Magazine – playaloves.me

March 30, 2013October 17, 2014

5 Key Tips for Optimizing Your Beach Wedding Photography

Playaloves.me Wedding Photography in the Riviera Maya, Mexico: Photo

Your wedding day represents one of the most important milestones of your life. A truly sacred event where your friends and family come together to celebrate one of the greatest testimonies of love you have ever made to another person. In your personal life story, your wedding is nothing short of epic. The experiences and emotions of this day will create unforgettable memories that will take root deep within your heart. If you have chosen a professional photographer, many of those emotions and memories will also be captured and illustrated as an exquisite visual experience that will come to life again and again, each time you view your images.

While choosing a professional photographer to capture your wedding celebration is the first step to guaranteeing a visual result that you will cherish forever, we have a few more tips that can help transform the emotions and experiences of your special day into timeless works of art:

1. Plan Time for Your Portraits

As you begin to organize the timeline for your wedding day, it’s important to remember to schedule adequate time for family/group portraits, wedding party portraits and Bride & Groom portraits.

For family portraits, start with a base of 10 minutes to get your family gathered and organized in the optimal location for their photos with the bride and groom. Then, add 3 minutes for each family combination you would like your photographer to capture.

Group portraits can easily follow up the family portraits. Just maintain your location and add an additional 3 minutes for any special groups you wish to capture with the bride and groom.

Basic wedding party portraits can typically be captured in 10 to 15 minutes. However, if you wish your photographer to get more creative and/or playful with these portraits, be sure to reserve an additional 15 to 20 minutes. This will enable your photographer to direct you and your wedding party in unique and creative ways, coming up with images that boast a little something different than the typical wedding party capture.

At least thirty minutes should be reserved for your Bride & Groom portraits. Brides have carefully chosen their dress, shoes, accessories and bouquets. They look and feel beautiful in their star-quality hair and makeup. Grooms are looking sharp in their tailored tuxedos. This really represents the time for the bride & groom to shine! Take advantage of all your hard work and preparation and let your photographer capture your beauty – an all-encompassing beauty that spotlights the love you share as a united couple. If you’re not camera shy, organize a tequila tasting or a cocktail bar for your guests and ask your photographer to whisk you away for up to an hour or more. For us at Playaloves.me, the more time we get to spend with the bride and groom, the better. Spending quality time with your photographer is what really offers the opportunity to create truly dramatic, photographic masterpieces that are unique to your wedding.

2. Be Aware of Sunset

Destination weddings on the shores of the Mexican Caribbean can boast a spectacular backdrop for your wedding celebration. Just be sure to educate yourself and know when the sun is officially scheduled to set on your wedding day. Large resorts can often host multiple wedding ceremonies in a single day, meaning some are scheduled to start later in the afternoon. Some smaller venues have strict rules and regulations about when they can transform from “beach club” into “wedding venue.” Thus, it’s very important for you to know official sunset time in order to properly judge how the natural light will look at the hour of your ceremony. No couple wants to have their wedding ceremony start at dusk!

Also, keep in mind that the sun does not set over the water in the Mexican Caribbean. Often, the warm “magic hour” glow from a setting sun can get blocked by large resorts, tall buildings and tropical trees. Depending upon the size of your wedding venue, you can expect beautiful, warm light until about 20 minutes before official sunset time. Also, keep in mind that if you are enchanted with the idea of a sunset ceremony, your portraits should then be scheduled before the ceremony. Check our next tip to see how you can plan pre-ceremony portraits but still honor that special moment when the groom first sees his bride…

3. Mix It Up with a “First Look”

The idea of a sunset wedding ceremony on the beach can be idyllic and oh so romantic. But, what about the portraits? As portraits are traditionally scheduled for after the wedding ceremony, this poses an unfavorable lighting situation. One solution is to put a spin on the traditional wedding timeline and schedule the portraits before the ceremony. “First Look” can represent the best way to

a) preserve that special “groom first sees his bride” moment
b) transition into bride & groom portraits as well as portraits with family, guests and members of the wedding party.

