Mexico attracts people from all over the world with its atmosphere of serenity and fun, it is an amazing country combining deserts and tropical jungles. Some are so inspired by it that they decide to organize their own wedding there. A wedding ceremony in Mexico is quite possible, and you can do everything yourself.
To do this, the bride and groom will need to choose a venue for the celebration, submit an application to the registry office, prepare a script, outfits and other details.
Peculiarities
In Mexico, the bride and groom can choose one of two wedding options - official or symbolic. In the first case, the wedding takes place at the local registry office, and then the newlyweds and their guests go to the banquet location. A symbolic wedding ceremony in Mexico involves preliminary painting in the home country and the organization of an outdoor ceremony.
The first option will cost more due to the need to pay state fees. In this country there are traditions that are observed during weddings in most cases.
Future spouses may adopt some of these customs:
- It is believed that a wedding is a celebration not so much of the newlyweds themselves, but of their parents. Even wedding invitations are written on behalf of the mothers and fathers of the bride and groom.
- The godparents of the newlyweds organize the wedding, and they also bear most of the expenses.
- The bride and groom can have their wedding in a church or arrange a unique ritual with the help of local shamans.
- After the wedding or official marriage, the newlyweds are showered with red beads as a sign of wishes for good luck and love in their family life.
- The wedding table contains not only national dishes, but also many flowers.
- For the first family dance, the newlyweds are surrounded by guests, forming a heart-shaped figure.
- A pinata is hung above the table - a large papier-mâché figure filled with candies. Before serving the cake, it is broken and sweets are poured out on the guests.
- The wedding cake filling is made from a generous amount of fruit soaked in rum.
If the bride and groom choose to officially register their marriage in Mexico, they will need to submit an application at least three months before the desired date. If it falls during the tourist season, then this must be done at least a year in advance.
By the time the application is submitted to the registry office, the couple must have the following documents in hand:
- originals and copies of internal and international passports;
- originals and copies of birth certificates;
- copies of migration cards issued at the airport in Mexico;
- completed marriage application form;
- divorce certificate if the bride or groom were previously in another marriage.
In general, the Mexican government is loyal to those wishing to legalize their relations. As for foreigners, they should not forget about the requirements of their country for marriage, otherwise it will be considered invalid. In Mexico, there is only one additional restriction - the absence of HIV infection. The analysis is done two days before the wedding, and the results are provided to the registry office.
In addition to this, for the marriage to take place, there must be four witnesses of any nationality and gender over 18 years old ; copies of their passports must be attached to the package of documents. Parents and people staying in the country illegally cannot be witnesses.
Wedding ceremony on the coast of Laguna Nichupte and Temazcal
A wedding in Mexico is bright, colorful, on a snow-white sandy beach by the turquoise-and-cream sea or in the jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula, it will be an unforgettable beginning or a new step in your union.
A fantastic coastline by shimmering waters, mysteries of ancient civilizations, unique masterpieces of world history and art, snow-white beaches, cenote caves, untouched jungle, gastronomic delights, warm welcome, world-class hotels and service. Each couple will create their own unique honeymoon.
Free wedding ceremony and free package for newlyweds in hotels:
- HARD ROCK HOTEL CANCUN 5* AI
- HARD ROCK HOTEL RIVIERA MAYA 5* AI
- HARD ROCK HOTEL VALLARTA 5* AI
- UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya 5* AI
Free symbolic wedding ceremony
- wedding coordinator
- gazebo for the ceremony
- master of ceremonies (English or Spanish)
- flowers for the bride and boutonniere for the groom
- musical accompaniment
- sparkling wine and wedding cake
- free honeymoon package
Conditions:
- book any room from 5 nights
- confirmation of the ceremony date no later than 30 days before arrival with a signed wedding contract (or an additional 1,000 USD will be charged)
- You must send a scan/photo of your marriage certificate to the hotel no later than 24 hours before check-in (you do not need to bring the original with you)
Free honeymoon package
- romantic breakfast in the room
- a bottle of champagne or mezcal in your room upon arrival
- branded sweets
Cancun has snow-white beaches, crystal clear turquoise water, world-class hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. This is the perfect resort. Tropical climate, average temperature in summer is 22-35 degrees, in winter 20-25 degrees.
