Sonesta St. Maarten Wedding Packages: Everything Couples Need to Know
Sint Maarten pairs turquoise water with an easy island rhythm, and Sonesta’s two connected resorts on the island are among the most requested Caribbean settings we plan for couples. The properties offer a range of ceremony venues, reception styles, and room-night perks to build a symbolic wedding celebration around. Here is what to know before you book, brought to you by Yellow Umbrella Events, which specializes in planning destination weddings for couples across the Caribbean and Mexico.
Which Sonesta resort is right for a wedding: Ocean Pointe or Maho Beach?
Sonesta operates two connected all-inclusive resorts in St. Maarten, and picking the right one shapes your whole wedding weekend.
Sonesta Ocean Pointe is adults-only, a popular pick for couples who want a quieter, more romantic backdrop for their ceremony and reception.
Sonesta Maho Beach is the family-friendly all-inclusive option, ideal if you want kids and multiple generations at the celebration. Maho Beach is connected to Ocean Pointe, though there are no exchange privileges between the two properties, so confirm which resort fits your guest list before you book.
How do room-night perks work at Sonesta?
Once your wedding group books 10 rooms or more, you qualify for discounted group rates, and Sonesta’s Marry Me for Free program adds concessions as your group’s total room nights grow.
At 50+ room nights, the wedding couple receives:
- A complimentary room upgrade
- Two free nights
- A welcome amenity
- Late checkout (based on availability)
- A wedding day room for the wedding party (subject to availability)
- 15% off Serenity Spa services for all wedding guests
- A complimentary reception dinner with three hours of private open bar
- The Sonesta wedding cake and a sparkling wine toast
At 100+ room nights, everything above is included, plus:
- Private group check-in
- Four free nights for the couple
- A complimentary ceremony venue (the $500 rental fee waived)
- A group reservation for up to 30 guests at the buffet restaurant
- A cocktail hour with a signature cocktail and three passed hors d’oeuvres
At 150+ room nights, the perks expand further with:
- Five complimentary room upgrades
- Seven free nights for the couple (or a gift certificate for unused nights, valid up to one year)
- A complimentary ceremony venue and 50% off the reception venue rental fee
- A complimentary group reservation for up to 20 guests at an a la carte restaurant
- One extra hour of open bar for the reception (four hours total)
- A full open bar with passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour
A private reception venue rental is required with every tier and is priced separately. Couples who would rather upgrade straight into a standard reception package can apply the Marry Me for Free dinner credit, $35 to $55 per guest depending on room-night tier, toward that package instead.
What do Sonesta wedding reception packages cost?
Sonesta offers four reception packages, each built around a different bar and dining format:
- Crystal Package, $15 per person: a sparkling wine toast and Sonesta wedding cake, for couples adding a toast to an existing celebration.
- Ruby Package, $45 per person ($65 for non-all-inclusive resort guests): a two-hour open bar and a two-hour cocktail reception with six hors d’oeuvres, plus the wine toast and cake.
- Pearl Package, $65 to $75 per person: a four-hour open bar with a plated three- or four-course dinner, wine toast, and cake.
- Diamond Package, $75 per person: a four-hour open bar with a create-your-own buffet dinner across soups, salads, entrees, sides, and desserts, plus the wine toast and cake.
Every package can be customized with add-ons such as live cooking and carving stations, a taco bar, late-night snack stations, and dessert stations. Ask your planner which enhancements fit your guest count and budget.
Where can we hold the ceremony and reception?
Sonesta’s oceanfront property offers several ceremony, cocktail, and reception spaces, including Point Gazebo, The Sands, the Royal Pavilion and Terrace, the Maho Room, Point Pool Deck, Oceanview Garden, the Edge Pool, Zen Garden, and Bluefin Restaurant + Bar. Capacity, rental fees, and availability vary by venue, and some spaces carry day-of-week or end-time restrictions, so review the full venue guide with your planner early in the process.
What does a Sonesta wedding cost beyond the reception package?
A non-refundable $500 deposit, along with a signed contract, secures your wedding date, ceremony venue, reception venue, and event times. Final payment is due approximately 30 to 45 days before the wedding.
Beyond the reception package, plan for:
- Setup and breakdown fees, priced separately for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception
- An 18% service charge on food and beverage
- Fees for outside vendors needing resort access on a day other than the wedding day
Off-site vendors of your choice are welcome with no vendor fee, as long as their full names are submitted 30 days before the wedding for security clearance.
Do we need a wedding planner at Sonesta St. Maarten?
Yes. The resort handles guest accommodations, wedding venues, and food and beverage, but a wedding planner is required for everything else: day-of coordination, decor and styling, hair and makeup, DJ and photography, and vendor coordination. About 30 to 45 days before the wedding, you will receive a questionnaire to finalize details, and a pre-event meeting with you and your planner takes place two days before the wedding to confirm everything is set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Working with Yellow Umbrella Events is completely complimentary. You pay the same rate you would booking directly with the resort, and the resort pays our commission.
A minimum of 10 rooms qualifies your group for discounted rates. Marry Me for Free perks then scale up at 50, 100, and 150 total room nights.
A non-refundable $500 deposit, paired with a signed contract, secures your date, ceremony venue, reception venue, and event times.
Yes. Off-site vendors are welcome with no vendor fee, as long as their full names are submitted for security clearance 30 days before the wedding.
Ocean Pointe is adults-only and better suited to couples wanting a quieter atmosphere. Maho Beach is family-friendly and connected to Ocean Pointe, though the two resorts do not share exchange privileges.
Let Yellow Umbrella Events handle the planning, at no cost to you
A destination wedding has a lot of moving parts: resort selection, room blocks, package tiers, venue availability, and local vendor coordination. That is exactly where Yellow Umbrella Events comes in. Our planning services are completely complimentary. You pay the same rate you would book directly with the resort, and we do the legwork of comparing packages, tracking your room-night perks, and coordinating with the resort’s wedding team on your behalf.
Reach out to Yellow Umbrella Events and let us help you build the Sonesta St. Maarten wedding that fits your guest list, your style, and your budget. Email cheryl@yellowumbrellaevents.com or call 512.955.1320 for a free consultation.
