Getting Married at Casa Antonieta Oaxaca: ULTIMATE GUIDE

by Advice & Tips, Wedding Venue Guides

Casa Antonieta Boutique Hotel in Oaxaca City is presented as an ideal venue for stylish, intimate, and centrally located weddings, blending historic architecture with contemporary design. This celebrated hotel, situated in the heart of the city near major attractions like Santo Domingo Church, offers a chic and charming setting with beautifully designed spaces including courtyards, terraces, and versatile indoor areas. It functions as a sophisticated boutique hotel equipped with dedicated event capabilities and comfortable on-site accommodations, perfect for couples seeking a personal celebration within a beautifully curated urban oasis.

Hosting a wedding at Casa Antonieta provides the convenience of integrated services, including exclusive in-house catering tailored for intimate events. Venue options feature the charming central courtyard, elegant terraces, and versatile indoor spaces, offering a modern yet authentic Oaxacan ambiance for the celebration. While the hotel team manages venue logistics and catering, collaboration with an external planner is strongly recommended for comprehensive event design, outside vendor management, and guest coordination. Costs reflect the hotel’s prime location and integrated services, with typical wedding budgets ranging depending on guest count (likely 50-100) and specific requirements. A wedding here promises stylish intimacy and city center convenience within a beautifully curated urban oasis.

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Index

Is This Venue Right for Your Wedding?

 

Casa Antonieta is an exceptional venue for couples seeking a stylish, intimate, and conveniently located wedding experience that blends the charm of a historic colonial building with contemporary design and the comfort of a boutique hotel, right in the bustling heart of Oaxaca City. If you value a beautifully curated aesthetic, dedicated yet intimate event spaces within a hotel setting, personal service, and the ease of a central location with on-site guest rooms, Casa Antonieta is an excellent choice. It’s ideal for couples who envision a sophisticated celebration with a strong sense of style and place, where guests can easily explore the city.

The hotel’s key highlights include its chic boutique design, prime city center location, charming courtyard and terraces, high-quality in-house catering and service, and on-site guest accommodations. Perfect for a stylish, intimate, and centrally located Oaxaca City wedding experience.

 

How Does a Wedding at Casa Antonieta Work?

 

Planning a wedding at Casa Antonieta typically involves:

Contacting the Hotel Events Team: Reaching out to Casa Antonieta’s events team to inquire about availability and discuss options for booking event spaces. Booking often requires a full or significant hotel buyout to ensure exclusivity and privacy for your event.

Understanding Buyout Terms & Packages: Clarifying the terms of the hotel buyout (cost, number of required room nights), wedding packages (which often include venue space, catering, staffing), and any minimum spend requirements.

Working with the Hotel Event Coordinator: Collaborating with the hotel’s internal event coordinator on all hotel-provided services: selecting menus from their in-house kitchen, choosing beverage packages, planning room assignments as part of the buyout, and managing on-site logistics provided by the hotel.

Hiring an External Planner (Highly Recommended): An experienced planner is crucial for overall event design vision, sourcing and coordinating *all* external vendors not provided by the hotel, creating detailed timelines that integrate hotel services and external elements, and managing guest logistics (welcome bags, off-site activities).

Vendor Selection & Coordination: The couple and their external planner will select and contract external vendors for elements *not* included by the hotel, such as elaborate decor, specialized florals, unique rentals, music/entertainment, photography, videography, etc.

Guest Accommodation: Guests will primarily stay on-site as part of the hotel buyout. Any guests not included in the buyout will need to arrange their own accommodations in other nearby hotels in Oaxaca City.

The process is highly integrated, centering around the hotel’s full hospitality offering and beautiful spaces, with external vendors and a planner adding personalization and detailed coordination.

 

Best Months to Get Married

 

Utilizing Casa Antonieta’s outdoor spaces (courtyard, terraces) is most reliable during the dry season, from late October/early November through April/early May. These months offer pleasant weather with minimal rain risk, perfect for open-air elements. The rainy season (May-September) is still possible, as the hotel has stylish covered and indoor spaces that serve as excellent backup options, maintaining the event’s elegance.

