Considering a Oaxaca Beach wedding? Check out these Nine tips for planning your Oaxaca beach wedding.

You are here because you are looking for guidance and ideas for planning your Oaxaca beach wedding.

A Oaxaca beach wedding is one of the most sublime, fun, intimate, and grand kinds of weddings possible–and, with a wide range of venues, from rustic to modern to luxury, and with its relative proximity to the US, whichever kind of Oaxaca beach wedding fits your vision is within your grasp.

Only a half hour by air from Oaxaca City, and only three hours by ground, the beaches of Oaxaca have never been more welcoming. 

When planning a Oaxaca beach wedding, you’ll want to keep in mind these 9 things. 

1. Size of wedding, number of guests.
2. Proximity to the water.
3. Views.
4. Accessibility.
5. Amenities.
6. Planners.
7. Permits.
8. Flights.
9. Activities beyond the ceremony and reception. 

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Size of wedding, number of guests. Elopement, intimate wedding, or big wedding? This will determine the space you need at your venue and the size and proximity of your accommodations. Will you rent out an entire beachfront house or hotel, and have your ceremony, reception, and lodging all in one place? Or, if you’re eloping, you may prefer to hike up to a spot above the crashing waves, just the two of you. If you’re a planning a big wedding, a larger all-inclusive resort  might be your best option. 
2. Proximity to the water. Some people think “beach wedding” means only one thing: 20 or so people within inches of the waves rolling in. But there are other kinds. For example, you can exchange vows on an island in the middle of an infinity pool, on a terrace in the bluffs overlooking the vast Pacific, or on a gently sloping hill leading to the beach. 
3. Views. In the moment and in your pictures, what do you want to see all around you? The sand in your feet, the waves up close? Or do you want to look over the edge at the tumbling cliffside below and the waves crashing into the rocks? Either is majestic. One thing to beware of, if views are important to you, is, some venues might be perfect in every way except they have trees, shrubs, or other structures blocking the view from the ceremony site. 
4. Accessibility. A hike through brush, a long walk in sand, a drive down a bumpy dirt road. Be sure you and your guests are aware of what it takes to get to the ceremony site. 
5. Amenities. If choosing a secluded spot, don’t forget to bring them with you! If booking a private residence, be sure to ask what’s included.
6. Planners. If you’re going for an elopement, your photographer may be the closest you have to someone in the planner role besides yourselves, so you may want to consider a photographer who will be on the same page with you in this regard. If booking an all-inclusive resort, big or small, the planner may be included. If booking a private venue, looking into hiring a planner may be the best way to have a stress-free wedding. 
7. Permissions and other considerations. Consider if your venue of choice may require special permission or permits for your presence, or for having alcohol, music, a certain number of guests, parking, and other special arrangements. 
8. Flights. You have two airports to choose from–Puerto Escondido or Huatulco. Be sure you know which airport is closer to the venue you choose. Flights go to both airports from Oaxaca City in small planes, about 10 passengers each. Larger planes fly direct from Mexico City and several cities in the US. 
9. Activities beyond the ceremony and reception. Whether a just-us Oaxaca beach elopement for two, or an intimate wedding or large wedding, consider building in other activities into the itinerary. In and around both Puerto Escondido and Huatulco, you’ll find lots of fun, from boat tours through the mangroves to snorkeling to surfing to releasing baby turtles and much more. 

I have had the honor of documenting many Oaxaca beach weddings over the years, and am happy to share some of my favorite experiences and planning tips with you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.