Witness a land where Northern and Southern countries meet – a place where cultures and worlds mix. Come, fall in love, and have a beautiful Panama wedding.
Panama is known for its authentic energy, untamed rainforests, and cosmopolitan landscapes. If you want to seek more and taste more, this is where you should be.
Why be limited to one type of landscape when you can experience everything? From rainforests to deserts and from beaches to glamorous cities, this country has everything you need in your wedding destination. And of course, you can’t miss the unique lip-smacking dishes served here.
Table of Contents
Best Venues for Your Panama Destination Wedding
About Destination Weddings in Panama
Legal Requirements for Weddings in Panama
Panama Destination Wedding Planning Tips
Average Room Price: $100 to $400
Drive Time to Airport: 40 minutes
Number of Rooms: 369
Weddings Per Day: 2
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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JW Marriott Panama offers unparalleled services and timeless luxury. Travel to the shores of Punta Pacifica to find this high-rise hotel with an infinity pool and stunning city skyline views.
To obtain an authentic taste of Panama, visit the poolside restaurant and order a homemade tropical cocktail. Try some typical soul foods at MASI and relax in their comfy accommodations.
The venue can bring your Panama wedding to life with its outdoor patio and stunning ocean view. Get a one-of-a-kind wedding celebration with the most excellent foods cooked by JW Marriott’s expert chefs.
Hold your reception in one of their large conference rooms. And while you’re here, relax and enjoy the scenery as their specialized wedding planners work on the finer things while you sip champagne along the beach.
You may reserve room blocks to help you establish a private environment for your visitors. You’ll find everything here, from modest accommodations to opulent suites. Their rooms are built for utmost luxury, with plunging baths and all contemporary facilities.
Do you want to appreciate the sea? Relax in the seaside room and enjoy their delectable food. This Marriott venue plays true to its name by offering a relaxing wedding getaway.
Average Room Price: $100 to $400
Drive Time to Airport: 30 minutes
Number of Rooms: 186
Weddings Per Day: 4
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Do you want to stay in a luxury hotel with a view of the Pacific Ocean? Consider the Intercontinental Miramar. It is adjacent to Panama’s commercial sector and provides big apartments with views of the Panama Canal. Renowned for its breathtaking views, impeccable service, and elegant ambiance, it is an exceptional destination for couples seeking a memorable and enchanting wedding experience.
Enjoy their spa before your wedding day to refresh your body and mind. Have a spectacular Panama wedding that incorporates local tastes. They provide customizable wedding packages that you may adapt to your individual preferences.
There are 11 modern conference rooms and a ballroom accommodating up to 500 people. They have trained wedding planners on staff to assist you with your big day. The hotel offers 186 rooms and is equipped to host a significant wedding.
You can stay in Standard Rooms, Executive Rooms, or Suites. It is a pet-friendly hotel so that you can bring your four-legged buddy on your big day.
Bay View Restaurant and Lobby Bar will tantalize your taste senses. They prepare all of the meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. After a hard day visiting the city, you may cool down in the outdoor pool. They feature a well-equipped fitness facility where you may work out daily.
Average Room Price: $100 to $400
Drive Time to Airport: 45 minutes
Number of Rooms: 307
Weddings Per Day: 2
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Witness the convergence of verdant forests, mountains, and clean blue lakes. Dreams Playa Bonita is the ideal location for a wedding in Panama. Located just a short drive from Panama City, Dreams Playa Bonita offers the perfect blend of tropical beauty and modern convenience.
Dreams Playa offers all-inclusive packages to let you celebrate genuine love in a unique setting. They can accommodate personal meetings, modest weddings, and large-scale events. Whether you envision a beachside ceremony with your toes in the sand or a romantic garden affair, the resort offers a variety of breathtaking locations to suit your preferences.
This resort offers a professional wedding coordinating staff to handle the small details while you rest and enjoy the festivities. There are unique packages for all sorts of wedding-related activities if you want to prepare a proposal or tour the location before setting up your celebrations.
You can try to spot a ship approaching The Panama Canal from suites and beautiful accommodations with ocean views. How would you like to unwind? In the spa or beside the pool? Whatever your tastes are, Dreams Playa Bonita has the most excellent possibilities.
The hotel offers 307 guest rooms, suites, and 11 beachfront towers. Whether you desire full or partial sea views from your patio or balcony, this location has them. Small dogs are accepted at this resort so you may bring along your little companion.
Average Room Price: $100 to $400
Drive Time to Airport: 120 minutes
Number of Rooms: 773
Weddings Per Day: 3
All Inclusive: No
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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RIU Playa Blanca, located on the picturesque Pacific coast of Panama, offers an array of wedding options for couples seeking a tropical beach destination for their special day. The resort’s stunning location with its pristine beaches and turquoise waters serves as an exquisite backdrop for a romantic wedding ceremony.
Customizable wedding packages are available at RIU Playa Blanca to cater to different styles and budgets. These packages include services such as ceremony setup, floral arrangements, wedding cake, and the assistance of a dedicated wedding coordinator to meticulously plan and execute every detail.
The resort offers various ceremony setups, including beachfront weddings and lush garden Gazebos. The wedding packages also include amenities such as personalized menus with local and international cuisine, elegant decor, and floral arrangements.
Besides, RIU Playa Blanca offers reception options such as beachfront or indoor receptions with live music, dancing, and delectable cuisine. The resort’s accommodations provide a comfortable and luxurious stay for the wedding couple and their guests.
