A celebration of color, culture, and joy in the Riviera Maya

How They Met: The Love Story Begins

Travina & Alejandro first connected on a dating app in 2020, and while Alex was admittedly a bundle of nerves on their first date (Travina definitely noticed), the chemistry was real. By their second date, they both felt it—this was something special.

Three years later, on their annual birthday trip—this time in the South of France—Alex got down on one knee in the historic town of Arles. It was quiet, romantic, and straight out of a storybook.

Why Choose a Destination Wedding in Riviera Maya

The decision started with one photo. Travina came across Villa la Joya online and instantly fell in love. The European-style architecture, the beachfront location, and the lush grounds—everything about it felt like a dream. As she explored more about the Riviera Maya, she realized this could be more than a wedding. It could be a vacation for everyone they love.

With a wide selection of all-inclusive resorts nearby, they planned a full wedding weekend that allowed guests to relax, celebrate, and actually enjoy every moment.

Why They Chose Villa la Joya: Private Wedding Venue in the Riviera Maya

For Travina, it was love at first Google. She had always envisioned getting married at a romantic villa—and Villa la Joya delivered exactly that. It offered stunning ocean views, privacy, lush gardens, and the kind of architectural charm you rarely find in a beachfront setting. It felt like Europe... but with palm trees.

They chose to host their ceremony in front of the villa for its visual impact and classic, elegant feel.

Favorite Moments from the Day

There were several unforgettable highlights—each with its own emotional weight. The couple’s first look was quiet and meaningful. Alejandro’s baraat entrance brought music and movement. Their first dance under the stars was pure magic. And the very last song of the night wrapped everything up with joy.

The Groom’s Entrance: Traditional Baraat at a Destination Wedding in Mexico

Alejandro’s traditional baraat was a dynamic, high-energy start to the day. Led by Drums in Paradise, the procession filled the air with rhythm as guests danced alongside the groom on his way to the ceremony. It was festive, loud, and full of joy—an unforgettable moment that set the tone for a day of vibrant celebration and cultural fusion in the Riviera Maya.

The Traditional Hindu Wedding Ceremony: OH So Lush and Divine

Held in the magnificent entry of Villa la Joya, the couple’s Hindu wedding ceremony in Mexico was a bold, beautiful expression of love and tradition. Both Travina and Alejandro wore traditional Hindu wedding ensembles, and the ceremony was officiated by Pandit Bernardo Soriano, honoring their roots with spiritual meaning and timeless rituals.

The setting itself was a showstopper. Bright, multicolored florals framed the altar and cascaded down the aisle, creating a vivid contrast against the villa’s soft stone architecture. Petals were everywhere—lining the walkway, floating through the air, adding movement and magic to every frame. The entire scene was saturated with joy, texture, and meaning.

Guests were also offered parasols to shield them from the midday sun—a thoughtful, guest-friendly touch that made a difference in comfort and photos alike.

The only regret? That March sun hits hard. (Future brides, consider a later ceremony time if you're planning a spring wedding in Playa del Carmen!)

An Unforgettable and Unique Riviera Maya Wedding Reception

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Villa la Joya’s garden transformed into a glowing, open-air reception space. A transparent dance floor was installed over the pool—a striking centerpiece that turned heads and doubled as a perfect stage for the couple’s first dance.

Overhead, sparkling lights twinkled in the evening sky, casting a warm glow over every table and conversation. As Travina and Alejandro stepped onto the dance floor, dry fireworks erupted in celebration, turning their first dance into a cinematic moment.

Dinner and drinks flowed easily, and the energy stayed high as guests delivered a series of unforgettable toasts. The speeches were emotional, funny, and honest—bringing the kind of tears that come with both joy and laughter.

It was a celebration with heart, culture, movement, and magic—from the first drumbeat to the final sparkle over the pool.

What They’d Do Differently: Destination Wedding Pro Tips

Schedule the ceremony for later in the day to avoid the heat.

