How many guests can Casa Karma host?

Receptions on the terrace have reached about 200 guests, and some listings give 120. Confirm the current capacity and layout with the venue before you plan.

When is the best time for photos at Casa Karma?

The last hour before sunset. The terraces face west over Banderas Bay, so the sun sets over the water behind the couple.

Can we have a church ceremony downtown and the reception at Casa Karma?

Yes, like Jo & Rebeca: a ceremony at the Parroquia de Guadalupe, then a short drive to Conchas Chinas. I photograph the ceremony, the transfer and the reception.

Do you also film weddings at Casa Karma?

Yes. I am a wedding photographer and cinematographer, and can cover your day in photo and video.

Casa Karma Wedding Photographer | Puerto Vallarta

Conchas Chinas, an ideal location

Conchas Chinas is probably one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Puerto Vallarta. Ideally located on the nicest beaches of the South Shore area and offering easy access to the Romantic Zone and downtown, no wonder this is one of the hottest spots to get married.

Casa Karma, luxury & privacy

Casa Karma is a boutique hotel that can host up to 200 people for a wedding reception on its huge terrace. It offers privacy, luxury and a stunning extensive view of the Pacific Ocean and Banderas Bay. If you are lucky enough, you might even see some humpback whales doing acrobatics.

Photojournalism and artistic shots

As always, I like to do a mix of photojournalism and artistic photography in my wedding documentation. That's also what Jo and Rebecca requested when they hired me — they wanted me to capture their memories without interfering with the natural course of the event. I enjoyed using my Tilt-Shift lens again, as it adds that poetry and romanticism to my shots.

Catholic ceremony at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Catholic religion is very important in Mexican families, and so are traditions. Getting married at Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe felt natural for them. It is a tremendously well-decorated place to celebrate a union, and religious music definitely brings intensity to the emotions. A mariachi band waited for the couple outside the church for a truly Mexican fiesta that was just about to start.

Getting married at Casa Karma: a photographer's guide

Where it is

Casa Karma sits at the southern end of Conchas Chinas, on the hillside just south of the Romantic Zone, above a small, semi-private beach. Its terraces look straight out over Banderas Bay — a few minutes' drive from downtown, yet it feels miles away.

Ceremony and reception

Jo & Rebeca married at the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe downtown, then brought everyone to Casa Karma for the reception on its large terrace. If you plan the same route, allow time for the drive and for the mariachi waiting outside the church: I cover the ceremony, the transfer and the arrival. You can also hold the ceremony at Casa Karma itself — ask the venue which spaces are available for your date.

The best light

The terraces face west over the bay, so the sun goes down over the water right behind you. Plan for the couple portraits in the last hour before sunset, on the terrace or on the rocks and sand below. From December to March, keep an eye on the bay: humpback whales often pass in front of Conchas Chinas.

Capacity

Casa Karma has hosted receptions of up to about 200 guests on its terrace; some listings give 120. Confirm the current capacity, and seated versus cocktail layouts, with the venue.