If you’re visualizing a wedding on white sand, surrounded by palm trees, turquoise waters, world-class service, and almost foolproof weather (no rain on your wedding day!), then you have come to the right country. Not surprisingly, Mexico is a top destination for tying the knot. During the last decade, many hotels, tour providers and wedding consultants have offered a wide array of storybook wedding options, from very formal to extremely casual. Don’t want to wear high heels with your dress? Go barefoot.

For your Mexican destination wedding, you should have, at the very least, the following:

• A partner
• A passport (and perhaps some additional docs, click on the legal tab below)

Everything else can be taken care of in Mexico. If you don’t have a passport yet, allow a few months’ processing time and start the paperwork now.  Contact your local post office, or apply online.

--By Judy Jenner

When you think of tropical weddings, the Caribbean or Pacific Coast comes to mind. Well, this is the right country. Cancún and its surrounding areas (including the charming island of Cozumel) offer fantastic options for those looking to say “I do” in small, large, simple, romantic or over-the-top ways.  

Most larger properties (and even some smaller boutique hotels) have a lot of experience doing weddings, and their services often include wedding planners, event coordinators, florists, caterers, photographers, DJs, unique Mexican wedding favors, stylists, and everything else you might need.  Your best bet is to find a hotel you really like and start planning your wedding with that property’s help. Many hotels, including Sandals and Dreams, offer substantial discounts if your wedding party buys a certain number of rooms. There might just be a free night in there for you.

Before you start down the path of planning your wedding in the Mexican Caribbean, keep in mind that September through November is hurricane season and you might get some wind and rain. But even during the hurricane season, it’s very likely that you can enjoy the picture-perfect weather you’d expect from a Caribbean wedding. The summers on the Pacific Coast are very hot and humid, and the high-season is in the winter, so you might want to consider being a winter bride. On the beach, that is.

Cancún is easy to reach, especially if you have guests flying in from Florida or the East Coast, making it an American-friendly, easy-to-get-around-in destination for your big day (or weekend, or week, or month). Almost all hotels, ranging from large to boutique to over-the-top, offer wedding options and arrangements.

One of our favorites is Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, where professional wedding planners will take care of every single detail of your day. A reception can be held on the beach, indoors, or outdoors at a number of different locations.  This high-luxury all-inclusive resort has beautiful wedding chapels and gazebos available. To prepare for the big day or to start the honeymoon on a romantic note, Dreams offers a world-class spa with many options for couples massages. For a very special treat, book the Couples Swim with the Dolphins Romance Package, which includes 35 minutes of swimming with those friendly dolphins for you and your new spouse. Yes, spouse!

Playa Azul Golf, Scuba, and Spa is located on the charming, quiet island of Cozumel, a half hour’s ferry ride off the Cancún coast. Here, you can get married in the intimacy of a small boutique hotel that leaves no wish unfulfilled. This beautiful property also offers an on-site wedding coordinator, who will help you take care of all the legal requirements, make hairdresser appointments, coordinate the flowers, menu, photographer, and anything else.  One of the wedding locations is right next to the ocean, and what bride doesn’t look good with turquoise waters behind her? Your wedding party (which can rent out the entire 50-room hotel) will have much to look forward to, including unlimited golf (you heard correctly) on a Jack Nicklaus-designed course, beautifully decorated rooms with high-end Mexican artifacts and nightly custom-created flower art.

The Pacific Coast is second-to-none for beautiful beach weddings. For a truly stunning experience (and gorgeous wedding pictures) head to Los Cabos, where giant cacti meet rugged cliffs and the ocean. The area has recently added many high-end hotels and spas, which are ideal for weddings in a relaxed, exclusive atmosphere. One & Only Palmilla is the top option for sophisticated couples who want to spoil their guests in a world-class resort. Here, your wedding dinner could be held at Charlie Trotter’s world-famous Restaurant C.  Las Ventanas al Paraíso, also located in Los Cabos, is a tranquil oasis of perfection, where every single detail of your wedding will be taken care of.

To get married in a relatively unknown paradise, head to Manzanillo and tie the knot at the uber-iconic Las Hadas (Spanish for “the fairies”) resort, where you will feel like you’re in a tranquil Greek village – just a lot closer to home and without the frustrating exchange rate. Las Hadas’ basic wedding packages include unlimited consultations with the wedding planner prior to arrival and on-site, a decorated wedding arch and a bottle of champagne.

--By Judy Jenner

If you want to have a religious ceremony in Mexico, please note that only civil ceremonies are legal in Mexico, so be sure to have both if you want  your marriage to be recognized.  While Mexico is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, there are a wide variety of other denominations, as well as non-denominational ceremonies available. Before you get your heart set on a location, a specific facility, or a date, be sure to check with your local religious representative and inquire about the paperwork needed to get married outside the country.  

