Newbie Here! Average Mexico Wedding Costs?

[AliciaW]

We just got engaged last week and have already decided we want to do a destination wedding! We're thinking Mexico because it's probably the most affordable for everyone coming. I'm just wondering what the average price is for a wedding in Mexico. And does anyone have any suggestions for great resorts with more affordable wedding packages? Any advice helps here as we're just starting to look. Thanks!

[nattiegams325]

@@AliciaW Congratulations! A wedding can be expensive or affordable anywhere you decide to get married. A misconception that I've come to realize that having a wedding in Mexico is going to be cheaper. Definitely not true. Especially when you start to add up extras and if you have more than 15 or 20 guests (the average covered in a wedding package), the price adds up very quickly.

 

Also depending on when you want your wedding – if you decide to come during the high season you should expect to pay more but have a really good chance at good weather. Versus the low season, the fall, prices will be cheaper but there's a higher chance that you'll have rain on your wedding day.

 

I would definitely get a travel agent to start. They can give you some great recommendations on hotels. Also start thinking about the kind of hotel you want and the size of your wedding. All-inclusive like dreams, palace, Iberostars, Barcelo vs non AI like Rosewood/Banyan tree mayakoba. Adults only or family friendly? Church ceremony or beach? What is important to you – a good night life such as in downtown Cancun or Playa del Carmen, more rustic Mexico like Tulum, a good beach? Also think about distance from the airport. A hotel in Cancun is a 10 minute drive, versus the Barcelo complex is an hour and a half south and Tulum even farther.

 

In my opinion, choosing the resort is the most stressful part. After that, it's all fun :-) good luck and don't hesitate with any questions!

[Msmimi]

Congratulations and welcome.

[JenniferH114]

@@AliciaW - I completely agree with @@nattiegams325. Also be sure to gather as much information as you can about the types of wedding packages offered and that includes what kinds of things cost extra. While you should always be prepared for a few unexpected expenses, I have read on here that some resorts have charged extra for things like chairs for the ceremony and then charged another fee for moving those same chairs to the reception location! (That seems absurd to me, by the way.) Everyone has a different budget and expectations, so knowing more of this info in advance will help planning go more smoothly.  

[starbx123]

Our wedding package for 40 people will cost us about $6500 US. Riviera Maya in mid-April. Plus everything else (wardrobe, photography, stationary, gifts, and other misc costs) we're budgeting total cost to be around $15000. I over-budgeted for a lot of things so our cost will probably be closer to $13000 all-in.

[Wafflesmom]

@@AliciaW I agreements what everyone has said so far and they've covered a lot of very important points. I don't know if you're from Canada but if you are, you'll also have to factor in the exchange rates. Especially since the Canadian dollar is quite low right now.

[calgarybride2015]

The resort I got married at has very reasonable wedding packages.  Their extras are very affordable and they don't nickle and dime you for setting things up and the like.

 

We had a wedding of 45 people. We took the free package and did all the upgrades we wanted. We went with the private beach and palapa for the reception. We had a lot of extra flowers (upgraded bouquets, bridesmaids bouquets, bouts for men, petals to sprinkle), mariachi band, had an extra 4 hours for our reception/open bar, cocktail hour, chair ribbons, mariachi, DJ for 6 hours, and with my hair trail, and wedding day hair/makeup I only paid $5000 after deposit. This also included some nice honeymoon items.   What was nice also is that our resort charged in pesos (helps with the horrible Canadian dollar) and tax was included - some brides get an extra 16% tacked on.  All my decor was put out for free and they didn't charge us to move chairs, etc. around

 

She also threw in somethings for free!!  Isle runner, Chinese lighted lanterns, etc.

 

The free wedding package was in an A'la Carte which I hadn't envisioned for my wedding, but some people do.  They have about 5 wedding packages you can choose from ranging from like $1800 (if you don't get it for free) to around $5000.  Lots of the larger packages had fluff we didn't need so we found it easier to go basic and just upgrade what we wanted. 

 

There are definitely great resorts out there with affordable wedding packages, you just have to look for them!

Edited February 6, 2015 by calgarybride2015

[Moments That Matter]

Congrats on your engagement, AliciaW and plans for a destination wedding!!! 

 

Our incomparable Mayan Riviera is a very popular choice for numerous wedding couples, for many reasons. Here are a few visual ones.....with more at this link: Cover Photos

 

 

 

Wishing you happy research, and all the best with your journey - Enjoy, cheers!!! team MTM

[LisaAnthonyPoppy]

Congrats! Something to consider is NOT choosing a resort. We decided to just let everyone choose where they wanted/could stay and then we chose to have our wedding at a beach club. Don't let beach club scare you. The beautiful beach club we chose did not have a rental fee, and you could get prices for about 40-50 bucks per person. Obviously you can customize it and the price would vary. We wanted to customize it so we are able to have whatever food we want, whatever dj, florist, baker, photographer we want, officiant etc and have to pay ZERO extra vendor fees!

 

Additionally we don't have to run around crazy worrying about people booking rooms, which seems to be a common stressor I see on here.

 

And we don't have to have our guests pay an exorbitant amount of money for a room while providing the option for those who do.

 

Just a thought.

 

Have fun!!

[maybeoneday]

@@LisaAnthonyPoppy love your last post....completely agree with you on that! More people might also come along to share your day if they are not limited to where they have to stay due to budget reasons ☺

 

Maybeoneday

12 October 2015....waiting confirmation

Royalton Riviera Cancun, Mexico