Wedding Pioneer is dedicated to bringing you wedding photography guides, style guides, and handy planning ideas, including our Ultimate Destination Wedding Checklist.
As we’ve branched out into all-inclusive wedding and honeymoon planning, we’re highlighting Sandals resorts in the Caribbean because these adults-only, luxury-included vacation wonderlands create unforgettable wedding experiences for couples like you.
Saint Lucia is an incredible island with world-famous natural sites like the Pitons and plenty of history and things to do, including fantastic snorkeling off the beach in Rodney Bay or hitting the greens on the championship golf course at Cap Estate.
So let’s talk about your destination wedding at a Sandals resort in Saint Lucia!
What Is The Best Sandals Resort in St. Lucia
It’s a great question—and we’ve got a wealth of reviews to help you carefully select the best Sandals resort in Saint Lucia for your destination wedding, honeymoon, or weddingmoon.
That’s another beautiful and unique thing about Saint Lucia—it’s the only island in the Caribbean with three upscale Sandals resorts.
Even when you do choose your destination wedding resort, you still get to enjoy all three Sandals in St. Lucia!
It’s called 3X The Fun (click the link for more deets!), and it’s the super-super-super special exchange program that gives you the privilege to enjoy 11 spectacular pools, 11 whirlpools, 21 bars, and 27 restaurants at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Sandals Regency La Toc, and Sandals Halcyon Beach.
The most quintessentially Caribbean of all Sandals Resorts, Sandals Halcyon Beach, is considered a true Garden of Eden with lush tropical gardens along pristine white-sand beaches.
Top Rated Resort in St. Lucia
We went straight to the source to confirm the top-rated Sandals resort in Saint Lucia.
This Sandals blog ranks the Sandals resorts by the percentage of very good to excellent traveler reviews, and this article is also jam-packed with excellent tips for all vacationers!
Sandals ranked their Grande St. Lucian resort the highest in Saint Lucia, and we consider it to be the best Sandals resort for the destination wedding of your dreams.
Halcyon Beach comes in second in popularity, with Regency La Toc a very close third. Basically, the number two and three Sandals resorts are considered equally popular, and they are beautiful destination wedding locations too.
Sandals Grande St. Lucian is located on Rodney Bay, known to have the calmest waters in Saint Lucia.
Our in-depth resort reviews for Sandals in St. Lucia have been written for wedding couples like you, and these articles are fantastic guides to help plan your big day.
Check these out:
- Sandals Grande St. Lucian Review: Your Honeymoon Destination
- Sandals Regency La Toc Review: Dreamy Honeymoon Goals
- Sandals Halcyon Beach Review— All-Inclusive Beach Resort
- Sandals Grande St. Lucian vs. Sandals Regency La Toc Review
We’ve also included three additional reviews here for couples who desire excellent scuba, challenging golf, and delicious gourmet food on their destination wedding and honeymoon trip:
- 11 Best Sandals Resorts for Scuba Diving in 2023
- Best Sandals Resort for Golf: Our Top 8 For 2023
- The Best Sandals Resort for Foodies: Where To Dine in Style
Returning to the “official” Sandals blog of top-rated resorts in St. Lucia, we’re going to be looking at Sandals Grande more closely and comparing it with Sandals Halcyon Beach.
While you’ll be enjoying one property as your wedding “home base,” you need to visit all three for the best St. Lucian experience, and the three resorts are not identical!
That’s why we’re focusing on the differences between Sandals Grande and Sandals Halcyon Beach when it comes to wedding venues and accommodations.
Let’s get into this review!
Our Sandals Grande St. Lucian vs. Sandals Halcyon Beach Review
You’ll find many online reviews with resort pros and cons, but this is your big day we’re talking about, and we’re here to try and help you choose the best place for your destination wedding and honeymoon.
Sandals has also helped us—here’s an exclusive link to Saint Lucia Destination Weddings at Sandals resorts.
Now a quick rundown of the big differences between the two resorts when you’re planning your wedding.
What Wedding Venues Are Available at Sandals Grande vs Halcyon Beach
- Sandals Grande has the most exclusive wedding venue—the Over the Water Serenity Wedding Chapel – available here and at select Sandals resorts in Jamaica.
- Sandals Grande also offers an Over Water Gazebo for your ceremony and reception in one.
- Sandals Halcyon Beach offers more boho-casual beach weddings and an intimate gazebo that’s perfect for your tropical elopement.
An exclusive feature at all Sandals resorts is a free tropical wedding with stays of three nights or more. Oceanfront gazebos for your vows and beach wedding ceremonies are part of your wedding inclusions!
How Much Does It Cost to Get Married at Sandals Grande vs. Sandals Halcyon
It’s actually fairly easy to budget for your destination wedding at Sandals because costs will depend on your room rate (per person, per night).
- Sandals Grande rates start at $340 per person per night, and Love Nest Suites designed for wedding couples and honeymooners begin at $739 per person per night.
- Sandals Halcyon Beach rates start at $284 per person per night, and Love Nest Suites designed for wedding couples and honeymooners begin at $544 per person per night.
A Sandals wedding includes the services of a wedding planning team that can help you customize your wedding and give you details on additional costs for wedding venues and wedding catering.
One thing we need to show you is Sandals Wedding Promotions—this handy link describes all wedding and honeymoon specials for you to compare and choose!
