Are you dreaming of an intimate tropical elopement in the Riviera Maya of Mexico?
With the concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more engaged couples like you are turning their attention towards a more simple solution: eloping.
Maybe you were forced to cancel or reschedule your wedding because of social distancing measures?
Or maybe you had to reschedule a destination wedding because of travel restrictions?
The wedding industry worldwide has been rocked by this miserable Coronavirus. However, as with all other aspects of this new world we are living in, the very best thing we can do is pivot, adapt and be flexible to change.
No one knows when this will be behind us, so rather than planning a big wedding around a moving target date, why not just elope in Mexico?
It’s a Win-Win! You can get married now, and then celebrate with a big party later when this is finally in the rearview mirror.
But you may be wondering what is involved in planning a destination elopement in Mexico?
We are elopement professionals in the Riviera Maya, and we want to help make this easy and seamless for you. Read on for five simple steps on how to elope in Mexico.
Check out Vanessa & Mike’s romantic Holbox elopement here
1. Do you want to get legally married in Mexico?
The first step in the elopement process is to consider whether you want to have a civil (legal) ceremony or a symbolic (non-legal) ceremony.
Consider the differences:
What do you need for a civil ceremony?
- Passports, including copies, for both of you and FOUR witnesses
- Tourist cards (these are issued when you enter Mexico)
- Your birth certificates and copies
- Divorce or death certificates (You must be divorced for ONE year before re-marrying in Mexico)
- Blood test results, done no more than 15 days before your wedding day
- Marriage request form
Everything must be translated by a certified translator and notarized in Mexico. Then your ceremony must be performed by an officiant of the civil registry of the local municipality in Mexico.
I know, this sounds a bit overwhelming at first, but don’t worry, this is why we have wedding planners! They will hold your hand through it all. (Contact us to be connected with the best!)
*An important note: If you are a US citizen who wants to get legally married in Mexico, certain states will require your marriage certificate be translated into English to be recognized as legal. Find your state on the list here.
Our Keep it Simple Tip!
If you would rather not jump through all these hoops, we have a solution:
Have a symbolic (non-legal) ceremony instead! You can have anyone you want to perform the ceremony, like a friend or a Mayan Shaman, and you don’t need witnesses, so your ceremony will be intimate and uniquely yours. Then you simply visit city hall in your hometown for the legal paperwork.
2. Do you want an all-inclusive resort wedding?
The next step in planning your Riviera Maya elopement is deciding on a wedding venue for your ceremony. Many people automatically think of all-inclusive wedding resorts when they think of getting married in Mexico, and this can be a fantastic option with hundreds of resorts to fit your style and budget.
The upside to planning an all-inclusive resort elopement is that everything is taken care of for you. You are assigned a wedding coordinator, and they take care of the rest!
The downside is that you will lose any creative control. You will need to use their wedding vendors, or be faced with an outside vendor fee, or what they might call a vendor penalty. In a nutshell, if you want to bring in your photographer and videographer, hair and makeup, florist or officiant, they will charge you a hefty price to do so. Read more about Outside Vendor Fees and how to handle them.
Our Keep it Simple Tip!
Stay wherever you want, and then plan your elopement off-site or off the resort. We have fantastic, professional wedding planners in the Riviera Maya who will take care of all the details for you. But where else can you get married? This brings us to step three…
See more from Kevin & Shelly’s intimate elopement here
3. Do you want a beach wedding ceremony?
When you picture yourself saying “I Do!” in Mexico, is your vision of sandy toes, warm sunshine, and the sounds of the Caribbean sea?
If you are nodding your head YES! then you are definitely coming to the right place! You have a ton of options for beach wedding venues in the Riviera Maya. Besides the obvious all-inclusive resort option (see above) you can also choose from any number of off-resort wedding venues like beach clubs and private beachfront villas or penthouses. If you want to explore your options, just contact us, we can help!
But! If you are the unconventional, adventurous types, you can go beyond the beach. The stretch from Cancun to Tulum is a veritable playground for the bold and the brave! Have your wedding ceremony in a jungle cenote, take the plunge on a private boat charter, or getting married under the sea. The world is your oyster!
Our Keep it Simple Tip!
Your most basic elopement option is to stroll out to a quiet piece of the seaside on a public access beach with your officiant and say your vows there. The beaches in Mexico are all federal property, and public, so a short, sweet barefoot elopement is easy. No bells and whistles. Just the two of you and the salty breeze on your sun-kissed skin.
4. Do you want any wedding guests?
Eloping used to mean running away to get married without telling anyone. But times have changed and so have the Do’s and Dont’s of elopement etiquette.
These days eloping can still be just the two of you, but it can also mean an intimate wedding with a few loved ones there to support you and share the adventure. If you keep your guest list to under 10 people, then you still keep the option of choosing any wedding venue that appeals to you, without needing to consider permits.
This really comes down to personal circumstances. Consider inviting guests when:
- Your family will be upset if they are not invited to share your wedding day.
- You want a loved one to marry you to add a personal touch to your wedding.
And you should keep it just the two of you when:
- You want to avoid the stress that comes as a result of others imposing their opinions and desires on you.
- You hope to just pop out of town at a moment’s notice. (This could be tricky for others, especially now!)
Our Keep it Simple Tip!
Minimize stress and planning by keeping your guest list very small, or to just the two of you. Then have a big party at home to celebrate once social distancing is a thing of the past!
5. Do you want photography or videography coverage of your elopement ceremony?
The final step in planning your Riviera Maya elopement is making a decision about how to capture the memory!
Photography and videography elopement packages start with basic coverage of 45 minutes to one hour if budget is top of mind and you are only looking for ceremony coverage, plus a little extra.
We recommend packages of 1.5 to 2 hours of coverage if you want several different backdrops, such as bright, colorful city streets, Mayan ruins, lush jungle and of course, tropical beach locations. More time will also offer the opportunity to get playful with a sexy Trash the Dress session if that appeals to you!
Either way, do not skimp on photo and/or video coverage. Your loved ones will want to share the moment with you, and professional photos or a romantic film are the best way to do that.
Our Keep it Simple Tip!
Contact us now for help! We are the elopement experts in the Riviera Maya, and can help you put it all together. We work with the very best local photographers, videographers, wedding planners, officiants, florists, venues, and hair & makeup artists. We are your one-stop-shop for an effortless, easy-peasy, super fun destination elopement!
Yes, the Coronavirus may have shifted your wedding plans, but you can still have a dreamy, boho wedding experience. A destination elopement in Mexico is the perfect solution, and is easy to arrange by following our five simple steps!
We wish you the best of luck on your elopement adventure, and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us directly, or comment below.
Would you like to learn more about Fun In The Sun Weddings?
- Go to our Wedding Photography Service Page now.
