Holbox suits elopements and small weddings far better than large ones: there are no big resorts or ballrooms, every guest arrives by ferry, and the island's charm is its quiet. Plan the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset so that portraits fall at Punta Cocos in the last light. Beach ceremonies use the federal beach zone, which needs a permit that your hotel or planner arranges. Wedding coverage starts at 1,800 USD.
Couples who choose Holbox for their wedding usually know exactly why: they want the opposite of a resort wedding. No ballroom, no crowd at the next gazebo, just sand, shallow water and the people who matter. Here is what that means in practice, from the guest list to the ferry.
The Wedding Size That Works
Elopements, from two people to about ten, are where Holbox is at its best. You can marry on the sand at Punta Cocos, walk the sandbar for portraits and finish with dinner in the village. Our guide to eloping in Mexico covers the legal side.
Small weddings of 20 to about 60 guests are possible when they are built around one or two boutique hotels, a beach setup and a private dinner. Beyond that size, the island's lodging, the ferry and the lack of large venues make every detail harder. For bigger celebrations we usually point couples to the Riviera Maya and suggest Holbox for the honeymoon.
Where You Can Marry
Most Holbox weddings happen on a hotel's own beach or on the open sand nearby, with dinner at the hotel or a restaurant in the village. Boutique hotels on the island regularly host small ceremonies; ask each one, in writing, how many guests their beach and dining space can take, and whether they allow outside vendors.
Punta Cocos is the most beautiful place on the island for a sunset ceremony, but it is open public beach. Keep the setup simple: a few chairs or none, flowers you can carry, and an officiant who can stand in the wind.
Beach Ceremonies and Permits
In Mexico, beaches are federal land, and a ceremony with a setup on the sand normally needs a permit for the federal maritime zone. Holbox is also inside the Yum Balam protected area, which brings rules of its own about where you can set up and how you treat the wildlife. Your hotel or wedding planner handles the paperwork; ask them early and get the answer by email. We do not fly drones over the reserve without the required permission.
Getting Your Guests There
Every guest travels by road to Chiquilá, about two to two and a half hours from Cancún, and crosses by ferry. For a wedding weekend, book a group transfer from Cancún airport to the ferry and tell guests to arrive the day before the ceremony. Send them the last ferry times for the day they travel, and remind them that the island has no cars: luggage goes by golf cart or tricycle taxi.
The Ceremony Time
We plan Holbox ceremonies to start about 90 minutes before sunset, so that family photos happen in soft light and portraits fall at Punta Cocos as the sun goes down. Quintana Roo does not use daylight saving, so the times below hold all year.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:30 am | 5:56 pm | 6:28 pm |
| March | 6:58 am | 6:30 pm | 6:59 pm |
| May | 6:11 am | 6:50 pm | 7:21 pm |
| June | 6:07 am | 7:01 pm | 7:33 pm |
| July | 6:16 am | 7:03 pm | 7:35 pm |
| September | 6:37 am | 6:23 pm | 6:53 pm |
| November | 7:01 am | 5:36 pm | 6:07 pm |
| December | 7:20 am | 5:37 pm | 6:10 pm |
In practice that means a ceremony around 4:40 pm in December and 6 pm in June. November through April gives the calmest, driest days; we would avoid September and October.
Coverage and Prices
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.
For an elopement, the half-day coverage is usually more than enough. Travel to the island is quoted with your date. If you would rather keep it very small, a 90-minute session from our collections can cover a ceremony of a few people and the portraits after it.