The city is divided into two areas: the center and the hotel zone. The hotel zone is a strip of land between the Nichupte Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea, the length of which is about 30 km. This strip resembles the number 7, along the top of which, the hotels stand on a calm shore, almost without waves, due to the Island of Women located opposite. The bottom of the seven is open to the ocean and here you can truly feel the Caribbean Sea. Almost all hotels are located on the coast.
Buses and taxis operate around the hotel area 24 hours a day. Shopping centers are open from 10 am to 10 pm.
The Riviera Maya is a hundred-kilometer coastal strip of the Caribbean Sea from Cancun to Tulum. It is known not only for its beaches and hotels, but also for its unique stalactite caves - cenotes, which create an extensive system of underground rivers and lakes of many kilometers.
Throughout the Riviera Maya there are the most famous ecological parks: Xcaret, Chelle-Ha, etc. Subtropical jungle, exotic flora and fauna, karst caves, turquoise sea with crystal clear water, unique climate, the mystery of the long-standing Mayan culture - all this has turned the Mayan Riviera into one of the most famous resorts in the world.
Playa del Carmen is about 45 minutes from Cancun, on the road to Tulum. This is the heart of the Riviera Maya, and the ferry to Cozumel Island departs from here.
The city's central location allows quick access to all the attractions and entertainment of the Riviera Maya and Cancun. Playa is all about adventure on and off the beach! This city has blossomed over the past few years, and its population is one of the fastest growing in the entire world. Everything is possible here: swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, fishing, parasailing, sky diving and much more. The central and most active street of Pla Del Carmen - 5th Avenida - is an ideal place for shopping and for choosing restaurants. In the evening the street is filled with music and is reminiscent of European youth resorts around the world.
Choose a celebration for two or not
Wedding tourism is not the cheapest offer, so future newlyweds should think about who they want to invite to their celebration. You can fly to this country for painting alone, if you wish, taking only witnesses with you, but they can also be found from among the local residents.
Interesting! We wrote more about the celebration for two in this article. We recommend you check it out!
This option seems tempting not only because of the financial side of the issue, but also from the point of view of comfort. The bride and groom don't have to worry about the script, don't try to please anyone, and don't care about everyone but themselves to make sure the guests are comfortable. A couple can arrange a wedding ceremony in Mexico exclusively for two to leave the most cherished memories.
Outfits
The average annual temperature in Mexico is 24 degrees, with the hottest days occurring in April and May. For these reasons, it is better for the bride to choose not a fluffy or tight-fitting wedding dress, but an outfit with a straight or loose cut. This will also be combined with the general atmosphere in the country, which is characterized by naturalness and not pomp.
The color of the dress is most often chosen to be white; sometimes turquoise and pastel shades look harmonious. For footwear, you can choose open sandals with straps and medium heels, and for a ceremony on the beach you can go completely barefoot. The hairstyle should be simple and feminine. Hair can be curled and left loose or styled. A veil will not suit this look; it is better to replace it with a veil or weaves of fresh flowers.
The groom may want to move away from the traditional suit. Instead, you can wear straight trousers and a light-colored shirt. Don't like strict classic style? Nonsense! After all, your wedding is in Mexico! The photo above shows one of the options when even a casual style is possible, with a different shade of jacket and trousers, and a bow tie complements the look.
There are also no strict requirements for shoes - the groom can wear light beach sandals.
If there are guests at the wedding, their outfits should also match the chosen country. Both short and long summer dresses and sundresses made of light fabrics are suitable for girls. Men can wear loose-fitting beach pants and thin shirts.
Attention! It is interesting to complement the images with the help of beautiful national hats - sombreros.
Traditions and customs
A wedding in Mexico can be held in the classic version, or you can choose a specific style. Agencies offering wedding tourism services usually offer three theme options - Mayan Indians, Caribbean fairy tale and celebration on the Riviera. Prospective newlyweds can take advantage of these options or dream up their own ideal wedding in Mexico. Traditions and customs can become its basis.
- In Mayan style. Since your wedding is in Mexico, Indian traditions allow you to choose a place for the celebration in the jungle or a cave. The newlyweds themselves do not have to dress up as representatives of the Mayan civilization; it is enough to have the appropriate surroundings and actors around.
- A Caribbean fairytale involves a ceremony at the hotel, and the celebration takes place in the banquet hall or by the pool.
- A celebration on the Riviera is a ceremony on the beach accompanied by romantic Latin American music, with a rich table of national cuisine and a corresponding bar.
