Weddings at El Dorado Royale | Our Honest Review 2024
Is the El Dorado Royale a good fit for your dream wedding?
Yes… maybe…
Fear not! We’ll help you answer that question!
Our wedding planners have organized 100s of weddings and we know all about the El Dorado Royale.
So, are you ready to dive into the world of El Dorado Royale weddings?
Strap in!
Your El Dorado Royale Wedding
1. Hotel Overview
★★★★★ | Adults-Only | All-Inclusive | Tulum
Are you searching for a 5-star beachfront resort where you can unwind, let loose, and enjoy each wedding moment?
As one of Condé Nast Traveler´s Top 100 Hotels in the world, El Dorado Royale might just be it.
An El Dorado wedding is dreamy!
✓ Pure bliss on a pristine Riviera Maya beach.
✓ Personalized services and packages.
✓ Extraordinary amenities? Check!
Located just 25 minutes south of Cancun International, El Dorado Royale is perched in perfect location.
You can breeze right off your flight down to the resort with the airport shuttle, but we advise calling ahead of time to set it up.
If the next question on your mind is about food and drinks, we would get along.
El Dorado Royale is all-inclusive, but prefers to call itself “Gourmet Inclusive.”
And trust us, this elevated title isn’t pretentious. It’s well-deserved.
Farm-to-Table
The resort is known for its farm-to-table culinary experiences! El Dorado Royale grows fruits and vegetables in a 76,000 square-foot hydroponic greenhouse. So each of its diverse 14 restaurants always has the freshest ingredients.
And that’s just the beginning!
This is the ultimate resort for health and wellness in Riviera Maya.
You can….
- Tour the greenhouse to appreciate their eco-friendly endeavor
- Exercise at the fitness center
- Go on the resort’s Friday 5K run beside the beach, jungle, and mangroves
- Enjoy vibrant Zumba, Spin, and Yoga classes
- Relax at the Náay Spa
- Splash around in 1 of the 6 pools
That being said, going lounging or adventuring is just as sublime.
After all, it’s your vacation and wedding – do it the way you want!
If you can’t possibly wait to see more, skip down to the Activities section for the full list.
When you’re ready for a rest after days full of sun and sand, the rooms are the best refuge.
The rooms offered hold a maximum of 3 people.
2. Wedding Packages
There are many destination wedding packages offered here…
And they are as luxurious as the resort itself.
- Always and Forever | possibly free for you 2
- Memorable Moments | $3,999 for 24 guests
- Ultimate Memorable Moments | $9,999 for 24 guests
Always & Forever Wedding Package
This package includes:
- Choice of ceremony location
- Beachy decor with white chairs, a white runner, and while altar
- Wedding Planner & onsite team
- Officiant, witnesses (if needed) & wedding certificate
- Semi-private dinner reservation for 40 at 1 of the resort’s restaurants
- Groom’s room from 12pm – 4pm for pre-ceremony getting ready
- Free wedding website & registry
- Free memorable moments honeymoon & anniversary package
This package is all about elevated simplicity for your El Dorado Royale wedding.
***PLEASE NOTE PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE SLIGHTLY YEAR TO YEAR***
But for the couple who wants more extras, we recommend:
Ultimate Memorable Moments Wedding Experience
For the ceremony, you have many more fanciful aesthetics & options.
This package includes:
- Altar décor options
- Designer floral arrangements
- 24 chairs with designer covers
- Aisle marker décor
- Aisle runner
- Tasteful groom boutonniere
- Beautiful bridal bouquet
You can also make your reception your own!
With the help of a resort wedding planner, decorate and plan with the following:
- 3 round tables with collection linens
- A floral table centerpiece $250 credit
- 24 chairs & luxurious covers
- Memorable Moments Sweetheart Table
- Personalized Signature Stationery
- Menu
- Head Table Signature Accents™
- Coordinating charger plates
- Coordinated linen napkins & napkin rings
Along with having a semi-private dinner reservation (perhaps perfect for a rehearsal dinner), you can treat your guests to 3 nights of turn-down services.
And they don’t come with average mints on the pillow!
1st night: Cake pops.
2nd night: Cupcakes
3rd night: Mini cakes
Everyone will wish they were invited to your wedding getaway.
Private Enclave Wedding Experience at El Dorado Casitas Royale
This package will cost $15,450 for up to 34 people.
This package includes:
- Reserved private section of the Casitas Royale for you & your guests
- Welcome cocktails for everyone
- Private Jackson family wine & cheese event
- Group dinner at their D’Italia restaurant
- Memorable Moments Bridal Floor Spa Suite
- Private Mexican beach fiesta with live mariachi trio & DJ
- Memorable Moments Signature Wedding Collection™ Ceremony (where you choose from a list of stunning decor packages!)
