Maude & Nicolas’s Casa Garrobo Micro Wedding in Zihuatanejo

When Maude and Nicolas from Quebec City reached out to me, they had just experienced a revelation about their dream wedding. After 10 years together and countless travels, including a six-month Southeast Asia adventure and multiple Mexico trips, they knew exactly what they wanted: an intimate celebration with 16 people, including themselves, at a stunning cliffside villa in Zihuatanejo.

What made their February 11th celebration truly special was how they perfectly balanced intimacy with celebration. Instead of a traditional large wedding, they chose Casa Garrobo, a breathtaking private estate perched on Punta Garrobo, where they could have their ceremony, portraits, and reception all in one spectacular location. This proved to be the ideal Zihuatanejo micro wedding venue.

As seasoned travelers who had explored Mexico extensively—including a recent trip to Puerto Escondido—Maude and Nicolas were drawn to Zihuatanejo’s authentic charm and stunning natural beauty. Unlike some of Mexico’s more bustling tourist destinations like Cancun or Cabo, Zihuatanejo offers a laid-back, genuine atmosphere with a rich fishing village heritage and stunning Pacific coastline. This unique blend of authentic charm and natural beauty perfectly suited their vision for an intimate wedding.

Their decision came after what Nicolas described as a “revelation” about what they truly wanted for their wedding celebration. Rather than dealing with the logistics and costs of a traditional large wedding, they initially envisioned something simpler yet more meaningful: “a simple, intimate ceremony on a quiet beach in Zihuatanejo, followed by a photo session capturing those beautiful moments.”

However, after discovering Casa Garrobo’s incredible clifftop setting, they realized they had found something even better. This luxury wedding villa offered both privacy and spectacular ocean views without needing to travel to a separate beach location. Their choice to celebrate with 16 people, including themselves, reflected their desire to be surrounded by only their closest family and friends. This created an atmosphere where everyone present was genuinely excited to be part of their special day. This truly was the perfect Mexico elopement for them.

My coverage began the day before their wedding with a getting-to-know-you session and pre-wedding portraits—something Maude and Nicolas absolutely loved. This approach gave them two completely different looks for their photos and significantly removed any timeline stress from their actual wedding day, allowing for a more relaxed experience.

On February 11th, the getting-ready process was beautifully organized. At 11:30 AM, Maude began her preparation with the other women, while Nicolas and the men started getting ready at 1:00 PM. Having Iveth Sharon Beauty handle hair and makeup was perfect—she speaks English fluently and understood exactly the relaxed, natural look Maude wanted for their cliffside ceremony.

What I love about Casa Garrobo is how the villa’s layout allows for natural separation during getting-ready time while maintaining the intimate feel of everyone being together in one spectacular location. It’s truly a fantastic Zihuatanejo wedding venue for pre-ceremony preparations.

At 4:00 PM, the 14 guests gathered on Casa Garrobo’s main balcony for what would be one of the most stunning ceremony settings I’ve ever photographed. The villa’s position on Punta Garrobo provided an unobstructed view of both the mountains and the brilliant blue Pacific Ocean—a backdrop that no beach ceremony could match.

What made this intimate ceremony truly special was having Nicolas’s best friend Nikola serve as THE officiant. As Maude shared: “Nikola has been Nicolas’ best friend since they were very young. Nikola will be our celebrant for the ceremony.” This personal touch transformed their symbolic ceremony into something deeply meaningful and authentic.

The couple chose to write their own vows, which they read in French. Even though I couldn’t understand the words, the raw emotion was palpable—their guests’ faces were a mix of joyous laughter and heartfelt tears, truly telling the complete story of their love. There’s something magical about witnessing vows in someone’s native language; it adds an extra layer of intimacy and authenticity.

February weather in Zihuatanejo was absolutely perfect—not as hot as summer months, with comfortable temperatures that made the 4:00 PM ceremony timing ideal for both the couple and their guests enjoying this Mexico destination wedding.

Immediately following the ceremony, the 14 guests moved to Casa Garrobo’s expansive terrace for cocktail hour. Luxebox Zihua had created a beautiful charcuterie setup that perfectly complemented the villa’s sophisticated atmosphere while maintaining the relaxed, intimate vibe Maude and Nicolas wanted for their Zihuatanejo micro wedding.