Add an activity toward the end of the night to break up the dance hours.
Go with a second reception dress—comfort matters on the dance floor!

Advice for Future Destination Brides in Mexico

Get a planner. At the very least, a day-of coordinator is essential.

Think beyond the wedding day. Hosting a full weekend gives you more time with your people—and less stress when the big day arrives.
Delay final payments. Guest lists change. Vendors charge by headcount. Save yourself the overpay.
Make it a vacation. Their guests loved the resort and appreciated the longer room block options.

Best Wishes and Big Thank Yous to Travina & Alejandro

From all of us at Villa la Joya, thank you for sharing your story and your celebration with us. Your wedding was bold, joyful, and full of soul—and we were honored to host every colorful and unique moment.

To Our Incredible Riviera Maya Wedding Vendor Community

We’re proud to collaborate with talented, visionary wedding vendors from around the world. At Villa la Joya, we welcome your dream team—with no vendor fees and total creative freedom. Mil gracias, creative pros that love LOVE.

Ready to Plan Your Destination Wedding in Mexico?

Villa la Joya is a private beachfront wedding venue in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, offering European-style elegance, tropical beauty, and the flexibility to bring your wedding vision to life. If you’re dreaming of a destination celebration that blends culture, color, and connection—contact us today and let’s start planning.

Vendor Team

We are so excited to share this dynamic destination wedding with you! Dhwani and Steve tied the knot in a sensational, colorful and joyous celebration at Villa la Joya Riviera Maya. Their big day blended Indian, Hakka and Mexican cultural elements for an unforgettable and totally unique wedding. The pics are going to knock you out, are you ready?

Real wedding romantic inspiration and a wonderful way with words

We always ask our newlyweds to answer a few post-wedding questions. Some couples respond with a few points, some don’t respond at all and others give us answers worthy of a bridal magazine. Dhwani and Steve took the time to really give you the inside scoop on planning a Villa la Joya Riviera Maya wedding. We are going to share their words for the truly personal experience of getting married in Mexico.

So, Dhwani and Steve, you are now destination wedding experts, inspire us with your words and pro advice for planning an Indian wedding in the Riviera Maya!

A brief story of how you two met and your proposal?

We met at a party when I accidentally spilled pizza dipping sauce on Steve’s sweater (oops!). I offered to clean it up—little did he know, I don’t exactly do laundry! Later that night, I got the brilliant idea to sneak out for McDonald’s ice cream (forgetting I didn’t have a car), and Steve, being the gentleman he is, drove me. Sadly, the ice cream machine was down (classic McDonald's), but we ended up escaping the party together, driving around in Steve’s brand-new Jeep for hours. That night sparked a friendship that turned into something much more special.

As for the proposal, Steve had it all planned out perfectly. He pampered me before our trip, making it feel like a regular birthday adventure. During our cruise to the Bahamas, we went for a walk through Atlantis. I asked Steve to take a photo by a beautiful fountain, and little did I know, he’d secretly told our tour guide he was about to propose. When we were ready for the picture, Steve turned to me, dropped to one knee, and popped the question. Of course, I said YES!

Why did you choose Riviera Maya, Mexico for your destination wedding?

We always knew we wanted a small, intimate wedding, and when it came to the destination, Steve was clear—he loves Mexico! While we both dreamed of a destination wedding, Steve always had Mexico in mind. However, I knew I didn’t want a typical Indian wedding at a resort, where our friends and family would have to spend an entire week at one place and pay a hefty price. I wanted to offer them more than just a wedding—I wanted to give them an unforgettable experience.

We envisioned a place where we could celebrate, play Holi at the beach, and still have a private, intimate ceremony. That’s when we found Royalton Riviera Cancun, and our journey led us to Villa La Joya. It was the perfect spot, giving us the right balance of privacy and beauty to make our dream wedding come true.

What made you decide on a Villa La Joya wedding?

