Sandals Wedding – Complete Guide

Sandals Wedding

I am back from four days at Sandals Emerald Bay’s Wedding Training with Wendy White.  If you want to know everything there is to know about planning a fun, romantic, and successful Sandals or Beaches Resort Wedding, I have everything conveniently located right here for you.

 

Sandals and Beaches has been doing this for years and has 18 Sandals Caribbean Resorts and 3 Beaches Caribbean Resorts available for your Caribbean Wedding.  These are immersive, personal, really cultural authentic weddings.  There is more wedding added value than anyone else, includes wedding essentials like Food, Drinks and Photography.    This is an overall experience for the entire family and friends where you can share this special occasion with all your loved ones.

I even tried all the different wedding cake options.  Hey someone had to do it. 🙂

 

 

Sandals has come out with new Wedding Packages and Wow wait until you see what a deal these are.  The new Wedding program is called: “Aisle to Aisle Caribbean Weddings by Sandals and Beaches”.

 

 

 

 

Sandals vs Beaches Weddings

There are Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts.  Sandals Resorts are Adults only.  If you are having kids as part of the wedding ceremony then look at Beaches Resorts for your wedding.  Kids can be involved in the wedding and stay at Beaches Turks & Caicos, or Beaches Negril or Beaches Resort Ochi.

Insider Tips:
Sandals Curacao – Allows symbolic ceremonies packages for same sex couples.

 

How is Aisle to Isles Different?

I know planning your wedding can be stressful, especially a destination wedding.  I am here to help.  You are probably asking what is Aisles to Isles?  This is Sandals and Beaches Resorts new all inclusive wedding package.  They put together wedding packages to make it easier, but of course you can customize anything you like.

What I like about Sandals and Beaches Resorts is when you have a destination wedding here, everything is taken care of and this gives you more time to enjoy the moment.  So enjoy eternal love in paradise while every detail is taken care of.

I have been working with Sandals and Beaches Resorts for over 15 years now.  So I have a great history with them and even have phone numbers for the wedding concierge, wedding planners, and onsite resort managers food and beverage managers and the resort general managers.  I like to make sure I have access to everyone and to stay on the loop.

Aisle to Isles offers unique romantic Caribbean resort experiences.  
There is a new wedding planning and pricing guide.
I love the new inspiring wedding designs and decor that infuses the culture of the destination.  Also there are wedding packages tailored to your group size.
The staff is amazing.  They are fun, professional and have been doing this for years so they are ready for just about anything.

With over 18 Sandals Resorts and three Beaches Resorts, I think these wedding packages cover everything from those that are eloping to those that want a big wedding.  You just have to pick which of the nine Caribbean islands you want your destination wedding on.

 

 

 

Sandals Destination Wedding Packages

I have two daughters and when I saw the price of a wedding in my own neighborhood vs a destination wedding at Sandals, I was like, wow, I see two Sandals weddings in my future.  Hopefully this is not for a long time, they are 18 and 14 years old.  But I know friends that spent over $25,000 on just a local wedding here in Georgia.  So when I saw the prices of a Caribbean wedding I was happily surprised at how affordable this can be.

Sandals has wedding packages, but you can also add to and customize these packages with additions to your hearts content.  I am going to go over first, what’s included in a Sandals or Beaches Destination Wedding and then I will go over each wedding package with you.  Sound good?

• Two love birds elopement package:  1 Room
• Sweetheart Wedding Package: 1 – 5 Rooms
• Bliss Wedding Package: 6 – 25 Rooms
• Epic Wedding Package: 26 – 70 Rooms
• ReTie the Knot Package: up to 5 Rooms

I can also build any wedding package you would like for your destination wedding.

