Sandals Destination Wedding Guide

Q: Which Sandals resort is best for a destination wedding?

It depends on your priorities. Sandals Grande St. Lucian is top-rated for romance and photography. Sandals Ochi, South Coast, and Royal Barbados are best for larger groups. Sandals Grenada is ideal for intimate celebrations. Sandals Royal Curacao offers the most unique and unexpected setting.

Q: When is the best time of year to get married at Sandals?

The Caribbean peak season runs December through April with the most reliable weather. July through September is hurricane season but weddings happen successfully throughout this period, and Sandals offers enhanced group incentives during these months.

Q: How far in advance should I book a Sandals destination wedding?

12 to 18 months in advance is recommended, especially if you have a specific resort, date, or room category in mind. Popular room types like butler suites and overwater bungalows sell out fast.

Revised: May 22nd 2026

The Ultimate Sandals + Beaches RESORTS
Destination Wedding Guide

If you have been dreaming of saying "I do" with the Caribbean breeze in your hair and warm sand under your feet, a Sandals or Beaches destination wedding might be the most beautiful decision you ever make.

I have been helping couples plan Sandals destination weddings for years. I am also a Sandals wedding bride myself. I have stood at the altar at a Caribbean all-inclusive, I have felt the overwhelm of too many browser tabs open at midnight, and I know exactly what couples need to hear first and what they wish someone had told them sooner.

This guide covers everything: what is actually included in the free Sandals wedding package, real budget numbers, which resorts work best for different types of weddings, group perks, legal requirements, and the questions couples ask me most. Think of this as your calm, clear starting point.

Why Sandals and Beaches Resorts Are Ideal for a Caribbean Destination Wedding

Sandals and Beaches Resorts have built one of the most seamless destination wedding programs in the Caribbean. This is not an accident. They designed the experience for couples who want a beautiful, wellsupported celebration without years of logistics experience.

Here is what sets them apart:

A complimentary wedding package included with qualifying stays
A dedicated on-site Sandals wedding planner at every resort
Gorgeous, photogenic ceremony venues ranging from beachfront to tropical gardens
Custom decor, photography, and floral options
All-inclusive pricing so guests know exactly what they are spending
19 resorts across the Caribbean to choose from
Strong group perks that reward couples for bringing guests

For busy couples who do not have time to coordinate vendors across a foreign country, Sandals removes nearly all of that friction. You get a full team, a trusted brand, and decades of experience making Caribbean weddings happen beautifully.

Sandals vs. Beaches Resorts for Your Wedding: Which is Right for You?

Both brands are part of the same resort family, but they serve different guest profiles

Sandals Resorts: Adults-Only, Romance-First

Sandals is exclusively adults-only (18+). If your wedding party and guests are all adults, Sandals gives you the most intimate, romantic atmosphere. Every resort offers the same commitment to luxury, overwater bungalows (at select properties), butler service, and an elevated all-inclusive experience.

Beaches Resorts: Family-Friendly, Multi-Generational

If children, teens, or multi-generational families are part of your celebration, Beaches is the answer. Beaches Resorts (with the primary location in Turks and Caicos) offers all the Sandals-level luxury with familyfriendly programming built in, including Sesame Street character experiences, waterparks, Xbox lounges, and certified babysitters. Many of my couples use a smart combination strategy: the couple and adult guests stay at a Sandals property while families with children stay at the nearest Beaches. Everyone gets the experience that fits them. Everyone shows up to the wedding.

What is Included in the Free Sandals Wedding Package?

Yes, the free Sandals wedding package is real. It is called the Sweetheart Wedding Package and it is included when the couple stays seven nights or more in a Club Level or Butler Level room.

Here is exactly what the complimentary package includes:

A personal on-site wedding planner
Ceremony location (standard venues; premium locations available at additional cost)
White Chiavari chairs for the ceremony
$200 credit toward select photography and videography packages
Dendrobium orchid bouquet and matching boutonniere
2-Tiered white fondant wedding cake
Table decor for a small reception
Private one-hour cocktail reception for up to 10 guests with signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine toast
oon package for the couple
$100 credit toward a private candlelight dinner, Snuba/scuba experience, or cabana rental

This is a genuinely generous starting point. Most couples choose to upgrade certain elements like florals, photography, or the reception, but the foundation is strong and the base package alone creates a complete, beautiful ceremony.

