What's Included in an All-Inclusive Destination Wedding (and What Costs Extra)

Short answer: an all-inclusive destination wedding has two parts that are priced separately. The all-inclusive room rate covers each guest's room, meals, drinks, and resort activities. The wedding package covers your ceremony essentials: venue, setup, coordinator, bouquet, cake, and a sparkling wine toast. At many resorts that base package is complimentary when your group books a minimum number of rooms. Photography, hair and makeup, music, upgraded décor, extra guests, and legal ceremony fees usually cost extra.

By the Vacations For Less destination wedding specialists  ·  Last reviewed October 2026  ·  CST #2002477-40

The Two Separate Bills Behind an All-Inclusive Wedding

The phrase "all-inclusive" describes the resort stay. It does not mean the wedding is bundled into that rate. There is no industry standard for what "all-inclusive" covers, so every resort defines it for itself, and the details matter.

Bill 1: The All-Inclusive Room Rate

Paid by every guest, including you and your partner.

  • The room, for each night you stay
  • Meals at the resort's restaurants
  • Drinks, including premium brands at many resorts
  • Entertainment and most on-site activities
  • Extras vary by brand. Dreams includes 24-hour room service and Wi-Fi under Unlimited-Luxury®

Not included: airfare, and often airport transfers, excursions, and spa treatments.

Bill 2: The Wedding Package

Paid by the couple, or complimentary when your group meets the room minimum.

  • Ceremony venue and basic setup
  • On-site wedding coordinator
  • Bridal bouquet and boutonniere
  • Wedding cake and sparkling wine toast
  • Higher tiers add a cocktail hour, private dinner or reception, and décor

Not included: your own room stay, photography, music, and the upgrades listed below.

~10
guests covered by a complimentary package
$10–$250
per extra guest, depending on the brand
$1,500–$5,000
photographer or videographer estimate
~$800
Dominican Republic legal-ceremony surcharge

Typical figures from our resort partners and planning guides. Confirm exact amounts for your resort and date.

Included vs. Extra at a Glance

What the wedding package covers varies by resort and tier. This is how most of our resort partners work, so use it as a starting checklist.

Usually Included

  • Ceremony venue (beach, gazebo, garden, or terrace)
  • Basic ceremony setup and décor
  • On-site wedding coordinator
  • Bouquet and boutonniere
  • Wedding cake
  • Sparkling wine toast

Sometimes Included

  • Cocktail hour and private dinner (mid and flagship tiers)
  • Rehearsal dinner and full reception (flagship tiers)
  • Sound system
  • Hair, makeup, or shave services (some elopement packages)
  • A complimentary room night for the couple before the wedding
  • A spa discount or hydrotherapy access for the couple and parents
  • Officiant for a symbolic ceremony (a judge or minister can carry a fee)

Usually Extra

  • Guests beyond the package count
  • Photography and videography
  • DJ or live music
  • Upgraded florals and décor
  • Premium venues and restaurant privatization
  • Legal ceremony fees and documents
  • Outside vendor fees
  • Airfare, and often airport transfers

What Each Package Tier Typically Covers

Dreams Resorts & Spas is a good example of the structure, and Secrets Resorts & Spas also offers the flagship tier. Other brands such as RIU use their own tier names, so always confirm the details for your resort.

TierGuestsWhat it typically addsWhat it takes
Wedding in Paradise
Often complimentary		 Up to 10 On-site coordinator, symbolic ceremony setup, bouquet and boutonniere, cake and sparkling wine toast A qualifying group room block. The minimum varies by resort and season
Elope in Luxury 2 An intimate ceremony for the couple, with extras such as styling services or romantic dining at some resorts Booked at least 30 days ahead; not combinable with complimentary packages
Eternal Love Up to 20 Private cocktail hour and dinner reception, ceremony décor, and at some resorts a judge or minister and a private bar New wedding bookings only; booked at least 30 days ahead
Beyond Memorable Up to 79 Welcome cocktail party, rehearsal dinner, reception, and sound system 75 cumulative paid room nights (for example, 25 rooms for 3 nights) and booking at least a year ahead

Which tier fits your wedding?

