Proposals and weddings at Cheeca Lodge & Spa — venues and planning checklist
Cheeca Lodge & Spa offers beachfront and ballroom wedding and proposal settings — options range from intimate Spa Island and Sunrise Ballroom & Oceanfront Terrace to larger indoor ballrooms like the Islamorada Ballroom. Plan around the resort’s venue rules (minimum guestroom block for weddings), book spa treatments early, and confirm logistics (site fees, room blocks, transport) with the resort.
In this guide
Why choose Cheeca Lodge & Spa for proposals and weddings
Cheeca Lodge & Spa sits on Islamorada’s Atlantic side and provides a variety of ceremony backdrops: private beaches, an oceanfront terrace by the 525-foot pier, intimate island settings and multiple ballrooms. The property lists wedding settings including South Beach, North Beach, Pioneer Beach, Spa Island, the Islamorada Ballroom & Terrace, the Casitas, and the Sunrise Ballroom.
Couples who want a mix of waterside and indoor options can choose small elopements (the resort has an Intimate Weddings and Elopements option for 2–10 guests) or larger receptions in ballrooms. The resort requires a minimum guestroom block for weddings and assigns function space based on anticipated guest count; confirm the block requirement early in planning.
- 1,200 feet of private beach and a 525-foot pier on site
- Indoor and outdoor venues from Spa Island (small) to the Islamorada Ballroom (largest)
- On-site spa (The Spa at Cheeca Lodge), restaurants and multiple pools (including an adults-only relaxation pool)
| Good for | Venue examples |
|---|---|
| Small ceremonies (2–50) | Spa Island, South Beach, Pioneer Beach, Sunrise Ballroom & Oceanfront Terrace |
| Medium weddings (up to ~120) | Bougainvillea Ballroom, North Beach, Lagoon Beach, Courtyard |
| Large receptions | Islamorada Ballroom & Terrace |
Ceremony venues and capacities
Cheeca publishes a range of ceremony and reception sites with different capacities and settings. The Sunrise Ballroom & Oceanfront Terrace sits on the Club Level with direct Atlantic views and pier vistas and is listed for roughly 90–120 guests depending on configuration.
The Bougainvillea Ballroom is a West Indies–inspired indoor option (about 2,065 sq ft) for mid-size weddings; the Islamorada Ballroom is the property’s largest meeting space and is used for big receptions (published capacities vary by source — the resort lists very different maximums in separate charts). Ask the resort to confirm both the capacity and which configuration (seated banquet vs. standing reception) they recommend for your guest list.
- Sunrise Ballroom & Oceanfront Terrace: ~1,870 sq ft; listed for about 90 guests (wedding page)
- Bougainvillea Ballroom: ~2,065 sq ft; seated banquet capacity cited around 120
- Islamorada Ballroom: Cheeca lists it as the largest ballroom (multiple published capacity figures — verify current limits with the resort)
| Venue | Wedding capacity (as published) |
|---|---|
| Sunrise Ballroom & Oceanfront Terrace | About 90–120 guests (source lists up to 90 for weddings; other pages list higher banquet counts) |
| Bougainvillea Ballroom | Up to ~120 banquet/ reception depending on setup |
| Islamorada Ballroom | Largest indoor space — published capacities vary (verify with resort) |
Reception spaces, catering and food service
Cheeca operates several on-site restaurants and bars that can support rehearsal dinners, welcome receptions or plated dinners — Atlantic's Edge (flagship seafood and steak restaurant), Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, Mia Cucina (Neapolitan pizza), the Tiki Bar and 25 South poolside bar. Private or plated in-room dining and formal banquet setups are available; reservations and event menus should be discussed with the catering team.
The resort’s wedding pages and third-party listings reference site fees for ceremonies and receptions and sample per-person bar/pricing figures; these vary by season and request. The resort also enforces a policy that events require a minimum guestroom block; confirm food-and-beverage minimums, corkage rules and last-call times with the events manager.