 

 

 

Two Love Birds Wedding Package $1,300

This is the package for you if you want to Elope.  This is available for any 3 nights or longer stay in any room category.  In addition to the wedding inclusions this package includes:

• 3 night minimum stay
• Comes with a relaxing couple massage (Secrets of Love)
• 24 stem rose bouquet and boutonniere
• Witness are included for your legal wedding ceremony
• Bridal assistant to help you
• 10 Digital images
• A 2-tier wedding cake with rose topper
• Private Candlelight Dinner

FYI When you see these packages talk about the number guests. They are talking about  a Sandals guest.  So bride and groom are included in the guest numbers.

Sweetheart Package $1,000

Or Free with a 7+ nights in a club or butler level room

If I told you, you can have an All Inclusive Wedding for just $1,000 you would be like, no way.  Here it is.  This is what Sandals calls the Sweetheart Wedding Package and it’s available for 1 – 5 rooms or up to 10 people.

Included in this package is a 15% off Red Lane Spa service and a $200 credit towards select photo packages as well as a $200 credit for videography services.

• 5 stem orchard bouquet and a Boutonniere
• Available for up to 10 people
• 2 Tier wedding cake with Dendrobium Orchid Topper
• $100 credit towards either a candlelight dinner, snuba or scube lesson or pool cabana.
• Available everyday at $1,000 except Friday and Saturday ($250 additional premium fee if redeemed as complimentary available only Monday – Thursday 9 am – 2 PM
• Receive 15% off at Red Lane Spa all credits towards Photography and videography and resort activities.  This is a great value

Insider Tip:
Contact me to get a copy of the Wedding Planning and pricing guide.

Bliss Wedding Party Package

This is the wedding most people book at Sandals or Beaches.  It is the sweet spot for wedding packages and then you can customize this with extras if you like.  The Bliss Wedding Package is for an intimate wedding group of 6 – 25 rooms or up to 50 people.  The package is priced in tiers:

6-10 Rooms or up to 20 Guests $2,500

11-20 Rooms or up to 40 Guest $3,400

21-25 Rooms or up to 50 Guest $3,850

• Red Lane Spa Discounts for entire group
• Enjoy a welcome cocktail party and celebrate your nuptials with a two hour wedding dinner reception
• At the welcome party the bride and groom hands out vouchers to each guest.  The welcome cocktail party is typically on the first night.
• 20 digital images is included with the wedding package and a $200 credit to videography.  Comes with a mic and speaker.  Comes with pre-recorded music or bring your own music with you.  24 stem rose, bridal attendant 9 rose stem bouquet.  Two boutonnieres.  One hour cocktail following the wedding ceremony also.  Then wedding cake with the two tiers is there too.
• The two hour dinner is AL cart.  Lots of venues to choose from.  $100 resort credit for the honeymoon also.

 

 

Epic Wedding Package

For a larger group wedding the Epic Wedding Package gets you everything you need.  This package is for wedding groups of 26 – 70 rooms or up to 140 people.  This package is also priced in tiers:

26-35 Rooms or up to 70 Guest $7,600

36-49 Rooms or up to 98 Guests $10,120

50-70 Rooms or up to 140 Guests $13,900

Perfect for larger wedding groups

• Welcome Cocktail Party
• Pre-Wedding Celebration Dinner
• Wedding Day Treats and Sparkling Wine
• Wedding Reception Dinner
• This package also includes a two hour DJ service
• 15 % off Spa certificates for guests
• $500 credit towards photography and $500 credit towards videography
• 3 tier cake at cocktail party
• Sweetheart table for the bride and groom
• $100 Resort creditInsider Tip: The bride / couple should book a suite so they have a bridal suite to use to get ready.Bonus Insider Tip: You should look at resorts with a large function space just in case of rain.

 

ReTie The Knot $400

For a couple that is already married

If you are planning an anniversary vacation to Sandals this is a nice way to celebrate it.

• 10 people Monday – Thursday 9 AM – 2 PM
• One 5×7 photo
• One tier cake for the couple

 

 

What’s Included With Your Sandals Wedding?

Each of the wedding packages are created based on your group size and all of them will receive the following inclusions.  Of course some items will vary based on the package you select.  I will get into more specifics in each individual wedding package.

