MEXICO WEDDINGS

Savvy Couples Head South for Nuptials
Destination Weddings Meet the Needs of Today's Couples It's hard enough in
today's hectic world to find that someone special, let alone plan and pay
for a fancy traditional wedding and honeymoon. For those looking past
traditional weddings where fortunes are spent on distant relatives, Mexico
offers a myriad of options and packages that combine the wedding ceremony
and honeymoon, 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, photos
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.

Wedding planners: For couples planning a wedding in a resort or hotel not
offering in-house wedding services, a wedding planner might be they way to
go. In addition to the coordination of the wedding itself, wedding planners
often provide a wide range of services, such as securing hotel
accommodations, vacation rentals, restaurants, tours, rehearsals and day
trips. The following is just a small sample of wedding planners in Mexico:

Caribbean: Playa del Carmen: www.weddingsinplaya.com, Cozumel:
www.cozumelweddingplanner.com, Cancun: http://my-cancun-wedding.com/.

Pacific Coast: Los Cabos: www.bajawedding.com, Puerto Vallarta:
www.vallartaweddings.com.

Colonial Cities: The quaint colonial city of San Miguel de Allende is a
popular destination for weddings: www.weddingsanmiguel.com.

About the Mexico Tourism Board The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings
together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and
private companies to promote Mexico's tourism attractions and destinations
internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico's tourism promotion
agency, with participants including members of the private and public
sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan and
Latin America.

Edited by Marilyn Miller


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