Dream Weddings In Baja California: Perfect Place, Perfect Price

There are a lot of great reasons to consider getting married in Baja California. First, the weather is almost always perfect: sunny skies, temperatures that are not too hot or cold, very little rain. Next, your money will stretch MUCH farther in Baja than it will in the U.S. or Canada. An oceanfront or vineyard wedding in exclusive locations will cost you one-half to one-third of the price you would pay to do the same thing in the States. In addition, a "destination wedding" in Baja will be easy for your family and friends to attend, especially in Northern Baja cities like Rosarito, Calafia, Ensenada and San Felipe. The drive from the California Border is quick and straightforward... yet you and your guests will still awaken each morning with the sense that you have "gotten away from it all" to share a romantic international adventure!

Newly engaged couples starting to make their plans may wonder just how much of a hassle they may have with paperwork or red tape if they decide to plan a Baja California wedding. Here is what you will need in order to participate in a legal civil marriage ceremony in Mexico:

• Original, certified copies of your birth certificates
• Copies of your tourist visa forms
• Lab work (must be completed in Mexican state where you will be married; e.g. Baja California Norte or Sur)
• Your official divorce decree(s) if you have been previously married

Once you have your paperwork in order, you will need to make arrangements in Mexico. These arrangements will depend on the type of ceremony you and your fiancé decide on. There are three kinds of marriage ceremonies that you may choose to hold in Baja: the Civil Ceremony, the Non-Denominational Ceremony and the Catholic Ceremony.

A Civil Ceremony in Baja is very similar to going to your local county courthouse to be married by a Justice of the Peace. In a Mexican Judge's chambers, you will be married in a short service where the vows you make to each other are set by the government (and can't be altered). This kind of ceremony changes your official marital status from 'single' to 'married' and will be recognized in any country in the world including the U.S. The service itself will be performed in Spanish, so if you aren't fluent it may be a good idea to bring along a translator.

A Non-Denominational ceremony in Baja looks more like the typical U.S. wedding. You may hold your ceremony in a special location like the beach at sunset or in a luxury hotel, and have the service performed by an officiant of your choosing. You can also add personal touches to make your wedding unique and memorable such as individualized wedding vows, flowers, music, and readings by friends or family members. Important note: This kind of service is beautiful, but does not change your legal married status. You will still have to participate in a civil wedding (either in your home country, or in Mexico) in order to be considered married in the eyes of the law.

Catholic wedding ceremonies are also available for foreigners in Mexico, but take several months to arrange. You will first need to arrange permission from your parish priest to marry outside of your parish, and the permission itself must be approved by the parish's diocese. You will then need to take your Pre-Cana classes and receive your Pre-Cana certificate before the wedding. The official documents required for a Catholic wedding must be received by the parish performing your Catholic wedding and mass at least 30 days prior to your ceremony. Depending on the Mexican parish where you choose to be married, your wedding and mass may be conducted in Spanish.

It is quite common for couples to complete their civil marriage in the United States and then enjoy a romantic wedding ceremony with family and friends once they have traveled into Baja. However many couples choose to hold both their civil and non-denominational ceremonies in Baja. Either way, you will need to reserve the services of the judge who will be marrying you (civil) or the site where you would like to be married (non-denominational) as soon as possible. Thanks to its natural beauty and many excellent selling points, Baja is an increasingly popular place to marry. Make your arrangements early to help things run as smoothly as possible.

Popular Baja Wedding Sites:

• Rosarito Beach Hotel
• Real Del Mar
• Bajamar Golf Course
• Newport Beach Hotel
• Hotel Calafia
• Las Rosas
• Las Rocas
• Casa de los Siete Patios
• Estero Beach
• Punta Morro

If the idea of a Baja wedding sound fantastic to you, but you'd feel more comfortable having someone else arrange the details (especially for those not fluent in Spanish) consider trying out the services of highly regarded Baja wedding planning companies such as Ensenada Weddings or WeddingsOnTheMove. These wedding planners will help you find the perfect wedding site, reserve your date, fill out all necessary paperwork, translate your documents, accompany you for lab tests, translate for you in your civil ceremony, coordinate caterers, cake, florist, band or DJ, arrange hotel accommodations for your guests, and orchestrate the entire event on the actual day of your wedding to make sure that everything comes off beautifully.

Baja wedding planners can often arrange truly unique experiences for your special day. Anything is possible! A Baja California scuba diving wedding, fishing wedding or sunset cruise wedding may just be the wedding of your dreams.