Note: The complimentary package requires a minimum 7-night stay in a Club Level or Butler Level room. Standard categories do not qualify.

Which Sandals Resorts Are Best for a Destination Wedding?

Sandals Resorts International operates 19 resorts across the Caribbean. Not all are equal for weddings. Here is my expert breakdown by scenario:

Best for Romance and Iconic Photos

Sandals Grande St. Lucian (St. Lucia) - One of the most photographed resorts in the Caribbean. Set on a narrow peninsula surrounded by two bays, it offers overwater bungalows and multiple stunning ceremony venues including a beachfront chapel. Jamaica (St. Lucia) wins for couples who prioritize the "wow" factor.

Best for Larger Groups

Sandals Ochi Beach Resort (Jamaica) — One of Sandals's largest resorts with multiple ceremony venues, a wide range of room categories, and activity-packed programming that keeps big groups entertained.

Sandals South Coast (Jamaica) — A stunning property with overwater bungalows and a more relaxed, spread-out feel. Great for groups who want that wow factor with room to breathe.

Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados — These two properties sit side by side and guests can enjoy both. This gives larger groups incredible flexibility in room categories, dining, and amenities, all on the same stretch of beach.

Best for Intimacy and Privacy

Sandals Grenada - A quieter, more secluded resort on a lesser-traveled island. Grenada is one of my personal favorites and I am one of the top Grenada agents in the country. If a couple wants to truly escape and celebrate with a close circle, this is the one.

Best for Unforgettable and Unexpected Location

Sandals Royal Curacao — If you want a wedding backdrop that looks like nowhere else in the Caribbean, this is it. Curacao sits outside the main hurricane belt, giving you more weather reliability year-round. The Dutch-influenced architecture, vibrant pastel colors, and crystal-clear water create a ceremony setting that is genuinely one of a kind. For couples who want something unexpected and unforgettable, Sandals Royal Curacao deserves a serious look.

Best for Family-Inclusive Celebrations

Beaches Turks & Caicos - The flagship Beaches resort. Stunning turquoise water, massive property with multiple villages, and an unmatched family experience. If children are attending your wedding, this should be your first conversation

Jamaica and St. Lucia tend to offer the most flexibility overall for wedding groups, with a wider range of room categories and flight options from most U.S. cities.

How Much Does a Sandals Destination Wedding Cost?

This is the question I get most often, and the honest answer is: it depends on you. Here is a realistic framework:

Your Cost is Built From Three Main Factors

1. Your travel and accommodations (your stay and your guests' stays)
2. The number of guests attending the wedding events
3. Your decor, venue, photography, and reception upgrades

Realistic Budget Ranges
• Wedding enhancements (decor, flowers, photography, reception): $6,000 to $15,000
• Couple's accommodations (7-night Club or Butler Level stay): $5,000 to $15,000+
• Guest room costs: separately borne by each guest

The beauty of a Sandals destination wedding is that guests pay for their own all-inclusive stays. You are not footing the bill for everyone's meals, drinks, and activities the way you would at a traditional wedding venue. That alone saves most couples tens of thousands of dollars compared to a domestic wedding.

I always tell couples: the free base package is real, but budget for upgrades. A more elevated floral design, a private reception dinner, or a premium photographer will add to the total. I help every couple understand their options clearly so there are no surprise invoices.

Sandals Group Perks and Wedding Incentives

One of the biggest financial advantages of a Sandals destination wedding is the group benefit structure. The more guests you bring, the more value you earn.

Book Your Wedding for September thru mid-December — Get Your 6th Room Free

When you book a Sandals destination wedding during the fall travel season (September through mid-December), Sandals rewards you with a credit equal to a sixth room. Most couples apply this directly to their wedding invoice or use it to offset their own room cost.

Couples often use it to:
• Reduce the couple’s room cost
• Apply the credit to your wedding invoice
• Gift a night to VIP guests

Book Your Wedding January thru August — Get Your 10th Room Free

For weddings outside of the fall season, Sandals provides a credit equal to a tenth room when nine rooms are booked in your group block. Couples often use this credit to upgrade to a butler suite or cover a parent's stay as a thank-you.