 

The Basics of Wedding Planning (Boutique Hotel Event Model)

 

Casa Antonieta operates on a Boutique Hotel Event model, typically involving a hotel buyout and offering integrated services:

Hotel Buyout & Event Package: Wedding booking often requires renting the entire hotel (or a significant portion) for a specified number of nights, which includes exclusive use of the hotel’s event spaces (courtyard, terraces, interiors) and often combines this with in-house catering (food and beverage). Pricing is based on the buyout cost plus per-person catering, or a comprehensive package structure.

In-House Services: The hotel provides the majority of core event and hospitality services: venue space, all food and beverage preparation and service, full staffing (servers, kitchen, bartenders, hotel event staff, front desk), basic hotel furniture (tables, chairs), and standard hotel linens and tableware.

Building the Event: While the hotel provides a chic foundation, couples (via their planner) are responsible for bringing in *all* personalized decorative elements, specialized florals, advanced lighting and sound (beyond basic hotel systems), specialized rentals (like unique chairs or premium linens if not included), music/entertainment (within hotel guidelines), photography, videography, etc.

Accommodation Included/Required: Guest accommodation for the required nights is a central part of the buyout. Guests stay on-site, creating an immersive multi-day experience.

Additional Costs: Hotel buyout fee, per-person catering cost, external planner fees (highly recommended), costs for *all* contracted external vendors, potential upgrades to in-house menu/beverage, permits, insurance (if required), guest transportation (from OAX or for off-site activities), personalized favors, officiant, legal fees.

This structure offers unparalleled convenience, exclusivity, and integrated high-quality service, allowing couples to focus on personalization through external design elements while their guests enjoy the full hotel experience.

 

Who Pays for a Destination Wedding (Hotel Event)?

 

Cost allocation follows the boutique hotel buyout and event booking structure:

  • The couple typically pays for:
    • The Casa Antonieta hotel buyout fee (covering exclusive use of the property and required room nights).
    • The wedding package cost (covering in-house food & beverage, staffing, basic hotel provisions), potentially based on a per-person rate.
    • External Wedding Planner fees (highly recommended).
    • Costs for *all* contracted external vendors (decor, florals, music, photography, videography, specialized rentals).
    • Any upgrades to the in-house menu or beverage selection.
    • Their own travel.
    • Optional hosted events (welcome party, brunch – likely on-site as part of buyout).
    • Personal items.
  • Guests typically pay for:
    • Their flights to Oaxaca (OAX).
    • Transportation from OAX to Casa Antonieta (hotel may offer options).
    • Any food & beverage outside of the hosted wedding events.
    • Optional extras (tours, shopping).
    • Wedding gifts. (Note: The cost of accommodation is often covered or significantly subsidized by the couple as part of a buyout, or guests pay a special group rate provided by the couple).

Venue Capacity and Guest Accommodations (Boutique Hotel)

 

Casa Antonieta offers intimate spaces ideal for smaller to medium-sized weddings within its city-center boutique hotel setting:

Event Capacity: Comfortably hosts intimate to medium-sized weddings (e.g., 50 – 100 guests), utilizing its courtyard, terraces, and indoor spaces. Capacity is often limited by the size of the key event areas and the hotel’s overall footprint.

Event Locations: Stylish and versatile options include:

Central Courtyard (Patio Central): A beautiful, often open-air, central space perfect for ceremonies, cocktail hour, or intimate dining.

Terraces (Terrazas): Charming covered or semi-covered areas offering different perspectives, suitable for cocktail hour, smaller groups, or transitions.

Indoor Spaces (Interiores): Stylishly designed rooms that can be used for receptions, dancing, or as a backup in case of rain.

Accommodations: As a boutique hotel, Casa Antonieta offers beautiful on-site guest rooms and suites. Wedding bookings often involve a hotel buyout, meaning guests will be staying exclusively on-site for the duration of the buyout period, adding a layer of intimacy and convenience to the wedding experience.

