Getting Married at Casa Cariño, San Miguel de Allende: GUIDE

by Advice & Tips, Wedding Venue Guides

Casa Cariño is a charming private villa located right in the vibrant historic center of San Miguel de Allende. Known for its intimate courtyards, elegant rooftop terrace with stunning city views, traditional colonial architecture, and a palpable sense of warmth and charm, it offers a beautiful setting for couples dreaming of a romantic, sophisticated, and quintessentially Mexican destination wedding for intimate to medium-sized guest counts. This venue provides a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, unparalleled location, and historic beauty, making it a top choice for a memorable celebration in the heart of the city.

As a dedicated event venue, Casa Cariño offers the rental of its beautiful property for a specified period, providing the framework – the ceremony and reception areas, getting-ready rooms, and often basic infrastructure like restrooms and potentially a dedicated kitchen space for caterers. It serves as a magnificent backdrop. Couples have the flexibility to bring in their own team of vendors, from caterers and florists to musicians and decorators, allowing for a highly personalized and customizable wedding experience. While Casa Cariño provides the stunning location, the full event coordination, staffing (beyond basic venue support), rentals (tables, chairs, linens, etc., unless explicitly packaged), and all culinary aspects are managed separately through chosen suppliers and a wedding planner.

Capture the beauty of your SMA wedding in stunning photos. Check out the finest San Miguel de Allende wedding photos to help inspire your celebration.

Index

 

  

Is This Venue Right for Your Wedding?

 

Casa Cariño is an exceptional venue for couples seeking an intimate, private, and historic setting right in the heart of San Miguel de Allende for their destination wedding. If you dream of a wedding with charming courtyards, a spectacular rooftop terrace with city views, beautiful colonial architecture as a backdrop, and the ability to bring together your own bespoke team of vendors – this private villa is an excellent choice. It’s ideal for couples who desire privacy, flexibility in design, and a classic San Miguel aesthetic with the convenience of a central location, perfect for smaller to medium-sized guest lists.

The venue’s key highlights include its charming and versatile courtyards, a stunning rooftop terrace, classic colonial villa architecture, intimate indoor spaces (potentially including a salon or library), and the privacy offered by a dedicated rental property. Perfect for a romantic, elegant, and centrally located San Miguel wedding.

 

How Does a Wedding at Casa Cariño Work?

 

Planning a wedding at Casa Cariño typically involves:

Booking the Venue: Securing your desired date by signing a contract and paying a rental fee for the exclusive use of the property for a specific duration (often 24 hours). The venue provides the physical space and potentially some basic infrastructure.

Hiring an External Wedding Planner (Essential): Crucial for a venue rental model. Your planner is responsible for designing, budgeting, sourcing, hiring, and managing *all* other vendors and logistics that are not included in the basic venue rental (catering, rentals, decor, music, transportation, timeline, guest communication, etc.).

Selecting and Contracting Caterer: Food and beverage are typically handled by an external caterer from a preferred list or one approved by the venue. This involves separate menu planning, tasting, and contracting.

Vendor Coordination: Your planner coordinates access, setup, and teardown for all vendors working at the venue. The venue may have specific rules (access times, noise curfews, use of facilities like the kitchen).

Renting Equipment: Tables, chairs, linens, tableware, lighting, staging, dance floors, lounge furniture, etc., are typically rented separately through your planner and rental companies.

Guest Accommodation: Guests arrange their own accommodation in San Miguel de Allende, as Casa Cariño is a private venue rental, not a hotel with a room block. Many guests may stay within walking distance given its central location.

The process gives you flexibility and control over your vendor team and design but requires comprehensive planning support to bring all the pieces together at the venue.

 

Best Months to Get Married

 

The prime season for weather in San Miguel de Allende is during the dry months, from late October/early November through April/early May, ensuring optimal conditions for utilizing Casa Cariño’s beautiful courtyards, terraces, and rooftop. The rainy season (May-September) often brings afternoon/evening showers, which requires careful planning for outdoor ceremonies/cocktails and a robust backup plan, utilizing the venue’s indoor or covered areas.