Couples love using this credit to:

• Upgrade to a butler suite
• Cover a parent’s stay
• Use as a credit towards the wedding invoice

Book 10+ Rooms, Receive a Group Discount on Room Rates

If your celebration includes 10 or more rooms, your group becomes eligible for contracted group rates:

• 13 percent off the contracted group room rate (standard)
• 15 percent off for weddings between July and September

These discounts apply across all rooms in the block and can represent thousands of dollars in collective savings for your guests. It is one of the most compelling reasons couples with 20 or more guests choose Sandals or Beaches Resorts.

The good news for you: I handle the entire group contract and management process. You do not have to track any of this.

How These Perks Work Together

Booking as a group doesn’t just elevate the celebration… it expands your benefits:

• Significant room savings
• Better availability and room placement
• Added perks tied to room count
• Upgrades and credits you can enjoy as the couple

And you never have to keep track of these details yourself. I take care of the entire group management process so the planning stays smooth and stress-free.

Sandals Destination Wedding Planning Timeline

12–18 Months Out

• Connect with a Sandals Wedding Specialist travel advisor
• Choose your resort based on guest profile, budget, and vision
• Secure your date and sign your group room block contract

9–12 Months Out

• Begin inviting guests and sharing your room block link
• Start building your decor inspiration board
• Set up your wedding website (free when you work with me)

6–9 Months Out

• Select your photographer and videographer
• Choose wedding party attire: dress, tux, and bridesmaid/groomsmen looks

3–6 Months Out

• Finalize ceremony and reception details with the Sandals WeddingMoon team
• Confirm flowers, menu, entertainment, and any private events

Final 90 Days

• Confirm final guest count
• Add flight details to all guest bookings
• Complete your pre-travel call with the Sandals planning team

Wedding Week

• On-site meeting with the resort's wedding coordinator
• Welcome cocktail party or dinner for arriving guests
• Your celebration and the beginning of your honeymoon

This is the rhythm of a well-planned, deeply supported Caribbean destination wedding. When you work with a specialist, every step has guidance behind it.

What Couples Wish They Knew Sooner

After helping hundreds of couples plan their Sandals weddings, certain truths come up again and again. Here is what I always share early:

• Your guests' travel budget influences resort selection more than almost anything else. A beautiful resort that is financially out of reach for half your guest list creates stress.

• Flight access matters. Not all Caribbean islands are equally easy to reach from every U.S. city. Jamaica and St. Lucia have the broadest direct flight options.

• Not all venues offer the same level of privacy. Some ceremony locations at larger resorts are in direct view of the pool or beach crowd. If privacy matters to you, say so early.

• Popular room categories sell out. Butler suites and overwater bungalows at top resorts go fast. Book your block early

• Simpler decor often photographs better. Lush but minimal often creates more stunning images than elaborate setups on a beach

• Your relationship with your travel advisor matters as much as the resort. You will work together for months, sometimes over a year. Chemistry matters.

• Jamaica and St. Lucia offer the most flexibility for wedding groups

Why Work with a Sandals Certified Wedding Specialist?

You can book Sandals direct. But working with a certified specialist means clearer guidance, expert resort matching, and a real human being managing every detail for you and your guests.

When you work with me, here is what you get:
• Personalized resort matching based on your guest profile, vision, and budget

• Full group contract management so you never chase a room count spreadsheet

• Support through every travel surprise, from weather events to room assignment issues

• Insider timing, upgrade, and venue guidance from someone who has planned dozens of these

• A travel advisor who is also a real Sandals wedding bride and genuinely cares about your experience

I am a Sandals Royal Chairman Platinum Elite advisor, one of Jamaica's Top 50 Travel Advisors, a Top 25 St. Lucia agent, a Top 100 Antigua agent, a Top Grenada agent, and a recipient of The Knot Best of Weddings award. I have helped hundreds of couples turn their destination wedding dreams into the day they will talk about for the rest of their lives.

My planning services are completely free to you. Sandals compensates travel advisors directly, so you get expert guidance at no added cost.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sandals Destination Weddings

Is the Sandals "free" wedding package really free?

