Weddings and Honeymoons in Cancun
 The traditional church ceremony is not everyone`s idea of a dream wedding. Many couples prefer to tie the knot abroad where they can find peace and quiet, sunshine and an idyllic setting in which to make their vows.
The Mexican resort of Cancun is a popular location for getaway weddings. Its sunny Caribbean climate, white sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation are many couples' idea of paradise.
Some holiday companies offer a package which organises the whole event, from flights and hotel for the wedding couple and all their guests to the details of the ceremony itself. Alternatively, there are a plethora of companies only too willing to make all the arrangements in the resort on behalf of the couple. Individual wedding co-ordinators can be hired or, if the couple have a specific hotel venue in mind, the concierge service there will often put everything in place. A wedding package will usually arrange details such as the venue, photographer, flowers, food, music, transport and a video, as well providing a judge and witnesses, if required and help with the legal requirements.
For a marriage to be legal in Mexico there must be a civil ceremony performed by a judge. Some couples choose to also have a religious ceremony in a church or a non-denominational ceremony at another venue. If a Catholic wedding is desired, the couple must get married in a church. If a couple wants a religious ceremony and one or both of them are divorced, they may have to undergo counselling by the church officials beforehand.
Couples have a wide choice of venues available for their ceremony. Most hotels will offer a wedding package and the advantages of getting married at a hotel include the help of the concierge service and all the facilities on offer for both the wedding and the honeymoon.
Many hotels have private beaches available for wedding ceremonies or a wedding planner should be able to organise a ceremony on a beach chosen by the couple. Other venue options for the ceremony include on a boat, a scenic dock or ocean front location, or simply the registrar`s office.
Before getting married in Cancun, couples need to familiarise themselves with the legal requirements. A variety of documentation must be provided before the ceremony can take place including a valid passport; birth certificate; a Mexican entry visa or tourist card; documents confirming divorce or death of a previous spouse if applicable and results of blood tests.
Wedding couples have to arrive in Cancun at least three working days before the wedding ceremony to submit all the documents and have the blood tests done and the bride and groom-to-be must each have two witnesses at the ceremony. These will usually be provided by the wedding planner if the couple have not brought their own witnesses.
Finally, the couple need to relax and enjoy their day. Then all they need to worry about is how to find enough time during their honeymoon to visit all the wonderful sites surrounding Cancun, including the ancient Mayan sites of Tulum and Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World; the elegant city of Merida and the spectacular eco park of Xcaret.
Best of all, a wedding in paradise is available to anyone, not just the rich and famous. Thanks to the wide range of hotels in Mexico`s favourite resort and the easy accessibility by air, it is possible to find cheap holidays in Cancun so that the cost of the wedding does not need to bankrupt the newly wed couple. |