- Memorable Moments Signature Wedding Collection™ Private Reception
- Delicious chef-inspired 4-course reception dinner
It’s clear why there’s a big price difference.
This package is more expensive, but many more events and perks are at your fingertips.
Also, the privacy afforded from having a section of the resort all to yourself cannot be overstated!
This means having a private pool and swim-up bar.
Indian Wedding Experience
For an Indian wedding in Mexico, El Dorado Royale is a top pick.
Their wedding package will honor your traditions, be filled with fun, and impress both you & your guests.
The package cost is $16,799 for up to 50 people, then increases from there.
For this price, you gain a myriad of exciting moments.
The Sangeet Ceremony includes:
- Vibrant stage area with backdrop, draping, and seating for 2
- 3 sets of lounge seating
- 5 tables dressed in white linens & table decor
- 4 hour international open bar
- 4 hours of DJ service
- Food display made by Chef Thurshara
For the Wedding & Reception, the resort provides:
- Horse in traditional garb for the Baraat processional
- Dhol drum player (for 45 min)
- Onsite Signature Wedding Designer™ to organize & direct
- Gorgeous ceremony location
- Wedding Mandap decorated with a colorful backdrop & draping sheers
- Choice of pillows or Tiffany-style chairs for family members
- Dance floor with personalized monogram
- 5 beautiful round tables set for 10 people/each
- 4 hours of DJ service, sound system with microphone, and so much more!
For all of these packages, ranging in price and luxury, we’re just giving you the highlights as there is far too much included to list!
Our wedding specialist Pamela recommends, “Score some Karisma cash for your bash! Split the contract between family and adult rooms, and mix it up for the ultimate celebration!”
3. Ceremony & Reception Options
This resort pulls out all the stops when it comes to wedding planning.
Dana, our wedding specialist, says, “They’ve got a ton of beautiful venues to choose from, so there’s something for everyone!”
It’s guaranteed to be the wedding day of your dreams!
The venues can even accommodate large weddings.
As in, really large weddings!
Venue options with their maximum occupancy are as follows:
- Ballroom – 600 guests
- Salon Royale – 300 guests
- Fuentes Gazebo – 100 guests
- White Gazebo – 100 guests
- Gazebo 55 – 100 guests max
- Mexican Gazebo – 70 guests
- La Glorieta – 60 guests
- Bellinis Gazebo – 50 guests
- Jojo’s Deck – 40 guests
- Chapel – 40 guests
- Salon Dorado – 40 guests
- Chapel Terrace Gazebo – 20 guests
- Casitas Gazebo – 10 guests
Each enchanting space has its own flair and personality.
And wherever you hold your nuptials, the resort staff will be busy making your special day come to life.
4. Gay Weddings at This Resort
If you’re planning an LGBT wedding in Mexico, this resort is a must-see!
It’s not seen prominently on their website, but gay weddings are welcome here and take place often.
So, enjoy your wedding day on the resort’s pristine sands!
For destination weddings in Mexico, there are a few different options for the actual marriage that takes place.
Many couples opt for a symbolic ceremony and wait to get legally married back home.
A legal marriage can be planned with a little extra help from your wedding coordinator.
An assigned expert planner will walk you through whichever route you choose!
Both options promise a special day you’ll never forget.
5. Room Types
The resort offers a sweet range of suites that increase in price as they increase in luxury and proximity to the beach.
Simple enough, right?
Which Room Amenities are Available at El Dorado Royale by Karisma?
Expect to have a relaxing hot tub, a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat-screen TV no matter which room you choose.
Here are the 6 Suite Options:
1) Luxury Junior Suites – These 599 sqft suites for 3 guests have a private balcony/terrace & an outdoor hammock
2) Swim Up Junior Suites – This room for 3 guests lets you hop into the lazy river from your terrace & swim off to the pool.
3) Beachfront Junior Suites – these renovated suites for 2 people keep you steps away from the beach & near 2 pools.
4) Beachfront Honeymoon Suites – 1 of the most romantic 2-person suites with king beds, exclusive beach & pool access, plus pool butler service.
5) Royal Suites – decorated to be your perfect 2-person hideaway, with special amenities & a plush king bed.
6) Royal Swim Up Suites – same perks of the Royal Suite but located right in front of a lazy river.
With dark wood furniture in most of the rooms, the suites exude a cozy and charming feel far from the sterile environments some hotels can create.
The outdoor spaces enhance the constant relaxation, with the swim-up suites especially catching our eye.
6. Beach
Going to the beach is always a good idea.
