Mmmm....Mexico.
"Name 10 things that you admire in Mexico and I'll tell you who you are", - a good friend of mine once casually asked me in Tulum. Great question.
Culture. Landscapes.
White sands of Cancun beaches. Caribbean coast.
Milky Way views.
Tropical forests.
Fooood!
Music.
Booze heritage!
It is not a surprise that Mexico attracts couples who dream about romantic destination wedding. And it seems to be a dream that is not that difficult to make come true. Yet there are some pitfalls that every future Mr & Mrs should take into consideration.
So what things you should think of when you're planning a destination wedding in Mexico?
Our lead photographer in Riviera Maya, Maureen de Vries, shared some really useful insights that will will save you from a bitter aftertaste and preserve the memories of your Big Day just the way you deserve it.
1. Venue choice.
If at all possible pick your hotel during a trip with several site inspections. This way you can view the property, the lay out and get a general idea for the vibe and quality/skills/set up for your big day. Because all images are good but none of recommendations and reviews will replace your personal experience.
2. Keep calm and carry on.
Be patient, most hotels do more than 1 wedding per day, their wedding coordinators receive a very high amount of emails and calls on a daily basis, for this same reason you usually don't get your wedding coordinator assigned until 3 months prior to your wedding day.
Trust the system, they know what they are doing and this is very common.
3. Read vendor contracts. They explain a lot.
When deciding on a vendor that is not part of the hotel, be sure to read your contract, almost all hotels will charge a vendor fee in case you decide you do not want to work with the hotel’s provided vendor. On the other hand, often the hotel’s vendors know they have certain “exclusivity” so they will charge higher rates than normal.
4. Dedicate a day to your wedding coordinator. Allow yourself a full day after arrival to meet with your coordinator and do a full walk through of your event and all the details. This saves people coming up to you for little questions and you can enjoy time with your guests.
5. Create a wedding website. When traveling abroad for a wedding, many guests might have questions about the most simple of things. You can save a lot of stress and time by having some FAQ on your wedding website! Think of things like:
-what should I bring?
-What amenities are in the room or come with your booking?
-How does transportation to/from the airport work?
-What is needed to travel to Mexico or back to the States?
-Are there any covid restrictions?
6. Sunglasses.
Just order a pair of sunglasses for each guest. Trust us. Blindly. :)
7. Brace yourself for details. When you have your photography/videography timeline set up, be prepared. Hotels often give a limited amount of hangers per room, get a few extra a day or two before so you are not waiting for these to arrive when you are in the middle of getting ready. Request your bouquets early, so you can ask for changes if you're not 100% satisfied, but it also ensures they are in your room in time for the getting ready photos and videos.
8. MUA and hair trials, please!
Do a hair and make up trial. If you are not used to the heat and you don't have your “regular” hair and make up artist taking care of you, the best thing you can do is pay a little extra for a trial. That way you can be sure that you are not disappointed with your look on the day and you can test it to see how durable it is in a different climate (remember, Mexico is HOT!)
9. Combine
You can combine your wedding favors with your destination wedding. Think of a table with personalised gift bags with items such as a thermo to keep drinks cool, sunscreen, personalised flip flops, a beach bag, hangover kit, etc.
10. Get yourself a beach bride outfit. You won't regret :)
