Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Los Cabos Wedding Cake

Planning a wedding in Los Cabos? Check out these devilishly delicious and gorgeous wedding cake options, as named best wedding cake in Los Cabos with extensive flavors and combinations.

Applying for a Marriage License in Mexico

When planning a destination wedding, it can be easy to push off or overlook the less glamorous aspects of planning, however there are important steps that must be factored in when planning a wedding outside of the U.S. Try to give yourself a month before the ceremony to get the legal aspects taken care of. Here are a few topics and tips to keep in mind when planning your Mexican wedding:

  1. Ceremony: A marriage in Mexico is only legal if it is a civil ceremony performed at a local Civil Register Office. You must plan for this in addition to your religious ceremony. 
  2. Waiting Period: There is a waiting period of 2 or 3 days in Mexico which varies from state to state. Make sure to factor in this time to have your paperwork processed. 
  3. Tests: Several blood tests are required before a marriage can be legally made. It is recommended that they be done in Mexico two days prior to your wedding, average cost is $125 per person. 
  4. Fees: It will cost you approximately $200 to get married in Mexico.
  5. Miscellaneous: Weddings are not performed on Sundays. 
Do your research! Make sure you are fully familiar with the various rules and regulations getting married in Mexico. 

DIY Wedding Placemats


Suddenly Inspired DIY Placemats from Lindye Galloway on Vimeo.

Mexican Wedding Traditions

If you're planning a destination wedding to Mexico, you may want to include some traditional Mexican wedding customs as a fun way to incorporate your destination into your ceremony and reception. Here are a few Mexican traditions that may add a nice touch to a getaway wedding:

  1. During the vows, a white ribbon or rosary--called a lasso--is wrapped around the necks of the couple, representing their union. 
  2. It is customary for a Mexican groom to give his wife a wedding gift of 13 gold coins, which are blessed by the  priest during the ceremony. This represents his commitment to support his new wife. 
  3. As the newlyweds leave the church, guests toss red beads to bring good luck.
  4. At a traditional reception, it is customary for guests to form a heart shape around the newlywed couple, as they begin their first dance as husband and wife.
  5. A pinata is hung from the ceiling at many Mexican receptions--generally shaped like a heart or an animal and filled with candy to be hit at by the children. 
  6. Mexican wedding cakes are usually fruit cake soaked in rum.

Handmade Wedding Rings


I love the look of Rust's wedding rings and unique jewelry. The look is inspired from antique markets around London, as well as pictures in history books.

Rust's jewelry is exclusively handmade in London and their precious metals are hallmarked at the St. Paul's Assay Office. Check out their gorgeous rings and other handmade jewelry! Find out more information on these handmade rings from The Wedding Chicks.

10 Great Places to Get Married

Today Online lists a wedding in Mexico as one of the top 10 great locations for a dream wedding, stating that for many couples with families from different sides of the country, a getaway wedding to Mexico can provide a great way for both families to meet in the middle.

In such situations, a destination wedding can also be a way to save money. While a wedding in a large city like New York would often start around $40,000, a destination wedding in Mexico will often fall between $5,000 and $8,000.

Wedding planner Sasha Souza says that although couples having a destination wedding are likely to invite fewer people, they generally put more effort into entertaining the whole wedding party--creating a more memorable experience. "Everyone has been to a luxury hotel but a destination wedding is something special," explains Souza.


Monday, May 30, 2011

Cabo Destination Wedding Photographers

Destination Weddings in Cancun and Playa

If you're considering a destination wedding in either Cancun or Playa Del Carmen, you'll want to read this account of Joy Crutchfield's fabulous 5-day destination wedding seminar and some of the insights she walked away with!

Get Help Planning Your Mexican Wedding

Looking for a resource for consolidated information to help in planning your destination wedding? I found the site Destination Bride to be tremendously helpful, with suggestions and information on everything from accommodations and resorts; to flowers and photography; to helpful hints while traveling, like standard customs for tipping in restaurants.

Lisa Light, Ltd. is a full-service events and multi-media company which specializes in planning destination weddings.

SunMex Weddings

SunMex Weddings, based out of Los Angeles, is a group of experts on booking wedding groups and helping individuals make travel arrangements to Mexico. Check them out!

Destination Wedding Invitation Tips

Planning for a destination wedding can be a challenging task, largely because it is important to do so far enough in advance to give your guests time to make arrangements. Here are a few tips on selecting your invitations for a getaway wedding:

1. Your selection should be based on your wedding theme or destination 
-Including a theme will make the wedding planning process easier and more cohesive, even if that theme is simply your destination. 