 

The Basics of Wedding Planning (Venue Rental Model)

 

Casa Cariño operates as a Dedicated Event Venue, with wedding arrangements typically structured as follows:

Guest Stay Options: Guests arrange their own accommodation in San Miguel de Allende, often within easy reach of the historic center. Casa Cariño is a venue rental, not a hotel.

Wedding Planning Structure:

Venue Rental Fee: A fee is paid for exclusive use of the property for a set period (e.g., 24 hours). This fee covers the space itself and basic facilities but typically little else in terms of staffing, F&B, or rentals.

External Vendor Model: You contract *all* key services separately – catering, rentals (tables, chairs, linens, etc.), decor, music, photography, transportation, etc.

Catering: Handled by an external caterer, usually from a list provided by the venue. This is a separate per-person cost.

Planning: A full-service external wedding planner is essential to manage the complexity of coordinating multiple vendors at the venue, especially one located centrally. The venue manager focuses only on the property itself.

Additional Costs: Venue rental fee, catering (per person), all external vendors (planner, decor, music, photo/video, rentals *beyond basic venue inclusions*), guest travel & accommodation, airport transfers, optional hosted events, legal/religious fees, personal items, tips, permits if needed.

This model offers immense flexibility and customization but requires a strong planning team to execute, particularly navigating the logistics of a central city location.

 

Who Pays for a Destination Wedding?

 

Cost allocation generally follows traditional wedding standards for a venue rental model:

  • The couple typically pays for:
    • Venue Rental Fee.
    • Catering costs (per person).
    • External Planner fees (Essential).
    • Contracts for all external vendors (photo, video, music, decor, rentals, officiant, etc.).
    • Guest transportation *to the venue* on the wedding day (if needed, e.g., for guests not staying nearby).
    • Guest transportation to and from the airport (BJX/QRO).
    • Optional hosted events (welcome party, brunch) at Casa Cariño or elsewhere.
    • Their own travel and accommodation.
    • Legal/religious fees.
    • Personal items.
  • Guests typically pay for:
    • Their flights to Guanajuato International Airport (BJX) or Querétaro International Airport (QRO).
    • Their accommodation booking elsewhere in San Miguel.
    • Local transportation in San Miguel for non-wedding events (unless shuttles are provided).
    • Any F&B not included in hosted events.
    • Optional extras (tours, shopping, dining in San Miguel).
    • Wedding gifts.

Venue Capacity and Guest Accommodations (Intimate City Villa)

 

Casa Cariño offers capacity primarily across its beautiful courtyards and rooftop:

Event Capacity: Comfortably hosts intimate to medium-sized weddings (e.g., 50 – 150 guests), utilizing its courtyards, rooftop terrace, and intimate indoor spaces.

Event Locations: Multiple beautiful and versatile options include:

Charming Courtyards: Ideal for intimate ceremonies, cocktail hours, and smaller receptions.

Rooftop Terrace: Perfect for cocktail hours or smaller ceremonies with stunning panoramic views of the city and Parroquia.

Elegant Indoor Spaces: Suitable for reception dinners (depending on guest count), dancing, or as a weather backup.

Layout Flexibility: The multi-level property allows for a beautiful progression between different areas for ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing, offering distinct experiences throughout the event, all within the historic city walls.

Accommodations: Casa Cariño is a private venue rental and does NOT offer guest accommodation on-site. Guests must arrange their lodging in San Miguel de Allende at nearby hotels, rental homes (casas), or other properties. Given its central location, many guests may be within walking distance, reducing the need for extensive transportation coordination *to* the venue on the wedding day.

