Creating the Perfect Timeline for Your Cabo Destination Wedding

The Perfect Timeline for your Destination Wedding in Cabo

Why is so important a good timeline for your Cabo wedding day?

A timeline for your wedding day is important for so many reasons. It helps your vendors know when they need to be ready and have you ready for the next thing on your agenda. A timeline for your wedding day helps your wedding party members know when they need to be ready and where they need to be for the entire day. It keeps your close family members be aware of your plans so they do not miss out on any of your special memories. Finally, a wedding day timeline helps you and your future spouse RELAX and actually ENJOY your day instead of trying to coordinate the entire day from the makeup chair or the front of the ceremony!

Every wedding is unique and this is especially so with destination weddings! There may be a few additional factors to consider when tying the knot in Los Cabos, Mexico that you maybe wouldn't have to consider locally.  Things such as: flights, booking hotel rooms, transportation to your wedding venue for your guests, hotel room blocks for guests, and more. But, don't let that stop you from having the wedding of your dreams in fabulous Los Cabos!  I've been photographing weddings in Cabo for almost 10 years, including countless destination weddings from intimate elopements to weddings with 100 + guests.

It's such a treat for me to get to meet and create relationships with so many amazing couples! As I've gotten to know couples in the months before the wedding day, one of the main things I want to communicate with them is the importance of a timeline.  Whether it's a quick 2 hour elopement or a traditional wedding with a reception, all wedding days can benefit from a timeline. They will keep the day running smoothly and having a timeline helps give everyone involved piece of mind.  

I'll be sharing a timeline for a destination wedding day where the couples chooses a first look + ceremony + reception, averaging 8-9 hours of coverage.  This tends to work well for the majority of our couples, however, I always work closely with each individual bride and their wedding planner to ensure everything runs smoothly! 

• Photographers Arrive to Hotel for Getting Ready images

(90 min) .  I usually arrive to the bridal suite as the hair and makeup artist is finishing up to grab some of those action shots.  Then, it's time to capture all the pretty details in the room such as your shoes, dress, jewelry, invitation, etc. This is a great time to relax and enjoy some champagne with your bridesmaids before it's time to get dressed and go see your groom!

You may also need to account for travel time if you're getting ready in your hotel room and your ceremony and reception are in another location.  If your venue is 15 minutes away, factor in 30 minutes of travel time. It's always best to add at least 15 minutes to add "cushion" to the timeline. 

• First Look + Bridal Party + Bride & Groom

(60-90 min)  This is one of my favorite moments, as the bride and groom really get to enjoy a nice quiet moment before the ceremony. Plus, a first look allows you to be together throughout your entire wedding day and it totally helps calm your nerves!  After the first look, we meet up with the bridal party for some group photos, before taking you away again for some portraits of just the two of you.  We always give you at least 30 minutes to break from photos and freshen up before the ceremony.  I use this time to capture all the pretty details of your ceremony and reception spaces.  

• Ceremony + Family Photos + Cocktail Hour

(90-120 min)  We understand how significant this moment is and our style is to photograph your ceremony as it unfolds, in the most unobtrusive way possible.  Immediately following your I do's, we'll move right into the family photo groups. This works great, as everyone is together in one spot.  Having done a first look and most of the formal portraits before the ceremony, most couples get to enjoy mingling with their guests during cocktail hour after the family photos.

• Reception Coverage

(3 hours).  Let's get this party started! Now that all the nerves of the ceremony have passed, it's time to pour some more bubbly and toast to the happy couple! We'll be there to document your first dance, parent dances, cake cutting, toasts, and any other special traditions you may have during the reception.

The secret to a successful and easy-flowing wedding is not military precision, but allowing enough time for everything to flow nicely throughout the day.

VERY IMPORTANT

If you're at the beginning of your search for a wedding venue in Baja Sur, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Before booking with a hotel, check if you're allowed to bring in your preferred vendors. Often, hotels may charge high fees for external vendors, and even if you opt for their in-house services, it doesn't necessarily mean they're the best, but rather the ones that bring in the highest commissions for the hotel. As a wedding photographer based in Cabo San Lucas, I understand the importance of choosing vendors that align with your vision and budget. Don't hesitate to inquire about vendor policies before finalizing any contracts, as this can significantly impact your wedding planning experience.

Of course, this is a template and guide to help you plan your timeline. It works for most of our couples but your timeline may look similar or completely different from this and it's totally ok! As your wedding photographers, our goal is to capture your day as it happens and make beautiful memorable images for you.  Having a complete timeline done before the wedding day, ensures that we'll be able to better serve you and you will be able to enjoy your day knowing that your day will flow nicely.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email myself at  info@gvphotographer.com and I will be happy to make sure you are making the right decision for your needs.

Thank you,

Gonzalo Verdeja


Cabo Wedding Photographer

Or simply type your message in the form

Romantic boat elopement in Cabo San Lucas

Amazing Cabo San Lucas elopement wedding on a boat

Cabo San Lucas Elopements have become extremely popular in the last years, for good reason. The typical Cabo San Lucas wedding can be excessive for some couples. The pressure to create a Cabo event in Mexico for hundreds of guests can be simply too much. Instead, you can sneak off with the one you love and get married on your own terms. These intimate ceremonies are incredibly powerful, the vows you make can be filled with so much emotion because you don’t have a room or a beach of all of your friends and family staring at you.

