If you want to say your vows at a Mexican beach town that offers a tropical paradise and has a sunny coastal escape, a Puerto Vallarta wedding is what you’re looking for.
It is a resort-rich place but carries a local vibe. Compare this with a Cancun wedding that has more tourists each year. If you’re looking for a quieter place, Puerto Vallarta is the perfect destination for you.
Cut through the chaos of a busy touristy place and have a vibrant beach wedding that steals your heart. It has beautiful contrasting colors of white, green, and blue, complete with purple jacaranda flowers that are all over the spectacular cobblestone streets of the town.
About Destination Weddings in Puerto Vallarta
Why Get Married in Puerto Vallarta
This Mexican town offers a fancy choice of boutique hotels and beach resorts so your wedding day is absolutely stress-free and you can enjoy it like a vacation.
Situated in the middle of Banderas Bay and Sierra Madre mountains, this city has tropical forests, scrumptious dishes, art galleries, traditional shops, and an astonishing boardwalk.
A Puerto Vallarta wedding offers so much more than just a beach destination. It also has water sports, historical places, marine life, and the kind of Mexican paradise you have always imagined. The beaches here are clean and yet give a raw, unkempt look that makes them all the more attractive.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Puerto Vallarta
An all-inclusive Puerto Vallarta wedding might cost you between $5,000 and $10,000. For this amount, you’ll get a beach ceremony, wedding décor, DJ, lights, a wedding cake, an open bar, and a private buffet dinner at the beach.
Some add-ons might be free depending on your package. These add-ons may include a pre-wedding cocktail and sparkling wine for the toast. You can also add flight and/or accommodation costs according to your budget.
Buying a package reduces the hassle of finding individual vendors for all services. Most resorts have predesigned wedding packages.
The Best Puerto Vallarta Wedding Venues & Puerto Vallarta Wedding Packages
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Bask in the beauty of an excellent beachfront and enjoy modern amenities such as on-site restaurants and an alluring infinity pool. The resort has its own Tequila Casa Magna to add a touch of extra delight to your experience.
Marriott Puerto Vallarta is situated comfortably near the Galerias Vallarta Mall downtown so when you’re preparing for your Puerto Vallarta wedding, you can visit the mall for fun.
All suites and rooms of the hotel come with individual balconies and terraces so you can enjoy the incredible views of the place. The resort’s fitness center offers high-quality gym equipment so you can continue your daily workouts even as you plan for the wedding.
There are 15 venues and you can select among them for additional events at your wedding. Make sure you enjoy an aromatherapy session or a couples massage in the Ohtli Spa. A golf club is nearby so you can have a relaxed Sunday afternoon.
Since the resort has its own range of tequila, make sure you try a bottle of their Casa Magna Blanco. Also, enjoy authentic Mexican delicacies and international culinary delights at any of the resort’s six restaurants.
Wyndham Alltra Riviera Nayarit
Located in the middle of the Pacific coastline and in beautiful green tropical forests, Wyndham Alltra is an all-inclusive family-friendly resort that offers exciting wedding packages.
Planning your dream Puerto Vallarta wedding here is easy because the resort offers several wedding packages. With beachfront access, pristine pools, contemporary accommodation, and live entertainment, Wyndham Alltra will keep your guests entertained throughout their stay.
There are memorable views and many event spaces for you to plan your wedding. And if you want a beachfront wedding, you’re welcome to hold the event near the turquoise blue waters. The resort offers a professional wedding specialist to guide you with all the wedding-related activities.
With luxurious accommodations and 5-star facilities, your guests will have a pleasurable stay. Also, there are bars and restaurants where the guests can drink and dine. This sophisticated and contemporary resort will offer you an amazing romantic retreat.
Rejuvenate before the wedding by relaxing in the Aura Spa. Whether you want to celebrate your wedding or want a vow renewal, there are different packages for all needs – from a seaside elopement to a lavish affair that involves hundreds of guests.
Playa Fiesta
If you’re planning on staying in a boutique hotel, check out this award-winning option in Puerto Vallarta. Playa Fiesta specializes in intimate weddings with up to 150 guests.
You can accommodate your guests in penthouse suites, ocean-view suites, terrace suites, or standard rooms. The spectacular ocean views, outdoor bars, and immaculate pools combine to make this an absolutely charming place. No wonder they have hosted over seven hundred weddings.
The hotel has personalized wedding planning and you can plan while staying in your home country through emails and online meetings. There are six completely customizable wedding packages so you can easily plan your dream wedding.
When you arrive at the destination, the hotel staff will help you rehearse the wedding and plan for the entire week before the wedding so you can have a stress-free experience. The wedding day will be fully coordinated so everything goes as planned.
Each room in the hotel is styled like a villa. You can get single-bed or multiple-bed suites. Say your vows under any of their wedding pergolas and hold the reception at the place of your choice. Here you can get a private wedding reception with your loved ones.
Sheraton Buganvilias Resort
Plan your Puerto Vallarta wedding in tranquil facilities located in beautiful coastal surroundings. Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Make it memorable in the most enchanting settings.
