Puerto Rico is the Caribbean’s hottest spot for five-star weddings
Memorable moments go hand in hand with unforgettable locations and if that special occasion is a wedding, then it is no surprise that so many love birds choose Puerto Rico to celebrate their union.
Memorable moments go hand in hand with unforgettable locations and if that special occasion is a wedding, then it is no surprise that so many love birds choose Puerto Rico to celebrate their union.
What could be more romantic than to wed the love of your life on a sexy tropical beach as the sun is setting and the sky is ablaze with color or to say “I do” on a breathtaking marble terrace overlooking the blue hues of the ocean while the waves rhythmically lap the sand and scores of small votive candles flicker in the twilight.
The appeal of such magical weddings boosts the island’s popularity as the most perfect wedding destination. Besides, Puerto Rico is sunny and easily accessible by air from the mainland, making it ideal for a long weekend celebration. Plus, there are plenty of things to do — from sightseeing and sports to luxuriating on the beach — so your honeymoon can be as active or as languorous as you like.
There are all kinds of weddings but if you are dreaming of a luxurious event, then a very special setting is in order. Puerto Rico doesn’t disappoint when it comes to world-class venues that can deliver a stunning backdrop for a chic, five-star wedding, followed by a resplendent reception and dinner.
Among the more lavish locations, standouts include the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, the Condado Vanderbilt, Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve; and the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort; each offer what it takes for a truly unforgettable luxurious wedding and a totally romantic honeymoon.
But what exactly is a luxurious wedding?
“The word ‘luxury’ can be defined in many ways, but many believe luxury is a ‘feeling’ that couples feel, and not a tangible object that can be defined. It is the way they feel when they set foot on property, the reaction from their guests, the services they receive, and the dramatic scenic backdrops of their ceremony.
Poised flawlessly between city and shore, the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel has the quality of a movie set so a luxe wedding here will definitely make you and hubby feel like the stars of your very own love story. With its grand entrance, dramatic lobby showcasing one of the largest chandeliers in the world, and a verdant tropical garden canopied by a towering Banyan tree, this 388-guest room resort lives up to its fabled reputation as an iconic landmark. And having undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation taking on the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand, it has the updated and refreshed look of a chic socialite.
The Fairmont El San Juan hosts between 60 and 70 weddings yearly and about 40 percent of those weddings involve couples from outside Puerto Rico. Favorite spots for the wedding ceremony are the Banyan Tree, Aquarelle Restaurant, the Gold Ballroom and the International Ballroom. In most cases, the ceremony is followed by a reception and dinner in one of various indoor and outdoor venues, depending on the needs of the client.
The Fairmont El San Juan, with its long history and luxurious style, is definitely a good choice for a luxe celebration and, after the nuptials is over, for a very cozy honeymoon. This resort, after all, has it all so newlyweds don’t need to come out of their cocoon. There is the beach, the pool, a tri-level Well & Being fitness center that offers Pilates, vertical wall yoga, TRX, Cross Fit and group cycle. There is the legendary Chandelier bar, restaurants, a nightclub and several stores selling clothing, souvenirs, sweets and shoes. No getting bored here.
Couples who want a wedding in the city look to the Condado Vanderbilt, one of San Juan’s most famous icons, as the perfect venue for a classy event.
Opened in 1919, the Vanderbilt was designed by the same architectural firm that designed New York city’s Grand Central Terminal. It was Puerto Rico’s first luxury hotel and the first to have a casino when gaming was legalized in 1940.
Although it has experienced changes through the years, this historic hotel never lost that grand style one sees reflected in its imposing facade and the majestic double staircase in the lobby that leads to the first-floor ballroom. The hotel is commodious, with elegantly appointed public rooms and spectacular ocean views.
Weddings at the Vanderbilt are a year-round affair but the busiest months are April, May, November and December. The hotel can accommodate groups of between 25 and 500 people.
Luxurious weddings at the Vanderbilt are characterized by impeccable service. As examples of excellence are the synchronized dinners that Michelin starred Executive Chef Juan Jose Cuevas creates for wedding parties and the support given to couples by professionals who guide them every step of the way. The historic setting also contributes to the sense of luxury.
