From stunning white sand beaches to lush jungles, Jamaica offers natural beauty everywhere you look. This makes it ideal for a picturesque wedding. But it’s so much more than that—not only are the resorts beautiful and luxurious for adults, they also have tons of fun to offer families of all ages. This makes it the perfect place to exchange vows surrounded by your whole family, kids included.
Jamaica is the perfect place to host your destination wedding. It’s a beautiful place for a small, intimate ceremony or a larger affair. You could host an adults only wedding weekend, complete with endless drinks and visits to your resort spa. Or, include the whole family in your special day by planning your wedding at a family friendly, all inclusive resort.
No matter what your dream wedding looks like, planning the perfect wedding starts by choosing the right resort. When you’re including the whole family, this is even more important. Keep reading to learn how to plan the perfect family friendly destination wedding Jamaica.
How to Choose the Best Family Friendly Resort for Your Destination Wedding in Jamaica
Just about every all inclusive resort you’ll find in Jamaica is beautiful. While some of the best offer more amenities or extra luxuries than others, all offer an incredible destination for your getaway. But not every resort is family friendly. Even among the resorts that do allow children, some offer far more activities and a more kid-friendly atmosphere than others. Choosing the right resort will not only ensure that your Jamaica destination wedding is beautiful and stress-free but also help guarantee that everyone in your family, regardless of their age, has an awesome time.
When you start planning your wedding, there are a few things in particular you’ll want to look for in a family friendly wedding resort.
RELATED: Jamaica Wedding Packages Under $3,000
Guest Count
One of the first things to consider is the guest count at your wedding. Even if you haven’t sent out invites yet, it’s important to estimate how many people will be attending your big day. All inclusive resorts often have several different venues or outdoor locations for hosting your ceremony, as well as a few options for your reception. This means that you can choose from venues perfect for a small, intimate affair, or a much larger wedding.
As you’re looking at resort options, check the guest counts that each resort can accommodate. Unless you’re willing to scale back your guest list in order to host your event at a certain resort, knowing this ahead of time can help you quickly narrow down your options.
Wedding Venues
While checking out the guest count each resort can accommodate, check out the wedding venues each resort offers as well. Jamaica is a popular destination for beautiful beach weddings. But many resorts offer other options, too. A lush garden or even a rooftop venue can also make for a beautiful backdrop, especially if you’d prefer to stay out of the sand! In some cases, resorts have covered or indoor spaces that are great if you’re planning to get married on a hot summer day or if you’re worried that a sudden rain shower could ruin your big day.
Don’t just think about places where you can exchange vows; you’ll also want to consider where you’ll go after the ceremony. Some resorts can host your large or small wedding party in one of their restaurants, while others have dedicated reception spaces.
Kid-Friendly Amenities
Your Jamaica wedding will no doubt be the focus of your weekend or longer getaway. But you’ll want to make sure that you, your family, and your guests also get to enjoy themselves during their stay. Adults will have no trouble filling their time enjoying the beach, pools, spa, and other amenities that each resort offers. However, kids can be a little trickier.
If you’re inviting young guests or have kids yourself, don’t forget to look into each resort’s kid-friendly amenities. Look for kids’ clubs, splash pads, kid-friendly pools, water parks, and other activities that will help families enjoy an incredible getaway. Don’t forget to look for activities appropriate for the ages of each child that will be attending. If you or your guests will likely want to enjoy some alone time before or after your ceremony, don’t forget to make sure that the resort offers babysitting services, and check the cost of these services so you can better plan for your trip.
All Inclusive Perks
The next thing to look for is what’s included in wedding packages from each resort. Some packages include free rooms for booking a wedding of a certain size, while others guarantee a private reception space with special food, drinks, cake, and other amenities. Decor and flowers may be included at some resorts but not others. Check for available packages, and consider what you want included and what you’re willing to work out or bring on your own.
If you’re ever in doubt about what you’re wedding package includes or what the ideal package for your dream wedding is, one of our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists will help walk you through your options to make sure all of your questions are answered.
Nearby Attractions
If you know that you or your guests will want to venture out for a day trip or some nightlife, don’t forget to check for nearby attractions. Jamaica has plenty of kid-friendly natural adventures, like waterfalls and snorkeling. Many resorts offer excursions that make it easy for your family to enjoy these activities. These also include resort transportation, which makes getting around the island easier and safer.
Top Family Friendly Resorts for a Destination Wedding in Jamaica
Now that you know what to look for in a family friendly resort for your destination wedding in Jamaica, it’s time to explore some of our favorites. These resorts each offer their own unique amenities, beautiful beaches, and luxurious rooms perfect for creating memories that you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Azul Beach Resort Negril
Azul Beach Resort Negril is located in Negril, Jamaica, on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach. This five-star resort is known for its incredible cuisine, impeccable service, and upscale accommodations. But don’t let this resort’s luxury feel fool you; it welcomes families and kids.
The resort has several pools, beautiful beaches, and plenty of sports and activities, like beach soccer, yoga, and dance lessons. While families are welcome, there are fewer activities specifically for kids compared to other resorts. They do offer babysitting services for an additional fee, as well as baby kits to make your stay easier with babies.
