Hacienda
El Centenario
Getting married in Tequila, Jalisco, an hour from Guadalajara. What I know about this place after shooting four weddings here: the light, the spaces and the logistics nobody tells you about.
A hacienda in the birthplace of tequila
Hacienda El Centenario sits in Tequila, Jalisco — the town that gives the drink its name and one of Mexico's defining places. It belongs to Grupo José Cuervo and is part of Mundo Cuervo. Its architecture of domes, arches and a paved plaza patterned into the ground is the kind that needs no help to photograph well.
I have documented four weddings there. What follows is not brochure information: it is what I have learned working the place, and what I would tell a couple deciding whether to marry here.
Light, spaces and what surprises couples
What time should you schedule portraits at Hacienda El Centenario?
Around 6:00 or 6:30 pm, outdoors or on the hacienda's main plaza. The light that arrives at that hour is beautiful. As with any outdoor venue the exact moment shifts with the season, so it is worth adjusting once you have a date.
What is hard to photograph there?
Practically nothing. It is a very photography-friendly place: the architecture carries itself and there is somewhere to work in almost every corner. What actually changes the result is the couple's frame of mind, not the site.
What surprises couples about this venue?
The cacti. They are characteristic of the hacienda and almost nobody has them in mind until they see the photographs taken among them. That and the architecture, which has a presence that needs no help.
Where should the ceremony be held?
There are three routes. Outdoors, which depends heavily on the season. In the tienda de raya, a kind of cellar with a very old, very beautiful design that looks superb for weddings. Or on the plazoleta, which is spectacular but involves considerably more setup and is meant for a higher guest count.
What would you tell someone getting married there?
Relax. And choose the ceremony space around the season and how many people you will be, not only around which one photographs best — because all three do.
Tequila, lodging and the callejoneada
How far is Tequila from Guadalajara?
About an hour. That closeness is exactly what makes it work: you can marry in a place that is deeply representative of Mexico — the birthplace of tequila — without your guests having to solve a long trip.
Where do guests stay?
The most comfortable option is Solar de las Ánimas, which belongs to the same group as the hacienda, Grupo José Cuervo. Having everyone staying a few steps away simplifies the logistics of the day enormously.
Can you have a church ceremony in Tequila?
Yes, many couples do it at the town's main church. And from there come the famous callejoneadas, which can walk you all the way to the hacienda for the celebration. Photographically it is one of the best things that can happen on a wedding day: the cobblestone street, the music, the town leaning out to watch.
Let's talk about your wedding in Tequila
Whether your date at Hacienda El Centenario is set or you are still deciding, write to me and we will look at it.
See also: packages and prices · wedding FAQ · the ideal timeline for great photos.
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