Getting Married at Hacienda Los Laureles Oaxaca: ULTIMATE GUIDE

by Advice & Tips, Wedding Venue Guides

Dreaming of a luxurious and serene wedding in Oaxaca City? Hacienda Los Laureles Oaxaca offers a stunning colonial-style boutique hotel setting with impeccable service, beautiful gardens, and elegant event spaces, perfect for a sophisticated destination wedding. Located slightly outside the city center, it provides tranquility while remaining accessible, functioning as a luxury hotel with dedicated infrastructure and service teams specifically designed for hosting weddings, including on-site guest accommodations.

Weddings at Hacienda Los Laureles benefit from integrated hotel services like exclusive in-house catering, dedicated event planning support, and guest room blocks. The venue features picturesque gardens, charming courtyards, covered terraces, and elegant reception salons for events. While the hotel manages venue logistics, catering, and accommodations, an external planner is highly recommended for overall design, vendor coordination, and guest logistics. With costs reflecting its luxury level and comprehensive services, Hacienda Los Laureles promises a celebration blending serene luxury, classic Oaxacan charm, and convenience.

Capture the elegance of your Oaxaca wedding in stunning photos. Check out the finest Oaxaca wedding photography to help inspire your celebration.

Index

Is This Venue Right for Your Wedding?

 

Hacienda Los Laureles is an exceptional venue for couples seeking a luxurious, serene, and seamlessly serviced wedding experience that combines the beauty of a colonial estate with the comfort and professionalism of a high-end hotel, providing on-site accommodations and integrated catering. If you value elegant ambiance, dedicated event spaces within a hotel setting, impeccable service, beautiful grounds for photos, and the convenience of having guests stay on-site, Hacienda Los Laureles is an excellent choice. It’s ideal for couples who envision a sophisticated celebration where hospitality, comfort, and beautiful surroundings are paramount.

The hotel’s key highlights include its luxurious boutique hotel status (often recognized by affiliations like Relais & Châteaux), stunning gardens and architectural spaces, high-quality in-house catering and service, dedicated event team, and on-site guest accommodations. Perfect for a luxury, elegant, and comfortable Oaxaca City wedding experience.

 

How Does a Wedding at Hacienda Los Laureles Work?

 

Planning a wedding at Hacienda Los Laureles typically involves:

Contacting the Hotel Events Team: Reaching out to Hacienda Los Laureles’ dedicated events team to inquire about availability and discuss options for booking event spaces and potentially a block of guest rooms.

Understanding Packages & Minimums: Reviewing their wedding packages (which often include venue space, catering, staffing, and sometimes decor basics) and clarifying minimum spend requirements for food & beverage, or minimum guest count/room night 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 blocks, and managing on-site logistics provided by the hotel.

Hiring an External Planner (Highly Recommended for Destination): 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 beyond the hotel (e.g., welcome events, excursions, transportation from the city for guests not staying on-site).

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 can book rooms within the provided room block at Hacienda Los Laureles or arrange their own accommodations in other hotels in Oaxaca City.

The process is integrated, centering around the hotel’s comprehensive event services and facilities, with external vendors adding personalization and an external planner ensuring seamless coordination of all elements.

 

Best Months to Get Married

 

Utilizing Hacienda Los Laureles’ beautiful outdoor spaces (gardens, terraces) is ideal during the dry season, from late October/early November through April/early May. These months offer consistently pleasant weather with minimal rain risk. The rainy season (May-September) is still viable, as the hotel has elegant covered and indoor spaces that serve as excellent backup options.

 

The Basics of Wedding Planning (Luxury Hotel Event Model)

 

Hacienda Los Laureles operates on a Luxury Hotel Event model, offering integrated services:

Venue & Catering Included: Wedding packages typically combine the use of specific hotel event spaces (gardens, patios, salons) with in-house catering (food and beverage). Pricing is often presented as a per-person cost, sometimes with a separate venue fee or minimum spend requirement.

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

Building the Event: While the hotel provides the 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, photography, videography, etc.

Accommodation Option: The hotel offers on-site guest rooms, and couples can arrange a room block for their guests, which might be tied to event package requirements.

Additional Costs: Per-person package cost (possibly exceeding minimums), potential venue/site fee, external planner fees (highly recommended), costs for *all* contracted external vendors, potential upgrades to in-house menu/beverage, room block costs (paid by guests unless hosted), permits, insurance (if required), guest transportation (for those not staying at the hotel), personalized favors, officiant, legal fees.

