Gorgeous elopement in the mountains of Tepoztlán (Morelos, Mexico) | Ralina + Mikhail
I love that so many couples choose to elope for their destination wedding, as to me it seems as one of the perfect formats: it’s intimate, celebrates your love in a beautiful way, and permits you to travel to your dream place and venue that’s been on the bucket list for so many years.
However, to me it was not just surprising, but also a bit crazy when Ralina & Mikhail told me that they decided to come all they way from Russia to have their elopement day in Mexico. We started looking through the best places and venues for their destination elopement, and Tepoztlán became the super-finalist of all Mexico (Merida, Oaxaca, Guanajuato and Cuernavaca among others).
Not only is it surrounded by the beautiful mountains, but this little “pueblo mágico” has a one-of-a-kind vibe. Its atmosphere attracts so many people every year, for both destination weddings & elopements, and for simply visiting and enjoying the place. These landscapes and land embrace you and make your feelings even stronger, and the climate is very comfortable for a wedding day (fresh in the morning, warm in the afternoon and fresh again in the evening).
With the help with the very talented Daniela Muga, the plan for the day was formed and the best wedding venue in Tepoztlan was picked: Amomoxtli hotel (btw the name means “place of magic”, and it really is magical). It took us some days to polish the plan of the day, and the final one was the following: wake up & get ready at the hotel, have the couple’s first look and a quick session at the hotel, then go out to town for some elopement love story photos (walk down the streets, stand by some colorful walls, get some “tepoznieves” (local ice cream). Then get back to the hotel and have a sunset wedding ceremony with a mountain view, followed by a beautiful intimate dinner. It worked out in the best way!
Everything went super smooth, and not only did we fulfill the wedding plan, but I also got to first, be the official witness of the guys, and second, to translate the ceremony (while taking photos)! So now Ralina & Mikhail are joking that I was not just the elopement photographer, but also their officiant :)
Our takeouts & tips for your elopement or destination wedding in Tepoztlán (Morelos, Mexico):
Tepoztlán is a great choice for an intimate wedding or elopement: it’s small, quiet, has a great vibe and just a couple hours away from Mexico City which is perfect for destination weddings.
When planning your destination wedding there, be sure to pick a good season to avoid rains and have comfortable temperatures (January was a great pick!)
If you plan on going to town for pictures, consider that on weekends Tepoztlán really gets packed by tourists (mainly from Cuernavaca and Mexico City). We picked Friday afternoon for the couples photo session in town, and there were much fewer tourists.
If you wish to have a pre-wedding or post-wedding photo session on the mountaintop (Tepozteco or others), consider that any of the climbs are long and it’s better to plan in advance.
For a destination micro wedding format Amomoxtli Hotel is perfect: the rooms are beautiful, food is delicious, there’s a SPA with the best reviews ever, a garden that’s perfect for the ceremonies and receptions, and the staff is very professional and friendly. Also if you’re into spiritual weddings, it’s a perfect choice.
Get a wedding planner to take at least part of that stress away (ok that’s a general tip for any destination wedding)
Don’t forget to enjoy the town’s magic vibe :)
Thank you very much to the couple, to the wedding planner Daniela, to the whole staff of the hotel and Love&Charm flower service, for such a wonderful fairy tale story for this elopement. And special thanks to Tepoztlán for accepting us and providing with gorgeous weather and beautiful landscapes. I would definitely love to come back to this small Mexican town, both as a destination photographer or as simply a visitor.
Time to capture your story! Are you planning a destination wedding or elopement in Mexico and have questions, or would like to see more ideas and inspiration? Check out my portfolio or send me a note for more references and wedding packages:
