The 23 Best Wedding Venues in Antigua Guatemala ~ 2024

The Convent of Santa Clara is perhaps one of the most dynamic and stunning locations for a wedding in Antigua. The convent has a wide variety of spaces that function for separate parts of the wedding day. You could literally host your ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and a separate dance-floor all in different spaces within this complex. The possibilities here are endless.

The entirety of Santa Clara includes a beautiful garden with a fountain, a few arched walkways along the sides, a beautiful, temple with an open ceiling and altar, all of which could be used for various special moments throughout the day.

Also, just outside the ruins is the Pila Pública or Tanque de la Unión, an infamous yellow washing station where we have photographed many couples who are getting married inside of Santa Clara. This building is a wonder for photos, since it provides a myriad of angles for amazing pictures.

Much like Santa Clara, the Church & Convent of Las Capuchinas has a wide variety of spaces and options to host a wedding. There is a green open garden, a gorgeous two-level courtyard with a fountain right in the middle, and the church (which is covered—unlike the temple in Santa Clara).

The entrance into the temple has two towering wooden doors, making for an epic entrance into a ceremony or onto the dancefloor.

San Jose is a hidden gem in Antigua. It is not open to the public, so very few people ever get to see beyond the beautiful facade and large wooden doorway. Inside San Jose is a stunning high-ceiling temple which looks like it came from an ancient history textbook.

The walls of the temple are already equipped with candle fixtures and the small garden in front is perfect for a cocktail hour between the ceremony and reception. All of San Jose El Viejo is covered apart from the courtyard outside, so it’s a nice cozy venue even in the rainy season.

The space is perfect for a ceremony and reception for a modest-sized wedding (between 50-150 people). If you’re looking to host a larger event, there is the option of having the ceremony take place at San Jose, then moving the party to Porta Hotel, which is just across the street.

One of our favorite things about San Jose is the afternoon light, in the afternoon and just before sunset, when the sun shines in through a couple of windows towards the back of the temple creating a beautifully lit, picture-perfect scene for any wedding ceremony. Hands down, one of the best wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala.

We have to admit that we have only ever photographed ONE wedding at La Recoleccion and we have no idea why. Hidden away behind the Antigua market, these ruins look like a lost world among the greenery of the mountains behind it.

At the entrance is a long pathway that leads to what was once a church, similarly constructed in the 18^th century. The church existed intact for less than a decade before an earthquake destroyed it and it was left to ruin.

This ruin, however, is one of our favorite places to photograph because of the rocky landscape that exists where a church once stood, creating a backdrop unlike any of the other ruins in Antigua. Giant pieces of the structure lay strewn around a courtyard that looks like it came from an Indiana Jones movie. At the front of the church is a reconstructed archway and staircase—a famously gorgeous frame for a photograph.

The entire compound of La Recoleccion is massive and while there is no covered area within La Recoleccion, many of its courtyards and gardens could be used as a space for a canopy or tent for a large wedding reception. And with so much space, La Recoleccion is ideal for an “all-in-one” location as well, which makes it one of the best venues to get married in Antigua Guatemala.

While the layout of Jardin Real De Santiago isn’t as large as some of the other ruins in Antigua, its location is right in the city center of Antigua. Its modest size would make for a wonderful wedding venue.

Jardin Real is also uncovered, but is right next to Ezenario Historico, which can be rented in conjunction with the ruin as an indoor area for refuge during the rainy season.

The jardin (or garden in English) has high, rustic walls along the sides of the garden adorned with bougainvilleas and other flora.

Hidden away just outside of the Antigua’s center are the ruins of La Ermita. These ruins are along a road that runs along the east side of Antigua. This dramatic backdrop isn’t one of the most common ruins to get married in, but they are certainly some of the most beautiful.

The amphitheater steps that lead down to the church’s façade make for an amazing frame for a wedding setting. The façade doors open up to an open-ceiling room with tall walls on all four sides. What used to be an old church now just lays the ground for the perfect reception hall for a small wedding.

These ruins are not covered, so not a recommended locale during the rainy season. If you could time it perfectly though, La Ermita really seems to pop the most when the trees behind are green and lush. A November wedding here would be absolutely gorgeous. Something else to keep in mind is that there is minimal parking at La Ermita, so transport to and from the venue will be needed.

This is one of the more famous locations in Antigua, because of the church’s bright yellow façade that is emblematic of Antigua’s color. La Merced itself consists of a cathedral and ruins, both of which can be rented separately or together. The limitation with the church however, is that they only allow ceremonies there for Catholic couples. You can certainly rent the ruins separately from the church if you’re looking for just a beautiful rustic place for your special day.

