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Real Weddings

Real Destination Wedding in Mexico

Real Destination Wedding in Mexico

Alexis and Ronnie Tie the Knot: Real Destination Wedding in Mexico

What do you get when a NYC wedding planner gets married in Mexico? An absolutely stunning real destination wedding in Mexico with perfect details oozing elegance and romance. Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen set the scene for this special day, we were delighted to welcome Alexis and Ronnie to our seaside home. Get ready to be inspired, the wedding photos by Kape Photography capture all the magic and love!

Wedding Planner Wedding Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen

Villa la Joya was excited to work together with beautiful bride Alexis and her handsome groom Ronnie. Alexis is a NYC wedding planner so we knew right away we could talk the same language and that this couple would have some exciting ideas for their destination wedding in Mexico. After years of planning other people’s weddings, it was time for Alexis to shine and celebrate her love with Ronnie surrounded by the warmth of family and friends. 

The “getting ready” photos show just how fun this couple is. Alexis had her girls around her and they not only captured magazine-worthy fashion moments but they let loose and had some laughs. Groom Ronnie and his guys shared champagne toasts and had some fun in the limo with the light-up rainbow roof. The “first look” moment is one of our top faves ever, the smile on Ronnie’s face is about a million watts of love.

Destination Wedding in Mexico: Romantic Wedding Ceremony by the Sea

Walking on water, walking on sunshine, walking on air! The ceremony set-up design was breathtaking, we loved seeing the transformation of the Villa la Joya pool and gardens. The white aisle floating on the pool, the circular arch of luscious flowers, the velvet blue chairs, and the parasols to give guests a little shade, there are just too many details, we could go on and on. 


After declaring their forever love in a moving ceremony by the sea, the newlyweds joined family and friends for a cocktail hour in the front courtyard of Villa la Joya. Signature cocktails were a big hit, we loved the special stir sticks honoring their cute little pooch! Tacos and “botanas” and smiles all around, the party was just getting started.

Joyous destination wedding Mexico reception: Colorful, dynamic, elegant, and oh-so romantic and fun

After the cocktail hour, guests were invited to return to the pool and gardens which had been transformed into an elegant reception area. The table settings were so lush, the royal blue and gold with the dried boho chic centerpieces, just…well, frankly it left us speechless. Everyone enjoyed a delicious Mexican buffet dinner before kicking off the emotional and hilarious toasts to the newlyweds. Tears and laughter and moving words of shared memories and toasts to the future had everyone captivated.

The rest of the evening was all about getting down on the dance floor, tequila shots and champagne toasts, cake and churros and a million laughs. Alexis and Ronnie sure know how to throw a party, this was a Mexico destination wedding reception that will never be forgotten! 

We wish Alexis and Ronnie a lifetime of true happiness together and we thank you for allowing us to host your destination wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen! 

Feeling inspired by this Mexico destination wedding? Contact us today at Villa la Joya!

Alexis and Ronnie knocked it out of the park with this wedding, we know you are feeling the love! Are you ready to start planning your own destination wedding in Mexico? Drop us a line today, we can’t wait to hear all your ideas! How will you transform Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen into your own personalized paradise? 


Muchas gracias to the professional Playa del Carmen wedding vendors who made this such a fantastic day. We are so fortunate and grateful to work with the best! (And remember, never any vendor fees at Villa la Joya!) 


Planner: Paradise Weddings & Events & Events By Lexx

Florist: Cherry Blossom

Makeup: @alexisonthebeat

Hair: @hellobeautymx

Photo: Kape Photography

Rentals: Canteiro Weddings

Caterer: Gourmet Soberanis

A/V: Plug In Audiovisual

DJ: @iknowmikemusic

Fireworks: Pyrotech

Churro Cart: @lospocketsmx

Cake: Pasteleria La Migaja

Invitations: Golden Moments Design

Linens: The Finishing Touch NY

Photobooth: @picme_photobooth

Acrylic Signs: @brooklyn_rustics

Bride’s Dress: Pantora Bridal

Groom’s Tux: Indochino

Groomsmen Suit: The Black Tux

Damola & Gene’s Perfectly Romantic Playa del Carmen Wedding

Damola & Gene’s Perfectly Romantic Playa del Carmen Wedding

This is one of those Playa del Carmen weddings we adore, full of family love, the warmth of friends and gorgeous details (no, really, GORGEOUS). Stunning bride Damola tied the knot forever with her strikingly handsome groom Gene in a Playa del Carmen wedding ceremony of bohemian elegance and a wedding reception party that was simply legendary. Ready for some real destination wedding inspiration at Villa la Joya? 

