So your wedding day has finally arrived. Guests have flown in from all over the world, gowns and tuxedos have been fitted, and butterflies are flapping around in your belly because a 70% chance of rain looms in the forecast... No need to worry! If you have chosen an El Dorado Spa Resort & Hotel or Azul Hotel, by Karisma for your Mexico wedding, you can rest assured that regardless of inclement weather, the show will go on.

Riviera Maya's mild tropical climate is warm year round and temperatures average around 80⁰F. For the most part, the "rainy" season is not very rainy and often rain showers occur in one section of the area and not in another and are gone minutes after it they begin. Winter, summer, spring or fall, there's never a bad time for Mexico weddings in this beach town. 

Since one of the elements that nobody can control is Mother Nature, there is always a Plan B ready to be executed to make sure inclement weather does not affect your function. In standard practice the hotel staff will make a weather determination four hours prior to the event. At that time, the hotel will decide if your ceremony will be held in the predetermined location or moved to an appropriate venue that will guarantee full coverage of the event. The backup plan is discussed ahead of time with all wedding couples so that on the wedding day, should the need arise to shift a location, everyone is aware of the what is going to occur. The staff's priority is to make sure that the bride and groom feel comfortable with the adjustments and that even the smallest details are accounted for.  

Expect the experienced staff at El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels, by Karisma to make your dream day come to life despite Mother Nature's sense of humor. Regardless of rain or shine, if you choose a Mexico wedding, the Mayan love gods will always be on your side.

-Paula Negrete

Chief Concierge
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels

Every couple envisions their wedding day in different ways with a unique definition of what love means to them. When a bride and groom begin planning a Mexico wedding at an El Dorado or Azul Hotel, they explain their ideas to the best wedding coordinators in the industry that make every detail a reality. Couples from all walks of life have incorporated their own creative elements- from including their children in the ceremony or taking a dip in the water- to make the experience extra special and unforgettable.

This ‘sand unity' ceremony was inspired by one couple's five year old son. When it came time to exchange wedding vows, the bride and groom shared the moment with their child, who had also prepared something special to say. As they recited their promises, each one poured vibrant colored sand in a delicate glass bottle that would hold the moment forever and signify their unity as a family. This is only one example of the many ways to customize Mexico weddings. The possibilities are as endless as the blue skies in the Riviera Maya.

Whether opting for a traditional or non-traditional wedding, a unity ceremony can add a charming touch to the ‘I Dos'. And whether it is simple or over the top, the Karisma wedding team is available round the clock to personalize and execute it in the most elegant way.

-Paula Negrete,

Chief Concierge
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels

I am an admitted pure beach bum, always have been.  Nothing makes me happier that an amazing beach and that amazing blue azure water that you find all over the tropics.  I was actually looking over my own Destination Wedding photos last night and found that there are certain photos from beach weddings that really accentuate the water.  I'm not a professional photographer, so I don't know what it is - perhaps a combination of the right sun, right spot, right angle, etc.?  I don't know - if anyone is an expert please feel free to chime in.

I went through some of the photos I have here for weddings that we've helped couples plan and found some great ones:

Look at the transition of the blue water - that's what I love - so many shades.

For this one it was probably a boat or jet ski that went by (or perhaps a reef?), because you can see the white water which stirs up those blues again.

I don't even have to say anything about this beach wedding photo - incredible!

-Quentin

For many couples the wedding to-do list is never ending, but ask a couple getting married in Mexico and they will assure that everything is under control. Choosing to have your wedding in Riviera Maya means that every detail- from planning the rehearsal dinner to arranging hotel accommodations for guests- is taken care of by an experienced and certified wedding coordinator. Every kind of wedding ceremony can be created and marriage requirements and documentation are minimal. The advantages of getting married south of the border are plenty and always guarantee an unforgettable celebration, tailored specifically to the requests of the bride and groom.

 

Planning your wedding: All couples getting married any El Dorado or Azul Resort by Karisma begin working with an on-site wedding coordinator within three days of setting their wedding date reservations. It usually takes anywhere between four to six months to plan the event, but the Karisma team is also prepared to put together something amazing even with the shortest of notice. No request is too large or too small, if you want two monarch butterflies released or champagne flown in from a private vineyard in France, it will be done. Most brides that have gotten married in Mexico agree that the best part of working with a wedding coordinator is that everything is completely taken care of eliminating any need to meet with caterers, florists, bakers, photographers, etc. All they have to do is get ready and show up to the ceremony they have always dreamed of.

Mexico Wedding Requirements: The standard requirements for Mexico weddings are very basic. For all legal wedding ceremonies the bride and groom must have the following documentation:  a valid passport, a tourist card (given to all visitors prior to entering the country), a blood test that is administered on property and a U.S. issued wedding certificate (for American citizens.) Also, it is required that the couple arrives three days prior to the wedding. Other requirements vary according to the type of marriage being performed; couples being married in religious ceremonies must submit official letters from their house of worship. Symbolic ceremonies do not require the bride and groom to provide a passport, blood tests or arrive three days earlier. These simple requirements are easy to fulfill and ensure that your union will be valid once you return to your home country.

