Where is Akumal?
Akumal is located on the Mayan Riviera. It is a small town located on the Caribbean coast about 60 miles south of Cancun. The area is quiet and friendly with lots of great accommodation options and activities for your guests.

What is the wedding location like?
We have a wonderful beachfront property with gentle waves and great views over Half Moon Bay. The beach is sandy and slightly sloping to the ocean. There is room to set up chairs and an arch or tent, if you prefer. There is also an area to create as an "aisle" should you wish to walk down the aisle in a more traditional style. Our weddings are definitely on the casual side!

Can we get married at your property even if we do not stay at your hotel?
Yes, you may use our wedding services without staying at Vista del Mar. We do not, however plan weddings off site. You can even just hire our services for a rehearsal dinner or reception should you wish to have your wedding ceremony elsewhere.

Is my Mexican marriage legal in the U.S./Canada?
If you have a civil wedding performed in Mexico, your marriage is recognized in the USA and Canada. If you have a religious or spiritual ceremony, it is a symbolic expression of your union. We recommend getting legally married prior to celebrating your marriage in Mexico.

Who will perform the service? Can I use my own minister?
If you want a civil wedding, it needs to be be performed by a justice of the peace. A JP (who may also a minister) is available for hire at an additional cost of about $500. If you want a religious wedding, it can be performed by your own minister, a friend, or a local celebrant. Catholic weddings must be performed in a church, therefore we do not offer Catholic wedding ceremonies. Our celebrant has been conducting spiritual ceremonies for many years and we would recommend using his services for meaningful and friendly service.
The services are nondenominational.

How much will the wedding cost?
$250 Reserve the date and our property for your spiritual wedding . (This fee is not refundable but may be transferred to a different date should your wedding plans change.)
$200 Celebrant's services
$250 Deposit for your reception.
$500 To organize a civil wedding
$100 Sound system for wedding
$5 each chair rental
$12 corkage fee if you bring your own liquor
$500-$1000 Private dining room rental

Who helps me plan the details of my wedding?
We have two coordinators who will assist you with the planning of your wedding: Heidi, in our US office, will be your contact person prior to your arrival in Akumal. She will assist you with reserving the date, arranging the deposits, choosing the location, your reception planning, and menu options.
Heidi will send the wedding options you have chosen to our on-site coordinator in Akumal. The final details such as ordering the cake and flowers, will be arranged upon your arrival with the assistance of the general manager of La Buena Vida and wedding coordinator.
Should you be having a legal wedding, he will be your contact person to help you complete the paperwork and translations.

Can I have a wedding service in English?
Yes! There are standard vows that we can recommend for your wedding, but we recommend you choose/write your own vows for more meaning.

Can we supply our own wedding vows?
Yes. Most couples write their own vows and have a pretty good idea of what they want include in their ceremony.

What additional services are available in the area?
There are a variety of services available, and when possible we use the local Akumal businesses as our suppliers. If you have a special request, drop us a line and we'll see if we can help you. We can assist with local contacts for the cake, photographer, videographer, flowers, and music. We will put you in contact with the suppliers, then you pay them for their services directly.

Do you perform gay commitment ceremonies and renewal of vows ceremonies?
Yes, we do, and have hosted numerous same sex commitment ceremonies and vow renewal ceremonies in the past. Vista del Mar and La Buena Vida are gay-friendly.

Is music supplied during the ceremony? What about the reception?
Some wedding ceremonies have music; some do not. We have contacts with a wide variety of musical groups and talent. Mariachi bands are popular for a festive wedding. You can play a CD during your ceremony or have a single guitarist play for you. There is more information on our reception page.

I'm planning a large (or small) wedding. What is the largest (or smallest) number of guests that you can accommodate?
We can accommodate weddings as small as two and as large as 150.