Discovering Romance Beyond Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone

The quick dash from Licenciado Gustavo D�az Ordaz International Airport (PVR) to the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa is a sprint to serenity. Aside from the close proximity to PVR, the beachfront property on Banderas Bay is well positioned for business and pleasure as it's a quick drive to the convention center and within walking distance to the golf course and the marina, which is full of shops, restaurants and bars that are a tad more touristy than what you'd find in the trendy Romantic Zone.

These factors draw a different traveler than those beelining to the Romantic Zone. But that's quickly changing. The TAG-approved hotel and its certified wedding planners are not only looking to cater to the LGBTQ community, they recently welcomed grooms Roman Wadsworth and Vince Stansbury, who fell in love with each other and the property. The couple decided to say their "I Do's" on site, with 100 of their closest friends and family jet-setting from across the country to witness the nuptials.

The resort's parent company, Marriott International Ltd., has received a perfect score on HRC's Corporate Equality Index for the past five years. So, it's no surprise that the dedicated staff pulled out all the necessary bells and whistles to make it a wedding that no one would soon forget.

"It was an easy decision for us. Having the best jetty in Puerto Vallarta was one of the many deciding factors," says Wadsworth. The couple took advantage of the sexy jetty. "Having it lit up with rainbow colors was their idea. Riding in on white horses was mine," continues Roman. "The Marriott took the rainbow theme further by backlighting all of the beachfront dining tables in the sand in various bright colored hues."

The gaggle of guests was as taken by Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa as the wedding couple. The open-air contemporary flair combined with a beach breeze that sweeps through the property make any arrival transformative. Five restaurants and two busy bars offering handcrafted cocktails and authentic Mexican cuisine set a celebratory tone and are a draw for all guests, whether it's for marriage vows, a romantic getaway, or a gathering of friends and family.

The pool is a buzz from morning to night. Between the swim up bar, loungers and cabanas it's easy to park it for the day. Old-school kitschy frozen cocktail concoctions do not disappoint in or out of the pool.

For those looking to explore off property, local lure, culture and color are but a few feet away. Stroll along the beach and discover shops, open-air restaurants and bars, random dancing horses, parasailing and other water sports, thatched houses and long stretches of nothing but beach. Or dial it down even more with an afternoon at Marriott's Ohtli Spa, which offers an impressive menu of treatments, several soaking pools and steam rooms.

It was escaping the winter weather that led the Seattle based couple like several others in the Pacific Northwest to run for the sun in Puerto Vallarta. "The sunsets in Puerto Vallarta rival those in Hawaii," says Wadsworth. "We also love heading to the jungle for adventure activities, taking in the colonial ambiance downtown and checking out the many restaurants as the food is excellent all over the city."

However, what's most important is the city's LGBTQ acceptance. "We love how gay-friendly the city is," says Stansbury.

Whether visiting Puerto Vallarta for a wedding or a romantic rendezvous (yours or others) or simply looking for a chic beach retreat, the property is a welcoming oasis away from the buzz of the city.

"Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa is committed to providing memorable wedding experiences for all guests, as we believe love is love in all of its expressions," says the property's general manager David Gauna. "Not only do we support the LGBTQ community, but we are also delighted to embrace diversity and inclusion as we celebrate love with the wedding of our guests' dreams at our resort."

The Marriott is not alone in welcoming LGBTQ destination weddings to other parts of Puerto Vallarta. "We have seen an increase in hotels offering the service. Costa Sur Resort and Spa was the only hotel offering LGBTQ weddings/ceremonies. But now we see the Marriott CasaMagna, Hotel Mousai and so many other promoting this service," says Gustavo Rivas Solis, from Latitude-International, the public relations company representing Puerto Vallarta tourism board. "The demand is increasing and the supply is definitely there."

Of course, The Romantic Zone is still the epicenter for the gay community. According to Solis, "The Romantic Zone is still the gayborhood. There are over 70 business in the area actively promoting themselves as LGBTQ friendly businesses. However, Puerto Vallarta is a very welcoming and friendly destination in general and properties outside of the Zona Romantica, in all the neighborhoods within the destination, have seen the increase in the LGBTQ market and many have come out as LGBTQ-friendly, becoming TAG certified and IGLTA members as well as participating in the tourism board's LGBTQ advertising campaigns. They have also gone out of their way hanging welcome signs during Vallarta Pride so returning visitors would be interested in the properties when they come back."