 

Ceremony and Reception Logistics (Central City Coordination)

 

Logistics at a central city venue like Casa Cariño require extensive external planning, often with tighter constraints than a large hacienda:

Venue Navigation: While not as expansive as a hacienda, planning the flow and guest movement between multi-level courtyards, indoor spaces, and the rooftop requires clear signage and coordination. Your planner will map this out.

Vendor Access: Requires extremely detailed coordination with the venue manager for load-in/load-out times, navigating potentially narrow city streets for vendor trucks (catering, rentals, decor), designated setup areas within limited space, and strict adherence to venue and city rules (timing, noise, street closures). This is managed by your external planner.

Setup: Planning for setup across multiple levels and potentially smaller courtyard spaces is complex. Requires detailed coordination for power distribution, lighting design (especially on the rooftop and courtyards), and rental placement (tables, chairs, stages, bars, dance floor) tailored to your specific layout and guest count within the villa’s structure. Everything except the raw space must be brought in by vendors.

Guest Transportation: Guests are staying off-site. Many guests may be within walking distance of this central location, but for those further out, planning transportation *to* Casa Cariño for the wedding events (e.g., clear instructions for taxis/rideshares, or smaller shuttle vans) and *back* to their accommodations at the end of the night is essential. Airport transfers from BJX/QRO (1.5-2 hours) are guest’s responsibility to arrange or can be facilitated by your planner.

Location: Located directly in the historic center, offering convenience and atmosphere, but presenting challenges for parking, vendor access, and potentially noise restrictions compared to an outlying venue.

 

What’s Included in the Venue Rental Fee?

 

Inclusions for a venue rental like Casa Cariño are typically limited compared to a hotel package:

  • Grants exclusive use of the property (courtyards, terraces, rooftop, indoor spaces) for the contracted time period (e.g., 24 hours).
  • Includes access to basic facilities like restrooms and potentially getting-ready rooms.
  • May include basic power and water access points.
  • Includes basic on-site venue representative for property-related matters (access, rules, security).
  • Often includes a required venue cleaning fee.
  • May have restrictions on guest count, type of event, or specific areas (e.g., rooftop capacity).

Common exclusions (which you must source and pay for separately): All Food & Beverage (catering, staff, bar), *all* rentals (tables, chairs, linens, tableware, glassware, tents, specialized lighting, sound systems, staging, dance floors), all decor & florals, all entertainment (music, performers), all staffing beyond basic venue security/access, full event planning & coordination, guest accommodation, guest transportation, legal/religious fees, permits (if required for extensive setups or late hours, especially for street access).

Obtain a detailed venue rental contract outlining the exact inclusions, permitted use of spaces, time limits, rules (noise, vendor access, particularly sensitive in the center), and required cleaning/security fees.

Backup Plan for Outdoor Ceremonies (Indoor Courtyard or Salon)

 

Casa Cariño typically offers designated alternative indoor spaces for weather contingencies:

Elegant Indoor Courtyard or Salon: The villa likely has beautiful indoor spaces like a covered central courtyard or a dedicated salon that can serve as intimate and elegant alternatives for ceremonies or receptions, especially for smaller groups.

Covered Terraces: Some terraces might be partially covered and usable as a backup for smaller parts of the event.

Planner Coordination: Your external planner will be responsible for the logistics of executing the backup plan, coordinating with all vendors (rentals, decor, etc.) for the necessary setup changes within the available indoor spaces.

Ensure your contract confirms the designated backup space and discuss the logistics and timing with your planner and the venue manager, considering the multi-level layout.

Payment Terms and Cancellation Policies

 

Payment terms involve multiple contracts typical of a venue rental model:

Venue Rental: An initial deposit (often 50% or more) is required to secure the date, with the final balance due closer to the event date (e.g., 30-90 days prior).

Catering: Deposits and phased payments are separate from the venue fee, based on the caterer’s contract terms. Final payment is typically based on the final guest count.

Other Vendors: Each vendor (planner, rentals, music, etc.) will have their own deposit and payment schedule as per their individual contracts.