This structure offers convenience and integrated high-quality service, allowing couples to focus on personalization through external design elements.

 

Who Pays for a Destination Wedding (Hotel Event)?

 

Cost allocation follows the luxury hotel event booking structure:

  • The couple typically pays for:
    • The Hacienda Los Laureles wedding package cost (covering venue space, in-house food & beverage, staffing, basic hotel provisions), potentially based on a per-person rate or minimum spend.
    • External Wedding Planner fees (highly recommended).
    • Costs for *all* contracted external vendors (decor, florals, music, photography, videography, specialized rentals, guest transportation/shuttles from the city if needed).
    • Any upgrades to the in-house menu or beverage selection.
    • Their own travel and accommodation (including potentially their suite).
    • Optional hosted events (welcome party, brunch – potentially at the hotel or elsewhere).
    • Personal items.
  • Guests typically pay for:
    • Their flights to Oaxaca (OAX).
    • Their accommodation at Hacienda Los Laureles (if booking within the block) or elsewhere in Oaxaca City.
    • Airport transfers to their lodging.
    • Transportation from their lodging to the wedding events *unless* shuttles are provided by the couple (less critical if most guests are on-site).
    • Any food & beverage outside of the hosted wedding events.
    • Optional extras (tours, shopping).
    • Wedding gifts.

Venue Capacity and Guest Accommodations (Boutique Hotel)

 

Hacienda Los Laureles offers elegant spaces suitable for intimate to medium-sized weddings:

Event Capacity: Comfortably hosts intimate to medium-sized weddings (e.g., 80 – 150 guests), utilizing its gardens, courtyards, covered terraces, and salons. Specific capacities vary by chosen space.

Event Locations: Beautiful and versatile options include:

Gardens & Courtyards: Lush outdoor spaces ideal for ceremonies, cocktail hours, and photos.

Covered Terraces & Patios: Elegant semi-outdoor spaces, perfect for cocktail hour, dining, or dancing.

Salons & Indoor Spaces: Beautifully appointed indoor rooms suitable for receptions, smaller events, or rain backups.

Accommodations: As a luxury boutique hotel, Hacienda Los Laureles offers beautiful on-site guest rooms and suites. Couples can reserve a room block for their wedding guests, providing convenience and a central hub for the wedding party and close family/friends. Guests not staying at the hotel will need off-site accommodations in Oaxaca City.

 

Ceremony and Reception Logistics (Hotel Layout)

 

Logistics involve coordinating flow within the hotel’s various beautiful areas:

Venue Navigation: Hacienda Los Laureles’ layout flows through gardens, courtyards, and buildings. Planning guest movement between ceremony (e.g., garden), cocktail hour (e.g., courtyard or terrace), and reception (e.g., salon or covered terrace) is managed by the hotel event coordinator and your external planner. The hotel layout is designed for hospitality, making flow relatively smooth.

Vendor Access: Coordinated by the hotel event coordinator and your external planner. External vendors (florals, decor, music) need to adhere to hotel access times and rules. The hotel team facilitates access, but your planner ensures they integrate seamlessly with the hotel’s schedule and space use.

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 across spaces.

Transportation: Convenient for guests staying on-site. For guests staying in the city center, transport (taxis, ride-shares, or pre-arranged shuttles) is required as it’s not typically walking distance. Airport transfers (OAX) to the hotel are standard (approx. 20-35 minutes). Shuttles from downtown are a common consideration for guests not staying at the hotel.

Proximity to Airport: Convenient access to Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) via taxi or private transfer (approx. 20-35 minutes, depending on city traffic).

 

What’s Included in Hotel Event Booking?

 

Inclusions with a Hacienda Los Laureles wedding booking are comprehensive due to the integrated hotel services:

  • Exclusive use of contracted event areas within the hotel (e.g., specific Gardens, Terraces, Salons) for the agreed-upon time.
  • In-house catering: the chosen food menu (multi-course meal or buffet) and beverage package (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks).
  • Full hotel event staffing: servers, kitchen staff, bartenders, banquet captain, hotel event coordinator.
  • Basic hotel banquet table settings: standard plates, silverware, glassware, standard hotel linens, standard banquet chairs.
  • Setup and cleanup of all hotel-provided items and event spaces.
  • Use of basic hotel facilities (restrooms, getting-ready areas, public 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 a package or minimum spend.
  • Option for guests to book on-site accommodations.

