Best Catholic Chapels for Destination Weddings

Catholic Chapel at Barcelo Punta Cana

At Romantic Planet Vacations, we understand the dilemma that many Catholic couples face when deciding to book a destination wedding and the many questions that surround them in just how they can combine both a Catholic ceremony with a destination wedding away from home.

A Catholic Destination Wedding needs to follow the same rules and protocol as a Catholic wedding at home. These include that you meet with your local priest in advance, that the couple attend a parish-approved pre-marriage counseling program, that the sacred scriptures at the ceremony be read by a Catholic priest (which can be your own priest or one at the destination that your priest has met over the phone), and that the venue location also be parish-approved. Please note that Catholic beach ceremonies are not approved by the Catholic church as it is deemed not sacred.

We are proud to have been serving Catholic destination weddings since 2004 and know the very best venues. We have served many Catholic destination wedding groups to these beautiful destinations and have personally inspected them ourselves.  Below are  our top picks for the best and most awe-inspiring Catholic Destination Wedding Venues.

Dominican Republic and Mexico are going to be your very best bet as these countries are rooted in Catholic traditions and religion. An all-inclusive travel package including flight, airport transfers, 7-nights accommodations and the all-inclusive feature with all meals and drinks, is generally $2,000 and under per person.

Dominican Republic –

One of our personal favorites and top destination wedding resort in Punta Cana for years, is the Barcelo Resorts. This complex is made up of four different resorts and include a golf course, the most expansive beach in the Dominican Republic, a mini-golf course, casino, water park and so much more. Exploring the grounds by golf cart, we stumbled upon one of the most picturesque, tranquil, organic and natural Catholic chapel we’ve seen. The open-aired structure over-looks a pond setting with flowers and chirping birds and can accommodate larger wedding groups.

Catholic Wedding Chapel – Cap Cana, DR

You can also get married off property at a beautiful local Catholic church or chapel. We love the Spanish-colonial style chapels at both Cap Cana and Casa Del Campo. When considering the newer development at Cap Cana, you can get married at the Catholic Chapel in town but stay at the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Resort for a luxurious 5-star experience.

Majestic Elegance Catholic Chapel

Our other top all-inclusive Punta Cana seller for destination wedding groups is the Majestic Colonial and Majestic Elegance Resorts. Although they do not have sharing privileges, they are sister properties situated next door to each other. Their chapel is reserved for Catholic weddings only.

Cancun, Mexico –

Our most popular place for destination weddings is Cancun and the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Cancun is one of the most connected airports in the world, allowing guests from every corner of the globe to gain easy access to your wedding. One of our top Cancun all-inclusive resorts that is 4-star or higher and offer a stunning ocean-front Catholic Chapel right on-site is Panama Jacks Cancun. “Our Lady of Guadeloupe” chapel is a glass-protected and enclosed area with the most beautiful view of the azul Caribbean Sea behind. Recognizing the demand for more Catholic Chapels in Cancun, The JW Marriott and Casa Magna Marriott have also built a new chapel to accommodate their Catholic destination wedding guests.

Panama Jack’s Catholic Chapel

Riviera Maya, Mexico –

One of our top-sellers in the Mayan Riviera for destination wedding groups is the beautiful 5-star family-friendly all-inclusive resort of Dreams Tulum. This property is designed to look and feel like an authentic Mexican puebla (small town). And with every Mexican puebla, there is a central plaza with a colorful Catholic church. It is a smaller chapel so it most ideal for intimate Catholic wedding groups.

Dreams Tulum Catholic Chapel

For larger Catholic wedding groups, we recommend the Barcelo Maya, Beach, Caribe, Tropical and Palace Resort complex and like their property in Punta Cana, they also have an on-site Catholic wedding chapel. At this all-inclusive resort you will find the whitest, softest and most expansive beach in the Mayan Riviera. It’s open-aired chapel feels spacious and natural.