Cancellation Policy: Venue contracts have strict cancellation clauses with escalating penalties, potentially losing deposits or more depending on the timing. Vendor contracts also have their own cancellation terms. Comprehensive wedding insurance covering cancellation and liability is essential, especially given the complexities of a destination wedding in a central location.

 

Coordination: Venue Manager vs. External Planner

 

Understanding the crucial support system for a venue rental wedding:

Casa Cariño Venue Manager: Your primary contact for all things *related to the physical property* – access to the venue, understanding venue rules (noise, vendor access, especially crucial in a residential/central area), ensuring basic facilities (restrooms) are functional, and potentially being present during the event for property emergencies. They do *not* manage your timeline, coordinate vendors, oversee setup/teardown, or handle any guest logistics beyond access to the property.

External Wedding Planner (Highly Recommended/Essential): Provides personalized, comprehensive planning for the *entire wedding experience*. This is vital for a venue rental, particularly one in the busy historic center. Manages overall design vision, budget, sources, hires, and coordinates *all* vendors (catering, rentals, florists, musicians, photographer, videographer, transportation, etc.), creates detailed timelines for the full wedding weekend (including off-site events), coordinates guest communication (travel tips, transportation options, walking directions), manages the complex logistics of bringing everything into and out of a central city location, oversees setup and teardown, handles crisis management, and acts as your advocate and on-site manager for all aspects, bridging the gap between the venue’s basic offering and a fully executed event.

 

Dietary and Menu Restrictions (External Catering)

 

Handled by your chosen external caterer:

Catering Provider: All food and beverage is exclusively provided by an external caterer that you contract separately. Casa Cariño may have a list of preferred or required caterers who are experienced in working within the constraints of a central villa kitchen setup.

Menu Customization: Offers high flexibility. You work directly with your chosen caterer to design a bespoke menu tailored to your preferences, style, and budget. Tasting sessions are part of the catering process.

Dietary Needs: Your chosen caterer will handle all dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies, etc.) as communicated by you and your planner. Discuss all needs in detail with your caterer during menu planning, and ensure their team is experienced in executing a seamless service within a private villa setting.

 

Music and Entertainment Restrictions (Venue & Neighbor Policies)

 

Entertainment policies are set by the venue and significantly influenced by its location in the historic center:

Style: Welcoming to a range of entertainment, from mariachi bands (often for courtyard or arrival) and traditional ensembles to live bands and professional DJs, utilizing the various spaces including indoor salons for later hours.

Curfews/Noise: As a private property surrounded by residences in the historic center, there are likely very strict noise curfews for amplified outdoor music (e.g., 10-11 PM). Music must typically transition to a designated, sound-contained indoor space (like a salon or ballroom) for later hours, with volume carefully managed to respect neighbors and city ordinances. Discuss specific timing and volume restrictions with the venue and your planner *in detail*.

Vendor Policies: Standard venue requirements for professional external vendors (insurance, access protocols, setup/teardown times). Your planner will coordinate this. Ensure power needs for bands/DJs are met by your rental/AV vendor, especially with potential power constraints in older city buildings.

 

Parking and Guest Logistics (Central Location Coordination Required)

 

Logistics for a venue located directly in the historic center require planning for guest movement, with parking as a major consideration:

Airport Transfers: Guests arrange transport from BJX or QRO (approx. 1.5-2 hours) via private shuttles or taxis, or this can be facilitated by your planner.

Accommodation: Guests stay off-site in San Miguel, likely in various hotels and rental homes throughout the central area.

Transport to Venue: Given the central location, many guests may choose to walk if their accommodation is nearby. For those further away, planning and coordinating transportation *to* Casa Cariño for the wedding events (e.g., providing clear instructions for taxis/rideshares, or arranging smaller shuttle vans from key points) is essential. Transportation *back* to accommodations at the end of the night is crucial.

