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Mexican-Themed Weddings
You don't have to be Mexican to enjoy a Mexican-themed wedding. In fact, the colorful, joyous celebration of a Mexican wedding makes a "south of the border" ceremony that much more special. Whether you're planning a beach wedding or a quiet, chapel service, adding a few traditional Mexican touches will enhance your ceremony.
For instance, consider wearing a traditional white, cotton, embroidered Mexican wedding dress with a lace veil ("mantilla"). The groom might wear a matador's costume (bolero jacket, white shirt, and tight, black pants) or a white, cotton, Mexican wedding shirt.
Other Mexican touches include adding mariachi music, serving a Mexican meal complete with sangria after the wedding, and hanging a traditional paper mache "pinata" at the reception.
The best way to ensure that all of the wedding details are perfect is to enlist the assistance of a destination wedding planner. Not only will this professional help take most of the stress out of planning your wedding, but their years of experience and number of contacts can add special touches to your ceremony that you wouldn't even have thought of. The best part: their services are free to you. They are paid by the hotels and services they recommend.
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Destination Weddings Tip: Good Destinations for Weddings in Mexico
Mexico offers a number of advantages for a destination wedding. It's affordable, it's easily accessible from the United States and Canada, and the vast country offers a number of resort, historic, and urban wedding sites. Among the most popular destinations for weddings in Mexico are:
Cancun. This popular resort city on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula features dozens of luxury, beachfront hotels as well as designer shopping, a plethora of restaurants, and a vibrant nightclub scene. Couples can choose a traditional beachfront wedding or something a little different, like getting married near the historic Mayan ruins that dot this area.
Mexico City. Mexico's capital city is a sprawling metropolis, the second largest in the world. It also offers all of the benefits of a large, cosmopolitan city, including fine restaurants, shopping galore, and a wide variety of wedding sites. Plus: Mexico City is generally more affordable than comparable cities in the United States or Europe.
Cabo San Lucas. Located at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, in western Mexico, Cabo is a favorite of beachlovers, divers and snorkelers, and fishing enthusiasts. It's a relaxed fishing village, turned world-class resort, and still retains much of its quiet, unhurried charm. The rugged coastline, especially "El Arco" (the Arch) at the entrance of Cabo's harbor, makes a dramatic backdrop to any wedding ceremony.
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Mexican Beach Weddings
Mexican resort cities are ideal for those couples desiring a Mexican beach wedding. Both coasts are lined with large resorts and quiet fishing villages, all with miles of white sand beach. Among the favorite beach wedding destinations in Mexico are:
Cancun. Mexico's most popular resort boasts dozens of beaches. Chief among these are the exclusive Punta Nizuc, near the point, and Playa Langosta, a popular snorkeling beach.
Cozumel. The island of Cozumel has more than a few beaches of its own, most of which are delightfully uncrowded. The best of these, including Paradise Beach, Playa Mia, and Playa Palencar, are located on the southwest side of the island.
Puerto Vallarta. Once the playground of the rich and famous, Puerto Vallarta is open to all visitors today. Mismaloya Beach, where "Night of the Iguana" was filmed, is still popular as are Sayulita Beach, near downtown, and Quimixto, a small, quiet beach south of town.
Huatulco. This quiet, Pacific coast resort was designed around the region's nine bays, all of which are lined with wide, sand beaches. Two of the most popular of these are Playa Santa Cruz and Playa Arrocito. This is a great destination for those desiring a secluded Mexican beach wedding.
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Destination Weddings Tip: A Riviera Maya Wedding
What -- or where -- is the Riviera Maya? It's the region along the Caribbean Sea, that begins just south of Cancun -- and it's becoming increasingly popular. The region is about 75 miles long and includes the towns of Playa del Carmen, Akumel, Puerto Aventuras, and Tulum. The area is known for its long stretches of white sand beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and its Mayan ruins, most notably at Tulum. The region also boasts several eco-theme parks, sites where visitors can swim with dolphins, view native plants and animals, and snorkel in pristine lagoons.
