Mark and Stephanie’s Gorgeous Villa la Joya Wedding in Playa del Carmen

Mark and Stephanie’s Gorgeous Villa la Joya Wedding in Playa del Carmen

Destination Wedding Mexico: Mark and Stephanie’s Gorgeous Villa la Joya Wedding in Playa del Carmen

The Villa la Joya wedding of Mark and Stephanie was simply dreamy! This adorable couple joined us to tie the knot surrounded by the love of family and friends. Stephanie was kind enough to send us her thoughts about her destination wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya, we know you will be inspired.

Words from the Bride: Destination Wedding Mexico Villa la Joya Amor

Mark and Stephanie met in the late summer of 2014 in Santa Monica, California. Stephanie had just moved to Santa Monica for a college internship and Mark had been living there for nearly six years. Mark had just returned home from a business trip when a couple of friends convinced him to beat the jet lag and join them for Sunday Funday. Stephanie and her friend were at the restaurant when Mark's pal asked them to pull up a chair to watch the football game. Mark tried to play a shy guy, but eventually made his move on Stephanie and they've been together ever since. 

Mark and Stephanie both share a passion for traveling. One of the first trips the couple ever took together was to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a beautiful trip and so many happy memories were made. When it came to planning the wedding, Stephanie knew she wanted it to be a destination. Both of their families are so spread out so it was important that the location could be accessible and enjoyed by all. Stephanie wanted as close to a beach wedding as you could get without being on the beach. She also loved the idea of overlooking the property on a high balcony and having a grand staircase for photos. After a couple of searches on Instagram Stephanie found Villa La Joya and instantly fell in love. Now all she had to do was convince Mark. They took a very quick trip down to Playa del Carmen (pre-covid) and it took about 3 seconds for Mark to say okay this is the place!

Stephanie: My favorite moment had to be our first dance, it was a moment where we could relax and just be together and enjoy the night. We also had floor sparklers go off during the dance which was a fun surprise for all of our guests. 

Mark: My favorite moment would be our first look. It was upstairs on the grand balcony and it was so special to see Stephanie in her dress and all ready for our big day! It was also a relief knowing that all of our planning had come together and we could just enjoy our time with one another.

We had all of our guests stay at Paradisus in Playa del Carmen and this was so great for us because the resort offers so many activities for large groups. We had a welcome drinks gathering at the resort two nights before the wedding. This was a casual way for everyone to meet and enjoy the beautiful scenery. We also had a rehearsal dinner at the Thompson Hotel on the rooftop. This was a very intimate and special dinner to thank those that are the closest to us before the big day!

We really would not change a thing! We had an obstacle to face with Covid, but besides that everything ran very smoothly and we appreciated all of the hard work from our vendors to make everything happen! 

My advice to other brides/couples would be to trust that everything will come together. All of the vendors work together throughout the years on several weddings and all complement each other so well. If your wedding is in the late spring/summer pack a small fan because it is hot;)

Muchas gracias, big thanks from Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen!

From all of us at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen, a huge thank you to Stephanie and Mark for choosing us to host your destination wedding in Mexico! It was a pleasure to welcome you to our home and we wish you all the best for an incredible life together. 

Super big thanks to our Playa del Carmen wedding vendors of course and as always, no vendor fees at Villa la Joya! Contact us TODAY to start planning your dream destination wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen! Can’t wait to hear your ideas and your stories of love!

Leila Wedding Planner - Wedding Coordinator

Sweet Caribbean - Photo & Video

Beso Brides - Hair and Makeup

Cherry Blossom - Florist

Easy Gourmet - Catering

Plug In Audiovisual - Music & Dance Floor

La Migaja - Cake

Papeliux - Dessert Table

Pastor Christian - Officiant

Royal Table - Rentals


Things to Consider when Choosing a Destination Wedding Venue

Things to Consider when Choosing a Destination Wedding Venue

Things to Consider when Choosing a Destination Wedding Venue

You’ve found the love of your life and have decided to tie the knot with a destination wedding in Mexico, now how do you choose the perfect wedding venue for your big day? Here are the top things to consider when choosing the ideal destination wedding venue to fulfill all your needs and make your dream day a reality. 