Common exclusions (meaning you need to rent/contract these externally): ALL elaborate or custom decor (beyond basic table settings), ALL specialized florals, ALL advanced lighting and sound systems (beyond basic hotel background), ALL music/entertainment (bands, DJs), wedding cake (typically external), photography, videography, external wedding planner (though often essential, they are a separate hire), any rentals *beyond* the standard hotel banquet stock (e.g., specialty chair styles, premium colored linens, lounge furniture), permits, insurance (if required), guest transportation to/from the hotel (if not staying on-site), personalized favors, officiant, legal fees.

Obtain a detailed hotel wedding package contract specifying exactly what is included, per-person costs, minimum spends, timing restrictions, and rules for external vendors.

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

 

Hacienda Los Laureles offers beautiful and seamless indoor and covered spaces as a backup plan:

Covered Terraces & Patios: The hotel’s elegant covered terraces and patios provide a perfect setting for a ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception in case of inclement weather, allowing guests to remain comfortable while still enjoying open-air views or ambiance.

Salons & Indoor Event Rooms: Hacienda Los Laureles has beautifully appointed indoor salons and event rooms that can serve as a sophisticated backup space for the ceremony or reception, ensuring a beautiful event regardless of weather.

Backup options utilize the hotel’s inherent architectural beauty and integrated spaces, making transitions smooth and maintaining an elegant atmosphere.

Payment Terms and Cancellation Policies

 

Payment terms align with luxury hotel event bookings:

Significant Deposit: Required to secure Hacienda Los Laureles for your date, event spaces, and potentially a guest room block.

Payment Schedule: Phased payments for the wedding package and venue use leading up to the event date, often based on guest count estimates and contractual milestones. Room block deposits may also apply.

Final Payment: Typically due shortly before the event (e.g., 30 days out), based on the final guaranteed guest count for catering and confirmed package inclusions.

Cancellation Policy: Booking a luxury hotel like Hacienda Los Laureles for a wedding is a significant commitment; cancellation policies are usually strict with escalating penalties closer to the date, potentially including a high percentage or the full minimum spend/package cost. 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:

Hacienda Los Laureles Hotel Event Coordinator: Your primary contact at the hotel. They manage all *hotel-provided* services: booking event spaces, planning and executing the in-house menu and beverage service, overseeing hotel staffing (servers, kitchen, bar, front desk), arranging basic hotel settings (tables, chairs, linens, tableware), coordinating room blocks, and managing logistics *within the hotel’s operations*. They ensure the hospitality, culinary, and on-site service aspects are flawless. They do *not* manage your overall event design vision (unless you are using an all-inclusive package where they provide design services, which is less common for high-end hotels), your external vendor team (florist, musician, photographer, etc.), or guest logistics beyond check-in/check-out.

External Wedding Planner: Provides personalized, comprehensive planning for the *entire event*, integrating seamlessly with the hotel’s services. This includes overall design vision, budget management, sourcing and coordinating *all* external vendors, creating detailed timelines that coordinate hotel services and external vendors, managing guest logistics (welcome bags, transportation from city if needed, activity planning), handling contracts for external vendors, and serves as the primary point person for everyone on the wedding day, troubleshooting issues and ensuring seamless execution from start to finish. Highly recommended, especially for destination weddings.

 

Dietary and Menu Restrictions (In-House Hotel Catering)

 

Handled by Hacienda Los Laureles’ high-quality in-house culinary team:

Catering: Provided exclusively by Hacienda Los Laureles’ acclaimed in-house kitchen and bar as a central element of the wedding package. This offers access to high-quality cuisine, often with options to incorporate Oaxacan flavors or provide international options, using fresh ingredients and presented with elegant hotel plating and service. The experience is refined and a major highlight. Menu tastings are typically available as part of the planning process.

Dietary Needs: Handled directly by the Hacienda Los Laureles kitchen. As a luxury 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.

 

Music and Entertainment Restrictions (Hotel Policies)

 

Entertainment policies for a luxury hotel balance guest experience with property ambiance and potential neighbor considerations:

Style: Welcoming to various forms of entertainment suitable for an elegant event. Live bands (Mariachi for welcome/cocktail, cover bands for dancing) and DJs are common. The hotel has dedicated event spaces where music is expected.