The peace of mind that comes with having a destination Mexico wedding (and by Mexico, we mean paradise) is priceless. Let the wedding coordinators at El Dorado and Azul Hotels set the tone of your magical day while you worry about spending the afternoon at the spa and being in love.  It's the perfect beginning to your happily ever after...

-Paula Negrete,

Chief Concierge
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels

Spend a day in Playa Del Carmen- Riviera Maya's most spirited beach town

Once you have both chosen Riviera Maya as your Mexico wedding location, you need to start thinking about all the little details and create a fun itinerary that your wedding guests will enjoy. Not only are they traveling for your festivities, they are also looking forward to enjoy vacation time and take advantage of all the fabulous attractions in the area. Make sure to include a day trip to nearby Playa Del Carmen in their busy schedules; it will have them bragging about their getaway (and your wedding) for a long time to come.

Recognized as ‘the heart' of Riviera Maya, the breathtaking landscape of Playa Del Carmen's turquoise waters and white sand beaches stretch for miles on end. One glimpse of this sunny paradise transports you to old exotic movie scenes of Marlon Brando and a golden skinned beauty sprawled lazily by the shore. Whatever the size of your group, transportation to Playa Del Carmen can easily be accommodated. Private car, van, shuttle and even limos services are available to ensure that your guests are comfortable and relaxed to enjoy Playa Del Carmen's charm.

The small city boasts some of the most unique shopping, restaurants, bars and live entertainment for Mexico weddings. Visitors from all over the world have discovered this gem, giving it a cosmopolitan flair that meshes seamlessly with the art, cuisine and customs of the local Mexican culture. This is definitely the place to buy a few rounds of margaritas for your bridesmaids and invite your groomsmen for a ride on the wave runners or round up the entire wedding party and take a stroll on horseback along the beach... just make sure everyone is wearing gigantic sombreros, it'll make your photo slideshow so much more interesting.

It is guaranteed that a day trip to Playa Del Carmen before or after the big event will ease the stress of the occasion. Whether your guests choose to roam around the lively streets or snorkel among the impressive coral reefs, there's something for everyone to enjoy and discover in this oceanfront wonderland.

-Paula Negrete

Chief Concierge
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels

Congrats to Camille, one of our senior DW Specialists, for the save of this DW!  Great testimonial Camille - I just had to share! 

Just another day in the life of a Destination Wedding Planner...

We began our wedding planning with Destination Weddings in August of 2008 for our October 9, 2009 wedding in Mexico. We choose Destination Weddings due to its "all-in-one" knowledge of wedding resort locations and travel agent experience. Signing up was incredibly easy and inexpensive ($50.00 to sign up and is applied to your travel package) and we were put in touch with a Specialist within 3 days. 
 
We began our process of selecting a resort with our Specialist Camille H. and from the very beginning she was a true "blessing" to us and our overall planning process. Through her assistance, we choose Mexico and the Riveria Mayan area. She spent countless hours on the phone and email to help us weigh options for resorts. Camille was also a critical component to ensuring that not only our guests travel packages were coordinated appropriately but also ensured that the communication, contracts and "promises" made by the wedding coordinators of the resort were handled appropriately. I can point to several instances where Camille assisted us in ensuring our wedding details were correct. Examples include her assistance in obtaining a "comp" for our colored wedding chair bows and another included securing an upgrade to our resort suite. 
 
We can point to one another area that Destination Weddings was critical to our wedding success and was the one major challenging aspect of our planning process. We had originally chosen a brand new resort (with an established company) for our wedding. Being a new resort it was experiencing several months of "teething issues" and we went back and forth with Camille on whether to "stick it out" or change resorts. We can count two different occasions within a seven month period that we looked at alternate locations with Camille. As always, she continued to be patient with us and provided quotes on new packages and contract details.
 
Approximately two months before our wedding date, we made the difficult decision to move our wedding to a sister resort. Again, Camille was able to move our entire party (over 16 rooms, 33 people) to the new location; secure a new contract and ensure that our wedding planning details were transferred to the new location. We can tell you that without Camille's help we would not have been able to switch resorts in the timeframe that we did. Not only did we save money on cancellation fees, but the time and effort alone to rebook everyone and finalize a new contract would have been nearly impossible in the timeframe we had left if we had to do it ourselves. Camille's patience, attention to detail and empathy were much appreciated during this process.
 
Our wedding day was amazing, truly breathtaking. The resort was perfect for the size our wedding party and was exactly as we had pictured it. The service, food and amenities were beyond expectations and we can't say enough about our experience.
 
We want to personally thank Camille H. with Destination Weddings and all staff members at Azul Beach resort who made the best day of our life come true!

Bree and Nick

 

Hawaii weddings during sunset are absolutely gorgeous. Being on the beach with the sun setting down over the ocean is the perfect backdrop for Hawaii weddings. If you are thinking of having your Hawaiian wedding during sunset, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when planning.

Be sure that when you are booking your location for your sunset wedding, that the area of the island you book actually experiences sunsets. Don't end up booking a location only to find that the actual sunset happens on the other side of the island.

