Destination Wedding Vendors & Venues

Our Destination Wedding details include the following:

• Destination: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
• All Inclusive Resort: Occidental Hotel at Xcaret
• Mylanchi/Mehndi Venue: Occidental Hotel at Xcaret (Outdoor)
• Wedding Church: Chapel de Guadalupe at Xcaret Park
• Wedding Venue: La Isla at Xcaret Park (Indoor/Outdoor)
• Wedding Planner: Yanire Manzano & Andrea Solis Ayala with Xcaret
• Photography: Elvis Aceff Photography
• Videography: Vellora
• Florals: Ely Bride & Corazon Luxury Weddings
• Décor: Alquimia Events & Corazon Luxury Weddings
• Cake: Pasteleria La Migaja- Carla Molina
• Invitations: SJoy Designs
• Transportation: Occidental Hotel at Xcaret
• Bridal Hair Makeup: Blush Artistry TX by Joella Williams
• Bridal Party & Family Hair & Makeup: Sara Tamargo Hair & Makeup
• Henna: Henna by Sobia
• Date: June 8, 2022

 Determining the Destination

There were many factors that went into planning our destination wedding for narrowing down and finding the right destination for our special day. I would say most of these factors are interconnected with each other. Ultimately, after looking at all the factors that mattered to us, we weighed what was most important to least important to consider. The plan we had was to go from macro to micro and here are the steps we took to determine the destination:

1. Type of destination:

We knew we wanted to do something tropical and close to a beach so we narrowed down the countries and destination in those countries accordingly, looking at places with those options.

2. Travel cost for guests:

Next we looked at possible flight costs for the locations we picked as options. Some places are less popular and have fewer flight options and higher flight costs. This helped us narrow down the options by a lot. You also have to consider the different currencies in these areas, what guests would have to pay out of pocket for their stay, and any extra costs. We decided that an all inclusive resort would be the best option so guests meals would be taken care of and venues are on site or in close proximity.

3. Time of year/ Weather:

We wanted a date that would be convenient for people with kids to be off from school to travel. Furthermore, another factor was the change in flight prices depending on the time of year (high/ low season). We also tried to avoid rainy/hurricane season so we tried to do as early as possible in the summertime. This did mean it was still very hot and humid, but we did not get rained on.

4. Venue Options/Capacity:

A big thing to consider for venues is whether they are indoor or outdoor and the weather during the time of year you wish to have it. We looked at all the venues we liked at a destination and after picking the city we liked, we looked at more venues specifically in that destination. We found some unique locations like a cave for the reception.

5. Wedding Costs:

We were able to narrow down venues and vendors more easily by eliminating ones that did not fit within our wedding budget. If you have no budget, the sky is the limit and there are endless possibilities, specifically with vendors. There were also additional costs that had to be considered if specific locations require outside vendor fees if you prefer to use someone not on their approved
vendor list. Some locations have only specific vendors of their choice that can be used.

Pros of a Destination Wedding

Convenience at an all Inclusive Resort

The guests were able to create a vacation out of it and I feel like everyone had a good time before, during, and after the wedding. The all-inclusive resort location was a big site with lots of activities, restaurants, and places to go just a walking distance from your room. This also included the wedding venues which made it convenient for guests to either walk to or we arranged a shuttle for the venues next door. All meals/drinks were included, and guests had the luxury of picking from multiple options to eat from.

Unique Venues

Beautiful scenery & venue options which make for great wedding pictures & memories are a huge pro unique to the destination you choose. The venue’s were unique locations like in a cave & overlooking the beach which are hard to compare to a mundane 1000 person wedding hall. This location also now holds a special place in our hearts since we got married there and we plan to return for our anniversary one day.

Cost Savings from Guest Count (subjective)

The most significant savings in the cost of the wedding is by cutting the guest list down. We had a very limited guestlist which included only inviting our close friends and family. There were more people our parents wanted to invite, however we were strict on keeping the total invited to about 250, and expected about 100 to come. Our wedding was a whopping 95 guests! You also are spending the money on the people that matter to you. Only the people that matter will actually attend, and those are the ones you’d want there anyways. You wouldn’t even need to consider your B list people because you’re having a small wedding. No need to invite your mom’s sister’s brother-in-law’s son’s wife. As mentioned before, you can still spend as much as you want for all your vendors and the details of the wedding because the skys the limit. So it really depends on your budget and what you want your wedding to be, to determine if you will save anything with a destination wedding vs a non destination.