My typical Cabo elopement package is two hours of coverage. This is perfect for most couples in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo or Todos Santos area, it allows for getting ready or hiking into a cool spot, the ceremony, and an hour or so of portraits. I can always add extra time if you want multiple portrait locations or have special activities in mind.

Cabo Elopement Checklist:

1. Your partner and you :)

2. An officiant, this be a friend or  family member who is ordained

3. Flowers are typically nice, favorites include.

4. You’ll need two witnesses, I’m always happy to be one of them.

5. There are Cabo wedding planners that specialize in elopements.

6. Once you have a spot, it’s typically best to either shoot near sunrise or sunset.

7. Don’t forget a bit of champagne ot Tequila!

Location: Find a place that is special to you or go on an adventure. One of the perks to eloping is being able to go places that you couldn't for a full-sized wedding.

Clothing: Leave the ballroom gown behind, I definitely suggest getting a dress that will allow you to move around, hike up a trail, and be comfortable in. For shoes, most couples bring a pair of sneakers or hiking boots along with their fancier set.

Witness(es): Most states need at least one witness, I'm totally down to sign. I've done it a lot. Also, feel free to bring a best friend or two or your closest family members.

Time of year: One huge benefit to elopements in Cabo is that you aren't stuck with a summer Saturday as your date. Practically any time of year works great. The added flexibility of being able to do the ceremony wherever you'd like also helps.

After Party: You're married.. you can always throw a party back home! I do my best to rush edits if you're going to do a slideshow of the images at the party.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email myself at  info@gvphotographer.com and I will be happy to make sure you are making the right decision for your needs.

Thank you,

Gonzalo Verdeja


Cabo Wedding Photographer

Or simply type your message in the form

Grooms, Must-Haves to Look the Best for your Cabo Wedding Photos

Your wedding day really is going to go by in the blink of an eye. The good news is, you’ll be left with your Cabo wedding photos to reminisce about the best day of your life thus far. When looking for a Cabo professional photographer to capture your special day, it’s important to do your research to make sure you’re truly hiring the best fit for you and your future spouse. Since those Cabo pictures will be the only concrete part of your destination wedding in Mexico that you can look back on, you’ll want to look great so that your photos look great too!

Here are your must-haves to look your absolute best for your Cabo destination wedding photos:

Confidence

First and foremost, you need to have confidence on your wedding day in order to have great wedding photos. No matter how great you look, your photos won’t look flattering and natural if you don’t have confidence in yourself! Relax and try to focus on your partner instead of thinking about the process. Ask your wedding photographer about an engagement shoot prior to your wedding day so that you can get more comfortable in front of the camera, too! You’ll get a feel for how to pose and how to feel like yourself while being photographed.

If you haven't booked your wedding photographer yet, look at engagement photos as a chance to audition your top choice, and book them for your wedding immediately if you love them.

Great hair

You want to look your absolute best for your wedding day, and your hair is a big part of that. You want to have full, amazing hair that will look good no matter what. To make sure your hair looks great in photos, you can’t wait until the last minute to do something about your situation. Work on having great hair now so that you feel picture-perfect on your big day. Grooms, keep in mind that male pattern baldness is normal, but that doesn’t mean you just have to let it happen to you. Look into hair loss treatments to help your hair while you still have it. Having fuller hair will help you feel like your best self!

Good skin

Just like great hair, great skin takes time. In those close-up portrait photos, any skin issues will show up. While your photographer can edit out dry skin and blemishes, you’ll want to do what you can to have your face looking fresh! The key to good skin is to moisturize. After you shower daily, apply face lotion to clean skin to battle any dryness you may be facing. And, if you’ll be sporting facial hair on your wedding day, which is becoming more popular, you want to put some effort into your look. If you have any facial hair, invest in a good beard oil to keep everything under control and looking great.

Fashionable outfits

On your wedding day, all eyes are on you. You want to look timeless and fashionable so your photos will look great till the end of time! Give enough time to find a great outfit for your wedding day. It takes time to find a great wedding dress, and a suit or tuxedo for the Cabo wedding day should be just as important. You want an outfit that fits you well, but also that fits your personality. You want to look like the best version of yourself on your wedding day, but you do want to look like yourself. If a formal tuxedo doesn’t fit your personality, don’t wear one just because you feel like you have to. If you’re more creative and fun with your fashion, go for a patterned or colorful suit. Have fun with your fashion and just be you for your day.

A great photographer

In order to have great wedding photos, you obviously need a great wedding photographer to capture your day. A photographer is a great investment for your wedding day because your photos will be something you cherish for the rest of your life. While your day might fly by, those photos will be there to look back on for whenever you’re wishing to relive your wedding.

Get in touch if you’re getting married and need a good wedding photographer!