Destination: Argentina

Argentina is one of the best travel bargains you can find, but that's secondary to its wonderful mix of Old World European elegance and style and vibrant, passionate culture. A wedding destination? Consider it only if you are looking for breathtaking natural beauty, sophisticated cities with world-class culture and entertainment, and exquisite cuisine and wines. Romance is a national treasure...you'll experience it in most everything Argentine. From the Andes Mountains to the Patagonian glaciers, the Mendoza vineyards, the Pampas plains, or the northern beaches...from late nights in Buenos Aires to a mountainside eco-lodge, there are countless options for an unforgettable destination wedding adventure in Argentina.

Practical Information

Argentina's climate ranges from subtropical in the north to humid and steamy in the centre, and cold in the south. Remember that Argentina's seasons are the opposite of North America's: for beach weather, go December through March; to ski, go July through October. Argentina has a wide range of climates, and its best to plan your dates in connection with your location. The southern Andes and Patagonia are wonderful in the summer, with mild temperatures and long days, while the northern regions are best in the winter, with lower tropical temperatures. The southernmost regions of Argentina are the gateway to Antarctica: just the thing for a honeymoon cruise to the South Pole! Get more information about Argentine weather.

Marriage Requirements: Assistance is vital unless you plan to arrive well in advance to apply for your wedding license. The exact waiting period depends on the civil egistry office you choose, so be sure to verify the national and civic requirements. There is no residency requirement, but a blood test is required.

Money: Argentine Nuevo Peso

Argentine embassy: http://www.embassyofargentina.us

Argentine Tourism: http://www.argentinaturistica.com

Our Argentine Associate

Destination Bride is very fortunate to have a wonderful associate in Buenos Aires, who uses her broad knowledge of all things Argentine to help us plan weddings there. Gloria Landa has been working for many years for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Buenos Aires. Her exquisite command of Portuguese, Spanish and English, as well as her uncanny ability to find the best of the best - whether a soulful tango club or the best parillada in town - are invaluable to us as we plan Argentine dream weddings. Gloria has offered a number of her recommendations for this newsletter, and there are more where these came from! Call us if you are considering a destination wedding in Argentina...Gloria Landa and everyone at Destination Bride will be delighted to help!

Wonderful Venues

The Relais and Chateaux designation is given to the best small luxury hotels in the world, and if you'd like to see what that excellence means Patagonia-style, consider Las Balsas. Set in Villa La Angostura, near the Nahuel Huapi State Park, Las Balsas is surrounded by snow-capped mountains (and excellent ski resorts), but with just 15 rooms, it has the feel of a private, luxurious home and spa plunked down in one of the world's most beautiful spots. Further south in Patagonia, near the gateway to Antarctica, is Los Nostros, which has an otherworldly beauty, surrounded by a range of blues and whites-lakes, snow and glaciers - and part of the 700,000 acre National Park Los Glaciares. The setting will appeal to your great sense of adventure, while the accommodations and cuisine are supremely indulgent.

Okay, so you and your beloved are so enthralled by fly fishing that you want to marry in a remote, Patagonian ranch high in the Andes that you can only reach by plane or horseback? As we've long known at Destination Bride, wedding dreams come in all forms, and the incredibly vast, remarkable country of Argentina has limitless, unique possibilities to fulfill your dream, whatever it is! Consider The Ranquilco Lodge, an 110,000-acre ranch on some of the Andes' best rivers for fly-fishing. It will give you a view of gaucho life, softened with such amenities as a Swedish log sauna and organic fruits and vegetables to accompany your freshly caught trout.

Buenos Aires, "the Paris of the South," is a fabulous city. Why not marry in March, during the Tango festival? The Alvear Palace Hotel is pure opulence. Located in Recoleta, a wonderful neighborhood in Buenos Aires, the hotel is surrounded by large parks, wide avenues and luxurious classic-style buildings, fine restaurants, cafes, antique shops, boutiques, museums and cultural centers for easy exploration. (Need some help maximizing your browsing time - and the excellent exchange rate - in Buenos Aires? Our associate Gloria Landa recommends Guipers Personal Shoppers. The Alvear, its suites and uxurious ballrooms, evoke a European elegance with every modern amenity imaginable. A less expensive, but excellent choice in the same neighborhood is Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, which has lovely formal gardens and spa services.

A unique way to experience something truly Argentine is to stay in an estancia, or large private ranch. Argentine estancias evolved during the 19th century, and they can range from true rural mansions or palaces to places less impressive in their lodging, but remarkable in their setting. They are surrounded by huge tracts of land, whether vineyards in the Mendoza region or glaciers, entire mountain ranges or river valleys, depending on the area. Estancias provide a way to really experience the life and customs of that part of the country. For a destination wedding, they allow you to share an entire ranch with family and friends.

The Estanzia Santa Rita has a gorgeous main house, chapel, and adjacent buildings, with acres of woods for walks or horseback riding. Estanzia La Candelaria is a castle, with park like grounds and luxurious accommodations, about an hour from Buenos Aires. Los Alamos is a lovely estanzia, full of charm and history, in the heart of the Mendoza wine center.

Entertainment

Tango, Tango, Tango...need we say more? Why marry in Argentina if you are not going to partake in the world's most romantic, sensuous dance form? There are dance clubs all over the country, and some might say the smaller, more intimate clubs provide the most authentic experience. But if you want to see a first-class tango show, consider these in Buenos Aires: The Esquinas Carlos Gardel Tango and Cena Show, Senor Tango, or Madero Tango. Consider offering your family and friends tango lessons before your wedding and before your night(s) on the town.

Design, Décor, Customs

The word Argentina is derived from Argentum, meaning silver, and silver jewelry is one of the country's many exquisite exports. Consider silver jewelry decorated with rodocrosita, the national stone. A jewelry artist in Buenos Aires, who specializes in custom designed silver pieces, is Juan Carlos Pallarols.

In Argentina, the bride often adds "something blue" to her wedding gown in the form of a colored petticoat. The groom's mother, and the bride's father escort the couple down the aisle - instead of a maid of honor or best man - and stand beside them throughout the ceremony. An Argentine reception can last literally all night, beginning around 10 p.m. and ending, after hours of dancing, with a breakfast the following morning.

Photography

Gloria Landa, our Argentine associate, recommends these talented photographers in the Buenos Aires area: Tomeu OzonasAnne Marie Heinrich, or Alicia Sanguinetti.