An Intimate Wedding Weekend

The whole weekend felt more intimate and laid back which we really enjoyed! Because of the fact that the scale is so much smaller, you are actually able to mingle with all the guests. And guests are able to relax while they’re on vacation because everything was planned for them, they just have to show up. They also had time to enjoy the destination in between events. We had 1 day with no events planned for guests to relax.

Vendor Options

At the destination we chose, there are a lot of Indian weddings and they are familiar with the unique things that are required. Therefore, there are more options for vendors that have done Indian weddings and are familiar with what they entail. I felt like this was important because Indian Weddings are a whole different animal in itself.

Vacation out of the Wedding Destination

One of my favorite pros is not only do you get to experience a beautiful place and culture, but you get to plan a special trip and experience for the ones you love! I just feel like it is a very memorable wedding experience and weekend in general that a lot of people enjoyed and will not forget. You can also turn your destination wedding or surrounding areas after to be your honeymoon location. This saves more costs for things like flights. We chose to go to Tulum for our honeymoon which was just an hour drive from Playa del Carmen.

Cons of a Destination Wedding

Wedding planner

One thing I would have changed, is go with a wedding planner who is experienced with Indian Weddings at the destination. There were vendors such as J Castillio Weddings, however we chose to go with the Wedding planner that was included with the cost of the venue. I think it would have been more seamless to have a planner more familiar with Indian Weddings.

Language Barriers and customer service Differences

I also found the assigned Wedding planners to be a bit difficult to work with. Their idea of customer service is not the same as the US and there was a last-minute swap with me. It was also harder to communicate since everything had to be done over the phone or email and we only had the chance to meet once before in person. With the limited list of vendors to choose from, we opted for some not on the list which means an extra fee had to be paid. I found this monopoly style list at a lot of venues I looked into which is unfortunate because there are a ton of vendors to choose from outside of their select few. It was a bit of a nuisance that a small fortune had to be paid and you don’t have the luxury of choosing who you want pay it to. On top of that, we were already paying for the venue so the least they could do is allow for your own vendors. Communication barrier was a bit difficult especially with the church we dealt with. There was extra paperwork that was required to get married in Mexico through the church.

Time of year- Dependent on Multiple Factors

The time of year we chose was very hot and unfortunately even if the venues had AC, there were openings that did not keep the space cool. It’s also hard to coordinate with families with children in school and their school break if that is of importance.

Something will go as not Planned

Since it was the first destination wedding for our families, we were going into uncharted territory. There were a lot of unknown factors which I feel created some disorganization as opposed to having it somewhere that is familiar. However, for all weddings, things are bound to go wrong. No matter how much you plan, it’s inevitable. It’s safe to safe, nothing turned out to be a complete disaster (which was my worst fear).

People will have opinions/ complaints for doing a destination wedding

There will be lots of complaints and opinions about going to the destination or any little thing but I find this to be the case for all weddings. It’s inevitable. Just remember you can’t make everyone happy and at the end of the day it is your wedding and do what makes you happy!

People you really wanted there won’t be able to come or last minute cancellations will happen

This happens for all weddings but unfortunately, it’s even harder to attend destination weddings. Because it is a destination wedding, there will always be people that are your close friends or family that won’t be able to attend. It is not a convenient drive or flight for most locations and some people may not be able to afford the trip. There will always be people that you don’t care that can’t make it but also those that you really wish could. It’s just a part of it being a destination and things happen so don’t take it personally. It’s even harder for people with kids, for the cost of travelling with children or not wanting to bring your kid. Some even have a destination wedding that is adults only and you don’t have the option to leave your kid somewhere so you can’t attend.

Overall Destination Wedding Experience

I’d say planning our destination wedding was a mix between planning a vacation for everyone and the most important event of our lives! It wasn’t an easy task. Just planning a wedding in itself can be very hectic and daunting, let alone planning a wedding in a different country without much to go by. If you have an unlimited amount of money, yes things can be done a lot easier and more stress free. But as someone that pays close attention to the details and getting my bang for my buck, I liked to be involved in the process from start to finish. I would say it was a bit more work than having a non-destination wedding, as well as a bit more stress but the outcome and experience was definitely worth it! Looking back, it was a special experience for us and everyone that attended!