Once reserved for the affluent, destination weddings are now very popular among many couples and account for roughly 20% to 30% of all weddings. Fueled by couples seeking memorable experiences, built-in honeymoons and unique settings, destination weddings also offer guests the opportunity to combine a family and friends gathering with a mini vacation.
Mexico hosts anywhere from 20% to 34% of all destination weddings globally, translating to tens of thousands of foreign nuptials annually. Estimates suggest that at least 25,000 foreign destination weddings take place in the country every year, with top locations like Cancun and the Riviera Maya accounting for a major share of that volume.
However, two Four Seasons resorts are attracting couples who desire off-the-radar destination weddings coupled with luxury and seclusion.
Considered one of Mexico's most beautiful off-the-radar nature destinations on the Pacific coast, Four Seasons Tamarindo is noted for its jaw-dropping 'disappearing into nature' design that's situated on a 3,000 acre protected natural reserve on the Costalegre coast, featuring a sustainable on-site farm and resident biologists to conserve the ecosystem. A favorite for tastemakers, FS Tamarindo offers a dreamy wedding experience featuring custom floral arrangements with native flowers from the island and bespoke dresses from FS Tamarindo's on-site boutique curated by Taller Maya.
Maria Soriano, Director of Events & Style at Four Seasons Tamarindo, explains, "Increasingly, we're seeing couples seeking wedding destinations that feel deeply personal and are still largely undiscovered, where every guest feels they've been invited somewhere truly unique. Four Seasons Tamarindo offers exactly that. Getting here feels intentional, and once you arrive, it's as though you've discovered one of Mexico's best-kept secrets. That rare combination of exclusivity, extraordinary natural beauty and thoughtful luxury has made Tamarindo increasingly desirable for couples looking to move beyond traditional wedding destinations."
Every wedding at Four Seasons Tamarindo is designed to deliver a deeply personal experience, with celebrations tailored to reflect each couple. Ceremonies can take place on secluded beaches, atop dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific or in intimate settings woven into the surrounding landscape. The natural beauty of the coastline and reserve creates an unforgettable backdrop while allowing celebrations to feel as though they exist in their own private world.
For many couples, the celebration naturally extends into a honeymoon without ever leaving the property. Private infinity pool suites, destination dining experiences, and transformative spa rituals allow newlyweds to transition seamlessly from celebration to complete relaxation. The resort offers a highly curated program of experiences for groups to enjoy depending on their individual interests. If wellness and recharging is a high priority, guests can enjoy everything from a 'Run Concierge' (offering guided runs throughout the expansive property) to a group Temazcal guided 'sweat lodge' experience, relaxing massages and cold plunge experiences at the spa. For cultural immersion, a farm-to-table breakfast or cooking class at the on-property sustainable farm Rancho Lola is a perfect fit.
Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort at Punta Mita, an adult-only boutique hotel, offers a welcome natural escape tucked off Puerta Vallarta. Its biophilic design and world-class wellness offerings makes it an elevated choice for bridal events or honeymooners.
Eduardo Sampere, General Manager, Naviva, says, "There is something about Punta Mita that naturally brings people together. You have the Pacific and this incredible landscape of jungle and mountains around you, so from the moment you arrive, you feel removed from everyday life. For a wedding, I think that is very powerful. It gives everyone the chance to slow down, settle in and really enjoy the time they have together."
Punta Mita also gives couples so much possibility. A celebration can be barefoot and very intimate, or more elaborate, but it never has to feel disconnected from the destination. You can have dinner outdoors as the sun goes down, spend the next morning on the ocean, disappear for a few hours at the spa or play golf, and still have everyone close enough to come together again that evening.
Sampere adds, "There is also an ease to being here. From November through May, so much of life can happen outdoors, and there is this wonderful balance of privacy, nature, culture, food and hospitality. I think couples today are looking for more than a beautiful backdrop. They want their wedding to give the people they love something they will remember together, and Punta Mita lends itself beautifully to that."
At Naviva, no two weddings ever look the same. Because Naviva is so intimate, with only 15 tented bungalows surrounded by 48 acres of forest overlooking the Pacific, a full buyout feels less like taking over a resort and more like having your own private world. The people celebrating with the couple are the only guests here, and that changes the feeling completely.
"It also gives us freedom," Sampere says. "There is no ballroom dictating where dinner needs to happen, no set menu a couple has to choose from and no reason the celebration has to follow a traditional sequence. Maybe the ceremony is on La Solana Beach and dinner is at one long table under the stars. Maybe everyone gathers around the fire afterward. Maybe the next morning begins with a temazcal, or breakfast appears somewhere completely unexpected. We can let the celebration unfold in a way that feels natural to the couple."
Naviva's team gets to know guests very personally, and for a wedding can take that even further. Sometimes the smallest details become the most meaningful. Chefs might recreate something the couple ate on their first date, incorporate a family recipe or build an evening around a place or memory that matters to them. Those details could only belong to that couple.
Because so much is already part of the Naviva experience, once everyone arrives, there is very little to think about. Guides spend time with guests, learn what interests them and then open the door to things they may not have thought about doing before. Nature gives Naviva an incredible playground. You can hike through the forest, kayak or snorkel in the Pacific, fish from the shore or experience the forest after dark. Wellness is just as connected to the setting. The House of Heat temazcal draws from an ancient Mexican tradition, while sound experiences, yoga, movement and time in nature offer different ways to slow down and reconnect.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com