Choosing among Puerto Vallarta wedding venues usually comes down to four options: an all-inclusive resort, a beach, a private villa or a dedicated wedding venue. Each one changes your budget, your guests’ experience and how much you’ll have to coordinate yourself. This guide compares them honestly, explains what “no venue fee” really means and gives you a checklist of questions to ask before you sign anything.
The 4 types of wedding venues in Puerto Vallarta
1. Hotels and all-inclusive resorts
Pros: everything is on one property, guests can walk from their room to the ceremony, and many resorts offer wedding packages with a coordinator included.
Watch out for: room block requirements. Many hotels ask that around 50% of your guests stay with them just to consider hosting your wedding. That means your guests have to stay in one place, at that hotel’s rates, even if they’d prefer a different hotel or a vacation rental, or simply don’t have the budget for it.
Other things to check: day-pass fees for guests who stay elsewhere; vendor rules, because many hotels only allow vendors who are authorized and registered with the hotel; whether your hair and makeup team can come in on the wedding day, since many hotels ban outside stylists or charge them an entry fee; and what time the party ends, as hotel receptions often finish early so they don’t disturb other guests. Packages often cover a set guest count, so every extra guest adds up quickly.
And there’s the experience itself: when the whole wedding happens inside the resort, you and your guests can fly to Puerto Vallarta and barely see it. A resort wedding could be in almost any beach destination; you miss the culture, the food, the streets and the views of the place where you chose to get married.
2. Beach weddings
Pros: the classic barefoot ceremony with the ocean behind you, and it photographs beautifully at sunset.
Watch out for: beaches in Mexico are federal land, so ceremonies usually need a permit (normally arranged by the hotel or planner). Public beaches mean passers-by and vendors in your photos. A beach at a private hotel avoids that, but then you usually have to meet the hotel’s room block requirement. Either way, and wind, sand, sun and high tide all need a plan B. You’ll still need a separate place for dinner and the party.
3. Private villas
Pros: privacy, amazing views and the feeling of hosting friends at “your” house for the weekend.
Watch out for: villas are homes, not venues. You may have to rent furniture, tents, a kitchen setup, restrooms and generators, and hire catering, bar staff and security separately. Many villas have guest limits, noise curfews and steep hillside access that is hard for older guests. A low rental price can turn into a big production budget.
4. Dedicated wedding venues and restaurants
Pros: spaces designed for events, with an on-site kitchen, bar, furniture and an events team. Your guests can stay in any hotel or rental they like, and you’re not competing with resort guests for space.
Watch out for: check whether the venue is private for your event, what’s included in the price, and how far it is from where your guests are staying.
Comparison table
| Resort | Beach | Villa | Dedicated venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room block required | Often, around 50% of guests | Yes, if the beach belongs to a hotel | Rent the whole villa | No |
| Guests staying elsewhere | Day-pass fees common | Usually OK | Limited by villa capacity | Stay anywhere |
| Privacy | Shared with hotel guests | Public beach | Very private | Private or semi-private |
| Kitchen, bar and furniture | Included | Must be brought in | Often rented separately | Included |
| Your own vendors | Must be authorized and registered with the hotel | Depends on hotel or permit | Usually allowed | Allowed, outside vendor fee may apply |
| Party end time | Often early, to avoid disturbing hotel guests | Depends on hotel or permit | Noise curfews common | No hotel guests to disturb |
| Weather plan B | Usually | Must be planned | Must be rented (tents) | Covered areas on site (at Oscar’s, the Main Palapa) |
| Coordination | Hotel coordinator | Planner needed | Planner needed | Events team on site |
What does “no venue fee” mean?
A venue fee (also called a site fee or rental fee) is what you pay just to use the space, before any food, drinks or services. When a venue says it has no venue fee, you only pay for what you actually choose: ceremony, food and drinks, and any extras.
That doesn’t mean the wedding is free, so always compare the total cost per guest. A venue with no rental fee but a required food minimum can still be the better deal, and a “cheap” package can grow fast with day passes, outside vendor fees and service charges. For real numbers, see our guide to how much a wedding costs in Puerto Vallarta.
Questions to ask every venue
- Is there a venue or rental fee? What exactly does it include?
- Is there a minimum guest count or food and beverage minimum?
- Do my guests have to book rooms with you? Is there a day-pass fee for guests staying elsewhere?
- Will the venue be private for my event, or shared with other guests?
- Can I bring my own vendors, or do they have to be on your authorized vendor list? Is there an outside vendor fee?
- Can my hair and makeup team come in on the wedding day, and is there an entry fee?
- What is the plan if it rains or is very windy?
- Are service charges and taxes included in the quote?
- Until what time can the party go, and is there a noise curfew?
- Is a planner or coordinator included, and are they on site on the day?
- How easy is it for guests to get there and back at night?
Oscar’s: a riverside wedding venue with no venue fee
Since 1997, Oscar’s has hosted destination weddings on Isla Río Cuale, in the center of Puerto Vallarta and just 5 minutes from the Malecón. We’re not a hotel and not on a public beach, so your celebration doesn’t share space with hotel guests and there are no beach vendors in your photos.
- No venue fee: you only pay for the ceremony, food and drinks you choose.
- The real Puerto Vallarta: your guests celebrate on an island in the Cuale River, in the Zona Romántica, with the town, the Malecón and the bay all around them, not inside a resort that could be anywhere.
- No hotel guests to disturb, so your party doesn’t have to end early.
- No room block: your guests stay wherever they like, and there are hotels and vacation rentals for every budget nearby.
- Up to 250 guests, and the venue is private for weddings of 70 guests or more at no extra cost. For up to 25 guests, our Petit Celebration keeps it simple.
- Three spaces in one place: ceremony in the Distillery Garden or Main Garden, cocktail hour by the river and dinner under the Main Palapa.
- Outdoors with a built-in plan B: from November to May there’s practically no rain, so everything can happen outdoors. In the rainy season, the Main Palapa is your covered plan B.
- Menus for everyone: dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus, and a kids menu.
- In-house wedding planner from your first quote to your wedding day.
- Bring your own DJ or florist with an outside vendor fee, or book vendors through us and your planner coordinates them.
- Extras for your guests, like a tequila tasting at our own distillery.
- Winner of the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award 2026.
Send us your date and guest count and our in-house planner will prepare a personalized quote.
FAQ
What is the best wedding venue type in Puerto Vallarta?
It depends on your priorities. Resorts are easiest if most guests will stay in one place. Beaches are the most iconic but need a backup plan. Villas give privacy but require more production. Dedicated venues give you event spaces and a team without room blocks.
Do Puerto Vallarta wedding venues require a room block?
Many resorts do. Dedicated venues like Oscar’s don’t, because they aren’t hotels.
How many guests can a Puerto Vallarta venue hold?
It varies a lot: villas are often limited to small groups, while resorts and dedicated venues can host larger weddings. Oscar’s hosts up to 250 guests.
When should I book my venue?
As early as you can, especially for popular dates. At Oscar’s our prices are the same all year, and booking early gives you more time to pay your wedding in installments.
Can we have the ceremony and reception at the same venue?
Yes. At Oscar’s, the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and party all happen in one place.
What if it rains on our wedding day?
Puerto Vallarta’s dry season runs from November to May, with practically no rain, so outdoor ceremonies and receptions work perfectly. The rainy season is roughly June to October; at Oscar’s, the Main Palapa is a covered plan B so your celebration goes on.