This 30-45 minute period allowed me to capture natural family and friends portraits while everyone was still in that post-ceremony glow. The terrace’s multiple levels and stunning views provided endless opportunities for both group photos and candid moments of guests celebrating. What struck me most was the genuine joy everyone shared—when you limit your guest list to only your closest loved ones, every single person is truly thrilled to be there, and that energy shows in every photo.

At 5:15 PM, I took Maude and Nicolas around Casa Garrobo for their couple portraits. Initially, they had considered going to nearby La Punta for photos, but we quickly realized the villa itself provided everything we needed—dramatic clifftop views, intimate garden spaces, and that golden hour light that makes every photo magical.

Casa Garrobo’s unique position offered us multiple backdrop options within steps of their celebration. We captured romantic moments against the mountain views, intimate portraits with the Pacific Ocean stretching to the horizon, and playful shots throughout the villa’s beautiful architecture. The light at this time of day in February was absolutely perfect—soft, warm, and flattering without the harsh shadows you might get during summer months. This timing also allowed us to create their wedding portraits without feeling rushed or missing out on their celebration. As your Mexico wedding photographer, finding these perfect light conditions is key for truly stunning wedding photos.

By 6:00 PM, Maude and Nicolas made their grand entrance back to the reception with champagne, marking the official start of their party. Wil Sax provided the perfect soundtrack, and what happened next was pure magic.

Instead of a formal champagne service, Maude and Nicolas grabbed bottles and started serving their guests themselves while everyone danced to the saxophone music. This spontaneous moment perfectly captured their personalities—fun-loving, generous, and focused on making sure everyone had an incredible time. The energy was absolutely infectious. Guests were dancing, laughing, and celebrating in a way that only happens when you’re surrounded by people who genuinely love you. As their Mexico elopement photographer, these are the moments I live for—unscripted, joyful, and authentically beautiful.

If you’re considering Casa Garrobo for your intimate wedding in Mexico, here’s what you need to know to plan a seamless and beautiful event:

Casa Garrobo eliminates many logistics challenges because everything happens in one location. No need to coordinate transportation between ceremony and reception venues, and your guests can truly relax and enjoy themselves. It’s an ideal private estate wedding venue for those seeking simplicity and elegance.

The villa setting allows for flexible timing. Maude and Nicolas’s 4:00 PM ceremony time was perfect for February weather and provided beautiful light for portraits. This flexibility is a huge advantage for destination weddings.

With comfortable space for 16 people (including Maude and Nicolas), Casa Garrobo strikes the perfect balance between intimate and celebratory. Everyone feels included without the venue feeling empty or overcrowded. It’s designed for small wedding celebrations.

The multiple levels, ocean views, and mountain backdrop provide incredible variety for photos without requiring travel to different locations. This means more time for genuine moments and less time spent in transit, resulting in a more comprehensive and beautiful wedding photo collection.

Like most couples, Maude and Nicolas chose a symbolic ceremony to avoid the $1,300-$1,900 USD cost and months of paperwork required for legal marriage in Mexico. For many couples planning a destination wedding, a symbolic ceremony followed by a legal ceremony in their home country offers the perfect blend of ease and romance.

Based on Maude and Nicolas’s successful celebration, here are the Zihuatanejo wedding vendors who made their day perfect:

• Hair & Makeup: Iveth Sharon Beauty – English-speaking professional who understands the relaxed, natural look perfect for cliffside ceremonies.
• Catering: Luxebox Zihua – Beautiful charcuterie boards and cocktail hour setup that perfectly complemented the villa’s atmosphere for their intimate celebration.
• Music: Wil Sax – Live saxophone performance that created the perfect ambiance for both ceremony and celebration.
• Videography: “Seek the Light”.
  – Professional wedding videographer I recommended and work with regularly. They seamlessly collaborate with my photography to capture your complete Mexico elopement story.

Casa Garrobo Location: View on Google Maps
Casa Garrobo Airbnb: Book Your Stay

The villa’s location on Punta Garrobo provides easy access to Zihuatanejo’s downtown area while offering complete privacy and stunning views for your celebration.

After their celebration, Maude sent me this message:

“Hello Mariana, Just a little message to thank you once again for the stunning photos. We can’t believe it—they are absolutely incredible!✨🥹😍“

As your Mexico elopement photographer, I specialize in intimate celebrations like Casa Garrobo micro weddings, where every detail is perfectly coordinated and every moment authentically captured with a focus on natural, unposed storytelling. Let’s connect and start planning your unique love story!