Beach wedding ceremony setup with floral arch in Cabo

Wedding Planning Guide

Getting Married in Cabo: Legal Requirements for Foreign Couples

Couples from around the world can marry legally in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, or hold a symbolic ceremony here and sign the papers at home. This guide explains both paths, the documents a civil ceremony requires, when to start and where the ceremony can take place.

Updated for 2026 · By the team at Cabo Wedding Services

Bride walking down the aisle at a garden ceremony in Cabo

Legal or Symbolic Wedding in Cabo

Legal Civil Ceremony in Mexico

A civil registry judge performs the ceremony and issues a Mexican marriage certificate. It requires the documents below, a blood test in Cabo and four witnesses. We coordinate every step with the registry, the laboratory and the judge.

Symbolic Ceremony in Cabo, Legal at Home

You sign the legal paperwork at your local courthouse before or after the trip and celebrate the ceremony in Cabo with the officiant, vows and format you choose. No blood test, translations or judge fees in Mexico. Most of our couples choose this path.

Documents for a Legal Wedding in Cabo

Valid passports for both partners.
Original birth certificates, apostilled in your home country and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
Blood test results from a laboratory in Cabo, done in the days before the ceremony.
Four witnesses, two per partner, with valid identification.
If either partner was previously married: the divorce decree or death certificate, apostilled and translated.

Requirements are set by the civil registry of Baja California Sur and can change; we confirm the current list for your date and handle the appointment with the judge.

Couple walking back up the aisle with guests after the ceremony in Cabo

Couple kissing after their wedding ceremony in Cabo

Timeline for the Legal Paperwork

9 to 12 months before

Decide between legal and symbolic. If legal, request apostilles and certified translations at home while the venue contract is signed.

Wedding week in Cabo

Blood test at a local laboratory, documents reviewed with the registry, witnesses confirmed, appointment with the judge set for the ceremony.

After the wedding

The Mexican marriage certificate is apostilled and, where required, translated so it can be registered in your state or province.

Where to Get Married in Cabo San Lucas

Both legal and symbolic ceremonies can take place at the venue: on the beach, on a resort terrace, in a farm garden in San Jose del Cabo or at a private villa. Each Cabo wedding venue has its own ceremony spots and rules for beach ceremonies, and the time of year decides the ceremony hour. For small ceremonies in a Pueblo Magico, see Todos Santos.

Groom holding a card before the ceremony in Cabo

Couple celebrating with the wedding party after the ceremony in Cabo

Getting Married in Cabo FAQ

Can foreign citizens legally get married in Cabo?+

Yes. A civil ceremony performed by a Mexican civil registry judge in Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo produces a Mexican marriage certificate. We coordinate the paperwork, the laboratory and the judge on your behalf.

What is the difference between a legal and a symbolic wedding in Cabo?+

A legal wedding is the civil ceremony with the judge and the documents listed on this page. A symbolic ceremony has no legal paperwork in Mexico: you marry legally at home, before or after the trip, and celebrate the ceremony you want in Cabo with the officiant, vows and format of your choice. Most of our couples choose the symbolic option.

How far in advance do we need to start the legal paperwork?+

Apostilles and certified translations take time in your home country, so we recommend starting the legal paperwork nine to twelve months before the wedding, together with the venue contract. The blood test is done in Cabo in the days before the ceremony.

Is a Mexican marriage certificate valid in our home country?+

A marriage legally performed in Mexico is generally recognized abroad. To use the Mexican certificate at home it is apostilled in Baja California Sur and, where required, translated; we arrange that step after the wedding. For questions about your specific state or province, we recommend confirming with the local authority that will register the marriage.

Can we have a religious ceremony in Cabo?+

Yes. Religious ceremonies follow the requirements of the church or congregation, which are separate from the civil ones. Tell us the denomination and we coordinate with the parish or officiant in Cabo.

Plan Your Ceremony in Cabo

Tell us your date, where you live and whether you want a legal or symbolic ceremony. We will send you the current requirements and a proposal for the wedding.

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Couple portrait indoors after their wedding in Cabo