Steps to Planning an All-Inclusive Wedding in Cancun

Cancun, one of the finest gems of the Caribbean. Teeming with historic natural beauty and contemporary luxury, this Mexico destination should be at the top of your wedding planning list. Why, you may ask? Planning a wedding in Cancun ensures the finest all-inclusive wedding resorts, making the coordination process both smooth and rewarding. Let’s find out how to plan your dream Cancun wedding, with all of the perks and none of the fuss:

Step 1: Find a travel expert (that knows Cancun)

We can’t stress this enough: find a destination wedding planner that actually knows the area. There’s nothing worse than encountering a planner that doesn’t have the 411 on the best all-inclusive resorts. That’s where Destify steps in. For the past decade, we’ve worked with hundreds of award-winning brands and their properties, building a solid lexicon of reliable and flawless Cancun wedding resorts.

Step 2: Choose Your Resort

When it comes time to pinpoint a Cancun wedding resort, it’s hard to go wrong with closing your eyes and choosing a random property. There are many things to take into consideration when choosing your resort. Where are most of your guests traveling from? Which locations will have the most resort options? Which destinations will have the best prices? If you want the cream of the crop, we recommend the following hotels:

Hyatt Ziva Cancun

Sunscape Cancun

RIU Palace Las Americas

Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres

Dreams Vista Cancun

Step 3: Decide When to Have Wedding

While planning a wedding in Cancun, consider the fact that you’re hosting a ceremony on the Caribbean side of Mexico. The optimum time to hold your wedding in Cancun depends on which time of year you want to tie the knot. Let’s explore the wedding seasons Cancun, and the popularity of each time period:

Low Season: Between the end of October and the beginning of December. Weather is both pleasant and occurs during a low-travel period of time.

High Season: January through June: This is where you get your classic sun-soaked Mexico weather. Nearlyweds and travelers alike clamor for dates within this range.

Rainy Season: July through September: You want a Cancun wedding in the rain? That’s adventurous. While it doesn’t rain every day during this time of year, you still run the risk of hosting a wetter ceremony. Enjoy the low rates and perhaps add personalized umbrellas to the wedding favors list?

Step 4: Choose Your Wedding Package

It’s now time to pick a wedding package. At all-inclusive resorts, Cancun destination wedding packages are designed to provide couples as little or as much as they want. You get a lot with an all-inclusive resort, from design and food to a wedding department that will handle everything for you. Some resorts even offer gratis wedding packages, which you may learn about by visiting our FREE Wedding Packages website. A typical example of tiered packages found at most resorts is shown below.

Here are a few examples of luxury all-inclusive Cancun wedding packages:

Hyatt Ziva Cancun: Lavish & Opulent

Symbolic marriage Ceremony and certificate, performed by a Secular Bilingual Wedding Officiant

Bridal floral Bouquet and Boutonnière for the Groom

Signature Wedding Cake

Sparkling wine toast after the Ceremony

Special decoration of the couple’s room, complimentary sparkling wine and chocolate dipped strawberries the night of the Wedding

Massage for the Wedding Couple (25-min each one)

Romantic dinner for the Couple

Late check-out up to 3:00 p.m.

Onsite services of a professional Wedding Specialist

Complimentary online bridal registry and Wedding website

Ceremony table with white linen and folding Wedding chairs

Sound system for the Ceremony

Natural floral centerpiece for the altar at the Ceremony

Updo, makeup, manicure and pedicure for the Bride

15% discount on spa services for the Couple

10% discount on spa services for the Wedding guests

Private one-hour cocktail party after the Ceremony, which includes standard set-up, open bar and 3 hors d’oeuvres

A private three-hour Wedding reception, which includes a three-course meal, open bar, tables, chairs, white linens, white place setting and waiting staff

RIU Palace Las Americas: Classic Wedding Package

Wedding coordinator

Decoration set up for the ceremony location

Bridal Bouquet

Matching boutonniere

Recorded music during the ceremony

Semiprivate dinner at one of our specialty restaurants (just for the couple)

Wedding cake (just for the couple)

Sparkling wine during the main toast (just for the couple)

Special decoration in the room

Witnesses if required

Minister/Judge service

Marriage Certificate

Spa Surprise gift

10% discount in all Spa treatments for the Wedding Couple

Step 5: Choose Your Ceremony Type and Venue

You struck gold, planning a wedding in Cancun automatically guarantees a wondrous view of the Caribbean for your ceremony. That’s not all. Our Cancun wedding resorts feature a variety of venues that offer unique takes on the classic oceanside aisle. From sturdy pergolas to intricately-designed gazebos, choose from a selection of spaces that’ll cater to your needs.

Step 6: Plan Your Ceremony

Unlike a regular stateside wedding, much of the actual planning for your ceremony for a destination wedding doesn’t begin until around the 3-month point. That’s because resorts have it down to a science, and wedding departments won’t have as much time to work with you until your wedding date approaches. For some couples, this may be a plus or a minus, but you can rest assured that your wedding planner knows what they’re doing.

How To Get Around Cancun

Cancun is not only one of Destify’s favorite locations for destination weddings, but it’s one of the most famous tourist spots in the world!

With its gorgeous beaches and all-inclusive resorts, it’s not surprising that thousands of our couples have said ‘I do’ in this tropical paradise.

Not only are the luxury resort properties fantastic, but the surrounding area of Cancun is full of vibrant culture, gourmet restaurants, and lively nightlife! We encourage all of our couples and their destination wedding guests to soak up all Cancun has to offer.

