Puerto Rico Destination Wedding Guide for 2024 (By a Local)

Planning a destination wedding in Puerto Rico promises a delightfully magical experience.

The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico wedding venues extend beyond conventional ballrooms. Coastlines, historic cities, and rainforests similarly serve to host wedding ceremonies. However, selecting the perfect site and determining accommodation in Puerto Rico proves difficult given the bountiful possibilities.

But have no worries! As a local from Puerto Rico (and recreational wedding photographer), I will provide you detailed information about everything required to plan destination weddings in Puerto Rico.

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Where to Have a Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

Luxury Hotel – The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort

• 🏨 Best Historic Hotel – Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
• 🗺️ Best in Old San Juan – Hotel El Convento
• 🏖️ Best Beachfront Accommodation – Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
View on Osprey
• 💸 Best Value for Money – El Conquistador Resort
• 👪 Best Family-friendly – La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort
• ⛰️ Best in the Mountainous Region – Casa Grande Mountain Retreat
• 🌊 Best in the South Coast – In a strong and clear manner the highly regarded Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa
• ☀️ Best on the West Coast – Rincón Beach Resort
• ✨ Best in Culebra – Club Seabourne Hotel
• 🛎️ Best Affordable – Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort
• 🛏️ Best Locally-owned Hotel – Parador MaunaCaribe

Ok, let’s do a deep dive into the best destination wedding locations in Puerto Rico:

San Juan

👉 Best Location For Historic Places | ✨ Best San Juan Destination Wedding Locations: Hotel El Convento • Condado Vanderbilt Hotel • Condado Ocean Club

Old San Juan proves ideal for Puerto Rico weddings with a historical theme. The old district nestled in the capital features cobblestone roads, forts, palaces and Spanish colonial-style architecture.

Casa Blanca, Casa de España, and Antiguo Casino de Puerto Rico are renowned historic venues, but El Convento is the most well-known choice in the area for destination weddings. It’s conveniently situated across San Juan’s Cathedral, one of San Juan’s primary attractions.

Despite its compact dimensions, this historic hotel – the oldest of the Historic Hotels of America – offers space for receptions, ceremonies and welcome gatherings. Wedding packages include rentals, staffing and optional on-site catering.

In the Condado neighborhood of San Juan, cited as one of the premier areas to lodge in San Juan, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel stands as a 100-year historical lodging with an elegant and classic ambiance. This hotel also has a coastal location, so visitors don’t have to sacrifice the tropical beach views for a historical theme.

Pros of Having a Destination Wedding in San Juan:

• Close to the airport
• Lots of great restaurants and bars
• Travel Insurance for Greece
• Variety of hotels to choose from
• Multiple spaces for themed weddings
• Easy access to amenities

Cons of Having a Destination Wedding in San Juan:

• Expensive
• Crowded 

Dorado

👉 Best Area For Luxury Weddings | ✨ Best Dorado Destination Wedding Hotels: The Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – The Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado del Mar Beach Resort – The Hyatt Vacation Club at Hacienda del Mar

Dorado is renowned as the home of numerous wealthy expats, so it’s not surprising that it’s a great location to hold a luxurious wedding.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787) 428-8288 | Website| Hours: 11 am – 8 pm Thursday to Saturday

Wedding guests at the hotel will be pleased with the culinary options and nearby Puerto Rican shorelines

Pros of Having a Destination Wedding in Dorado:

• Luxury hotels and villas
• Uncrowded and laidback
• Lots of bars and restaurants

Cons of Having a Destination Wedding in Dorado:

• Expensive
• Limited activities outside of the hotels and beaches

Isabela 

👉 Best Location For a Remote Wedding | ✨ Top Isabela Destination Wedding Hotels: Royal Isabela – Parador Villas del Mar Hau – Villa Montaña Beach Resort

Isabela is one of the best beach towns in Puerto Rico. You’ll find plenty of things to do in Isabela, including some of the best spots for surfing in Puerto Rico.

The town is well-suited for beach-themed weddings owing to the multiple secluded outdoor areas conducive for holding an uninterrupted ceremony.

In the town, the Royal Isabela offers fully modifiable wedding packages that can incorporate beach tours, culinary lessons, and yoga courses. The resort also provides spectacular perspectives of the Atlantic Ocean thanks to its location perched on a cliff edge.