Yes. The Sandals Sweetheart Wedding Package is included at no additional charge when the couple stays a minimum of seven nights in a Club Level or Butler Level room. It includes a planner, ceremony location, bouquet, boutonniere, wedding cake, cocktail reception for up to 10 guests, and more. Upgrades are available but never required.

How much does a Sandals destination wedding cost?

Most couples budget $6,000 to $15,000 for wedding enhancements (decor, photography, private reception) plus $4,000 to $12,000 or more for their own accommodations. Guest room costs are paid individually by each guest. The total is typically far less than a comparably beautiful domestic wedding.

Which Sandals resort is best for a destination wedding?

It depends on your priorities. Sandals Grande St. Lucian and Sandals St Vincent are top-rated for romance and photography. Sandals Ochi and South Coast in Jamaica are best for large groups. Sandals Grenada is ideal for intimate celebrations. Sandals Royal Curacao is the most luxury-forward. A specialist can match you to the right property based on your guest list size, budget, and vision.

How many guests can attend a Sandals destination wedding?

Sandals destination weddings can accommodate intimate elopements all the way to large celebrations of 100+ guests. Group perks kick in at 5, 9, and 10 rooms, so the more guests you bring, the more value you unlock. The size of your ceremony venue and reception space will depend on the resort and package you select.

What documents do I need to get legally married at Sandals?

You will typically need valid passports, certified birth certificates with raised seals, and proof of single status (divorce decree or death certificate if either party was previously married). Most islands require the couple to arrive one to two days before the ceremony to complete the marriage license. Each island has their own requirements. The Sandals WeddingMoon team coordinates the island-specific requirements.

What is the difference between Sandals and Beaches for weddings?

Sandals is exclusively adults-only and ideal for couples and adult guest lists. Beaches Resorts welcome children and families, with a flagship property in Turks and Caicos that is a popular choice for multi-generational wedding groups. Many couples use both: they stay at Sandals while families with children stay at Beaches

When is the best time of year to get married at Sandals?

The Caribbean’s peak season runs from December through April, offering the most reliable weather. Shoulder season (May, June, November) offers lower rates with still-favorable conditions. July through October is technically hurricane season, though weddings happen successfully throughout this period. Sandals offers enhanced group discounts from July to September 2026 specifically, which can represent significant savings for couples with larger groups. I always counsel couples on weather risk and cancellation protection for any booking.

How far in advance should I book a Sandals destination wedding?

I recommend starting 12 to 18 months in advance, especially if you have a specific resort, date, or room category in mind. Popular room types (butler suites, overwater bungalows) sell out fast. Group contracts also need time to build. The earlier you start, the more options you have.

Do I need a travel agent for a Sandals destination wedding?

You can book directly with Sandals, but a certified Sandals Wedding
Specialist advisor manages your group contract, coordinates room assignments, handles guest logistics, and provides guidance that a resort call center simply cannot replicate. And because Sandals pays advisors directly, working with a specialist costs you nothing extra.

Can I bring my own photographer to a Sandals wedding?

Sandals has preferred vendor policies that vary by resort. In many cases, an outside photographer will need to be approved and may be subject to a vendor fee. The resorts offer photography packages of their own, and I help couples evaluate whether those packages meet their needs or whether pursuing an outside photographer makes sense for their wedding.

Ready to Start Planning Your Sandals or Beaches Destination Wedding?

You deserve a wedding day that feels like you. Not like a template, not like someone else's vision of paradise, but like the most beautifully personal version of the best day of your life.

I am here to help you get there, resort match, group management, timeline, decor ideas, guest communication, and all the moments in between. My planning services are completely free to you.

As one of Sandals & Beaches Top Wedding Travel Agents as well as awarded Jamaica's Top 50 Travel Advisors, and top Antigua, Grenada and St Lucia agent, I have helped hundreds of couples turn their destination wedding dreams into once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I’ll handle the logistics — from group contracts to guest management — so you can focus on the joy of saying I do in paradise.

✨ If your heart is leaning toward a celebration in the Caribbean, I’m here to help you bring it to life. Reach out and we’ll start shaping a wedding day that feels beautifully you.

👉 Contact me at Sunlover Travel to start planning with an award-winning destination wedding travel agent who genuinely cares about you!

The Ultimate Sandals and Beaches Resort Destination Wedding Guide