The ruins at La Merced boast the biggest fountain in Antigua right smack in the middle of the ruins, surrounded by arched pathways on all four sides of the fountain’s courtyard.

Ezenario is a fairly new location, almost hidden in the center of Antigua, right next to the ruins of Jardin Real de Santiago. The structure was originally built in the 1500’s, but was then restored and converted into a rustic, colorful event space. This venue is great for modest to small sized weddings and contains four different spaces that are available for use.
The entrance is a grand, tall wooden door that welcomes you into the first hall, which is tinted a celestial blue in the traditional sponge painting style that is often found in Antigua. Then follows two larger, covered spaces that would function perfectly as the reception hall and dance floor. Both have pieces of the original construction on display, complimented by the wooden ceiling & large windows, which provide wonderful natural light during the day.
Ezenario also has a terrace with great views of the rooftops of Antigua as well as a view of Volcan Agua, as it quietly watches over Antigua. Finally, there is an open-aired patio with a lovely fountain that is emblematic of a typical Antiguan home, with hallways on the sides and no ceiling, perfect for a cocktail hour or ceremony locale

Santa Teresa is a beautiful courtyard that would be perfect for a modest-sized wedding in Antigua. The courtyard has a lovely fountain right in the middle with those famous arched passageways along all four sides of the courtyard. The rustic look of Santa Teresa is beautiful and can be accompanied with a variety of décor and designs.

This ruin is also within walking distance to many famous attractions in Antigua, such as La Merced, the arch and Calle Santa Rosa, a beautiful cobblestone street lined with trees and colorful walls that is great for taking pictures.

Built out of the previous home of a Guatemalan military general, Pensativo House Hotel is a quiet yet luxurious place to get married in Antigua. With gorgeous white architecture inspired from the ruins around Antigua, Pensativo House is an elegant location where you can host a ceremony, cocktail hour, reception & even the after party all in the same location.

With plenty of spaces to choose from, Pensativo would be great for small and medium-sized weddings (maximum 250 people.) There are also a number incredibly well-lit rooms which are lavishly designed, great for getting ready and pre-wedding photographs.

The courtyards are some of the most beautiful spaces for cocktail hours and receptions that we have seen, with heavy greenery and clean architecture on all sides for a perfectly glamorous event. Pensativo House Hotel also has a large terrace with views facing directly towards Agua volcano, amazing for open-air ceremonies. All in all, Pensativo is surely one of the best wedding venues in Antigua Guatemala.

Within a short walk from Pensativo is Porta Hotels, which also a large fully-equipped hotel and venue in its own right. Porta is across the street from San Jose El Viejo, with a large courtyard facing the ruins. This courtyard gives you the backdrop of ancient ruins, without having to bother renting them. Porta also has a wide variety of rooms and a large event space with a capacity of almost 450 people, making it a great choice for a large wedding.

When it comes to food, Porta is one of the frontrunners for catering in Antigua, so there will not be limits on choices at dinnertime. There is also a full bar, swimming pool, restaurant, onsite parking and much more which will keep your guests occupied on the days around the wedding.

Since we’ve covered quite a few of the large potential wedding venues so far, we thought it might be good to also cover some of the places that are great for smaller or more intimate weddings in Antigua Guatemala. Panza Verde has to be one of our favorites. Elopements here are a dream, and with so many nooks and picturesque corners, you’ll never tire of the countless options that are there for photos.

We love the general design and rustic look of Panza Verde, it’s boutique hotel, so you won’t find endless corporate-looking hallways of rooms here, rather beautifully decorated walkways leading to unique rooms, each with their own design and character. The hotel has beauty in every last detail and don’t even get us started on the food (Spoiler alert : it’s AMAZING.)

Panza Verde has a beautiful terrace on the top of the hotel from which you can bask in the beauty of Agua Volcano.  Needless to say, we are enchanted by Panza Verde and would recommend it for weddings or simply as a place to get ready, as it’s design is simply unmatched anywhere else.

This sprawling coffee finca is located a few minutes drive outside of the center of Antigua. Finca Filadelfia is one of the most well-established coffee farms in Guatemala, with tours and excursions for the many travelers that visit every year. There are also a wide-variety of options for wedding ceremony locations, including the terrace used for drying coffee or one of the many green gardens that are within the property.

The rooms that can accommodate you and your guests are spacious and comfortable. Amenities of the hotel include a pool, restaurant and even a small chapel for its guests, all away from the hustle and bustle of Antigua.