All in all, RIU Playa Blanca offers a breathtaking beach destination for couples seeking a romantic and memorable wedding celebration.
Average Room Price: $100 to $400
Drive Time to Airport: 45 minutes
Number of Rooms: 164
Weddings Per Day: 2
All Inclusive: Yes
Adult Only: No
LGBTQ Friendly: Yes
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Gamboa Rainforest Resort is an exquisite destination nestled amidst the lush rainforests of Panama. It’s a rainforest reserve where you can have your wedding in the lovely green forests. It is located deep within Soberana National Park and observes the confluence of the Panama Canal and the Chagres River.
In this pristine beauty within the jungle, experience exciting adventure blended with the comforts of modern living. This Panama wedding site is about 30 minutes from Panama City and spans 340 acres. Eco-lodge-style accommodations provide a real nature respite from the city’s distractions and bustle.
The venue provides all-inclusive wedding packages and a specialized wedding organizer who will arrange everything as you enjoy the reserve’s natural environment. This one-of-a-kind wedding location has night safaris and aerial train tours that will make your special day even more memorable.
With 27 suites and 137 rooms, you can pick between views of a tropical-style pool, gardens, or rivers. The lodging is natural, rustic yet pleasant, and equipped with contemporary comforts.
The resort provides many activities and experiences for the wedding party and guests to enjoy. Wake up to the singing of tropical birds on your private balcony every morning and lose yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of this rainforest reserve.
About Destination Weddings in Panama
Why Get Married in Panama
A Panama wedding costs less than a US wedding and offers the excitement of a destination wedding. Spend a few days here and revel in a cozy atmosphere as you unite with nature. Whether you want to have a large celebration or just with your family and close friends, you’ll have an unforgettable experience here.
Arrive a couple of weeks before the big day and enjoy the beauty of the place. Imagine tying the knot with your feet in the sand with the ocean waves crashing behind you. That’s the beauty of an island wedding. Experience it right here in Panama.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Panama
A small ceremony with up to 10 guests will cost you about $2,000. This will include the ceremony setting, flowers, a wedding cake, and photography. A bigger event with up to 30 guests, including music and a rehearsal party, will cost about $6,000.
An even bigger event with up to 50 guests with a live band will cost $10,000. Dinner arrangements will cost about $50-$100 per person, depending on the menu you select.
These costs do not include flights and accommodation. The prices can go up or down depending on the customizations you make.
Legal Requirements for Weddings in Panama
Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings
You can have a legal wedding or a symbolic wedding in Panama. While you’ll have to read vows and have a ceremony in both types of weddings, there are some major differences.
With a legal or a civil ceremony, you’ll need to get married in Panama and hold a ceremony here. But with a symbolic ceremony, you can get married in your home country and come to Panama for just the ceremony.
As you can imagine, there will be some paperwork involved in the legal ceremony. But don’t worry, most hotels and resorts will help you out with that.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
Here are the documents you need for your Panama wedding:
- Passports of both parties
- Corresponding visas of both parties
- Birth certificates of both parties
- Health certificates of both parties
- Birth certificates of children of both parties, if any
- Divorce or death certificates of previous spouses of both parties, if any
The health certificate must be made within 15 days before the ceremony. It has to be made by a registered physician and must include results of general medical tests including urinalysis and HIV test.
Legal Marriage Timeline
If you want a legal or a civil ceremony, you need to be in Panama 20 days before the wedding day. The legal ceremony would cost you $400.
Collect the documents mentioned above. You’ll also need a signed declaration that expresses your intent of getting married. This document should have your details such as full names, ages, professions, nationalities, and other details mentioned on the form.
You’ll also need two witnesses. They shouldn’t be related to either party. Discuss things with the hotel or resort in which you’re planning to stay. Generally, they can arrange witnesses for you.
Panama Destination Wedding Planning Tips
How to Get There
You can fly to Panama City through Tocumen International Airport. There are daily flights from the US (mostly through Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Miami). Flights also come daily from South and Central American cities.
There are three land routes from Costa Rica with frequent buses. You can also drive to Panama using this route.
If you want to reach via the water route, you can get a boat from Cartagena (Colombia) through the San Blas islands. All cruises that cross this region also go via Panama Canal.
Panama Weather
Panama has Pacific and Atlantic sides and the weather conditions on both sides are remarkably different, especially rainfalls.
The Caribbean slopes get almost double the rainfall received on the Pacific side. There are showers throughout the year on the Caribbean side but the Pacific side shows seasonal variations.
The country has a tropical climate, which means it stays hot all year. Panama has cloudy skies and not all days are bright and sunny.
Temperature can go up to 31oC in summer (March to September) and down to 23oC in winter (December and January).
Budgeting Tips
Here are some tips to save money on your Panama wedding:
- Select local dishes in the menu instead of exquisite dishes from all across the globe.
- Flying to Panama can be expensive. Instead, you can take the waterways. However, keep in mind that it will take more time to reach.
- If you’re on a budget, try to have an intimate wedding with under 20 guests.
- Many hotels and resorts run deals and discounts. Ask your preferred hotel if they have any current deals running.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Panama
The weather is a bit on the cooler side from January to mid-April. In these months, it receives the least rainfall and hence stays sunny for most parts. Get married in this season and you’ll enjoy the tropical nature of the place.
On the Caribbean coast, there are heavy but short bursts of rain almost every day. On the Pacific coast, the wet season stays from May to November.
Since the temperatures stay pretty much constant throughout the year, you can visit it any time. If rain showers don’t bother you, you can save money while having a destination wedding in the rainy season.
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