Most of the resorts along the Riviera are all-inclusive resorts, meaning one price covers accommodations, meals, drinks, watersports, and transportation to and from the airport in Cancun. Many of these resorts also offer special wedding packages, which include the necessary paperwork, the wedding site, flowers for the bride and groom, and other extras. Popular resorts along the Riviera Maya include the Iberostar Paradiso de Mar, the Spa Palace in Puerto Aventuras, and the Allegro Resort in Playacar.
Couples planning a Riviera Maya wedding should take note of passport regulations. Wedding couples traveling to Mexico from the United States need to remember that they now need to carry a valid US passport for re-entry into the United States. Turnaround time for new passport applications has been running up to ten weeks. Make sure that you plan early to get the necessary documents.
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Advantages to Destination Weddings in Mexico
Getting married in Mexico is a good choice for American couples looking for something a little exotic yet affordable and relatively close to home. Whether you choose a quiet, seaside resort, such as Cabo San Lucas; a big city, such as Mexico City; or a bustling resort like Cancun, Mexico offers a welcoming, festive environment that won't break your budget. Below are just a few advantages to a destination wedding in Mexico.
Variety. Mexico's vast countryside and two coasts offer a plethora of destination choices. Whether you're looking for historic charm, vibrant city life, quiet seaside villages, or the latest resort, Mexico has the place for you.
Affordability. Mexico remains a bargain when compared to major Caribbean resorts and European cities. Your dollar stretches much farther in Mexico than most other destination wedding choices.
Accessibility. Most cities in Mexico are just one or two flights away from most cities in the United States and Canada. There are dozens of daily non-stops to Mexico from hubs in Miami, Dallas, and Houston.
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Destination Weddings Tip: Planning a Pacific Coast Mexico Wedding
Although the Caribbean coast of Mexico is lovely, some of the country's best -- and most picturesque -- resorts are located on the Pacific Coast. These seaside towns range from quiet fishing villages to cosmopolitan cities. Below are a few of Mexico's top Pacific resorts:
Acapulco. Located in the middle of Mexico's Pacific coast is an ideal spot for a Mexico Wedding. Acapulco was a thriving resort before newer resorts, like Cancun, were even considered. The city is known for its crescent beach, its daring cliff divers, and its romantic open-air restaurants with a view of the harbor.
Puerto Vallarta. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton fell in love with this quiet fishing town in the 1960s while filming "The Night of the Iguana" there ... and the world followed them. Today, Puerto Vallarta retains something of its original ambiance, but has added luxury resorts along its wide stretches of beach.
Mazatlan. A bustling city as well as a beach resort, Mazatlan combines beach pursuits with the dining, shopping, and sightseeing options that only a big city can offer.
Cabo San Lucas. Located at the tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas was only known to fishermen and wealthy yacht-owners until the region was opened up to tourism in the 1970s by the construction of a large airport and the Trans-Baja Highway. Today, the resort is still a fishing capital, but also boasts a vibrant nightlife, excellent golf courses, and a warm, arid climate.
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Getting Married in Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, the largest of Mexico's cities, and the second largest metropolis in the world, home to more than 8.5 million residents. The sprawling city combines history, art, and Mexican culture with the country's finest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Unlike the slow resort pace of Cancun and Mexico's Pacific coastal resorts, Mexico City is alive and fast-paced.
There's plenty to see and do in Mexico City. The city has more than 160 museums and more than 100 theaters, making it the fourth largest theater-going city in the world. Other popular sights include the floating gardens of Xochimilco, historic Chapultepec Park overlooking the city, the house and studios of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and the huge "zocalo" (town square) and its ornate cathedral.
Top hotels in Mexico City include the Sheraton Maria Isabel, the JW Marriott, the Four Seasons, and the Grand Melia, most of which are located in the Reforma (financial) district. Mexico City has no lack of romantic spots to have a wedding ceremony. From the ornate ballrooms at the top hotels to scenic Chapultepec Park.
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Destination Weddings Tip: Planning a Cozumel Wedding
Cozumel, an island located just offshore from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is just 36 miles south of Cancun, but the quiet island is a world away in ambience from that bustling resort. Cozumel, best known for its snorkeling and scuba diving, is a friendly destination, with a few luxury resorts, spectacular coral reefs, and colorful, affordable shopping in the island's capital of San Miquel.