After finding Royalton Riviera Cancun, we immediately started looking for private venues nearby, and that’s when we came across Villa La Joya. It was exactly what we were looking for—an intimate yet stunning location with a beautiful beach backdrop. The villa gave us the perfect blend of privacy and elegance, allowing us to host a personalized, unforgettable experience for our guests. From the breathtaking views to the serene atmosphere, it felt like the ideal place to celebrate our love and create memories with our closest friends and family.

One of the first things that stood out to us was the over-the-water Mandap and dance floor—it was everything we envisioned for our ceremony and reception.

The other great thing was that there are other villas nearby you can rent for your vendors or wedding party for the after-party, which made the whole experience feel even more special.

The Villa La Joya team was incredible! Mike and Enrique were so amazing to work with, and they made everything feel effortless. A special memory for us was when Mike offered us a two-day complimentary stay at the villa a few months before the wedding to enjoy the property—it was such a nice touch and gave us a chance to soak it all in before the big day.

What was your favorite/most emotional or funniest moment of your wedding day at Villa la Joya Riviera Maya?

Favorite moment: One of our favorite moments was seeing everyone’s reaction to the venue. It was like something out of a dream, and we couldn’t believe how everything came together—from the ceremony to the reception. The atmosphere was absolutely electric! And, of course, we can’t forget the food—it was so delicious, everyone’s still talking about it! We also loved blending our two cultures, and having fun with each ritual and event. Every single part of the day felt like it was a true reflection of us, and getting to share it all with the people we love made it even more special.

Most emotional moment: Walking into the reception and seeing our vision come to life was honestly overwhelming. It felt like a “we made it” moment, and all the planning, hard work, and little details came together perfectly. But the most emotional part was seeing our families come together and just feeling so much love and happiness in the room. Having both sides of our family there to celebrate with us all week made the experience even more incredible—it was a true family celebration, and we’ll cherish that forever.

Funniest Moment: The speeches were definitely one of the highlights! We loved hearing everyone’s stories and memories before the party really kicked off.

What was your wedding theme, colors and inspiration?

Our wedding theme was all about embracing the rich traditions of an Indian wedding, and we wanted to make it unique and memorable. From the start, we had this vision of an over-the-pool Mandap that would later transform into our reception dance floor — it was magical! For the ceremony, we went with a Golden Hour Hindu ceremony to capture that perfect, soft light, making it feel even more special.

Leading up to the big day at Villa La Joya, we had a blast with the pre-wedding events at the Royalton Riviera. It all started with Mendhi & Mimosas, followed by the Grah Shanti and Haldi rituals. The Sangeet was full of energy and excitement, and it felt like the perfect way to build up to the wedding day!

After the ceremony, we had cocktail hour right outside the villa, with games and live food stations, including a Hakka food station and a live Pani Puri station.

Our wedding theme was a mix of elegance, luxury, and intimacy. We chose whites, ivory tones, and added some greenery for a fresh touch. We also loved the idea of floating candles in the pool, which gave the entire space a dreamy vibe.

Our inspiration was all about creating a seamless fusion, from the food (Indian/Hakka and Mexican) to the design. But the real challenge came with transforming the ceremony space into the reception area. We wanted the shift to happen within just two hours during cocktail hour, and thanks to our incredible décor and planning team, they pulled it off perfectly by repurposing rental furniture and florals.

We wanted everyone to feel comfortable, so we provided customized fans to keep things cool. For the reception, we went all out with lights, florals, and the gorgeous Villa La Joya backdrop—it truly felt like the perfect reflection of who we are as a couple.

Anything you would have done differently in planning your Riviera Maya destination wedding?

Looking back, we wish we’d reached out to the preferred vendors sooner. If you’re considering Villa La Joya, we highly recommend MSM Rentals! They were incredible to work with, and it's no surprise they’re a preferred vendor. You can totally trust them to make your vision come to life—they were a huge part of why everything went so smoothly!

What advice would you give to other destination brides?