Off island couples usually arrive at the Vanderbilt two days before the wedding and stay two extra nights. On their wedding night, newlyweds receive a champagne bottle and chocolate covered-strawberries, compliments of the hotel. The honeymoon is a time to unwind and enjoy deluxe pampering. Like personalized facials and massages using plant oils and organic botanicals at the hotel’s exclusive The Spa. You can be totally at ease: Thanks to the hotel’s concierge service, a butler will take care of all those little details, like making reservations for restaurants and for entertainment activities.
Over in Dorado, it is easy to feel in the lap of luxury at the Dorado Beach or the St. Regis, two resorts that seem a world away from San Juan although they are but 30 minutes away from the capital city. Both combine the comfort of high end living with the soul -enriching experience of being in a natural setting of incomparable beauty.
Dorado Beach is based on a property once owned by famed aviator Clara Livingston and later developed as a resort by Laurence Rockefeller. Everywhere you turn, you are in the midst of a wildly lush world of green palms and plants (there are more than 300,000 varieties planted) with the sea as your north.
All 114 rooms, completely refurbished recently as part of an extensive hotel restoration, are beachfront so the ocean is forever in your sight. Water is the prevailing, sensual theme: all the rooms have soaking tubs and outdoor showers shaded by the surrounding foliage; some have spacious balconies while others have private plunge pools.
May and June are the busiest months for weddings at the Dorado Beach. Most couples prefer a ceremony on the Surf Lawn, overlooking the ocean, and a sunset cocktail hour outdoors. Wedding parties average 100 people.
The “I dos” and partying over, it’s time for the couple to savor their private time together. A honeymoon at Dorado Beach is nothing but idyllic. Wedding couples usually stay three to seven nights, precious time they can spend luxuriating in the sun and indulging the senses at the Spa Botanico, a truly special place built around a 90-year-old tree. Here you can get a tree house massage, facials and body scrubs with poultices from indigenous ingredients. For the romantics at heart, there are couple’s pavilions where they can steam and bathe in cloistered gardens.
And there’s plenty more to do like water sports, tennis, 11 miles of nature trails, all of which will build an appetite that couples can assuage at four different restaurant experiences, including a Culinary Center that hosts wine dinners and cooking classes showcasing seasonal ingredients and international cuisines.
St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is described as a standard bearer for luxury in Puerto Rico and now the resort is more splendid than ever thanks to a recent $60 million renovation that has given its 139 rooms and public spaces a refined, new aesthetic.
Nestled along a curved, tranquil bay, the elegant St. Regis is beautifully integrated within its lush, tropical environment showcasing more than 110,000 native and naturalized plants.
The heart of the resort is the magnificent Casa Grande (Plantation House), check-in area and the setting for Paros, the fine-dining restaurant, and the St. Regis Bar. For more casual eating there is a poolside restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
A luxurious wedding at the St. Regis is all about the attention to detail, the anticipation of guests’ needs, and the personalization of every detail on the venue and offerings.
The resort welcomes intimate or large weddings of up to 250 guests; the months of April, May, June and July are busiest.
A honeymoon at St. Regis is to experience living in your own private paradise, one with all the comforts and amenities that luxury can provide. For couples, it is a time to relax, sunbathe, do water sports and enjoy the splendor of one of the most beautiful spots in Puerto Rico.
Divine churches where saying ‘I Do’ feels like a dream
Couples say “I Do” in all sorts of places: By the sea, on a boat, in the sky. That’s not to say the traditional church wedding is out. Far from it.
Couples say “I Do” in all sorts of places: By the sea, on a boat, in the sky. That’s not to say the traditional church wedding is out. Far from it.
Puerto Rico is fortunate to have some astonishing churches to get married in. Whether in metropolitan San Juan or out on the island, these iconic temples are part of the island’s rich architectural patrimony. To be married in one of them, as many couples from the island and mainland states choose to do every year, is to confer a sense of solemnity to a special day universally regarded as a milestone event in the life of a person. Plus, let’s not forget that walking down the aisle as a newlywed couple to the strains of Mendelssohn’s famous wedding march has got to be a pretty awesome thrill. Even if it’s canned music!
A favorite wedding venue, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Old San Juan is the second oldest church in the Western hemisphere and the oldest on U.S. soil. Last year it celebrated its 500th anniversary.