“First look” MAGIC with Damola and Gene at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen.

Bride Damola took our breath away with her luxurious bridal robe by BMF Gallery, an extravaganza of tulle that set the tone for romance and fashion. Groom Gene was a dream in a white dinner jacket and black vest and he shared some special moments getting ready with his guys.

We asked Damola to share with us her favorite part of her Playa del Carmen wedding day:

The favorite part of our wedding day was our first look and everything leading up to it. The emotional walk up the beautiful staircase, the tap, and ultimately the first look was a moment we will both cherish for a lifetime.

The “first look” photos are priceless, the love just radiates from Damola and Gene and the architecture of Villa la Joya sets a beautiful scene. With the “first look” on the stairs and a portrait session on the Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen balcony, the bride and groom shared some special time to calm the butterflies before walking down the aisle.

Romance rules at the Playa del Carmen wedding of Damola and Gene

From start to finish, this was a wedding of romance and pure amor and beauty in all the details. The ceremony on the stairs of Villa la Joya was framed by the marble arch and columns and a luxe circular arch of cream flowers and dried arrangements. La Chica de las Flores Cancun created a masterful bridal bouquet of cascading flowers and we loved ALL the floral design of the day, luscious and lovely. The table decor and centerpieces were unique and simply perfect, have a look at all the photos by Julie Roman Photographer. 

The reception was a celebration of family and friends, moving champagne tributes, and fun tequila toasts. Damola changed into a short bridal gown for the reception to kick it up on the dance floor. The guests got down and boogied all night long and enjoyed the churro snacks by Los Pockets. A grand time was had by all and it was an unforgettable evening of love. 

Why choose a Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding in Mexico?

We always ask our newlyweds to tell us why they chose a Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding in Mexico, here is what Damola shared with us: 

Well that’s a no brainer! The venue is absolutely breathtaking. A destination wedding was something Gene and  I always wanted and chose The Villa La Joya as our venue before ever seeing the venue in person. VLJ is the most luxurious location and screamed both of our personalities! 

We decided to visit Mexico in December prior to our wedding in November where we went for a site visit and we fell in love all over again. Pictures do no justice to the VLJ. We were welcomed by the awesome staff members. At that point we knew for sure we were in great hands. We would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

Would you have done anything differently? Any advice for future brides and grooms?

Not a thing! Our wedding weekend and wedding day was the most perfect day ever. Our family and friends till now have not stopped talking about our wedding and the Villa La Joya of course! The next morning we had friends ask if we could do it all over again…haha!

Trust the process and keep calm. Do your homework as it relates to choosing a wedding planner and venue. I truly believe your wedding planner is a critical part of your big day! Luisa from Weddings Riviera Maya and her team made our day and wedding event PERFECT!  Budget and create a priority list for your must-haves. After all, there’s still life after your big day!

We want to extend our gratitude to newlyweds Damola & Gene for inviting us to host your special day. We wish you all the best for a lifetime of happiness together!

Feeling inspired by this romantic Playa del Carmen wedding? Contact us today at Villa la Joya!

Are you ready to start planning your own Playa del Carmen wedding in Mexico? We can’t wait to hear your ideas and bring them to life at a private villa wedding at Villa la Joya. No cookie cutter weddings here, you can bring YOUR vision to life with the Playa del Carmen wedding vendors of your choice. No vendor fees, no choosing your wedding from Column A or B, a private villa wedding is your day, just the way you want it. 

Big thanks to all the Playa del Carmen wedding vendors who made this such a gorgeous day, as always we are grateful, we couldn’t do it without you!

