white walls of a modern, bohemian resort rest on the shoreline, just waiting for you to walk through them on your way to your first meal as a married couple. A bride walks down a simple sand aisle, with white chairs lining the way, holding a few cherished family and friends, smiling and watching.
This picture-perfect Tulum wedding is a scene that happens every day in this year-round tropical paradise. Couples from around the world travel to Tulum in search of a beautiful backdrop for their dream destination wedding.
With the cost of weddings on the rise, intimate destination weddings are growing in popularity. These offer a chance to save on the high costs of a wedding while still enjoying a beautiful, memorable ceremony with close friends and loved ones. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about planning a Tulum intimate wedding, from setting your budget to choosing a package and resort. If you’re dreaming of the perfect destination wedding, keep reading to learn more.
Learn more about getting married in Tulum >>
The Perks Of Having A Small Wedding
There are tons of benefits to having a small wedding. Of course, one big one is the cost savings. Fewer guests mean fewer people to feed, fewer seats, a smaller venue, and overall fewer costs. It also makes it much easier to plan your wedding, because you’ll have far fewer details to manage. But these aren’t the only reasons to plan a smaller wedding.
A smaller wedding is perfect for couples who want to enjoy a more meaningful connection and quality time with their guests. During a traditional wedding, couples often have little time to interact with each guest. But during a small, intimate wedding, you can sit down for dinner with your close friends and loved ones and make memories with each person. You’ll also have more time to soak in your wedding day and enjoy quality time with your new spouse.
Finally, smaller weddings are much easier to customize. You can easily add personalized experiences to your day. Start your wedding day with a beach yoga session, or go snorkeling afterward. Swap out the traditional wedding meal with a beachside picnic. With fewer guests to manage, the sky is the limit.
How to Create A Wedding Budget for an Intimate Wedding
No matter the size of your wedding, it’s important to set a budget. This budget should not only include the total that you plan to spend, but also how much you plan to spend in various categories. With your future spouse, discuss what parts of your wedding are most important to you, like the venue, food, and decor. Then, divide up your budget based on those. For instance, you might plan to spend more on your perfect venue, but are willing to save on decor.
With a larger wedding, a big portion of your budget is likely to go to your venue and food. However, with a smaller wedding, you can re-allocate your budget to other areas, like splurging on luxury accommodations or adding fun experiences.
As you’re planning your wedding, keep track of the big expenses, like your resort stay, wedding package, and travel, as well as other costs like your wedding attire. Don’t forget to leave room for costs that you’ll need to pay later, like tips for resort staff, as well as unexpected costs that might arise.
The Best Wedding Packages for a Small Destination Wedding in Tulum
All inclusive or specialized wedding packages make it even easier to plan and budget for your small destination wedding in Tulum. These packages include everything you need for your special day, so you won’t need to worry about coordinating different vendors or planning each detail.
When shopping around for wedding packages, make sure to look for options that fit the size of your wedding and your overall vision for the day. For instance, if you have your heart set on a beach wedding, make sure the package you’re considering has a venue that’s on the beach.
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite Tulum resorts for a small wedding.
Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa – Elope in Luxury Wedding Package
Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is an award-winning luxury resort located just minutes away from Tulum’s famous Mayan ruins. With a blend of upscale contemporary design and traditional Mexican colonial architecture, this stunning resort offers an upscale feel at every turn. While it is family-friendly, it features an adults only section, as well as swim-out suites, access to a nearby golf club, and a luxury spa.
The Elope in Luxury package is designed for the ultimate intimate wedding. Accommodating only the couple, this package has everything you need for a special, beautiful ceremony with your new spouse. This is a great choice for couples who prefer an elopement with no guests.
Book your Tulum wedding at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa >>
Kore Tulum Retreat and Spa Resort – Dreamy Wedding Package
Kore Tulum Retreat and Spa Resort is an elegant, exclusive retreat in the heart of Tulum. The resort is adults only, and has just 94 rooms. Guests can enjoy a range of wellness and outdoor activities, like yoga classes, spa treatments, and water sports.
