Acapulco Wedding Packages
by Paris Permenter & John Bigley

For many couples, taking the plunge in Acapulco means watching the city’s famous cliff divers or diving into nightlife action in the city’s well-known discos. For other clients, though, this Pacific playground offers the perfect place to say “I do.”

Although not as popular for nuptials as Cancun and Cozumel, Acapulco hosts a growing number of foreign weddings, many arranged through local hotels and resorts with the aid of their on-site wedding coordinator.

Regardless of their location, all weddings in Mexico must include a civil ceremony; religious ceremonies in Mexico have no legal effect. (For weddings to be recognized in the US, they must also be recognized in the country where performed so civil ceremonies are mandatory.)

Civil ceremonies are performed by a judge at the Registro Civil or Civil Registry; in Acapulco, this office is located near the waterfront Fort of San Diego. Most clients, however, prefer to have their ceremony at a local hotel, many which offer a variety of wedding sites including wedding gazebos and beachfront locations. There is a surcharge of approximately 890 pesos for all marriages performed outside the Civil Registry office.

The first step in arranging an Acapulco wedding is for the couple to make an application for marriage at the Registro Civil, setting a date and time for the wedding. This written application must be accompanied by a certificate from a doctor in Mexico stating that the bride and groom are free of HIV and other diseases considered in Mexico to be an impediment to marriage; blood tests and X-rays must be taken in Mexico within 15 days of the wedding date.

For Americans and other foreign travelers, there is no residency period. Both the bride and the groom will need birth certificates, valid passports, and tourist cards which are issued upon arrival in Mexico. Except for the US passport, all English language documents must be translated into Spanish and taken in translation to a Mexican consulate in the United States before the trip.

Also, couples who have been previously married will need proof of divorce or death. Divorced persons must allow one year after the finalization of the divorce before marrying.

After the wedding, the couple will receive a certified copy of the marriage certificate or Acta de Matrimonio; this is obtained from the Registro Civil. The US Embassy recommends that the marriage certificate be authenticated by an American consular officer.

Where to Marry

Acapulco has a long tradition of vacationers who have come to these cliff and beachside resorts and chosen to marry; Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd married on the terrace of her favorite villa at Villa Vera. (The city has also attracted its share of famous honeymooners including Hillary and Bill Clinton, Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, and Donald and Ivana Trump.)

Couples can follow in Elizabeth Taylor’s footsteps with a wedding at Villa Vera Hotel Spa and Racquet Club (74-44-84-0333, www.clubregina.com). An on-site coordinator arranges ceremonies at numerous sites throughout the property, which includes an extensive spa for pampering brides-to-be and wedding guests. The resort, tucked high over the city with a view of the bay, offers several reception packages for wedding parties with menu offerings which range from rack of lamb to medallions of salmon. Reception menus also include appetizers such as foie gras crisps, desserts such as white chocolate mousse with lychee sauce, and coffee or tea. Mariachi bands can be hired for about $400 per hour or marimba music for $300 per hour.

Another popular hillside wedding site is Las Brisas Acapulco (74-44-69-6957, 888-559-4329, www.brisas.com.mx). The hotel offers several special wedding areas: La Concha Club, Bellavista, and El Mexicano Terrace, each with bay views.

For a beachside wedding, the Fairmont Acapulco Princess (74-44-69-1000, 800-441-1414, www.fairmont.com) has wedding packages including the services of an onsite wedding coordinator, one bottle of sparkling wine after the ceremony, witnesses (if required), a tent for the ceremony, white decoration for chairs and table (2-10 persons), and a bottle of sparkling wine in the couple’s room.

The Fairmont Acapulco Princess also provides many add-ons for couples looking to introduce local or special touches to their celebration. Mariachi trios and full Mariachi bands are available; another choice is the hiring of a small ensemble from the Acapulco Philharmonic Orchestra. Beauty packages can be booked for the bride at the hotel’s Willow Stream Spa, which offers couple’s treatment suites as well.