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SAVVY
COUPLES HEAD SOUTH FOR NUPTIALS MEXICO CITY--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
theresort 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 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:
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. |
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Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Guide
