Mexico is for Couples
Edited By Jennifer L. Price
 Mexico is legendary among couples in love as a romantic
getaway: both for those finished with the big wedding and looking for sometime
alone together, but also for those planning their nuptials.
Mexico is an ideal location for a honeymoon. Trendy,
sun-filled cities like Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancún are long-standing favorites among honeymooners. Also popular honeymoon
getaways include the idyllic Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, and the
breathtaking beaches located in Baja California’s Cabo San Lucas. Couples
looking to take in some history and culture during their honeymoon can retreat
to colonial gems deep inside the heart of Mexico, such as Morelia, Oaxaca, and
San Miguel de Allende. It was also recently recognized as being the best value,
too. Modern Bride, a renowned bridal magazine recently chose Mexico as the
number one honeymoon destination for newlyweds searching for affordability.
It’s also possible to combine that honeymoon with a
fairytale wedding ceremony in Mexico. For those looking past traditional
weddings where fortunes are spent on distant relatives, Mexico offers a myriad
of options and packages, in some cases at a fraction of the cost of a
traditional wedding. From Mayan shaman weddings in ancient ruins to tying the
knot underwater, Mexico has something to fit any taste or budget.
LUXURY RESORT WEDDINGS
 If money is no object, the newly renovated One&Only
Palmilla Resort in Los Cabos beckons. The rich and famous flock to this gorgeous
destination at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula for parties, honeymoons
and relaxing beach getaways. The Palmilla boasts an on-site historic chapel
(rental is US$2,000) and a horse-drawn carriage for the wedding couple, while a
sunset beach wedding is also a popular choice (US$1,800). But the Palmilla is
not for the budget traveler: the simplest wedding featuring a chapel ceremony,
dinner and a four-night stay for 15 people will cost a minimum of US$10,000.
Lowella (310-302-1822), a wedding coordinator for Palmilla located in Los
Angeles, is the first step to organizing that perfect destination wedding.
Mexico’s most popular destination, Cancun, is a mecca for
romance and destination weddings. The Ritz Carlton Cancun (www.ritzcarlton.com)
offers wedding packages for two starting at US$2,100 and including minister
services, ceremony site, bridal bouquet, four-course romantic dinner, and
champagne. A signature butler-drawn margarita bath is also a popular service.
Couples can choose to hold the ceremony on the beach, in the courtyard or
poolside. Hotel accommodations are separate and start at US$269 per night.
As part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts collection, El
Careyes Beach Resort on the Pacific Coast in Jalisco State is a smaller version
of luxury, with 48 uniquely designed rooms, suites and casitas surrounding a
signature free form swimming pool, overlooking a tranquil private cove and
beach. The wedding ceremony can take place either at the resort or the San
Mateos Church, just 15 minutes away. Bride and groom receive special treatment
upon arrival, with a champagne limo service pickup from the Manzanillo
International Airport, fresh flowers upon arrival and deluxe massages.
Afternoons in Careyes are filled with a variety of activities from aquatic
adventures along the pristine coastline to horseback riding on the beach, a game
of polo or tennis and excursions to nearby towns. Three-day junior oceanfront
suite packages at US$3,148. For information on weddings packages and pricing,
contact Mourad Essafi at
cayeres@cayereshotel.com.
Most Mexican resorts also offer special prices and packages
for larger wedding parties and honeymooners.
MORE PRIVATE SETTINGS
 Renting out historic ex-haciendas for weddings has become all the rage in Mexico, and options abound. The
beautifully-restored Hacienda Cuernavaca, located in the colonial city of the
same name, just an hour’s drive from Mexico City, is the ideal setting for a
private wedding. The hacienda, which can accommodate both small and large
parties, features exquisite salons, an on-site chapel, 18th century antique
furniture and artwork, lush gardens, fountains and 17 uniquely decorated suites
for overnight guests. Contact
ranchocuernavaca@celebrando.com for more information.