If you're looking for a private, beautiful, and intimate venue, Villa La Joya is the perfect spot. It’s secluded yet stunning, with breathtaking beach views. The villa gave us a custom experience without the typical resort crowds, creating an atmosphere where we could truly celebrate with our closest friends and family. We wouldn't have had it any other way!

Another huge bonus—there are no vendor fees! You’re free to choose the vendors that match your vision, which we love. It made everything feel more personal and customized. If you’re thinking of a private venue, don’t hesitate to give new vendors a chance. Many of them don’t get to work at resorts, and they’ll bring such fresh energy and passion to your wedding.

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For decor and florals, we can’t recommend Villa La Joya’s preferred vendor (MSM RENTALS!) enough. They did such a fantastic job making our vision come to life. We didn’t use their catering, but we definitely felt that their design team was top-notch.
And a big piece of advice: pick the right photographer. The day will go by in a blur, and you’ll want someone who can capture every moment beautifully. We were so happy with Mark Barski (EightTwoFour)—his photos are just timeless, and he captured our day perfectly.

If you’re planning a baraat, definitely pre-plan your route. It’ll help make things go so much smoother.

Also, if you can, get live music for your cocktail hour. It sets such a great vibe for the reception and really helps to get the party started.

Lastly, we’d say go for the photoshoot package inside the villa. It was such a fun and special experience for us, our wedding party, and our families. We have the most amazing memories from that session, and it’s something we’ll cherish forever!

Thanks so much Dhwani and Steve, we are honored to have hosted your big day. It was an absolute pleasure to celebrate your love at Villa la Joya Riviera Maya. We wish you both a lifetime of joy together.

Major shout out to the Riviera Maya wedding vendors who absolutely rocked the day

Wedding days have a lot of moving parts and having the best team of wedding vendors is what will keep you on track. Planning a multicultural Indian wedding in the Riviera Maya is such fun. The decor, the food, traditions and rituals, the fashion, all of it came together for a truly special celebration for Dhwani and Steve. We send huge thanks to all the Riviera Maya vendors who came together to make magic.

Invitations: Here There Weddings (Customized passports with Villa la Joya’s sketch for a personal touch) | Bride’s Outfits: Custom Papa Don't Preach, Chandan Fashion & Deeka Padiya | Groom’s Outfits: Custom Sartaj Fashion, Chandan Fashion & Pallavi Bridal | Wedding Party Outfits (Custom): Chandan Fashion, AsoPalav, Kalki Fashion & Little Muffet | Mangalsutra & Wedding Bands (Custom) India | Welcome Bags & Favors: Local Indian Stores | Henna: Henna Art by Nadia | Pre-Wedding Events: Presidential Suite, TAJ restaurant & Ballroom @ Royalton Riviera Cancun | Travel Agent: Luxe Weddings | Guest Accommodation & Airline: Air Canada Vacations & Royalton Riveria Cancun | Photography & Video: Eight Two Four (Highly recommend!) | MUA: Its by Claudio | Hair: Jo Hair Beauty | Stationery/Furniture Rentals/Florals/Cocktail Games & Signage/Decor: MSM Rentals (Team knows what they're doing at Villa la Joya!) | DJ: Empire Entertainment DJs | MC: Vik the MC (Highly recommend, bring up the energy) | Dhol & Live Tabla: Jittu Singh – Jittu brought the energy during Steve's Baarat and kept it going into the cocktail hour. The Dhol was a hit at the after-party! | Priest: Raj Pandya | Catering: Taste India Cancun | Late Night Taco/Nacho Bar & Popsicle Cart/Vendor Catering: El Vochito Gourmet – Sarah was a lifesaver during the week. | Transfers: Pink Ride MX | Vendor & Wedding Party Accommodation: GA Villas | Bar & Mixology Catering: Oscar Garcia Events | Over-Water Mandap & Dance Floor: Cotizacion | Audio/Visual/Lighting: Audiostage | Event Planner: Pyaar Planning MX

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Travina & Alejandro’s Villa La Joya Wedding