Destination Weddings in Mexico Tips
Read these 6 Destination Weddings in Mexico Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Destination Weddings tips and hundreds of other topics.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Music. Mariachi music often replaces organ music at weddings in Mexico.
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.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Kristle Jones |
