Weddings at Sandos Playacar Beach Resort | Our Honest Review 2024
Is Sandos Playacar the right resort for your wedding?
You’re about to find out! 🙌
Our expert team has planned 100s of destination weddings in the area…
We have all the insider info & we’re here to share!
You’ll get everything from wedding packages & prices to venue options, group entertainment & more!
So keep reading to find out if Sandos Playacar is the wedding resort for you…
Sandos Playacar Wedding Review
1. Hotel Overview
★★★★ | FAMILY-FRIENDLY | ALL-INCLUSIVE | PLAYa del carmen
If you’re planning your destination wedding in the Riviera Maya, chances are you’ve been told to check out Sandos Playacar.
It’s 1 of the most popular resorts in the area for weddings & for good reason!
It has great amenities, fabulous food & drink options & is located right on 1 of the best beaches in the Riviera Maya.
Not to mention, it’s also a great choice if you’re travelling with young kids or family members who are less mobile.
The hotel offers spacious, luxury suites & 8 swimming pools.
So there’s definitely no shortage of places to take a dip!
There’s also an adults-only Select Club section, in case you need a little more privacy.
Having said that, our wedding specialist Pamela warns – “The resort is massive, and they really need more trolleys – getting around can be a bit of a workout!”
2. Wedding Packages
Sandos Playa offers 3 different wedding packages to choose from!
And we love that every package comes with a ton of perks and services.
3 wedding packages include:
- Dreamcatcher – $3,150 for 30 guests
- Sweet Romance – $3,650 for 30 guests
- Seaside Bliss – $4,750 for 30 guests
You can invite more guests to your wedding for $65 – $79 per person, depending on the package.
1. Seaside Bliss
This is their most popular wedding package.
It starts at $4,750 for 30 guests.
Additional guests are allowed at $79 per person.
With this package, you’ll get:
- A symbolic ceremony
- Ceremony setup as per resort location
- Government beach permit & mountaintop terrace
- 3 medium-sized flower medallions
- Rose petals for the aisle during the ceremony (1 bag)
- Sound system & microphone during the ceremony
- 1 bouquet & 1 boutonnière, or 2 bouquets, or 2 boutonnières
- Private cocktail with open bar & appetizers (1 hour)
- Private dinner reception with open bar (3 hours)
- Basic setup & ambient lighting
- Sparkling wine for the wedding toast
- 3 tier custom made wedding cake
- 3 centerpieces
- DJ, light & sound during dinner (3 hours)
Plus, you get additional benefits & perks like…
- Wedding organization & personalized service from wedding coordinators
- Steaming service for the wedding outfit (arrival 3 days prior is required)
- Hair & makeup for 1 at the Sandos Beauty Salon
- 50-minute couple’s massage
- Upgrade to the next available room category
- Complimentary honeymoon amenities
- Up to $2,000 off your wedding package based on # of rooms booked
2. Sweet Romance
This package also includes 30 guests and is priced at $3,670.
You’ll get:
- Symbolic ceremony
- Ceremony setup as per resort location
- Wedding locations of choice (additional fee applies for mountaintop terrace)
- 1 medium-sized flower medallion
- Sound system & a microphone during the ceremony
- 1 bouquet & 1 boutonnière, or
- 2 bouquets, or 2 boutonnière
- Private cocktail hour with open bar (1 hour)
- Private dinner reception with open bar (3 hours)
- Basic setup & ambient lighting
- Sparkling wine for the wedding toast
- 2 tier custom made wedding cake
- 2 centerpieces
- Sound system with a microphone during dinner (3 hours)
Plus additional benefits & perks:
- Wedding organization & personalized service from wedding coordinator
- Hair & makeup for 1 at the Sandos Beauty Salon
- 25-minute couple’s massage
- Upgrade to the next available room category
- Complimentary honeymoon amenities
- Up to $2,000 discount off your wedding based on the # of rooms booked
3. Dreamcatcher
This package starts at $3,150 & includes 30 guests.
It includes:
- Symbolic ceremony
- Ceremony setup as per resort location
- Wedding locations of choice (Additional fee applies)
- Sound system & microphone during the ceremony
- 1 centerpiece for minister’s table
- 1 bouquet & 1 boutonnière, or
- 2 bouquets, or 2 boutonnière
- Private dinner reception with open bar (3 hours)
- Basic setup & ambient lighting
- Sparkling wine for the wedding toast
- 1 tier custom-made wedding cake
And you get additional benefits like:
- Wedding organization & personalized service from wedding coordinator
- Upgrade to the next available room category
- Complimentary honeymoon amenities
- Up to $2000 off your wedding package, based on the # of rooms booked
Out of all their wedding packages, we recommend the Seaside Bliss!
It has everything you need + more…
And you get the best value for your money!
3. Ceremony & Reception Venues
There are 3 venues to choose from, depending on the size of your wedding & reception.
Your options include….
1. The Garden
CEREMONY | COCKTAIL | RECEPTION | 100 GUESTS
Located in the heart of the resort, this garden is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.
There are 2 areas — one with a gazebo for ceremonies & receptions & a smaller area that’s perfect for cocktail parties.
This venue is also close to the resort’s disco, so it’ll be easy to keep the party going!