 

Ceremony and Reception Logistics (City Center Hotel Layout)

 

Logistics involve coordinating flow within the hotel’s multi-level and intimate layout:

Venue Navigation: Casa Antonieta’s layout flows through courtyards, up stairs to terraces, and into various rooms. Planning guest movement between ceremony (e.g., courtyard), cocktail hour (e.g., terrace), and reception (e.g., interior space or courtyard) is managed by the hotel event coordinator and your external planner. The compact nature of a boutique hotel makes movement relatively easy but requires clear planning for transitions.

Vendor Access: Coordinated by the hotel event coordinator and your external planner. External vendors need to adhere to hotel access times and rules, which might be more constrained than a dedicated event venue due to hotel operations, but are generally well-managed for a buyout event. Space for setup might be limited compared to larger venues.

Setup: Hotel staff handle setup of hotel-provided items (tables, chairs, linens, tableware). External vendors manage their specific setups (decor, sound systems, specialty rentals). The hotel event coordinator and external planner work together for cohesive setup within the available spaces.

Transportation: Very convenient for guests staying on-site as everything is within the hotel. For guests arriving from elsewhere or exploring the city, the central location means easy access via walking, taxis, or ride-shares. Airport transfers (OAX) to the hotel are standard (approx. 20-30 minutes). Shuttles are generally not needed for guests staying nearby, but might be considered for group activities off-site.

Proximity to Airport: Convenient access to Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) via taxi or private transfer (approx. 20-30 minutes, depending on city traffic).

 

What’s Included in Hotel Event Booking?

 

Inclusions with a Casa Antonieta wedding booking (often tied to a hotel buyout) are comprehensive:

  • Exclusive use of the entire hotel property (or contracted event areas) for the buyout period, including event spaces (Courtyard, Terraces, Interiors).
  • Required number of on-site guest rooms for the buyout nights.
  • In-house catering: the chosen food menu (multi-course meal, buffet, or stations) and beverage package (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks).
  • Full hotel event staffing: servers, kitchen staff, bartenders, banquet captain, hotel event coordinator, front desk, housekeepers, etc.
  • Basic hotel table settings: standard plates, silverware, glassware, standard hotel linens, standard hotel chairs/furniture available for events.
  • Setup and cleanup of all hotel-provided items and event spaces.
  • Use of all hotel facilities (restrooms, pool/common areas for staying guests, potentially getting-ready areas).
  • Support from the Hotel Event Coordinator for all hotel-related wedding logistics.
  • Potential inclusion of a complimentary suite for the couple or other perks as part of the buyout/package.

Common exclusions (requiring external vendors): ALL custom/elaborate decor (beyond basic table settings), ALL specialized florals, ALL advanced lighting and sound systems (beyond basic hotel background), ALL music/entertainment (bands, DJs) – although the hotel facilitates these, you contract them externally, wedding cake (typically external), photography, videography, external wedding planner (highly recommended, separate hire), any rentals *beyond* the standard hotel stock (e.g., specialty chair styles, premium colored linens, lounge furniture), permits, insurance (if required), guest transportation (from OAX or for off-site activities not provided by hotel), personalized favors, officiant, legal fees.

Obtain a detailed hotel buyout and wedding package contract specifying exactly what is included (venue use, room nights, catering), per-person costs, minimum spends, timing restrictions, and rules for external vendors.

Backup Plan for Outdoor Ceremonies (Stylish Indoor/Covered Options)

 

Casa Antonieta offers stylish and seamless indoor and covered spaces as a backup plan:

Covered Terraces & Indoor Spaces: The hotel’s beautifully designed covered terraces and indoor salons provide a chic and comfortable setting for a ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception in case of inclement weather, ensuring guests remain dry and comfortable while enjoying the hotel’s aesthetic.

Backup options utilize the hotel’s integrated architectural beauty and stylish interiors, making transitions smooth and maintaining an elegant atmosphere within the property.

Payment Terms and Cancellation Policies

 

Payment terms align with boutique hotel buyout and event bookings:

Significant Deposit & Buyout Terms: A substantial deposit and often a commitment to the full hotel buyout cost are required to secure Casa Antonieta for your date and confirm the exclusive use and room nights.