Azul Beach Resort Negril offers three venues to choose from, including two beach venues and a rooftop venue. While they don’t offer free wedding packages, their packages include a variety of extras, like a dedicated wedding designer, breakfast in bed, and even massages.
With two venues that can hold up to 100 guests each, this smaller resort is great for small or medium-sized weddings. However, if you plan to invite multiple kids, the lack of family friendly activities might be a downside.
Learn more about Azul Beach Resort Negril and get a free quote today >>
Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach
The Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach is a beautiful resort located on the coastline in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This resort blends the beauty of Jamaica with the luxury you expect from an all inclusive resort while also offering lots of fun for families. Alongside amenities like babysitting, the resort has a colorful water park and lots of sports and activities for families to enjoy.
The resort does not offer free wedding packages but does have several packages to choose from. These include features like flowers, music, a cocktail hour, and a private dinner. There are several venues to choose from, ranging from an overwater gazebo great for an intimate ceremony to their large Bob Marley Terrace, which can accommodate up to 200 guests.
While this is a larger resort that is great for families, this resort is great for both bigger weddings and intimate ceremonies.
Learn more about Iberostar Waves Rose Hall Beach and get a free quote today >>
Riu Negril
As the name suggests, the Riu Negril is located in Negril, Jamaica. This resort is designed to allow guests to enjoy Jamaica’s incredible natural beauty. Guests will enjoy endless expanses of white sand beaches and views of the turquoise water. If you’re dreaming of a picturesque wedding, this is a great resort option.
With 600 rooms, this is a larger resort, which also comes with lots of amenities great for families. There’s a fun water park playground, beach volleyball, and tons of sports, including golf. There are also activities and entertainment designed specifically for kids.
The Riu Negril has two wedding venues on the beach, both of which accommodate up to 80 guests. They even have a free wedding package, which includes decorations, a semi-private dinner, wedding cake and toast, and romantic decorations for the couple’s room.
This resort is not only great for weddings that include kids, but also perfect for couples on a budget or those wanting a smaller, intimate ceremony.
Learn more about Riu Negril and get a free quote today >>
Moon Palace Jamaica
Moon Palace Jamaica is a large, luxurious, all inclusive resort located in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. While this resort is on the higher end price-wise, it comes with plenty of luxuries and amenities that families and couples will love.
Pools, a beautiful spa, and endless sports on the water and land will keep adults and older kids entertained. While there isn’t a water park, there is a kids club that offers plenty of fun throughout the day for little ones.
Moon Palace has some of the most diverse wedding venues in Jamaica. There are intimate gazebos, a massive terrace on a rooftop, and even a beach venue that can host up to 900 guests. A wedding package for up to 30 guests is included free of charge and includes an outdoor venue, a minister, sparkling wine, music, and more. You’ll even get a complimentary honeymoon package so you can start the honeymoon celebration immediately after your ceremony. This package is free with a minimum of 10 paid rooms.
This resort is a great choice for larger weddings or anyone who wants a truly luxurious experience.
Learn more about Moon Palace Jamaica and get a free quote today >>
Zoetry Montego Bay
Zoetry Montego Bay is a small, intimate, ultra-luxurious resort located in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It is situated on a private strip of beach but is just minutes away from all of the vibrant shopping, dining, and golf that Montego Bay has to offer.
While the resort does welcome families, it’s light on kid-friendly activities. There are many pools, water and land sports, and shuttles and tours to take you to local attractions.
The resort has four wedding venues to choose from, including an overwater pier, a garden venue, and an indoor venue. The largest can accommodate up to 120 guests. The resort has both free and paid wedding packages based on the number of paid rooms booked or the extras that you’re looking for. These packages include things like flowers, wedding cake, and spa baskets.
Learn more about Zoetry Montego Bay and get a free quote today >>
Extra Tips for Planning a Family Friendly Wedding in Jamaica
Fun Activities for Wedding Guests & Kids
Besides your resort’s amenities, there are plenty of local amenities great for families. You could take a day trip to Dunn’s River Falls, go on a snorkeling tour, take a catamaran cruise, or even enjoy a reggae beach party. Many resorts offer their own excursions and tours, but you can also book from local companies.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Jamaica
The best time of year to get married in Jamaica is December to April, which is the dry season. This means the perfect beach weather! June to November is hurricane season. But if you aren’t afraid of the risk of your special day needing to be moved or moved indoors, you may be able to get a discount on your stay during this time.
How to Save Money on Your Destination Wedding in Jamaica
Some resorts on this list are more affordable than others. But if you’re looking to save more on your Jamaica wedding, consider booking during off-peak months to save on your stay. Free wedding packages can also help you save. Look for resorts that will allow you to book group room blocks, as these may come with free perks like free nights or honeymoon credits.
Ready to Plan the Perfect Family Friendly Destination Wedding in Jamaica?
With so many family friendly, all inclusive resorts to choose from, Jamaica is the perfect place to plan your destination wedding. Any of the resorts on this list can offer a stress-free, fun-filled wedding that your whole family will enjoy.
If you’re ready to start planning your own family friendly destination wedding Jamaica, get in touch with a Certified Destination Wedding Specialist today. They’ll help you find the perfect resort and plan your perfect day. All you have to do to get started is fill out a wedding planning form. Start your form today!
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