Curfews/Noise: As a hotel, especially one prioritizing tranquility, there will be strict noise limitations and curfews for amplified music, particularly in outdoor areas (gardens, pool). Music will need to transition to indoor salons or cease by a specific hour (e.g., 11 PM or midnight). 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 Hacienda Los Laureles’ 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 (Hotel Location)

 

Logistics for a hotel venue include on-site facilities and planning for off-site guests:

Airport Transfers: Guests staying at the hotel can arrange standard transport from OAX (approx. 20-35 minutes) directly to the hotel. Guests staying elsewhere arrange transport to their lodging in Oaxaca City.

Accommodation: Guests can stay at Hacienda Los Laureles (via the room block) or in other hotels/rentals in Oaxaca City.

Transport to Hacienda Los Laureles: For guests not staying on-site, transport is required as it’s outside the immediate city center. Taxis, ride-shares, or pre-arranged shuttle services from central locations in Oaxaca City are options. Shuttles are often preferred for convenience and safety, coordinated by the couple/planner.

Internal Transport: Navigating within Hacienda Los Laureles involves moving between gardens, courtyards, terraces, and indoor salons. The layout is designed for hotel guest and event flow. Consider accessibility for guests with mobility issues and discuss with the hotel.

Parking: Hacienda Los Laureles typically has dedicated on-site parking for guests and vendors. Valet parking might be an option. Parking is generally less of a concern compared to a downtown restaurant.

Vendor Access: Coordinated load-in/out plan required for external vendors with the hotel event coordinator and planner, adhering to hotel policies and dedicated setup times. Ample space and access points are usually available.

 

Total Cost Breakdown (Hacienda Los Laureles Wedding)

 

For an estimated wedding of 100 guests at Hacienda Los Laureles:

Hotel Wedding Package (Venue, F&B, Staffing): $200 – $450+ USD per person ($20,000 – $45,000+) – Variable based on chosen menu, beverages, package inclusions, and date. This is often combined with a venue fee or minimum spend requirement.

Venue Fee / Minimum Spend: $5,000 – $25,000+ USD (Variable based on date, season, day of week, and negotiation. May be a separate fee or a Food & Beverage minimum the per-person rate contributes towards).

External Wedding Planner: $7,000 – $18,000+ (Highly recommended, especially for luxury/destination).

Rentals (Specialty Items, Decor Base, etc.): $5,000 – $20,000+ (Beyond standard hotel items).

Decor & Florals: $6,000 – $30,000+.

Music & Entertainment: $4,000 – $12,000+.

Photography/Videography (Luxury): $7,000 – $18,000+.

Guest Transportation (Shuttles if needed): $1,000 – $6,000+ (Lower if most guests stay on-site).

Contingency, Service Charges (often added), Taxes, Permits: $6,000 – $18,000+.

Total estimated *event* cost (paid by couple) typically ranges from $60,000 – $180,000+ USD for 100 guests, heavily influenced by the per-person package cost, minimum spend, external vendor selections, and potentially requirements tied to room blocks, reflecting the luxury nature and integrated services of the hotel.

 

Splurge vs. Save

Save: Select a standard wedding package from the hotel’s offerings, utilize the hotel’s included banquet furniture and linens, minimize specialized external rentals, choose a date with a lower potential minimum spend, opt for talented local musicians suitable for the hotel’s ambiance within noise limits, focus floral/decor on key focal points like the ceremony and reception tables.

Splurge: Upgrade to a premium wedding package with enhanced menu and beverage selections, invest in extensive external rentals (luxury furniture, custom linens, premium tableware), bring in elaborate and custom decor/floral installations throughout the various hotel spaces, hire a high-demand band or DJ with professional lighting and sound setup (adhering to hotel policies), commission top-tier photography and videography to capture the luxury setting and details, potentially cover guest accommodation costs or provide premium shuttle services.

 

Hacienda Los Laureles Hotel Event Inclusions (Summary)

 

Key components based on the Luxury Hotel Event model:

Hacienda Los Laureles Package includes: Use of contracted event spaces, in-house catering (food & beverage), full hotel event staffing, basic hotel banquet settings/furniture, setup/cleanup of included items, Hotel Event Coordinator support, on-site guest accommodation options (at guest expense).

