Complete Guide to Eloping at Hotel Xcaret

Elopement Packages at Hotel Xcaret by Yellow Umbrella Events

The Insiders Guide to Hotel Xcaret Elopements

You have fallen in love with Hotel Xcaret for your wedding and are ready to secure your date! And we get it – Hotel Xcaret is stunning and unique and there is nothing like it! BUT…after some research you realize that you can’t meet the resort’s required minimum of 30 people and 11+ rooms for them to let you have your wedding there. Maybe you’re one of those couples where the thought of having that many people to manage on your wedding day makes you ill. Well, you’re in luck! For the first time in years, Hotel Xcaret is now offering an elopement package just for you.

Before you sign on the dotted line, let’s talk about the details. An elopement experience is considerably different than a full traditional wedding experience (or even what you might expect for a micro wedding) and we’d love to set some realistic expectations for you, so you’re not surprised later, and you can have peace with the process and your elopement day.

Who is the Elopement Package designed for?

Hotel Xcaret’s “Encanto” elopement package is especially for couples who desire a very small, ceremony only experience with low frills and few decisions to make – you and your SO don’t really care about all the little details but you do want to have your ceremony in an amazing one of a kind location and then enjoy the rest of your vacation having fun and making memories with your few very closest family and friends.

Basically, it’s perfect for those looking to celebrate their love in a stunning location without the complexities that come with managing a large wedding. Think of it as an old school “running to the court house” type experience, except that instead of an old boring municipal building, you’re running off to an amazing resort in Mexico!

How Does the Elopement Package (Encanto) Differ from the Full Wedding Package (Paraiso)?

The Encanto elopement package differs from the full Paraiso wedding package primarily in inclusions and in service level. Encanto is designed for a maximum of 15 people (2 of which are the couple) and focuses on the ceremony only, whereas the Paraiso package is for weddings of 30 or more guests and includes the full day of events – ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.

The elopement package is much more “hands off” so you can expect a more limited basic service from the resort, since the focus is on the ceremony only. With fewer details to discuss, once you lock in your wedding date, you can expect the resort wedding staff to circle back to you in the last 30 – 45 days prior to your wedding day, where they will have you finalize your day of details. However, the full wedding package (Paraiso) is going to give you a more personalized service with lots of detail finalization for all 3 of your wedding date events.

Additionally, there are some restrictions when selecting the Encanto package that are not present with the Paraiso package.

The Encanto package:

  • May only be held from 9AM to 12PM daily
  • May only be held on weekdays, Mondays – Thursdays
  • Have limited venues that can utilized (you can select a preference, but your ceremony venue is not guaranteed)
  • May only be reserved 12 months or less in advance

How Many People Does The Elopement Package Include?

The Encanto elopement package is designed for up to 15 people, including the couple. You should be very careful not to exceed 15 guests, as even a guest count of 16 will automatically bump you up to the Paraiso package and a contracted room block requirement of 11 rooms for a Sunday – Thursday wedding, 20 rooms for a Friday wedding, and 25 rooms for a Saturday wedding. The resort is very strict about this and will not make exceptions.

Hotel Xcaret Elopement photo by Yellow Umbrella Events

How Far in Advance Can We Secure the Elopement Package?

The elopement package is designed for couples planning to get married within about 6 months or less but we will allow bookings as far as 12 months prior to your wedding day.

What Days and Times Are Offered for Elopements?

Elopements are only scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with ceremony times from 9AM – 12PM only.

What Do People Do After the Ceremony?

You have lots of options! The Encanto package includes a dinner at one of the resort restaurants and with the latest your ceremony can end (no later than 1pm), you will have several hours to enjoy the resort before dinner. What are your options? –

  • You’ll have plenty of time for a cool vogue style photo shoot throughout the resort.
  • A couple’s Trash The Dress session!
  • Meet at one of the main pools, rooftop pools, the river, or the ocean, for group hang out time.
  • Drink up at one of the many resort bars.
  • Spend some time as a group at Xcaret Park, Xenses, or Xplor.
  • Have a group lunch at one of the restaurants on site.
  • Take a long nap before dinner.
  • Enjoy a spa day and hydrotherapy.

You can also change up your day altogether by having a group lunch at the end of your ceremony, instead of a group dinner, and have your entire group head to Xoximilco in the evening for a party you will never forget! You have so many options!

What Venues Can We Choose from for the Elopement Ceremony?

There are several beautiful ceremony options that could be used for your wedding, and you may request the one that you would prefer, though with elopements the ceremony venue is not guaranteed and will be finalized through your onsite wedding coordinator appx 45 days prior to the wedding date.

