(Closed) Cheapest DW package you’ve come across?

• dynamic_duo
• 7 years ago

i did not do a whole lot of research on Destination Wedding packages, but was told that my basic package was on the inexpensive side.  It was $599.  however if you stay seven nights at the resort, the wedding package is free!!  I had my wedding at Sunset Beach Resort and Spa.  The package does not include any sort of reception though, so I put my money into a private reception dinner and bonfire on the beach.

this is what is included in the free package though:  (copied from their brochure)

The We Do wedding theme lets you celebrate your day with style and simplicity.  This service for four is the perfect choice for an intimate and memorable occasion.

Best of all, stay seven nights or longer* and the “We Do” Wedding Theme is FREE!

–         Picturesque wedding location

–         Personal wedding planner

–         Bridal bouquet

–         Groom’s boutonniere

–         Single-tiered wedding cake

–         Chilled bottle of sparkling wine

–         Recorded music

–         Marriage officer to perform the ceremony

–         Preparation of documentation

–         Certified marriage license

–         Special dinner reservations in a-la-carte restaurant for the bride and groom

–         “Just Married T-Shirt” wedding gift

* A minimum purchase of seven nights is required, in an ocean front category room package at Sunset Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios or Sunset Beach Resort, Montego Bay or a suite stay at Sunset at the Palms, Negril or if there is a group of more than 15 rooms in any category.  Guests not meeting the reservation requirements still qualify for the free “We Do” wedding package, with a 7-night stay, but must pay the licensing fees of $199.00. 

Price for stays of less than 7-nights is $599.

Prices do not include accommodations.

• dynamic_duo
• 7 years ago

forgot to say that Sunset Beach Resort was in Montego Bay, Jamaica!  So basically, if you want the most basic wedding possible. you can do it for free there.  If you have a small group, you can probably get a guaranteed dinner reservation in one of the a la carte restaurant for your group.

• dynamic_duo
• 7 years ago

just realized that the package description says it is for four people. not really true.  there is no limit on how many people you have at the ceremony. like they dont charge extra for chairs!  The “four” people aspect comes from how many can be served from that one bottle of champagne and one tier cake, yiu can add more of that and still get the overall free package.

• dynamic_duo
• 7 years ago

@brighteyedgirl: no problem! another great site to check out for DWs is http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com  i only wish i came across it way sooner in my planning process.  here is link to a thread i started just for info about Sunset Beach Resort and Spa. No one was really talking about this resort on there before since it seems like everyone else stays at the fancier 5 star resorts! now that i started this thread, more and more budget Destination Wedding brides are coming out, LOL.

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/68248/sunset-beach-resort-spa-past-and-future-brides-please-post-here/20#post_1615633

• MASPA
• 7 years ago

• Wedding: November 2012

vegas has tonsssss of packages

• SuperKate
• 7 years ago

I second http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com, the site has just about all the information you could need about different locations and resorts. It definitely helped me pick my location. 

• Ms. Martian
• 7 years ago

• Wedding: September 2012

It sounds to me like you’re more concerned about the cost of the package for your guests than the actual wedding cost. PurpleUnicorn’s is definitely one of the less expensive ones wedding package costs I’ve seen!

As for the cost to your guests, just do your research. Be reasonable, even if it’s your wedding and you want the best your guests might not want to pay the premium that some places charge (not saying you are not.. I just know what some people have paid & expected guests to pay)

Another idea would be to contact a travel agent that deals specifically with large groups and weddings. I like using a TA for large groups simply because they can lock in a great rate for your group!

• dynamic_duo
• 7 years ago

@Ms. Martian:   @brighteyedgirl: another thing i meant to say is that my biggest concern WAS guest costs. my prioirty was that our family and friends attend. So that is why we went with Sunset Beach Resort. It was basically the cheapest resort in Jamaica that was still good quality!  An all around great budget resort. In Jamaica anyway, it was at least $200 – $300 cheaper per person for a one week all inclusive stay than all the other resorts that were recommended for weddings by my travel agent.  the cheap wedding package was a bonus because then, like i said, i put my money into a fabulous private reception.

• Ms. Martian
• 7 years ago

• Wedding: September 2012

@dynamic_duo: That’s definitely (IMO) the right way to think about it. I think as long as you have a good idea what a reasonable price is for most of your guests and you stick within that then many will be able to come. You can’t really go wrong with most all inclusive resorts! 

• dynamic_duo
• 7 years ago

@Ms. Martian:  yup, and we decided from the beginning that the max we would ask our guests to pay for a one week all inclusive is $1500.  I think i got that number from when I travelled to the Caribbean several years ago. unfort. i think plane tickets started going up around the time i was planning, so it did limit our resort options a bit. and we also considered weather and our job situations, we had to do it before next fall as Darling Husband is starting a new job so we couldnt guarantee vacation time, but he also does not like extreme hot weather, so April was our best bet for prices and weather. it might have been a little cheaper in May, but it gets way hotter. so ya, we limited ourselves on cost and time of year and came up with the best compromise. 

• Mrs. Meerkat
• 7 years ago

• Wedding: December 2010 - Al Cielo / La Laguna

I know there were some resorts in the Riviera Maya that has similar packaging to Purple Unicorns but I am being total fail right now and can’t remember a single one! I know that where we stayed at you could do everything (ceremony and reception) for under $2K but that was on the high end of resorts.

The best thing you can do is start emailing resorts in locations you like (Jamaica, Riviera Maya, etc) and see where the pricing falls. I think you may be surprised how affordable some of them are. =)

• SuperKate
• 7 years ago

I think you have to decide which price point is more important to you, guest costs or wedding costs.

A lot of places offer free wedding packages but that’s usually only if you stay in an expensive suite for a given number of nights or have a certain number of guests staying there. 

If you’re more concerned with the wedding cost, I’d just look at wedding packages at the resorts and see which seems the most reasonable and then choose one that would work best for your guests. If you’re more concerned with guest costs, I’d find resorts that are the best with the most affordable prices, then go through their wedding packages. 

It actually surprised me how soon we were able to decide on a Destination Wedding location. We got engaged on Oct. 9, 2009. We quickly decided to get married in Mexico because it was cheaper than most of the islands. We then zeroed in on the resort by the end of October and put down our deposit on Dec. 8.