Bradley Fraser

I live here and I would disagree. Yes, Cabo is becoming very popular for destination weddings. Yes, there are some excellent wedding planners. But because so many couples have chosen Cabo there are many more talented individuals and small companies that are now in the business of making weddings a seamless celebration. These people live here and are generally very well connected. Many of them come from the hotel business and understand customer service.

I won't tell you that Cabo is cheap but I will suggest that there are deals to be had everywhere. If you let your WC know that you are price sensitive they will tailor your wedding accordingly. And if you just want to close your eyes and have the WC plan the most incredible, over-the-top wedding, that too can happen for a price. Hope this helps.

I don't know where the sunsets at 5:40 p.m. on March 3rd.2008 but it set here in Cabo yesterday (March 3rd) @ 6:20 p.m. I will see if I can attach a sunrise/sunset chart I have made for the planning brides. The chart is for 2008.

 

Here is a link that will generate a sunrise/sunset time for any date.

Esperanza is a good choice for weddings. I have photographed weddings at Esperanza and from a photographers perspective (ultimately what your photos reveal) it is the cats meow. The hotel is set onto cliffs, the surf sounds great, private beaches, the staff are super, the food...oh the food! Kenia the wedding planner is very good. All the weddings I have done there were very well organized.

The Hilton beach is a fanatastic 20 minute beach stroll (north) from Dreams.

From a photographers perspective all of Cabo del Sol is a dream. So many colorful architectural details, lush landscaping and one of the best beaches in Cabo. They also have a 'private' area between the pools, near the beach, with a palapa for wedding ceremonies. Anyone planning a wedding should always (if possible) try to do everything in one location.

 

Tara Null is all class. She works hard and has great people working with her. Tara gets it done!

Beautiful work Juan. I really enjoyed the slide show. I thought some of your best shots were in San Jose Centro, a place where you get the light it gives. You made it look magical.

As some of you know I live here in Los Cabos. Hands down I would recommend Pisces Sport Fishing. They practice catch and release (if requested) and they are a first class operation. Good boats and Captains. Remember to catch and keep only what you need or will eat. Ask for Nancy when you phone. Here is the link.

 

Pisces Sport Fishing

Of the three you mention I would pick the Hilton for service and beach/cove for your ceremony. The Sheraton also has a great beach with cool rock formations AND interesting/colorful architechture. Since you are a group of 15 you might want to try the intimate Cabo Surf Hotel setting.

Your adults only choices really are limited to Pueblo Bonito Pacifico but this is a good thing. I have photographed there for travel magazines and weddings. My wedding couples have had only fantastic things to say about their stay @ PBP. In fact I have shot weddings at other resorts only to meet the couples later because they were finishing out their wedding/vacation @ PBP. You should really check it out. First Class!

 

Dreams is also an excellent choice. Tammy is quite correct in saying there are very few children there. Riu on the other hand does have children.

I am a wedding photographer here in Cabo so I can help. Through a photographers eye the light in Cabo is just incredible. The colors and contrasts it umbues are unlike anywhere else in the world. The 'sweet window' for lighting occurs 2.0 before absolute sunset. During those two hours the light changes constantly. The hour before absolute sunset (below the horizon) is the 'warm' light. I am speaking about how the light reflects off people and surroundings. Even after the sun has dropped below the horizon there is yet another chapter in the sunset light. The sky has a deep blue glow and if the camera is set right these too can be excellent photographs. One caution for the sun-has-set photos... it is difficult to light group photos, so have those done before the sun sets. Additionally the photographer may or may not need to use a flash to add some depth and definition.

 

What about clouds? High overcast or hazy days (rare) diffuse the light and can make for more evenly lit photographs. Better formed clouds, (usually found in the afternoon of months July through September) can make for spectacular colors.

 

One last thing too consider is location. There are certain locations where the setting sun will be obscured by a building or landscape (the mountians) so if the sun is due to set @ 7:30 it may in fact be blocked out @ 7:00 p.m.. Your photographer should know the location and be able to help you. Hope this helps.

I have lived here for seven years so I can tell you about July and other preferred months for weddings. First off it is HOT, 95+ per day. It is rare to get rain in July. It will get cloudy (big and beautiful) over the mountains to the west and rain there but rarely 'in town'. Preferred months for climate would be Nov thru April.

From a photographers perspective I would go with Dreams and here are a few reasons. There is less chance of background chatter (jet skis, people, vendors) and that is very important. Shooting south-west down the shoreline at Dreams makes it look like you are on a deserted beach. The gazebo is a step away from the beach. No afternoon drunk loogans hanging over the edge of the pool hooting during your weddings. The WC's at Dreams are well... a dream to work with (Mariana y Jessica).

I have photographed weddings at many and varied locations in Los Cabos so this might add a little weight to my opinion of Crowne Plaza. However I have only photographed one wedding @ CP. I found myself VERY involved with the coordination between the hotels wedding planner (of the day) and the wedding couple (mostly the bride!). The bride was not getting any answers just a couple of days before the wedding and she was justifiably upset, so I stepped in to help her out. I Just didn't feel that the level of caring and professionism was intact. I kept waiting for the next 'we think we can' instead of 'it will happen' for reasonable requests.

 

To the hotels credit the wedding went smoothly, it was just all the unnecessary 'two-step' before.

Dreams is an excellent choice IMO. I photograph weddings at Dreams and they tend to go very smoothly. For ceremony locations there are really only two; the gazebo and the beach. The Gazebo is right on the margin between the hotel and the beach with full Sea of Cortez views. It has one benefit of providing a little bit of shade, depending on the time of day. The Beach is well... the beach. It feels better to me, you hear the waves, feet in the sand and it is more dramatic. If you do choose the beach I would highly recommend an arch (to get married under) of some description to tie everything together visually. Hope this helps.