Payment Schedule: Phased payments for the buyout cost, wedding package, and catering costs leading up to the event date, based on guest count estimates and contractual milestones. Room nights within the buyout are part of this structure.

Final Payment: Typically due shortly before the event (e.g., 30-60 days out), based on the final guaranteed guest count for catering and confirmed package inclusions. The full buyout amount is committed earlier.

Cancellation Policy: Booking a full hotel buyout like Casa Antonieta for a wedding is a significant commitment; cancellation policies are usually very strict, especially regarding the buyout portion, with escalating penalties closer to the date, potentially including the full amount. Comprehensive wedding insurance is highly recommended.

Vendor Payments: Each external vendor has their own separate payment schedule and contract with the couple/planner.

 

Coordination: Hotel Event Coordinator vs. External Planner

 

Understanding the support system:

Casa Antonieta Hotel Event Coordinator: Your primary contact at the hotel. They manage all *hotel-provided* services for the wedding and the guest buyout: booking event spaces, planning and executing the in-house menu and beverage service, overseeing hotel staffing (servers, kitchen, bar, front desk, housekeeping), arranging basic hotel settings (tables, chairs, linens, tableware), coordinating guest room assignments within the buyout, and managing logistics *within the hotel’s operations* for the wedding days. They ensure the hospitality, culinary, and on-site guest experience aspects are seamless. They do *not* manage your overall event design vision, your external vendor team (florist, musician, photographer, etc.), or guest logistics for activities outside the hotel.

External Wedding Planner: Provides personalized, comprehensive planning for the *entire event*, integrating seamlessly with the hotel’s services and buyout structure. This includes overall design vision, budget management, sourcing and coordinating *all* external vendors, creating detailed timelines that coordinate hotel services and external vendors across the buyout period, managing guest logistics (welcome bags, activity planning, communication), handling contracts for external vendors, and serves as the primary point person for everyone on the wedding days, troubleshooting issues and ensuring seamless execution from start to finish, including check-in/check-out details related to the buyout. Absolutely essential for this venue type.

 

Dietary and Menu Restrictions (In-House Hotel Catering)

 

Handled by Casa Antonieta’s high-quality in-house culinary team:

Catering: Provided exclusively by Casa Antonieta’s acclaimed in-house kitchen and bar as a central element of the wedding package. This offers access to high-quality cuisine, often blending traditional Oaxacan flavors with contemporary culinary techniques, using fresh ingredients and presented with stylish hotel plating and service. The experience is refined and a major highlight, integrated directly with the hotel stay. Menu tastings are typically available as part of the planning process.

Dietary Needs: Handled directly by the Casa Antonieta kitchen. As a high-end boutique hotel, they are well-equipped and experienced in accommodating a wide range of dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies, etc.) with advance notice. Communicate all specific needs and guest counts clearly to the hotel event coordinator during the menu planning process. They are accustomed to creating excellent alternative dishes that align with the event’s menu style and presentation.

 

Music and Entertainment Restrictions (Hotel Policies)

 

Entertainment policies for a city center boutique hotel prioritize guest comfort and neighborhood considerations:

Style: Welcoming to various forms of entertainment suitable for a stylish event. Acoustic musicians (Trio, Guitarist) for ambient music during cocktails/dinner, or a skilled DJ for dancing in a suitable indoor or designated area are common.

Curfews/Noise: As a hotel located in a city center, even with a buyout, there will be strict noise limitations and likely curfews for amplified music, especially in outdoor areas (courtyard, terraces) or near guest rooms. Music will almost certainly need to transition to an indoor salon or cease by a specific hour (e.g., 10 PM or 11 PM). Policies will vary depending on the specific event spaces booked. Discuss specific policies and desired music types/times with the hotel event coordinator and your planner early on.

Vendor Policies: External entertainment vendors must comply with Casa Antonieta’s rules regarding setup, sound levels, timing, power requirements, and space usage. Your planner must coordinate this closely with the hotel event coordinator.

 

Parking and Guest Logistics (City Center Hotel)

 

Logistics for a city center boutique hotel are similar to a city restaurant, focusing on easy access via walking or local transport, with the added element of on-site guest stays:

Airport Transfers: Guests arrange standard transport from OAX (approx. 20-30 minutes) directly to Casa Antonieta. The hotel may assist or offer options.

