With a picture-perfect setting and new luxury hotels opening every year, Los Cabos provides a “wow” factor to the bride and groom seeking something chic for a destination wedding.
Grand Velas Los Cabos is already one of the top options in the area, even though it’s been open just over a year. Marcela Castro (mcastrol@velasresorts.com), the resort’s wedding manager, is the go-to person for those seeking a wedding on site. She can advise on spa packages to flower arrangements and décor, and even assign you a personal wedding coordinator who can help with spa and salon services, tasting menus, VIP transportation arrangements, music and DJ services, photography and video, decorations and more.
Good to know: To make the planning process simplified, the resort offers five all-inclusive wedding packages from its standard complimentary wedding package, which includes the venue, a romantic First Sunrise Together breakfast in bed, suite upgrades and more to the Special Concessions Package, which additionally includes photography and spa credits, complimentary nights, private transportation and special amenities for the couple such as sparkling wine and strawberries in the suite. Couples are not restricted to these packages, however.
Four venues at the resort can provide the backdrop for a wedding: Terraza del Mar, the beach, Azul Garden and the Convention Center. According to Grand Velas, Terraza del Mar is the largest oceanfront terrace along the entire Los Cabos coast; it overlooks the Sea of Cortez and can accommodate up to 600 guests. Azul Garden is a green garden located between the restaurant Azul and the beach. It makes for a great casual, outdoor wedding. For a more elegant option, the Convention Center has sparkling chandeliers, plush seating and classic décor. Good to know: The space can accommodate even the largest of weddings with room for more than 700 guests.
Grand Velas Los Cabos’ Grand Class Suite has a private plunge pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez.
To impress guests during their stay, the hotel can arrange myriad activities depending on their interests. The Over-The-Top Wine Lovers’ Getaway is great for oenophiles looking to explore Mexico’s fine wines. The experience includes wine-themed spa treatments, Michelin-star dining in a vineyard and private jet transportation to Ensenada’s top wineries for tastings. The Extreme Adventure includes surfing, Mexico’s longest zipline, skydiving, ATVs and even a Pre-Hispanic cuisine tasting of worms, grasshoppers and ants (for the especially bold). And for foodies, might we suggest the world’s most expensive taco? The $25,000 delicacy is made with langoustine, Kobe beef, Almas Beluga caviar, black truffle brie cheese and a salsa made with dried Morita chili peppers, Ley.925 Ultra-Premium Añejo tequila and civet coffee, all served on a gold flake-infused corn tortilla. To complement the taco, order a hand-crafted white gold and pure platinum bottle of Ley.925 Pasión Azteca Ultra-Premium Añejo for an additional $150,000. The over-the-top taco and tequila duo is for two people, must be ordered one week prior to dining and requires a $12,500 deposit in advance.
There are also three golf courses at the Cabo Real, Puerto Los Cabos and Club Campestre San Jose.
General Manager Andreas Schmidt (aschmidt@velasresorts.com) is available to field any questions and assist with bookings.
Note: The Grand Class Suites are best suited for couples. These private rooms have views of the Sea of Cortez, a private terrace and a plunge pool. Be sure to order an in-room massage or breakfast in your suite. Good to know: These rooms include 24-hour concierge and suite service.
At the spa, there are several good options for couples, including the Romantic Massage, Yaakunah Ritual and Meeting of Two Souls Ritual. Our favorite — the third — is an aromatherapy massage in a suite with a heated pool. The effect of the aromatherapy stimulates emotional and mental energy, helping to improve your connection as a couple. After the massage, enjoy 30 minutes of relaxation and privacy with mimosas and seasonal fruit. Tip: There’s a Bridal Room available for the bride, groom and their party to get their hair and makeup done. Se Spa can also book groups.
For an entirely different take on Los Cabos, check out Hotel El Ganzo, located in San Jose Del Cabo. According to the hotel, it “prizes creativity, originality and service — not to mention style and comfort” through its blending of modernist style with rustic elements. To note: It has a rooftop sushi bar, an infinity pool and an underground recording studio, while guestrooms each have an iPad, double-basin marble vanities, organic bath products and art painted directly on the walls, headboards and more.
Hotel El Ganzo’s 760-square-foot Master Suite comes with rustic wooden furnishings.
Good to know: The rooftop bar is even available to host weddings. It has an infinity pool lined with cabanas and views of the marina and Sea of Cortez; however, this space may best be served as the site of the after party. Ganzo Beach Club, located across the bay from El Ganzo on one of Los Cabos’ only swimmable beaches, might be a better option to host the ceremony itself. It’s accessed via a two-minute boat ride (talk about making an entrance!). Another option is the palm-lined Jetty at the Beach Club, a 400-foot-long corridor into the marina, where the hotel can host ceremonies, cocktail hours or dinners. This venue offers the best photos and the best view, according to the hotel. Finally, the Ganzo Downstairs restaurant has a full-service restaurant, a large bar serving signature cocktails and an outdoor patio with ocean views. All venues can host 150 people except for Downstairs, which can only accommodate 90.
Tip: After opting for a ceremony on the beach or the jetty, we say it’s time to head upstairs for an after party on the rooftop (remember to change into your bathing suit!).
Services provided by the hotel include wedding planning, design and décor, photographers, catering, music, rehearsal dinners and welcome parties. For the bridal party and guests, Ronald Cruz (concierge@elganzo.com) can arrange sunset catamaran tours, whale watching tours, private cooking classes at Huerta Los Tamarindos, private book tours and more.
