Cartagena, Colombia: The Perfect Destination Wedding Venue and Honeymoon Spot

Author:
shirleybrieva
Updated:
Jun 1, 2012

Photos of Cartagena

Bungalo beach wedding
FGL Eventos y Logística

Sofitel Santa Clara Luxury Hotel in Cartagena, popular wedding venue

Native dancers are often hired for wedding entertainment
By ANAND GIRIDHARADAS

Why get married in Cartagena?

Being a native of Cartagena, it is with special pride I introduce you to the most beautiful and romantic place on earth! According to Trip-Advisor, Cartagena, a historical and charming seaport city known as the jewel of the Caribbean, is the fourth largest or most important destination of South America (Rio de Janeiro 3rd place, Machu Pichu 2nd place, and Buenos Aires came in 1st place). Cartagena has a fascinating architectural mix variety. Military structures such as fortified walls, bastions and forts, can be seen next to a well-preserved colonial city. You can actually walk alongside and trace the walls in its entirety, and not be surprised to find loving couples watching the sunset from where the guns and cannons were once fired. Cartagena has also grown to be a popular destination wedding spot. Many celebrities, such as the famous race car driver Juan Pablo Montoya, have chosen this beautiful city for their wedding and honeymoon getaway.

There are several good reasons for choosing Cartagena as a wedding destination:

ROMANCE

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Cartagena is old world romance, a magical fairytale city that indisputably ignites the mood for love and romance the very minute you arrive, as you take in the picturesque scenery. From horse-drawn carriage rides, walking alongside the fortified walls of "El Castillo San Felipe de Barajas", appreciating the beautiful architecture of the old Spanish style homes with their "balconcitos" (balconies), to the beautiful sandy beaches. Don't be surprised if you get serenaded with "vallenato" music (typical folk music of love stories) as you stroll down the colonial streets or even as you take a romantic walk down the beach strip. But If you are looking for a little more excitement, you have nothing to worry about because Cartagena is also known for its vibrant night life.

SCENERY

The old Spanish style colonial architecture serves as a spectacular background for breath-taking wedding photos. Colonial style lavish cathedrals make for a perfect wedding ceremony venue. But if you are looking for more of a Caribbean feel to your wedding memories, again, no worries because Cartagena has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

LODGING

Being that Cartagena is a touristic destination, you will have no problem finding sufficient lodging to satisfy any budget. From extravagant exclusive five star beachfront resorts (ranging from $100 to $300 per night), to more moderately priced beach side hotels (ranginf from $25 to $70 per night).

PRICE

You'd be surprise to know that having a destination wedding in Cartagena is much cheaper than in the states. You can have an amazing wedding for approximately $50 per person. And this includes some extras such a wedding planner and musicians. You can expect to spend only about $10,000 and have a beautiful wedding for approximately 75-100 guests, or if you want to go extravagant, you can expect to spend under $30,000. The big plus is the honeymoon. You can spend your honeymoon in town since there are so many things to do. You can take a very inexpensive short boat trip to the "Islas del Rosario" ($12 to $15 per peson includes lunch), or if you can afford to spend a little extra you can take a private charter, or you can just relax in any of the nearby beaches as you take in the beauty and the sunshine. You can also enjoy plenty of shopping around town, and be pleasantly surprised at the prices (nearly half of what you would pay in the states). And if you're concerned about the airfair to Cartagena, you'll be glad to know that you can find roundtrip tickets on direct flights to Cartagena from Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, on Spirit Air or Avianca, normally for under $400 (except during christmas and new year's).

These are just some of the many reasons for getting married in Cartagena. But Cartagena is not just the perfect locale for weddings and honeymoons, it's also a great vacation spot for any type of budget, any tme of the year.

The following is a list of great websites where you can find wedding planners, vendors and venues in Cartagena: