Map of Mexico

To help you orient yourself we've mapped the major tourist destinations across Mexico using Google Satellite Maps. To browse the map, click on the link below.

• Map of Mexico - Satellite Image (Google Maps)
  

Google Maps - Costalegre Wedding Hotels

To help you locate the wedding hotels in Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico, we have pinpointed the major hotels using Google Maps (Satellite Image). To browse the map, click on the link below:

• Satellite Map of Wedding Hotels in Costalegre (Google Maps)

Note: Maps are intended for illustrative purposes only. Stray Travel Publications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may be contained within the maps. If you spot any errors, please let us know!

Google Maps - Mazatlan Wedding Hotels

To help you locate the wedding hotels in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, we have pinpointed the major hotels using Google Maps (Satellite Image). To browse the map, click on the link below:

• Satellite Map of Wedding Hotels in Mazatlan (Google Maps)

Note: Maps are intended for illustrative purposes only. Stray Travel Publications, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may be contained within the maps. If you spot any errors, please let us know!

A Romantic Wedding Story Amidst the Chaos of Hurricane Dean

Image copyright Matt Adcock Photography - www.mattadcock.com

Award-winning photographer Matt Adcock was able to capture a true love story while attending a destination wedding in Isla Holbox this past weekend. While thousands of tourists were being evacuated from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico due to the approaching Hurricane Dean, the wedding couple was determined to make the most of a bad situation, and found out the meaning of ‘playing it cool’ on their wedding day. The wedding group was forced to evacuate from Isla Holbox at the same time the bride and groom were supposed to walk down the aisle. Instead, the group headed to the small colonial town of Valladolid and had a spontaneous wedding and reception at Hotel Meson del Marques.

As the wedding industry becomes more focused on trivial and material goods like wedding cakes and parasols, the purpose of the celebration can sometimes get lost in the chaos of the peripheral details. This couple’s story is a heartwarming example of how to focus on what’s important and let go of the rest. Marriage presents us with the life-long challenge to work as a team through the twists and turns life throws at us all. We wish this couple all the best in their new life together.

You can read this incredibly romantic story and view some amazing photographs on Matt Adcock’s blog.

Hurricane Dean Makes Landfall in Mexico as a Category 5

This morning Hurricane Dean landed in the Yucatan Peninsula near Costa Maya, south of Cancun, with the strength of a Category 5, making it the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic basin since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

As the storm moved inland it was downgraded to a Category 3. Currently Dean is making its way toward the coastal city of Campeche, which is expected to be hit later this afternoon. Dean is expected to still be a hurricane when it reaches the Bay of Campeche.

According to the US National Hurricane Center the storm is expected to dump 5 to 10 inches of rain, and can potentially cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. There is no word yet on the extent of the damage caused in Mexico.

US National Hurricane Center

Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo

The following is a summary of civil marriage requirements between foreigners in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico.

• Most hotels request that bride, groom and witnesses be in Mexico at least 2-4 business days before the wedding.
• Completed marriage application form.
• Two witnesses for bride and groom (total of 4 witnesses). Witnesses must be at least 18 years old and cannot be the parents of the bride or groom.
• Original and certified copy of birth certificates for bride and groom (Apostilled* copies)
• Valid passports for bride, groom, and witnesses
• Tourist cards for bride, groom, and witnesses. Tourist cards are issued at the airport upon arrival.
• If divorced, the final Divorce Decree must be presented (original and Apostilled* copy). At least one year must have elapsed from the date on the divorce decree. Check with your wedding coordinator for further details.
• If widowed, the Death Certificate must be presented (original and Apostilled* copy). At least one year must have elapsed from the date on the death certificate. Check with your wedding coordinator for further details.

* Americans need to have their documents Apostilled. Canadians need to have their documents stamped and signed by the Mexican consulate officer in Canada.

The above information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. For complete details, talk to your wedding coordinator, the Registro Civil, the Mexican Embassy, or the Mexican Consulate in your area.


Useful Links for Americans

• Embassy of Mexico in the United States - Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Mexico
  http://portal.sre.gob.mx/was_eng/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=61&op=page&SubMenu=
• Embassy of Mexico in the United States
  http://www.embassyofmexico.org/eng/
• Embassy of the United States in Mexico
  http://mexico.usembassy.gov/index.html

Useful Links for Canadians

• Embassy of Mexico in Canada - Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Mexico
  http://portal.sre.gob.mx/canadaingles/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=50&op=page&SubMenu=#MAR
• Embassy of Mexico in Canada
  http://portal.sre.gob.mx/canadaingles/
• Embassy of Canada in Mexico
  http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/

Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Los Cabos

The following is a summary of civil marriage requirements between foreigners in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

• Most hotels request that bride, groom and witnesses be in Mexico at least 2-4 business days before the wedding.
• Completed marriage application form.
• Two witnesses for bride and groom (total of 4 witnesses).
• Certified copy of birth certificates for bride and groom (Apostilled* copies)
• Valid passports for bride, groom, and witnesses
• Tourist cards for bride, groom, and witnesses. Tourist cards are issued at the airport upon arrival.
• Health certificate and blood test (HIV, Rubella, Syphilis VDRL, blood type) for bride and groom must be taken in Los Cabos 2-3 business days prior to the wedding.
• If divorced, the final Divorce Decree must be presented (original and Apostilled* copy). At least one year must have elapsed from the date on the divorce decree. Check with your wedding coordinator for further details.
• If widowed, the Death Certificate must be presented (original and Apostilled* copy). At least one year must have elapsed from the date on the death certificate. Check with your wedding coordinator for further details.
• If bride or groom is adopted, a certified copy of the adoption papers must be presented.
• Signed prenuptial agreement, which will be provided by the Justice of the Peace.

* Americans need to have their documents Apostilled. Canadians need to have their documents stamped and signed by the Mexican consulate officer in Canada.

The above information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. For complete details, talk to your wedding coordinator, the Registro Civil, the Mexican Embassy, or the Mexican Consulate in your area.


Useful Links for Americans

• Embassy of Mexico in the United States - Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Mexico
  http://portal.sre.gob.mx/was_eng/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=61&op=page&SubMenu=
• Embassy of Mexico in the United States
  http://www.embassyofmexico.org/eng/
• Embassy of the United States in Mexico
  http://mexico.usembassy.gov/index.html

Useful Links for Canadians

• Embassy of Mexico in Canada - Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Mexico
  http://portal.sre.gob.mx/canadaingles/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=50&op=page&SubMenu=#MAR
• Embassy of Mexico in Canada
  http://portal.sre.gob.mx/canadaingles/
• Embassy of Canada in Mexico
  http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/

Hurricane Dean Heads Straight for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula

The state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Dean barrels toward the country after hitting Jamaica on the weekend. This morning the US National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. The storm is an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane, with the potential to reach a Category 5 within the next 24 hours. The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale rates hurricanes from 1 to 5, Category 5 being the most dangerous with winds of over 156 mph. Hurricane Dean is currently packing winds of nearly 150 mph.

The Yucatan Peninsula is watching the storm carefully and evacuating the thousands of tourists from the luxury hotels along Cancun and the Mayan Riviera to beat the storm, which is expected to make landfall in Mexico within the next 24 hours. One source reported that as of today nearly all tourists have already left the region. The storm is reminiscent of Hurricane Wilma, the Category 5 hurricane that devastated Cancun and the Mayan Riviera in October 2005. Wilma was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin and some hotels in Cancun are still recovering from the storm, which caused $3 billion in damage.

The US National Hurricane Center is predicting an above-normal hurricane season this year, estimating between seven and nine hurricanes in the Atlantic, with three to five of them becoming a Category 3 or higher. Hurricane Dean marks the first major hurricane so far this year. Hurricane season usually peaks between August and October.

• US National Hurricane Center
  
• CNN News Video
  

A Photographer’s Wish List: How You Can Help Your Photographer Capture The Photographs You Desire

Image copyright Joshua Walker Photography - www.joshuawalkerphotography.com

Finding and hiring a professional photographer to document your wedding day is a sizable investment, in not only money, but time as well. By doing your research and hiring a professional that suits your style, you can rest assured that he or she is going to capture your day exactly how you want. But achieving the best possible results doesn’t end with the signing of the contract. Below are a few simple things you can do as a client before and on your wedding day to help you and your photographer capture the photographs of your dreams.

1. Develop a personal relationship with your photographer. Hopefully you have selected a photographer whose personality meshes well with yours. Besides your fiancé, they are the person you will be spending the most amount of time with on your wedding day. By the time your wedding day arrives, you should consider your photographer a friend, not just another vendor. This can seem like a difficult task to accomplish, considering how busy and hectic the months leading up to the big day can be, but it can be done. Most photographers understand the importance of this dynamic and will take the initiative, but it does take a little bit of effort from you as well. You must make yourself available. Though most beneficial, it doesn’t necessarily have to take place in person. Phone calls, e-mails, any form of conversation will work. And it most certainly doesn’t need to pertain to the business of your wedding. The stronger this sense of friendship is between you and the photographer, not only will you feel more comfortable and relaxed around him or her, the rest of the wedding party will as well. As soon as the guard comes down, the photographic magic happens.