Wedding Vendors:

Planner: Weddings Riviera Maya

Photo: Julie Roman Photography

Video: LUX LikeArt

MUA: Alejandra Leon M&H

Wedding Dress: Elysee Bridal Design at One Bridal Boutique

Reception Dress: Revolve

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Bridal Robe: BMF Gallery

Bride Wig: Dark and Deluxe Wigs

Jewelry: Ai & Eva Bridal Jewelry

Nails: @_rachel_nails_

Rings: Verragio & Cartier

Photo Booth: La Cabina Mexico

Churro Stand: Los Pockets

Custom Petal Cones: @yinvivo

Floral: La Chica de las Flores Cancun

Rentals: Velvet Events Design

DJ: Hercon Entertainment

Bar: @caribbeandrikity

Caterer: Online Mayan Chef

Cake: Lluvia de Azucar

Transportation: @karma_trails_dmc

Invitations: Ink and Bows

Jenny and Danny’s Private Estate Wedding in Mexico

Jenny and Danny’s Private Estate Wedding in Mexico

Jenny and Danny get married at Villa la Joya, a private estate wedding in Mexico full of romance and pretty details. The couple met on a dating app called “Coffee Meets Bagel”, which is a great name for an app and a fun “How We Met” story for the grandkids. The young couple was surrounded by their closest family and friends for an intimate garden wedding and an unplugged reception. 

Getting ready and first looks: Champagne, laughter and fashion

Looking at the “getting ready” photos, you can feel the building excitement and the loving support of the family that surrounds Jenny and Danny. Bride and groom exchanged beautiful gifts with their bridal parties and enjoyed champagne to toast the day ahead. Bride Jenny was radiant with her dark hair falling in waves on the white lace of her stunning Ines di Santo wedding gown and groom Danny was rocking a sharp grey suit from Suit Supply, a gorgeous couple. 

Jenny and Danny shared a classic “first look” moment and gazed into one another’s eyes with looks of love in a portrait session on the balcony and throughout the halls of Villa la Joya. We adore “first looks” before a wedding, it’s a special time for the couple to relax and connect with one another before the excitement. The “first look” wedding photos by Cocoknot capture the pure love and happiness that exudes from Jenny and Danny, priceless. 

Private villa wedding in Mexico: Jenny and Danny tie the knot in an elegant garden wedding at Villa la Joya

The wedding ceremony of Jenny and Danny was romantic, elegant and the right mix of fun and emotion. The “flower men” dance by the brothers was a brilliant way to set the mood for joy.The split arch of flowers by Cherry Blossom framed the couple at the altar with a beautiful backdrop of ocean and sky as they said their “I Do’s” in an unplugged wedding ceremony. The “big dip and kiss” as they came down the aisle as newlyweds goes in our Top Ten Ceremony Kisses, totally suave and smooth and romantic!

Why choose a private estate wedding in Mexico? Why book a Villa la Joya wedding?

Choosing a private estate wedding in Mexico is the ideal way to share your love with your family and friends in an exclusive and unique setting. A Villa la Joya wedding gives you all the flexibility in the world to create and plan the wedding of your dreams. We like to ask our newlyweds why they decided on a Villa la Joya wedding in Mexico, here is what Jenny & Danny shared with us…


Mexico is so beautiful, the people there are always so kind and welcoming. We vacation to Mexico often, as it is only a 2-hour flight from Houston, Texas. We love it so much, we wanted it to be where we celebrated our special day too. 


Villa La Joya was exactly our style. Clean, minimal, and the option for an outdoor lawn ceremony overlooking the beach without being on the beach (we hate sand!) The venue is absolutely breathtaking. The photos we saw on Instagram are exactly how it is in person.

We would like to send Jenny and Danny our big congratulations and wishes for a long and happy lifetime together. We are so pleased to have met you and we thank you for allowing us to host your private estate wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya. We loved the details of the personalized coconuts and the churro cart, fun little dashes of Mexico!