From its vantage location in the heart of San Juan’s historic quarter, the cathedral overlooks San Juan Bay. Its neoclassical facade belies an elegant interior with lovely stained-glass windows, bronze chandeliers, and extensive trompe l’oeil decorations, including a spectacular colonnade portico painted around the soaring dome ceiling above the altar.
When first built in 1521 the church was a simple structure with wooden walls and a thatch roof. Work on the permanent structure began in 1540 and continued for centuries; the current facade dates to the 1800s.
The church has a rich history. In 1598 the British navy turned up in the old city and looted the temple, absconding with all its valuable objects. In 1615, it lost its roof to a hurricane. Ponce de Leon, Puerto Rico’s first governor, is buried in a marble tomb close to the church transept.
Also in Old San Juan is the San Jose Church, the second oldest in the Americas established in 1532 under Spanish rule. The church is one of the earliest surviving examples of 16th century Spanish Gothic architecture in the Western hemisphere.
It was the resting place of Ponce de Leon for 350 years (1532-1735) and later his remains were transferred to the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. It still bears his coat of arms. San Jose Church remains as the final resting place of Jose Campeche, one of Puerto Rico’s most revered artists.
San German is a charming town on the island’s west coast. There you will find the Church of San German Auxerre, one of the oldest churches in the Western hemisphere.
It too has a venerable history. Spanish settlers founded the parish in 1510 but the permanent structure of the church dates to 1688. It has been refurbished several times due to earthquake damage in the 18th and 19th century, with the bell tower rebuilt in 1920.
San German de Auxerre has an impressive facade overlooking the main town plaza but what is truly breathtaking is the interior with its soaring vaulted ceiling decorated in an exquisite trompe l’oeil design imitating wood coffers. The pattern is repeated throughout the entire length of the ceiling with more trompe l’oeil flourishes along the arches. A stunning chandelier shines over the nave with additional chandeliers along the sides. The church is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since 1984.
One of the most charming temples in Puerto Rico and a popular choice for weddings is Saint Spyridon Church in Trujillo Alto. It was built in the 1930s by missionaries from the Mexico Archdiocese of the Greek Orthodox Church. They chose the most unlikely of places for the building: a former leper colony established in 1876.
Exquisite in its simplicity, Saint Spyridon is a sweet, intimate chapel painted in the white and blue colors of the Greek flag. A rapprochement between the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches makes it possible for Catholics to marry in this church.
And then there is the much beloved Stella Maris Church in Condado, San Juan’s tourist sector. It used to be a small, modest structure but a renovation led by architect Federico Montilla, his last project before retiring, has transformed it into one of the most exciting buildings in San Juan.
Montilla designed the new church in a mission style that is at once perfectly grand and contemporary. Among its outstanding features are the dramatic sloping roof of red brick shingles and two towers, the belfry in front and a larger tower in back topped by a cupola with rounded windows around it. One enters the church through a majestic, 10-foot-high black iron gate topped by a stunning, round stained-glass panel with a flower design. The flower motif is repeated on the facade in 12 narrow stained-glass windows, the work of local artist Edward Ferraioli.
Inside, a stunning see-through chapel is visible on one side of the entrance. The interior of the church is airy and minimalistic with a few grand touches: the gigantic sculpture of Christ on the Cross hovering over the altar and the stained-glass windows along the nave which soften the golden glow streaming into the temple.
Given the popularity of these churches, couples contemplating a wedding should make sure to reserve the church well ahead of the blissful day. Some churches require reservations six to eight months of advance. Couples who live in the U.S. can make all the arrangements through their local parish.
Requirements and Steps for Destination Weddings in Puerto Rico
If you want a religious destination wedding or want to break away from tradition, Wedding Ministers will marry you wherever and however you wish but to get hitched on the Isle of Enchantment there are requirements.
If you want a religious destination wedding or want to break away from tradition, Wedding Ministers will marry you wherever and however you wish but to get hitched on the Isle of Enchantment there are requirements.
Before starting the preparations for the wedding both you and your spouse will have to visit the Demographic Registry Office to submit the required paperwork.