When a “First Look” is arranged, the groom is positioned at a chosen location with his back turned. The bride will then come out and slowly approach her groom from behind. Your photographer(s) will begin shooting as the bride approaches the groom. When she reaches the groom, she can gently touch his shoulder or she can place her hands over his eyes. We usually suggest that the bride also whispers something lovely and private into the groom’s ear. Slowly, the bride removes her hands as the groom turns and they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. The photographer(s) of course, are shooting away to catch those priceless “first look” reactions…

4. Play to the Light

Photographers are often referred to as “painters of light.” A big part of the way a photographer sees is the way he or she sees light. Where professional photographers can differ is their preference for natural light versus using more strobe or artificial light. The current trend for documentary-style wedding photography relies heavily upon maximizing the available natural light. However, there are integral parts of the wedding celebration that simply require the use of artificial light – such as the wedding reception. Regardless of whether your photographer prefers natural light or working more with strobes, being aware of where the light is optimal will only help the results of your wedding photos.

During the “Getting Ready” part of the day, for example, throw open the curtains in your room. Consider having your make-up artist work with you in front of the window. Brides, get into your dress in front of the window. Grooms, straighten your tux and tie your shoes near the window. Avoid the darkest corners of your room, where less light means less depth and interest in images captured.

During your Bride & Groom portraits always turn your face to the light. That could mean natural sunlight or artificial strobe light. Doesn’t matter… just follow the light! There are instances when your photographer will want to apply a little more creativity to his/her lighting and you as the subject actually won’t turn toward the light. But, that’s the exception, not the rule. A professional photographer will always help direct you. But, as those candid moments happen, the more you can make them happen in great light, the better. So play to the light!

5. Light Up the Night

If capturing the nighttime wedding celebration is important to you, consider all options when it comes to hiring mood lighting for your reception. The best way to create beautiful, memorable images from your reception is to incorporate as much ambient light as possible. This can mean large candle displays, hanging lights, lights strung around trees, a lighted dance floor, colorful party lights and more. Whichever style you prefer, our advice: maximize the light as much as possible.

Ambient lighting at reception

January 12, 2013

Mayan Villa: Quinta Clara

Quinta Clara © 2012 Laura McNamara | Playaloves.me

Large, sprawling resorts are a common venue for destination weddings located in the Riviera Maya. Yet, for those looking for a smaller, more intimate location one of the many Villas located along the coast could provide an excellent option for your ceremony.

We captured a few detail images of Quinta Clara, located in Playacar residential neighborhood of Playa del Carmen. For more ideas, check out our article: Non “All-Inclusive” Wedding Locations in the Riviera Maya.

December 3, 2012December 4, 2012

Transform Wedding Expenses into Gifts

Wedding photography by Playaloves.me © 2012 Laura McNamara | Playaloves.me

Weddings are not cheap – especially that dream wedding you’ve been fantasizing about since you were an innocent little child.

In March 2012 Reuters.com reported that the average cost of a U.S. wedding is $27,000. In New York, the most expensive city in the United States, that figure skyrockets to an average of nearly $66,000 per wedding. (Click here to view the article.)

Those opting for a destination wedding are already one step-ahead when it comes to reducing wedding costs. Destination Weddings are often considered as the more budget-friendly wedding alternative. Youngandthrifty.ca estimates the average destination wedding costs $17,000 USD, $10,000 less than the traditional wedding average. ( Click here to view the article.) And unlike traditional weddings, destination weddings typically include the honeymoon.

Choosing a destination wedding is just the first-step for engaged couples that are keen about saving money though. The next step is to transform your wedding expenses into wedding gifts from loved ones and guests. Here are some excellent ideas for couples looking to tie the knot in the Riviera Maya, Mexico:

1. Wedding Photography Gift Registry

We at Playaloves.me Photography allow family, friends and guests of our clients contribute to their loved one’s wedding collection, helping give the gift of professional wedding photography.

Just like engaged couples register for wedding gifts at stores, they can now register for their wedding photography with Playaloves.me! Playaloves.me will accept partial payments from family, friend and guests to be applied toward any contracted photography package.

Playaloves.me Photography Gift Registry

2. Hotel Wedding and Honeymoon Gift Registry

Ocean by H10 Hotels is now offering a free bridal registry service that even includes your own personal wedding website.