Choosing a wedding venue: Guestlist and capacity

Intimate party of two or a grand fiesta for 200? The size of your guest list is essential for all the “next steps” of wedding planning. Villa la Joya has welcomed cozy elopements and big celebrations for up to 200 guests in our lush gardens on the beach of Playa Paraiso, Riviera Maya, Mexico.

A big resort wedding may make you feel lost in the shuffle, a private villa wedding ensures that no matter the size of your party, YOU are the center of attention. Our team of Villa Planners wedding coordinators are experts in celebrations of all sizes and are 100% devoted to one wedding per day at Villa la Joya. An intimate tiny wedding for only your nearest and dearest or a big bang fiesta of epic proportions, choosing a wedding venue like Villa la Joya is the best way to manage a guest list of any size.

Define Your Destination Wedding Budget and Get the Most Out of Every Peso

Once you have defined your guest list, you need to set a wedding budget. Villa la Joya offers rental options from $5,000 to $8,000 depending on the number of guests and your time requirements. Villa la Joya knows that every dollar is precious and therefore we have ZERO VENDOR FEES and no minimum resort nights, let’s use that budget for magical things!

Church Wedding Or Civil Ceremony?

Villa la Joya welcomes weddings of all denominations and we are happy to connect you with an officiant that best reflects you. We have hosted religious and civil ceremonies in our gardens but if you are seeking a church wedding in Playa del Carmen there are options conveniently located nearby. The church at El Pueblito Mayakoba offers a traditional Mexican-style chapel with warm wood and stone decor and the iconic white church on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen is a beautiful choice for a Catholic ceremony.

Prioritizing Views and Backdrops: Choosing a Private Wedding Venue

A Villa la Joya wedding offers you incredible ocean views, lush tropical gardens, a water fountain, stunning marble stairs, arches, and columns, oh my! All of this in a 100% private setting, no lurkers in the background of your photos, a celebration just for YOU and your special guests. The wedding coordinators of Villa Planners will help create a magical scene integrating your tastes and style with the architecture and natural elements of Villa la Joya. Forget the cement fortresses of big resorts and choose a private wedding venue to set the perfect scene for love.

Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen is prepared for any weather situation with our unique Sky Tents, the best way to keep you and your guests happy and dry in case of rain. Even a rainy wedding day is GORGEOUS with the right venue and expert wedding planners. 

Wedding factory or VIP attention and service?

Unlike resorts that may churn out multiple weddings per day, we only cater to ONE. Our services are dedicated 100% to YOUR wedding and all the love is on YOU. You should be the center of attention, not just one of many brides and grooms wandering the grounds of a big hotel. Choose a wedding venue that focuses on personalized attention and service and rest assured that every detail will be perfect.

Choosing a Wedding Venue with Nearby Guest Accommodations

Villa la Joya is located halfway between Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos meaning there are OODLES of accommodation options for your guests. All-inclusive resorts for all budgets, boutique hotels and endless Airbnb choices. We offer a nearby condo (just a few feet away from Villa la Joya) available for use by the wedding couple and we are happy to make recommendations that best fit the needs of all your guests.

Choosing a Wedding Venue for the Whole Family, Kids and Furbabies Too!

Is Villa la Joya a family-friendly wedding venue? Yes, absolutely and pet-friendly too! Bring ALL your loved ones, kids at weddings are so much fun and they are a huge part of your family! We invite you to bring Fido and Fifi too, furry buddies make great ring bearers. Well, they look cute anyway.

Choosing a Wedding Venue: Can You Bring Your Own Decor?