The first thing you need is a valid government-issued ID, each spouse must provide a birth certificate (if any of the parties have children their birth certificates must be submitted too), blood and urine tests are required if one spouse lives in Puerto Rico but if both parties reside outside the island they will need to provide a letter or individual letters from a doctor certifying that each is in good health. If your home country or state does not require blood work, it must be clearly stated in the doctor’s note. Letters must be dated 10 days prior to the wedding.
Be prepared with an affidavit stating you’re visiting Puerto Rico to get married, if a foreign citizen, and that you’ll return to your place of residency post wedding. The sworn statement must be obtained 10 days prior to your big day. You’ll need to purchase an IRS stamp for $150 at the colecturia (government office).
If either party has had previous marriages, you must provide all divorce judgments, and in case of widowhood, the spouse’s death certificate is also needed, all original documents.
For the final step, make sure the priest, minister or judge who officiates the wedding delivers the certificate, marriage license, and all other documents to the Demographic Registry of the municipality where the ceremony will take place no more than 10 days after the marriage.
The best part is if you want a hassle-free and no worry event, you can hire our services, Wedding Ministers, for a small fee, and we will handle it all. We pick you up and take you by the hand throughout the entire process.
No better place for a memorable girl’s getaway
With warm tropical temperatures, an infectiously joyful culture and awe-inspiring scenery, Puerto Rico brims with adventures that add up to a fun-filled girls ‘weekend and great place to celebrate the bride-to-be’s last stretch of singlehood.
Forget Vegas, New York City and Miami! There’s no better destination for unforgettable bachelorette parties than the Island of Enchantment.
With warm tropical temperatures, an infectiously joyful culture and awe-inspiring scenery, Puerto Rico brims with adventures that add up to a fun-filled girls ‘weekend and great place to celebrate the bride-to-be’s last stretch of singlehood. The U.S. territory effortlessly blends Caribbean vibes and cosmopolitan appeal, and visitors flying in from an U.S. mainland airport don’t even need to bring a passport.
“Puerto Rico is a hot place right now for any type of party,” says Chezelle Rodriguez, destination wedding specialist at CD Weddings. More than 130 hotels and thousands of rentable homes make it easy for brides-to-be and their guests to plan a Puerto Rican itinerary to fit any style or budget. But convenience is only the start of the appeal.
Puerto Rico also brims with unique authenticity. “People are looking for cultural experiences, things that they cannot find on other Caribbean islands,” says Liliana Albizu, destination wedding planner and founder of Handcrafted Weds & Events.
For a can’t-miss Puerto Rican outing, Albizu often arranges chinchorreo (barhopping) tours for her guests. This tradition takes place in towns throughout the island every weekend, bringing friends and family together to spend the day eating, drinking, dancing, and playing games at roadside restaurants and bars. The festivities naturally appeal to partygoers celebrating an upcoming marriage, and by booking with a private company, groups can focus on having a great time while the experts plan the itinerary and handle the driving.
The Flavors of San Juan food tour of Old San Juan is also an amazing alternative in making your friends foodie insiders while having a fun-filled day. The group can begin sipping on tasty rum cocktail concoctions while strolling the cobblestone streets of the colonial city and making pit stops to savor Puerto Rico’s “must eat” cuisine.
If you have rum on your mind and want to drink it up like Capitan Jack Sparrow of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, then visiting Casa Bacardi in Cataño should be a spot to hit on your bachelorette weekend. Imagine all the fun involved in sensorial rum tasting and mixology classes and taking home your own bottle after filling it up yourself directly from the barrel.
After a day of delicious merriment, hitting up the San Juan nightlife scene is the ideal choice. “On other islands, you don’t always feel safe outside of the hotel. Puerto Rico is a safe island,” Albizu says. Calle San Sebastian in Old San Juan is a great place to start. This lively stretch of popular neighborhood bars like La Factoria, La Taverna Lupulo, and El Quinque Bar is always packed with fun-seeking locals with whom to mix and mingle and simply have a great time.
Over at La Concha, A Renaissance Resort on Condado’s ritzy Ashford Avenue, ladies who want to party into the wee hours of the morning head to Club Fifty Eight. New to the scene in December 2018, the high-energy nightclub has already become one of the most popular in the city. Dance music pumps through the speakers until 4 a.m., craft libations flow freely, and the chic crowd is always dressed to impress.
