Planning a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta can be an exciting experience, but there are plenty of details to think about before the big day. From choosing the right season and venue to planning your photography timeline, a little preparation can make the entire experience much easier.
Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding Riviera Nayarit area offer beautiful beaches, tropical scenery, incredible sunsets, and a wide variety of wedding venues. Whether you’re planning an intimate celebration or a larger resort wedding, this guide will help you understand what to consider when planning your destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta.
Why Choose Puerto Vallarta for Your Destination Wedding?
Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination for couples looking for a combination of beautiful scenery, comfortable resorts, great restaurants, and plenty of things for their guests to enjoy.
The area offers much more than beaches. You can explore the Malecón, enjoy the restaurants and galleries of Zona Romántica, visit nearby towns such as Sayulita, or simply spend the day relaxing at your resort.
For a destination wedding, this variety is especially useful because your guests can turn the wedding trip into a vacation of their own.
If you’re still deciding whether Puerto Vallarta is the right destination for your wedding, take a look at my guide to the top reasons Puerto Vallarta is a great destination wedding location.
When Is the Best Time for a Wedding in Puerto Vallarta?
The time of year can make a noticeable difference to your wedding experience, especially when you’re planning an outdoor ceremony or reception.
Winter Weddings
January and February are two of my favorite months for weddings in Puerto Vallarta. The weather is generally cooler than during the warmer months, which can make a big difference when you’re spending several hours outdoors in wedding attire.
Winter can also be a great time for guests coming from colder parts of the United States and Canada, giving everyone a chance to enjoy some sunshine and warm weather.
Spring Weddings
April and May are also excellent months to consider. The weather is still generally comfortable, and the warmer temperatures of summer have not fully arrived yet.
If you’re considering an outdoor wedding, choosing a comfortable time of year can help you and your guests enjoy the celebration without feeling overwhelmed by the heat.
Choosing Your Wedding Venue
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing where to get married.
Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have a wide range of options, from large all-inclusive resorts to private villas, restaurants, and unique venues with ocean views.
Some popular options include Secrets Bahía Mita, Iberostar Playa Mita, andLe Kliff, although the right venue will depend on the size of your wedding, your budget, and the type of experience you want for your guests.
I recommend thinking about more than just how the ceremony location looks. Consider where you’ll get ready, where you’ll take portraits, where the reception will be held, and how easily you can move between each part of the day.
Planning Your Wedding Day Timeline
Your wedding timeline can have a big impact on how relaxed your day feels.
Give yourself enough time for getting ready, the ceremony, family photographs, couple portraits, and all the other moments you want documented. Trying to fit too much into a short period can make the day feel rushed.
One of the most important things to consider is sunset. Puerto Vallarta’s sunsets can be spectacular, and planning your couple’s portraits around the available light can give you some of the most memorable photographs of the day.
For a more detailed look at how to organize your photography coverage, read my guide to creating the perfect wedding day timeline.
Make Time for Your Couple Portraits
Your wedding day will be full of people, conversations, and activities. Your couple portraits are one of the few opportunities during the day when you can step away for a little while and simply enjoy being together.
You don’t need to spend hours taking photographs. Even a short portrait session can give you a chance to slow down and create beautiful images without the rest of the wedding happening around you.
Puerto Vallarta gives you plenty of options for portraits, from beaches and tropical gardens to dramatic coastlines and beautiful sunset locations.
What Should You Expect From Your Wedding Photographer?
When choosing a photographer for a destination wedding, look beyond just the photographs in their portfolio.
Your photographer will be with you during some of the most important parts of your wedding day, so communication and planning are also important.
A photographer familiar with Puerto Vallarta can help you understand how much time to allow for photographs, where different types of portraits can work well, and how to make the most of the natural light at your venue.
If you’re looking for a Puerto Vallarta wedding photographer, you can see more of my wedding work and learn about how I approach destination weddings.
Don't Forget About Your Guests
One of the best things about a destination wedding is that your guests get to experience the destination with you.
When choosing your venue and planning your wedding week, think about what your guests might enjoy outside of the wedding itself. Puerto Vallarta has beaches, restaurants, boat trips, local attractions, and nearby towns to explore.
You don’t need to organize every minute of their trip. Simply giving them a few ideas and enough free time to explore can make the experience more enjoyable.
How Much Wedding Photography Coverage Do You Need?
There isn’t one answer that works for every wedding.
An intimate ceremony followed by portraits might only require a few hours of photography, while a larger wedding with getting ready, the ceremony, portraits, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing will need considerably more coverage.
The important thing is to think about which parts of your wedding day you want to remember.
If you’re not sure how much coverage you need, I can help you look at your timeline and figure out what makes sense. You can also see my Puerto Vallarta wedding photography packages for the different coverage options available.
Planning a Destination Wedding From Another Country
For many couples, the biggest challenge isn’t choosing Puerto Vallarta. It’s planning everything from thousands of miles away.
Start by creating a clear timeline of the major decisions you need to make, including your venue, guest accommodations, ceremony and reception plans, photography, and other important services.
Once those pieces are in place, the smaller details become much easier to organize.
And remember, you don’t have to plan everything at once. Give yourself plenty of time and work through the important decisions one at a time.
Your Puerto Vallarta Wedding Should Feel Like You
There is no single formula for planning the perfect destination wedding.
Some couples want a large resort celebration surrounded by family and friends. Others prefer a smaller and more intimate experience. Puerto Vallarta gives you the flexibility to create either.
The most important thing is to build a wedding day that feels comfortable and authentic to you, rather than trying to recreate someone else’s wedding.
Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or already have your venue booked, having a clear plan will help you enjoy the process and, eventually, the day itself.
Ready to Start Planning?
If you’re planning a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta and are looking for photography coverage, I’d love to hear what you have in mind.