--By Judy Jenner

Is a traditional wedding too normal for you? Then try a wedding in a location that’s only accessible by sea. Adventure Weddings in Puerto Vallarta offers weddings that are held at the former residence of film director John Huston. In this secluded tropical paradise, couples can get married on a private beach, making their special day into a truly exclusive experience for themselves and their guests. Packages include transportation on catamarans for the entire wedding party, tropical beach dance floor, sound system and bonfire.

If you are looking for truly unusual weddings, head to the Riviera Maya (just south of Cancún), and get in touch with Ajua Weddings. They offer highly specialized wedding packages, including cenote (freshwater limestone pools) weddings, nude weddings in Tulum, and even a skydiving wedding. You can choose from a number of denominations, including a Mayan ceremony, which is based on the Mayan’s connection with the universe and their gods. A shaman will perform the ceremony, with bride and groom (and wedding party) dressed in simple, natural clothes without shoes to absorb the spiritual energy created by the event. For creative wedding favors with a uniquely Mexican touch, Ajua Weddings offers colorful maracas in the shape of animals, gorgeous hand-painted tiles, traditional Mexican tin ornaments, and playful Day of the Dead figurines. Weddings in completely private beach locations – no tourists, no hotels – can also be arranged; complete with music, food, bar, for groups up to 500 people.

For a unique city wedding, Hacienda Las Trancas in the central state of Guanajuato (near the charming colonial city of San Miguel de Allende) certainly fits the bill. The entire spectacular 50-room hacienda – where no expense has been spared to bring old-world Mexican charm back to life – is available for rental.  A full-time staff of 18 will help you plan the wedding of your dreams in the on-property chapel or anywhere else on the picturesque hacienda grounds. All meals are included, and amenities range from horseback riding, mountain biking or a heated pool to a private gym. The “Sala” suite might just be a perfect place for you to start your married life together.

--By Judy Jenner

• Dress for the climate! If you go to Mexico in the summer, it will be hot and humid. For temperature information, check out our destination section’s weather tabs. Keeping in mind the tropical temperatures, many brides opt for thinner fabrics and more movement in their gowns. To make sure you are comfortable, cool, and gorgeous, choose flexible fabrics, which travel well. If you prefer getting married outside in the full-length formal wedding gown of your dreams, you might want to opt for an evening wedding.
• Many airlines will make some room in the first-class coat closet to accommodate your dress. To be sure your dress gets a decent spot even in coach, get to the airport early and ask airline staff if they would let you board in the pre-boarding group.  After all, you do need special assistance with your dress! Most everyone is happy to help a bride, so don’t be afraid to ask.  Purchase a sturdy garment bag for your dress and ask at your local bridal boutique if they offer any special travel bags.
• As much as you watched over your gown, it might not arrive in as good a shape as you would like it to be. Call the hotel ahead of time and ask if they have same-day or next-day pressing available.
• Try to make you make-up fit in a Zip-loc so you can carry it on the plane. We know that this seems like a tall order, but you don’t want to be stuck on your wedding day with your checked bag and make-up sitting somewhere in Timbuktu. If making your make-up fit is too big of a challenge, don’t worry: surely there is a member of your wedding party who will gladly carry on your little bag for you.
• If you are getting married by the beach and aren’t blessed with weather-resistant locks, your hair will probably be frizzy and hard to manage. We strongly suggest you get yourself a good supply of anti-frizz hair products before you leave home. While these products are easily and readily available in all bigger cities, they might be harder to find if you are getting married, say, on a remote beach in Oaxaca. For an outdoor wedding and to make sure your hair looks the best, you might want to opt for a sleek, pulled back hairdo, such as a chignon.

--By Judy Jenner

In Mexico, only civil marriages are recognized as legally valid. If you choose to do a religious ceremony without the legal component, your marriage will not be legal. For two foreigners getting married in Mexico, there are no residence requirements. Those under 18 years of age may not be married in Mexico without parental consent.

Generally, a marriage that is properly executed in Mexico is valid in the United States. Your marriage certificate will have worldwide validity, but to ensure that it is accepted back home, you should get the certificate legalized in Mexico. Consular officers can authenticate foreign marriage documents.  

Requirements for the legal ceremony

Hiring a wedding planner to assist you with the legal requirements is a good idea, although this process is certainly manageable on your own. You will need the following:

• Four witnesses need to be present, all with a valid passport.
• Marriage application forms, which can be obtained from a local registry office, need to be completed.
• Passport, both original and copy, with a validity of at least six months.
• Birth certificates, translated into Spanish and notarized. Contact your nearest Mexican consulate for details.
• If applicable, divorce decree or death certificate, also translated into Spanish (requirements differ between states) and notarized.
• Travel permits, which are provided by the airline and stamped by immigration at port of entry.
• Results of blood test done in Mexico.
• Chest X-Rays done in Mexico (not required by all states).
• Marriage license fee (cost depends on the state).

• Waiting period after paying the license fee is 30 minutes to a few days, depending on the state.

For further information, consult the State Department's website or the American Embassy in Mexico City, which recommends that you contact the Registro Civil office of the jurisdiction where you plan to get married. In most cases, your wedding coordinator can assist you with this.

--By Judy Jenner