guests.
This includes the ceremony at a beach venue, a sparkling wine toast, cocktail hour, and a fully private reception with 3-course meal and an open bar.
The wedding package includes the full works: bouquets, wedding cake, floral centerpieces, personalized menus, couples massage, and champagne as well as discounts at the spa, free anniversary nights, and lots more.
Another great option is the Memorable Moments Signature wedding package for $2,950 up to 24 guests, available at the Azul Beach Resort Negril.
It’s a similar offering to the above, just doesn’t include the cocktail hour or a full 3-courses for your wedding day dinner.
Legal vs Symbolic Wedding in Jamaica
When planning your destination wedding in Jamaica you must also decide on whether you are having a legal or a symbolic wedding ceremony… but what exactly is the difference?
A Symbolic Ceremony is for couples wanting to experience an actual wedding – but the ceremony is not recognized as legal in Jamaica or your home country.
Couples may already have had their legal ceremony at home, or plan to have this at a later date.
The ceremony is performed by a Non-Denominational Minister
A Civil or Legal Ceremony is non-religious but is legally binding, performed by a Non-Denominational Minister.
This type of ceremony can happen any day of the week except on Jamaican holidays.
A civil ceremony does not include blessings of rings, religious readings, or any prayers; but most wedding planners will help and encourage you to personalize your own ceremony with readings, symbolic gestures and personal vows if you wish.
It’s important to note that you must legalize your marriage at your local court when you are home if you want it to be recognized as legal in your country of birth/residence – you can use the license and certificate that will be given to you in Jamaica by your minister.
Recap: How to pick from all of the family-friendly resorts for your Jamaica wedding
Whichever option you decide to go for, you’ve selected a beautiful tropical island to host your destination wedding, and your guests will have the most wonderful time in paradise at the wedding and on the extended vacation.
Our team can help answer any questions you may have about getting married in Jamaica.
Let’s chat to turn your dream wedding into reality!
