Ixtapa Mexico
WikiWeddings is the best way to find and share wedding advice and plan your perfect wedding.
Contents |
Ixtapa Mexico Weddings
Located southwest of Mexico, 200 km north of Acapulco, and along the coastline of the State of Guerrero, Ixtapa is actually a man made city, built in 1968 by the National Tourism Council. Ixtapa is divided into two main parts: the ecological preserves and the developed areas, for a total of 2, 270 hectares of land.
The development area of Ixtapa houses its four and five star hotels, resorts, condominiums, exclusive shops, and golf courses. Its many well developed amenities offer a variety of choices for those who wish to have their wedding in Ixtapa. It is part of an area in Mexico that is known as The Golden Pacific. Because of its semi-tropical climate all year round, it is a popular tourist destination. Rainy season lasts from late June to September, and sometimes middle of October. Ixtapa is also in close proximity to many beaches, including the Troncones which are beautiful virgin beaches.
Just a five minute drive away is the Zihuatanejo town, a quiet, old fishing village which has been around since the 1800’s. The ports in this area have served as stopping points for Spanish fleets carrying cargoes for export. It has retained its old-town charm, which offers the traveler something different from the urbanized and luxurious lifestyle in Ixtapa. Many tourists visit this area to get a feel of the old and historical part of Mexico. Zihuatanejo is also known for the arts and crafts that can be bought, as well as the authentic Mexican cuisine that they offer.
Traditions
In Ixtapa, wedding traditions have been held by its local for thousands of years. Mexico is a Roman-Catholic country, so Catholic wedding traditions apply as well. Traditions can vary from depending on belief and theme, but here are some Mexican wedding traditions you can borrow for your wedding:
1. Wear a white wedding gown - Since many more modern weddings usually permit the bride to wear gowns of colors other than white, the Roman Catholic beliefs state the importance of wearing white to one’s wedding. White wedding gowns have been used throughout history to symbolize the purity of the bride as she is getting married.
Mexican dresses are usually white with some embroidery. Brides can also wear these local white dresses with a touch of color, but are still predominantly white.
2. Have the wedding in a Catholic church - Since many Mexican customs and traditions have been patterned from the Spanish colonization, this follows in the wedding tradition as well of getting married in a Catholic church, which includes a full mass, since it is the major religion in the country.
3. Tradition of the Thirteen Gold Coins (Trece monedas de Oro) – It is customary for the groom to gift his bride with the thirteen gold coins, which represents the groom’s trust in his bride, as well as his commitment to be a responsible provider during their married life. The number 13 also represents Christ and the twelve apostles.
4. The First Dance – During the reception, guests all hold hands to form a heart shape surrounding the newlyweds, which is the customary first dance for husband and wife.
5. Mariachi – Hiring a mariachi is customary for Mexican weddings, and a mariachi group usually has two trumpets, two violins, an acoustic bass, a Spanish guitar, and a five-string guitar.
Why Ixtapa?
Ixtapa, Mexico is an ideal location for weddings in Mexico; it offers many choices for receptions that both husband and wife can enjoy as well as guests of the wedding:
1. Ixtapa is a highly developed location, with many choices of hotels and resorts to accommodate you during your stay.
2. If you want to experience old and authentic Mexican culture, Ixtapa is only a few minutes away from the town of Zihuatanejo which, aside from the charm of its old fishing village, has many affordable shops with local Mexican crafts as well as Mexican cuisine.
3. There are venue options for those who wish to get married in either traditional or non-traditional ceremonies. For those who prefer traditional church weddings, Ixtapa has many churches to choose from as well as locations such as beaches and gardens for those who prefer non-traditional weddings.
4. There are a number of hotels, resorts, and beachside locations that you can choose from to have your wedding reception.
5. Ixtapa has a number of hospitals, clinics, legal services, convention centers, and internet access to serve your needs.
6. Should you decide to get married on a weekend, Ixtapa’s close proximity to beaches offer many activities for guests of all ages, including tours, sightseeing, water sports, nightlife, dining, shopping, golf, surfing, diving, yoga, gym, tennis, and fishing. The transportation sector in Ixtapa is well-developed, making it easy to go around.
7. The ecological preserves in Ixtapa provide a perfect location for couples who wish to celebrate their wedding in an area that is close to nature.