Yes, our villa is your villa, let’s make your wedding day vision a reality. Bring your own style and tastes from home or let us introduce you to the best wedding vendors in Playa del Carmen (with no vendor fees of course!) Don’t settle for a resort’s “catalog” of three themes and yet another cookie cutter wedding, we welcome whatever fantasy you wish to bring to Villa la Joya! Villa Planners and Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen will bring all your visions to life. 

Choose your wedding venue now, reserve your special day at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen

We want to hear your ideas and get started planning the perfect destination wedding for you. Have any further questions? Contact us and we will be delighted to work with you in making your wedding dreams come true.

Photo Credits: Moni Adri Photography, Sweet Caribbean Photography, Amor Amor Weddings, Gareth Davies Photography, FineArt Wedding Studio, White Crown Photography, Bohemia Photography, LuxArt Photography, Jahlcob Photography,

Destination Wedding Mexico :: Angelique & Michael

Destination Wedding Mexico :: Angelique & Michael

Destination Wedding Mexico | A'ngelique & Michael Elegance and Amor at Villa la Joya

Destination wedding Mexico! Travel lovers A’ngelique and Michael shared their first vacation together in Playa del Carmen and returned to the Mexican Caribbean in 2021 to tie the knot and declare their love before their closest family and friends. We were delighted to welcome them to Villa la Joya and we simply LOVED the elegance and warmth of their gorgeous wedding day. 

Each and every detail of this Villa la Joya wedding was STUNNING, the wedding vendors of Playa del Carmen came together through the coordination of Lucy Gallagher and Arlenis Ruiz to create a magical day. Breathtaking flowers from Cherry Blossom, delicious catering by Gourmet Soberanis, fireworks, great music and decor, this was a wedding we will always remember.

The Love Story and Happily Ever After of A’ngelique and Michael

Bride and groom A’ngelique and Michael have an electricity between them, every touch and glance full of love, it was a real pleasure to get to know this couple. We asked them to share their love story with us and A’ngelique’s words say it better than we ever could. 

  • What is the story of how you two met?

    Our worlds collided on May 14, 2016 when we met in NYC at an East African networking event at a restaurant bar in Harlem, New York. Michael's opening words to me were "Do you know who you look like? Gina from 'Martin'" (a character from a popular 90s sitcom). Although this was the thousandth time I'd received this "compliment," there was something about Michael's energy, smile, and presence that just captured my attention and I stayed around to entertain the moment. That moment turned into 4 years of an adventurous, inspiring, educational, travel-filled, and long-lasting relationship before Michael proposed to her in Aruba on August 1, 2020. 

  • Why did you choose Mexico for your destination wedding?

We love to travel. In fact, within the first year of dating Michael won an incredible travel voucher to travel anywhere in the world from his job. When asked where he would plan on going he replied with "anywhere my girlfriend wants to go." Our friends often joke around that it was the voucher and traveling that really helped us build the first year of their relationship and beyond. The first trip we booked together was to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in March 2017, which is why this location is symbolic for us.

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

I saw a picture of a friend of a friend's wedding at Villa La Joya on Instagram on Jan 1, 2014 and instantly fell in love with the venue. A screenshot of a dress hanging up in Villa La Joya has been saved in my phone ever since then so when it came time for us to find a venue, there was no doubt that Villa La Joya was the top choice. Although we eventually went back and forth on venue locations (and actually changed our venue three times), we ultimately could not resist the unique charm of Villa La Joya and everything it had to offer us as a couple and our guests—a beach, garden, and beautiful villa. There is literally no other place in the area like this venue, especially for brides looking for a beautiful beach backdrop—without the sand—and sophisticated feel & decor. I also appreciated the opportunity to get ready in the Villa La Joya condo.

  • What was your favorite/most emotional or funniest moment of your wedding day? 