And as 1 of Condé Nast Traveler´s Top 100 Hotels in the world, it’s no shock that the beach here is irresistible.
El Dorado Royale is sprinkled with 100’s of palm trees leading you to the crystal blue waters.
The treasure at the end is 1 mile of Punta Brava Beach.
Picture having your ceremony out on the sand as the sky changes color at sunset.
The ocean beyond makes for a breathtaking backdrop.
Having said that, our wedding specialist Pamela says, “the beach has huge concrete blocks that don’t look good, and kinda ruin the experience.”
7. Food & Drink
So, what food & drink options are available at El Dorado Royale by Karisma?
We’ve already dipped our toes into the culinary prestige of this resort, but we barely scratched the surface!
Though the 14 restaurants of all cuisines offer more than enough luxury, there’s 1 more culinary experience that sets this resort apart.
Enter the Culinary Theatre.
Inside the resort’s 90-foot-high thatched roof theatre, there’s a treat in store for all the senses.
A talented chef & wine expert team up to entertain and amaze you while creating a lavish multi-course meal.
This is a foodie’s dream resort, but wait until you hear about the drinks.
There are 7 bars to quench your thirst and additional swim-up bars.
A tropical drink is always just a paddle or stroll away.
8. Activities & Entertainment
What activities are at El Dorado Royale by Karisma?
The better question is, what activities AREN’T available at this adults-only playground?
Beach volleyball for the sports enthusiast.
Spanish lessons for those who want to embrace the resort location.
Mezcal tasting for group fun.
And so much more!
This full list of offerings will give you plenty to do:
- 5K run
- Aqua gym
- Wave runners & parasailing offered nearby at El Dorado Maroma
- Beach volleyball
- Water polo
- Archery
- Rifle shooting
- Crossfit
- Dance lessons
- Yoga classes
- Greenhouse tour
- Spanish lessons
- Horseback Bonanza ranch tour
- Cooking classes
- Spin classes
- Zumba classes
- Tennis clinics
- Towel decoration
- Water volleyball
- Mezcal Tasting
While a few of these exquisite experiences will come at an additional price, most are included once you book your stay at the resort.
It has an activity for even your pickiest guest.
But best of all, it offers carefully crafted experiences you may never have thought to try!
9. What Brides & Grooms Are Saying
“The whole wedding experience exceeded my expectations! The decoration package we chose looked exactly like the photos!! I honestly wasn’t sure that would be the case. The music was perfect as well. They definitely know what they are doing!”- JDobberstine, April 2021
“The food served at our reception was the best meal of the entire vacation! And the food is amazing everywhere! The atmosphere was wonderful and everyone that works there truly seems to enjoy their job.” – Katie M, January 2020
“Overall, I would highly recommend El Dorado as a venue for a medium to large size wedding. They really did an excellent job the day of and the environment is beautiful there.” – Luke P., December 2019
10. Why We Like It
This resort is incredibly well-rounded.
Whatever kind of resort-goer you are, or if you’re a resort newbie, you’ll find many things to love here.
– Foodies will be enamored by the greenhouse and exciting culinary experiences.
– Thrillseekers will love water activities or horseback riding.
– Workout enthusiasts will squeal with delight over the many exercise classes.
And, of course, couples will love the romance in the air, as sweet as perfume.
Shall we go on?
Perhaps best of all, the resort accommodates weddings of all sizes and budgets, so you can have the day you want without breaking the bank or cutting your guest list.
Your priorities will be El Dorado Royale’s priorities as planners help you every step of the way.
On a personal note, the things that stand out most to me are:
- The Culinary Theatre & Mezcal tastings offer a true vacation for your taste buds, too.
- Swim-up suites allow you to float from your room to your friends’ rooms, then on to the resort pools for easy meetups each day.
- With the impressive greenhouse, sustainability & farm-to-table exist here in a way few resorts can accomplish.
It has its disadvantages, however.
The most obvious is that it is adults-only!
While this makes for a relaxing and romantic getaway, it is obviously not for everyone.
Alison, our wedding specialist, feels, “the rooms are a little dated in style.”
11. Need Help Planning?
Ready to put your destination wedding in motion?
We’re here to help!
Reach out to our experienced wedding planners at ParadiseWeddings.com today!
We’ll help you explore all the resorts and hold your hand for every step.
Whether you’re in love with El Dorado Royale or seeking something different, we can help decide.
Call us toll-free at 877-737-0177 or contact us here.
Looking forward to hearing from you!!
Heidi Noland
Hi, thanks for your review of El Dorado. I’m getting married there in 6 weeks! One question I had, we’re trying to charter a boat cruise for our guests. Do you have any recommendations?