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| This set-up at St. Regis Punta Mita is one example of a Mexico beach ceremony. |
As far as destinations go, Mexico does romance travel right. With a variety of settings, from the rugged Pacific Coast, to historic and colonial interior cities, to the sun-kissed beaches of the Yucatan, couples looking for a destination wedding will find Mexico to be an easy fit.
Why Mexico?
From Los Cabos to the Pacific Coast to the Yucatan, the country is chock-full of gorgeous, luxury all-inclusive resorts that range in size and style, so couples have a host of options from which to choose. Some key brands to consider for luxury all-inclusive weddings are AMResorts, Iberostar, Karisma, Palace Resorts and Paradisus, to name a few, all of which have a breadth and scope of romantic offerings for the spectrum of travelers. As for things to do, there are 37 World Heritage sites, cuisine that is considered World Heritage, 3,000 years of history, more than 40,000 archaeological sites and more.
There are approximately 450 beaches and marine landscapes in Mexico, which can be perfect backdrops for outdoor weddings. Since these kinds of weddings are already exceedingly popular, most of the beaches have facilities to organize them and have people on staff to help and provide suggestions to customize and tailor each event.
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most iconic destinations in the country for destination weddings. The sugary white beaches and clear blue water is a draw for almost any romance traveler. In Quintana Roo, on the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, destinations such as Cancun, Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen all offer different types of experiences, from larger spaces at all-inclusive resorts to more intimate, VIP-style ceremonies at discrete, boutique hotels. Cozumel is perfect for couples who seek barefoot luxury, diving and water sports.
Cancun is Mexico’s premier beach tourist destination. Few places in the world offer honeymooners such exciting and accessible diversity. From ancient pyramids to modern amenities, Cancun has it all for an original, authentic and unforgettable wedding. Cancun is more than just a perfect setting for your destination wedding. Amazing indoor venues, seaside facilities backed by turquoise waters, easy air access from worldwide gateways, a wide variety of ultra-comfortable accommodations and an abundance of wedding planners (both independent and onsite) make planning a memorable ceremony and reception as easy as can be.
The Riviera Maya is among the most popular vacation destinations in Mexico. Honeymoons in this area tend to center around individual hotels and resorts, most of which are all-inclusive to some degree. You will be able to find everything from small, barefoot cabana hotels to elegant boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts and awesome all-inclusive resorts in a variety of price ranges. The luxury all-inclusive concept here is generally so indulgent that you won’t have to or want to leave the premises very often during your honeymoon.
In Mexico, travelers have more than just beach options for wedding locales. Many of the interior cities have been designated as World Heritage Cities or Magical Towns. These cities are packed with cultural heritage, historic architecture, wonderful dining options and beautiful boutique hotels. Consider San Miguel de Allende, Campeche, Guanajuato, Mexico City, Oaxaca and Puebla.
Choose from a multitude of scenes along the Pacific, from the seaside cities of Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Puerto Vallarta, to the rustic, jungled Riviera Nayarit to the north. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is a two-for-one destination that has a blend of old and new. In Ixtapa, travelers will find modern hotels along Palmar Bay, which is bordered by sandy beaches. Zihuatanejo is an old fishing village with a laid-back, yet elegant lifestyle.
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| Mexico’s Mayan sites provide unique romantic backdrops for nuptials and wedding photos. |
Romance is easy to find in Puerto Vallarta as well, as it is one of the most ideal honeymoon destinations. It has a fine-arts scene and has attracted a large number of artists and designers, all of whom have boutiques in the destination. In Riviera Nayarit, romance travelers will find 180 miles of beach, lakes and rivers. The area has some of Mexico’s best scenery, along with small towns and fishing villages. Accommodations range from seaside B&B’s to the best in barefoot luxury.
And in Baja, the Sea of Cortes meets the Pacific Ocean, and travelers find a dramatic backdrop of rugged cliffs, blue water and stark desert.
Incorporating Culture
From bold colors and lively music to festivals and family, Mexican culture is warm, vibrant and perfect for any type of fiesta. When planning a wedding in Mexico, it is important to keep activities in mind for guests who are staying both before and after the big day. Mexico is full of cultural activities that highlight the best of what the destination has to offer.
Some of its best cultural offerings include archaeology, architecture, arts and crafts, gastronomy, history, museums and traditional festivities. Top archaeological sites to consider are Chichen Itza, Tulum, Teotihuacan and Coba. For arts and crafts, Riviera Nayarit is full of local crafts made by the Huichol and Cora people who live in the Sierra Madre Occidental. Taxco, part of the Sun Triangle in Guerrero, is home to some of the world’s best silver. In San Jose del Cabo, every Thursday night there is an Art Walk, which runs from November until June. Studios and galleries around Alvaro Obregon stay open until 9 p.m., encouraging visitors to make a night of galleries.
For the Wedding Feast
One of the pillars of Mexican culture is its food, and is one of the main reasons why people love visiting the country. In fact, Mexican cuisine is considered to be a World Heritage in the country. When choosing Mexico for your destination wedding, it is best to keep this in mind, because what is a wedding without phenomenal cuisine? Beyond tacos and guacamole, there is a rich tradition of Mexican cooking. Each region is famous for its own specialties, as well. The gastronomy of Oaxaca is one of the most famous in Mexico, from mole to tlayudas, and, for those who are more adventurous, chapulines (grasshoppers). In the Yucatan, travelers can dine on classics such as cochinita pibil. Mexican chefs are also modernizing and reinventing the culinary scene with a range of fusions.
The Basics
Making It Legal: When planning a destination wedding, it is important to note the legal requirements for marriage in that country. In Mexico, couples are required to have: a marriage request form; original and copy of birth certificates; passports; a tourist card issued at entry to Mexican territory; original and copy of official IDs of witnesses; foreigners who marry in Mexico must legalize their union in their country of residence.
Getting There: Mexico is one of the most easily accessible countries from the United States. Several airlines have daily flights from top U.S. gateways—from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas—and more travelers have a wealth of direct-flight options. Mexico’s top wedding destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and Acapulco all have international airports from which they can receive flights from the U.S.