Understandably, the idea of traveling around a foreign country can fill some visitors with apprehension.

Fear not!

We have the best Cancun travel tips and are here to give you the inside scoop!

Getting to Your Hotel

Your plane touches down, and you can practically taste the salty sea breeze of your resort’s beach.

Luckily, Cancun travel from Cancun International Airport (CUN) to your all-inclusive wonderland is an easy A to B!

Follow the signs to the pick-up location, and your driver is there waiting for you, holding a sign with your name on it.

Destify will prearrange your transportation shuttle ahead of time, but make sure that you’ve verified that your transfer is confirmed before travel!

The Cancun airport is located 25 minutes outside Zona Hotelera (the Hotel Zone), the 14-mile curving island strip home to most of the all-inclusive resorts in Cancun.

While this 25-minute ride is a quick, straight shot to your resort, keep in mind that local traffic will add considerable time to your trip. Make sure you plan accordingly!

Walking

Once you’ve gotten settled at your resort, you’ll find that leaving the premises of your hotel’s property, exploring the Hotel Zone, and Cancun travel is easy on foot.

The bending Hotel Zone is home to all-inclusive resorts, restaurants, shopping, gorgeous beaches, local attractions, boat tours, and much more.

The sidewalks in the area are well-sustained, wide, and easy to navigate.

You’ll find some of the most major attractions in the area by making your way to the middle of the Hotel Zone, where the island strip curves.

Between Fat Tuesday, Habaneros, Congo Bar Cancun, Cancun Wax Museum, and much more, there’s a ton to find in the Hotel Zone by taking a stroll.

Bus

Despite how easy it is to walk around the Hotel Zone, city buses are the most popular and efficient way to get around Cancun, Cancun travel in the bustling downtown area (Cancun Centro).

The bus route easily takes travelers to downtown Cancun, following two main pathways that stop at all of the main beaches, plazas, shopping malls, hotels, and all of the other major attractions in the area.

The buses in Cancun charge a flat rate of 12 pesos per ride, so be sure to have Mexican currency readily available!

Additional regional buses also bring tourists to other popular local attractions, such as the ADO buses that take travelers to spots like Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and the Chichén Itzá archeological site.

To get back to your all-inclusive resort, find the local buses that say ‘Zona Hotelera.’

Taxis & Uber

Taxi stands dot all of the major streets in downtown Cancun, especially around shopping centers and resorts.

Fares tend to fluctuate, but in general, a taxi ride from Cancun’s downtown to the Hotel Zone will run you $10-20 USD.

For quick rides around the hustling downtown area, expect to pay around $2-5 USD.

Again, make sure you have Mexican Pesos on hand, or don’t expect to get back any of your USD change!

Ubers are also prolific in the area. In general, Uber rides will be cheaper than taxis in the area and tend to be much more convenient.

Because of their ease of use, we recommend Uber and other ridesharing apps like them for short trips and Cancun travel in general!

Colectivo (Shared Vans)

Colectivos are shared local vans. They typically only take travelers to specific locations, such as the towns of Playa del Carmen of Tulum.

These vans are found on Avenida Tulum across from the ADO bus station.

While not as convenient as buses (and sometimes un-air conditioned), they are extremely affordable modes of transportation.

A Colectivo van from Cancun to Playa del Carmen will typically cost you just over $2!

If you have any questions or confusion about schedules, ask your resort’s front desk staff!

Renting Cars

Cancun International Airport has several car rental agencies for you. You’ll avoid higher rental cars rates by booking your selection ahead of time.

While booking your vehicle is easy, we don’t recommend doing so.

To put it bluntly, driving in Cancun is a bit of a nightmare.

In Cancun’s downtown area, heavy traffic, some unkempt roads, and almost no parking spots all guarantee a frustrating driving experience.

While the Hotel Zone typically has reserved parking spaces for guests, likewise for the restaurants and establishments along the Hotel Zone’s strip, we still don’t recommend going this route to get around Cancun.

Whether you’re in Cancun for a destination wedding, vacation, or for general Cancun travel, we suggest you take a load off and pay for your rides.

You’re only in paradisical locales like Cancun so often. Have a cocktail with lunch and let someone else worry about parking. 😉

Ferry

There are some fantastic island getaways near Cancun that you should absolutely pay a visit to!

Ferries are the only way to travel to these tropical oases.

There are three piers in the Hotel Zone, which you can easily access ferries from. These are Playa Tortugas, El Embarcadero, and Playa Caracol. The ferries run every half hour and offer their services from 9 am to 9 pm.

The roundtrip prices typically cost $20 per person.

While there are a few different island choices, we recommend going to Isla Mujeres.

Known as one of Mexico’s ‘Magic Towns,’ this 5-mile tropical isle is famous for its calm waters, rich national parks, the Manchones Reef, and a cozy downtown area with shops and restaurants.

For something extremely unique, visit Isla Mujeres’ underwater museum, MUSA. This aquatic wonder is dedicated to teaching people about the effects of climate change and the local culture of the comfy island.

Get Ready For Adventure and Book Your Dream Cancun Wedding Today

Feeling confident about Cancun travel and how to get around the Cancun hotel zone now?

Great!

Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico for a reason. It has so much fun, luxury, and culture to offer destination wedding couples and every member of their wedding party.

Even for travelers from other countries, getting around Cancun is both easy and affordable!

Make your bid day dreams a reality and talk to one of our wedding experts today!