Cozumel is a popular cruise ship destination, but when the ships pull up their anchors the island reverts to its laid-back, uncrowded ways. Visitors can fly into the island directly from Miami, Houston, Chicago, or a number of other cities. You can also take a short flight from Cancun or a half-hour boat ride from Playa del Carmen, along the Riviera Maya.
Popular hotels on Cozumel include the all-inclusive Allegro Resort, located on the south end of the island; the affordable El Cozumeleno, another all-inclusive, beachfront resort, this one located just outside of San Miquel; and the Fiesta Americana, arguably the best hotel on the island and the one that's nearest the popular diving reef at Palancar.
Wedding guest will be able to get around easily for your Cozumel wedding. Taxis are affordable as are car rentals, and many attractions are within walking distance from major hotels.
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Typical Mexico Wedding Packages
The many all-inclusive resorts in Mexico make it easy to plan a destination wedding there. The beauty of an all-inclusive resort is that you don't have to worry about how much dinner will cost and how to get there -- it's all included. Such packages also give you the option to try sports that you wouldn't necessarily attempt if you had to pay extra for them. Most all-inclusive resorts include transportation to and from the airport, a choice of accommodations, all meals and drinks, nightly entertainment, watersports and other activities, and taxes and service charges in their rates.
All-inclusive resorts are located all over Mexico, especially in the resort cities. You'll find them in Cancun, Cozumel, the Riviera Maya, and in the resorts along Mexico's Pacific Coast. Several hotel companies have multiple Mexican all-inclusive resorts. These include Club Med, Iberostar, Palace Hotels, and El Dorado Hotels.
Many all-inclusive Mexican resorts also offer special wedding packages. Typical Mexican wedding packages include the services of an officiant or clergyman, flowers for the bride and groom, the wedding site, the necessary paperwork, a wedding cake, and all of the associated taxes and services charges. Of course, you can add things like music, food and beverages, and additional flowers to the package.
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Destination Weddings Tip: Planning a Cancun Wedding
Cancun, unlike most other resorts, was designed as a vacation paradise. The town, located at the upper end of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, had just three full-time residents in 1970 when the Mexican government decided to promote Cancun as an international resort. Today, the initial nine hotels have grown to a collection of 140, a number of which are all-inclusive properties. More than four million visitors fly into Cancun each year.
Those traveling to Cancun will find long stretches of white sand beach; more than 380 restaurants featuring all types of cuisine; a vibrant "dance 'til dawn" nightlife; and affordable shopping. For those interested in the history and culture of the region, the Mayan ruins at Tulum and Chichen-Itza make a fascinating day trip.
The weather in Cancun is predictably warm and humid most of the year, with occasional, short-lived afternoon showers. The resort does lie in the heart of Hurricane Alley, however, and wedding couples are well-advised to avoid booking their trip during the period from mid-August to mid-October.
As with any destination wedding, it's a good idea to enlist the services of a destination wedding specialist to assist you with all of the details. Planning any wedding can be stressful and planning one hundreds (or thousands) of miles from home only adds to that feeling. Working with someone, such as the wedding planners at Destination Weddings.com, can help to make planning the perfect Cancun wedding much easier. Plus: their services are free.
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Mexican Wedding Traditions
Mexican wedding traditions combine the cultures of the Mayan and Aztec people with later Spanish influences. Adding a few Mexican traditions to your wedding is ideal for couples of Mexican-American ancestry or those wanting to include a little local flavor into their nuptials. Below are just a few ideas:
Wedding Attire. In Mexico, it is customary for the bride to wear a "mantilla," a lace veil. Brides also may wear an heirloom Mexican wedding dress of a cotton shift with colorful embroidery. In lieu of flowers, you also see brides carry a fan. Mexican grooms often forgo the tuxedo for a matador's outfit -- a bolero jacket with light-fitting, black pants.
Food. Traditional Mexican wedding foods include spicy beans and rice, chicken and beef tortilla dishes, and plenty of sangria (red wine with fruit) to drink.
Thirteen Coins. In Mexico, it is customary for the groom to present his bride with 13 gold coins as a symbol of trust and commitment. This is a Spanish tradition and signifies that the groom is giving all of his property for her to guard and keep.
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