Religious Wedding — Destination Wedding Blog

The team at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen is grateful to spend our days immersed in love stories and making wedding dreams come true. We are excited to share these stories with you and while I always enjoy writing these tales, sometimes the bride’s words are just so moving that I don’t need to write a thing or change a word.

Bride Joanna shares with us the love story of how she met husband Rafa:

Their love story began with a chance encounter in high school. Joanna and Rafael’s paths converged, sparking a connection that would change their lives forever. After that fateful meeting, Joanna extended a heartfelt invitation to Rafael, inviting him to be a part of her quinceañera celebration. Little did they know that this simple gesture would set the stage for an enduring love story.

As they navigated the trials and tribulations of adolescence, fate threw them a curveball when Joanna received a life-altering diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Facing this daunting challenge at such a tender age, they were forced to make a profound decision about starting a family earlier than planned. With unwavering devotion to each other, Joanna and Rafael chose to embrace the moment, and together, they welcomed a beautiful daughter into the world. This unexpected twist in their journey would lead them down a path of maturity and responsibility they never could have anticipated.

Now, 15 years after that serendipitous encounter, Joanna and Rafael are on the verge of a heartwarming union, sealing their love in matrimony. Their remarkable journey serves as a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the extraordinary bond that can be forged between two souls. Their impending wedding is a culmination of their enduring love story, a celebration of their unwavering commitment, and a reminder that love can conquer any challenge life throws their way.

Pass the tissues please, yes, we are crying already and we haven’t even gotten to the ceremony.

Why choose Mexico for your destination wedding ceremony?

We picked Mexico as our destination since it served as a midpoint for both families, as some relatives couldn’t join us in the United States. Additionally, Mexico’s beauty, culture, and all its offerings were appealing factors for our decision.

Joanna and Rafa said “We do” in the gardens of Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen. The set-up was delightfully romantic, the geometric altar aligned with the Mexican Caribbean sea in the background and framing our gorgeous couple perfectly.

Florals by Cherry Blossom brought a luscious touch to the altar, the aisle and of course those amazing bouquets. We adore sweet flower girls and ring bearers coming down a grass aisle lined by flower petals.

What made you decide on a wedding reception at Villa La Joya Playa del Carmen?

Villa la Joya captured our attention with its stunning architecture and the beautiful Playa Paraiso beach. When we visited the location in person, it truly left us speechless and filled us with emotions. We instantly knew that our celebration had to take place at the exquisite Villa la Joya.

We totally loved the set-up starting with Total Tents and their gorgeous translucent tent with flowing waves of fabric. Beautiful table settings and florals, personalized dance floor and the lighting for the reception over the Villa la Joya pool, just perfect. Moving toasts, tequila and a whole lot of dancing, it was a magic night of celebration and a Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding to remember.

Any advice you’d like to share with other brides planning a destination wedding in Mexico?

Savor the Present. It’s easy to get carried away with planning and striving for perfection, but things have a way of falling perfectly into place. A helpful tip, though, would be to avoid bringing your personal phone near water – my phone got wet and stopped working just a day before the wedding, a funny mishap in hindsight!

Gracias Joanna and Rafa: Thanks for your inspirational destination wedding love story!

We thank you both for inviting Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen to be part of the wedding chapter of your love story. From all of us, we send you both wishes for a long, healthy, and happy lifetime together!

As always, we share our gratitude with the Playa del Carmen wedding vendors who make all our Villa la Joya events so special. Professional, creative, world-class, gracias.

Sadett & Maximiliano: Pretty in Pink Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen Wedding

Muchas felicidades and big congratulations to Sadett and Maximiliano who recently painted Villa la Joya pink with their romantic Playa del Carmen wedding. There were endless divine details and the elegant florals by Vicente Coral created a magical setting perfect for amor. You are definitely going to want to see ALL the wedding photos by Isabella Rodriguez, this was a joyous celebration of love with family and friends.

Catholic Wedding Ceremony Playa del Carmen: Religious and Civil Ceremonies

Can you have a traditional Catholic ceremony at a destination wedding in Mexico? Yes, you can! We are often asked this question and we are always happy to help plan a religious wedding in Playa del Carmen.

Sadett and Maximiliano incorporated both a religious and a civil ceremony into their wedding day, sharing their faith and commitment for a lifetime. The Villa la Joya grand entrance staircase witnessed this gorgeous couple exchanging their vows, Sadett in a stunning bridal gown that showed off her enviable figure and Maximiliano in an absolutely fabulous pink suit. With loved ones in various shades of pink, it was a remarkably romantic scene.

Inspired wedding reception decor: Intimate, elegant and playful fiesta

Sadett and Maximiliano had such a unique and personalized reception set-up, with intimate tents and extravagant florals and lights. The dance floor over the pool, the luscious sweethearts table, and live music, we loved every moment and detail. The cake by Doux Melange was a cascade of white sugar roses and a tribute to the couple’s beloved dogs who could not attend.

After a gourmet meal by Banquetes Camino Premium catering and toasts that elicited tears and laughter, the party really kicked off. The smiles on the dance floor say it all, this was an epic fun fiesta and the perfect way to join the families together in grand style. Generations from young to old joined together to dance the night away and wish the newlyweds a long and happy life together.

Inspired by this real Playa del Carmen wedding? Let’s start planning!

We were absolutely inspired by the wedding of Sadett and Maximiliano. It's a pleasure to work with dynamic couples to bring their creative ideas to life. Of course, this is the combined efforts of all the wedding vendors who came together at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen for a spectacular day. We ADORE meeting vendors from around the world in collaboration to create the perfect destination wedding in Mexico and we send our gratitude to all who brought the magic to Sadett and Maximilliano’s big day.