2. Beach
CEREMONY | COCKTAIL | RECEPTION | 100 GUESTS
Walking down the aisle with sand between your toes — how romantic!
The beach is a great option if you want an outdoor ceremony & reception, but don’t want to be too far from the resort.
And if you have guests that are staying at another nearby hotel, they can easily walk over.
3. Terrace
COCKTAIL | RECEPTION | 60 GUESTS
This is the perfect spot for a more intimate wedding, with stunning views of the Caribbean Sea.
The resort actually has 2 terraces on each side of the lobby.
So you can use 1 side for your cocktail hour & the other for your reception!
4. Gay Weddings
Sandos Playacar Beach Resort is an LGBT+ friendly hotel that welcomes all couples!
They offer all the same packages & perks to same-sex couples.
It’s important to note that having a wedding in Mexico won’t make it legal back home.
So if you want your marriage to be legal, you’ll need to have a civil ceremony in your home country.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful & special ceremony here!
If you have any questions about this, feel free to reach out to us.
5. Room Types
The rooms at Sandos Playacar are spacious & modern, with a sleek, minimalist design.
They come in different categories, depending on how many people you’re travelling with & your budget.
Prices start at $185/night.
Their Family Section includes:
- Riviera Family King Junior Suite
- Riviera Family Queen Junior Suite
These are the most popular rooms & just steps away from the resort’s pools!
If you’re looking for a more elevated experience, book a room at the Royal Elite Hacienda section!
Rooms come with your very own sundeck, plunge pool & jacuzzi.
And if you’re looking to get away from the crowd, the adults-only Select Club is the perfect romantic getaway.
You’ll get access to VIP bars, an exclusive adults-only oceanfront pool, a private beach & more!
6. Beach
Alison, our wedding specialist says, “This resort has the most stunning beach ever! And they’ve got an awesome kiddie pool and a separate adults-only pool too.”
The beach here is wide & sandy, with plenty of palm trees & lounge chairs to go around.
And the water is so clear — it’s perfect for snorkelling!
There are also lots of activities available, like kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, & windsurfing.
Or you can just relax on a catamaran with a drink in hand.
7. Food & Drink
There are 11 restaurants at this resort, so you’ll have a ton of variety!
Our wedding specialist Dana told me, “I love how their menus are so inclusive, catering to everyone from vegan to Gluten-Free. They even have little symbols on their menu to identify common food allergies.”
Your restaurant options include:
- Festival Grand Buffet | International
- Il Piemonte | Italian
- Oceanfront Lunch | Snacks
- Gourmex | Mexican
- El Gaucho | Steakhouse
- Fogo de Janeiro | Brazilian
- Le Gourmet | French
- Asiana | Asian
- Cupcake Cafe
- Chayita | Mexican
- Blue Moon | Snacks
And if you’re staying in the adults-only Select Club, you’ll have access to an additional buffet & a la carte restaurants.
There are also a Lobby Bar where you can always get a drink — whether you’re looking for something tropical or just a classic cocktail.
8. Activities & Entertainment
There’s never a dull moment at Sandos Playacar!
During the day, you can take part in activities like:
- Yoga
- Beach volleyball
- Tennis
- Or water aerobics
Or you can just relax by 1 of the pools while the kids enjoy the waterpark & kids club.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go zip-lining or snorkelling.
Plus, our wedding specialist Dana says, “being super close to Playa Del Carmen makes it a breeze for guests to venture outside the resort for a bit of exploration.”
And at night, the fun doesn’t stop!
You can dance the night away at the disco or enjoy live music & shows.
9. What Brides Said...
“We had an absolute blast at our wedding December! There a change in staff very close to the event but Carlos was an angel and made the day super special. He went over every detail with us and made sure everything was exactly the way we wanted to be. It was a perfect day!! Thank you, Sandos Wedding team for making this day so magical!” — Carla C.
“We absolutely loved everything about the wedding and we would do it again. The team (Patricia) made it SO easy and the communication was excellent. We did not have to worry about anything all day other than just enjoy every minute of it. THANK YOU!” — Daniella I.
10. Why We Like It
There are so many things to love about Sandos Playacar Beach Resort…
Here’s what our wedding planners had to say:
Things we love:
- Beautiful wedding venues.
- Spacious, modern rooms.
- 11 restaurants with a variety of cuisines.
- Lots of activities & entertainment options.
- Affordable wedding packages & room rates.
- Nice waterpark, kid-friendly.
- Sitting on one of the best beaches in Mexico!
Things we don’t love:
- Only 1 bar on-site. 😢
- Guest feedback on food is mixed — ranging from amazing to just average.
- 1-hour drive from Cancun airport.
- Cannot handle more than 100 guests.
- No indoor reception area. (so no AC)
- Service is patchy.
- Wedding team is slow in responding to requests!
So if you’re looking for a beautiful beachfront resort with lots to do, Sandos Playacar could be a great option.
Other resorts to consider if Sandos Playacar is your style:
If you have experienced the Sandos Playacar for a wedding, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
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Need Help Planning?
Have more questions about Sandos Playacar?
Not sure if it’s the right resort for your destination wedding?
Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
Our wedding planners live & breathe destination weddings.
And we offer free consultations to answer any questions you may have.
Just give us a call at 877-737-0177 or contact us here.
Let’s start planning your dream day today!
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