Parking: On-site parking at Casa Cariño is likely **extremely limited or non-existent**, typical for central city properties. Guests will need to find public parking garages elsewhere in town or rely entirely on walking, taxis, or shuttles. Vendor parking/access also requires careful planning. Confirm parking capacity and street access rules with the venue and your planner.

City Exploration: Located directly in the center, guests staying nearby or arriving via taxi/shuttle will have immediate walking access to explore the iconic Parroquia, El Jardín, shops, restaurants, and bars, a significant advantage of this location.

 

Total Cost Breakdown (Venue Rental + External Vendors)

 

For an estimated wedding of 80 guests at Casa Cariño (adjusting capacity based on typical city villa size):

Venue Rental Fee: $6,000 – $18,000+ USD (Depending on season, day, and duration of rental).

Catering (Food & Beverage): $120 – $300+ USD per person ($9,600 – $24,000+ for 80), includes food, beverages, service staff, and basic catering rentals (plates, cutlery, glasses from caterer).

External Wedding Planner: $6,000 – $18,000+ (Essential for venue rental model, especially centrally located).

Rentals (Tables, Chairs, Linens, Specialty Items, Lighting): $5,000 – $20,000+ (Can vary based on style, complexity, and multi-level needs).

Decor & Florals: $8,000 – $30,000+.

Music & Entertainment: $3,000 – $10,000+ (Adjust based on types of music and duration).

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

Guest Transportation (To/From Venue for some guests, potentially Airport assistance): $1,000 – $4,000+ (depending on group size and service level, less if many guests walk).

Contingency, Service Charges (Catering 15-20%+, Venue Staffing), Taxes (Venue & Vendors), Permits: $6,000 – $18,000+.

Total estimated *event* cost (paid by couple) typically ranges from $44,600 – $183,000+ USD for 80 guests, reflecting the central location venue rental, the need for full external vendor teams (especially catering and rentals), and comprehensive planning for an intimate to medium-sized, customizable celebration in the heart of the city.

 

Splurge vs. Save

Save: Book a mid-week or off-season date, choose a simpler per-person catering menu, opt for fewer elaborate rental items by focusing on essentials, use the venue’s natural charm for decor instead of extensive florals/installations, hire a local DJ or smaller musical group. Limit hosted events to just the main wedding day. Leverage the walkability of the location for guests staying nearby.

Splurge: Rent the venue for multiple days for a full wedding weekend experience (welcome party, brunch on-site), select premium catering menus and open bar packages, invest in elaborate custom rentals, specialized lighting for the courtyards and rooftop, and extensive florals throughout the property, hire a renowned band or multiple musical acts for different parts of the day, provide seamless transportation for all guests to/from the venue. Create highly personalized design elements using the villa as a magnificent canvas.

 

Venue & Catering Inclusions

 

Key components based on venue rental and separate catering contract:

Venue Rental Fee includes: Exclusive use of the property (courtyards, terraces, rooftop, designated indoor spaces) for set hours, basic facilities (restrooms, getting ready rooms), basic venue representative. May include some basic power access.

Catering Contract includes: All Food & Beverage service (catering, bar, service staff) based on selected menu/package, often basic catering rentals (plates, cutlery, standard glassware) and kitchen equipment/staff.

Exclusions (must be sourced separately): All event planning & coordination, *all* rentals (tables, chairs, linens, specialty glassware, tents, lighting, staging, dance floor – *beyond what the caterer provides*), all decor & florals, all entertainment (music, performers), specialized or upgraded services, guest accommodation, guest transportation (airport, to/from venue), legal/religious fees, permits (if needed, especially for central city locations).**

Verify all details in your separate venue rental contract and catering contract(s), as well as contracts with other key vendors. Pay close attention to what rentals are *included* in catering (basic settings) vs. what needs to be rented separately (specialty chairs, linens, etc.).