Just the two of you
Elope in Luxury. An intimate ceremony for two, booked at least 30 days ahead. It cannot be combined with a complimentary package.
About 10 guests, keeping costs low
Wedding in Paradise. Often complimentary when your group books the resort's room minimum. Plan for extras like photography, which are not part of it.
About 20 guests with a private cocktail hour and dinner
Eternal Love. Adds a private cocktail hour, dinner reception, and ceremony décor for up to 20 guests. Extra guests are charged per person.
A full wedding weekend, up to 79 guests
Beyond Memorable. Welcome party, rehearsal dinner, and reception. It needs 75 cumulative paid room nights and booking at least a year ahead.
More than 79 guests
Ask your specialist about custom event options. Larger celebrations are usually planned with the resort's events team, so pricing is set for your group rather than from a standard tier.

See the full details in our Dreams wedding packages guide and our all-inclusive wedding packages comparison. Prices and requirements change, so your specialist confirms current terms.

What Usually Costs Extra (and How to Avoid Surprises)

None of these are hidden if you ask for them up front. They only surprise couples who assume "all-inclusive" covers the wedding itself.

Extra guests

$10–$250 / person

Every package covers a set number of guests: about 10 for a complimentary package and 20 for Eternal Love. Guests beyond that are charged per person, commonly somewhere between $10 and $250 depending on the brand and package.

Ask for the per-person rate in writing before you finalize your guest list.

Photography and videography

$1,500–$5,000

Professional photography is almost never part of a complimentary package and is usually an add-on at paid tiers too. Our free-packages guide estimates $1,500 to $5,000 for a photographer or videographer, depending on the coverage.

Budget for it separately, and ask whether any higher tier includes limited photo or video coverage.

Hair, makeup, and styling

Varies

A few packages include styling services, such as the elopement package at Dreams Macao Beach, which offers a choice of hair, makeup, or shave services. For most weddings, bridal hair and makeup is an extra cost.

Music, florals, and décor

Varies

A DJ or live band, upgraded floral arrangements, and décor beyond the base setup are typically add-ons. Basic bouquet, boutonniere, and ceremony setup are what the base package covers.

Premium venues and restaurant privatization

e.g. $3,000

Standard ceremony spaces are included, but sought-after venues and private dining can carry a fee. For example, privatizing the El Patio restaurant at Dreams Riviera Cancun for a dinner reception is $3,000. The restaurant's décor is already finished, so you spend little on top.

Judge or minister

Varies by resort

A symbolic ceremony is performed by a resort officiant, but a judge or minister can carry an added fee. Dreams resorts note that fees vary by property, and RIU lists minister or judge fees as paid separately from its free collection.

Legal ceremony costs

~$800

If you choose a legal ceremony abroad instead of a symbolic one, expect government fees plus document costs. The Dominican Republic charges a mandatory surcharge of about $800 for a legal civil ceremony, Baja California Sur's civil process runs roughly $800, and requirements vary by Mexican state. Apostille and translation costs are separate.

Most couples avoid this with a symbolic ceremony and a legal marriage at home. See Mexico's legal requirements.

Outside vendors

Varies by resort

Bringing your own photographer, DJ, or officiant can add a vendor fee or access restrictions that vary by resort. For South Asian weddings, a pandit, granthi, mehndi artist, or dhol player is usually an outside vendor with their own fee.

Taxes, service charges, and gratuities

Ask

Some quotes include them and some don't, especially for add-ons and extra guests. Ask whether the number you are given is the final total.

Cancellation fees

$250–$500

Several Dreams resorts charge a $500 penalty to cancel a confirmed wedding within six months of the date, and the elopement package at Dreams Cap Cana carries its own $250 penalty. Policies differ by resort and package.

Example (illustrative, not a quote): a complimentary package covers 10 guests, and 30 guests attend your ceremony. That leaves 20 extra guests. At $75 per person, that is $1,500 before any reception, photography, or music. Use our destination wedding cost calculator to see how the pieces add up, and our full cost breakdown for typical totals.

