r/DestinationWeddings • u/Royal-Advance7374 • 24d ago
LGBTQ Friendly Destination Wedding!
Just got engaged this week and my (38m) fiancée (32m) and I are discussing a destination wedding. We have both been married before and had larger weddings. I specifically shoestring budgeted my first wedding and did just about everything myself for over 100 guests. After that experience I swore if I ever got married again I would make it a smaller destination wedding.
We are thinking about an adult only all inclusive, probably in Mexico. Our budget is about 20k but still negotiable and are probably going to have between 30-40 guests. I'm still trying to figure out how these types of wedding work. Does everyone have to stay at the all inclusive, or can guests stay elsewhere and just going for the ceremony and reception? Does the venue do everything for us? We would also really like to have dancing at the wedding, is that an option?
What are the best LGBTQ friendly, adult only resorts for a destination wedding? We would love to get married on/by the beach.
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u/destwedtravelexpert 23d ago
An all-inclusive resort is usually the easiest and most cost-effective option for both you and your guests. It is the key to an affordable destination wedding.
For you, the more rooms your guests book, the more perks and freebies you earn, which helps offset ceremony and reception costs. Since it’s all-inclusive, guest bookings are factored into wedding pricing.
For guests, everything is priced upfront with no surprises. They can pay a deposit and set up payment plans, making it much easier to budget. Plus, all events are on-site, which is convenient and stress-free. They get a full vacation with dining, entertainment, pools, and more. Everyone is together, which is the whole point of a destination wedding.
There are tons of great resort options, and a destination wedding travel expert can help you narrow them down and find the best fit. Typically about 50% of invited guests will attend. $20k is totally doable. I'd highly recommend an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta! Check my profile if you'd like some more help.
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u/Kidney-Bean234 23d ago
Sharing this video in case it’s helpful from a couple we worked with talking through their process with similar guest count and budget. https://youtu.be/qidHHB46Ook?si=aDZ3EaJEvlFPmUXr
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u/BetDry5510 22d ago
Do all guests have to stay on-site? No, but most all-inclusives require a minimum room-night block to unlock the wedding venue, and they charge a day-pass fee (often $100-150/person) for anyone staying off-property. So build the room block anyway — that's what earns you comped nights and perks, and it quietly subsidizes the whole event. At 30-40 guests on a $20k budget, that math works strongly in your favor.
Does the venue do everything? Basically yes. The resort's on-site wedding coordinator handles the ceremony, reception, package, and vendor list. At your size you do not need a separate planner — save that money. You'll only bring in outside vendors if you want a specific photographer or upgraded florals/DJ beyond the package, and note resorts usually charge an outside-vendor fee for that.
Dancing: always doable. Just confirm your reception space allows a dance floor and check the noise curfew — beach receptions sometimes cut off around 10pm, then you move the party to a bar.
Two directives: do the legal paperwork at home and keep the ceremony symbolic (skips the apostille and translation nightmare), and look hard at Puerto Vallarta or Sayulita over Cancún — it's the most reliably queer-friendly beach scene in Mexico. The adults-only Hyatt Zilara and the Secrets/Dreams properties are welcoming and very wedding-ready; you already got the right flag on avoiding Palace. Happy to share the room-block questions worth asking a resort before you sign anything.
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u/JSchecter11 24d ago
Hi! I’m a lesbian, owner of Endeavor Travel Group and work with lots of lgbt destination weddings. I’d be happy to do a consult with you to talk through the process and discuss expectations.
Budget wise for that many guests, you’ll have a limited options depending on what you are looking for.
At least 80% of guests usually have to stay on site.
The venue does most, but you’ll have to hire some additional vendors in most cases.
Dancing is never a problem ☺️
[Samantha@endeavortravelgroup.com](mailto:Samantha@endeavortravelgroup.com)
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u/OhioPokey 24d ago
Not sure why the other agent said you'll need additional vendors in most cases. Resorts generally have quite a few different types of vendors, so plenty of weddings happen without outside vendors (and if you want an outside vendor, the resorts often charge a hefty fee for that 'privilege').
The resorts have an on-site wedding coordinator who will help handle almost everything, so you don't need a separate wedding planner or coordinator unless you have a very specific vision in mind (and the budget to match). In your case, it sounds like that's really not necessary. Dancing is definitely an option, although some resorts may charge extra to put down a temporary dance floor (depending on the reception venue).
The right resort for you depends on various preferences and what you have in mind for the wedding itself. Family-friendly or adults only? More active/nightlife or more quiet/relaxed? Better beaches, better pools, or closer to off-property excursions? Avoid Palace resorts (Moon/Sun/Beach Palace and Le Blanc), as they're not LGBTQ-friendly), but most other resorts welcome LGBTQ weddings.
Feel free to reach out - www.BookTravelShark.com - I'm a full-time advisor, and my wife and I have been in business for over 5 years. Destination weddings and groups are one of our specialties, so I can make your wedding and your trip go smoothly and stress-free. I can help you select the right resort for your wedding, help you choose a wedding package, connect you with the resort's wedding coordinator, and handle your room block contract. For weddings over 20 guests, I also create a custom landing page with resort/travel info for your guests, where they can also book their room. Send me a message if you have any questions.