Some venues are not available for elopements, however, due to guest traffic at the resort during the day. Bar Bio and Caleta Fuego, at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, for example, are not ceremony options. Your resort coordinator will share available venues with you approximately 45 days prior to your elopement. 

Couples requiring a Catholic ceremony may use the Catholic Chapel.

Hotel Xcaret Elopement Package by Yellow Umbrella Events

How much is the deposit for the Encanto package?

The total deposit for the Encanto package is 30%, a second payment of 50% is due approximately 4 months prior to the wedding, and the final payment is due approximately 6 weeks prior to the wedding. The first payment is paid to the resort by wire transfer and is required to secure your wedding date. After that, all additional payments can be paid by credit card.

How many rooms are required?

There is no minimum room requirement with the elopement package. However, all guests are required to reserve their rooms through Yellow Umbrella Events and all wedding guests are required to stay at the resort for a minimum of 3 nights or longer.

Do all of our guests have to stay at the resort to attend our wedding?

Yes, for elopements, all wedding guests must stay at the resort where the ceremony is taking place for a minimum of 3 nights or more to attend the wedding. No off-site guests are allowed, and no day passes will be offered for elopements. Our team will send a final rooming list to your resort assigned wedding coordinator prior to your arrival and the resort team will use this list to verify guest reservations. 

We recommend that our couples prepare a list of their guests, their room preferences, and dates of travel at the time of securing your elopement date so our team can confirm and secure your guests rooms right away, to ensure availability.

Can we add additional items to the elopement package?

Yes, you can add photography and/or videography, additional floral and decor items, etc. There are in-house vendors you can choose from, or you can pay an outside vendor fee of $1,000 per vendor/vendor type if you prefer a vendor that’s not on the resort’s list. You can secure vendors as early as possible by reaching out to them directly at any time or by waiting until your resort assigned coordinator reaches out to you approximately 30 – 45 days prior to your wedding.

Click HERE for the Hotel Xcaret Vendor List.

Hotel Xcaret Elopement Package by Yellow Umbrella Events

The Encanto Elopement Package includes a “Restaurant Dinner Reservation”. What does this mean and what does it include?

This includes a confirmed regular dinner reservation, as early as 6:30 PM depending on the restaurant choice, in one of the resort’s included dinner restaurants ordering from their existing menu. Your group will be seated together but in the restaurant with other resort guests. It is not a private dinner or private event.

 The most logical restaurant choices for this dinner at Hotel Xcaret Mexico are Las Cuevas, Teatro Del Rio, Las Playas, Xin-Gao, or Mercado. If all guests are staying in the Fuego Adults only building and you have 10 or less guests a dinner reservation at Fuego restaurant could also be an option.

 The most logical restaurant choices for this dinner at Hotel Xcaret ARTE are Tah-Xido, Mercado, Arenales, and Chino Poblano. If all guests are staying in the Artistas Adults only building a dinner reservation at Las Cuevas could also be an option.

Are there any truly private dinner options available?

 Yes, you can select a private dinner location in a private room just for your group for an additional fee at specific restaurants –

  • HA, at Hotel Xcaret Mexico – private dining room up to 11 guests
  • Xaak, at Hotel Xcaret ARTE – private dining room up to 11 guests
  • Mercado private room: Max 14 guests*
  • Arenal Private room: Max 14 guests*
  • Tah-Xido Private room: Max 14 guests *  
 
*The last three require a minimum guarantee of 10 guests and has a fee of 850 pesos per person.
 

 The rate varies by restaurant, is per person, and can be confirmed by your onsite wedding coordinator at the time you secure the reservation.

Additionally, there’s a very cool small cave in Las Cuevas restaurant, that can hold up to 16 guests for a private dinner. 

 Lastly, you can secure a private venue with your own full set up and staffing and choose from the “catering” menu at one of the resort’s available venues. Currently, this runs about $130 per person (this can change at any time so please verify this with your resort coordinator), includes a 3 course plated meal, 3 hours of private open bar, and 3 hours usage of an audio system. *All private events in the resort venues require a 30 person minimum so even if you do not have 30 guests you would be charged the 30 person minimum to be able to host this type of event.

When does the resort assign our wedding coordinator?

You will be assigned a resort on site wedding coordinator appx 30 – 60 days prior to the wedding. They will help you finalize your wedding details at that time.

Hotel Xcaret Elopement Package by Yellow Umbrella Events

Contact us now to start planning your dream elopement at Hotel Xcaret!