Your guests didn't just travel to attend a wedding — they traveled to Puerto Rico. That means you have the opportunity to give them an experience that goes far beyond a single evening. The best destination weddings are the ones where the entire weekend feels curated, where every day has a rhythm of adventure and relaxation, and where your guests leave saying, 'That was the best trip we've ever taken.' Here's how to plan it — whether you have two days or four.
Before You Plan: Know Your Region
Puerto Rico is small — about 100 miles long — but it is more spread out than you might expect. What's available to your guests depends heavily on where your venue is located. A wedding in the rainforest interior offers different nearby activities than one on the west coast beaches. Before building your itinerary, talk to your venue team about what's accessible within 20–30 minutes. They know the area better than any travel blog.
The 2-Day Weekend (Arrival Friday, Wedding Saturday)
Friday — Arrival & Welcome
- ◆Guests arrive and settle in. Provide a welcome packet with a map, weekend schedule, and local recommendations.
- ◆Late afternoon: welcome drinks or casual reception at the venue or a nearby restaurant. Keep it relaxed — your guests just traveled.
- ◆Evening: rehearsal dinner for the wedding party (if your venue includes one, this is handled for you). Other guests enjoy a free evening to explore.
Saturday — The Wedding Day
- ◆Morning: let guests sleep in or explore on their own. Provide a list of nearby breakfast spots or cafés.
- ◆Afternoon: wedding preparation. Guests relax, swim, or take a short excursion.
- ◆Evening: the ceremony and reception. At an all-inclusive venue, everything is handled from this point forward.
The 3-Day Weekend (Arrival Thursday, Wedding Saturday)
Thursday — Arrival & Settle In
- ◆Guests arrive throughout the day. The couple may already be at the venue.
- ◆Evening: casual group dinner at a local restaurant. Puerto Rican cuisine is an experience in itself — pernil, mofongo, fresh seafood. Let the food do the welcoming.
Friday — Adventure or Relaxation Day
This is the day that transforms a wedding trip into a wedding experience. Offer two tracks and let guests choose:
- ◆Adventure track: a group excursion — bioluminescent bay kayak tour, rainforest hike to a waterfall, snorkeling, surfing lessons, zip-lining, or a guided Old San Juan walking tour.
- ◆Relaxation track: spa treatments, poolside lounging, couples massages, a soak in natural hot springs, or a quiet morning at a local café.
- ◆Late afternoon: the couple's rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (if your venue includes this). Other guests enjoy the evening on their own or attend a group gathering.
Saturday — The Wedding Day
- ◆Morning: a relaxed brunch or coffee gathering for early risers.
- ◆Afternoon: preparation and pre-ceremony calm.
- ◆Evening: ceremony and reception.
The 4-Day Weekend (Arrival Wednesday or Thursday, Wedding Saturday)
The four-day wedding weekend is the gold standard for destination weddings. It gives your guests enough time to recover from travel, truly experience Puerto Rico, and build memories together before the ceremony. Add to the 3-day itinerary:
- ◆An extra day for guests to explore independently — provide a curated list of recommendations (beaches, towns, restaurants, shops) rather than a structured group activity.
- ◆A morning-after brunch on Sunday — a relaxed farewell gathering where everyone shares their favorite moment from the weekend.
- ◆Consider a sunset sailing excursion, a cooking class featuring Puerto Rican cuisine, or a private group dinner at a restaurant with ocean views.
Self-Care and Pampering Ideas
Destination weddings are emotional and physical marathons. Build in time for the couple and guests to genuinely rest. Puerto Rico offers extraordinary options for pampering:
- ◆Spa treatments — many hotels and resorts offer day-pass spa access even for guests staying elsewhere.
- ◆Natural hot springs — heated mountain spring water in the interior is a uniquely Puerto Rican experience.
- ◆Outdoor jungle tubs and soaking pools at select rainforest venues.
- ◆Couples massages as a pre-wedding ritual for the bride and groom.
- ◆Beach yoga or guided meditation for the bridal party.
- ◆A quiet afternoon with nothing scheduled — sometimes the best gift is permission to do nothing.
✦Don't over-schedule the weekend. The best destination wedding itineraries have structure without obligation. Offer options, provide information, and give your guests the freedom to create their own experience.
The Welcome Packet: Your Guests' Lifeline
Every destination wedding weekend should include a physical or digital welcome packet with: the weekend schedule, venue address and directions, emergency contact information, local restaurant recommendations, activity options with booking links, Wi-Fi passwords, transportation notes (shuttle schedules, ride-share tips), and any cultural etiquette your guests should know. This small investment in planning saves you dozens of individual text messages over the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A 3-day weekend (arrival Thursday or Friday, wedding Saturday) is the most popular format. It gives guests time to settle in, enjoy an activity or relaxation day, and attend the wedding without requiring excessive time off work. A 4-day weekend is ideal if budget and schedules allow.
Popular activities include bioluminescent bay kayak tours, rainforest waterfall hikes, snorkeling, surfing lessons, Old San Juan walking tours, spa treatments, natural hot spring soaks, zip-lining, sunset sailing, Puerto Rican cooking classes, and beach relaxation. Available activities depend on the venue's region of the island.
Offer curated options rather than mandatory group activities. Provide two tracks — adventure and relaxation — and let guests choose. Include a welcome packet with local recommendations so guests can also explore independently. The best itineraries have structure without obligation.