As travel advisors look ahead to 2026, destination wedding bookings are shifting in exciting ways. Couples are reimagining what a wedding week can be, and the hotels in Classic's Save the Date Collection are ready to deliver.
The "Wed-cation" Week
Festival-style celebrations now span multiple days with welcome parties, curated excursions and day-after brunches. Guests want connection and value, while couples want more quality time with everyone. Properties like Hoteles Xcaret, Royalton Hotels & Resorts and Hilton All-Inclusive offer the venue variety and built-in experiences to make extended celebrations seamless.
Wedding party at the beach (Photo Credit: Classic Vacations)
Smaller Guest Lists, Bigger Design
Intimate celebrations of 20 to 60 guests are reallocating spend from headcount to elevated design, premium food and beverage and private spaces. The Fives Hotels & Residences and Leading Hotels of the World properties excel at delivering boutique luxury for these smaller groups.
Private-Feel Experiences
Full or partial resort buyouts give couples an exclusive atmosphere without the logistics of a standalone venue. Palladium Hotel Group's TRS properties and Majestic Resorts' sectioned layouts offer this privacy at scale. Advisors should start conversations 12 to 18 months out to secure the best availability.
Couple getting married (Photo Credit: Classic Vacations)
Purposeful and Place-Forward
Visible sustainability efforts, local sourcing and cultural rituals matter more than ever. Iberostar's Wave of Change program and Hoteles Xcaret's heritage programming appeal to values-driven couples who want their celebration to honor place and community.
Culinary as the Show
Tasting menus, chef collaborations and late-night food stations are replacing traditional décor budgets. Royalton Hotels & Resorts, The Fives and Palace Resorts bring the culinary firepower to deliver.
Family-Forward Wedding Weeks
With kids' clubs, caregiver services and multi-bedroom suites, properties like Royalton Hotels & Resorts and Palladium Family Selection make it easy for couples to host multigenerational celebrations without added stress.
Destination wedding (Photo Credit: Classic Vacations)
Planning Timeline: Book Now for 2026
Start 12 to 18 months out by holding the date and venue and beginning room-block contracting. At 10 to 12 months, open traveler bookings via your Custom Group Website, which ties directly to the contracted block.
Between six and nine months before the wedding, finalize menu selections, décor and resort experiences, then share the dynamic rooming-list link with group leaders. At 60 days out, confirm final headcount, download the transfer list and allocate charges across bookings as needed.
What Classic Groups Delivers
Classic's Groups team provides dedicated specialists to help you close the sale with proposals, pricing and concessions that secure your room block. During execution, a dedicated Groups Coordinator partners with you while online management tools handle minor changes, room-category updates, dynamic rooming lists, transfer lists and charge allocation.
Your Custom Group Website ties directly to your contracted block for traveler bookings, T&C acceptance and payments. And with 24/7/365 in-travel customer service plus live and recorded workshops through Classic Assist, you're supported at every step.
Now is the time to start those 2026 conversations and secure room blocks while availability is strong. Learn more at classicvacations.com/c/groups.
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