Some wedding venues are beautiful. Villa Mandarinas is in a different category entirely. Sixteen bedrooms. Three event terraces. A private ocean dock. A freshly completed expansion that renovated the property into two fully equipped houses sharing the same panoramic hillside above the Bay of Banderas. If you’re planning a wedding with a large guest count,…
Writing this piece is bringing up some emotions, and I find myself grateful that it’s the last article in this Planning Guide series rather than the first, because it’s also the most personal. One of the main reasons I started this agency was to create a completely safe space for LGBTQ+ couples to plan a…
You and your partner are going to have a lot of conversations about money during this process, and that’s actually a good thing. Those conversations — sometimes a little uncomfortable, always clarifying — are what turn two individual sets of wishes into one shared set of priorities. The couples who have this conversation early and…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design One of the first requests we get from almost every couple is some version of: “Please send us your packages,” or “Just give us a real number.” We understand the frustration. Search “Puerto Vallarta wedding cost” and you’ll find a lot of wide ranges, vague disclaimers, and advice that…
We encourage every couple we work with to visit Puerto Vallarta in person during the planning process — not because it’s required, but because it consistently transforms couples from anxious to confident in the space of about two days. The difference between couples who make the trip and couples who don’t is visible both in…
It may not surprise those who’ve been here before, but Puerto Vallarta holds a distinction that no other beach destination in Latin America can claim: it is the undisputed LGBTQ+ capital of the region. The city is Latin America’s only destination with its own gayborhood, located in the Romantic Zone, which includes more than 70…
Choosing a private villa as the setting for your destination wedding is one of the best decisions you can make. It also comes with a learning curve that surprises most couples, not because the process is complicated, but because it’s genuinely different from anything most people have done before. This guide covers everything: how villas…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design You just got engaged. Congratulations! Now someone has asked you when the wedding is, and you realized you have absolutely no idea, because you’ve never done anything remotely like this before and you’re not sure where to start. Here’s the short answer: for a private villa destination wedding in…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design Casa Karma is something of an institution in Puerto Vallarta’s destination wedding world. Perched on the hillside at the far southern end of the Conchas Chinas neighborhood — just a short taxi ride from the Romantic Zone — it cascades down toward the Pacific on five separate levels, sheltering…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design One of the underappreciated advantages of a destination wedding — over a traditional wedding at home — is that it gives your friends and family a genuine excuse for a tropical vacation. You’re not just asking them to show up for a party. You’re giving them four or five…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design A destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta doesn’t begin when the ceremony starts or end when the last guests leave the reception. It’s a weekend — three, four, sometimes five days of the people you love most in one of the most beautiful places on earth. The events surrounding your…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design Let’s start with the most important thing: the vast majority of LGBTQ+ couples who come to Puerto Vallarta to get married are here for a spiritual ceremony and a party. They’re already legally married — or planning to get legally married — in their home jurisdiction. And honestly, that…
By Robert Schley, Mexico Event Design Choosing your wedding planner may be the most consequential decision in your entire destination wedding planning process. Pick the right one and the year ahead feels manageable, even exciting. Pick the wrong one and you spend twelve months translating, second-guessing, and filling in gaps that shouldn’t exist. In Puerto…
One of the best ways to experience Puerto Vallarta is through its array of ocean tours and day trips. From snorkeling adventures to island excursions, here are some of the most popular ocean tours and day trips in the area. Marietas Islands: Hidden Beach Adventure The Marietas Islands, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, are famous for…
Puerto Vallarta offers more than just beachside relaxation. The city and its surrounding areas are rich with opportunities for land-based adventures that cater to a variety of interests, from nature enthusiasts to history buffs. Here are some of the best land-based day trip activities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Hiking to the Mirador de La Cruz…
Bucerías and Nuevo Nayarit offer not only beautiful beaches and charming towns but also a thriving culinary scene. Here’s a guide to the best restaurants in Bucerías and Nuevo Nayarit that promise a memorable dining experience. Bucerías La Postal La Postal is a well-known eatery in the heart of Bucerías, known for its Italian cuisine…
Puerto Vallarta is regarded by many as the LGBTQ+ capital of Mexico and #1 beach destination in all of Latin America. Of course, it boasts a vibrant and welcoming gay nightlife scene. The city’s Zona Romantica is the epicenter, offering a huge variety of bars, clubs, and entertainment venues. Here’s our guide to the best…
Here, we explore some of the best restaurants that make Puerto Vallarta a must-visit destination for your foodie guests. Café des Artistes A cornerstone of Puerto Vallarta’s fine dining scene, Café des Artistes is renowned for its ambiance and French-Mexican fusion cuisine. Chef Thierry Blouet crafts dishes that are as visually stunning as they are…
When there are lots of young people at your wedding, it may turn out that they want to continue to party after your wedding officially ends. And venues in many parts of Puerto Vallarta force weddings to end at 11:00 p.m. or 12:00 midnight, so it’s important to consider ideas for an after party and…
Choosing the right venue for your LGBT destination wedding celebration in Mexico is the first and one of the most important decisions that you’ll be making during your planning process, along with the lodging options for your guests. It is typically a very complex decision to make, based on many different factors. We have found…