2. Be yourself. This may seem like common sense, but it can be more difficult than you might think. Most people aren’t used to having a photographer document their every move, especially with intimidating looking professional equipment. Though they may not realize it, people tend to carry themselves and act differently as soon as a camera is pointed at them, which looks stiff and unnatural in photographs. Others just freeze up altogether. Unless your photographer is giving you specific direction, the best thing you can do is relax, be yourself, and act as if the photographer wasn’t even there. Pay special attention to your hands, they are a good indication of how tense you really are. Relax your hands and the rest of you will follow. No need to put on an act, simply be yourself.

3. Don’t rush your wedding day. When planning the schedule of the day, allot a realistic amount of time for each separate event. Planning a shorter, more casual wedding is one thing, but attempting to pack an eight-hour event into four makes everything feel rushed, like you’re trying to run a race. Not only does it make it difficult for everyone involved to enjoy the day, it makes it more difficult to capture natural looking photographs when you’re sprinting from one thing to the next. Pace your day and cherish every moment. It is, after all, a once in a lifetime experience (hopefully).

4. Look through magazines, on-line, and, of course, through your photographer’s portfolio for specific examples of images, scenes, and body positions that appeal to you and share these ideas with your photographer beforehand. It will give both you and the photographer a better sense of direction when working together. Also, if you internalize these ideas and are able to carry and position yourself in a similar way without having to be completely directed by the photographer, the photographs will look much more natural. The more the photographer must direct, the more awkward you will feel and it will show in the images.

5. Communicate with your fiancé about the photography. Often photography is of much greater importance to one half of the couple, typically the bride, but occasionally the groom. Sometimes the photographer won’t even meet the groom until the day of the wedding, as everything related to photography was arranged and booked by the bride. This usually translates to the groom and groomsmen standing around in complete disinterest, with a ‘this is her deal’ attitude. If you communicate openly with your fiancé and, even better, the core wedding party about the photography beforehand, it will make it much easier and more enjoyable to achieve your desired results.

6. Enjoy your wedding day. Again, this may seem like common sense, but with the anticipation and stress involved in planning the perfect day, it can be difficult to actually enjoy it. While there is certainly no way to eliminate the stress and worry completely, you can minimize it. If you don’t have a professional day-of coordinator, appoint someone you trust to handle the logistics of the day and let them worry about the details. You have been planning this day for months or even years. Once it finally arrives, relax and enjoy it! You certainly deserve to and doing so will translate to more natural looking, joyous images.

Article submitted by Joshua Walker, an award-winning wedding photojournalist based in San Diego, CA. Visit Joshua's website at www.joshuawalkerphotography.com

Hacienda Las Trancas, Guanajuato - Wedding Photos

Image copyright Elizabeth Medina Photography - www.elizabethmedina.com

To see photographs of real weddings at the Hacienda Las Trancas follow the links below. This historic hotel is located in a small village midway between San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato in Central Mexico.

• Elizabeth Medina Photography - August 2007
  http://www.elizabethmedina.com/blog/?p=415
  

*View Real Wedding Galleries for other hotels across Mexico.

If you were married at this hotel and would like to share your wedding story or wedding photographs, please e-mail us at info@strayweddings.com.

Your Picture Perfect Beach Wedding: Sun, Sand, Surf, and I Dos (and Don’ts)

Image copyright Joshua Walker Photography - www.joshuawalkerphotography.com

Nothing embodies romance more than a beach wedding. Warm sun, a cool breeze, bare feet in the sand, and waves crashing in the background as you say ‘I do.’ A true storybook scene. Yet as simple and carefree as a beach wedding may appear, there are a number of important details to consider and a few steps one can take when planning to ensure your seaside ceremony goes off without a hitch and is truly picture perfect.

1. The most important detail to consider when planning a beach wedding is the time of day that it will take place, early morning or late afternoon are best. Midday should be avoided if at all possible. In addition to being the warmest part of the day, the midday sun directly overhead is less than ideal for photography. The intense glare and harsh shadows it creates are very difficult to avoid. Keeping in mind that an evening reception follows most ceremonies, late afternoon is typically the clear choice. You and your guests will be more comfortable and you will certainly be helping your photographer capture the best possible images.

2. Shade is good, particularly for the bride and groom. Even at the most ideal time of day, direct sun can create shadows and cause squinting. A little bit of shade provides a nice, even light and eliminates hot spots, which are magnified by perspiration. Palm trees are the ideal natural source of shade and certainly add to the ambience of a beach ceremony, but aren’t always present in the desired location, especially if the ceremony is taking place close to the water. A small canopy or, better yet, a chuppah draped with white cloth is a simple alternative and provides ample shade for the bride and groom in addition to contributing to the light, breezy feel of the beach setting.

