AisleDash

In Mexico, only civil ceremonies legally change your status from single to married. These ceremonies are performed by justices, not religious officials. You may have a religious ceremony in Mexico, but it will not legally affect your marriage status. Depending on where you hold your civil ceremony, the price ranges from about $300 - $600.

There is a relatively long list of legal requirements for a Mexican civil ceremony, so you'll need to factor these into your planning as well. Along with the necessary identification (as of 2007, American and Canadian visitors must have a valid passport in addition to a birth certificate), a blood test is required. That test must be performed in Mexico within 14 days of your wedding. That means you will have to arrive a few days before your ceremony to take care of all the legal business. Extra time in Cancun -- what a drag!

All-inclusive resorts are extremely popular in Mexico. These are resorts where the price of your room covers everything you consume at the resort, including meals, drinks, entertainment, and activities. They are often the best value in travel, and take a lot of the hassle out of planning a trip. And did we mention the luxurious accommodations?

• Beach Palace at the northern end of Cancun is ideal for destination weddings with families. Be sure to hit the spa before the big event, which they recommend you hold at the Sky terrace on the rooftop of the resort, overlooking the beach. Sounds romantic!
  
• Desire Resort, recommended as a couples-only destination, is known for its clothing-optional beach and jacuzzi lounge bar. The resort bills itself as "Deliciously Erotic." For an adventuresome couple, this could be a great wedding getaway, but it's not the type of place you'd want to bring your mother. In addition the nude jacuzzi bar, the resort has three restaurants and three other bars.
• For a list of many more luxurious, all-inclusive resorts in Cancun, visit this site.

Many of the all-inclusive resorts not only offer activities on site for guests, but also guided tours of nearby attractions like Chichen Itza and more.
You may love Taco Bell, but that's really no more Mexican than egg rolls. You're in for a treat when you have the real thing, though it's true you need to be careful about what you eat, lest you be struck with Montezuma's Revenge. Avoid food from street vendors, and stick to nicer restaurants and bottled water. All of the resorts in Cancun have lovely dining rooms that would be perfect for your rehearsal dinner. Don't be spooked by what happened to Charlotte in the Sex and the City movie -- that was just comedy.

For Mexican-style entertainment, why not hire a mariachi band for your wedding? Many of the resort wedding packages include a mariachi band to entertain guests at your reception. It's a fun and festive way to include local traditions.

There are so many beautiful places to stay in Cancun that it can be hard to narrow down your search without visiting them all yourself. A bilingual wedding planner can help you choose the right details for your ceremony so you can plan from home without blowing your budget on the pre-planning.