Your wedding celebration can take advantage of the on-site activities like kite surfing and golf available. Add Isabela’s extraordinary cuisine to your wedding festivities, which highlights fresh seafood and other traditional Puerto Rican dishes.

Pros of Having a Destination Wedding in Isabela:

• Less crowded than San Juan
• Remote
• Access to beautiful beaches
• Luxury and budget-friendly venues
• Lots of restaurants and bars

Cons of Having a Destination Wedding in Isabela:

• Far from  San Juan’s airport
• Not many venues to choose from

Fajardo

👉 Best Area For Pre and Post-Wedding Activities | ✨ Best Fajardo Destination Wedding Hotels: El Conquistador Resort

A dream wedding destination in Puerto Rico is about more than just the venue but also the activities available before, during, and after the wedding. And Fajardo has options for all three phases.

Located on the east coast, Fajardo’s activities involve kayaking in one of Puerto Rico’s phosphorescent bays, hiking in a nature reserve, and swimming along breathtaking beaches.

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Pros of Having a Destination Wedding in Fajardo:

• Lots of things to do
• Bio bay in this town
• Lots of great restaurants and bars
• Pristine beaches
• Access to offshore islands
• Home to one of the best Puerto Rico hotels

Cons of Having a Destination Wedding in Fajardo:

• Few wedding venues are available

Rio Grande

👉 Best Area For Outdoor Weddings | ✨ Best Rio Grande Destination Wedding Hotels:St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort – Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort – Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico

Attractions in Rio Grande, for example El Yunque National Forest, create an excellent wedding spot in Puerto Rico.

The town boasts magnificent wedding locations and some of the most remarkable Puerto Rico hotels. For a beach wedding idea, visitors can stay at St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort.

The resort offers both proximity to the beachfront as well as luxurious amenities like golf courses. The groom and bride can select from indoor venues or outdoor spaces surrounded by the hotel’s gardens.

Rio Grande also has more rustic and dreamy Puerto Rico places like Hacienda Siesta Alegre, a Spanish-style ranch. Getting married in El Yunque is also a great choice for outdoorsy couples.

Pros of Having a Destination Wedding in Rio Grande:

• Lots of venues to choose from
• Best of Puerto Rico wedding hotels
• Easy access to El Yunque
• Lots of restaurants and bars
• Beach access

Cons of Having a Destination Wedding in Rio Grande:

• It rains frequently
• Hotels are pricey

Puerto Rico Destination Wedding Group Tours & Activities

Laguna Grande 

Experience bioluminescent waters while kayaking at night in a lagoon.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Explore Tours on Viator

Paddling in a bioluminescent lagoon with your cherished ones is a remarkable wedding highlight. Laguna Grande in Fajardo is one of the three bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico, and it`s a brief trip from San Juan.

The kayaking journeys into the bay offer an enjoyable and novel group experience in Puerto Rico. On evenings with a new moon, you’re able to see dinoflagellates discharge light when you move the water. Though kayaking journeys are more common, you can also take boat journeys into the bay.

El Yunque National Forest

Explore, swim, and photograph the sole tropical rainforest in the US.

📍 Maps | Phone: (787) 888-1880| Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily (on PR 191) | Entrance: Free | 👉 View Tours Here

Outdoor wedding celebrations exploring El Yunque National Forest can opt for challenging 3-hour hikes or refreshing dips in cool rivers.

Regardless of your preferred outdoor amusement idea, one thing is certain – El Yunque is among the best places to visit with your wedding guests. It’s also free and under an hour away from San Juan by car.

Vaca Negra

Gain expertise in cheese-making and sample distinctive cheeses at this dairy product factory.

📍 Mapping Location | Phone: (787) 262-5656| Site | Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Wed-Sun

An activity involving cheese-making using Vaca Negra cheese with your wedding guests on the north coast is a unique option.

The tours combine an overview of the history of Puerto Rico and Vaca Negra with cheese-making and samplings. Food lovers can also stop by the charming Vaca Negra shop to enjoy a cup of coffee from Puerto Rico with a sandwich.

Toro Verde Adventure Park

Conquer this epic zipline soaring through the mountainous region of Puerto Rico.

• The prime locations in Florence for sightseers include City Center (busy yet closest to attractions), San Frediano/Santo Spirito (best nightlife and cuisine), San Lorenzo/San Marco (near attractions and train station), San Niccolo (lowkey atmosphere with convenient downtown access), Santissima Annunziata (quietest part of historic center), Santa Maria Novella (near train station, walkable to attractions), Santa Croce/Sant’Ambrosio (walkable to attractions, full of local character).