• Wedding Planning Services
• Gift Registry Service and Wedding Website Template
• Preparation of Documents for your Marriage License
• Onsite Wedding Team – Vendor coordination, set-up, and breakdown
• Picturesque Ceremony Location*
• Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
• Bridal Bouquet & Boutonniere
• White cushioned Chiavari Chairs
• Private 1-Hour Cocktail Reception
• White Fondant Wedding Cake with floral topper
• Honeymoon Dinner in Resort Specialty Restaurant
• Honeymoon Package*
• 1 Free Anniversary Night*

 

 

 

Best Sandals Resort For A Wedding

First you are going to need to decide if you are having kids / families at your wedding.  If you are then Beaches Resorts is your best option for your all inclusive wedding because they are for families, VS Sandals Resorts which is for couples.

 

My personal favorite Beaches Resort is Beaches Turks & Caicos.  It’s close to the US.  The resort is just 15 minutes from the airport.  The beach is one of the nicest beaches I have ever seen.  The resort has so much to do and this is a Wedding Vacation, not just a wedding day, so you are going to want to have lots of things at the resort for everyone to experience.

For a Sandals Resort for your wedding you have 18 options.  
Each one offers something unique so it’s difficult for me to recommend just one Sandals Resort for your wedding.  I can give you recommendations though based on some common questions I get from couples.

Cheapest Sandals Wedding Option – This would be Sandals Ochi in Jamaica.  The resort has many affordable room types and the property is large with a mountain side and a beach side.  This resort is about an hour and a half from the Montego Bay airport, but resort transfers are included in your all inclusive resort price.

Closest to the US – There are a few Sandals Resorts that are popular for weddings because they are easy for you and your guests to get to.  These are the two Sandals Resorts in the Bahamas (Sandals Royal Bahamian and Sandals Emerald Bay).  The next most popular for weddings are in Jamaica.  Jamaica is a little farther for your flight but I have left in the morning from Atlanta was on the the beach with a drink in my hand by 11 AM.  Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean are literally 10-15 minutes from the Montego Bay airport.

Most Romantic Sandals Resorts – This is hard to say.  I do think Sandals Curacao is really unique, upscale, and the dutch island is unlike most other Caribbean islands.  Having a wedding can be a challenge in Curacao, see more details on paperwork later in my article below.  Sandals St. Vincent opens later in 2024 and I will be there for the opening.  I believe this is going to be a very popular, hidden gem, bragging right FOMO destination for exclusive weddings.  Also the three Sandals resorts in St. Lucia and Sandals Grenada make the top list for romantic resorts.  Also Sandals Barbados is a very high end luxury all inclusive property that is very popular for weddings.  I don’t think I helped you narrow this down.

 

 

Sandals Wedding Reviews

 

Sandals Wedding Review
I stayed at SGR from March 14th through March 23rd and we got married on the property on March 17th. We had 18 wedding guests that came along and stayed for a long weekend. Everyone had a great time at this resort, I haven’t heard a single complaint from any of my wedding guests and the groom and I also had a great time. The best thing about the resort is that you can do anything or nothing at all, it is entirely up to you. We never had a bad meal, we enjoyed all of the restaurants. Kimono’s was a lot of fun and very good food. Valentino’s is also very good but if you don’t like to eat right at 6pm when they open, you’re going to be eating closer to 9pm. We also really liked the China Doll restaurant and there was no wait to get in there at all. Our room was always spotless, the pools were as clean as you can get a pool when they are filled with drunk people lathered in oil all day, and the beach was pristine but a bit small. The nightly entertainment was always great, the staff is just awesome. We also had a couple’s massage out on the dock which was nice but incredibly expensive even with a credit of $150. My only complaint about the resort is the drinks. While all of the drinks were very strong…

 

Sandals Free Wedding

This is what I call a Sandals Test Drive, instead of a Free Wedding.  This is a perfect way to see everything before you decide on your Wedding at Sandals.  You actually go to the resort and “Test Drive” it.  You explore the resort you select and visit the wedding locations at that resort.  You also meet the wedding and photography team at the resort, sample cake options and view the various decor options for your wedding and reception.

