From Puerto Rico To the moon: Planning your dream destinaTION wEDDING IN Colombia
- Erimar Benitez Burgos
- Dec 7, 2025
- 4 min read
Colombia specially Medellín, has become one of the most popular wedding destinations in Latin America—and for good reason. This city, known as the "city of eternal spring," offers stunning mountain views, world-class venues, a rich culture, and exceptional value. However, planning a destination wedding from Puerto Rico presents unique challenges and opportunities.
Colombia is the perfect place, offering a blend of historic charm, vibrant culture, and world-class luxury venues in two exceptional cities: colonial Cartagena and modern Medellín.
This guide is specifically tailored for Boricuas planning an international celebration. We'll cover the essentials and explain why a dedicated destination wedding planner is critical, especially when planning an event far from home.
Cartagena and Medellín are calling your name. Here's why.
City | The Vibe |
Cartagena | Historic, romantic, coastal elegance. |
Medellín | Modern, sophisticated, lush mountain scenery. |
Why do Puerto Ricans think about getting married in Colombia?
You'll experience familiar warmth and hospitality, which minimizes the culture shock often associated with other international destinations.
There are easy flights from San Juan (SJU), making travel manageable for your guests.
Colombia offers an incredibly high-end, luxurious experience at a lower overall cost than many comparable Caribbean or US destinations.
Your wedding in Colombia will require you to consider several key factors.
✈️ Travel Logistics: Colombia offers a variety of accommodations. Cartagena's walled city is walkable. In Medellín, logistics depend on whether your venue is in the city or the surrounding mountains. Crucial: Always recommend trusted transportation for your guests.
📑 Legal Requirements & Documentation: While symbolic ceremonies are easiest, if you plan a legal (civil) marriage in Colombia, you'll need to prepare and translate documents in advance (birth certificates, single status affidavits, etc.) and ensure all paperwork is properly filed both in Colombia and Puerto Rico (or your state). Your planner is key in navigating this process.
💰 Budget Planning: While Colombia offers excellent value, currency exchange reates, internationals payments and others require careful financial planning and local market knowledge.
The Wedding Planner Decision: Local vs. Destination Specialist
One of your first major decisions will be choosing a wedding planner. Hiring a local Colombian planner may seem more economical at first, and they certainly have strong connections in Medellín. However, there are significant advantages to working with a destination wedding planner who specializes in international events.
Why Choose a Destination Wedding Planner?
A destination wedding planner offers a unique perspective and skill set that transcends geographical boundaries. We serve as your advocate and translator, bridging the gap between two cultures and ensuring that nothing gets lost in translation—literally or figuratively.
The Advantage of Working with Briella Wedding & Event Planners
Cultural and Language Bridge: As a bilingual event planner working across multiple countries, I have a strong understanding of Puerto Rican expectations and Colombian wedding traditions. I can clearly communicate your vision to local vendors and ensure that cultural traditions are respected on both sides.
Your Advocate from Day One: Unlike a local planner, who may prioritize relationships with Colombian vendors, I work exclusively for you. I am loyal to your vision and budget, not to maintaining vendor relationships in a specific city.
Objective Vendor Selection: I don't have pre-existing financial arrangements with vendors in Medellín. This means I'll find the best vendors for your needs and budget, not the ones who offer me the best commission.
International Experience: Having planned destination weddings in multiple locations, I can anticipate challenges that local planners might not consider, such as managing international payment methods and coordinating travel for guests from different countries.
Comprehensive Travel Coordination: I oversee every aspect of your guests' experience, from booking their flights from Puerto Rico to returning home. This includes negotiating group flights, arranging airport transfers, securing hotel blocks, and organizing welcome activities.
Legal Expertise Across Borders: I am familiar with the marriage requirements in Puerto Rico and Colombia, ensuring that your marriage is legally recognized in both places. I handle all the necessary documentation, translations, and apostilles.
Pre-Wedding Site Visits: I'll travel to Medellín ahead of your wedding to personally vet venues, meet vendors face-to-face, and ensure every detail is perfect before you arrive.
Post-Wedding Support: After your celebration, I assist with tasks like shipping items back, retrieving marriage certificates, and handling any follow-up with vendors—something that's challenging to manage internationally with a local planner.
What Makes Destination Planners Different?
Local planners excel at executing weddings in their city. They know the best vendors, hidden gems, and local logistics. However, destination wedding planners like Briella Wedding & Event Planners offer different expertise. We excel at managing the complex intersection of two worlds.
We understand what it's like to plan something important from thousands of miles away. We know the stress of coordinating across time zones, building trust with vendors you've never met, and investing significant money in a location you might only visit once or twice before your wedding day.
Most importantly, we understand your expectations as someone from Puerto Rico. We know which details matter to you, which traditions you want to include, and what level of service you expect. We can communicate those expectations to Colombian vendors, who may have different approaches, and ensure that your vision is executed flawlessly.
Hiring a destination wedding planner is an investment in peace of mind, clear communication, and having an expert who understands your vision every step of the way. You're not just hiring someone to coordinate logistics; you're hiring an advocate, translator, designer, problem solver, and guide who will help you create a seamless celebration that honors your love story and both cultures.
Ready to Start Planning Your Colombian Wedding?
Let's plan the destination wedding of your dreams with a planner who understands your vision and culture and is familiar with the unique challenges of planning from Puerto Rico.
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