The Riviera Maya gives you four very different kinds of wedding venue in a little over an hour of coastline: a grand staircase and gazebo in Puerto Morelos, a pyramid-top chapel and cave venues near Playa del Carmen, a jungle-and-mangrove luxury resort with space for 1,000 guests, and a sunset rooftop near Tulum. Published starting packages begin at $1,349 for an intimate ceremony, and every resort below can host a full celebration.
Quick answer
- Four resorts we track on the Riviera Maya: Dreams Riviera Cancún (Puerto Morelos), Grand Velas Riviera Maya and Hotel Xcaret México (Playa del Carmen area), and Dreams Tulum.
- Starting packages: from $1,349 at both Dreams resorts, $3,950 for 50 guests at Hotel Xcaret México, and custom pricing from about $110 per guest at Grand Velas.
- Largest venue: the Grand Velas Convention Center, for up to 1,000 guests.
- Most unusual settings: a chapel at the top of a pyramid and cave venues at Hotel Xcaret México.
Prices checked October 2026. Packages change, so request a current quote for your date.
Where the Riviera Maya is
The Riviera Maya is the stretch of Caribbean coast south of Cancún. The official Mexican Caribbean tourism site describes it as the coast linking Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, connected by Federal Highway 307, with the full drive from Puerto Morelos to Tulum taking a little over an hour (Mexican Caribbean).
For couples, that means one simple choice up front: how far south to go. Puerto Morelos keeps the airport transfer short. The Playa del Carmen area puts you near a lively town. Tulum gives you a more relaxed, nature-focused trip. Underneath the whole coast runs a network of cenotes and underground rivers, which makes the Riviera Maya a favorite for guests who want adventure between wedding events.
If you are still deciding between this coast and the Cancún Hotel Zone or Costa Mujeres, our full list of wedding resorts covers all 17 resorts we track.
Riviera Maya wedding venues at a glance
| Resort | Area | Standout venues | Largest space | Starting package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreams Riviera Cancún | Puerto Morelos | Lobby Staircase, Gazebo, Beach, Ceiba Tree | 250 guests | From $1,349 (10 guests) |
| Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Playa del Carmen area | Virgen de Guadalupe Chapel, Zen Garden, Ocean Terrace | 1,000 guests | Custom, from about $110 per guest (agency listed) |
| Hotel Xcaret México | Playa del Carmen area | Pyramid-top chapel, Playa Las Palmeras, Cuevas Kayak | 150 guests | $3,950 (50 guests, Sunset promotion, agency listed) |
| Dreams Tulum | Tulum | Sunset Rooftop, Chapel, Central Beach, Secret Garden Gazebo | 250 guests | From $1,349 (10 guests) |
Prices checked October 2026. Want to see these side by side with every number? Use the resort comparison tool.
A walk south: the venues resort by resort
Puerto Morelos: Dreams Riviera Cancún
Dreams Riviera Cancún sits on the beach in Puerto Morelos, a short drive south of the Cancún airport, which makes it the easiest Riviera Maya choice for guests flying in for a long weekend. It is family-friendly, with 486 rooms and suites.
- Lobby Staircase: ceremonies for up to 250 guests, and one of the resort’s most photographed spots.
- Gazebo: ceremonies for up to 150 guests.
- Beach: up to 100 guests for a ceremony and 200 for a reception.
- Ceiba Tree: an intimate garden ceremony for up to 60 guests.
- Ballrooms, El Patio and Oceana Restaurant: receptions for up to 250 guests.
The Wedding in Paradise package (from $1,349 for 10 guests) is complimentary when the couple books at least 7 nights in a Preferred Club Ocean View room or higher, or when 5 rooms in any category are booked for at least 3 nights.
Playa del Carmen area: Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Grand Velas Riviera Maya is an AAA Five Diamond all-inclusive set among mangroves and jungle on a white sand beach. It hosts only one wedding per day, so your celebration never shares the spotlight. Its 539 suites are spread across three ambiances.
- Virgen de Guadalupe Chapel: up to 143 guests.
- Ocean Terrace: ceremonies for up to 260 guests.
- Zen Garden: up to 700 guests.
- Chaká Garden: an intimate space for up to 30 guests.
- Grand Velas Convention Center: up to 1,000 guests for a ceremony or seated dinner.
Couples can choose a symbolic ceremony, a chapel ceremony, or the Mayan Connections package, a Mayan ceremony led by a shaman. Package prices are not published. A destination wedding agency lists custom celebrations from about $110 per guest, and a deposit of 5% of the room block cost secures your date and venue.
Playa del Carmen area: Hotel Xcaret México
Hotel Xcaret México is an eco-archaeological all-inclusive with 900 suites across five Casas. It is the most distinctive venue list on this coast, with settings built around the beach, river inlets and caves. Guests also get unlimited access to the Xcaret parks during their stay.
- Chapel of Todos los Ángeles: a chapel at the top of a pyramid with Caribbean views, for up to 120 guests.
- Playón Viento: up to 150 guests.
- Playa Las Palmeras: a beach ceremony for up to 100 guests.
- Explanada Pirámide Xpiral: up to 80 guests.
- Cuevas Kayak: cocktails or a reception for up to 60 guests in a cave setting.
Hotel Xcaret México offers symbolic, Catholic and legal ceremony packages. Wedding benefits require a minimum room block (11 rooms for 3 nights Sunday to Thursday, 20 rooms on Fridays, 25 rooms on Saturdays) with 80% of wedding guests staying on site, so plan your guest list with that in mind.
Tulum: Dreams Tulum
Dreams Tulum sits on the beach near Tulum and has the longest venue list of the four, with 13 ceremony and reception spaces across 432 rooms and suites. It is family-friendly and hosts South Asian weddings too.