We really wanted their day to feel like an elegant, unique event with endless entertainment. From guests being greeted with a champagne wall prior to the ceremony to a floral swing set at cocktail hour to a 360-degree photo booth and live DJ during the reception to cold fireworks during our first dance. The entire day was a dream. The moment that stuck out the most was being able to bring our family and friends together to experience different cultures and wedding traditions. Since Michael has an East African background, we did a second entrance that was traditional to the Eritrean culture where the male guests would surround the bride and groom and wave swords while the female guests formed two lines for the couple to walk down as they wave palm trees and shout "Elelele " as a sound of celebration. Watching family and friends of different ethnic backgrounds participate in this century old tradition was extremely heartwarming and demonstrated a love and acceptance of both of our family and friends' backgrounds.

  • Did you have any pre or post-wedding events for your group? If so, which ones?

Yes! We held an amazing pre-welcome event on the Saturday before our wedding with H2Oh Sun Cruises where we hosted a sunset cruise yacht party with our friends and siblings. On the Sunday night before our wedding, we held an intimate welcome cocktail event at our host hotel — Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya — where all of our family and friends were able to meet for the first time over hor’d'oeuvres, music, and East African cultural dancing.

  • Anything you would have done differently?

Our wedding day and the weekend leading up to our wedding was a dream! The only thing Michael and I wish we would have done differently was to not second guess our original decision of choosing Villa La Joya as our wedding venue! This would have saved us a lot of money and stress.

  • Any advice you’d like to share with other brides?

I have three pieces of advice for any bride planning a wedding, especially a destination wedding. My first piece of advice is that your wedding day will be intense — with a timeline to follow, guests to greet, family and friends to please, and ensuring the day runs smoothly. In the midst of the chaos, take at least five minutes to step to the side with your partner and soak it all in. Right before Michael and my first entrance as a couple, we took 10 minutes to ourselves on the front stairs of Villa La Joya to reflect on officially being married and reflect on the culmination of our efforts, planning, and coordination on our wedding day.

This leads me to my second piece of advice: Go with the flow. It does not matter how many months of planning that goes into a wedding, not everything will go according to plan. Don't let the minor details distract you from enjoying your day—trust me, your guests won't even notice.

My last piece of advice is to budget for a wedding planner and/or day-of coordinator! It is imperative to take the stress of coordinating a wedding off of yourself and your guests in order for you to enjoy your day. There is no way our wedding would have been as successful without the help of our amazing wedding team - Lucy & Arlenis! They provided us with a wedding planning portal to update your wedding requests, decor & layouts, guests lists, amongst other items leading up to the wedding which kept us extremely organized.

Muchas gracias and big congratulations from Villa la Joya Weddings

We would like to say a very special “thank you” and “felicidades!” to A’ngelique and Michael for choosing to celebrate their destination wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya. We wish you both all the best for the rest of your beautiful lives together. Be sure to check out all their gorgeous wedding photos for inspiration!

Destination Wedding Mexico Wedding Vendors Playa del Carmen

Planning: Lucy Gallagher and Arlenis Ruiz Weddings

Photography: Luxart Wedding Studio

Videography: One Cameraman

Hair/Makeup: Styling Trio

Rentals: EW Cancun

Florals: Cherry Blossom

Catering: Tomas Soberanis from Gourmet Soberanis

Wedding Cake: Lali Pasteles

Special Effect Fireworks: Pyrotech Special Events Mexico

DJ: Plug In Audiovisual

Solo Musician: India Tyree

Wedding Dress: Martina Liana

Ready to book your own destination wedding in Mexico? Contact us today at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen weddings!

Playa del Carmen Wedding at Villa la Joya :: B & B

Playa del Carmen Wedding at Villa la Joya :: B & B

Playa del Carmen Wedding at Villa la Joya | Brittan & Brad

The Playa del Carmen wedding at Villa la Joya of Brittan and Brad was so dreamy, this is one we will never forget! Romantic, elegant and oh so much fun, it was a delight to host this beautiful couple and their families and friends for a destination wedding celebrating LOVE!

Gorgeous bride Brittan shared the experience in her own words and frankly we couldn’t have said it better! Here is a first hand bridal account of planning a wedding at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen!