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort Chapel

If you are looking for an oceanfront Catholic chapel in the Mayan Riviera, then The Moon Palace all-inclusive is the place to be. This is the largest resort in the Mayan Riviera and offers so many resort amenities including a wave rider and golf course as well as a large variety of restaurants. Combine this with their designer wedding collections and $1500 per room resort credit, it makes it most ideal.

Palladium Resort Riviera Maya

The all-inclusive Palladium Resort complex also consists of a Catholic Chapel but is designed as a Spanish colonial-style building – a perfect backdrop for wedding photos. We love this one as it’s private, airy and very spacious and the resort is a nice 4.5 star all-inclusive properties pricing around $2000 per person for a one-week stay and airfare.
Said to have the only Roman Catholic Chapel in the Mayan Riviera, is the upscale and all-inclusive resort of the Valentin Imperial. This property is on the opposite spectrum with 5-star luxurious accommodations with prices ranging from $3,000 upward per person depending on the season. It’s chapel is more modern and contemporary with marble, white and brown hues.

El Dorado Royale Catholic Chapel

If you’re looking for an upscale adult-only resort that has a picturesque Catholic Chapel, then you can find it at the gourmet-inclusive El Dorado Royale Resort. Just steps from the beach, this Spanish-colonial white-washed chapel is the perfect setting for an intimate Catholic destination wedding ceremony in a 5-star adult-only setting.

Although not located at a resort, we had the opportunity to explore the Xcaret Eco Theme Park in the Mayan Riviera and was truly amazed and drawn into the mystical and spiritual place that it is. Created as a colonial town among the jungle, cenote caves and ancient Mayan ruins, it’s truly themost ideal setting for anyone who is looking for that feeling of be re-connected to nature, history, God or your own spiritual being on your wedding day.

Xcaret has two Catholic chapels that are both recognized officially by the Catholic Prelature in the state capital, Chetumal. Although enjoyed throughout the day, one of the very best times to wed at Xcaret is in the evening as the buildings and pillars are lit up in a spiritually lifting way. The wedding team at Xcaret ensures that no detail is left undone.  St. Francis of Assisi Chapel is perched on top of a hill at the end of a cobblestone road. It’s open aired venue is very spacious and feels like you can touch the sky.
The Chapel of Guadalupe is located in the center of the “puebla” (town). On the outside it appears to be a Spanish colonial-style building but as you enter the giant wooden doors, you feel like you’ve entered a magical world not known like any other place on Earth. This chapel has been created out of an old cenote cave and this giant ‘tree of life’ appears over the alter. It feels organic, natural and very spiritual and will definitely be a stunning venue that you and your wedding guests will never forget. If considering the Xcaret Eco Park for your wedding, you can stay at the affordable Occidental Grand Xcaret all-inclusive resort or Hotel Xcaret which are both attached to the park.
Then finally we have The Hotel Xcaret. This very eco-friendly and amazing resort has a deep spiritual connection and respect to the land. Elevated on an imposing pyramid with unbeatable panoramic views of the majestic Caribbean Sea, this Catholic Chapel is like none other.

Jamaica – 

Jamaica has limited options for an onsite catholic ceremony service but there are many churches located throughout this Caribbean island that many Catholic get married at. The Lady of Fatima church tends to be our most popular off-site Catholic wedding venues in Ocho Rios for destination wedding brides and grooms. The resort’s wedding coordinator can assist with booking the church and your group’s transportation there and back. However, for more convenience, even though they do not have a Catholic chapel on-site, we understand that Iberostar Rosehall is one of the few that will perform catholic ceremonies right there. The most popular resort in Jamaica with an on-site Catholic chapel however, is the adult-only Sandals Montego Bay. Another alternative might be the Jewel Runaway Bay with their open-aired oceanfront chapel.

Romantic Planet Vacations has been serving destination wedding groups since 2004 and has heaps of first-hand knowledge, expertise and experience of these resorts and more worldwide. They have organized destination wedding trips for wedding ceremonies of all religion-types including Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and more, as well as non-legal, civil, symbolic and now renewals.

Connect with Romantic Planet Vacations at inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or 1-877-247-8123 for your group’s destination wedding quote or if you have any questions about these resorts and more.

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