Realize that if it you get a shower during part of your wedding day, which is not uncommon in some parts of Hawaii, that a sunset may not even be visible in the background. Although Hawaii weddings during sunset are breathtaking, no one can guarantee that the sunset on your wedding day is going to be visible.  You can always go back out for some photos later in your stay.

When booking your photographer for the wedding, ask if they have ever done sunset shots before. You want to make sure that you get a professional photographer that can capture the colors of the sun while still making sure that you and your groom look good in the photos as well. It's harder than you think trying to take pictures of the sun setting in the background and making sure that the lighting is perfect with the pictures.

Be sure that you do your research to see when sunset will occur in the location. Some brides like to have the sun setting during the actual ceremony, while others will have it setting slightly after to get pictures after the wedding.

Hawaii weddings during sunset can make for some great pictures, but remember that no one can plan nature, so even if it all doesn't work out, you can still have an amazing wedding on a Hawaiian beach.

Thanks to our guest bloggers at the wonderful Karisma resorts in Mexico for this series about the Riviera Maya, which is our #1 most popular destination with our couples.  Stay tuned for more posts from the actual wedding coordinators and concierges at these great DW resorts.

Celebrate your Mexico wedding, honeymoon, or anniversary in one of the top destinations for romance.

If you're a newlywed and the flames of passion are burning bright, it's definitely a good idea to visit the pristine beaches of the Riviera Maya for one more fling before returning to the routine of daily grind. If you're not a newlywed and can't remember when the last time was that you and your Mr. Big took a long walk on the beach or played footsies under the dinner table, then it's also a good idea to plan an escape that will reignite the sparks.

 

Located south of Cancun, the Riviera Maya is bursting with activities and entertainment for Mexico weddings, and all couples. For thrill seeking types, the area offers exciting adventure tours that include zip lining through the jungle, riding wave runners and ATV's and swimming with whale sharks (the largest fish in the world). This part of Mexico is very rich in culture and history so taking time to visit the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza together is another not-to-be-missed experience. Also on the not-to-be-missed adventure list is exploring the ‘cenotes', majestic caverns filled with crystal clear pools of water perfect for an afternoon of diving and snorkeling. After reconnecting with nature, and your significant other, share a romantic dinner on the beach with nothing to distract you but the sound of the waves and the breeze.

Enjoy paradise and truly disconnect by staying at an adults-only resort where the opportunities for romance are without end. El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels, by Karisma offers amenities such as gourmet dining, private open air showers for two, beach beds to lounge all day (and night) and even your own beach butlers- the only finger you will have to lift is to dial for 24-hour room service! Surprise your partner with a couples massage under the moonlight and then pop a bottle of bubbly in the in-suite Jacuzzi, surrounded by candles and flower petals. The only thing that will cross your mind is why you both fell in love in the first place.

 

Nothing says ‘romance' louder than watching the sunset with the love of your life on a distant beach, with Mariachis singing old Mexican love songs. Start packing the bikini and flip flops for a rendezvous in Riviera Maya that both of you will never forget.

-Paula Negrete

Chief Concierge
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels

 

Handing out programs at Hawaii weddings is very common. Wedding programs are a great way to let your guests know what exactly is going and also a way to show appreciation to your wedding party and other people who you want honor. If you are choosing to have some Hawaiian traditions and customs incorporated into your wedding, then the program is a great way to explain what is going on and what the history behind the tradition is.

Most brides who have Hawaii weddings like to keep the program as a memento for their scrapbook or photo album. This is another piece of Hawaii weddings memorabilia that can be saved to show loves ones back home that may have not been able to make it to the wedding. There are several different programs that you can have at a wedding.

For Hawaii weddings, a cute idea is to have the program act as a paper fan for the guests as well as a program. Place a piece of heavier paper like cardstock on a wooden stick and make that your program. If it is hot for your wedding, which is most likely will be, guests can use these before or after the ceremony to keep cool.

Another way to keep your guest cool at the wedding is to include a bottle of water inside a program or attached to the program. These can be placed on the chairs for the guests instead of handed out to each individual guest.

Another great idea for the programs is to incorporate the Hawaii culture and attached a flower lei for each of the guest to wear at the wedding. This is a simple way to get your guests more involved in the destination wedding aspect of the wedding.

Not all Hawaii weddings have to have programs, but they do make a wonderful addition for your guests.

One of the best ways to save money on Hawaii weddings is to get married during the off season in Hawaii. Most people tend to visit Hawaii when the weather is bad elsewhere, which is between from the months of December to the end of April. This is called high season, when the hotels are filled to capacity no matter what the rates are. Most hotels as well as airlines, restaurants and resorts will raise their prices during high season because they know people will still pay the higher amount during that time.

 

The off season for Hawaii weddings is between the end of April to the end of June and then again from September to the beginning of December. People who book Hawaii weddings during those times may just be able to save a significant amount of money on their wedding since most hotels, resorts, airlines, and other businesses usually lower their rates to try to attract more tourists during those times of the year.

If your wedding date is not set in stone and you are open to different dates, you may just be able to save a substantial amount of money on a Hawaii wedding if you get married during the off season. That means that you can then stay longer on the beautiful islands.