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Destination Weddings Meet the Time/Budget Sensitive Needs of Today's Couples

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.

Afterýwedding 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:

• Caribbean: Playa del Carmen: www.weddingsinplaya.com
• Cozumel: www.cozumelweddingplanner.com [Read related story on this wedding planner]
• 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.