I have a reduced rate for two nights in Jamaica, Nassau, or Turks and Caicos.  I also have a reduced rate for three nights in Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, and Great Exuma and Curacao.

Please contact me and I can step up your Sandals Wedding Test Drive.  After you return from your trip and when you book your wedding group of five or more rooms with me then you will get a credit for the cost of your test drive, sixty days prior to travel once the five room requirement has been met.

There are some requirements on dates that I am happy to cover with you also.
But I love the Sandals Test Drive because you get to see the resort and everything before you actually have your wedding and reception months later.

Steps to booking your Sandals Wedding

When you are ready to book your Sandals or Beaches Wedding I can help, and there is no extra charge when booking with me.  I am happy to share my help with making sure you select the correct Sandals or Beaches Resort, Wedding Package, Insider Tips, etc.  I just need some additional details to help.  Please fill out this no obligation quick quote form or call 678-815-1584.

Your Wedding Planning

I often get asked how the process goes when booking a Sandals or Beaches Wedding.  I have laid out the three main steps that will take you from planning your wedding to your wedding day.

Wedding Concierge

There are three stages I call them to planning your wedding.

Sandals has the people ready to help you with your wedding.  They are the only destination wedding team that has real people.  You can actually call and speak with a real person.  I know this sounds like it should be the norm.  But most destination wedding resorts now are 100% internet based and you never get to talk to a real person

Here is what they are going to do for you:

• Book the Rooms we discussed, Flights, and Wedding Reservations.
• Go over wedding documentation requirements, payments, and cancellation policies
• They will schedule your first planning session with you and myself and your wedding planner.
• They will email you a copy of the wedding planning and pricing guide
• The wedding concierge will also handle any service related calls

Wedding Planner

This is the person that will assist with every wedding detail and will guide you through your wedding planning journey.

They also collect the payment and will send you the final confirmations

The wedding planner will introduce you, the couple, to the insite wedding planner via email two weeks prior to arrival

Onsite Wedding Team

Your resort onsite wedding team – Will help guide you through the photograph options, events, entertainment, introduce the wedding team.  These are experts at your destination wedding resort.  The person is onsite at the Sandals Resort or Beaches Resort that you are having a wedding at.

When you arrive you will have a welcome letter for the following day.  The onsite wedding planner will meet with you.  Plan 48 hours before your wedding to be at the resort.  Walk the venue, review the wedding details, make any changes or additions, etc.  There is also a cake tasting.  Wedding times are one wedding at a time and the team is dedicated to your wedding.

Fun Sandals Wedding Fact:  The most popular date for a wedding is Feb 14^th

Caribbean Wedding, License and Administrative Fees

Each Caribbean Island has different license and administrative fees.  I have put down the following fees as on March 2024.  These can change, but this will give you an idea for your destination wedding.

• Jamaica $250
• Saint Lucia $395 (Express Fee is an Additional $341)
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $415
• Barbados $440
• Antigua $500
• Grenada $535
• Bahamas $600
• Turks & Caicos $690
• Curacao $750
• Symbolic Ceremony only is available at Sandlas Royal Curacao $400

 

How long do you need to be on the island before the wedding?

The islands are going to call this the residency period and it varies by Caribbean island.  You should get to the resort before your wedding anyways to relax and not worry about late or cancelled flights.

Here are the island residency requirements

All documents are due 60 days prior to travel.  A late processing fee of $150 applies within 30 days of arrival.  For the island of Curacao, documents must be submitted no earlier that six (6) months prior and no later than three (3) months prior to the wedding date (No exceptions will be made).

Jamaica – 48 Hours.  Includes day of arrival, weekends, and holidays.

Saint Lucia – 72 Hours.  Does Not include day of arrival, 3 business days NOT including weekends or holidays and No Sunday Weddings.  You can choose the option of an Express Wedding at the addtional cost of $341 to expidite the issurance of the marraige license and marry within 48 hours.  Example arrivel Monday and marry Wednesday.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – 48 Hours.  Includes day of arrival, weekends, and holidays.  You must include at least one business day.