This is one of the newer locales for weddings in Antigua and while it hasn’t been open for long, it does not disappoint. Located in San Gaspar Vivar, this venue is a short 10-minute drive from Antigua, right next to the small public square of the village.

Within the area of Conceptio is an ample garden with space for an outdoor reception of almost 1000 people, a small pool and house with rooms to get ready and for 12 guests to sleep at the end of the night. There is also a large gallery included in the property that could function as the buffet or bar location, or a small covered dance floor. The gallery has an upper level that could function as an area for cocktails or for guests to observe the wedding happenings from above.

On the property is a small chapel, but there is also the larger cathedral of San Gaspar right next to the venue as well. Your guests could walk from the ceremony to the reception within minutes. The style at Conceptió has more of a modern touch, so this would be an ideal place for a modern or artistic bride.

San Rafael is another gorgeously designed boutique hotel that couldn’t be closer to the center of Antigua. It is within a one minute walk of the arch, La Merced and Central Park. At San Rafael, the beauty is also in the details. The architecture is a modern take on the typical style of Antigua, with cozy rooms and comfortable spaces that would be great for a small wedding. There is courtyard in the middle of the hotel, as well as a library for guests to enjoy during their stay.

The second level San Rafael is the best part, in our opinion. You can literally see the arch within one block on this open-air terrace that rests right above the courtyard. You’ll have plenty of volcanic views from this rooftop, as well as many photo opportunities for the big day within a minutes walk.

Very few couples even know that San Rafael is available for weddings, mostly since it’s a smaller venue. With the rooftop and gardens included, San Rafael is perfect for a wedding of 100 people or less. As an intimate wedding location for family weddings or elopements, there are few places that could be more beautiful.

We shot one of our very first weddings at Earth Lodge, and have since then dream about getting another chance to shoot there. Earth Lodge is part avocado farm, part hostel, part getaway from the hustle and bustle in Antigua. You take your guests about 20 minutes up into the hills of Antigua, from which you will have one of the most spectacular views of the town and the three volcanoes, all from the tranquility of this low-key hotel.

There are a few open spaces that work as ceremony locations, as well as a fully-equipped restaurant and bar that functions perfectly as a reception hall. Earth Lodge is great for relaxed couples, that want something simple and beautiful. There is a bit of a trek down a hill to arrive to the hotel, so make sure you visit Earth Lodge before you decide to get married there in order to make sure it’s the right place for you.

Santo Domingo is perhaps one of the most famous locations to get married in Antigua Guatemala. We have heard from multiple brides that they had “dreamed of their wedding as a child at Santo Domingo” since it simply is a historic location for a wedding. The hotel grounds include the ruins of a monastery & museum of the same name, as well as many other amenities for your guests and wedding day.

Santo Domingo has a huge range of options for large and small weddings, but we think that it really suits larger weddings better. Ceremonies normally take place in front of the chapel façade, one of the most ornate and beautiful backdrops for a wedding you can imagine. Receptions normally take place in the Convention Center, a large room capable of hosting more than 500 people (probably more, but that’s the biggest we have seen there.) There is another, more open space that is available for smaller events that is also in a different section of the hotel, which has a lovely outdoor courtyard and ample space for seating around 100-200 people (check out Alex & Yasmin’s wedding to see an example of this reception space.)

In addition to the huge amount of amenities that Santo Domingo offers, there is also an entirely different venue, at an offsite location on a hill above Antigua. This means that you’ll get the same sort of service, food and comfort of a wedding at Santo Domingo, just with a change of scenery.

While there are no rooms up at El Cerro, there is a large covered reception area that can accommodate a large wedding celebration. The space is surrounded by a curved balcony, from which your guests can enjoy the view or take in a bit of fresh air during the party. Below this structure is where the majority of the ceremonies happen, all with the view of the city below.

Looking for something with a little more greenery? Casa Blanca Glamping is your place! This glamping hotel is perfect for couples who want a more natural feel for their weddings. Casa Blanca is tucked away in a cozy valley off of the highway that leads to Guatemala City. It’s only about a 10 minute drive from Antigua, but this lush canyon, might as well be miles away from any civilization.

Ceremonies of 225 guests can take place in a quiet canyon near a natural spring. Casa Blanca can also host weddings of 25 people or less on a hilltop surrounded by avocado trees. This venue can be one of those “all-in-one” type of locations as well for groups of 25 people or less. The reception area is right next to where ceremonies take place, and Casa Blanca can provide food for weddings of 25 people or less. For bigger weddings, it would be recommended to bring a caterer in from either Antigua or Guatemala City.