3. Most beach weddings are more casual than traditional church ceremonies, which the choice of clothing should reflect. No heavy bridal gowns or black tuxedos. Not only will you look out of place, but you will undoubtedly be uncomfortable as well. Light materials and colors are more pleasant to wear and more fitting to the scene. And don’t forget to remind your family and guests. If you and the rest of the wedding party are comfortable, everyone will enjoy himself or herself much more and it will certainly show in the photographs.

4. Remember, Mother Nature is always in control. The very things that make a beach wedding so appealing can also spell disaster. Weather, wind, blowing sand, and extreme high tides are just a few of the many elements beyond one’s control that can put a serious damper on your ceremony. Research the local weather when planning and choose the most stable month if possible. Unfortunately Mother Nature isn’t always predictable, so definitely be prepared with a plan B.

5. Sand, sand, and more sand. If you intend on having the entire wedding party stand for the length of the ceremony, it’s best to keep it short, particularly if there will be seniors in attendance. If, on the other hand, you are considering the use of chairs, their legs tend to sink in the sand, causing them to become unstable. You certainly don’t want your guests tipping over into the sand or onto each other. Some rental companies offer flooring that the chairs can be placed on, but that increases setup time as well as cost and complicates things considerably. If you do plan on having a large wedding party with a more extensive setup, find a grassy area at a park or overlooking the ocean. True, it isn’t the same as being on the sand, but it will be much easier to deal with.

6. Crowds. The very same tranquil, romantic spot that you scouted during the week will be crawling with sunburned tourists on the weekend, even more so if your wedding date is on or near a holiday, so plan accordingly. Try to find a secluded spot off the beaten path if possible and have someone stake it out earlier in the day so that it doesn’t get overrun before you arrive. Nothing kills romance more than a rowdy bunch of drunken revelers cheering you on during your ceremony and they certainly don’t make a very appealing backdrop for photographs either. Don’t forget about traffic and parking either, which will certainly be an issue on the weekend. Give yourself plenty of extra time and warn the rest of the wedding party. You don’t want to throw the entire schedule of your wedding off because you or family members can’t find parking.

7. Keep it simple. The true charm of a beach wedding lies in its simplicity. All that is inessential is stripped away leaving friends, family, you, and the love of your life surrounded by the beauty of sand and sea.

Article submitted by Joshua Walker, an award-winning wedding photojournalist based in San Diego, CA. Visit Joshua's website at www.joshuawalkerphotography.com

Hacienda Xcanatun, Merida - Wedding Photos

Image copyright Eduardo Machuca Photography - www.eduardomachuca.net.

To see photographs of real weddings at the historic Hacienda Xcanatun follow the links below. This hotel is located about 15 minutes from the Merida Airport in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

• Eduardo Machuca Photography - June 2007
  http://emac2.smugmug.com/gallery/3219105
  

*View Real Wedding Galleries for other hotels across Mexico.

If you were married at this hotel and would like to share your wedding story or wedding photographs, please e-mail us at info@strayweddings.com.

Photographs of Barceló La Jolla de Mismaloya

The following photos were taken during a June 2006 site inspection of Barceló La Jolla de Mismaloya resort located in Mismaloya, south of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Above image: Resort exterior

Above image: Entrance gardens

Above image: Lobby

Above image: Interior

Above image: Waterfall

Above image: Pool

Above image: Gazebo ceremony & reception site

Above image: Gazebo romantic dinner for two

Above image: View from gazebo ceremony & reception site

Above image: Beach ceremony site

Above image: Patio reception site

Above image: Patio reception site

Above image: Patio reception site

Photographs copyright www.StrayWeddings.com

Photographs of Presidente InterContinental Puerto Vallarta Resort

The following photos were taken during a June 2006 site inspection of Presidente InterContinental Puerto Vallarta Resort located just south of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Above image: Entrance sign

Above image: Resort exterior

Above image: Lush grounds

Above image: Hallway

Above image: Standard room

Above image: Standard room bed decoration

Above image: Standard room welcome tequila

Above image: Standard room view

Above image: Romance suite with Jacuzzi

Above image: Romance suite welcome wine & roses

Above image: Waterfall

Above image: Pool

Above image: Pool

Above image: Patio (reception site)

Above image: Patio (reception site)

Above image: Small gazebo (ceremony site)

Above image: Beach (ceremony site)

Above image: Beach (ceremony site)

Photographs copyright www.StrayWeddings.com