At El San Juan Hotel – where if its walls could talk they’d share stories of 1960s Hollywood headliners crooning in the nightclub scene – is Brava. Recently redesigned, this sophisticated nightclub that offers VIP bottle and table service entertains in an atmosphere alive with energy, excitement, and late night dancing that rivals the best clubs in the world.
One of the best parts of a weekend destination bachelorette party in Puerto Rico is getting to enjoy the island in different ways, from rowdy to refine. “Of course clubbing is going to be one of the nights,” says Rodriguez. “But on other nights, groups want to go to a nice restaurant for a different type of experience.”
Friends who get a thrill from a truly sumptuous meal can reserve a table at one of San Juan’s five-star, chef-driven restaurants for impeccable food and elegant atmosphere. Helmed by Iowa native Chef Peter Schintler, Marmalade Restaurant and Wine Bar is renowned for its high-concept, meticulously executed tasting menus. Chef Mario Pagan’s inventive creations attract the city’s elite foodies with intricate dishes and unexpected presentation at his eponymous Condado eatery. And at Santaella, the creativity coming out of the kitchen is rivaled only by the haute-couture fashion of the clientele in the dining room, just to name a few.
Another must stop location to have a good time and good food is the vibrant gastronomic oasis called Lote 23 in Santurce. This trendy place features food kiosks from up and coming Puerto Rican chefs and airstream trailers in an outdoor lot that has been transformed into a colorful food and entertainment space that includes four terraces, a stage and its own parking area.
In between nights on the town, bachelorette partygoers have plenty to explore during the day Spas and bachelorette parties go together like love and marriage, and in Puerto Rico, world-class pampering awaits. For day packages Zen Spa, which operates three outposts in the San Juan metro area, offers a special Bachelorette Spa Party. Groups of girlfriends can toast with champagne and munch on strawberries as they’re treated to massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.
Ladies bond over once-in-a-lifetime spa experiences at Spa Botanico at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Relaxation envelops guests from the moment they’re greeted in the apothecary of this luxurious tropical oasis situated on the edge of a pineapple grove. The healing continues with treatments that incorporate local ingredients like coffee, lime and coconut, and guests can even request massages in a tree house, where the jungle’s organic soundscape lulls them into pure heavenly bliss.
Or they can indulge in luxurious relaxation on the beach or in a private villa for a treatment Remede Spa at lavish St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Rio Grande. With its stunning views of the Caribbean Sea, the group can enjoy invigorating massages, body wraps, scrubs or mani and pedis at this luxurious retreat.
If you have a sporty group of girls than visit Coco Beach Golf Resort in Rio Grande to play a competitive round of golf on a course designed by PGA Tour Pro Tom Kite and possibly lower your handicap.
How about riding one of the longest and tallest zip line in the world by Guinness Book of World Records at Toro Verde Adventure Park in Orocovis? The thrill-seeking group can soar 1,200 feet high through the lush mountains on The Monster at speeds of up to 95 miles per hour.
Of course, what visit to the Caribbean is complete without donning a swimsuit and shades on a lounge chair? “A lot of people – specifically millennials– are utilizing the beach and pool atmosphere. They see pictures on social media and use them as a springboard of what they want to do in Puerto Rico,” says Rodriguez.
Four photo-ready swimming pools at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel present Instagram-worthy locales that will leave any follower jealous. Stylish sunbathers catch some rays – and look fabulous in the latest in resort wear while doing so. Ladies can sprawl out under beach umbrellas or reserve a private chic cabana, complete with bottle service and VIP treatment.
Or pay a visit to Vivo Beach Club in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico’s most exciting beachfront entertainment complex that offers an outdoor beach club, unique restaurants and bars, music venues, and a one-of-a-kind full-scale craft brewery.
When it comes to coveted beaches, Rodriguez points out that two of the most popular inquiries she gets from bachelorette groups are about Vieques and Culebra. Often referred to as the Spanish Virgin Islands, Vieques and Culebra are easily accessible from Puerto Rico’s main island by plane or ferry, yet they offer distinctly off-the-beaten-path appeal.
