Whenever you see something offered for ‘free’, there’s usually a catch, right?
In the case of free weddings at all-inclusive resorts, the answer is yes…..and no.
The Truth:
The bottom line is this: For brides on a budget, having the resort where you plan to spend your honeymoon throw in the wedding ceremony for free can save many thousands of dollars. Yep you read that right, MANY thousands of dollars. Since all-inclusive resorts include food and beverages for all guests, what you save on the reception alone can be significant.
AND you can even save money on your honeymoon if you can commit to a minimum number of rooms booked (generally it’s not a high number, a small bridal party and a handful of family members attending and you’ll meet the minimum rooms), as many resorts will comp the price of the room for the bride and groom once the rest of the minimum required rooms are paid for.
If you’re planning a very small, and/or very simple wedding, the free package will likely be just fine for your needs, but keep in mind that because the ‘free’ wedding package often has some limitations you’ll want to read the fine print and be sure you’re clear on what is, and what is not, included.
The Hidden Truth:
While the basic-level ceremony can be free, you’ll still need to pay the fees for obtaining the various licenses and documentation required, and occasionally you must pay to have those documents translated into English. Some destinations have government-imposed fees as well.
Those fees are typically pretty nominal, but can vary depending on whether you’re going into town to visit the appropriate office (taking a taxi at your own expense) or they’re bringing the paperwork to you at the resort (generally more expensive). Also, if you’re having a civil (aka “symbolic”) ceremony instead of a legally binding one, then there’s usually a fee for the minister or justice of the peace, but even when there’s no fee for the officiant, it’s still customary to tip the person who conducts your ceremony.
Another often Overlooked Truth:
If your guests are shelling out a couple of thousand dollars to attend your wedding in paradise, don’t count on seeing a pricey gift from them as well….some may not be able to afford both a trip and that top-of-the-line Vitamix you have on your Gift Registry. This may be perfectly fine if you’re a little older and/or already have a well-stocked household, but for young couples just starting out in life, it’s a consideration.
Free Wedding versus buying a Package?
It’s likely that you’ll want to spend money on a few ‘upgrades’, such as additional photos and/or a professional video of your ceremony, as the free packages rarely include more than just a handful of posed photos. Be sure to ask the resort’s wedding coordinator about all the fees you might incur with the free package, and what upgrades you can order ‘a la carte’ without having to upgrade the whole wedding package.
The bottom line is that a destination wedding at a beautiful resort — even when you pay for an upgraded wedding ceremony package — can still be much less expensive than the combination of a wedding at home and then a honeymoon.
So don’t be afraid of the “free resort wedding”, just be sure you know what it might cost you.
