Most couples who marry in Grenada as visitors do it through a resort. The hotel has a lawn, a beach and a coordinator who has done the paperwork many times, and it sells the whole thing as a package with a single headline price. That convenience is real, but the headline price is rarely the final one, and two packages with similar names can contain very different things.
A package is best read as a starting kit. It usually solves the legal and logistical core of the ceremony and leaves the reception, the photographs and the guest experience to be built on top, at the resort's rates. Knowing where that line falls at each property is the single most useful thing you can do before you sign.
This explainer walks through what a typical Grenadian resort package includes, the items that are usually extra, how the larger all-inclusive brands differ from small hotels, and the questions that reveal the true cost. Inclusions and prices change from season to season, so treat every figure as something to confirm in writing.
What a basic package usually includes
At its simplest, a resort wedding package covers the ceremony itself. Expect the services of a wedding coordinator in the weeks before and on the day, help preparing the special marriage licence application, the fee for a licensed marriage officer to perform the ceremony, a set-up at one of the resort's standard locations, and a modest decorative element such as an arch or a table with flowers. A small wedding cake, a bottle of sparkling wine, a bouquet and buttonhole are common additions to entry-level packages.
Some packages also cover the government charges for the licence and stamp duty; others assist with the application but leave the fees to you, payable at the Treasury in St George's. That difference alone can move the real cost noticeably, especially if you need the faster same-day or next-day licence that carries a supplementary fee. Check whether witnesses are provided if you are travelling alone, and whether the coordinator accompanies you to the Prime Minister's Office to apply or whether you go on your own.
Larger all-inclusive brands sometimes offer a basic ceremony at no extra charge when you book a qualifying stay of a minimum number of nights. That can be good value, but the complimentary version is usually tightly defined: a fixed time slot, a set location, a limited guest count, and upgrades priced from a catalogue.
Items that are usually extra
Photography and video. Many packages include a short photo session or a handful of edited images. Full coverage of the ceremony, portraits and reception is almost always an upgrade, and some resorts restrict outside photographers or charge them a vendor fee.
Reception dinner. A private dinner for guests is priced per head and depends on the menu, the location and whether drinks are on a bar tab or a package. At all-inclusive resorts, guests staying on site may be covered for a group dinner in a restaurant, while a private beach reception costs extra.
Non-resident guests. Friends or family staying elsewhere usually need a day or evening pass to attend, charged per person. This is easy to forget when half the guests are in a villa down the road.
Music and entertainment. A steel pan soloist during the ceremony, a DJ or a band at the reception are normally booked on top of the package, sometimes through approved suppliers only.
Hair, make-up and spa. Bridal hair and make-up, trials and pre-wedding treatments are charged at spa rates, often with a service charge added.
Premium locations and décor. A gazebo, pier, private beach area or sunset slot can carry a location fee. Upgraded flowers, chair covers, lighting and canopies are priced individually.
All-inclusive brands versus small hotels
The big all-inclusive resorts near Point Salines run weddings almost as a production line in the best sense: established locations, tested suppliers, coordinators who manage several ceremonies a week and clear menus of upgrades. The advantage is predictability. The drawback is that you may share the day with another couple, have limited choice of time, and find that the venue you liked online is booked for someone else at sunset.
Smaller hotels and boutique properties around Grand Anse, Morne Rouge and Lance aux Epines tend to handle fewer weddings and are often more flexible. You may be able to choose your own caterer for a particular course, bring in a photographer you found yourself or take over the whole property for a weekend. The trade-off is that the coordinator may be one person juggling other jobs, and the paperwork help may be less polished. Ask how many weddings they handle in a typical year and who exactly will be your contact on the day.
Questions that reveal the real price
Before comparing packages, send each resort the same list and ask for answers in writing. The replies tell you more than the brochure.
- Does the package price include the marriage licence fee, stamp duty and any fast-track supplement, or only help with the application?
- How many guests does it cover, and what is the charge for each additional guest and each non-resident guest?
- Which ceremony locations are included, and what is the fee for the others? Is a sunset time slot guaranteed?
- What is the wet-weather plan, and is there a charge for moving indoors or adding a tent?
- Can outside vendors such as photographers, florists or musicians work on the property, and is there a vendor fee?
- Are VAT and service charge included in the quoted figures, or added on top?
- How many other weddings may take place on the same day, and will the ceremony locations overlap?
- What deposit is due, when is the balance payable, and what happens if the date has to move because of a storm or a flight cancellation?
Mistakes couples make with packages
The most common mistake is choosing on the headline figure. A cheap entry package with a strict guest limit, no reception and high per-head charges for extras can end up costing more than a dearer package that includes dinner and photography. Build a realistic version of your day, with your real guest list, and ask each resort to price that version rather than its standard option.
The second is leaving the legal side to the last minute because the package mentions licence assistance. The coordinator can only process what you bring. Original birth certificates, a properly sworn declaration of single status and, for anyone divorced, the final decree must travel with you. A missing document is not something a resort can fix on the island.
The third is ignoring the guest experience. A package covers you two for an hour. Your guests are on the island for several days, often paying their own way, and they will remember the welcome, the transport and the food far more than the arch. Leave room in the budget and the planning for them.
Building a realistic budget around the package
A useful way to budget is to split the day into four layers. The first is legal and ceremony: licence fees, stamp duty, officiant and witnesses, which a package may or may not cover. The second is the setting: location fee, décor, flowers, chairs and any tent. The third is hospitality: reception food, drinks, cake, music and day passes for guests who are not staying. The fourth is memory: photography, video and any printed album. Ask each resort to price all four layers for your actual guest count, and the comparison becomes honest.
Add the costs that sit outside the resort entirely. Couriers for documents, certified translations, notary fees at home, extra nights for an early arrival, and taxis for the trip to the Prime Minister's Office all belong in the budget. Expect VAT and a service charge to be added to many resort quotes unless they say otherwise, and remember that prices quoted in US dollars may be charged in Eastern Caribbean dollars at the fixed rate of EC$2.70 to US$1, with your card provider adding its own fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do Grenada resorts handle the marriage licence for you?
Most resort coordinators prepare the application and tell you which documents to bring, but both partners still usually need to appear in person to sign. The licence is issued through the Prime Minister's Office in St George's, and fees may or may not be in the package price.
Is a free wedding at an all-inclusive really free?
Some brands include a basic ceremony when you book a qualifying stay. It normally covers a set location, time and small number of guests. Photography, reception, extra guests, day passes and décor are usually charged, so the total is rarely zero.
Can we bring our own photographer to a resort wedding in Grenada?
Often yes, but policies vary. Some resorts allow outside photographers freely, some charge a vendor fee, and some restrict coverage to their own team. Ask before you book either the resort or the photographer, and get the answer in writing.
How many guests can a resort wedding package include?
Entry-level packages often cover the couple plus a small number of guests, with per-head charges beyond that. Larger celebrations are usually priced as custom events. Non-resident guests generally need a paid day or evening pass on top.
What happens to a resort wedding if it rains?
Most resorts have a covered alternative such as a terrace, gazebo or function room. Some charge to move or to add a tent. Short tropical showers often pass within minutes, so coordinators may hold the ceremony back briefly before switching.
How far ahead should we book a Grenada resort wedding?
For peak months between December and April, many couples secure the date six to twelve months ahead, particularly for sunset slots and weekends. Quieter months give more flexibility, but popular resorts can still book up around holidays.