On Vieques, travelers can ride horses through the foamy surf and play in magnetic black sand on Playa Negra, glide along the surface of the sea on a paddleboard at Playa Media Luna or snorkel with manta rays and angel fish around a coral reef at Playa La Chiva. When the sun goes down, the island becomes even more magical; Vieques is home to Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, with water that glows in the dark in response to movement.
Bachelorettes will be hard-pressed to find a more naturally stunning landscape than Playa Flamenco on Culebra, considered the second most beautiful beach in the world by Discovery Channel. This half-mile stretch of soft, white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water makes it a surefire bet to be a highly shareable snapshot. Groups can also charter a catamaran and spend the day nearby on Culebrita swimming with sea turtles and relishing in tranquility.
No matter what brides-to-be and their guests do while they’re here, Puerto Rico is a treasure trove of excitement and serenity, day trips, and nightlife, urban hubs and rustic getaways. The possibilities for lifelong pre-matrimony memories are endless on this Caribbean paradise.
Toast a new life among art and whimsy
Happy couples dancing inside an iconic building designed by MoMA architect Edward Durell Stone greet their guests among masterpieces by Jose Campeche and Francisco Oller, and pose for photos in front of a soaring sculpture by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein or outdoors in an awe-inspiring romantic botanical garden.
Happy couples dancing inside an iconic building designed by MoMA architect Edward Durell Stone greet their guests among masterpieces by Jose Campeche and Francisco Oller, and pose for photos in front of a soaring sculpture by American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein or outdoors in an awe-inspiring romantic botanical garden.
Puerto Rico’s chic museums shine as bright as the island’s blazing blue skies, shimmering Caribbean waters, and sultry nights. They provide beautiful and unique venues to host wedding receptions with dramatic spaces, open courtyards, elegant galleries, and other variety of rooms so the special day can be remembered for years to come.
All across the country, museums of art, history, and science are opening their doors for wedding receptions—and an increasing number of brides and grooms are discovering: There’s no better place to hold their own historic events, and Puerto Rico is no exception.
Puerto Rico definitely has plenty of stunning hotel ballrooms that make for lovely venues, but commemorating your special day in a museum is unique. They offer great backdrops for wedding portraits, as well as vast indoor atriums and halls that comfortably accommodate hundreds of guests for dining and dancing. Best of all, museums often offer exclusive access to their collections. Guests can enjoy a one-of-a-kind wedding experience as they mingle among masterworks dating back to the 17th century to the present and world-class temporary exhibitions.
The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico situated between San Juan’s Condado bustling tourism hub and its cultural hub of Santurce is especially popular with couples who want a level of luxury. The main room, where you dine and dance is called the Grand Hall (which can fit up to 600 guests) and it’s sure to impress. It has a height equivalent of three stories and has a spectacular stained glass window designed by Puerto Rican artist Eric Tabales where the natural light from outside softly illuminates the entire area; and cocktails can be served outside overlooking a lush and beautifully manicured botanical sculpture garden.
Its 2.5 acre botanical sculpture garden is a true oasis that can transport the wedding guests a world away from the bustle of the city and can be combined and tented for a magical seated dinner for up to 130 guests. A walkway around the free-form pond eases through individual settings including a grove of native trees, a bamboo forest, and a prairie. More than a dozen sculptures are positioned in harmony with the scenery while several gazebos serve as perches for rest and relaxation. A terrace with a natural amphitheater sets the stage for open-air events.
Designed in accordance with the strictest and most modern standards, the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico was built by architect William H. Schimmelpfennig in 1920 and its 130,000 square feet of space includes 24 exhibition galleries.
Just blocks away is the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art in Santurce, which offers brides, grooms, and guests urban charm and historical elegance. Housed in a small but charming building, guests at the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art can stroll through galleries of work ranging from paintings and sculpture to mixed-media, sound, and video installations. But the party happens within its enchanting interior courtyard that can accommodate about 500 wedding guests.
The Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art used to be a former public school built in 1918. The Georgian-style structure designed by architect Adrian C. Finlayson as part of a U.S. Department of Education’s drive to build public schools in urban zones, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since the late 1980s and was renovated under the direction of Puerto Rican architect Otto Reyes Casanova for its new role as home to the island’s top collection of contemporary art.