Feeling inspired by this private estate wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya? Contact us today

Let’s bring your wedding dreams to life, we can’t wait to hear your ideas. Villa la Joya Mexico and Villa Planners welcome you to the world of totally personalized weddings with the best vendors in the Riviera Maya and never any vendor fees! Our beautiful private villa awaits and our team of experienced wedding professionals is ready to make wedding magic with you. Contact us today!

As always, a big thank you to the Playa del Carmen wedding vendors who made Jenny and Danny’s day so special. 

Wedding Vendors

- Venue: Villa La Joya

- Wedding Planner: N/A (I planned the wedding myself) 

- Wedding Day of Coordination: Villa Planners (Nancy & Adriana)

- MakeUp: N/A (I did my own hair and makeup)

- Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo

- Suit: Suit Supply

- Floral: Cherry Blossom

- Photography: CocoKnot Weddings

- Videography: My Love Films

- Desserts: Los Pockets

- Coconuts: Ko’Coo Coconuts

- Audio: Disco Movil Cancun

Heather and Kevin Get Married in Playa del Carmen

Heather and Kevin Get Married in Playa del Carmen

Heather and Kevin Get Married in Playa del Carmen: A Love Story

The Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding of Heather and Kevin took place on a perfect Mexican Caribbean day with blue skies and fluffy white clouds and an ocean breeze. The beautiful couple joined together in love before their nearest and dearest in a romantic destination wedding in Mexico. Heather and Kevin made this wedding all their own with personal touches and unique details, we were delighted to host this marvelous group of family and friends.

Family love: Mother of the bride moments and a luxe floral welcome

My favorite moment from the wedding day was wearing matching pajamas with my mom. I was very non-traditional and didn’t have any bridesmaids. I wanted everyone to be on vacation, and not have a job to do on wedding day or leading up to it. Matching with my mom made the day feel complete.

Every private villa wedding we host is unique and we adore seeing all the ways that our couples turn Villa la Joya into their own personal paradise. Heather and her mother shared special moments in matching pajamas as they got ready for the big day, we love this idea! Heather chose not to have bridesmaids at her destination wedding in order to allow all her loved ones to enjoy a relaxed good time on the big day. 

As the time of the ceremony approached, guests were welcomed to Villa la Joya’s front gates with an absolutely stunning floral display with an antique car. The luscious flowers and greenery were cascading out of the car and we LOVED this personal touch. The bouquet, the table design, and all the flowers were amazing, a beautiful collaboration of the couple’s ideas brought to life by our favorite florists and beloved Playa del Carmen wedding vendor, Cherry Blossom Florals.

Why choose a destination wedding in Mexico? Why Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen?

We know there are a million good reasons to have a destination wedding in Mexico and we always ask our newlyweds why they chose Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen:

I (Heather) always wanted to go and Kevin had only been once for a cruise. We wanted the wedding to feel like a vacation for everyone. I decided on Villa La Joya after seeing my friend’s younger sister, Kaylen, have her wedding there. Villa La Joya was on my shortlist, but her wedding bumped it up to the top.

We are so glad Heather and Kevin chose a Playa del Carmen wedding at Villa la Joya, it was a pleasure to host this romantic day full of love. After the moving ceremony on the front steps, the celebration got started at the reception with joyous energy. Champagne, dancing, laughter and tears, a beautiful cake, and mucho amor, a day their guests will remember forever.

Best advice for destination wedding brides? Relax, breathe and make it yours!

We asked Heather for her best advice in planning a destination wedding: 

I would tell all brides to relax. I was extremely stressed the whole process, and looking back I should have taken a step back and some deep breaths. I would also tell brides that weddings are expensive, so make sure it feels like yours. I chose Villa La Joya so I could customize our wedding. It feels like everyone is doing the same things. Small personal touches really make a wedding memorable.

Wise words from a lovely bride, muchas gracias to Heather and Kevin for bringing their dream wedding ideas to life at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!

Feeling inspired by this destination wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya? Contact us today!

We are romantics at heart and can’t wait to hear your love story. Contact us today and let’s make your destination wedding dreams a reality. Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen is an exclusive private villa and the perfect venue for your destination wedding in Mexico. 