You can have a wedding on a wild beach to the accompaniment of mariachi.
Places for a photo shoot are selected by the newlyweds in advance. It could be a beach, a tropical jungle, a local village or an ancient architectural monument. If desired, the bride and groom can take photos in all of these places to highlight the diversity of the country. Photos in national costumes or in the style of the Mayan Indians would be useful.
A wedding in Mexico is a great holiday and a sea of romance
In recent years, an increasingly popular option for weddings is outdoor rituals held abroad.
Often newlyweds choose romantic places - hot countries with azure seas and white sand.
One of the most beautiful options in this case is a wedding in Mexico.
First of all, you must decide what type of ceremony you want to perform.
Will it be a full-fledged wedding or a symbolic ritual?
Official wedding
An official wedding for citizens of the Russian Federation outside of Russia is more difficult than at home, but it is quite feasible.
When holding a ceremony, it is important to remember that you need to book your registration in advance and arrive in Mexico at least four days before the wedding. In addition, you will definitely need to find an officially authorized person who will conduct the ceremony itself
In addition, you will definitely need to find an officially authorized person who will conduct the ceremony itself.
List of documents
In order to register a marriage in Mexico, you will need to prepare a package of documents.
You must have with you:
- copies of the newlyweds' passports;
- completed application form;
- a copy of the birth certificates of the bride and groom with an apostille, translated into Spanish;
- copies of passports of witnesses if they are foreigners.
You should also be prepared to have your blood tested for HIV upon arrival in Mexico.
The analysis results must be attached to the rest of the list of documents.
It is worth noting that if the test for the immunodeficiency virus is positive, you will be prohibited from holding a wedding in Mexico.
If one of the newlyweds has already been married, then according to Mexican laws, he can enter into another marriage no earlier than a year after the divorce.
To avoid misunderstandings, newlyweds should take with them a receipt confirming that they are single.
How will this be noted in Russian documents?
This type of ceremony is official, therefore, upon returning to Russia, you will be able to confirm the wedding and be considered spouses.
Once your marriage certificate is legalized, it will be sent to your address by international mail.
After this, you must make a notarized translation from Spanish and take the marriage certificate to the passport office.
Symbolic wedding
This is a more popular wedding option as it does not require anything other than a sum of money.
A symbolic wedding is suitable for those who recently got married in the Russian Federation and now want to hold a celebration, for those who are not going to get married at all, or for a married couple who wants to renew their vows.
In any of these cases, two plots are proposed for holding a symbolic wedding.
You can do this in the classical style or by resorting to the services of Mayan shamans.
Selecting a location
Most large hotels host weddings in Mexico.
Most often, future newlyweds choose a hotel in Cancun or the Riviera Maya, but you can also find weddings in Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Veracruz and the Yucatan.
Wedding cost
Of course, the cost of a wedding varies greatly depending on the conditions under which it is held. But an approximate price can be determined.
The price for an average symbolic wedding in Mexico will range from approximately $500-$3000.
A full wedding ceremony will cost you more. Its price starts from $2500 and goes up to $4000.
Additional hotel services
The hotel where you wish to hold your wedding ceremony will be happy to provide you with a number of additional services.
It is important to remember that all of them will be at an additional cost:
- hairdresser and makeup artist services;
- wedding dress rental;
- making a wedding bouquet and boutonniere;
- photographers Service;
- if you need witnesses - provision of witnesses from the hotel.
Wedding rituals in Mexico
Finally, I would like to tell you about several rituals used in Mexico during a wedding:
- After the ceremony, the newlyweds are usually sprinkled with red beads. This is done to attract good luck and success.
- Guests' outfits must be colorful.
- During the first dance of the newlyweds, all the guests line up in a big heart and join hands, while the spouses dance inside.
- The wedding cake consists mainly of fruit and is soaked in rum.
Perhaps you too would like to use these rituals?
What is the price
The total cost of a wedding in Mexico starts from $3,500, provided that it is a symbolic celebration for two without official registration at the local registry office. Otherwise, the amount will be increased by the amount of the state duty.
The base price includes tickets, hotel rooms, banquet facilities and a multi-course menu. Newlyweds should include in the total amount tickets and accommodation for all guests, booking of artists and musicians, services of a photographer and video operator, as well as stylists, decorators and presenters.
Attention! The costs of this can be reduced if you arrange the wedding and create your own image. However, it is better to order the services of musicians, photographers and videographers in Mexico, rather than taking specialists from your home country with you - it will be more economical.