The Dreamy Wedding Package features everything you need for a simple symbolic ceremony, including a semiprivate dinner in one of the resort’s delicious gourmet restaurants. You can choose from four different wedding venues, including a garden, beach, pool terrace, or a more traditional ballroom. While the base package can be used for an elopement, additional guests can be added. This package is ideal for couples looking for a truly luxurious experience, as well as an elevated honeymoon experience.
Book your Tulum wedding at Kore Tulum Retreat & Spa Resort >>
Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an – Blissful Wedding Package
Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an is a beautiful adults only resort that blends nature with luxury. Situated in a lush Mayan jungle, this tranquil resort features quiet walkways lined with tropical greenery, plenty of windows to let in natural light, and beautifully designed pools that blend with the nature around them. Guests can take luxury to the next level with VIP amenities like butler service, courtesy bathrobes, and even an a la carte pillow menu. While it isn’t directly on the beach, a complimentary shuttle takes guests to Akumal Beach, approximately 15 minutes away.
The Blissful wedding package is perfect for creating a simple, romantic wedding ceremony. It’s designed for just the two of you—no distractions or interruptions! You’ll enjoy a stunning ceremony in your choice of venue, a wedding cake, and a romantic dinner. This package is ideal for nature-loving couples wanting a luxurious, romantic ceremony.
Book your Tulum wedding at Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an >>
Catalonia Royal Tulum – Caribbean Feeling Wedding Package
Catalonia Royal Tulum is a beachfront adults only resort known for its exceptional service and elegant rooms. While the resort itself is right on the beach, the rooms are situated in buildings nestled in the tropical jungle, giving you the best of both worlds. The romantic setting is perfect for relaxing before and after your wedding.
The Caribbean Feeling package includes a simple symbolic ceremony, sparkling wine, a wedding cake, and a romantic dinner on the beach. Couples also enjoy a late check-out and 20% off spa packages. You can even add up to eight additional guests. Couples who plan to invite a few friends or loved ones, or who want a truly relaxed and laid-back wedding, will love this package and resort.
Book your Tulum wedding at Catalonia Royal Tulum >>
Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club – Elope in Luxury Wedding Package
Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club is a serene and luxurious adults only resort located in the heart of Tulum. The grounds of this resort are filled with lush tropical foliage. The resort is designed to reflect the natural landscapes of Tulum, with pools inspired by cenotes and fire pits cleverly tucked into the property to create an intimate, romantic atmosphere come nightfall. While it isn’t on the beach, guests can enjoy a complimentary 30-minute shuttle to a private beach, offering the best of both worlds, especially for nature-loving couples.
The Elope in Luxury wedding package comes with tons of amenities and features to make your ceremony as special as possible. You’ll get a photographer, bouquet, wedding cake, sparkling toast, and a dedicated wedding coordinator. You’ll even get tons of bonus amenities, like breakfast-in-bed with mimosas, late check-out, and complimentary hydrotherapy circuit treatment. When you’re ready to celebrate your anniversary, you can even take advantage of free anniversary nights with a paid stay. This package is great for the couple who wants a special ceremony for just the two of them, and those looking to kick off their marriage with a relaxing, luxurious honeymoon.
Book your Tulum wedding at Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club>>
Tips for Having an Intimate Wedding in Tulum
If you’re planning an intimate wedding in Tulum, these tips can help you make sure that your special day is perfect:
- For the best weather, plan your wedding between November and April. This is the dry season, and offers comfortable temperatures and low humidity.
- You can get legally married in Tulum, but it requires additional paperwork and planning. A symbolic ceremony is an easier way to enjoy a wedding in Tulum.
- Hiring a local planner is a great way to make sure that every detail of your special day is handled for you. This is a huge help when planning a wedding from hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
- If you have the time and budget, consider planning a visit to Tulum before your wedding to scout out potential locations and find the perfect venue. As if you needed an excuse to plan another vacation to Tulum!
Plan the Perfect Wedding for Your Closest Loved Ones in Tulum
A small wedding is perfect for keeping your budget in check and making planning easier. It’s also a great way to make your special day even more so, as it allows you to spend more quality time with your close family and friends and your new spouse. Intimate doesn’t have to mean less memorable. In fact, it’s often the opposite.
Now that you know a few tips for planning an intimate wedding and some of our favorite Tulum wedding venues, it’s time to start planning your own destination wedding. Our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists are here to help. All you have to do is fill out an online wedding planning form to get started.
