Belize carries that unique Caribbean spirit that entices people into its warm embrace. No wonder several young couples look forward to a Belize wedding. Explore raw nature here, as almost half of this country consists of protected nature reserve land and park area.
Top it up with enthralling Mayan ruins and garnish it with lush rainforests and you get the perfect destination wedding ready to serve. For adventure lovers, Belize offers scuba diving and other eco-activities along its gorgeous barrier reef.
And of course, it’s famous for its 760,500 square feet Blue Hole which is so big that it’s visible from outer space. If natural wonder is what you’re looking for, you’ll find it here in Belize.
About Destination Weddings in Belize
Why Get Married in Belize
The crystal clear sapphire waves of Belize are beautiful enough to woo anyone. But to add a distinct natural charm to the place, there’s the Great Blue Hole that’s a spectacular diving site and a must-see place. Apart from that, there are various types of reef sharks and colorful tropical fishes – all these factors make it an interesting marine biological place.
And if you’re more into landscapes, enjoy the Mayan ruins, mangrove swamps, and diverse rainforests full of life and energy. No matter what kind of natural beauty you’re looking for, you’ll find it right here. This is why many brides and grooms want a Belize wedding.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Belize
A Belize wedding is much cheaper than a wedding in the US. An average package would cost you somewhere around $2500 to $3000. This package would include a wedding coordinator, a private beach event, a bridal bouquet, a wedding cake, sparkling wine for the toast, and traditional Garifuna drummers.
You can also opt for add-ons but they’ll cost you extra. For example, a couple’s massage might cost you $400, a ceremony video will be $600, and tropical flowers for décor would cost $200.
As you add guests, dinner, and cocktail arrangements, the costs will go up.
The Best Belize Wedding Venues & Belize Wedding Packages
Alaia Belize
If you want your Belize wedding in complete luxury and style, Alaia Belize is perfect for you. Enjoy upscale amenities with the unique experience of a Caribbean lifestyle. You’ll get exclusive access to a spa, a wine club, three pools, four bars, and six restaurants.
They also have a suspended rooftop lounge and pool that offer a heavenly experience. Stay in the cutting-edge Vista Suites and Studios or enjoy a more secluded Reef House. You can also select one of their Beachfront Villas that come with private plunge pools.
This place can be the perfect romantic getaway for you as you escape the everyday humdrum life and come here to celebrate your big day.
Visit the local areas with their town golf cart and immerse yourself in the Caribbean culture. Explore the pure bliss of over a thousand feet of the beach area, just a small walk away from the barrier reserve.
Discuss your needs with their concierge team and get the best wedding right here in the middle of Belize.
All-inclusive accommodation at Alaia Belize would cost you $234 per night for one guest. For kids less than 17 years, the charges are $117 per night. Kids under 6 can stay for free.
Copal Tree Lodge
Copal Tree is a beautiful rainforest lodge in the middle of Punta Gorda in Belize. It’s a gorgeous haven with a tranquil atmosphere that will give you the perfect Belize wedding. There are amazing event spaces and an organic farm where you can find fresh ingredients for your wedding menu.
It has four main event spaces with different sizes so you can book according to the number of guests. This unique reserve consists of a 12,000-acre space with lush forests and sprawling gardens, which means you have unlimited places to hold your nuptials.
In the middle of the gardens, you’ll find the Farm Center which consists of a green lawn and huge Ceiba trees that provide the ultimate backdrop for a wedding ceremony.
Enjoy the presence of bougainvillea blossoms, peppercorn trees, cinnamon, and turmeric roots in the beautiful gardens of this venue.
For a medium-sized wedding, you can select the Farm Center and Tranquility Palapa which can host up to 75 guests. You can enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the rainforest from the spacious platform on the roof.
Their wedding packages start at just $1899. But if you want something cheaper, you can try their elopement package.
Sapphire Beach Resort
Sapphire Beach Resort sits comfortably on the Ambergris Caye. It’s a secluded resort that offers complete privacy to you and your guests. The place offers a team of wedding organizers who can work with you to create the perfect Belize wedding for you.
The resort has several event spaces and beautiful décor. You can have customizable packages that include romantic beach dinners, room upgrades, couples massages, and others. With adventure options, scrumptious dining, and luxurious accommodation, it is the perfect wedding getaway.
The place can accommodate up to 150 guests and there are different cuisines to choose from. Select a mix of American, Asian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Italian dishes under one roof. Whether you want a buffet, tapas, plated, family-style, or hors d’oeuvres, you’ll find everything right here.
There are three main wedding and elopement packages offered by Sapphire and they all have different price ranges. The packages are Just Us Two, Barefoot Blooms, and Beyond the Sea.
An elopement would cost $2500 and would include a wedding planner, an officiator, a floral bouquet, a wedding cake, and a romantic dinner on the beach.
Barefoot Blooms is for a ceremony with 3-50 guests and costs $5500. It consists of a private reception venue as well.
For more than 50 guests, you can select the Beyond the Sea package which costs $7500.
Las Terrazas Resort
Explore the beauty of the glistening white sandy beaches of the Caribbean Sea at Las Terrazas Resort. Enjoy a delicious rum punch as you lounge under swaying palm trees while their wedding specialists plan your wedding.
