Options for Non-Beach Weddings in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Staci Nichols - Puerto Vallarta Wed
go to original October 12, 2013

If you’re looking for some unique options for an amazing destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta, consider a non-beach wedding. Puerto Vallarta is so amazingly beautiful that there are lots of great options — up in the jungle of the Sierra Madres, the Cuale River, hilltop in downtown with an expansive view of the bay, actually on the bay in a boat, or many of the local event salons throughout town.

Jungle

I’ve ridden horseback in the jungle above Puerto Vallarta many times. The mountains are very close to downtown (about 20-30 minutes by car). It’s gorgeous, secluded, and definitely unique. There are actually a few restaurants tucked away on the dirt roads accessing the area, some even alongside the Cuale River. If you want to get away from the touristy areas, the jungle above Paso Ancho will not disappoint. Remember these areas are best accessed during “dry season” (November-April).

Cuale River

This river runs right through the heart of Puerto Vallarta’s “romantic zone.” There are even islands on the river as it nears the ocean containing a number of restaurants that would make great wedding locations. I used to live on the river — it is home to hundreds of species of amazing birds. During the summer, the river can be muddy due to nightly thunderstorms — opt for dry season for a river wedding.

Hilltop

Even just a few blocks from the beach (depending on what part of the city), you will find yourself high above the hustle and bustle with a breath-taking view of the entire Banderas Bay and the night-time cityscape. You could have a hilltop Puerto Vallarta wedding at a restaurant or a private villa. The regular hotels are located primarily in “Zona Hoteleria” (the hotel zone), which is downtown on the beach, so an all-inclusive resort hilltop wedding would not be an option.

Hacienda San Angel Wedding Puerto Vallarta by PromovisionPV.com (WeddingsVallarta)

Boating Around the Bay

Charter a boat and take your wedding to the Bay. You can look back on Puerto Vallarta, enjoying the amazing, almost Greece-like view while watching for whales and dolphins (only during winter). Don’t worry about noise restrictions and curfews like you most certainly will anywhere in town (also another advantage of having a jungle celebration).

Event Salons

In Mexico, children’s birthday parties, baby showers, and quinceañeras (a combination of a sweet 16 and a cotillion) are taken very seriously! It is not uncommon for a family of even the most modest means to invite everyone in school to their child’s 6th birthday party with a DJ, catered food, and a bounce house. For this reason, the city is full of affordable event salons. You can expect to pay as little as $200 USD to rent a salon on a Saturday during busy season for 50 guests with tables, chairs, and linens included.

Puerto Vallarta Wed is a unique wedding planning service offering mix and match packages to do-it-yourself destination brides. The service comprises a group of hand selected Puerto Vallarta destination wedding professionals, most of whom are American expats, and all of whom are reliable, experienced, affordable and bilingual. Puerto Vallarta Wed offers a fantastic alternative to the many all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, and they can work with you to provide a single vendor, or a complete wedding planning service.

Images courtesy of Puerto Vallarta Wed