- On-site restaurants available for private events or smaller gatherings
- In-Room Dining available daily (orders via extension listed on site)
- Ask events/catering about corkage, menu customization and service end times
| Catering resources | Where to ask |
|---|---|
| Plated dinners and buffet options | Catering/events team at Cheeca Lodge & Spa |
| Casual receptions or poolside bars | Tiki Bar, 25 South |
| Private dining / rehearsal dinners | Atlantic's Edge, Nikai, Mia Cucina or in-room dining |
Accommodation, room blocks and recommended room types
Cheeca offers many room types and suites; the property requires a minimum guestroom block for weddings and assigns function space based on anticipated guest counts. Use the resort’s events team to hold a room block and confirm any room-night minimums or booking cut-off dates.
For wedding parties and VIPs, consider beachfront and oceanfront room categories when available (examples from the room list include Room (Beach Bungalow), Bungalow (Oceanside), Suite, with Sofa bed, Oceanfront (Lodge), Premier Suite, with Sofa bed, Oceanfront). Confirm which specific room categories will be held for your block and how complimentary or discounted room functions may apply.
- Book the guestroom block early — the resort enforces minimums for weddings
- Ask which specific room types (Beach Bungalow King Rooms, Presidential Building) are required for certain beach venues (South Beach, North Beach have stated room requirements)
- Confirm check-in/out rules for wedding guests: check-in after 4:00 PM; check-out before 11:00 AM
| Room type examples | Notes for wedding groups |
|---|---|
| Room (Beach Bungalow) | Beachfront feel — used for beachfront guest accommodations |
| Bungalow (Oceanside) | Ocean views — good for VIPs and photos |
| Suite, with Sofa bed, Oceanfront (Lodge) | Larger suites useful for readying parties and bridal prep |
Planning timeline & checklist (essential steps)
Start by contacting the resort’s events team and securing your ceremony site and required guestroom block. Cheeca’s wedding pages note intimate elopement site fees and that the resort reserves the right to reassign function space if room block numbers change, so keep your block and head count stable.
Reserve The Spa at Cheeca Lodge treatments early — the spa has limited treatment rooms and peak-season appointments sell out; the spa recommends booking at time of room reservation.
- Initial (12+ months out if possible): Contact events team to confirm venue availability and guestroom block
- 8–10 months: Lock menus, bar package options and any preferred vendor approvals
- 3–6 months: Finalize rooming list, transportation/logistics, timeline and spa appointments
- 30–60 days: Confirm final guest count, seating chart, vendor arrival times and supply permits/site fee items
| Item | When to do it |
|---|---|
| Book venue and room block | As soon as date is chosen |
| Reserve spa services for bridal party | At time of room reservation (limited treatment rooms) |
| Confirm menu/menus and bar options | 3–6 months before event |
Vendors, permits, transport and on-site logistics
Cheeca’s wedding page lists beachfront and ballroom sites and notes site fees for some small elopements; many details (exact current site fees, vendor rules, tenting for beaches or special setups) are handled directly by the events team and can change. The resort requires coordination of outside vendors and may require certificates of insurance and vendor arrival windows.
While Cheeca advertises a 24-hour guest shuttle and on-site parking options, verify guest arrival logistics and ADA-accessible arrangements for ceremony sites. For vendor or guest questions, use the resort phone for BookResorts agents (24/7) at +1 (888) 605-1350 or the hotel’s events contact on cheeca.com.
- Confirm vendor insurance and set-up/tear-down windows with events manager
- Ask about tenting and beach restrictions (beach venues sometimes have capacity/tenting conditions)
- Use the resort contact number to clarify site fees, minimums and block requirements
| Logistics item | Who to confirm with |
|---|---|
| Site fees and event end times | Cheeca Lodge & Spa events team |
| Vendor rules and insurance | Cheeca events manager |
| Guestroom block and rooming list | Resort reservations/events desk |