Since you’re looking for a peaceful paradise that can make the event even more memorable, an ordinary hotel won’t work. The Sheraton Buganvilias Resort offers multiple event spaces which provide several modern amenities that include everything from wellness to dining.
And of course, the guest services of this resort are unmatchable. It’s the perfect venue for someone looking for a refined and relaxed wedding.
The place has over 25,000 square feet of event space and 20 rooms exclusive to wedding celebrations. Whether you want a grand celebration or an intimate event, this venue provides it all. With an arrangement to accommodate up to 650 guests, Sheraton Buganvilias is known for its ability to hold luxurious events.
Given the number of versatile spaces and services, you can also hold your engagement or bachelorette party here.
There is an in-house wedding coordinator to help you with your wedding needs. Also, there are several types of accommodation choices for your guests. There are suites as well as rooms with private patios.
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
Hyatt Ziva is an all-inclusive resort that offers exceptional modern amenities and stunning ocean views. It has a private beach and can host small elopements to huge celebrations. No matter what your Puerto Vallarta wedding needs are, you can fulfill them at this hotel.
The place has an elegant event space with breathtaking ceremony locations. Whether you want an ocean-front gazebo or an indoor celebration, you can enjoy the perfect moments here with your special one.
There are facilities to hold an open-air drinks reception along with an astonishing ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 guests for an evening reception. And of course, there are luxurious and modern accommodation options for your guests as well.
There are hot tubs, private pools, ocean-view balconies, handcrafted furniture, a luxury spa, swimming pools, and an amazing range of international cuisines.
The hotel offers several wedding packages that can be easily customized. There are lavish and opulent packages along with more intimate options. Depending on the package you select, you’ll get catering, beverages, beauty treatment, décor, etc.
While you’re here, you can enjoy the views of the cliffs and the sounds of the waves. It’s the perfect destination for your perfect wedding.
Puerto Vallarta Destination Wedding Legal Requirements
Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings
When you get legally married in your home country and visit Puerto Vallarta for wedding rituals and celebrations, it’s called a symbolic wedding. As a couple, you get symbolically married here but the actual or legal wedding has already taken place back in your home country.
When you get legally married in Puerto Vallarta, it’s called a legal or a civil wedding. In this type of wedding, all the paperwork will be done here and you’ll get married in Mexico.
Legal weddings are more expensive than symbolic weddings because of the extra cost of paperwork.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
Here are the documents you’ll need for a civil wedding in Puerto Vallarta:
- Passports of bride and groom
- Birth certificates of bride and groom
- A No impediment certificate
- A statement of health from a Mexican medical institute
- A statutory declaration
- Divorce or death certificates of previous partners, if applicable.
You need a no-impediment certificate from your local registry before you leave your country. It costs approximately $30 and should be translated into Spanish.
Legal Marriage Timeline
A no-impediment certificate shows that you are free to get married. Before leaving for Mexico, make sure you get it translated into Spanish. Once you get the form, you need to wait for some time until the intent to marry gets posted at the local registry office.
Once it is done, you can go to Mexico to get married. You’ll find the right documents at the registry office in Puerto Vallarta. Once you get married there, you’ll get a marriage certificate.
Most hotels and resorts in Puerto Vallarta will help you with the paperwork. Mexico recognizes same-sex marriages.
Puerto Vallarta Destination Wedding Planning Tips
How to Get There
Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport is the only commercial airport in the city. There are several non-stop flights to and from the U.S. The major airlines serving here are Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and others.
There are three priority pass lounges at the airport. The airport is about a 5-minute drive from the marine region. There are official taxi counters outside the airport and you can take a taxi to your hotel. Most hotels also have shuttle services so it’s best to confirm with them before you arrive in Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta Weather
Puerto Vallarta has a tropical climate that stays hot all year round. Winters last from December to April and are dry and warm. The rainy season lasts from June to October and is pretty muggy.
While winters are warm, they can occasionally be windy and cool. August is the warmest month and February is the coldest.
The winter temperature can go down to 10oC in February and up to 32oC in August. The months between June to October witness typical tropical heat.
Rainy season comes in August and September and the city gets plenty of sunshine even during the rains. However, the rainy season is considered unpleasant by tourists.
Budgeting Tips
Here are some budgeting tips:
- Since Puerto Vallarta is not as touristy as Cancun, the resorts and hotels here offer cheaper packages.
- Many hotels run deals and discounts so you can discuss their best pricing before booking a place.
- Save money on food by trying authentic Mexican tacos at taco stands instead of dining at expensive restaurants.
- Spa treatments are generally expensive. Instead of spending a day at the resort spa, you can go hiking.
- If you want a relaxed day, just head to any beach in the city or even outside the city.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Puerto Vallarta
April to June offer the best and the most pleasant weather for a Puerto Vallarta wedding. There are no rains in these months. While winters are pleasant too, the winter months see heavy tourist footfall.
If you want a relaxed and intimate wedding here, it’s best to avoid the heavy tourist season. Besides, you might get good deals from hotels from April to June.
Interested in a different destination? Check out our Maui wedding and Florida wedding guides.