Activities for Other Days (Guests Staying in SMA)

 

Guests staying in San Miguel de Allende are perfectly positioned to enjoy the town’s offerings, especially from a central location:

In San Miguel Centro (Walkable for many): Guests staying nearby Casa Cariño can easily walk to the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, relax in El Jardín main square, browse world-class art galleries and artisan shops, explore vibrant markets (Ignacio Ramírez, Artesanías), enjoy sophisticated rooftop bars with stunning city views (including views potentially rivaling Casa Cariño’s own!), sample renowned restaurants, or take cooking classes. Its central location makes exploring the city on foot incredibly convenient for guests during their downtime.

Off-Site (Day Trips – Requires Transport): Visit nearby thermal hot springs (La Gruta, Escondido Place), explore local vineyards and wineries on the Ruta del Vino, visit the historic town of Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional, explore the botanical garden (Charco del Ingenio). Your planner can help coordinate group tours or provide recommendations and arrange transportation.

 

Three Practical Tips for Brides

 

Hire an Experienced Planner Immediately: For a venue rental like Casa Cariño, especially one in the busy historic center, an experienced San Miguel de Allende wedding planner is not optional; they are essential. They understand the unique logistics of a central city venue, navigating vendor access on narrow streets, managing multiple contracts, designing the event within a multi-level villa structure, and handling local specifics like noise ordinances and permits. Hire them early in the process.

Embrace the Historic Charm and Intimate Spaces: Casa Cariño’s greatest assets are its beautiful colonial architecture, intimate courtyards, and stunning rooftop views. Work with your planner and design team to leverage these unique spaces for your ceremony, cocktail hour, photos, and the flow of the evening. Plan for comfortable seating, appropriate lighting for the multi-level layout, and clear signage to help guests navigate.

Plan Guest Transportation Meticulously, Especially for Parking: While many guests might stay within walking distance, coordinating transportation to and from Casa Cariño is crucial for those further out and essential for end-of-night departures. More importantly, communicate *very clearly* to guests about the extreme lack of on-site parking and recommend alternatives like taxis, rideshares, or arranged shuttles from specific points in town. Plan vendor load-in/load-out times precisely with your planner to minimize city center disruption.

 

Two Bride Reviews

 

“Getting married at Casa Cariño was a dream! Being right in the heart of San Miguel made everything so convenient for our guests. The courtyards felt so intimate and romantic for our ceremony, and the views from the rooftop during cocktail hour were absolutely spectacular. It felt like our own private piece of San Miguel history. Our planner was amazing at bringing our vision to life within the villa’s beautiful spaces.” – Sofia L.

“We fell in love with Casa Cariño’s charm and location. We wanted a classic San Miguel wedding without the sprawl of a large hacienda, and this villa was perfect. The flow between the courtyard, the salon, and the rooftop worked beautifully. Our vendors navigated the central location like pros, and having everything so close to the Parroquia was magical. It was truly a ‘cariño’ of a place for our special day!” – Isabella M.

 

My Final Thoughts as a Wedding Pro

 

Photographing a wedding at Casa Cariño offers a wonderfully different experience compared to a large hacienda. The focus shifts from sweeping landscapes to capturing the intricate details of colonial architecture, the intimate atmosphere of the courtyards, the energy of the rooftop with its iconic city backdrop, and the seamless flow between distinct spaces. My approach here is to utilize the beautiful natural light in the courtyards, capture the breathtaking panoramic views from the rooftop during the golden hour, and document the lively celebration transitioning into the elegant indoor spaces. Challenges include navigating potentially tighter spaces for equipment, adapting to the multi-level layout, coordinating movement for portraits within the villa and potentially on busy nearby streets, and working closely with vendors (especially catering and rentals) managing logistics in a central, potentially less accessible location. Casa Cariño is perfect for couples seeking romantic, authentic, and vibrant wedding photography that highlights the charm and energy of a San Miguel de Allende city wedding, with stunning views and intimate moments captured within a historic private home.

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