They have a 70 feet infinity pool and a spa where you can go for a soothing and relaxing massage. And when you’re free, you can go kayaking in crystal clear waters with your special one.
The residences in this resort are over a thousand square feet, with the largest one being 3100 square feet. Enjoy seclusion and privacy while you live in oversized villas that offer you a comfortable and luxurious stay.
Create your wedding menu from their choices of Caribbean, American, and international cuisines. Made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients, the lip-smacking delicacies of their kitchen are made to perfection.
Accommodate your guests at Ocean Front Sea House, Terrazas Residence, Penthouse, Resort View, Lagoon Residence, or Deluxe Rooms. Each unit comes with handcrafted mahogany furniture, granite countertops, and travertine floors.
Enjoy delicious snacks, drinks, and meals at the O Restaurant, Rooftop Sky Lounge, and Jugo Poolside Bar. You can also enjoy a private beach dinner where you two can have a romantic ambiance in the glow of tiki torches.
Hopkins Bay Resort
Celebrate your Belize wedding in this resort that offers rustic bars, pristine beaches, and amazing food. Hold your nuptials with a tropical backdrop that makes your special moments even more memorable.
At Hopkins Bay Resort, you can celebrate not just your wedding but also other events, such as a bridal shower, an engagement party, a rehearsal dinner, and your reception.
The venue offers several customizable wedding packages and can accommodate up to 100 wedding guests. They also have 18 three-bedroom beach houses that you can use as private spaces for your guests.
With two on-site restaurants, beautiful suites, and two pools, this resort is the ideal place for a comfortable and luxurious wedding. They curate each wedding in an individual style that gives guests an exceptional experience with modern amenities and a Caribbean vibe.
Walk to the aisle decorated with conch shells and palm leaves with sand between your toes for the perfect Caribbean wedding.
There are customizable packages and you can discuss your expectations with them to get the right quotation.
Belize Wedding Legal Requirements
Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings
Weddings in Belize can be legal or symbolic.
Legal wedding: You sign the marriage documents in Belize and hold the ceremony here. Your marriage will be registered in Belize and it will be legally recognized in your home country. It is also called a civil wedding.
Symbolic wedding: You get married in your home country and hold the wedding ceremony here in Belize. There is no paperwork and you’re already legally married. However, you read the vows in Belize to celebrate a destination wedding.
Most resorts and hotels will help you with the formalities of a legal wedding.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
Here are the documents you need for a Belize wedding:
- Passports of the bride and groom. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months.
- Original birth certificates of the bride and groom.
- Original divorce/death certificates of previous spouses, if applicable.
- Signatures of two witnesses: one male and one female
The couple must stay in Belize for at least 72 hours before filing for the marriage application. You can apply for the marriage license on the first day. The license will be ready by the next day and you can hold the ceremony then.
Legal Marriage Timeline
Make sure you arrive in Belize at least three days before the wedding. On the first day, submit the marriage application to the local registrar’s office. You’ll need to deposit the above-mentioned documents with the application.
The license for marriage will be ready by the next day. Now you can perform the ceremony. You’ll need a minister of a church or a Senior Justice of the Peace. You’ll also need two witnesses.
Once the ceremony is completed, you can register the marriage with the Registry Department. Your hotel or resort will generally help you throughout the process.
Belize Wedding Planning Tips
How to get there
By air
Several commercial airlines fly to Belize. If you’re traveling from Denver, Miami, Atlanta, or Houston, you can reach here in just three hours. And if you’re coming from Canadian cities like Calgary or Toronto, it will take about five hours.
By water
You can also reach Belize by boat or cruise ship. There are private boats that you can take from your country to Belize.
By road
You can also drive here through the western border (Guatemala) or from the northern border (Mexico). You can also take a bus to Belize.
Belize Weather
Belize enjoys a subtropical climate and the dry season lasts from February to May. The wet season extends from June to November. August and September are largely dry but there might be a few showers.
The average temperature ranges from 70oF in December (winter) to 84oF in July (summer). Hurricanes usually occur from July to November. It’s best to avoid the hurricane season.
Belize doesn’t receive excellent sunlight but the coastal areas are the sunniest. The sea waters remain warm throughout the year so you can always take a dip.
Budgeting Tips
Here are some budgeting tips for your Belize wedding:
- Select the off-season for your wedding. This might mean having an inside ceremony instead of a beach one (especially during the hurricane season).
- Plan the other events carefully. How many other events do you want apart from the main ceremony? There can be a bridal shower, a reception, a cocktail hour, and other side events. Cut back on the events you don’t need.
- How long are you planning to stay? The longer you stay, the more expensive it will become.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Belize
The best time is in the dry season. However, it’s also the most touristy season, which means the country will be crowded and the resorts will be full.
August and September are largely dry but there are chances of a hurricane. The ideal months would be December to mid-February. These months receive the least rainfall. February doesn’t see many tourists, which makes it the best month for a Belize wedding.
Looking for other wedding destinations? Go through our detailed guides covering Lake Como, Tuscany, and Cancun.
