One of the questions I get most often from couples researching Live Aqua Cancún is some version of: “What’s actually in the package?” Not the marketing version — the real version. What shows up on your wedding day without any additional negotiation, and what do you need to plan for separately?
It’s the right question to ask. All-inclusive resort wedding packages are designed to feel comprehensive, and at Live Aqua they genuinely are — more so than at many comparable properties. But no package covers everything, and the clearest way to protect your budget and your expectations is to know exactly where the line is before you sign anything.
This post walks through what’s included across every package level, what upgrades are available as add-ons, and what you’ll need to arrange outside the package entirely. I’m writing this from experience — both from working with Live Aqua as a destination wedding specialist and from visiting the property — so I can give you the practical version, not just a restatement of the package PDF.
What’s Included in Every Package — At Every Level
Regardless of which package you choose — Serenata, Beso, Abrazo, or Corazón — certain things are included across the board. These are the universal inclusions that come with booking any wedding at Live Aqua Cancún.
On the ceremony side, every package includes a full ceremony setup: the decorated arch or gazebo, white garden chairs for your guests, a sound system, and a non-denominational minister for the ceremony itself. The ceremony space is set up, managed, and broken down by the resort’s wedding team. One bouquet and one boutonniere are included, along with a wedding cake designed in coordination with the resort, and a sparkling wine or champagne toast for the wedding party.
Beyond the ceremony, every package includes a dedicated on-site Wedding Specialist who coordinates the day — from vendor arrivals to ceremony timing to the reception flow. This is not someone who fields your questions occasionally. This is a person assigned to your wedding whose job is to run your day. For couples planning from another city or state, having that dedicated coordinator in place is genuinely one of the most valuable parts of what Live Aqua offers.
The couple’s resort experience is covered too. The package includes a complimentary room for the couple on the wedding day itself, a romantic turndown service, breakfast in bed the morning after, a 15% discount at the resort spa, and a two-night anniversary return stay — which is a nice touch that most couples genuinely use. Late check-out is included as well so the morning after doesn’t feel rushed.
This universal foundation is consistent across all four packages. Where the packages diverge is in the event experience — the reception, the music, the dinner, and the scope of what gets handled.
What Serenata and Beso Include
The Serenata package ($2,275) is built for the couple themselves, with the ceremony and the couple’s experience as the focus. It does not include a reception dinner or a cocktail hour — the wedding ceremony is the event. For couples doing an intimate elopement-style wedding or planning their own separate dinner after, Serenata gives them the ceremony in a beautiful space with everything set up, without paying for reception elements they don’t need.
The Beso package ($3,105) steps up to cover a dinner for up to 20 guests. This is a semi-private dinner rather than a fully private one — your group is in a designated area of a restaurant, not in a space reserved exclusively for your wedding. It works well for small groups and creates a celebratory feel, but it’s not the private-reception experience. Beso includes upgraded florals and ceremony elements beyond Serenata’s baseline, along with the romantic dinner and wedding cake for the full group.
Both packages allow outside vendors with a fee, which I’ll cover in the costs-extra section.
What Abrazo and Corazón Include
The Abrazo package ($9,385) is where the wedding experience expands significantly. This is the tier where the private cocktail hour, live music, and fully private reception dinner all come in — the elements that make a destination wedding feel like the complete event most couples envision.
Specifically, Abrazo includes a private cocktail hour following the ceremony, a 45-minute live music performance during that hour (guitarist, violinist, or saxophonist — you coordinate the style with the wedding team), and a fully private three-hour reception dinner with open bar for up to 30 guests. The dinner is plated and three courses, served in a private space. A menu tasting for two is included so the couple approves the food before the wedding day. A basic décor package covers the reception setup. A 50-minute couple’s massage is included. And the rehearsal dinner option becomes available at this tier for $25 per person.
Corazón ($12,870 for up to 50 guests) includes everything in Abrazo and adds the premium buffet dinner format as an option, a private beach or pool cabana for the wedding day, and an extended live music set. For larger groups, the Corazón structure is designed to handle the scale without requiring couples to piece together individual add-ons for every element.
What Costs Extra
Here’s the section most couples actually need. The packages are genuinely comprehensive, but there are several categories that fall outside them — and some of them are significant.
