Where in Mexico should we get married next March?

July 8, 2016 7:55 AM

Looking for a good Mexican destination wedding venue based on places you've stayed or weddings you've attended.

Here is what we are looking for in a wedding venue:

A secular space
An interesting space (hotel okay, maybe not the all-inclusive super resort type)
Pretty scenery, ideally mountains nearby or at least visible
Not too hard to get too (plane and shuttle okay, hike up side of mountain not okay)
Multiple lodging options for guests
Good food and drink for 50-80 guests

To give you an idea of what I'd do were it available -- there is a boutique hotel in Puerto Vallarta created from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's adjoining homes -- friends went there for dinner and raved. I don't really have a budget because I have no idea how much weddings cost. I've looked at Trip Advisor and a few other sites for something similar and it's overwhelming. I'm planning a trip in a few weeks to scout locations.

posted by *s to Travel & Transportation around Mexico (6 answers total)

Response by poster: Ugh, "to," not "too."
posted by *s at 8:50 AM on July 8, 2016

We went to a wonderful wedding at Xcaret in the Yucatan peninsula. The bride and groom were married in a secular ceremony in front of Mayan ruins on a rocky beach, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The accommodations were very reasonable, and the resort is all-inclusive (including alcohol).
posted by erst at 9:25 AM on July 8, 2016

I went to a wedding on Isla Mujeres, a bit off the coast of Cancun. Getting there is a flight to Cancun, then a ferry to the island.

It is extremely laid back and not at all built up. There are a couple mid-size hotels on the island, plus a number of smaller ones. There are some ruins to hike to, but mostly it's about beaches, drinking, and tacos mariscos (oh, those tacos!).

Ferries back and forth from Cancun a couple times a day, so day trips to the mainland are totally doable.
posted by bluejayway at 10:07 AM on July 8, 2016

Forgot to add that the ceremony itself was held on the beach, near one of the hotels, and the reception was in a sort of gigantic veranda-thing that was very nice. The island has a number of freelance wedding planners to help with the details. The larger hotels also have some event planners who are used to doing this kind of thing.
posted by bluejayway at 10:19 AM on July 8, 2016

Look at Valle de Guadalupe, which is Mexico's wine country. Stunning, full of amazing restaurants, most of them open air surrounded by vineyards. Beautiful wineries. Affordable. Great B&b's. An easy 3-4hr drive from San Diego.
posted by namemeansgazelle at 6:31 PM on July 8, 2016

Guanajuato?
Large number of boutique hotels available (with spaces to rent) and a short 25 minute taxi ride from the major airport. Also in the mountains with beautiful scenery.

(Bias: living there now)

Edit: for a starter list going through the officially designated Pueblos Mágicos will give you an idea of what's available.
posted by EsotericAlgorithm at 9:24 AM on July 9, 2016