Ocean by H10 Hotels now makes it easier than ever to ensure your dream destination wedding and Caribbean honeymoon plans come true! Send links to family and friends to help them fulfill your destination wedding wishes and set you on your way to a perfect Caribbean honeymoon.

Hotel Ocean Maya Gift Registry

Many other hotels and resorts in the Riviera Maya offer this service. Whatever destination you choose, be sure to ask your favorite hotel/resort property about their gift registry policies

3. Tours and Excursions Gift Registry

HoneymoonWishes Registry offers a more comprehensive gift registry service that includes a large selection of hotel properties including Palace Resorts Properties, Karisma Hotel + Resorts Properties, Secrets Resorts + Spas Properties and more. The company even includes local excursions and tours as well as local shopping in its gift registry services. They also show you how it works through an online gift registry sample.

HoneymoonWishes. When only the best honeymoon registry will do. The #1 Gift Registry for Honeymoons! Wedding gifts may be forgotten but honeymoon memories will last a lifetime.

HoneymoonWishes Gift Registry

4. Cash Instead of a Gift

Dream Weddings Riviera Maya’s Joyce Mnguni just recently shared an article suggesting that couples simply ask for cash: Asking for Money Instead of a Wedding Gift.

5. Gifts that Give Back

This option doesn’t necessarily cut costs for you. But it does help spread the “love” to those in need. Check out this forum thread about gift registries that donate a portion of the gifting funds to charity:

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/58346/gift-registry-that-gives-back

December 3, 2012December 3, 2012

Non “All-Inclusive” Wedding Locations: Riviera Maya

Grand Coral Beach Wedding location coordinated by Yazmin de la Mora

Bridal Guide calls The Riviera Maya a perfect “storybook setting for any destination wedding.” Brides and grooms tend to agree. The Riviera Maya Mexico is considered one of the top locations for destination weddings around the world. About 12,000 couples from North America alone choose to share their “I Dos” before the Mexican Caribbean’s turquoise, sapphire and emerald-colored sea each year.

A majority of these dream weddings are hosted in beautiful, luxurious resorts offering couples a plethora of options and styles for their idyllic beach wedding. But, what if couples are looking for a more intimate, non-resort setting for their celebration of love?

Here we’ve complied a list of more private, intimate venue options that are perched along the white sands and jewel-colored waters of The Riviera Maya:

Viceroy Riviera Maya

Hidden in a small village in Xcalacoco beach, just outside of Playa del Carmen and along the pearlescent beaches of the Riviera Maya, Viceroy, formerly known as Ikal del Mar, a seaside retreat settled in depth the primitive Mayan rainforest. The property of 41 stunning villas and embody all the luxury spa on the beach of the Riviera Maya, sweaty atmosphere of an exclusive private villa in Playa del Carmen or the opulence of a residential.

Designated as “a hiding place in the jungle: seductive green” by Travel + Leisure, the design of this resort in the Riviera Maya respects and accentuates the pristine qualities of its dramatic location on the seafront and in the jungle. Intimate and serene, her features are intermingled so infinite and harmonious with the dense tropical foliage and offers the opportunity to dine inside or outdoors. Yoga classes and spa treatments offer spectacular views of the coast.

Grand Coral Beach Club

Lay back and savor lovely beaches and the Riviera Maya’s Caribbean Sea with family and friends at our Beach Club. Visit our bar, swimming pool, snack bar and restaurant with a wide array of national and international dishes.

Services offered by the Grand Coral Playa del Carmen Beach Club:

Pool
Bathrooms
Beach chairs
Cabanas
Towels*
Beach umbrellas*

Grand Coral Beach Club Facebook
Grand Coral Beach Club Twitter

Playa del Secreto

Weddings are magical at beautiful Hacienda del Secreto. We will help make possible whatever your heart desires and can coordinate large or small weddings, followed by simple or elaborate receptions.

We are experts at coordinating the new style “vacation wedding” where family and friends gather to spend a week with the bride and groom. Maybe you dream of a romantic wedding for two followed by a candlelit lobster dinner on the beach. Or perhaps a sunset wedding on the beach surrounded by all your friends and family. Let us make the day perfect for you with music, decorations, entertainment, or anything else you imagine.