There are six different category rooms, but the top options are the Very Large Suites, which are available in one and two bedrooms. These rooms have a grand salon, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, a private gym and a terrace. Tip: For bridal parties, the two-bedroom Very Large Suite has a dining table that can seat 10. The best views are from the third floor’s Very Large Suite, which looks upon the East Cape, the marina and the fisherman’s wharf.
Tip: The entire 70-room property is available for a buyout for weddings.
The palm-lined Jetty at the Beach Club hosts wedding ceremonies.
At the spa, the 80-minute Romantic Escape Couple’s Retreat is a must-experience. The authentic wedding ritual is done for the king and queen of Bali in preparation of their wedding ceremony and has been conducted for over 400 years. It starts by having a traditional Balinese massage: A combination of rolling, kneading, acupressure, lymphatic drainage, hot stones and skin rolling are used to reduce stress and anxiety. Jasmine frangipani oil, known as an aphrodisiac, is used for the woman and ginger spice is used on the man. After the massage, an authentic Lulur body exfoliation is done using yogurt, turmeric and curry on the woman, while the gentleman will indulge in a white pepper and ginger Lulur exfoliation. The couple will bathe in an exotic body wash and finish with a final application of the hotel’s essential oils and lotion. There’s also the two-and-a-half hour Eternal Celebration Package. It includes a floral-infused bubble bath with rose petals, candles and champagne, which sets the mood. This is followed by a 60-minute aromatherapy couple’s massage, pedicures and a paraffin dip.
Note: Hotel El Ganzo is an adults-only property and is pet-friendly.
For all wedding enquiries, reach out to Miriam Reuter (mreuter@elganzo.com), director of sales.
Located at the southernmost tip of Baja California, just minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, is The Resort at Pedregal, which just debuted its brand-new over-the-top Timeless Romance package — coming at a price of $89,000.
The luxurious package includes: a three-night stay in a Beach Casita; a candlelit rooftop dinner by executive chef Gustavo Pinet, complete with a solo violinist, five dozen roses and a fireworks display; a jewelry collection comprising his and hers Piaget watches, heart-shaped earrings and a heart pendant necklace; romantic turndown consisting of a bottle of Krug Reims Rosé; sunrise standup paddle boarding to The Arch and Lover’s Beach with breakfast for two; swimming with whale sharks and a visit to Espiritu Santos via yacht; daily breakfast in-suite or at Su Cocina; dinners at El Farallon and Don Manuel’s with wine pairings; Damiana & Honey Moon couple’s massage at Luna y Mar Spa; and roundtrip luxury SUV transportation.
The Resort at Pedregal’s El Farallon is an oceanfront restaurant known for its seafood specialties.
The Beachfront Casita has a full kitchen, spacious living and dining spaces, a plunge pool and private terrace.
For guests who would like to build their wedding from scratch, Celebrations Sales Manager Nubia Villa (nubia.villa@theresortatpedregal.com) can help customize the ceremony, reception, dining venue, spa packages and any honeymoon arrangements.
The most requested rooms for couples are the One Bedroom Beachfront Suite and the Estrella Suite. These accommodations have a king bed, fireplace, separate living and dining rooms, covered terraces, beach bags and more. We love that chips, guacamole and Coronitas are delivered to the room each afternoon.
The Resort at Pedregals’s myriad of venues include the beach, the Main Lobby Terrace and the Pool Terrance. The first works whether it’s just the two of you or 100 guests; the second is a dramatic oceanfront terrace (suitable for 50 to 150 guests) where the bride walks down the aisle through a carved tunnel as a frame; and the last creates the illusion of a floating ceremony, with the sunset colors reflected on the infinity pool. It can host 30 to 100 guests.
La Palapa, an open venue with a thatched roof and a fireplace, is a good option for the reception. It can fit up to 30 people for ceremonies and dinners, and up to 100 for cocktail receptions. Another pick is The Beach Club, which has panoramic ocean views, indoor-outdoor ambiance and an outdoor pergola decorated with chandeliers and hanging lanterns. For groups of 60 to 120 guests, we propose cocktails at the Beach Club, followed by al fresco dining on the pool terrace and dancing at La Palapa. Other options include Don Manuel’s, The Resort’s signature restaurant, which can host 80 to 150 guests in an authentic Mexican hacienda setting, and El Farallón, which is tucked into the rocky cliffs, suspended over the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. This setting can accommodate up to 120 guests for cocktails, dinner and dancing. The private Cangrejos Terrace of El Farallón is also available for smaller events.
The beach is one of the many options available to host a wedding at The Resort at Pedregal.
Once your guests arrive, we suggest taking them on a sunset cruise to the famous Arch, enjoying drinks, canapes and dinner. For more adventurous groups, The Resort can organize horseback riding, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving or going on an ATV excursion. And then there are tequila tasting tours, where the group can learn about the spirit’s history of harvesting and distilling process — in addition to plenty of tastings.
Before the wedding, opt for the Bridal Ritual at the Luna y Mar Spa. Guests are immersed in Mexican culture and are prepared to receive the traditional indigenous healing from The Resort’s Herbal Folk Healer Curandera in one of their two forms. One is La Limpia, which heals and dissolves any burdening emotions, energy or thoughts; the second is El Deseo, which is especially designed for brides and their bridesmaids, couples, friends or family members who want to nourish and strengthen a loved one with the guidance of the Curandera.
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