Another fashionable museum in Puerto Rico is the Ponce Museum of Art, a charming enclave of strong Catalonian heritage that captivates visitors with its small town flair and laid back atmosphere. The museum is located on the island’s sere south coast overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea in Ponce, known as the Pearl of the South, the second largest city outside the San Juan metropolitan area, and an interesting town for history buffs.
Inside, the architecture of the Ponce Museum of Art is simply ideal for dreamy wedding receptions with its stunning backdrops, sweeping spiral staircase, spacious halls, spectacular balcony and amazing garden.
The striking building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas, which allows natural light to pour in though its corners creating a perfect setting for wedding photos. The exterior garden that can fit up to 500 guests is distinguished by the Archipelago sculpture inside the central fountain. Situated on the second floor are the balconies that can accommodate between 60 to 300 people and have views of the garden and the impressive Roy Lichtenstein, Pinceladas al vuelo sculpture. Also on the second floor but in the annex building is the Caribe ballroom that fits up to 130 people and can be divided into two rooms and for receptions there is the intimate Granada room that was designed by Dr. Rene Taylor, the first director of the Museum who was an expert in Spanish baroque art and architecture, which is why this small space that fits up to 40 guests has fountains and brick floor detailing.
Recognized as an important center for European art in the Americas, its stunning collection – the finest in the Caribbean, provides a rich panorama of western art stretching from the Renaissance to the present day. Inside are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin.
Also in Ponce is the Serralles Castle Museum, a Spanish Moroccan architectonic masterpiece that captures the history of the town. Framed in an elegant and tasteful environment, this venue offers beautiful terraces, charming gardens, and breathtaking views of the city of Ponce and the Caribbean Sea that will be longed remembered by wedding guests. It’s no wonder this luxurious mansion, once the home of the affluent Serralles family who built their fortune from sugar and rum, its most famous brand being Don Q, has won consecutively the Weddingwire Couples’ Choice Award from 2014-2016.
The bride and groom can opt to rent either the east terrace to accommodate up to 200 people or the west terrace that fits 300 or reserve both for a large wedding reception of 500 guests where sprawling cityscape and majestic ocean views is the astonishing backdrop. There is also the Don Juan Café terrace to accommodate smaller affairs up to 50 guests, the exterior fountain for 100 guests, and Japanese Garden for a maximum of 120 guests, all situated on the property’s 2.5 acres of magnificent landscape filled with impressive architectural details.
Explore Puerto Rico’s unique options for weddings and receptions that stand out from the rest and where dreams are made reality.
Wedding ceremonies for all styles and all tastes
With its tropical weather, colorful scenery, and vibrant culture, Puerto Rico is ripe for romance. The island is a picture-perfect spot for destination weddings, particularly for American couples who don’t need to secure a passport or visa to get married here.
Puerto Rico has magical indoor, beachfront, city, seaside, and countryside locations.
With its tropical weather, colorful scenery, and vibrant culture, Puerto Rico is ripe for romance. The island is a picture-perfect spot for destination weddings, particularly for American couples who don’t need to secure a passport or visa to get married here.
“The biggest draw to destination brides is the fact that Puerto Rico feels foreign but it’s still domestic,” says Jillian Anderson of E. P. Anderson Studios and Green-Eyed Girl Weddings & Events. “With U. S. marriage licenses and currency, it’s a lot easier to get married here than it is on other Caribbean islands.”
But Puerto Rico offers more than just convenience and ease. Whether brides prefer to strut down the aisle in stilettos or go barefoot on the beach, they’ll find what they’re looking for at dreamy venues all over the island. Below are five whimsical wedding locations that BIENVENIDOS highly recommends.
Beachfront Bashes
Seclusion and intimacy are all the rage on Puerto Rico’s western shore, offering private to semi-private beaches where the water is not a single blue but rather a shimmering mosaic of turquoise and deep sapphire, stunning panoramic views, and amazing colorful sunsets surrounded by natural beauty; all idyllic qualities for weddings.
Rincon Beach Resort delights couples looking to tie the knot with salt in the air and warm, unspoiled sand between their toes perfect for kicking off your shoes and exchanging low-key I do’s. The hotel backs up to a serene beach where romance and local charm captivate guests.