Hacienda del Secreto is a private small compound and we can coordinate rental homes for up to 90+ people. Forty-two people can stay at Haciendo del Secrto alone! It is like living in the same tiny town together with everyone you love. Hacienda del Secreto’s Palapa Papa Jack is available to host exclusive special events for up to 200 people.

Playa del Secreto Facebook

Secret Jewel Celebrations Venue at Playa del Secreto

An enchanted place that has both beach and jungle paradise. Picture getting married on the Caribbean shores, with all the comforts and luxury you deserve. A place were the jungle whispers love, the sea sings a lullaby, and the white beaches embrace you. All to celebrate together the most important day or your lives. Unique place with ocean front Catholic chapel authorized for weddings.

Secret Jewel Celebrations Venue Facebook
Secret Jewel Celebrations Twitter

Al Cielo Xpu Ha

Al Cielo Hotel is a small, beachfront boutique hotel situated on peaceful Xpu-Ha Beach, only 20 min drive North of Tulum and 20 min drive South of Playa del Carmen Mexico’s Riviera Maya. This charming beachfront hotel-boutique, constructed of local hardwoods and materials, has four rustic and stylish rooms named: Water, Air, Earth, and Fire… four elements that combine to become a Caribbean elixir for your vacation in paradise. Guests can also enjoy the services of massages, tours and more. The exclusivity of this place allows Al Cielo Hotel’s staff to offer you individual attention. Online Room Reservations

Al Cielo Restaurant is a favorite for fine dining, serving fresh seafood, local and international dishes. Our patrons come back again and again to enjoy excellently prepared meals in an incomparable setting. Reservations are a must. Please dial +52 984 8409012

Al Cielo Events has a full time planner to coordinate romantic destination weddings, rehearsal dinners, private birthdays and parties right on the beach in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

Blue Venado

Experience the weeding of your dreams in a magical and exclusive place in the Mayan Riviera, BLUE VENADO BEACH CLUB. Where the balance between nature, comfort and good taste brings you the perfect location for your Beach Wedding. BLUE VENADO BEACH CLUB is a paradise, 100% private place for DESTINATION WEDDINGS, ideal to surprise and enjoy together with your guests the beautiful view, dinner under the moonlight, dancing under the starry sky with a simple or elegant decoration.

Blue Venado Facebook
Blue Venado Twitter

El Taj

El Taj is the proud recipient of the 2012 TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award for top hotels in Mexico. It was also chosen as one of the top luxury hotels in Mexico, in addition to one of the trendiest hotels. Playa del Carmen has no other hotel that has won all these top three categories. El Taj has also received recognition from The New York Times and USA Today for its design, luxury and excellence in service. We are not an all-inclusive Ritz-type hotel, but we are considered to be the best of the area’s hotels. Playa del Carmen has a lot to offer, but nothing compares to El Taj.

El Taj on TripAdvisor
El Taj Facebook

Indigo Beach at El Taj

Indigo Beach style accompanies your event with harmony and warmth: its design is inspired by Indian and Caribbean fusion. The wood tones, beige and ivory add freshness and purity. The beach and the turquoise sea complete a natural paradise.

Our exquisite cuisine can offer services during the whole day: a tasty buffet breakfast, a mid-morning brunch, a fresh lunch, a cocktail at sunset or a dinner in the lights of canddles.

In Indigo Beach there is a scenary for each event: weddings, incentive travel events, rehearsal dinners, bachelor parties, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, romantic dinners and gatherings of friends. We offer full service to handle all about your event: group menus, buffet service, open bar, reception, cocktail, civil ceremony, Mayan ritual, symbolic ceremony, show of fire and percussion, DJ service, lighting ambiance with candles, floral arrangements, dance floor, live music (guitar player, jazz & soul, Mariachi) and more.

Contact us for your next event!

Indigo Beach Facebook

Hotel Las Palapas

Welcome to Hotel Las Palapas, strategically located in Playa del Carmen on 5th Avenue, next to Mamita’s Beach Club, and directly on a magnificent beach of white sand, turquoise sea and soft breeze among the palm trees.