Accommodation: Guests stay at Casa Antonieta as part of the hotel buyout, providing maximum convenience. Any additional guests not included in the buyout arrange lodging nearby in Oaxaca City.

Transport to Casa Antonieta: Very easy for all guests due to the prime central location. Most guests will already be on-site. Guests not staying at the hotel can easily walk from many central hotels or take short taxis/ride-shares. Shuttles are generally unnecessary for arrival unless specifically arranged from a distant point.

Internal Transport: Navigating within Casa Antonieta involves moving between the courtyard, terraces (possibly via stairs), and indoor spaces. The layout is intimate and manageable. Consider accessibility for guests with mobility issues and discuss with the hotel.

Parking: As a city center boutique hotel, on-site parking is likely very limited or non-existent. Guests will primarily arrive via taxi, ride-share, or walking. Valet parking might be an option to inquire about, but it’s often not standard for boutique properties in the historic center.

Vendor Access: Coordinated load-in/out plan required for external vendors with the hotel event coordinator and planner, adhering to hotel operating hours and city center access restrictions. Space might be a constraint, requiring careful scheduling.

 

Total Cost Breakdown (Casa Antonieta Wedding)

 

For an estimated wedding of 80 guests (reflecting typical boutique hotel capacity) at Casa Antonieta:

Hotel Buyout & Event Package (Venue, F&B, Staffing, Room Nights): $30,000 – $80,000+ USD (Highly variable based on number of nights for buyout, season, and inclusive package details). This is the primary cost driver, covering space, rooms, food, and beverage for the event.

External Wedding Planner: $6,000 – $15,000+ (Highly recommended).

Rentals (Specialty Items, Decor Base, etc.): $3,000 – $12,000+ (Beyond standard hotel items).

Decor & Florals: $4,000 – $20,000+.

Music & Entertainment: $2,000 – $7,000+.

Photography/Videography (Luxury): $6,000 – $15,000+.

Contingency, Service Charges (often included in package, but verify), Taxes, Permits: $3,000 – $10,000+.

Total estimated *event* cost (paid by couple) typically ranges from $40,000 – $120,000+ USD for 80 guests, heavily influenced by the buyout terms, length of stay, catering package, and external vendor selections, reflecting the stylish boutique nature and exclusive city center location.

 

Splurge vs. Save

Save: Opt for a shorter buyout period, choose a date with potentially lower buyout/package costs (e.g., weekday), utilize the hotel’s chic existing aesthetic and included furniture/linens extensively, minimize external rentals, select a standard catering package, hire talented local musicians suitable for intimate spaces within noise limits, focus floral/decor on key focal points.

Splurge: Extend the buyout period for a multi-day celebration, upgrade to premium catering items and beverage selections, invest heavily in custom external decor, elaborate florals, and specialized rentals (designer furniture, unique tableware) to transform the spaces, hire a high-demand DJ or band suitable for indoor/early evening play, commission top-tier photography and videography to capture the style and intimacy, provide hosted activities outside the hotel.

 

Casa Antonieta Hotel Event Inclusions (Summary)

 

Key components based on the Boutique Hotel Buyout model:

Casa Antonieta Buyout/Package includes: Exclusive use of the hotel property (including event spaces), required on-site guest rooms, in-house catering (food & beverage), full hotel event staffing, basic hotel settings/furniture, setup/cleanup of included items, Hotel Event Coordinator support.

Common Exclusions (requiring external vendors): ALL custom/elaborate decor, ALL specialized florals, ALL advanced lighting/sound, ALL music/entertainment (contracted separately but coordinated with hotel), wedding cake, external wedding planner (essential), specialized rentals (beyond hotel stock), guest transportation (from OAX or for off-site activities), personalized details, officiant, legal fees.

Verify details based on your specific Casa Antonieta hotel buyout and wedding package contract.