Mexico boasts several boutique hotels throughout the
country, most of which can be rented out for weddings. With four suites, the
Casa Cid de Leon in Oaxaca City (www.casaciddeleon.com),
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the smallest boutique hotels in the
region and an ideal choice for a smaller private group. See
www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com
for a wide selection of these elegant little inns.
UNUSUAL WEDDINGS
 Under water: At the Grand Cozumel Hotel (www.grandcozumel.com)
on the island of Cozumel, off the coast of Playa del Carmen, couples can wed
underwater for US$2,800, which includes the boat rental, diving equipment,
wedding ceremony, flowers, a wedding cake and champagne. For those not wanting
to take the plunge, the Grand Cozumel also offers free dry wedding services to
parties that reserve at least four nights in the hotel.
On the water: For US$500,
glamorous couples can have their wedding aboard a sleek yacht, while sailing
around Cozumel. The yacht-rental fee is in addition to the basic wedding package
of US$800, which includes legal documentation and wedding planner services.
Contact weddings@cozumel.net. For a
real over-the-top wedding adventure, charter a private yacht for eight of your
closest friends for a fun-filled weeklong wedding cruise in the Caribbean or
along the Sea of Cortez. Prices start at US$20,000. Visit
www.boatznyachtz.com.
Mayan weddings: For a reasonable fee, prehispanic cultural
buffs can be wed at a barefoot Mayan Indian ceremony on the Yucatan Peninsula,
performed by a shaman, and featuring traditional hand-made wedding garments, the
exchanging of symbolic gifts such as corn and cacao seeds and traditional
prehispanic music. Ceremonies can be performed on the beach, in a chapel or the
many ancient ruins located in the area. See
www.mayanweddings.com or
www.weddingsinplaya.com.
After–wedding party at Nikki Beach (www.nikkibeach.com): After tying the knot in Puerta Vallarta, wedding
parties can celebrate under the stars at the trendy Nikki Beach, a Miami-based
family-owned company that has created some of the hippest and most popular
dining and bar locations in the world, which opened recently at Starwood´s
Westin Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta (www.westin.com).
Nikki Beach includes an outdoor restaurant, bar and lounge, DJ and a dance
floor, catering to a clientele that wants to experience the Westin’s luxury
service as well as Nikki Beach's contemporary yet exotic atmosphere. Hugged by
the lush hills of the Sierra Madre and the sparkling Banderas Bay on Mexico's
Pacific coast, the restaurant offers out-of-the-ordinary cuisine and a relaxed
ambiance amidst an alcove of tee-pees and bamboo beds. Contact Fabiola Naya -
fabiola@nikkibeach.com for Nikki
Beach’s VIP service, reservations and menu options. For a wedding planner at the
Westin, write to info@westinpv.com.
 Weddings in birthday suits? Prices of wedding dresses got
you down? Hidden Beach nudist resort (www.hiddenbeachresort.com),
about an hour’s drive from Cancun, is the answer to your prayers. Wedding
ceremonies cost about US$1000 and include a non-denominational, fully-clothed
minister. Grooms beware…this balls out ceremony is not for the timid or the
overly enthusiastic. For information, contact
weddings@lomas-travel.com.
What you need to get married: In order to be legally married, couples must take
part in a ten-minute civil ceremony and provide copies of passports, as well as
blood tests taken within 15 days of the date of marriage and notarized by a
doctor in Mexico. If divorced or widowed, a certified copy of the divorce decree
or death certificate (with a minimum lapse of one year) is required. Most
resorts/wedding planners assist couples with all the necessary paperwork and
require that the happy couple be in Mexico three working days prior to the
wedding to ensure all legal requirements have been met. For a general guide to
getting married in Mexico, visit
www.mexperience.com.
Ceremony without the legal stuff: Some couples prefer to
have just the religious ceremony in Mexico, bypassing the civil ceremony and red
tape. Keep in mind that the couple must then have a civil ceremony performed in
their own country in order for the marriage to be legal.
So, whether you’re planning on a big wedding, a small
wedding, or just some time off after a wedding, consider Mexico! |
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