A pelican’s eye view of Royal Belize
The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $27,000—that buys you a catering hall, chicken or beef for 150 guests, and a night of dancing to a DJ.
But for the same amount, you can treat six of the people with whom you’re closest to an unforgettable long weekend on your own Caribbean island. At Royal Belize, an all-inclusive private-island resort with several posh guest villas–accommodating a total of eight very lucky souls–you’ll have the run of the place, with everything from massages to champagne to transfers by yacht included in the price.
And weddings can definitely be part of the agenda. They’ll find an officiant for the wedding, decorate a gazebo on the water, cook the bridal feast to suit your tastes (lobster ravioli, asparagus risotto, grilled tuna), and serve it in a grand, lantern-lit palapa. They’ll organize a cake, a photographer, flowers, the license—you name it.
When you’re not making heartfelt speeches over your signature cocktail (frozen pineapple-guava daiquries, perhaps?) you can spend your time water-skiing, snorkeling, kayaking, skimming the surf on a WaveRider, or just floating in the aquamarine water. And there’s a masseuse on staff to help you recover from your exertions.
The cost of three all-inclusive nights for four couples (or however your party shakes out) is $29,850, before tax and tips. True, you won’t have photos of everyone from high school doing the Electric Slide on the dance floor. But the memories of a handful of your nearest and dearest toasting to one of the planet’s great sunsets—and marriages—will definitely last a lifetime.
Thatched dining deck at the Royal Belize; can’t you see it for a wedding?
The waterfront at Royal Belize