8. The close proximity to the beaches and open oceans also provide the option of having cruise weddings. Cruises are a popular activity for the coastal area of Mexico, which is a rather different and memorable way for one to spend their wedding.
9. There are a number of both private and public beaches to enjoy in Ixtapa. For more private weddings, you can choose beachside hotels and resorts with an enclosed beach to hold your reception.
Marriage License Requirements
Since Ixtapa is located in the jurisdiction of Mexico, applying for wedding licenses follow Mexico country’s regulations:
o For non-residents of Mexico, bring along your Tourist Visa which will be asked from you by the airline. For those who are driving to Ixtapa, you can obtain one in the town proper.
o Bring along copies of your birth certificate, translated into Spanish and confirmed by your country of origin.
o Weddings in Mexico are only considered legal if it is performed in civil rites at the local Civil Registers Office. This can be followed by a religious rite in the church or location of your choice. You can also choose to have a civil wedding in your country of origin and have the ceremonial or traditional Church wedding in Mexico.
o For foreigners who are marrying a Mexican citizen, authorization is needed by the National Institute for Migration.
o It is customary to have a waiting period of two or three days for paperwork to be processed and arranged in Mexican states.
o For those who have been previously married or divorced, you will need to wait one year prior to application of a marriage license. You will also need to bring along a certified copy of the divorce decree, or death certificate of deceased spouse.
o In Mexico, blood tests for RPR, HIV, and Thorax or chest x-rays are required two days before the wedding. If a blood test is done outside Mexico, proof of this must be done, as well as translated into Spanish and Apostilled, which means that it is sealed by a state registrar.
o It is also required to have witnesses over 18 years old for the wedding, and provided they have proper identification documents, including the following information:
+ Name
+ Age
+ Address
+ Nationality
+ Occupation
+ Relationship
+ Tourist Cards
+ Basic identification card
o Weddings can be performed any day of the week except for Sundays. No weddings are also permitted during Easter week (Semana santa) or official Mexican holidays such as the following:
+ January 1 – New Year’s Day
+ January 6 – Dia de los Santos Reyes, or the celebration of the Three Kings
+ January 17 – Feast Day of de San Antonio de Abad
+ February 2 – Dia de Candelaria
+ February 5 – Dia de la Constitucion, Mexico’s holiday that commemorates the constitution
+ February 24 – Flag Day
+ March 19 – St. Joseph’s Day
+ March 21 – Birthday of Benito Juarez, Mexican president and national hero
+ May 1 – Primero de May or Labor Day
+ May 3 – Holy Cross Day
+ May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
+ May 10 – Mothers’ Day
+ June 1 – Navy Day
+ June 24 – St. John the Baptist Day
+ September 1 – Annual State of the Union address
+ September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
+ October 12 – Dia de la Raza
+ November 1 & 2 – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
+ November 20 – Mexican Revolution Day
+ December 12 – Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
+ December 16 – Las Posadas
+ December 25 – Christmas Day
o If either the bride or groom is below the age of 18, parental consent is required.
o Basic wedding fee to marry in Mexico is USD $200.
o Proxy marriages are permitted.
o Same sex marriages are not permitted in Ixtapa; they are only allowed in the state of Coahuuila and in the Mexico City proper.
o Documents should be translated by the authorized translator in the Superior Tribunal of Justice of the State of Guerrero. The state requires an allowance of at least 48 hours to translate the documents. The judge should receive all translated documents at least three days before the wedding. The fees are as follows:
+ USD $70 translation charge for each pair of Apostils (one pair is the couple’s blood test, the other for birth certificates, etc…)
+ USD $600 Judges’ fees
+ USD $35 per person for blood tests
How to Get There
Ixtapa is located in the Mexican coastal highway MEX-200, and 250 kilometers north of Acapulco. It is also 115 kilometers south of Lazaro Cardenas, and a 35 minute plane ride from Mexico City. Travelers have an option of getting to Ixtapa by land, air, and sea.
By air, many airlines offer fast transportation services to the Ixtapa/ Zihuatanejo international airport, which is fifteen minutes away from the town proper. The airport can be reached at 554-5408, 554-2070, and 554-2018.