Common Exclusions (requiring external vendors): ALL custom/elaborate decor, ALL specialized florals, ALL advanced lighting/sound, ALL music/entertainment (bands, DJs), wedding cake, external wedding planner (often essential), specialized rentals (beyond hotel stock), guest transportation to/from hotel (if not staying on-site), personalized details, officiant, legal fees.

Verify details based on your specific Hacienda Los Laureles wedding package contract.

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

 

Guests attending a wedding at Hacienda Los Laureles benefit from both the hotel’s amenities and easy access to Oaxaca City:

On-Site (Hotel Amenities): Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy its luxury facilities, which typically include a swimming pool, spa services, on-site restaurant and bar, and relaxation areas within the beautiful grounds. The hotel itself offers a relaxing experience before and after the wedding.

Off-Site (City Exploration): Oaxaca City’s main attractions are a short drive away (approx. 10-15 minutes by taxi/ride-share). Guests can easily visit Santo Domingo Church, the Ethnobotanical Garden, the Zócalo, museums, galleries, markets, and restaurants downtown independently. The hotel concierge can assist with arranging taxis or providing information.

Off-Site (Day Trips): Day trips to sites outside the city are easily arranged from the hotel or via tour operators/drivers based in the city center. Popular options include Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, or artisan villages (Teotitlán del Valle, San Bartolo Coyotepec, Arrazola). The hotel concierge can often help facilitate these excursions.

Three Practical Tips for Brides

 

Leverage the Hotel’s Integrated Services: Hacienda Los Laureles offers a high level of service for catering and venue management. Work closely with their event coordinator to fully utilize the included services and ensure smooth on-site logistics. This allows your external planner to focus on design, external vendors, and the overall guest experience.

Design to Complement the Luxury & Garden Ambiance: The hotel’s grounds and architecture are inherently beautiful and sophisticated. Work with your planner and decor/floral team to enhance, rather than overpower, this existing elegance. Choose design elements that complement the colonial style, lush gardens, and refined atmosphere for a cohesive look.

Plan Guest Experiences Beyond the Wedding Day: Since many guests might stay on-site or nearby for several days, think about welcome events (can be at the hotel or another city location), group excursions, or recommended activities. Hacienda Los Laureles’ amenities provide great options for guest relaxation, while city access and day trips offer cultural immersion. Communicate a clear itinerary to help guests make the most of their time in Oaxaca.

 

Two Bride Reviews  

 

“Our wedding at Hacienda Los Laureles was absolute perfection. The hotel itself is stunningly beautiful, and the service was top-notch from arrival to departure. Having most of our guests stay on-site made everything feel so intimate and easy. The food was incredible, the gardens were a dream backdrop for our ceremony, and our external planner worked seamlessly with the hotel team. It was truly a luxurious and unforgettable Oaxaca experience.” – Clara B.

“Choosing Hacienda Los Laureles was the best decision for our destination wedding. We wanted a venue where guests could relax and enjoy the beauty of Oaxaca without constant travel, and the hotel delivered. The event spaces were gorgeous, the catering was exquisite, and the hotel staff were incredibly attentive. Our planner was essential for managing all the outside details, but the core experience provided by the hotel was flawless. Highly recommend for a sophisticated and comfortable wedding.” – Isabelle S.

 

My Final Thoughts as a Wedding Pro

 

Photographing a wedding at Hacienda Los Laureles is a joy because it offers a beautiful, contained environment designed for hospitality and events. The varied backdrops – from the manicured gardens and courtyards to the elegant interiors and terraces – provide rich visual opportunities. The consistent quality of light in the outdoor spaces and the polished presentation indoors are fantastic for photography. My focus would be on capturing the serene luxury of the setting, the genuine interactions between guests (especially those staying together), the impeccable details of the hotel’s service and catering, and the romantic moments set against the elegant architecture and gardens. Challenges might include navigating the flow between spaces efficiently during key moments, ensuring consistent lighting across diverse indoor/outdoor areas, and respecting the privacy of other hotel guests while capturing the wedding’s intimacy. Hacienda Los Laureles is ideal for couples who prioritize a luxurious, comfortable, and beautifully serviced wedding, offering photos that embody sophistication, relaxation, and the classic charm of a Oaxacan hacienda hotel.

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