- Central Beach: ceremonies for up to 250 guests.
- Sunset Rooftop: ceremonies for up to 150 guests.
- Chapel: ceremonies for up to 120 guests.
- Secret Garden Gazebo: ceremonies for up to 150 guests.
- Tulum Beach Palapa: ceremonies for up to 130 guests.
- Mexican Plaza and Ballroom: receptions for up to 250 guests.
Like its sister resort in Puerto Morelos, Dreams Tulum starts at $1,349 for 10 guests, with a complimentary Wedding in Paradise package for a qualifying stay. For more on this end of the coast, see our guide to Tulum wedding venues.
Find your venue by style
| Style | Where to find it | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Chapel | Grand Velas (Virgen de Guadalupe Chapel), Hotel Xcaret México (pyramid-top chapel), Dreams Tulum (Chapel) | 143, 120 and 120 guests |
| Beach | Dreams Tulum (Central Beach), Dreams Riviera Cancún (Beach), Hotel Xcaret México (Playa Las Palmeras) | 250, 100 and 100 guests for a ceremony |
| Rooftop | Dreams Tulum (Sunset Rooftop) | 150 guests |
| Garden | Grand Velas (Zen Garden, Chaká Garden), Dreams Riviera Cancún (Ceiba Tree) | 700, 30 and 60 guests |
| Caves and nature | Hotel Xcaret México (Cuevas Kayak, Explanada Pirámide Xpiral) | 60 and 80 guests |
| Grand staircase or terrace | Dreams Riviera Cancún (Lobby Staircase), Grand Velas (Ocean Terrace) | 250 and 260 guests |
| Very large weddings | Grand Velas Convention Center | 1,000 guests |
Not sure which style fits you? The resort match quiz narrows it down in about a minute.
What a 60-guest Riviera Maya wedding costs
These estimates use published starting package prices plus per-guest rates listed in 2026. They cover the wedding package only, not travel or guest rooms.
| Resort | How the estimate is built | About |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Xcaret México | Sunset $3,950 for 50 guests + 10 extra guests at $220 | $6,150 |
| Grand Velas Riviera Maya | 60 guests at the agency-listed $110 per guest (a floor, before décor and upgrades) | $6,600 |
| Dreams Riviera Cancún | Eternal Love $4,599 for 20 guests + 40 added guests at $93 | $8,319 |
| Dreams Tulum | Eternal Love $4,599 for 20 guests + 40 added guests at $104 | $8,759 |
The Hotel Xcaret México Sunset package is a limited promotion, so confirm it is still available for your date. Your décor, photography and extra events such as a welcome dinner will move every total. Try your own guest count in the wedding cost calculator, or read the Cancún wedding packages guide for all 17 resorts.
How to choose between them
- Shortest airport transfer: Dreams Riviera Cancún in Puerto Morelos.
- Largest guest list: Grand Velas Riviera Maya, with a convention center for 1,000 and a garden for 700.
- A legal or Catholic ceremony on site: Hotel Xcaret México lists legal and Catholic versions of its Paraíso package. The other resorts can explain legal ceremony options and added costs.
- A Mayan ceremony: the Mayan Connections package at Grand Velas Riviera Maya.
- Free wedding with a qualifying stay: both Dreams resorts.
- Guests who love adventure: Hotel Xcaret México, with park access included for guests.
- A sunset rooftop ceremony: Dreams Tulum.
Planning around Playa del Carmen specifically? Our Playa del Carmen wedding guide goes deeper on that town.
Tips for planning a Riviera Maya wedding
- Book the resort first. Popular dates book up first, especially at resorts that host one wedding a day.
- Ask about the rain plan. All four resorts have indoor spaces, from ballrooms to chapels, that can serve as a backup.
- Check room block rules early. Free-wedding offers and package perks depend on room nights, and Hotel Xcaret México has a minimum block for wedding benefits.
- Plan guest passes. Guests staying elsewhere buy a wedding pass at Grand Velas Riviera Maya, so it helps to keep everyone on site.
- Give guests a free day. With cenotes and Mayan sites along the coast, a day off between the welcome party and the wedding is a gift your guests will remember.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Riviera Maya wedding venues?
Among the resorts we track, Dreams Riviera Cancún, Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Hotel Xcaret México and Dreams Tulum each offer beach, garden or chapel venues. The best fit depends on your guest count, budget and ceremony style.
How much does a Riviera Maya wedding cost?
Published starting packages begin at $1,349 for 10 guests at the Dreams resorts and $3,950 for 50 guests at Hotel Xcaret México (checked October 2026). A 60-guest wedding package runs about $6,150 to $8,759 at these resorts before rooms and travel.
Which Riviera Maya resort holds the most guests?
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, with a convention center for up to 1,000 guests and the Zen Garden for up to 700.
Can we get married in a chapel on the Riviera Maya?
Yes. Grand Velas Riviera Maya has the Virgen de Guadalupe Chapel for up to 143 guests, Hotel Xcaret México has a pyramid-top chapel for up to 120, and Dreams Tulum has a chapel for up to 120.
Is the Riviera Maya the same as Cancún?
No. Cancún sits to the north. The Riviera Maya is the coast south of Cancún linking Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, and the drive from Puerto Morelos to Tulum takes a little over an hour.
Can we have a free wedding on the Riviera Maya?
Yes. Dreams Riviera Cancún and Dreams Tulum make the Wedding in Paradise package complimentary with a qualifying stay, such as 5 rooms in any category booked for at least 3 nights.
Ready to compare real numbers for your date and guest count? Request a free quote and we will help you line up the Riviera Maya resorts that fit your wedding.