- Aeromexico [1] can take you from Acapulco, Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Frankfurt, Heathrow, Madrid, Nicaragua, Milan, Montreal, Ottawa, Paris, and Vancouver as well as some of the United States and other states in Mexico to Ixtapa anytime of the year. They can be reached at 01-800-021-4010 toll free from Mexico and 800-237-6639 in the U.S.
- Alaska Airlines [2] takes you from the United States, Canada, Hawaii, and other states of Mexico to Ixtapa. They can be reached at 001-800-252-7522 toll free in Mexico and in the U.S. at 800-426-0333.
- American Airlines [3] can be reached at 01 800-904-6000 toll free in Mexico.
- US Airways [4] can take you to Ixtapa from many points around the world. They can be reached at 800-235-9292 toll free from the U.S.
- Continental Airlines [5] can take you from countries in Europe, Asia, and in the U.S. to Ixtapa. You can reach them at 01-800-900-5000 from Mexico toll free, or from the U.S. at 800-525-0280 toll free.
- Delta Airlines [6] can be reached at 01-800-902-2100, toll free from Mexico, and 800-221-1212 in the U.S.
- Mexicana [7] can be reached at 01-800-509-8960 toll free from Mexico.
- Frontier airlines [8] can be reached at 800-432-1359 toll free from the U.S.
o By land from Acapulco, you can take the N 201 National Highway. Other locations in Mexico have many transportation units available going to Ixtapa.
o By sea, there are many ferry and cruise services available. They park at the bay of Ixtapa, and you can take a taxi to your desired destination.
Insider Tips
Ixtapa is a romantic place to get married in, but the culture differences can shock you. Your Ixtapa wedding can still be a meaningful and unforgettable experience, but here are some insider tips that can help make planning your Ixtapa dream wedding much easier:
1. Do your research ahead of time. This includes the hotel, accommodations for guests, the church location should you decide to get married in one, food, Mexico state and legal marriage requirements, and other wedding aspects. Even if you decide to hire a wedding coordinator, you should still oversee all the major and minor details of the wedding regularly. Be sure to set aside at least a year’s time for planning prior to the wedding, so on the day itself, everything flows smoothly.
2. Since this is an out of town (or out of country for some) location, you will need to consider how much your guests will be spending for the wedding. You will also need to send out invites ahead of time (at least five months) so that guests can mark this in their calendar and set aside fees that they will be spending. It would also be helpful to discuss with guests more or less how much they will need for the wedding, and if you will be spending for the wedding sponsors or certain guests, let them know ahead of time.
3. Book accommodations early. Many people flock to Ixtapa to stay at its many hotels, resorts, and beaches, so you will need to book locations ahead of time. Phone your desired accommodations as soon as you have finalized dates, and make sure to list down some alternatives in case they have been booked for the date you have set aside.
4. Talk to hotels for special discounts if you and your guests will be booking a large number of rooms. They may not list these in brochures or web sites, but talking to hotel representatives or your travel agent can get you special discounts.
Best Time to Go
Ixtapa has a semi-tropical climate, which makes it sunny all year round. The rainy season lasts from late June to sometimes mid-October, so the best time of the year to go is the summer which falls from April to June. If you want more privacy and less people, low season falls in December to March.
Ceremony
Religious Sites
Ixtapa has a number of churches and chapels for you to hold traditional wedding ceremonies, according to your religion. Their schedules and respective numbers and addresses are listed here according to religion for your convenience:
Catholic:
1. Parroquia de Sta. Maria de Guadalupe
Av. 5 de Mayo, Colonia Centro, Zihuatanejo
554 - 2229
2. Iglesia Angelus
Paseo de la Boquita
Sunday 9 am y 6 pm (Plaza Kioto)
554 - 2229
3. Iglesia del Carmen
Agua de Correa
554 - 5423
4. Iglesia de Sta Cruz
554 – 2229
5. Iglesia El Señor de la Misericordia
Barra de Potosi
554 - 2229
Christian
1. Ixtapa Christian Fellowship
755-5545919 & 755-1020043.