Photography and videography are not included in any package. Live Aqua works with preferred vendors, and if you bring an outside photographer or videographer there is an outside vendor fee. This is standard across all-inclusive properties and it’s not a mark against Live Aqua — it’s just something to factor into the overall budget from the start. The cost of the outside vendor fee varies, so I’d confirm the current rate directly.
Hair and makeup are not included. The resort has an on-site salon, and you can book hair and makeup services there at an additional cost. If you want to bring an outside hair or makeup artist, the outside vendor fee applies. Whichever direction you go, book early — wedding morning slots at the salon fill up quickly, especially during peak season.
Florals beyond the basic package inclusions — upgraded centerpieces, additional arrangements, ceremony aisle décor beyond the standard setup — are available but priced separately. The basic décor package at the Abrazo and Corazón level covers the reception setup, but couples who want a more elevated floral presentation will be working with the wedding team to price out those additions.
Additional guests beyond the package threshold are charged per person. For hotel-staying guests, the add-on rates are: Beso adds guests at $45 per person, Abrazo at $140 per person, and Corazón at its included count. Non-staying day guests across all packages run $210 per person. That non-staying rate is consistent and worth building into the budget if you have guests joining only for the wedding who aren’t staying at the resort.
A rehearsal dinner is available at Abrazo and Corazón tiers for $25 per person. This is a reasonable rate for a resort dinner and worth considering if your group is in town the night before and you want a formal gathering rather than an informal dinner.
DJ or band entertainment beyond the included live music set is arranged separately. If you want a DJ for the reception, that’s an outside vendor arrangement with the corresponding fee. The included live music covers the cocktail hour — the reception itself is yours to program.
Honeymoon suite upgrades, welcome bags for guests, décor items beyond the basic package, transportation to or from the airport, and any excursions your guests arrange independently are all outside the scope of the wedding packages. These are standard planning elements any destination wedding agent can help you think through and budget for from the beginning.
A Note on Legal vs. Symbolic Ceremonies
Every Live Aqua Cancún wedding package includes a non-denominational minister for the ceremony — but this is a symbolic ceremony, not a legal one. A symbolic ceremony is a real, meaningful celebration of your marriage, and most destination wedding couples choose the symbolic route. Your legal marriage typically happens at home with a courthouse ceremony or a local officiant before or after the trip.
If you want a legal ceremony performed in Mexico, that requires additional documentation, government fees, and coordination with a legal officiant. It’s absolutely possible — it just adds a layer of planning and cost outside the package itself. I can walk you through both options in a consultation so you know exactly what each path looks like before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Live Aqua Cancún include a photographer in their wedding packages?
No — photography and videography are not included in any Live Aqua Cancún wedding package. The resort works with preferred vendors, and you can bring an outside photographer with an outside vendor fee. This is standard across all-inclusive properties. Budgeting for photography separately is something I help every client plan for from the start, since it’s one of the most significant variables in the overall cost.
What’s the outside vendor fee at Live Aqua Cancún?
The outside vendor fee applies when you bring in vendors not on the resort’s preferred list — photographers, videographers, hair and makeup artists, DJs, and similar. The exact fee can change and is best confirmed directly with the wedding team or through your destination wedding agent. I always verify the current outside vendor policy for each client before finalizing their vendor lineup, so this is something I’d confirm on your behalf as part of the planning process.
Can I do a rehearsal dinner at Live Aqua Cancún?
Yes — a rehearsal dinner is available at the Abrazo and Corazón package levels for $25 per person. It’s a good option if your guests are arriving the evening before and you want a formal gathering. For Serenata and Beso, a separate dinner reservation can typically be arranged at the resort’s restaurants, though it wouldn’t be a private event in the same way. Let me know your situation and I can help figure out the right approach.
Ready to Start Planning Your Destination Wedding?
Planning a destination wedding is exciting… but there are also about 700 moving pieces once you actually start digging into it. Fill out my Destination Wedding Inquiry Form and schedule your consultation call so we can talk through your ideas, guest count, budget, and what you’re truly looking for in a resort and wedding experience. I’ll help you narrow things down, avoid common mistakes, and make the process feel a whole lot less overwhelming.
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