As always, a big, huge gracias to our Playa del Carmen wedding vendors:

Planner: Weddings on the Beach

Photography/Video: Amor Amor Weddings

Florist: Cherry Blossom

Rentals: EW Cancun

Makeup: Beauty Expert MX

Dress: Ines di Santo

Gloves: Kerry Parker

Groom: Hugo Boss Tux

Catering: Gourmet Soberanis

Wedding Cake: Lali Pasteles

Sandra and Junior Get Married in Playa del Carmen!

Sandra and Junior Get Married in Playa del Carmen!

A real Mexican wedding in Playa del Carmen, we are excited to share this beautiful “boda” with you all. Sandra and Junior are a gorgeous couple in love and we were delighted to welcome them to Villa la Joya to join together forever before their nearest and dearest family and friends. An elegant white wedding full of pretty details, great Mexican music and a whole lot of love. These stunning destination wedding photos and the story of this special day are sure to inspire you to get married in Playa del Carmen at Villa la Joya!

Playa del Carmen wedding of Sandra and Junior: From quiceñera to eternity

This lovely couple met at Sandra’s quiceñera practice and have been together ever since 2006. A love that was meant to be! We asked Sandra why they chose a destination wedding at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen and here is what she shared with us:

We chose Mexico because we always wanted a destination wedding and it’s such a beautiful place. We always vacationed together in Cancun while dating. We also wanted to bring relatives who have never been to Cancun to visit and get to know this beautiful place.

Villa la Joya is such a beautiful place…we loved that it was private and we could stay partying until midnight. 

The festivities began with a fun “getting ready" session with golden balloons, champagne popping, and pizza with the ladies of the bridal party. The groomsmen helped each other with final bow tie adjustments and boutonniere placements and shared a few laughs. Bride Sandra was STUNNING in her shoulder-baring lace gown and a divine bouquet of white roses. The bridesmaids were all aglow in dusty rose gowns and the groomsmen were looking handsome in their traditional black tuxedos. 

Destination wedding ceremony by the sea in Playa del Carmen

Sandra and Junior exchanged vows and became joined for eternity in this lovely Playa del Carmen wedding ceremony by the ocean. The circular arch with a backdrop of the Mexican Caribbean sea set a perfect scene for the symbolically Catholic ceremony at Villa la Joya. We loved the inclusion of loved ones who had passed with their photos displayed and special seats reserved for them to “celebrate in heaven”. After their first kiss as newlyweds and a special sand ceremony, the couple was serenaded by mariachis as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife.

Sandra and Junior: A Mexican fiesta wedding reception at Villa la Joya

Guests were welcomed to the Villa la Joya wedding reception of Sandra and Junior with a shot of tequila attached to the seating cards, a great kickoff to a grand fiesta. With a duet of guitar and harp, a Mexican duo provided music for the cocktail hour that got everyone warmed up for the night. The bridal party danced in, toasts were made and the Mexican feast was served. 

The rest of the evening was a family celebration of love, with everyone on the dance floor accompanied by a Mexican band that kept the energy up all night. The newlyweds cut the cake with fireworks and the evening was a fun celebration with lots of tequila toasts, the traditional bouquet and garter toss, and a whole lot of love.

All the best to the newlyweds,que viven los novios! Big thanks for choosing Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen

We wish Sandra and Junior all the best for an incredible lifetime together. We send our big gracias for choosing to get married in Playa del Carmen and inviting us to host your destination wedding in Mexico. 

Feeling inspired? Ready to start planning to get married in Playa del Carmen? Contact us today and we’ll be thrilled to get the ball rolling on creating the destination wedding of your dreams at Villa la Joya! 


As always, a big shout out of love to all our wonderful Playa del Carmen wedding vendors, we couldn’t do it without you! And remember, there are never any outside vendor fees at Villa la Joya! 

Vendors: 

Photographer - Sweet Fire Photography 

Make-up - Dani Delgado MUA

Wedding Planner - Pride Maya Weddings

Decorations - MSM Rentals 

Catering - Gourmet Soberanis

Cake - Lali Pasteles

DJ- Evolution Mix Audiovisual