Wedding buyouts—renting an entire hotel—allow a couple to exclusively host their wedding with private multi-day celebrations.
The buyouts are usually available at smaller, boutique hotels and offer customized experiences and simplified planning for both the wedding planner and the couple.
Many ALHI properties offer these buyouts, and here’s a look at five of them.
Hotel Bardo Savannah: The full boutique resort with 149 rooms in the heart of Savannah allows every suite, courtyard and terrace to be utilized in a buyout. Hotel Bardo blends historic architecture and modern coastal design into a private estate feel for a buyout.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa: The private island resort in Summerland Key, Fla., is accessible only by boat or seaplane, offering exclusivity and romance with no crowds or distractions. Lush tropical gardens and breathtaking ocean views surround the 30 suites.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa: In the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, Calif., Bernardus Lodge & Spa has 73 rooms and offers multiple European inspired indoor and outdoor venue options in the middle of temperate wine country.
L’Auberge de Sedona: The 20-acre resort in Arizona, with 62 luxury cottages and 91 lodge guest rooms, offers scenic outdoor venues with breathtaking backdrops, from a hilltop canopy with sweeping Red Rock views to the banks of Oak Creek.
Nemacolin Resort: Located in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, Nemacolin Resort offers three unique AAA Diamond luxury hotels: the 124-room The Chateau; 56 suites at The Grand Lodge and the 42-room boutique hotel Falling Rock.
What planners and couples need to know about buyouts
One advantage of a buyout is that planners should expect a seamless experience with everything handled by the hotel, officials at the hotels said.
“You have the whole property for a buyout,” said Briana Wendt, Catering Sales Manager at Bernardus Lodge and Spa. “All food and beverage would be in-house.”
And couples and their guests have the staff’s full attention.
“The advantage of a buyout for a wedding on property is that the staff is fully dedicated to your guests,” said Lauren Reichwald, Account Executive at Maverick Creative on behalf of L’Auberge de Sedona.
At Nemacolin, a buyout of all three hotels includes all 271 rooms, amenities, venues and grounds, said Mikayla McGeeney, Director of Wedding and Social Events.
“In this scenario, the entire staff and operation are focused exclusively on your celebration, allowing for highly customized experiences,” she said. “A buyout also provides incredible creative freedom. Without the limitations of other guests or pre-scheduled resort programming, we’re able to completely customize timelines, transform venues with expansive builds, create unforgettable culinary experiences, and design multi-day event flows that feel seamless and intentional.”
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa Group Sales Manager Danielle Mucci said buyouts allow couples to create an immersive celebration over multiple days.
“From welcome receptions and beachside dinners to farewell brunches, it’s all without sharing the space with outside guests,” she said. “It allows for greater flexibility, personalization, and privacy, giving couples the freedom to design their dream wedding exactly as they envision it.”
Some of these ALHI hotels also offer partial buyouts, which can be less expensive but still an intimate wedding weekend experience.
“We offer both partial and full-property buyouts. Partial buyouts provide exclusive access to select spaces,” said Amanda Cable, assistant director of sales at Hotel Bardo.
At Nemacolin Resort, any of the three hotels could be reserved in a partial buyout, McGeeney said.
L’Auberge de Sedona offers certain venues on the property, with the option for a
partial or full buyout of rooms and cottages, varying with the date and time of year of the wedding, Reichwald said.
Booking in advance
Early booking is key for wedding buyouts. A year is standard, but some hotels suggest booking a buyout 18 months in advance. A few can accommodate a six-month window if the date is in a shoulder or off-season.
Briana Wendt, at Bernardus Lodge & Spa, recommends booking a year ahead, but others suggest even more time.
“We recommend reserving 12-18 months in advance for peak wedding seasons, " said Cable, of Hotel Bardo. “Select shoulder-season weekends may be available on a shorter timeline. Each buyout is tailored, so early conversations allow us to customize the experience and ensure exclusivity for your chosen dates.”
Weddings in the high season often require more time.
“Should the event be during the high season (April, May, October, November), a year and a half may be ideal for booking,” said Reichwald for L’Auberge de Sedona.
Mucci said Little Palm Island Resort & Spa’s peak season dates there often fill earlier than the 12-18-month window.
“Early planning ensures the best availability and allows ample time for our teams to craft every detail of the island experience to perfection,” she said.
At Nemacolin, McGeeney said if a couple wants to wed during peak season, they probably should look beyond the 18-month window.
“For couples dreaming of a celebration during peak season, June through October, we strongly advise planning even earlier,” she said. “These months are exceptionally popular, not just for weddings, but for leisure travel and corporate retreats as well.”
Advice for Planners
Beyond the must-do early booking, officials at the hotels offered sound advice for planners.
“The best advice is to ensure couples fully understand what a buyout truly entails,” Reichwald said. “A full property buyout extends beyond guest rooms — it also includes considerations like spa appointments, on-site revenue, and all food and beverage outlets.
“Depending on their vision and budget, couples might explore a full buyout for the wedding day itself, complemented by a partial buyout for the surrounding days to balance exclusivity with cost efficiency, she suggested.
Mucci recommended planners start by discussing the couple’s vision for their celebration and guest experience.
“Understanding whether they’re looking for an intimate celebration or a grand multi-day affair helps us tailor the buyout accordingly,” she said. “Planners should also reach out early, as availability is limited. Because the island is so exclusive, communication and collaboration are essential.”
Wendt, of Bernardus Lodge & Spa, said her advice is to be flexible with dates to ensure all 73 rooms can be booked.
Cable said starting the buyout conversation early and sharing the couple’s overall weekend vision is paramount.
“Whether they’re imagining an all-weekend celebration or a refined one-night affair, our team can guide you through creative event flow, budget alignment, and room allocation strategies to make the most of the property.” she said.
McGeeney said planners and couples should look beyond venue selection to the hotel as a foundation for an immersive, highly personalized wedding weekend.
“With the scale and flexibility we offer, especially for full-property buyouts, it’s essential to schedule a comprehensive walk-through early in the planning process. That walk-through is also a great time to spark ideas and start crafting a truly cohesive guest experience from arrival to farewell. Ultimately, our goal is to act as an extension of your planning team.”
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