A romantic wedding on one of the most beautiful beaches on the Mexican Caribbean? We make it possible! Are you dreaming of a romantic wedding on the beach? Or would you like to celebrate another occasion at our hotel? We have experience in organizing Playa del Carmen weddings and events, and our beautiful tropical environment will make your event an unforgettable one!

We take care of the paper work, the wedding ceremony, the cocktails, the food, the music, the decoration, and the lodging. Whether you want a small private celebration with candle light dinner and romantic live entertainment, or a large Fiesta Mexicana with a Mariachi band – just let us know what your dreams are! We will do everything we can to make this the most special day of your life.

Las Palapas on TripAdvisor

Las Palapas Facebook

Mahékal

Our Mayan paradise in Playa del Carmen, Mexico is nestled between lush tropical gardens rich in flora and fauna, a pristine white sand beach and the indescribable turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea. Among the most picturesque accommodations in Playa del Carmen, the Mahekal Beach Resort is a beach front luxury hote with exquisite hotel accommodations, opulent spa services, and exciting Mayan excursions to the nearby ancient ruins.

Mahékal Beach Resort is an iconic hotel for destination weddings in Playa del Carmen. With luscious tropical gardens in front of white sand beaches kissing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, Mahékal Beach Resort is the ideal venue for an unforgettable wedding ceremony. We can host either an intimate wedding celebration or large scale wedding events!

Mahékal on TripAdvisor
Mahékal Facebook

Playa Palms

Have you ever dreamed of getting married on the beach? Let Playa Palms host your intimate, romantic wedding against a backdrop of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.

At Playa Palms, our experienced staff will help you plan the perfect wedding, tailored to all of your specifications. We offer impeccable attention to personal service, and we go beyond the ordinary to create a unique event that fulfills all of your wishes.

Our boutique hotel is the ideal place to accommodate your family and friends. You
can book the entire hotel for larger weddings, or just a few rooms, according to your needs. We prepare our picturesque oceanfront penthouse especially for the bride and groom.

Please contact us for information about our wedding package options.

Playa Palms Facebook
Playa Palms Twitter
Playa Palms on TripAdvisor

Le Réve

Le Rêve Hotel Spa is a beachfront boutique property hidden in the jungle 45 minutes south of Cancun. Our 25 unique hotel rooms offer quiet comfort, stunning views, privacy, in one of México’s best hotels. Le Rêve’s white sand beach has seductively temperate, blue Caribbean waters where gentle breezes refresh and swaying palm trees dance in a relaxing tropical rhythm. Whether you decide to have your wedding with us, spend your honeymoon, anniversary or any other special time Le Rêve’s hospitality for sure will exceed your expectations. We will make everything that is in our hands to make your stay as peacefully romantic as you ever imagined. Le Rêve Hotel is very well known for its tailor made weddings and ceremonies. Our Wedding Coordinator is in very close contact with the wedding couple puts together your “à la carte wedding” according to your wishes and instructions. You name it – we do it. The sky is the limit. All the details will be taken care of, leaving you free to relax and savor every moment. If you prefer to enjoy one of the wedding packages mentioned below, our Wedding Coordinator will also be very delighted to organize it for you.

La Reve on TripAdvisor
La Reve Facebook

Ana Y Jose Hotel

Surrounded by lush, tropical vegetation amid the Mayan jungle, emerges Ana y Jose Charming Hotel & Spa as one of the legendary lodging treats in Tulum, Mexico. Guests will indulge themselves into a calmer pace of vacation where natural treasures await for them. Guests will relax on the white sand beach, swim in the turquoise Caribbean Sea, and enjoy the warm ambience of this unique hotel thought for people who know what they deserve. Imagine your dream Wedding on the beaches of Tulum, in the Riviera Maya, bathed by the morning sun, at sunset time or under the stars.Our chef’s will surprise you with Caribbean seafood specialties and Mayan exotic traditions. Enjoy this special day while overlooking at our turquoise blue waters standing on white sandy beaches lit with tiki torches and mystical candles.