Bridal report from Brittan and Brad’s Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding

The first and easiest decision we made was that we wanted a destination wedding. After 2020, lockdowns, and time apart from the people we love, we figured everyone needed a vacation! The only problem was I had no idea what I was doing, lol. Luckily, and one of the perks of being from a small town, our neighbor and close family friend of the Rose’s swooped in to the rescue—It’s a bird, it’s a plane… oh wait, even better, it’s Becky (Travel Consultants International)! She held our hands through the process of finding the perfect location, which then led to the hunt for a venue! We visited what seemed like dozens of resorts looking for an “all in one” kind of package, I mean that’s what people normally do, right? 

Well, none of the resort venues had what I was looking for (not that I knew exactly what I was looking for, I just knew they didn’t have it) and the thought of taking such a private moment and putting it in the middle of a resort with strangers/guest milling around just didn’t feel right to me. So, back to Becky and the drawing board. That’s when she pitched the idea of getting married off site of the resort and showed us Villa la Joya, needless to say it was PERFECT!

The Villa staff and crew even helped us to find our wedding planners/most recent loves of my life (Paradise Wedding Events, PWE). PWE connected us with the best vendors, I may be biased but I believe that to be an objective fact. Not only did they guide us through every step of the process, they were able to decode my random blurbs and ideas on what I wanted and turn it into something cohesive and much better than anything I could have come up with on my own.

“Private palace in the Riviera Maya!” - Villa la Joya wedding

As you can imagine, time flew by, and all of a sudden the wedding day had arrived! I knew it would be beautiful, because, you know… it’s a private PALACE in Riviera Maya, attached to the beach, it’s hard to mess that up, but when I arrived for hair and make up I was absolutely floored. Every detail was perfect, even the things I thought I didn’t care about (like napkins-thank you to my mom for convincing me otherwise, she’s the real MVP- love you Mama) came together into exactly what I had envisioned but somehow so much better than I could have ever dreamt. It truly was the best day of our lives, a dream come true. Getting to marry my best friend in the world didn’t hurt either ☺. 

*The only thing I would have done differently would be to not stress out about the little things leading up to the day, I realize now I was in great hands and they do this all the time. If you pick a good team, trust them, they won’t let you down!

Bridal advice for your destination wedding in Mexico

Bride advice- Remember you're having a destination wedding for a reason! You knew you didn’t want the typical stress that comes along with a wedding so RELAX. If you have 3 things: a dress you love, a venue that can stand on its own (then decorating is just fun and easy), and wedding planners you trust, you’re set, so have fun and enjoy this time, and if you get stressed just remember … you’ll be on vacation soon! **Incorporate/Do something that speaks to who you are as individuals and as a couple, it’s those special touches that you’ll remember the most. 

*Favorite things- I loved having Brad and I’s families be able to be incorporated in our ceremony (his brother officiated and my brothers were the flower men). It really made things that much more special and feel like our families were being united along with us.

Muchas gracias to Brittan and Brad, may you enjoy a lifetime of happiness together!

We extend our thanks to Brittan and Brad for sharing their day with us at Villa la Joya and for these inspiring words for future couples looking to tie the knot. As always, we send big love to all our Playa del Carmen wedding vendors who helped make this an event to remember. 

Are you ready to say “I do” on the beach in Mexico? Contact us today and let’s get you married at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen!

Wedding gown- Adorn Bridal; Nashville, TN—designer, Enzoani “Phoebe”

Photographer- Carro Navarro Photography (Mexico/Ceremony)

Wedding Planner- Paradise Wedding & Events

DJ- Plug In AudioVisual

Florist- Cherry Blossom Mexico

Caterer- Gourmet Soberanis

Travel Agent- Beck Hawkins, Travel Consultants International

Hair/Makeup- Hello Beauty MX

Dessert/Churro Cart- Los Pockets

Things You Forget When Planning a Destination Beach Wedding

Things You Forget When Planning a Destination Beach Wedding

Things You Forget When Planning a Destination Beach Wedding

Wedding dress? Check. Rings? Check. Two people in love? Check. Sounds like you’ve got it all covered, right? Planning a destination wedding in Playa del Carmen is easy peasy but you may forget a few essential things as you fantasize about your gorgeous day. The wedding planners at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen are here to help! Here are some tips from our pros so no detail is missed in planning your destination wedding in Playa del Carmen.

