Mexico's a Dreamland for Same-Sex Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Daniel Shoer Roth - Miami Herald
go to original November 18, 2016

Fidel & Alejandro's epic gay wedding: Laguna de Santa Maria del Oro, Nayarit, México (Hado Eventos)

Having embraced and courted the LGBT leisure traveler over the past decade, the various tourism boards throughout Mexico, along with hoteliers, business owners and tour operators are now turning their focus to the small, but growing, same-sex destination wedding market. Major centers — including Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Guadalajara and Cancun — continue to be incredibly popular vacation spots and are well positioned to capitalize on this emerging trend.

“Part of the appeal of Mexico is that it will never lose its signature ‘wedding-in-paradise’ feel,” says Richard Calvert, president and CEO of GayDestinationWeddings.com — a U.S.-based website that specializes in travel planning and celebratory travel. “Additionally, it’s a convenient hub for international travelers and has a reputation of being welcoming toward the LGBT community.”

Now more than ever, couples want to plan their nuptials to reflect their individuality, incorporating fun details, as well as cultural traditions and fun excursions for an unforgettable event. Cancun’s expansive resorts have been at the forefront of this kind of personalization, which Calvert says is particularly enticing for the modern LGBT couple looking for a great place to host a wedding. “You can enjoy a budget-friendly affair that is simple and romantic, an opulent celebration at a luxury resort with all the bells and whistles or something in between.”

Shortly before the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in June 2015, the Mexican Supreme Court made it illegal for states in that country to bar same-sex couples from getting married. Gay and lesbian couples can now legally marry in six Mexican states, as well as the capital. Though the other Mexican states do not perform marriage ceremonies, they recognize them. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has also proposed adding language to his country’s constitution to protect these rights.

Yet, even as marriage equality becomes more widely accepted, machismo is strongly embedded in Mexico’s social fabric, and many parts of the country are more provincial and therefore more conservative, too.

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