Ana y Jose on TripAdvisor

Ana y Jose Facebook

Cabañas Tulum

If you are searching for the perfect place to spend your next vacation, then consider Tulum located in the beautiful Riviera Maya. This small gem of a city is located in Mexico, a country reputed for having some of the most magnificent beaches in the world and Tulum’s ranking in the top ten of beautiful beaches in all the world.

Among the hotels located in Tulum is Cabañas Tulum. This magnificent hotel occupies a large beach stretch. Accommodation includes eight rooms right at the beach with another row of similar number built behind the first. The rooms boast of royalty sized beds and private bathrooms. There is a breathtaking view of the sea from terraces in the front rooms. Most visitors prefer these ones, though the rooms in the adjacent row are just a few meters from the beach.

Events that can be arranged by the hotel include wedding ceremonies, engagement dinners, wedding receptions and corporate events among others. They have been hosting different wedding ceremonies including Mayan traditional weddings. You can imagine celebrating your long awaited wedding on the pristine beaches with the sound of sea waves as the wind whispers through palm fronds.

Cabañas Tulum Facebook
Cabañas Tulum Twitter
Cabañas Tulum on Trip Advisor

Hotel Esencia

Esencia is not a typical hotel, though it certainly offers the personal service and pampering facilities you’d expect at a refined world-class resort. It is not a condo, though it has the privacy, luxury and personal touches that you’d want in your own residence. Esencia is a 50-acre private estate, with an awe-inspiring beachfront, two swimming pools, day spa, gourmet restaurant, and an indulgent atmosphere fitting of royalty. In fact, the property and many of the buildings once served as the exclusive beach-side retreat of an actual Italian duchess. Though friendly, warm and generous, the duchess demands the very best and Esencia still benefits from her superior taste, her impeccable style and her zest for life.

Get married on the beach, in our lush gardens or pool side. Esencia provides the perfect backdrop for all your memories. Our wedding coordinator will assist you in customizing your special event or choose one of our specially designed ceremonies. Download our wedding kit to learn more about weddings at Esencia. Whether you wish for an intimate or grand event we will make sure it is an unforgettable day.

Hotel Esencia Facebook

Hotel Aventura Mexicana

We’re a cozy, romantic boutique hotel with with a lush, tropical courtyard and waterfall, 2 swimming pools, 3 sun decks and chaise lounges for sunbathing, relaxing, or canoodling. All guestrooms include air conditioning, ceiling fans, Flat Screen TVs and phones, balconies or terraces and private bathrooms. We offer free Continental breakfast, free wi/fi, free beach club access, and free on-site parking. Set in a stunning tropical landscape with turquoise blue waters, the Riviera Maya is the perfect location for your destination wedding. Whether you choose to conduct the ceremony on the beach with the Caribbean as your backdrop, by our beautiful pools, or on a magnificent villa terrace, rest assured that Aventura Mexicana and our wedding specialists will ensure your special day is one to remember for a lifetime. We can accommodate anything from a simple ceremony with just the two of you to an elaborate affair with all your family and friends. Our team of experts will help you plan all the details from rehearsal dinner to flowers, professional photography, hair & makeup, wedding cake, décor, entertainment, spa treatments, group tours & activities, and much more. Whatever your “vision” and no matter your budget, we are dedicated to delivering on even the smallest of details, allowing you to relax and enjoy a worry-free wedding while creating memories that you will cherish forever. Advantages of having your group stay with us! The bride and groom stay in the Aventura Mexicana Honeymoon Suite is complementary when your group books 25+ room nights.

Hotel Aventura Mexicana on TripAdvisor

Hotel Aventuras Mexicana Facebook

Private Villas

Maya Luxe Villas

Maya Luxe is an elite vacation broker offering a collection of the most private and most luxurious villa rentals in the Riviera Maya area. In addition to our exclusive villas and vacation packages, our strongest trait is our local presence and extensive knowledge of the area. Not only do we hand pick each and every villa to ensure that our ‘homes away from home’ exceed expectations but we personally meet and greet all our guests and ensure a flawless vacation experience with our personal concierge services!

Thinking of tying the knot? Or maybe hosting a corporate retreat in paradise? Perhaps a yoga and wellness retreat? Your personal concierge will help organize every minute detail to ensure a successful event.