From the flowers to the cake, Rincon Beach Resort handles all of the wedding details in house, freeing up couples to enjoy time together on the island.
“We even have a minister that will take couples to complete all of the paperwork they need to get married in Puerto Rico,” says Stephanie Ramirez, sales and marketing director. “We want our brides and grooms to enjoy their time here with as little stress as possible.”
City Celebrations
Centuries-old blue cobblestone streets and brilliantly colored historic buildings as if you stepped out of a time machine is what you will discover in the Old San Juan, situated in the northern coast of Puerto Rico.
Once the crown jewel of the Spanish Empire in the Americas, the Old City still preserves its stunning colonial architecture ranging from imposing fortresses to the best museums, restaurants, shops and nightlife Puerto Rico has to offer.
Couples who want a wedding address that’s sure to impress say “I do” at the landmark Antiguo Casino in Old San Juan. Elegance seeps into each and every affair at this stunning venue, which originally opened its doors in 1917 as a social club for Puerto Rico’s elite. Today, beaux arts architecture, stunning gardens, ample balconies, white marble floors, a majestic staircase, grandiose chandelier, attention to detail, in an exclusive ambiance make Antiguo Casino the epitome of glamour.
They can reserve the outdoor courtyard or choose to celebrate in the marble-columned ballroom, adorned with romantic French doors, and a dramatic mezzanine. Want to keep the party going? Weddings don’t have to end when the band has packed up and gone home; city bars and nightclubs are within easy reach for groups that want to celebrate into the early morning hours. From Thursday through Sunday it’s as if there’s a celebration going on nearly everywhere in San Juan.
Seaside Ceremonies
Just seven miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico lies Vieques, a rustic island of lush mangroves and forests, calm beaches, and a glow-in-the-dark aquatic wonder that must be seen to be believed.
Vieques, affectionately known as Isla Nena, is equally beloved by locals and visitors. It’s a true spot to unwind, slow down to Caribbean time, and beach-hop. And we are not talking about just any beaches; they come in all shapes, sizes, and sand colors.
El Blok Hotel, Restaurant and Bar adds a dose of high-style to the otherwise laid-back island of Vieques. Since it opened in 2014, the uber-chic adults-only hotel has been a hit with cool couples who want to get married with breathtaking, awe-inspiring Caribbean views.
The hotel’s alfresco rooftop dazzles guests as soon as the elevator doors open. As day turns to night, stunning sunsets offer a gorgeous backdrop for ceremonies and receptions. Funky package enhancements like a coconut shucking station, a piraguas cart, and a Caribbean rum station add Puerto Rican authenticity.
“Every event we host is as individual and unique as the property itself and the people who patronize it,” says Laine Gorman, general manager.
Country-Minded Couples
The bustling town of Carolina borders the Atlantic Ocean and many who visit are familiar with its tourist district called Isla Verde, a popular beach spot in the San Juan metro area that lures both locals and visitors to the pleasure of sun worshiping, swimming, and a vibrant nightlife.
Just a short ride away in the lush, tranquil countryside of Carolina is Hacienda Campo Rico where its flora and fauna surroundings make it feel a world away from urban life. Exquisite chandeliers, intricate woodwork, and uncommon artwork feed the senses all over the estate grounds.
This grand hacienda used to be a coffee plantation during the Spanish colonization. Its expansive open lawn and grand double staircase offer two of the most memorable outdoor ceremony sites on the entire island.
The ground level at Mi Casa can host a wedding party for 500 guests and its Blue Room, situated on the upper level, is used for small affairs with a seating capacity for 120 people. It overlooks the wide expanse of the undulating plains and there is a dining room for guests. Tropical flowers and herbs as well as surrounding ponds enhance the beauty of this one-of-a-kind countryside plantation.
After the vows, partiers dance the night away on the charming interior patios. When the last of their guests have gone home, brides and grooms can spend their night as man and wife in Hacienda Campo Rico’s stilted lakefront suite bungalow. It doesn’t get more private than that.
So whether you’re here as a bride, a groom or a guest, let the Island of Enchantment work its magic. Fall in love in – and with – Puerto Rico.