2. Choose from a pre-designed selection of wedding invitations, rather than designing them yourself. 
-This will simplify the process--ensuring that details are not overlooked and you stay within budget. 

3. Your guests need details!
-In addition to general information about the wedding and reception, be sure to include information on travel arrangements, accommodations, excursions and events. 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Top Beaches in Mexico for Destination Weddings

If you've decided that you want a wedding in Mexico, but aren't sure what location to settle on, the process of researching destinations can be daunting to say the least. 

Forbes Traveler consulted with a panel of travel agents, writers and tour operators to provide this list of some of the best spots in Mexico to consider for the beach wedding of your dreams:

  • Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen
  • Chacala Beach near Puerto Vallarta 
  • Bahias de Huatulco, Oaxaca
  • Playa del Amor, Cabo San Lucas
  • Mayakoba Beach, Riviera Maya
  • North Beach, Isla Mujeres
  • Loreto, Baja
  • Four Seasons, Punta Mita
  • El Careyes Beach Careyes

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

View This Fun Video From Marnie Recker Photography!

Riviera Nayarit Listed Among Top 10 Places for a Destination Wedding

Planning a destination wedding? Consider Riviera Nayarit, which USA Today names the next great place for travel.

Nayarit is comprised of 20 locales, a stretch of coastline extending from Nuevo Vallarta in the south to San Blas in the north. Ranging from luxurious and sprawling resorts to sleepy fishing towns and boutique hotels, Riviera Nayarit offers something for every traveler. The area's authentic Mexican flavor and history add to its charm, and provides an abundance of opportunities for exploration to those that visit. 

The beauty and culture of the area make it a prime location for a destination wedding, and will ensure that your guests are never short of activities or site-seeing opportunities. View the full list of top wedding destinations from The Edmonton Journal

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Destination Wedding in Cabo San Lucas

For couples looking for an exotic destination wedding that won't break the bank, consider Cabo San Lucas.  Cabo's white beaches and relaxed atmosphere lends to its charm and makes it the ideal setting for a laid-back beach wedding.

Click here for more destination wedding pictures by Phindy Studios Photography



Monday, May 23, 2011

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

Add a little bit of Mexican flair to your wedding with Mexican Wedding Cookies. Mexican wedding cookies are nutty cookies dusted in powdered sugar.  No Mexican wedding would be complete without this cookie! Try the allrecipe.com version at home to test out for yourself how delicious these little treats are.


Wedding Centerpiece Ideas

Your Mexico wedding centerpiece can range from formal, elegant to festive so don't feel boxed in!

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/melanie-and-kerr#slide_4

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zaheerabadat/2835093717/in/set-72157607158885067/

http://www.destinationweddingmag.com/no-index/image/apr-11/capus-mexico-wedding-centerpiecesjpg

One-Stop Shop for a Wedding Photographer in Mexico

Here's a little secret for an easy, pain-free way to scope out local photographers for a wedding in Mexico - go to the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP) directory.

The society has an in-depth directory of local photographers by sortable by location. I've linked to the Mexico section and the directory lays out simple information such as photographer's contact info, website, home location, one line business description, photography style, and starting price.

A wedding planning step made stress-free!

Screenshot of ISPWP directory of wedding photographers in Mexico

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Experience One Couple's Unique Candle-lit Wedding in Mexico

Looking for inspiration to plan your destination wedding? Watch this 12-minute heartwarming and beautiful video of a couple’s planned wedding ceremony in Mexico, as found on the photographer's friend, Ben Chrisman’s blog. The candle-lit ceremony and the neon floor will inspire you to seek out your own special wedding touches and have you wishing you were in Mexico.


Ben and Erin from Vladimir Chaloupka on Vimeo.

Planning an Intimate Beach Wedding in Cancun, Mexico



Why plan a wedding in Mexico? Two words…the beach! Look at this Creative Weddings and Occasions post for pictures of a small, intimate beach wedding in Cancun, Mexico. What more do you need from a wedding than a beach setting, your family, and a tres leche wedding cake?

Picking a Wedding Theme

Don’t know where to start for your wedding planning? Picking a wedding theme can be a great starting point. Paula from El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels suggests themes that have been used by clients who have planned a wedding in Mexico. Read more here to plan your eco-friendly, vintage, or geek-chic wedding.