Maya Luxe Facebook
Maya Luxe Twitter

Villas Riviera Maya

Getting married in the Riviera Maya? The carefree and glamorous touch and the peaceful serene beauty you want your special day to have, Riviera Maya accommodations have all the means to design all weddings perfectly well, originally and resourcefully. The Caribbean Sea is another aspect of the area. Fine dining with a choice of cuisine from Mexican to Asian is available for your guests.

Wedding Guideline

Casa Yardena – Only guests staying at the Casa Yardena are allowed to attend the wedding. Over 26 guests: Additional fees and specific kitchen rules apply.

Hacienda Caracol – Only guests staying at Hacienda Caracol are allowed to attend the wedding. No additional guests allowed.

Some guests prefer renting out Casa Yardena, Hacienda Caracol and Sueno del Mar all together so that they feel united with their guests.

Weddings in the Riviera Maya are something that you will remember for ever. Please contact us for all questions and prices.

Mayan Dream Villas

Traditional Wedding Ceremonies performed by a Mayan Shaman. Both a simple ritual ceremony or a very elaborate wedding service can be performed at your Villa.

Akumal Destination Wedding Villas

Planning to tie the knot in the Riviera Maya? There are so many wonderful villas that can be the perfect venue for your dream day!

Hacienda del Mar

Welcome to Villa Hacienda Del Mar in Puerto Aventuras – a unique beach front Hacienda style villa on Puerto Aventuras main beach in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Hacienda Del Mar has over 8,500 square feet of luxurious living space. There are seven bedrooms in the main villa, each with a private bathroom. And there are three bedrooms and a den in the casita (little house), also located on the grounds. This magnificent villa is right on sandy Fatima Bay, Puerto Aventuras’ main beach, just one hour south of Cancun.

For larger groups, corporate retreats, weddings and events, Hacienda del Mar may also be rented with the sister villa Hacienda Corazon next door. The two villas offer the perfect venue for any special occasion vacation.

Private Yacht or Catamaran Weddings

Mexico Sol Riviera Maya Private Catamaran Charter

We offer the best Private Catamaran Sailing Charters in the Riviera Maya Mexico. Depending on whether you are located in Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras or Tulum we have the perfect Catamaran to go sailing, snorkeling or watch the setting sun. Wedding can either be held aboard or more commonly brides select catamarans tours as a great way for the families of the bride and groom to get to celebrate being in Mexico together.

Sandra Lynn Yacht in Cancun

Engagement, wedding or anniversary cruise. We can include Champagne…

October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

Deseo Hotel + Lounge Celebrates 11 Years

Deseo Hotel + Lounge hosted a party that continued to thump after closing hours in celebration of its 11th anniversary on Sunday, October 21st.

The Irresistibly Desired event featured hit DJs Wildfiction, Estevan and Juan Egho.

Playaloves.me videographer Bruno Laveissiere captured the scene just as the party was kicking off in the late afternoon:

Deseo Hotel + Lounge from playalovesme on Vimeo.

Named as one of the “Hottest Hotel Bars to Hit on Your Honeymoon” by Martha Stewart Weddings, Deseo Hotel + Lounge offers a modern, minimalist ambience in the heart of Playa del Carmen.

Centrally located on Playa del Carmen’s buzzing main drag, the Deseo hotel is a visually stunning and fashionably mischievous getaway just a few steps away from the Caribbean coast – the zenith of sophisticated hip on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Designed to foster interaction among guests, the Deseo has a chic, fuss-free look that provides an ideal backdrop for relaxing by day and socialising by night. The hotel’s architectural and symbolic focal point is an open-air lounge that assumes all the functions of a lobby, restaurant, bar and pool area. Situated on a raised platform on the hotel roof, the lounge features a cocktail and snack bar, self-service kitchen, pool, Jacuzzi and host of oversized daybeds that invite guests to lounge and mingle, day and night. Come sunset, the bar gets into full swing with live DJs spinning house music and Playa del Carmen’s finest coming out to see and be seen.