Is a "Free" Wedding Package Really Free?

The ceremony package is free in the sense that the resort provides it at no charge in exchange for the room revenue from your group. The rooms themselves are not free: you and your guests pay the standard all-inclusive nightly rate. The complimentary package also covers a small guest count and the basics, which is why the extras above are where most of your budget goes.

Example: RIU's Free Wedding Collection

5+ rooms3+ nightsUp to 10 guests$0 ceremony package

There is no room minimum at Riu Palace Costa Mujeres, Riu Bambu, and Riu Guanacaste. Dreams sets its minimum by resort and season. See free destination wedding packages and the RIU Free Wedding Collection.

10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Get these answers in writing. Your VFL specialist asks every one of them for you.

  • How many guests are included, and what is the per-person rate beyond that?
  • Is the quoted price final, with taxes, service charges, and gratuities included?
  • Which venue is included, and is there a fee for the one I want?
  • Who officiates, and is there a fee for a judge or minister?
  • Is any photography, video, or music included, or is all of it extra?
  • Can we bring outside vendors, and what is the vendor fee or policy?
  • Does the price change by season or day of the week?
  • What is the room minimum, and what counts toward it?
  • What are the payment deadlines and the cancellation policy?
  • Is there an advance-booking requirement for the package I want?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the wedding package included in the all-inclusive room rate?
No. The all-inclusive rate covers rooms, meals, drinks, and resort activities, and the wedding package is priced separately. At many resorts the base ceremony package is complimentary when your group books a minimum number of rooms.
Does the wedding package include the reception?
Usually not in the complimentary package, which covers the ceremony. Mid-tier packages add a private cocktail hour and dinner, and flagship packages add a rehearsal dinner and a full reception.
Are photographers included in all-inclusive wedding packages?
Almost never in a complimentary package, and usually an add-on at paid tiers as well. Budget for photography separately and ask whether any higher tier includes limited coverage.
How many guests are included in a wedding package?
About 10 for a complimentary package, 20 for a mid-tier package such as Eternal Love, and up to 79 for a flagship package such as Beyond Memorable. Guests beyond the package count are charged per person.
Are taxes and service charges included in the package price?
It varies by resort and quote, particularly for add-ons and extra guests. Ask for an itemized total that shows taxes, service charges, and gratuities so you know the final number.
Can we bring our own photographer or DJ to an all-inclusive resort?
Many resorts allow outside vendors, but some charge a vendor fee or limit access. Your specialist confirms the policy for your resort before you book.
What happens if my group falls short of the room minimum?
The complimentary package is typically unavailable, but you can still book a paid package. Your specialist can show how many more rooms would close the gap and what a paid package would cost.

What Couples Say

What Our Couples Say About Their Destination Wedding

Real weddings planned with Vacations For Less

Amanda and Michael destination wedding at Dreams Bahia Mita

Amanda & Michael

Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort · Mexico

Teresa and the team at Vacations For Less made our destination wedding an absolute dream. With over 350 guests traveling, their organization and attention to detail made everything seamless. From the ceremony to the reception, every moment was flawless.

Lisa and Danny destination wedding at Dreams Playa Mujeres

Lisa & Danny

Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort · Mexico

Coordinating travel for our beach wedding group was effortless thanks to Teresa from Vacations For Less. She handled all travel logistics, guest reservations, and details so everyone could relax and enjoy the celebration.

Kevin and Grace destination wedding at Secrets Playa Blanca

Kevin & Grace

Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres · Mexico

Teresa and Anna were incredible throughout our destination wedding planning process. They managed every reservation, transfer, and detail for our guests. Our wedding was absolutely perfect from start to finish.

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Included vs. Extra

  • Ceremony venue and basic setup
  • Coordinator, bouquet, cake, toast
  • Guests beyond the package count
  • Photography and video
  • DJ, live music, upgraded décor
  • Legal ceremony fees
  • Airfare and often transfers

Guests Included by Tier

  • Wedding in Paradise: up to 10
  • Elope in Luxury: 2
  • Eternal Love: up to 20
  • Beyond Memorable: up to 79

Related Guides

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