As such, you do not need a visa to enter this country; you only need an electronic entry permit and a foreign passport. Despite this, you may need a Schengen visa costing 35 euros, since there are no direct flights from Russia to Mexico, and you will have to make a transfer in Europe or the USA. This step is skipped if the stay at the airport of the intermediate country will last no more than 24 hours and no one will leave the designated transit zone.
Additional Tips
When organizing a wedding in Mexico, newlyweds must think through all the details. It will be much more difficult than preparing a celebration in your home country, but everything is possible if you approach the matter responsibly. If you wish, you can always order the organization and holding of the celebration from a professional agency, although this will be more expensive.
Symbolic painting can be organized under an arch made of fresh and artificial flowers, ribbons and fabrics. Another option is to find two palm trees leaning towards each other and take vows of eternal love and fidelity under them. For this, you can also find a small bungalow on the pier; the Atlantic Ocean is ideal as a backdrop.
Wedding ceremony in Mexico: organization, ideas, traditions
More and more young couples are choosing to exchange rings and vows of eternal love in exotic countries. This event will be remembered for a lifetime for its unusualness and originality, and will delight you with unique photographs and pleasant memories. A wedding ceremony in Mexico is an incredible combination of mystical rituals, centuries-old traditions and romance.
Official and symbolic wedding
There are two ways to register a marriage on the Atlantic coast: officially and symbolically. In the second case, the newlyweds must exchange rings in advance at their place of residence, and in Mexico an unusual celebration with an exotic flavor awaits them. After the event, the husband and wife will receive memorable symbolic certificates that have no legal force.
Carrying out an official ceremony can be accompanied by certain difficulties. Mexico has fairly strict laws regarding marriage.
The bride and groom will need to provide an expanded package of documents, including officially certified results of HIV tests done in the country.
In addition, certain rules and restrictions apply at the official ceremony, including those regarding the number of guests. During the symbolic event, the presence of an unlimited number of invited participants is allowed.
Venues for the event
Regardless of the type of ceremony you choose, you can get married at the following venues:
- Maroma beaches, Riviera Maya;
- coast of the Yucatan island;
- Mexico City area;
- “Secret Garden” villas and other tourist complexes.
Many hotels and restaurants have specially equipped rooms and open areas for holding the main part of the event and banquet.
Traditional event
The official ceremony is most often held in the classical European style. Many young couples prefer to pay tribute to traditions during a symbolic wedding. Typically, such an event involves a classic white dress for the bride, a suit for the groom, and an ornate arch for the main part of the celebration.
The standard procedure takes place against the backdrop of the azure sea, golden sand and palm trees, which makes it truly unique and unforgettable. As a colorful addition, many organizers offer to organize performances by Mexican singers and performers of national music.
Wedding in Mayan style
For creative and courageous couples in love, a symbolic wedding in Indian style according to the ancient canons of the Mayan tribe is suitable. It includes a costume performance and the conclusion of a love union by the chief of the tribe.
The ceremony will always be accompanied by traditional chants and sounds made with the help of special musical instruments - huge sea shells and drums. Throughout the entire event, the newlyweds are fumigated with incense and perform many ritual Indian ceremonies.
Despite the fact that this ceremony is just a performance of Mexican mummers and has nothing to do with real Mayan traditions, the newlyweds will remember it for the rest of their lives. Unique photographs will become a real decoration of a wedding photo album.
Photo session in Mexico
The country is famous for its individual approach to the design of a wedding ceremony, even the most modest and low-budget one. A lot of attention is paid to little things, including when taking photos and videos. Professional photographers and the unique nature of Mexico will allow you to take high-quality, original photographs.
Don't miss the opportunity to capture a walk along the coast against the backdrop of palm trees, exotic flowers and sea waves. An unusual photo session can be carried out with traditional Mexican attributes: national clothing, musical instruments, even decorative skulls, which are considered a symbol of wisdom, love and happiness.
Regardless of the design, budget of the event and the chosen venue, a wedding in Mexico is a real fairy tale for lovers, combining the romance of nature, hot climate, unusual traditions and mystical rituals and superstitions. Such vivid impressions will stay with you for life!
Video on the topic of the article
We invite you to watch video reviews of the most popular, original and unusual symbolic wedding ceremonies in Mexico, held in accordance with Mayan rituals and more.