Plan B in case of rain on your Playa del Carmen wedding day

You’ve chosen a destination wedding with dreams of sunny blue skies and the perfect tropical weather. Of course, the reality is that it just may rain on your wedding day (Alanis Morrissette anyone?), and having a Plan B is a must. Lucky for you, Villa la Joya has incredible Clear Sky Tents to save the day, the only ones of this kind in the Riviera Maya! Stunning tents that will give you great light and protect you from any raindrops that may fall.

Brides are busy being beautiful and in love and bridal gowns don’t have pockets

On the day of your wedding, the last thing you want to worry about is phone calls from vendors or any kind of “business”. Assign a “go-to” person that your wedding vendors can reach on the big day or can be ready to receive the call from Auntie Emma in England who couldn’t attend but wants to send good wishes. No pockets on bridal gowns to carry phones and notepads, leave the bride to her amor and let someone else be the contact.

Moni & Adri Photography

Consider tips in your budget: Gratuities are greatly appreciated

Tips are not required of course but they are very much appreciated by your hard-working vendors. You don’t want to arrive on your wedding day with any unplanned expenses, set aside a percentage to tip your vendors and staff, they will be truly grateful.

Light up your life! Creative ways to light your Playa del Carmen wedding

Daytime ceremony turns to evening wedding reception as the sun goes down and you are now in the spotlight or in the dark! Plan your Playa del Carmen wedding lighting with our event pros and go beyond the boring and routine set-up!

Fairy lights and chandeliers, candles and torches, dance floors that glow with light, and a whole disco mood if you like! Villa la Joya weddings are full of LIGHT and love and we are excited to share our expertise with you in creating magical event lighting design.

Food: Beyond “chicken or fish”, things to remember when planning your wedding day catering

Number one, please remember to eat on your wedding day! Bride and groom are busy, with butterflies in their tummies but be sure to fuel your body to keep going all day long. It is important to ask your guests for any food allergies or restrictions in advance and notify your Playa del Carmen wedding caterers. You will need to consider meals for your vendors, your wedding photographer and others will be with you all day and will need to be nourished as well.

If I hear that song I will scream: Do Not Playlists for your wedding DJ

In addition to creating the PERFECT playlist for your wedding, you may want to include a DO NOT PLAY EVER list for your DJ. Songs that remind you of your ex or just make you cringe, be sure that your DJ will keep your party hopping with no bad vibes!

Personal touches and important information: Guide your guests in style

You’ve designed your “save the date” and of course your wedding invitations, don’t forget about seating charts, welcome signs, “this way to the bar, that way to the churros” directional posters and all the little details that will guide your guests throughout the day. Remembering this early in your wedding planning makes it easier when working with printers and vendors, keeping the theme, fonts, colors, etc. in one-shot orders. You can use your theme in creating beautiful neon signs too, we LOVE this for the sweethearts’ table or photo booth backdrops at our Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen weddings.

We’ve got you covered! The wedding planners at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen won’t let you forget a single thing, our years of experience ensure that your wedding day flows and nothing is left to chance. We can’t wait to hear your ideas and start working with you in planning YOUR destination wedding in Mexico! 

Contact us today to reserve, our 2022 & 2023 weddings are starting to fill up, book your date now and let’s start planning your wedding at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen!

Photo Credits (no particular order): Moni Adri Photography, LuxArt Weddings, Sea Love Wedding Films, Sweet Caribbean Photography, Jahlcob Photography, Caro Navarro Photography, Bohemia Photography