Los Cabos, Mexico
Destination wedding guide
Los Cabos — encompassing Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo — sits at the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula where the desert meets the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Dramatic rock formations, desert landscapes, and year-round sunshine create a destination wedding setting unlike anywhere else in Mexico.
By Plana Editorial
Updated
Mexico
What makes it special
The full picture
Los Cabos has emerged as one of North America's most desirable destination wedding locations, combining Mexico's warmth and hospitality with a landscape that looks nothing like the rest of the country. The Baja peninsula is desert — cactus-studded hillsides, rocky coastline, and vast Pacific and Sea of Cortez waters create a dramatic, almost cinematic backdrop that is instantly recognizable.
The corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo (a 20-mile coastal highway) is lined with luxury resorts, each competing with increasingly impressive wedding venues. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, One&Only Palmilla, The Cape by Thompson Hotels, and Montage Los Cabos represent the top tier — $5,000–$15,000 venue fees with full-service wedding teams, private beach or cliff-side ceremony locations, and catering from award-winning kitchens.
San José del Cabo offers a more authentic, artsy alternative to Cabo San Lucas's party-town energy. The historic Art District, with its Thursday-night art walks, colonial architecture, and independent restaurants, provides a cultured, relaxed atmosphere that appeals to couples seeking sophistication without pretension. Several boutique hotels and hacienda-style venues in and around San José offer intimate wedding spaces for 30–80 guests.
The weather in Los Cabos is remarkably consistent — over 340 days of sunshine annually with minimal rain outside of September and October. Hurricane season (June–November) technically exists but Cabo is on the Pacific side of the peninsula and receives far fewer storms than the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Most couples book between November and May for ideal conditions: warm days in the 75–85°F range, cool evenings, and zero rain.
The food and beverage scene in Los Cabos has matured significantly — the region now boasts multiple restaurants on the Latin America's 50 Best list, local craft mezcal and tequila distilleries, and farm-to-table dining that rivals Mexico City. Wedding catering at top venues reflects this culinary evolution.
Marriage requirements
A civil ceremony performed by a Mexican judge (juez) is required for legal recognition. Required documents: valid passports, birth certificates with apostille, blood test results from a Mexican lab (taken within 15 days of the ceremony), and a certificate of no impediment. If previously married, divorce decrees or death certificates with apostille. All documents must be translated into Spanish by an authorized translator. Most couples hire a wedding planner or legal coordinator to manage the paperwork — the process takes 4–6 weeks. Many international couples opt for a legal ceremony at home and a symbolic ceremony in Cabo.
Where to actually celebrate
Luxury beachfront resorts with private ceremony terraces
Cliff-side venues overlooking the Pacific Ocean
Hacienda-style estates with desert garden courtyards
Boutique hotels in San José del Cabo's Art District
Private villa rentals with infinity pools and ocean views
From people who’ve done it
- 01
Choose between Cabo San Lucas (nightlife, marina, El Arco) and San José del Cabo (art, culture, quieter beaches) based on your wedding vibe — they are 20 miles apart but feel like different worlds.
- 02
Book your venue 12–18 months in advance for peak season (November–April) — top Cabo venues sell out for popular Saturday dates a year ahead.
- 03
If you want a legal Mexican marriage, start the paperwork 3–4 months in advance and hire a wedding coordinator experienced with the juez civil process.
- 04
Sunset ceremonies are the Cabo signature — the Pacific sunset from a west-facing cliff or beach venue is consistently spectacular and occurs between 6:00 and 7:30 PM depending on season.
- 05
Arrange airport-to-resort transportation for all guests — the drive from SJD airport to most resorts is 20–45 minutes, and taxis at the airport can be chaotic for first-time visitors.
- 06
Plan a group activity around whale watching (December–April) — humpback whales migrate through the Sea of Cortez and a morning boat excursion is a memorable pre-wedding group experience.
Frequently asked
How far is the airport from the hotels?
San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD) is 15–20 minutes from San José del Cabo hotels and 30–45 minutes from Cabo San Lucas resorts. Most luxury resorts offer private airport transfer services ($50–$150 per couple).
Is Los Cabos safe for a destination wedding?
The tourist corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is very safe. The area is heavily patrolled and resort security is robust. Los Cabos is considered one of the safest tourist destinations in Mexico.
Can we swim at the beaches in Cabo?
Many Cabo beaches have strong Pacific currents and are not safe for swimming. Médano Beach in Cabo San Lucas and several Sea of Cortez beaches are swimmable. Resorts with swimmable beaches include Chileno Bay and Palmilla — confirm with your venue if beach swimming is important to guests.
How much does catering cost in Cabo?
Resort wedding catering runs $80–$200+ per person for a plated dinner with open bar. Independent catering and restaurant buyouts range from $60–$150 per person. Cabo's food quality is among the highest in Mexico, and the price reflects it.
What is the best month for a Cabo wedding?
November and March–April offer the best combination of weather, whale watching season, and slightly lower rates than the December–February peak. October has the highest rain risk and should be avoided.