Calling all travel-deprived couples itching to tie the knot: Check out this slice of destination-wedding paradise. A candy-colored Mexican compound on the Pacific, surrounded by 2,000 private acres of pristine beach and gorgeous tropical landscape. A dining room that turns out reimagined Mexican classics with ingredients from local farms and the resort’s own garden. And 18 rustically chic suites where your guests will settle in so happily, you will have to extract them with a crowbar.
Las Alamandas, a celebrity fave for decades, took a time-out during 2020 to add a fabulous new villa, reinvent its dining possibilities, and create a tiny spa adjacent to the fitness center. What hasn’t changed is the astounding setting, a true Pacific fantasy where you can ride horseback along the surf, nap under shady palapas, and stargaze at inky skies.
Can we discuss that dining for a moment? Local fishermen provide the seafood, free-range eggs and chickens come from nearby farmers, and most of the vegetables, herbs, and fruits are grown in the resort’s own gardens. Menus change daily, but some dishes you’re likely to find are Mexican corn soup spiked with tequila, fresh skillet-fried octopus fried with chiles and white wine, and grilled tenderloin in adobo sauce. As the wedding hosts, you’ll work with the chef to customize every bite.
An ends-of-the-earth location means getting here does take a little doing. You can fly direct to Puerto Vallarta from cities across the U.S. (Sun Country Airlines just introduced twice-weekly nonstops from Dallas); once there, it’s a two-hour drive to the resort on serpentine roads. Or you can avoid the drive entirely by taking a small puddle jumper from PV to the resort’s private landing strip.
Wedding Basics
A buy-out of Las Alamandas guarantees you’ll host a perfectly private party; it’s $24, 487 through April; $17,148 in summer, with a three-night minimum. Up to 42 guests will stay in a variety of villas and suites, some right on the beach, others open to gardens, all with private patios and decks for dining and lounging.
For the two of you, the new villa, Casa Bougainvillea, offers newlyweds a contemporary spin on the resort’s charming, hacienda-inspired design. A four-poster bed, hot-pink double showers, and rooftop observation/sun deck with daybed and jacuzzi invite serious nesting, while views extend over the property’s famed pink dome toward the sunset.
And should you have children in tow, know that while Las Alamandas is a profoundly romantic and grown-up resort, it’s also a wonderful playground for kids. Sunny days of shell-collecting, kayaking, and beach volleyball create memories that will stay with your family for a lifetime.
