Thinking of Having a Mexico Destination Wedding? Let’s Look at The Pros and Cons
There are countless reasons why destination weddings in Mexico are such a popular option for couples to choose for their big day. Planning a destination wedding is a wonderful experience and not just for the couples getting married, but for everyone traveling to celebrate with them. I wanted to share with you a few pros and cons as you consider Mexico for your destination wedding and what makes it one of the best locations for hosting a destination wedding in 2023 and beyond.
Pro: Easy Access From The U.S
For the most part, Mexico is easily accessible to U.S. citizens and offers plenty of daily flight options. This allows for ease of travel for you and your wedding guests as well as ensures that if there are flight delays or cancellations there will be several flight options available for backup.
Pro: PLENTY of Incredible Resort Options And Venues to Choose From
Whether you are heading to Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, or the Cancun/Riviera Maya area, you will have more than enough choices of resorts & wedding venues to host your wedding celebration. With the myriad of options available, you’ll also have your pick of luxury, chic, modern, or authentic resorts with lively, quiet, active, or pampering atmospheres. From boutique resorts with intimate settings to mega resorts with Vegas-style shows, Mexico truly offers something for EVERY wedding group!
Lots of Incredible Wedding Venue Options:
In addition to these great resort options, if you want or need to get married in a chapel, you can find Catholic & protestant chapels with picturesque views of the ocean! You will also have an array of choices for private rooftops with unobstructed views where you not only can say “I Do!”, but also dance the night away under a canopy of stars. And don’t forget you can also find stunning beaches set amidst beautiful skies at sunset, infinity pools with overwater platforms, secret tropical gardens, and more.
Pro: Amazing Value of Luxury & Service For The Price!
If you are looking for incredible luxury & service for the money, Mexico will get you the most bang for your buck when it comes to the level of luxury and service you receive for the price. Part of the reason is that Mexico is just miles ahead of other destinations when it comes to hospitality & tourism. A quote I once heard from a travel insider pretty much sums it up like this.“ In (the location I was at) if your drink spills, a waiter will come right away to clean it up. In Mexico, the wait staff will see the glass on the edge of the table, and come to put it back in a safer spot.”
PRO: Wedding Package Value for Price
The same is true for wedding packages. Your destination wedding budget goes so much further in Mexico! You’ll be amazed at the celebration you can plan that will be a day you and your guests will never forget!
Pro: Endless Excursions, Activities, & Cultural Experiences
Regardless of what part of Mexico you head to, you’ll have your pick of awesome experiences at your fingertips! Historical ruins, underground caverns, artistic cities, waterfalls, mountains, whale watching, snorkeling, nightlife, shopping, golf, catamaran cruises, day trips to nearby islands, you name it! There is something for everyone to enjoy in Mexico!
Con: Legal wedding requirements
Each State in Mexico has different requirements for your wedding in Mexico to be legal, but you can expect bloodwork, translation of documents, witnesses, and 3-4 days of residency.
If you don’t need to have a legal destination wedding, then I suggest you and your fiancee get married legally in the states (basically at the courthouse) and then you will do a symbolic wedding in Mexico for your Destination Wedding ceremony. No one will know but you, and it will save you from jumping through a lot of hoops.
Pro: Two Unique Areas of Mexico to Choose From:
Mexico has two completely different, but equally romantic & beautiful areas to have an amazing destination wedding!
Caribbean Side
Pacific Side
The Caribbean Side
The Caribbean side of Mexico is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, along the Caribbean sea, and is the most popular area of Mexico for any type of travel. This is where Cancun, Riviera Maya, and many of the other popular travel spots are located. Everything mentioned above will be available to you on the Caribbean side of Mexico, including white sand beaches and the ability to enjoy the Caribbean Sea if you or your group love getting in the water.
The Pacific Side:
The Pacific Side of Mexico is of course located along the Pacific Ocean and was originally best known for travel spots such as Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco, but now the hottest new spots to have a destination wedding in Mexico are either Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta!
Located at the end of the Baja Coast, Cabo is home to luxury resorts, amazing foodie experiences, championship golf, yoga retreats, movie star getaways, and authentic cultural experiences. The beaches are wide and beautiful here as well, but darker sand than the Caribbean side, and are not usually swimmable due to the ocean currents and rip tides.
One of the most popular vacation destinations, Puerto Vallarta is known for its stunning landscape, friendly people, beautiful marine life, and so much more!
Which Part of Mexico is Best For Your Destination Wedding?
The hardest decision you’ll have to make when planning a destination wedding in Mexico is which part of Mexico is best for your wedding vision and which resort or wedding venue will give you the wedding vision you are looking for. That’s where having the assistance of a destination wedding designer can come in handy.
If you are still trying to decide on the best resort for your destination wedding, click here to read my post on the 5 Fantastic Resorts For a Dream Destination Wedding.
Con: Canun/Riviera Maya seaweed issues
With Cancun and Riviera Maya being the most popular locations in Mexico to host a destination wedding, I felt obligated to mention this “con” Over the last few years, environmental factors have caused an increase in the seaweed that floats into the waters and on the shore. It is impossible to predict when there could be a lot of seaweed or not as much because it can come and go at any time of the year.
While resorts are continually cleaning up the seaweed, it does affect the beauty and clarity of the water. So If you are planning a beach wedding or want perfectly clear water, this area of Mexico may not be the best option for you.
If water color is extremely important to you, then I suggest the Pacific side of Mexico, along the Baja Peninsula, such as Cabo San Lucas or the artistic, colorful, and lush Puerto Vallarta.
Cabo’s water is a beautiful bright blue, and there are numerous excellent resort options available for your wedding there as well. The only negative is that a majority of the beaches in Cabo, though beautiful, are not swimmable, due to strong currents and waves.
Puerto Vallarta’s water is a stunning blue green surrounded by a lush and tropical jungle and mountains. Puerto Vallarta offers really unique wedding venues like private off-shore islands that are ideal for an oceanfront celebration.
As you can see Mexico really offers more Pros than Cons for having a destination wedding. The growth in popularity of Mexico as a wedding location is clear proof that this is true. Mexico makes for an amazing location for a destination wedding as it's bursting at the seams with amazing resorts, beautiful venues, tons of activities, rich culture, and natural beauty.
If you’ve been trying to figure out your destination wedding, but feel as if you’re getting nowhere fast, then I encourage you to schedule a free 30-minute strategy call with me today, and let’s get you moving forward in your destination wedding planning!
