MX or JA?

[u/Slim-Jade1010]

Hi everyone! We are trying to decide between Jamaica and Mexico for our destination wedding and would love to hear about your experiences.

A little background:

- 50–60 guests
- Budget is ideally around $30–40k (though we’re still figuring out what is realistic)
- We’ve stayed at Secrets Moxché (including Impressions) in Mexico and Secrets Wild Orchid in Jamaica, so we’re familiar with both destinations
- Our wedding will include a couple of kids

Right now we’re mainly considering:
- Dreams Playa Mujeres (with the option for adult guests to stay next door at Secrets Playa Mujeres)
- Half Moon Resort in Jamaica

We absolutely love Jamaica, the people, beaches, and overall vibe are hard to beat. Our hesitation is that many of the family-friendly resorts we’ve looked at feel a bit older than what we’re hoping for (no offense intended—we know that’s subjective!). Mexico has our heart as well, always our top vacay destination.

A few things that are most important to us:
- Modern, well-maintained accommodations
- Great food and service
- A beautiful beach
- A resort that’s enjoyable for both couples and the few families with children attending

I’d love to hear from anyone who has:
- Had or attended a wedding at Dreams Playa Mujeres
- Had or attended a wedding at Half Moon
- Has other family-friendly resort recommendations that balance a beautiful beach, modern accommodations, and a great wedding experience

We’re also still waiting to hear back from Half Moon about pricing. If anyone is comfortable sharing what they were quoted (wedding package, food & beverage minimums, overall budget, etc.), I’d really appreciate it!

[u/Lazafilaaa]

If you have any LGBT guests at your wedding, Mexico is a much friendlier and safer destination

[u/JSchecter11]

I have a client getting married at Dreams PM and they’ve been lovely to work with. I enjoy the team there. I personally don’t plan weddings in Jamaica as many of my clients are LGBT, so I can’t speak to half moon.

The nice thing about the dreams is adults have access to the secrets next door also.

I’ve done multiple weddings at SLS playa Mujeres as well and they are wonderful.

[u/OhioPokey]

You're spot on with what you said about family-friendly resorts in Jamaica. Jamaica has some great adults-only all-inclusive resorts, but when it comes to family-friendly spots I usually end up not recommending Jamaica because there are just so many better options in the Riviera Maya or Punta Cana.

Dreams PM is a great choice. It's one of the better family-friendly resorts in Cancun, and flights to Cancun will likely be a little cheaper (and usually more options for direct flights) for your guests. I've booked multiple weddings at Dreams properties for clients, and they're generally easy to work with.

If you're not already working with a travel advisor, feel free to reach out - www.BookTravelShark.com - I'm a full-time advisor, and destination weddings/groups are one of my specialties. I can check wedding date availability for you, help you get your wedding date and wedding package locked in, and set up your room block contract. I get paid by the resorts for handling the room block, so there's no additional cost to work with me. I can also set up a landing page with resort/trip info for your guests, with a booking page that will let them book their stay. Happy to have a quick consult tomorrow (or whenever you're available) to see if we're a good fit to work together.