When planning your Mexico wedding remember you set the tone. Whether it's on a beach surrounded by friends or in one of the magnificent villas overlooking the ocean, your destination Mexico wedding will be a romantic adventure to remember.
Choose Your Location
You can choose from an almost limitless variety of locations and scenic backdrops for your Mexico wedding. Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas are popular with beach-loving couples. The Yucatan coast offers exotic tropical scenery. If you long to snorkel, sightsee, and explore the breathtaking history of Aztec ruins, Cancun may be the place for you. Resorts offering wedding-package deals can also be found in such places as Ixtapa, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco. If you can't decide, let your travel agent make suggestions. He or she can guide you to a choice that will please both you and your fiance.
Designing Your Big Day
You can research your options yourself, or enlist the help of a wedding planner who specializes in destination Mexico weddings. Most couples opt for a wedding package, with flowers, music, dinner, and the photographer arranged by the resort or hotel. An internet search will reveal many such wedding and honeymoon packages. Start researching early so you'll be sure to wind up with the wedding day you really want.
Crossing the Border
To enter Mexico, you will need either a passport or a valid birth certificate. On arrival, you will go through Customs. This entails filling out a declaration form, and may involve a spot-check of your luggage. If your guests have never been to Mexico, inform them of these regulations so they'll be prepared. (See Destination Wedding Etiquette.)
Marriage Regulations
You must fulfill certain requirements in order for your marriage to be legally recognized once you're back in the United States. Before leaving the U.S., each of you must have a certified copy of your birth certificate legalized by the Consulate of Mexico with jurisdiction over your country of birth. Once you arrive in Mexico, you must get a blood test, and your wedding will need to be a civil ceremony presided over by a Justice of the Peace. You will also need two witnesses over the age of 18. Make sure you, your fianc? and your witnesses have valid identification (such as a birth certificate). These regulations are subject to change, so be sure to double-check them about a month before you plan to leave.
Using Currency in Mexico
Once the wedding festivities are over, a little honeymoon shopping may be in order. The peso is Mexico's national currency, but you should be able to use American dollars in most major establishments. (If you shop off the beaten path, Mexican currency will probably be required.) Bring along a major credit card, too. Many shops accept them.
With a little planning, your destination Mexico wedding can be the day you've always dreamed it would be. Use your creativity and imagination to make it perfect. In Mexico, the sky's the limit.