For brides planning a wedding in Cabo here is a great resource (listing) of excellent wedding photographers that live and work in Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and Todos Santos). Here is the link.

I live here and August IS humid, storms or no storms. The hurricane season 'window' is generally acknowleged to be from August 15th thru October 15th. So back to the hair...probably wear it up because if it is a beach wedding there is also the wind!

I am a Photographer here in Los Cabos and I also write restaurant reviews for Los Cabos Magazine so I have a bit of the inside track. La Panga is an excellent choice for your RD. Expensive and worth it. Here is a list of some more casual (read less expensive) restaurants in San Jose. Of the ones I have listed I would recommend La Dolce-casual, fun, Italian and Zippers beach bar (yes RIGHT ON the beach) for burgers and stuff.

 

Here is the link to find these and other restaurants.

La Dolce Italian Restaurant

Known for daily fresh pastas and traditional Italian pizzas. Full bar. Corner of Hidalgo and Zaragoza on the main square. Ph: 142-6621, 142-6622. sladolce@1cabonet. com.mx Daily 2pm-11pm. L, D - MC, VS

 

La Bodega Steak and wine house

Offering a Mexican contemporary option, counts with a great selection of domestic and imported liquors and a controlled temperature wine in San Jose del Cabo, Los Cabos. Phone: 624-14-26619

 

Baan Thai Pan Asian Restaurant and Bar

Delicious Pacific Rim cuisine. Fresh exotic flavors to satisfy your every taste. Featuring an eclectic menu of dishes from Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, and China, using fresh ingredients and herbs. Good range of domestic and imported wines. Morelos between Obregón and Comonfort, downtown. Ph: 142-3344. Open daily 12pm-10:30pm. L, D, S - MC, VS

 

Havana Bar and Restaurant

Restaurant bar, international cuisine, live jazz music everynight, starting at 7:30 pm. Costa Azul Km. 29 Transp. Hwy. Ph:142-2603, Mon-Sat, starting at 5:30pm. L, D

Zipper’s Bar and Grill

Beachfront dining on Costa Azul Beach. Mesquite grilled steaks, ribs, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, sports bar and live music on weekends. Costa Azul Beach, Km. 28. 5, Transp. Hwy. Daily 11am-11pm, Fri and Sat until we close. L, D, S-$

Since this question is directed at photographers and I am a photographer in Los Cabos, I will offer my thoughts for you. I don't have all the information but I can isolate what I know from your post.

 

First off, what could possibly be the difference between a 'professional' photographer and a 'master' photographer. Sounds like marketing 101 to me. If you were to choose the 120 photo package from the 'master' your minmum cost would be $1800 USD (if I am reading this correctly) and that is simply not value for your money. That works out to $15 per photo! How many hours with he/she be there for. Is there enough time scheduled to get all the important shots? Assuming this is four hours of coverage I would typically have between 400-500 'keepers" (photos) for the couple of their wedding. Ask about copyright (who will own the photos) because YOU should own them.

 

Here is a suggestion. Create your own wedding photography package and ask the hotel to price it out. Hope this helps a little bit. If you have any further questions please ask.

Welcome Emily. Although not in PV I can speak for Dreams Cabo and most of my couples and their friends and family love the hotel here!

La Panga Restaurant. La Panga is in downtown San Jose del Cabo right beside the church. I write restaurant reviews for Los Cabos Magazine and La Panga is consistently on my 'go-to' list.

I would like second Merryme's observations, as someone who lives and photographs here. Avoid September unless you fancy playing Russian Roulette with hurricanes and tropical storms. It is also nasty hot and humid 100+ during the day. The hurricane 'window' is August 15th through October 15th with a small likelyhood of hurricanes hitting outside of the window.

After having consulted local businesses, government sites, on line forums, information sites and a guru in the Himalayas it would appear that Baja WILL NOT follow the 2007 U.S. changes to D.S.T. (Daylight Saving Time). So here in Los Cabos it is still spring forward Sunday April 1st.2007 and fall back Sunday, October 28th.2007. I will try to attach a table I put together for you all.

 

I know that the Palmilla has a really nice course, and then there's Cabo Del Sol. Which one would you choose?

 

I also golf here on a weekly basis (lucky me). My first choice for C would be the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course. Second, Cabo del Sol Desert Course. Third choice, Palmilla Desert and Arroyo courses (not the ocean links because the holes are sub-par)

 

The other question is dinner that night.

 

I'm considering the Palmilla's "C" and Agua as well as "El Restaurante" at the Esperanza.

C's and Agua are both excellent choices for restaurants within Palmilla One&Only. El Restaurante at Esperanza is perched in a dramtic setting on the cliffs beside the Sea of Cortez and the food and service are rolling at a high level.

 

In San Jose del Cabo you might want to try:

El Chilar - excellent regional mexican food

La Panga - knock your socks of romantic with first class food and service

La Viola - Patio courtyard settling, good wine list and yummy food

What an incredible resource this forum is. There are so many savvy brides sharing information. Many of my first-class brides (you know who you are) have told me about the Best Destination Wedding site I thought it was time to drop in.

 

I have been a photographer for 18 years, seven of those years here in Los Cabos. I had no intention of staying here when I first arrived but I fell in love with Baja and more magically with an incredible woman.

 

If I can be of help with questions about Los Cabos as they pertain to weddings please ask. If I don't know the answer immediately I will do my best to find it for you.