The Toro Verde Adventure Park offers wedding guests thrilling fun during their Puerto Rico stay. Nested in this outdoor park, you’ll find a zip line stretching 1.57 miles.

Nothing will be more memorable during your vacation than soaring like Superman over the mountainous landscape. Toro Verde Adventure Park provides pick-up and drop-off from your lodging for an additional fee.

Hacienda Carabalí Rainforest Park

Ride a horse with your wedding party in the highlands of El Yunque.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (787 889-4954 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily | Entrance: $32-$230 | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator

Go on a horseback journey across a Caribbean beach or within the foothills of El Yunque with Hacienda Carabalí Rainforest Park.

The park’s activities vary in schedule and venue, but regardless, you’ll have an enjoyable time with friends. The horseback riding tour through the rainforest is a popular attraction in Luquillo and you can end your day with a meal at the park’s restaurant.

La Parguera

Explore between islands and partake in water activities like snorkeling and scuba diving at La Parguera.

📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator

La Parguera is a fishing village in the south of Puerto Rico. It’s a famous boating and watersports destination for its shallow waters and abundant marine life. You and your friends can take a boating tour through the multiple cays on the day.

Check out this Croatian road traffic sign directory for all the symbols you should be aware of while navigating.

Bacardí Rum Factory

Immerse yourself in a mixology class inside the world`s largest rum distillery.

📍 Map location | Phone: (787) 788-8400 | Website details | Hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm daily | Entrance: $30-$200 | 👉 Browse available excursions

Rum connoisseurs shouldn’t miss the chance to take a mixology class on the island – it produces over 70% percent of rum in the US.

A brief ferry ride from San Juan transports wedding attendees to Casa Bacardí, the world`s largest rum distillery. Mixology classes there combine history, tropical beverages and hands-on fun for adults, while the history tour interests all, whether drinkers or not.

The Best Time to Have a Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico

The peak season to hold a destination wedding in Puerto Rico extends from December through April. During these months, inclement wet tropical weather is less likely to interfere with your wedding day celebrations.

Summer is the best time to visit Puerto Rico for gentle shores with no undertows and large waves.

Wedding parties aiming to economize should take into account scheduling a wedding during Puerto Rico’s tropical storm period when lodging and venues offer more affordable rates. Nevertheless, avoid the month of September, representing the apex of the season.

Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico

Destination Wedding Tip #1 – Bring Your Clothes Inside the Plane Cabin

Pack your wedding dress carefully within a carrying case or suitably sized carry-on baggage to forestall it from being misplaced in transit. Schedule a visit to a Puerto Rico dry cleaner to prepare the gown as part of your nuptial plans.

Destination Wedding Tip #2 – Arrive a Few Days Before

Arrive in Puerto Rico a few days before your wedding to complete the paperwork required to get married in Puerto Rico. The documentation for getting married in Puerto Rico is straightforward, but occasional minor details can slow down the process.

Some of the documents you’ll need include a legitimate government-issued ID, medical approval, birth certificates, and an affidavit stating that you’re in the country to marry. Research which paperwork you need or hire a third party to assist you with it.

Destination Wedding Tip #3 – Avoid Afternoon Weddings

No matter the season, humidity and heat consistently impact Puerto Rico`s weather. Ceremonies at outdoor venues on the island are best scheduled for early morning or late afternoon to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

Destination Wedding Tip #4 – Go For The Outdoors

Hotel venues are not essential for an unforgettable celebration in Puerto Rico. You`ll find plenty of outdoor and free (or almost free) spaces.

Choosing to get married at any of Puerto Rico`s public beaches or El Yunque National Forest is an easy way to keep your budget in check. The natural beauty of Puerto Rico will be your best decoration. Just be sure you have the proper permits to marry at the location you select.

Destination Wedding Tip #5 – Coordinate Transportation

Your wedding venue and hotel may not always be in precisely the same area. When they are separated, coordinating transportation amongst the hotel and the wedding venue is essential to guarantee your ceremony flows smoothly.

Hiring a Vehicle is the most convenient way to navigate Puerto Rico, but private shuttles can also transport guests between the hotel and destinations. Viator allows finding private shuttles operating on the island.