Activities for Other Days (On-Site Amenities & City Access)

 

Guests attending a wedding with a Casa Antonieta buyout benefit immensely from staying in a stylish city center hotel and having exclusive access to its amenities:

On-Site (Hotel Amenities): Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy its stylish facilities, which might include a small pool, comfortable lounge areas, and the on-site restaurant/bar. The exclusive use creates a relaxed and communal atmosphere throughout the stay, perfect for informal gatherings before and after the wedding.

Off-Site (Walking Distance City Exploration): Casa Antonieta’s prime city center location means guests can easily explore the best of Oaxaca City by foot. Major attractions like Santo Domingo Church and Cultural Center, the Ethnobotanical Garden, the Zócalo (main square), numerous museums, art galleries, vibrant markets (Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Abastos), and countless other fantastic restaurants and Mezcal bars are just a short walk away. Guests can easily immerse themselves in the city’s culture, art, and cuisine.

Off-Site (Day Trips): Day trips to sites outside the city are easily arranged from downtown Oaxaca. Popular options include visiting the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán, the stunning petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua, or exploring nearby artisan villages renowned for specific crafts like textiles (Teotitlán del Valle), black pottery (San Bartolo Coyotepec), or wood carving (Arrazola). Tour operators and taxis/drivers are readily available within easy walking distance of the hotel.

Three Practical Tips for Brides 

 

Embrace the Buyout for an Immersive Experience: A Casa Antonieta buyout offers a unique opportunity for an incredibly intimate and immersive wedding weekend where your guests essentially have the hotel to themselves. Plan welcome events, post-wedding brunches, or casual get-togethers within the hotel’s spaces to maximize this exclusivity and create lasting memories beyond the main event.

Hire a Planner Experienced with City Boutique Hotels & Buyouts: Coordinating a hotel buyout wedding, especially for destination clients, is complex. An experienced planner who understands the nuances of working with boutique hotels in a city center (vendor access, noise limits, guest flow in smaller spaces) and the logistics of a buyout is invaluable. They are crucial for integrating external vendors with the hotel’s operations and ensuring a smooth experience for your staying guests.

Design to Enhance, Not Overwhelm, the Hotel’s Style: Casa Antonieta has a distinct, stylish aesthetic. Work with your planner and design team to choose decor and florals that complement the hotel’s blend of colonial architecture and modern design. Leveraging the existing beauty will create a cohesive and sophisticated look, saving budget while maintaining elegance, rather than trying to completely transform the space.

 

Two Bride Reviews 

 

“Our wedding at Casa Antonieta was everything we dreamed of – intimate, stylish, and perfectly located. Having the hotel just for our guests felt incredibly special, like a private urban retreat. The courtyard was a stunning backdrop for our ceremony, the food was modern Oaxacan perfection, and the design of the hotel made for incredible photos. Our planner made navigating the details seamless, and the hotel staff were wonderful throughout our stay.” – Sofia P.

“We wanted a modern, chic wedding in the heart of Oaxaca, and Casa Antonieta delivered beautifully. The hotel’s aesthetic is just gorgeous, and the staff were so attentive. Doing a buyout allowed us to have all our favorite people in one place, creating such a warm, connected atmosphere. The event spaces were perfect for our size, and being able to walk out the door and explore the city so easily was a huge plus for our guests.” – Isabella M.

 

My Final Thoughts as a Wedding Pro

 

Photographing a wedding at Casa Antonieta is a creative experience because the hotel’s stylish design provides so many visually interesting backdrops – from the geometric tiles and clean lines to the traditional textures and the play of light in the courtyard. The intimacy of a buyout means you’re capturing a tightly knit celebration within a curated environment. My focus would be on documenting the personal interactions among guests enjoying the exclusive space, highlighting the architectural details and design elements, capturing the sophisticated ambiance of the event areas, and finding unique angles within the hotel’s layout. Challenges include working within potentially smaller spaces, managing light in varied indoor/outdoor/partially covered areas, adhering to hotel-specific photo policies, and capturing the energy of the party while respecting noise limits for staying guests. Casa Antonieta is ideal for couples who seek a stylish, intimate, and effortlessly cool wedding experience, offering photos that reflect modern elegance, city charm, and close connections.

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