May 31, 2012May 31, 2012

Travesia Sagrada Maya 2012

After six months of intensive training, today’s warriors celebrate the traditions of the sacred Maya… rowing from Xcaret to Cozumel and back to Playa del Carmen during the Travesia Sagrada Maya 2012. Despite the twilight rain, crowds dressed in white gathered in support of the brave participants as they prepared to embark on their journey across the seas. This modern event is a celebration meant to honor the ancient customs of the Maya people who made the same journey each year as a symbolic passage beyond the underworld.

January 5, 2012March 27, 2012

3.5 Million Tourists Visited Riviera Maya in 2011

One of the fastest growing travel destinations in the world, the Riviera Maya drew more than 3.5 million visitors in 2011 reports the Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office (Fideicomiso de Promocíon Turística).

Tulum & Riviera Maya — Riviera Maya, keeps increasing the number of visitors.

With more than 380 hotels that house more than 40,000 rooms, the Riviera Maya saw a healthy boost in its occupancy rates for 2011 – jumping from just under 69 percent in 2010 to nearly 73 percent in 2011. The Destination Marketing Office expects that rate to continue to grow, estimating about 3.7 milion visitors for 2012. One out of three international tourists visiting Mexico spend their holidays in the Riviera Maya. The United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain continue to be key markets for the travel destination. New direct airline routes originating from France & Russia are expected to boost tourist travel from Europe and Eurasia.

An award-winning destination, the Riviera Maya continues to receive new honors. On Thursday, January 5th, the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association awarded the Riviera Maya its “Excellence Award in Destination Marketing.”

Dario flota receives IFWTWA award (International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association)

Hacienda Tres Rios (by Sunset World Resorts & Vacation Experiences) hosted the press conference and also announced the honor of being named among the world’s top six hotels for environmental conservation.

The Green Globe High Achievement Award sets Hacienda Tres Rios apart, indicating the hotel achieved superior marks of excellence in more than 300 categories of sustainability and environmental matters. This is the third consecutive year the Mexican Caribbean resort has received the honor.

December 29, 2011April 3, 2012

Mercedes Benz WinterBeach Fashion: Day Two

The second night of the Mercedes Benz WinterBeach fashion shows in Playa del Carmen featured Love is Back (Francisco Arce & Jorge González) as its opening designer. Mexican talent Kris Goyri, representing international Calvin Klein underwear, followed the duo. Closing the event: Mexican designers Cristina Pineda y Ricardo Covalín.

Mercedes Benz WinterBeach - Love is back — © Daniel Jové | Playaloves.me

More photos? Check all the images photos from Love is Back show: Love Is Back by vitaminwater

Mercedes Benz WinterBeach - Kris Goyri — © Daniel Jové | Playaloves.me

More photos? Check Kris Goyri gallery Kris Goyri by Heineken

Mercedes Benz WinterBeach - Calvin Klein — © Daniel Jové | Playaloves.me

More photos? Check Calvin Klein show photo gallery Calvin Klein

Mercedes Benz WinterBeach - Pineda Covalin — © Daniel Jové | Playaloves.me

More photos? Check the Pineda Covalin photo galleryPineda Covalin by Mercedes-Benz

December 28, 2011April 3, 2012

Mercedes Benz WinterBeach Fashion: Day One

Mercedes-Benz Winter Beach

David Salomón by Mercedes-Benz
Alejandra Quesada by Sony
Onda de Mar by Heineken
Jorge Duque by Ciel “Colección Sustentable”

December 27, 2011April 3, 2012

Playaloves Fashion! Mercedes Benz WinterBeach

Swimsuit fashion and music will come together this week in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel to close an excellent 2011. Mercedes Benz WinterBeach will bring the best of mexican swimsuit fashion to the Riviera Maya, from December 27th through Juanuary 2nd.

Tuesday, December 27th the festival will open with four shows:
19:00h: David Salomón by Mercedes-Benz
20:00h: Alejandra Quesada by Sony
21:00h: Onda de Mar by Heineken
22:00h: Jorge Duque by Ciel “Colección Sustentable”

Wednesday, December 28th features:
19:00h: Love Is Back by vitaminwater
20:00h: Kris Goyri by Heineken
21:00h: Calvin Klein
22:00h: Pineda Covalin by Mercedes-Benz