Los Cabos is one of the shortest trips to a Mexican beach from Western Canada, with direct winter flights from cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, and in winter it keeps the same clock as Alberta. The dry, sunny season runs roughly November through April, which is also whale season. Decide early between a legal ceremony in Mexico, which needs an apostille to use at home, and a symbolic ceremony. Wedding coverage starts at 1,800 USD.
Search data tells us something every Los Cabos planner already knows: a large share of the couples looking for a wedding photographer in Cabo are Canadian. It makes sense. From Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, Los Cabos is one of the shortest flights to a Mexican beach, the light is dry and golden, and February in Baja is everything February at home is not. This is the Canadian-specific version of planning it.
Getting There
Los Cabos International (SJD) has direct winter service from several Canadian cities, with WestJet and Air Canada as the main carriers and other airlines adding seasonal routes from cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal. Western Canada is the shortest trip. Routes and frequencies change every season, so check the current schedule before you set a date, and give guests a few airports to choose from.
From the airport, San José del Cabo and the Puerto Los Cabos resorts are 15 to 25 minutes away, the Tourist Corridor 25 to 35 minutes, and Cabo San Lucas or the East Cape around 45 minutes. Book private transfers for the wedding party.
Same Clock as Alberta
Baja California Sur keeps Pacific time all year, UTC-7, with no daylight saving. In winter that is exactly Alberta's time, so a Calgary or Edmonton family lands with no time change at all. Vancouver is one hour behind Los Cabos in winter, and Toronto and Montreal are two hours ahead. After Canada changes its clocks on March 14, 2027, Alberta moves one hour ahead of Los Cabos.
Legal or Symbolic Ceremony
A legally binding marriage in Mexico is a civil act performed by a local registry official, with document translations, witnesses and a schedule set by the registry. Many Canadian couples instead sign the legal paperwork at home before they fly and hold a symbolic ceremony in Los Cabos, which gives complete freedom over the time, the place and the officiant.
If you do marry legally in Mexico, the marriage is valid in Canada, and the step to remember is the apostille. Mexico and Canada are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostilled Mexican marriage certificate, with a certified English or French translation, is what you present at home. Have your planner arrange both before you leave Mexico. Our Canadian guide to a Cancún wedding covers this in more detail.
Budgeting in USD
Los Cabos resorts and most wedding vendors price in US dollars, so your real cost moves with the Canadian dollar between deposit and final payment. Confirm the currency of every quote in writing, ask whether the rate is locked at deposit, and keep a cushion for exchange drift. A no-foreign-fee credit card saves a little on every payment. Our Mexico wedding cost breakdown has real numbers.
The Best Months
November through April is the dry, sunny stretch in Los Cabos, with warm days and cool evenings, and it is peak season for both weddings and resort rates. It is also whale season: humpback whales pass along the coast in winter, and on some days you can see them from the beach. Summer is hotter and more humid, and late summer into fall is the hurricane season to plan around.
Ceremony Times
Times for San José del Cabo on the 15th of each month in 2027.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:02 am | 5:22 pm | 5:55 pm |
| March | 6:28 am | 5:58 pm | 6:28 pm |
| May | 5:38 am | 6:21 pm | 6:53 pm |
| June | 5:33 am | 6:33 pm | 7:06 pm |
| July | 5:42 am | 6:35 pm | 7:07 pm |
| September | 6:05 am | 5:53 pm | 6:22 pm |
| November | 6:32 am | 5:02 pm | 5:34 pm |
| December | 6:52 am | 5:03 pm | 5:36 pm |
We plan ceremonies to start about 90 minutes before sunset, so that family photos and portraits fall in the warm last light. In Los Cabos that is around 4:05 pm in December and 5:35 pm in June. Winter evenings cool fast after sunset, so tell guests to pack a light layer.
Photography Coverage
IVAE Studios wedding coverage starts at 1,800 to 2,800 USD for up to four hours. A full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD, and photography with a wedding film is 5,500 to 8,000 USD. All prices are published on our site, and the full edited gallery is delivered within one to three business days.
We are based in Cancún and travel to Los Cabos for weddings, with more than 80 sessions photographed on the peninsula; travel is arranged as part of the coverage. Our resort guides cover Viceroy, One&Only Palmilla, Montage, Hilton and more.