Review of Amenities at Sandals Grande vs. Sandals Halcyon
Sandals Grande and Halcyon are located about seven miles apart, with roundtrip transfers included during your stay.
But most of our wedding couples choose to make one resort their wedding home base for group dinners and poolside fun. So here is how the amenities compare between the two resorts.
Sandals Grande Amenities
- Sandals Grande offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at 12 world-class restaurants.
- Sandals Grande has five pools, three whirlpools (and a scuba pool) open to all guests.
- Sandals Grande has seven bars, including swim-up bars.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Gordon’s On The Pier and Bombay Club are highly-rated restaurants among guests at Sandals Grande. Click the links for gorgeous pictures and yummy menus!
Sandals Halcyon Beach Amenities
- Sandals Halcyon Beach offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at six world-class restaurants.
- Sandals Halcyon Beach has three pools, three whirlpools (and a scuba pool) open to all guests.
- Sandals Halcyon Beach has seven bars, including swim-up bars.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Kimonos Japanese Teppanyaki and Kelly’s Dockside are highly-rated restaurants among guests at Sandals Halcyon Beach. Click the links for gorgeous pictures and yummy menus!
Review of Activities at Sandals Grande vs. Sandals Halcyon
Both resorts offer many included activities and daily watersports.
The pool scene at Sandals Grande is very active every day, and Grande is considered the liveliest of the three Sandals resorts in St. Lucia.
Sandals Halcyon Beach is smaller and far quieter, and guests rave about floating on the “lazy” river pool that winds through Crystal Lagoon Village and the lush landscape of the resort’s gardens.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: the calm waters of Rodney Bay often make Sandals Grande your best bet for water activities like Hobie cat sailing. Make sure to inquire about the snorkel boat tour that should be scheduled weekly based on conditions.
FAQs about Sandals Grande vs. Halcyon Beach
Sometimes the best way to decide on your destination wedding location is by asking a few great questions!
That’s what our wedding couples have done.
So let’s get you some answers too!
Sandals Grande vs. Sandals Halcyon Beach—Which Resort Has the Best Honeymoon Suite For You?
Two things matter the most when you’re choosing accommodations for your honeymoon: what’s going to meet (and preferably exceed) your expectations, and what’s the price going to be?
Honeymoon suites at Sandals are designed with lovers in mind, and we like to feature various room categories in Love Nest or Butler Elite accommodations so all newlyweds have choices!
Most Luxurious Honeymoon Suite is at Sandals Grande St. Lucian
A Sandals exclusive honeymoon suite is the Over the Water bungalow that has to be seen to be believed…
Check out the glass floor panel in the bedroom and the private balcony with a bistro set and soaking tub for 2!
This luxurious suite carries a luxury price tag, but when your heart seeks once-in-a-lifetime pampering on your honeymoon, this is your “go for it” opportunity.
Best Private Pool Honeymoon Suite is at Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Rondoval Butler Suites are another Sandals exclusive at select resorts, including Grande St. Lucian.
In addition to offering maximum seclusion, you’ll be breathless when you see your private plunge pool and jacuzzi, your flow-through living and sleeping area, and an unbelievable spa bathroom.
Check out Grande Rondoval Suite for more details!
Best Affordable Luxury Honeymoon Suites are at Sandals Halcyon Beach
Halcyon Beach has newly built luxury suites as of April 2023, including a Beachfront Walkout with Plunge Pool and a Koko Rondoval with Plunge Pool. Click on those stunning links and start dreaming!
But if you really need to keep your wedding budget contained, one of our favorite suites is a Beachfront Honeymoon Butler Room with Private Pool—a newly built suite that’s affordable and gorgeous.
How Far Is the Airport from Sandals Resorts in St. Lucia?
Sandals Grande is the furthest away from Hewanorra International Airport, and it can take 2+ hours to reach Grande during busier times of the day.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Start your wedding adventure the moment you land in Saint Lucia with a helicopter transfer from Hewanorra to Sandals Grande St. Lucian or Halcyon Beach! You’ll cut an hour and 45 minutes off your transfer time and get an unbelievable overhead tour of Saint Lucia’s scenic Pitons!
Are There Wedding Services On-Site at Sandals in St. Lucia?
In addition to matching you with a personal wedding planning team, Sandals goes a step further with its virtual wedding planning tool.
You can also see how easy it is to Plan Your Wedding in 5 Steps, with lots of information about onsite photography, videography, and hair and makeup services to book if you so choose.
When is the Best Time to Get Married in St. Lucia?
Check out our resort reviews for specific information on the “seasons” in Saint Lucia, and also visit the FAQ tab on the Sandals St. Lucia link.
Which Sandals in St. Lucia Has the Best Nightlife?
Sandals Grande has the most activity during the day—including a very lively beach and pool scene, and because it’s a larger resort, it can feel like there’s more going on at Grande than at Sandals Halcyon Beach.
But if you’re looking for all-night clubbing or even casino action, Saint Lucia might not be your destination wedding location.
For the best nightlife on a Sandals resort in the Caribbean, check out our Sandals Ochi review.
For true island clubbing in the Caribbean, check out our Sandals Montego Bay review, and for a beach party town feel, we would highly recommend the barefoot charm of Sandals Negril.
Finally, if nearby casinos and duty-free shopping are of interest, check out our review of Sandals Royal Bahamian!