Barbados – 48 Hours.  Includes day of arrival, NOT including weekends and public holidays.  Couples must go off property to obtain an application for marriage license.

Antiqua – 48 Hours.  Includes day of arrival and must include one business day NOT including holidays.  No Sunday Weddings.

Grenada – We offer the Express Wedding that expedites the issuance of your marriage license and allows you, the couple, to marry within 48 hours of arrival (Arrive Monday and marry Wednesday).

Bahamas – 48 Hours.  Two business days NOT inclusiding day of arrival, weekends, or holidays.  No Sunday Weddings at Sandals Emerald Bay.  Sandals Emerald bay couples must go off property to obtain application for a marriage license.

Turks & Caicos – 48 Hours.  Must Include two business days NOT including day of arrival, weekends, or holidays.

Curacao – 72 Hours.  This includes day of arrival, weekends, and holidays.  NOT including the day of ceremony.

Insider Tip:

The Caribbean islands can have flight delays.  You don’t want to have a flight delay and be stressed out making it in time to your own destination wedding.  Plan on being on site at Sandals at least 48 hours before your wedding so you can walk the grounds, meet with your resort wedding planner, and make changes.

 

 

 

Sandals Resort Wedding Policies

I put together a quick section on the most common Sandals wedding policies from questions I get all the time:

• Marriage Licenses and Admin fee are required and varies by island
• $250 Non Refundable deposit required to hold wedding date and time (applied towards marriage license fee)
  50% payment of all wedding items will be due 120 days prior to arrival
• Final Payment due 60 days prior to arrival
• $250 surcharge for Friday and Saturday weddings
• Wedding Passes – limited to 20% of overall guest count
  Sunset Weddings 5 PM – $600

 

Can I bring my own minister to the Caribbean Destination Wedding

These are all Legal Weddings by a government official

You can bring your own person to do the beginning of the wedding ceremony but the government official is the officiant with the closing statement on the Caribbean Island

Sandals and Beaches Wedding Tips

Book Sandals or Beaches Resort?

Booking Sandals and Beaches Negril for your wedding because is convenient if you are having kids at your wedding.  This way the families with kids that attend can stay at Beaches Negril.

Can I have kids at a Sandals Resort Wedding?

You can have kids at a Sandals wedding when approved.  You can have around 4-5 children at a Sandals wedding, and reception.  This is when you are a guest at a Sandals and Beaches Resort.

Singles at a Wedding

At a Sandals Wedding you can have a single guest.  So someone can come to the wedding that is single and get a room as a single.  Remember Sandals is normally for couples.

Wedding Event Passes

.These are guest passes that area available for 5 hours on site for the wedding.  If you have a few guests staying off site at a different resort you can purchase wedding event passes for them.  Tip – It’s usually better to just have them stay at the Sandals or Beaches Resort and cheaper than paying for a ride to and from the resort and for the pass.  There are also resort day passes but that is different.

Luxury Included Honeymoons

So after the wedding you don’t have to travel, you are already there.  One very nice thing about Sandals is you can have your wedding and honeymoon at the same romantic resort, or even stay at a Sandals resort that let’s you hop to anoterh Sandals Resort.  Jamaica and St Lucia make for a great island destination because theire are several Sandals Resorts that you can select from.

Your Honeymoon at Sandals also includes complimentary honeymoon inclusions featuring a bottle of chilled sparkling wine, romantic turndown service, and breakfast in bed.

Looking for a Butler for your Honeymoon,  Some Sandals resort categories have Butler Service which is an extra nice touch for a Honeymoon.

I did the math.  There are up to 16 specialty restaurants per Sandals Resort.  Now go enjoy one 🙂

I really enjoy getting a drink and sitting in the water at one of the Sandals swim up bars.  There are other fun bars too, like a Piano Bar, or ones located over the ocean with hammocks over the water.

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