2. Zihuatanejo Christian Fellowship
Restaurant "Mediterráneo"
Zihuatanejo Downtown
755-5547178 & 755-5593401
3. Troncones Christian Fellowship
Playa Troncones
044 7551020043 & 755 5545919
Baptist
Christ the Only Hope
Altamirano Nº 11
Col. Centro, Zihuatanejo
554-6936
Presbyterian:
Getsemany
Paseo del Hujal, Col El Hujal
Civil Sites
Beaches
Ixtapa has long stretches of coastlines, both public and private, that couples can go to celebrate the dream beach wedding of their choice. Some of them have been claimed in part by hotels, so if you want to have your wedding on a certain beach, you can get in touch with hotel staff for details.
1. Playa el Palmar is the main beach in Ixtapa, where most of the major hotels are found. This is also in close proximity to Paseo Ixtapa, the boulevard lined with trees behind many hotels. There are many restaurants and shops found in the Paseo Ixtapa.
Guests can enjoy water sports at the beach such as parasailing, banana boating, and body boarding. Along the beach there are also volleyball and soccer games. The nearby Delfiniti Dolphinarium allows close encounters and swimming sessions with the friendly dolphins.
The northern area of Playa el Palmar is called Las Escolleras, a stone jetty area which is a favorite of surfers.
2. Playa Linda is a ten minute drive from the Ixtapa town proper. It is also Ixtapa’s second main hotel zone. The beach in this area is good for swimming, and there are also many seafood markets located nearby. Other activities that are available in Playa Linda are surfing, horseback riding, and nature trails.
3. Ixtapa Island, or Isla Ixtapa, is one of the most popular attractions in the area. Marine life is diverse, offering a lot to see for divers and even those who would like to snorkel. There are many exotic fish and even tropical birds found around the island. The island’s long stretch covers four main beaches:
a. Cuachalate – This is where the main boat pier is located. Many seafood restaurants line the beach, along with diving shops and bars. Activities here include snorkeling, diving, and banana boating.
b. Varadero – You can enjoy massages and cold drinks by the beach here. There is also a lighthouse on Varadero that signals ships for the nearby rocks.
c. Coral – 50 meters from Playa Varadero is Coral Beach, which is named so because of the shallow coral reefs found in the beaches. This is the most popular destination in the Ixtapa island for snorkeling.
d. Carey/Sacrificio – Known with either names, this is the undeveloped part of the island which has high points from which you can see the rest of the island. There is another lighthouse in this area which offers a broad view of the mainland.
Hotels
Ixtapa has a number of hotels where you can have beach side weddings and receptions. Friendly staff are always ready to serve you and answer your inquiries.
1. Dorado Pacifico Hotel.
Paseo de Ixtapa s/n Lote 3A
Ixtapa, Guerrero 40880 Mexico
A four star hotel located in El Palmar Beach, the hotel is just a fifteen minute drive from the airport. Amenities include an Olympic sized swimming pool, children’s pool, playground, spa, game room, water sports, tennis courts, and bicycle track. The hotel also has a variety of restaurants including Da Guiseppe, Coco-La Palm, La Cascada Cafe, La Cebola Roja Grill, Fiesta Mexicana, Galeria Piano Bar, and the Sunset Snack Bar.
Hotel staffs are knowledgeable in both English and Spanish. It is also in close proximity to many of the finest nightclubs and restaurants in Ixtapa. All the rooms o'Bold text'ffer a view of the ocean, which you will truly appreciate upon waking up or watching the sun set. The area and atmosphere is perfect for couples and families. For details you can call the hotel at (888) 782-9722.
2. Pacifica Resort Ixtapa.
Paseo de la Colina s/n
Ixtapa, Guerrero 40880 Mexico
Located in Paseo de la Colina, Pacifica Resort is a four star hotel that is just by the hill of Palmar Bay. The hotel offers a wide view of the beach. Activities include golf, jet ski, and access to the beach. Its amenities include outdoor and childrens’ pools, hot tubs, boating, and sailing, among others.
3. Melia Azul Ixtapa
Boulevard Paseo Punta Ixtapa Lote 2,
Ixtapa, Guerrero 40880 Mexico
The hotel is located right by the hillside and the ocean, providing spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. There are nearby golf courses, sightseeing trips, and large convention centers. Restaurants offer Chinese, Italian, and Mexican cuisine, and friendly staff to accommodate your every need.
Parks
Monuments
Historic Sites