The ceremony and reception will take place on October 24, 2026 at Hacienda Sac Chich in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico. Mérida is a beautiful city, and it is considered one of the safest places in Mexico and even North America. The website for the venue is: https://www.haciendasacchich.com/ The tourism website for Mérida is: https://visitmerida.mx/
Our dress code is semi-formal. For men, that means dress pants with a button-down shirt (a tie or jacket is welcome but not required). For women, a cocktail or midi dress works perfectly. Because we’ll be in beautiful (and warm!) Mérida, we recommend fabrics that look polished but stay breathable. We strongly encourage you to wear linen for your own comfort. The ceremony and reception will be mostly outdoors, so feel free to embrace light colors and festive prints. Men may also consider wearing a guayabera. A guayabera is a formal cotton or linen shirt with traditional embroidery. Mérida specializes in guayaberas and you can easily find one in El Centro (downtown). Our wedding planner has a list of stores that sell them there for your convenience: https://www.yucatanlove.com/where-to-buy-guayaberas-yucatecas-in-merida/ As for shoes, platforms or a chunkier heel will be better for walking on the cobblestones and grass. It will be very difficult to get around the venue in a stiletto heel.
Not only can we recommend one—we are delighted to offer complementary travel concierge services through our amazing wedding planners! Andrea Castro is the name of our concierge, and she would be delighted to help you with lodging, transportation, customized tours, and other travel advice. Andrea is fluent in both English and Spanish. If you would like to use Andrea's services, please contact her through her website here: https://resources.yucatanlove.com/travel-concierge
The closest airport is Mérida International Airport (MID), just 15 minutes from downtown Mérida. You might also find good fares to Cancún International Airport (CUN). From there, Mérida is about a 3–4 hour drive or train ride. It's totally safe to drive, but you'll want to follow the speed and alcohol limit. The police in this area are very strict about speed limits and not driving under the influence.
A valid passport is required for all international travelers. Visitors from the U.S. do not need a visa for stays under 180 days. Passports can take a long time to process, so we recommend starting the process at least 6 months ahead of the wedding. Also, please check your passport's expiration date. Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from the date of entry or departure in order to travel to Mexico.
We highly recommend staying in El Centro or near Paseo de Montejo. These areas are the heart of Mérida—full of great restaurants, cafés, shops, and nightlife—and being close by makes it easy (and way more fun!) to explore. You can stay in a beautiful boutique hotel, an Airbnb, or in a chain hotel. We will have discount codes for two chain hotels on Paseo de Montejo: Fiesta Americana and the Hyatt Regency. The wedding day shuttle will depart from and return to Fiesta Americana, so staying there (or nearby) will make things extra easy. If you’re booking an Airbnb, make sure it’s within 2–3 blocks of these areas. Sometimes listings can look “close,” but even being 1 mile away can feel farther than you’d expect—Mérida’s narrow streets, local festivals, and occasional street closures means it may take 15 minutes to drive that 1 mile. The heat, humidity, and strong sun can also make walking less appealing. Staying central means you can easily walk to grab your morning coffee, explore during the day, and stroll home after a night out.
Getting around Mérida is super easy. Ubers are widely available and much more affordable than in the U.S. Most places in the city are just a short ride away. The only exception is the airport—Ubers aren’t allowed to pick up passengers there. Our travel concierge, Andrea Castro, can help you arrange transportation from the airport to your hotel or Airbnb. If you would like to use Andrea's services, please contact her through her website here: https://resources.yucatanlove.com/travel-concierge Once you’re settled in, if you’re staying in El Centro or near Paseo de Montejo (both of which we highly recommend), you’ll find that most restaurants, shops, and attractions are within walking distance. For anything farther out, hopping in an Uber is quick, convenient, and safe!
Mexico uses the Mexican peso. The exchange rate is about $20 MXN to $1 U.S. We recommend ordering pesos through your bank, though ATMs are easy to find in the city and offer a decent exchange rate. Most places accept credit cards (for example, restaurants and clothing stores), but it’s handy to have some cash for small shops, markets, or street vendors.
Linen, linen, and more linen! It will be hot (~85° F / 30° C) this time of year and very humid. We felt most comfortable when we were wearing light and flowy linen clothing. For shoes, we recommend bringing comfortable walking sandals (like Birkenstocks) or sneakers. Downtown Mérida ("El Centro" or "Paseo de Montejo") are beautiful, with plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars. You'll want to walk around that area and be comfortable doing so. Anything else you might need (e.g., sunscreen, mosquito spray) can be easily purchased there (look for "Oxxo" stores) if you forget. There are also many amazing boutiques in El Centro (downtown) where you can purchase high-quality and stylish linen shirts, pants, and dresses.
Yes! We’ll have shuttles running from the main hotel to the venue and back. Details and departure times will be shared as we get closer. If you'd prefer to drive, driving in Mérida is safe and roads well marked. Taxis and Ubers are also plentiful and inexpensive. Please note, however, that when you are departing from Hacienda Sac Chich (the venue), you will not be able to get an Uber as it is located 35 minutes outside of Mérida. You may be able to pre-arrange a taxi. Our travel concierge, Andrea, can assist you with this. But, again, we do have a shuttle that you can take back to the city after the wedding!
We can't rave about Mérida enough—it is such a special place. Here are some of our highlights: *The people: Mérida is known for its incredibly kind, welcoming locals. They are genuinely warm, always ready to help, and take real pride in sharing their culture and traditions. *The food: Prepare to eat well! As a blend of Mexican, Caribbean, and traditional Mayan flavors, the food here will undoubtedly surprise and delight. Some of our favorites included cochinita pibil, panuchos, and the sopa de lima. Try a Chaya margarita—or, if you're brave like BJ—a habanero one. *The beauty: The city is full of color and charm—picture pastel colonial buildings, lush plazas with live music, and street fairs highlighting local artisans who continue the artistic handiwork of their Mayan ancestors . At night, the streets glow with string lights, live music, and a festive yet relaxed energy. The vibes are great! *The culture: Mérida has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage that you can feel everywhere— in the food, art, music, and even the way people speak. There are weekly (sometimes daily) cultural events, live music in the squares, and pop-up markets where you can find local crafts and handmade goods. Day of the Dead events will start during our wedding weekend, so be on the lookout for events related to this important cultural and religious celebration. *The safety: Mérida is considered one of the safest cities in all of Mexico (and even North America). We felt comfortable walking around both day and night. We even heard that the locals sleep with their doors unlocked there. A friend told us that he leaves his keys in his car's ignition while running quick errands! * The adventures: Mérida is surrounded by incredible day-trip spots: the beach (in a town called "Progreso"), ancient Mayan ruins, stunning cenotes (natural swimming holes), and charming pueblos mágicos (historic small towns).