• Decide a Budget.  Meet with contributing family & friends to determine monetary duties
• Begin envisioning your wedding. Start searching for the Palace Resort that would cater to your needs and the needs of your guests the best.
• Choose your preferred ceremony date and time after checking with VIP family and friends. 
• Check wedding availability

Tip:  Depending on the resort and type of ceremony selected, you will be required to arrive a certain number of nights prior to your ceremony day.  Please confirm your arrival date and time with the Wedding Sales Coordinator.   

• Check resort availability and arrange airline and group rates.   

Tip: Palace Resorts offers packages including air, hotel and transfers. We also provide great group incentives when booking 10 rooms or more. Click here for details or ask the wedding sales coordinator.

• Once you verify that your preferred resort, airline provider and wedding slots are available… BOOK IT
• Review the Wedding contract, airline contract and reservation confirmation.  Be sure to review any penalties, cancellation clauses etc..

Tip: The wedding contract must be signed and returned 14 days after couple has received it; otherwise space will be released.

• Check due dates on contracts and make sure you have your deposits for all necessary items.
• Create a draft of your guest list

Tip: Be sure to check the maximum number of guests permitted in the ceremony and restaurant of your preferred resort. 

• Set up your gift registry
• Start shopping for a Wedding dress
• Designate your attendants
• Review all of the wedding optionals, private function, live bands etc.. Information that is sent by the onsite Wedding Planner.
• Order and send Save the Date announcements to all of your guests

Tip: Palace Resorts provides an on-line Gift Registry for your convenience. Family and friends will be able to contribute towards your honeymoon, a spa treatment or tour. Make sure you get familiar with the honeymoon registry and how it works. 

• Review documents required by the Civil Registry in Mexico.  Make sure that you are requesting Apostilles, certified copies, valid passports etc. which ever would apply to you.

Tip: You will find a detailed list of the documents required under your wedding contract

• Select and order the invitations

Tip:  Consider the possibility of accepting gifts prior to your departure.  Doing this will save your guests the trouble of bringing expensive gifts with them and in turn save you the trouble of bringing them back (especially breakable gifts through Customs).  You can add an extra card adjacent to your invitation.  Guests can also purchase gifts through the online gift registry.

• Order your wedding gown and coordinate fitting sessions, also be sure to order your wedding day accessories (tiara, hair pins, and shoes)

Tip:  When choosing your wedding day foot ware be sure to double check wedding location.  For example if you have a beach ceremony, you would want some flatter heals.

• Select bridesmaid dresses and coordinate fitting sessions.

Tip:  The same would apply to the bridesmaid’s foot ware.  You wouldn’t want your bridal party to have aching feet before your ceremony ends.

• Coordinate your work schedules to allow some extra time for before and after your destination wedding.
• Finalize your guest list

• Confirm that you have received all of your documents back from the Secretary of State Department, passport agency and Consulate.

• Confirm any wedding optional services, private functions, live band or religious ceremonies with the resort’s wedding planner.

• Make all final payments required for wedding ceremony, airline and room accommodations.
• Mail your wedding invitations

Tip:  There are printable maps, resort information and tour information available on our website.  You can also include that with your invites.

• Select the groom’s and groomsmen’s attire.
• Be sure to order any favors that you may be taking to Mexico with you.  You are also able to purchase wedding favors from our resort. 

Tip:  There are a variety of favors the resort offers for sale.  There are also many shopping centers near the resort including our gift shop that sell reasonably priced souvenirs which can double up as favors.  That way you won’t have to carry anything with you.

• Print out any programs, escort cards, favor tags and menus you would like to provide your guests.

Tip: The resort provides these at additional costs.  Please ask your onsite planner.

• Update your registry by adding or removing items if needed
  
  

• Buy wedding essentials such as a guest book, pen, flutes for the toast, cake cutting knife to take with you.
• Create a list of shots you would like the photographer and videographer to capture of your ceremony and/or reception.
• Look through magazines and websites for the ideal hairstyles you will like to have on your big day.

Tip:   Take the picture with you so that you can give the onsite hairstylist an idea of what you are looking for.

• Re-confirm all wedding day details with your onsite wedding planner. By now all of the owed monies should have been paid for.
• Meet with bridal party to coordinate responsibilities.
• If you have decided to get civilly married ahead of time (obtaining the Vow Renewal package), proceed towards City hall to obtain your marriage certificate.
• Go for your final dress fitting along with your bridal party.  Be sure to take all accessories with you especially shoes for the final fit
• Review your final guest list and contact guests that have not confirmed. 

• Assemble wedding favors if you will be taking those with you.  Those would include gift baskets or gift bags.

Tip:  If you are choosing to bring the favors with you, check with your airline provider on the weight restrictions and extra charges.

• Provide a trusted friend or relative that is not going with you to Mexico with the emergency contact information sheet.  This should include all of the resort’s information.  Once you arrive be sure to contact this person with your room number.
• Have your hair cut, dyed.
• If you are allergic to specific types of makeup be sure to purchase and take those with you to the resort.
• Pick up your wedding dress and obtain a secure bag for travel.

Tip:  You can phone the airline ahead of time to check the possibilities on having your wedding dress hung in cabinet, not checked-in.  Do not ship your wedding dress.

• If you are leaving behind family pets, make sure you have assigned someone to feed them while you are away and to also look after your house.
• Break your shoes in before the wedding day.  You wouldn’t want to have any blisters on your special day.
• Start to pack for your Honeymoon.

Tip: Make a list of all of the items that you need then use it as a check list.

• Reconfirm any transportation transfers for pick up at the airport

You should already have received a confirmation of the appointment date and time from your onsite wedding planner.  Your blood work appointment will be confirmed onsite (if applicable)

You will tie up all of the loose ends pertaining to your wedding optional services (flowers, cake, video, photography etc), private function details, live bands, spa appointments with your onsite wedding planner.

Tip:  Be sure to order extra copies of your marriage certificate. 5 out of every 6 weddings performed request certified copies after they leave the resort and the charges triple. 

• Reconfirm with your onsite wedding planner when your wedding pictures and video will be ready.

Tip: If you are leaving the resort the day after your wedding, be sure to pay any shipping fees associated.

• Check any possible tours or spa treatments you and your guests might be interested in.
• Be sure to review the Themed parties being held that week at the property. 

Tip: If you have a preference you can plan to go with your guests and add another fun filled day to your wedding week.

• Get manicure and pedicure at resort’s Salon.
• Groom should give best man the bride’s wedding band
• Drink lots of water and eat lots of fruit so that your skin will look radiant for your special day
• Go to sleep early.  A well rested bride is a happy bride

• Eat breakfast
• Have hair and makeup done
• Spend some time with your VIP’s before your wedding, have some girl time with your bridal party.
• Get dressed
  

• Send thank- you notes to all family and friends.
• Contact the local court house to see what is required from you to file your marriage certificate.
• Review gift registry lists, return gifts if necessary.