European Plan or All Inclusive?

Step One in Your Venue Search is Identifying the Resort Type that Fits Your Criteria Best

With so many amazing resort options to show our clients, the easiest way to make your search process a bit more streamlined is to create your venue search profile! The first things we try to identify is our bride and groom’s vision of guest experience and their desired budget. Based on these two factors, we can quickly determine if a European Plan resort or an All Inclusive resort is the best fit! What does that mean?

Heena and Anish chose an All Inclusive resort for their wedding as they wanted guests to feel like they were on a vacation! Courtesy of Lunic Photography

European Plan Resorts Tend to Offer Luxurious Amenities and More Tranquil Ambiances

European Plan resorts are typically upscale, western-branded resorts that offers guests a nightly rate that includes only the room. The nightly rate is generally fixed regardless of guest count (up to 4 guests). Your guests will incur extra costs for anything they consume on property. For example, if they head to breakfast you can count on a ~$30 room charge or if they want a cocktail, you can count on a ~$15 room charge. The nightly rate of European Plan resorts ranges from $200-400 / room / night typically depending on the location and the quality.

A typical Indian wedding for 200 guests at a European Plan resorts with 2 evening events including Indian meals and open bar plus the wedding ceremony would range between $100,000-$150,000. As you can see, this is very similar to the cost of a wedding in the United States, with the major difference being destination weddings on the beach and in paradise is going to result in a stunning ambiance and wedding events while the one in the US would likely be in a convention center of sorts.

Christina and Edwin knew they wanted their friends and family to have an amazing time at a resort that had tons of amenities, restaurants, and activities included! Courtesy of Sweet Caribbean Photography

All Inclusives Make for Memorable Vacations for Your Guests

All Inclusive resorts have a huge range of quality from cheaper, spring-break vibe ones (which we avoid) to 7-star luxury with Michelin chefs and everything in between. Regardless of the spectrum on quality you land on, the nightly rate generally include meals, beverages (including alcoholic ones), activities (like kayaking, snorkeling, yoga lessons, and cocktail classes), accommodations, and taxes. These vacations are priced per person per night (as of course, the more people in each room, the more consumption takes place). Not only do clients find these resorts to be more fun and inclusive as they can eat and drink together, they are also more affordable for most guests and definitely for the wedding pricing. The average nightly rate of a 5-star All Inclusive tends to range between $150-$250 / adult / night. This ranges based on season, quality (food / liquor brands), and staff-to-guest ratio.

A typical Indian destination wedding at an All Inclusive resort with 2 evening events and the ceremony for 200 guests would only range from $50,000-70,000. We have couples that spend far less (as low as $25,000 all-in) and we have couples that go up beyond $100,000 - so much of where you fall will depend on the resort, the perks we have been able to negotiate, and your tastes.

Lira and Omesh at The Cape, a Thompson Hotel - this European Plan property is stunning and elegant with dramatic views of Land’s End in Los Cabos! Courtesy of Ialam Photography

Why You Would Choose European Plan

• You want your guests to pay a lower upfront cost so they feel more comfortable controlling their expenses by controlling how much they eat or drink

• You don’t want guests to feel like they have to pay for food and beverage upfront but are okay with them spending as they go daily for meals and beverages

• You want something more quiet, calm, and upscale

• You prefer a resort brand and rates more similar and familiar to your US-based guests

• You have a 6-figure wedding budget and you are choosing destination because it’s STUNNING, not because of a potential cost savings

Sejal and PK found their paradise at this tropical paradise in Riviera Maya! Generations Riviera Maya and El Dorado Royale is a Shaadi Destinations favorite! Courtesy of Sea & Love Wedding Films

Why You Would Chooose All Inclusive

• You don’t want guests to feel constrained or hit by sticker shock by the cost of meals and drinks throughout their stay

• You want the energy and fun an all inclusive resort can provide as many activities and classes are included

• You are okay with a resort brand that may not be familiar to guests, but know that it will still be a 5-star quality resort that will be fun, safe, and memorable

• You don’t want to host 3 meals a day and be responsible for all that decor, food cost, and beverage cost that racks up for the host bride and groom families, but rather let guests feel like they are on vacation by dining and consuming freely and on their own time

• Your target budget is below 6-figures for the wedding events (and / or you prefer to spend your wedding budget on decor, florals, vendors, and maybe even subsidizing room rates for guests rather than spending half your budget on event food and beverage)

Smiti and Dan’s ballroom reception was effortlessly magical with it’s Harry Potter theme and draped and lighted walls as well as the wonderful ceiling treatment! Courtesy of Andre Gouin Photography

Can’t Lose Either Way if You Choose Shaadi Destinations

No matter which option (European Plan or All Inclusive) piques your interest, we work with the best resorts and you will benefit from our vast experience and knowledge in destination. We are the leader in destination weddings and are ready to make this process easy, efficient, and exciting for you and your families. The perks we have negotiated for our clients are best-in-class and Shaadi Destinations couples spend substantially less money and time in the planning of their events. We can’t wait to meet you on a consultation call soon!

Shaadi Destinations is the premier, award winning, modern-day destination wedding travel agency for South Asian couples seeking a streamlined process, incredible experiences, and a party friends and family will never forget! We save our couples thousands of dollars while throwing them the wedding festivities dreams are made of.

We live and breathe destination weddings - with just one consultation, you will be light years ahead in your destination wedding planning process. In less than one week, Shaadi Destinations will find you the most perfect resort that meets your needs, your budget, and your desires. With our vendor relationships and pre-negotiated exclusive perks at resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, we are confident we can find exactly what you are looking for. You'll find we have the best rates, best incentives, and best booking experience.