Choosing the best venue can be tricky because the ideal place for your wedding depends on several factors, like the number of guests, the time of year (rainy or dry season), the wedding concept, and, of course, your budget.

Instead of simply listing the best venues, I’ll share my personal favorites and the most popular wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala for destination weddings.

8 best Ruins to get married in Antigua:

1. Santa Clara
2. Convento Capuchinas
3. San José El Viejo
4. La Ermita
5. Ruinas de Santa Teresa
6. Convento de la Recolección
7. Casa de la Ruina
8. Jardín de los González

 

Best Hotels for wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala:

1. Villa Bokeh
2. Pensativo House

 

Santa Clara Ruins:

Santa Clara offers two main areas for weddings: the temple and the garden. The garden and its corridors are huge, making it perfect for larger weddings with more than 75-90 guests. If you’re planning a smaller wedding, keep in mind that the garden can feel a bit empty. On the other hand, the temple, though large, has an impressive atmosphere that always delivers a jaw-dropping first impression for guests. The tall walls, the energy—it never disappoints.

Many couples with around 50 guests choose the temple for their ceremony and then move to another venue for the reception. Also, note that while older photos of Santa Clara Ruins show open arches on top of the temple, they are now covered to protect the structure from rain. (And no, you cannot remove the cover!) The good news is, if it rains, you’ll be protected in this space.

Costs at Santa Clara Ruins: This applies to all ruins managed by CPNAG, and each has its own pricing structure for different areas. For example, renting the Santa Clara Ruins Temple costs Q8,000, and the cloister costs Q15,000 (approximately $1,036 and $1,940 USD). To check the exact prices for all ruins in Antigua, I recommend visiting the official CPNAG website. https://cnpag.com/uso-de-monumentos/

Convento Capuchinas:

This is one of my absolute favorites—not because I don’t love the other venues, but because this one offers a little bit of everything. The cloister with the central fountain and the bougainvillea on one side creates such a beautiful vibe. There’s also a gorgeous garden with a view of the ruins, making it an ideal space for ceremonies or cocktail hours.

One unique feature of Capuchinas is its circular space. On the downside, I’m not a huge fan of the temple. It’s quite dark for my taste, and it’s the most renovated ruin, which I think takes away from its original charm.

The benefit of Capuchinas is that the spaces never feel too empty, even for smaller weddings. Also, the temple and cloister corridors are covered, so if it rains, you’ll stay dry.

San José El Viejo:

San José El Viejo is just the temple, but it has the most beautiful facade and interior. It’s a gorgeous venue for welcome dinners or ceremonies (and then you can head to Pensativo House for the reception). As the space is small with only one area, it’s not ideal for both a ceremony and reception at the same time.

La Ermita:

There are many ruins that can be used as wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala, but this one is a unique venue. Located a little outside of the main streets, La Ermita features a large facade surrounded by amphitheater-style stairs. It’s perfect for an outdoor cocktail hour or ceremony, and then you can surprise your guests by opening the two large doors for the reception and party.

Ruinas de Santa Teresa:

This ruin recently reopened, and though you might not see many photos of it yet, it offers a beautiful cloister similar to Capuchinas, though it currently doesn’t have a garden or temple.

Convento de la Recolección:

If La Ermita is unique, then Convento de la Recolección takes it a step further. This venue is literally in ruins, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. Upon entering, you’ll first encounter a large garden, and at the end of the path, you’ll find the ruins of the temple on the ground.

This space is vast, so it may not be ideal for smaller weddings (especially those with less than 100 guests). It’s also located near the market and bus terminal, so it can get noisy at times. But personally, I think this place has so much potential for ceremonies!

Casa de la Ruina:

This private ruin has a small garden and an open-air temple. It’s a fantastic venue for welcome dinners or ceremonies, and even has an Airbnb-style house for you to stay in.

Jardín de los González:

This private venue offers two areas: a large garden and a smaller one next to two walls of ‘ruins.’ It’s perfect for bigger weddings and works wonderfully for both ceremonies and receptions. It’s an excellent option if you’re looking for an outdoor wedding venue in Antigua.

Hotels for Weddings:

Now, let me start by saying that I know if you’re traveling to Guatemala for your wedding, it’s because you want something different from what you’d find in the States. So, I’m only going to mention these two hotels because they offer unique vibes that you won’t find at most hotel venues in the U.S.

Hotel Pensativo:

I have a special love for this boutique hotel, which offers a stunning area for receptions and a beautiful terrace for cocktail hours. The space features fountains and greenery all around. The team here (Wendy and Juan Carlos) are amazing and really know their stuff. Most destination weddings at Pensativo House have their ceremony at either Santa Clara or San José El Viejo, which is just a short walk away.

Villa Bokeh:

Villa Bokeh is completely different—it doesn’t have the ‘ruin’ vibe, but it’s a French chateau-style venue with a sophisticated ambiance. This venue is ideal for those with a higher budget and a vision that matches its style. The food is outstanding, and you can have both the ceremony and reception in the same place. If you want to add a little ‘Guatemala’ flavor to your wedding, you can still host your ceremony at one of the ruins or have a welcome dinner at any of them.

Additional Tips for Ruins: If you’re planning a wedding at one of the ruins in Antigua, keep in mind that these are public spaces. Even though you’re paying to rent the venue, they are open to tourists until 4 PM, so expect visitors to be walking around. Also, there are rules for decoration (for example, no large structures are allowed) and entertainment (some live bands may not be permitted).

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Conclusion:

Antigua Guatemala is a perfect destination for a wedding. It’s safe, charming, and easy to navigate (no need for much transportation). Plus, there’s a wide variety of options of wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala, vendors, and styles, making it an ideal place for destination weddings.

If you’re planning your wedding here and don’t know where to start or what options for wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala, feel free to DM me or send an email. I’d be happy to share a list of wedding planners who can help you make your dream wedding come true without the stress. Contact me here: