Riviera Nayarit, on Mexico’s west coast, encompasses all that is fantastíco about our neighbor to the south.
By: Maya Vanderberg
Photo courtesy of Hard Rock
Here, awesome beaches, amazing hotels and excellent cuisine abound in untouched nature. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the sprawling resort area with almost 200 miles of picture-perfect Pacific coastline stretches from just north of popular Puerto Vallarta to sleepy San Blas and is home to a plethora of boho beach towns, classic colonial cities and upscale enclaves — perfect for hosting a chic destination wedding.
W Punta de Mita
Photo courtesy of W Punta De Mita
Imagine a white curtained canopy adorned with seasonal owers on powdery sands and your guests happily waiting to watch you walk down the aisle. At the year-old boutique W Punta de Mita, this will be your reality. (And if the weather gods aren’t on your side, the hotel also sports three indoor rooms with space for up to 90 guests plus state-of-the-art extras like evocative audio effects and signature scents.)
Photo courtesy of W Punta De Mita
Situated right on a strand that kisses Banderas Bay, this funky addition to the posh Punta Mita resort zone offers a modern twist on the area’s indigenous Huichol art and culture. The 119 guest rooms and suites are quirky in style and decor (a favorite touch is the Frida Kahlo-emblazoned surfboard) and showcase sweeping views of the sparkling ocean.
Photo courtesy of W Punta De Mita
Before or after the wedding, laze on the sun-drenched WET deck in a private pool cabana, book a treatment for two at the 4,000-square-foot Away Spa or dig into Southeast Asian delights at Jean-Georges Vongeri- chten’s lauded Spice Market restaurant (wedding packages start at $245 per person and include a beach or garden ceremony and a reception with a three-course dinner, basic open bar for ve hours, and some owers).
Photo courtesy of W Punta De Mita
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta
This beachfront 348-room hotel that marries rock and romance offers cool options to marry you, too. Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta and renowned event designer and party planner to the stars Colin Cowie (who's been tapped by the likes of Oprah and Kim Kardashian) teamed up to introduce three new exclusive wedding packages. There’s the gilded, red rose-heavy Golden radiance, the whimsical, nature-inspired driftwood romance and Seaside Shimmer, a celebration of glistening crystal and deli- cate accents. Beachfront, garden and terrace are the usual reception venues but the hotel also boasts the recently opened 12,900-square-foot Sanctuary Convention Center, which is the largest such space in Riviera Nayarit.
Photo courtesy of Hard Rock
The all-inclusive digs feature Mexican-inspired design and balconies with Banderas Bays views. Six on-site restaurants showcase cuisine from Asia to Brazil to, of course, Mexico (complimentary wedding package must be booked one month prior and includes ceremony set-up, a cake and sparkling wine for up to 32 guests, a justice of the peace and a wedding planner).
Photo courtesy of Hard Rock
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Nestled between an immaculate stretch of beach overlooking Banderas Bay and the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains, this elegant all-inclusive Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is now certified in South Asian weddings. Translation: The resort's on-site planner completed a comphrensive course from the South Asian Wedding Institute and is well versed in the specific religions, rituals, ceremony traditions, food and decor of the region.
Photo courtesy of Velas Resorts
Bonus: The hotel's 25,321 total square feet of meeting space can accommodate up to 800 guests, so feel free to invite everyone you know. Over-the-top, big- day extras include drone filming, web videos and live streaming for your social channels. The chic, beachfront 267 all- suite property highlights contemporary decor by renowned Mexican interior designer Melin Castro and private terraces and ocean views in each room. Five dining options, ranging from the Italian-Mediterranean Lucca to the French-inspired Piaf, are also noteworthy (wedding packages start at $1,650 and include a symbolic ceremony on the beach, spar- kling wine toasts, a cake, and breakfast in bed for the couple the following morning).
Photo courtesy of Velas Resorts
Legally Wedded: Most resorts can assist with paperwork to marry in Mexico and inform you of the rules in specific areas, since marriage requirements vary by city. All couples must be 18 or older and not currently married. You’ll also need to present a valid passport, tourist card (typically issued upon arrival at the airport), birth certificate, blood test results (done in Mexico), completed marriage application forms from local registry and four witnesses. All foreign documents, with the exception of your passport, will need to be translated, apostilized and notarized. The bride and groom, plus their witnesses, will also need to arrive in Mexico four business days before the wedding day for legal ceremonies.
