Finding the right place for your dream wedding. By David Mandich.
Baja Sur offers the betrothed many extraordinary locations where wedding dreams can come true. You will be able to plan the most special day of your life in any manner you have ever imagined. From the purely romantic to the less traditional, Los Cabos offers every option in an unforgettable setting.
A ceremony by the sea, with a soft breeze blowing through the bride’s hair as you stroll barefoot along the sand resplendent in your wedding attire, is perfect for many. Other dream-like options range from sunset ceremonies asea on luxurious yachts, poolside at a favorite resort, or dinner dancing at choice restaurants or private clubs aglow in traditional Mexican décor and ambience.
In fact, some of the best venues to hold your wedding and reception are the very same surroundings where you proposed marriage. How romantic to relive that intimate moment when you committed to each other, and now exchange vows before your family and friends in the same place.
BEACHES: Most resort hotels offer options for wedding ceremonies and receptions in their restaurants and ballrooms. However, for exchanging vows, hotel beach locations are favorites among destination wedding parties. Whatever option you prefer, from extravagant to simple, elegant to casual, any wish can be accommodated.
Beautiful isolated coves, bays, and beaches abound in Baja Sur and Los Cabos. For example, Chileno Bay beach, located along the Los Cabos corridor, is surrounded by a grove of palm trees shading a nearly deserted sandy shore. If you want to keep your vows and reception more private, you may want to plan your special event at Chileno Bay beach during the week. On weekends, the splendor of Chileno attracts families, who in true Mexican style, will love to join with you in the happiness of your celebration. This beach on the carretera is the area’s only beach with public restrooms. It gets easier to select a beach locale when you remember that such facilities on any beach are about as common as rain in the desert. Don’t overlook this in planning for the comfort of your guests.
Farther up the Pacific coast at Los Cerritos Beach Club & Surf, about 10 miles south of Todos Santos, plan a sand-under-your-feet event for a small group. The full-bar and beach restaurant is at the end of a mile and a half somewhat bumpy dirt road, but it’s worth the trip.
BOATS: The 144’ vessel, Cabo Rey, offers a first class dining, dancing, and a wedding venue for groups of up to 300. The waiters, dressed in formal black jackets, are professionally trained, and the boat’s lovely dining room and menu are superb.
Do you dream of getting married like a celebrity on a million dollar yacht? Cabo Yacht Management features yachts up to 72’ on which to host your dream wedding. After tying the knot, take a romantic honeymoon cruise on the Sea of Cortez to the nearby magical island of Espiritu Santo where you can drop anchor in a secluded cove created millions of years ago by an extinct volcano. Cabo Yachts has fully crewed and catered yachts available for charters or lease.
Have your ceremony with Cabo’s Lands End arches for an irresistible photo backdrop aboard a La Princesa 50’ catamaran, perfect for destination weddings or for small groups on a budget. Catamarans don’t heel in the wind; they sail fast and level, so even in choppy waters you won’t have to be concerned about spilling your champagne. Promises followed by a run out to sea chasing the alluring setting sun make special wedding day memories.
CATHEDRALS, CHURCHES AND WEDDING CHAPELS: The exclusive One and Only Palmilla hotel and downtown San Jose’s El Encanto Inn both have lovely picturesque wedding chapels. Palmilla offers an on-staff wedding planner and conference center for holding a big bash after the exchange of vows, while El Encanto boasts a charming private patio, adjacent to a serene lush garden and sparkling pool area, just right for more intimate groups. Post-reception, wedding guests can stay on at either hotel, which in itself is a pleasure.
Traditional Mexican religious ceremonies can be held in San Jose del Cabo’s historic cathedral, located on the town’s plaza. Catholic churches in Todos Santos, Santiago, and Miraflores, all about an hour north of Los Cabos, are the heart of these villages, treasured and respected places for special occasions.
BOUTIQUE HOTELS & RESORTS: A lovely poolside wedding overlooking the sea and under swaying palms can be performed at many of Los Cabos’ hotels and resorts. Playa Grande and Pueblo Bonito Sunset resort hotels offer wedding services and venues with a wide range of pricing options, not to mention indulgent spas to stimulate the senses and instill serenity as your wedding day is upon you. The Sheraton Hacienda del Mar’s gazebo, with a spacious lawn for seating guests or holding post-wedding receptions, overlooks the beach creating a beautiful setting for any type of wedding. For a more extravagant reception, the award-winning Pitahayas restaurant at Hacienda del Mar delivers an unrivaled menu and a romantic candlelight setting under a grand palapa, with the sound of waves crashing on the shore below you. Of course, complete hotel amenities assure you and your guests will be well indulged at any of these resorts.
The 22-room boutique Cabo Surf Hotel, located on the beach in San Jose del Cabo, can take you back to a time before mega hotels. While dining on the hotel terrazzo, guests can often see 50’s surfing legends like Mike Doyle and Walt Phillips catching waves. Say, “I do” on the hotel’s lawn next to the infinity pool overlooking the sea, or below on the sandy beach. Their Sea Spa caters to the betrothed and newlyweds with special services from bridal make-ups to a dreamy hydro-whirlpool massage for couples. Rated one of the top 10 boutique hotels in the world by Elle magazine, you can experience the magic of sunrise and surfers over breakfast, whales and dolphins over lunch, and the moonrise on the Sea of Cortez over dinner.
In Todos Santos, the Hotel California is legendary, intimate, and decorated in eclectic yet sophisticated laid back Mexican deco. For the back-to-nature types, check out the beautiful Las Palmas beach a few miles south of town (rent a port-a-potty for this one) or the very small Las Posas boutique hotel near the beach on a beautiful lagoon. It’s up-scale, idyllic and secluded. Be sure to check hotel capacity before the invitations are mailed.
All hotels offer a little something special, so it is a good idea to look into each one to find a location that best meets your expectations. Wherever you decide to celebrate your big day, a local bi-lingual planner who has experience with the legal documentation, catering, photographers, music, printers, flowers, and anything else you may need, is advised, unless you are intending to do it all yourself. For example, Baja Weddings has over twenty years of experience here in Los Cabos, planning and executing every imaginable kind of wedding, from intimate to grand. The talent at this company has secured relationships with the best local service providers who want your wedding to be as wonderful as you do. Baja Weddings, Weddings in Paradise, and Romantic Baja Weddings are all recommended for their consistently first-rate event and wedding planning. Los Cabos has become a popular location for destination weddings. The number of wedding and event planners, caterers, and DMCs (Destination Management Companies) has grown, so research and compare companies before choose the one that will be best for you as you plan your special moment in paradise.
Baja California Sur is a dazzling place to have a wedding that will leave you and your guests with wonderful memories to last a lifetime. Of course, the best advice for any bride and groom is to have a carefree, enjoyable, blissful wedding day for themselves. After all is said and done, love is all you need.
