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Villa la Joya Wedding Elegance: ¡Felicidades Kelsey and Diego!

Villa la Joya Wedding Elegance: ¡Felicidades Kelsey and Diego!

A destination wedding in Mexico just made sense for newlyweds Kelsey and Diego. Their love story began in Rhode Island, moved to Texas and finally to Boston. Groom Diego was born in Mexico and with their family and friends scattered throughout the US, a destination wedding in Playa del Carmen was the perfect way to bring everyone together in a celebration of their love. 

Villa la Joya welcomed the couple and their loved ones to a romantic day of elegance and beauty. Bride Kelsey was striking in her gorgeous gown by Dany Tabet, lacy, frilly, strapless figure-hugging magic with a flowy train and veil. Handsome groom Diego wore a classic black tuxedo and a million watt smile. One look at their photos and you can clearly see the energy of love flowing between them.

A brief story of how you two met?

It all started in Providence, RI where we both settled after college for our first jobs and met up for a drink. On our first date, we immediately connected over our closeness to our families and our love of travel - two things that have stayed true to this day, over 6.5 years later.

Through our shared love of travel, spicy food, and family, we quickly fell for each other. Over the last several years, our love story has taken us from Rhode Island to Texas and now finally to Boston. When we're not traveling or hiking in the mountains, we love to cook new recipes at home or catch concerts in the city. Our family and friends mean the world to us and we feel so fortunate to have been surrounded by so much love for our wedding day.

A moving wedding ceremony with personal touches of love and family

Kelsey and Diego exchanged vows and became husband and wife forever and ever on the stairs of Villa la Joya. The scene was set with incredible flowers by Harmonia in a nude color palette, with two pillars of blooms framing the couple in love and lining the wedding aisle.

This was a really special ceremony, incredibly moving to have a wedding officiant who knows and loves the bride and groom. Personal touches in the wedding ceremony included family memories, a sweet ring bearer with bubbles, and vows written by the couple in love, Kelsey and Diego invited everyone to share in their big day.

“Our ceremony was so special as Kelsey's sister whom we are both close with wrote a personal ceremony, intertwining some of our favorite memories and weaving in her own memories of our love. We had never heard it before so it was very emotional and special. Additionally, we wrote our own vows so it was emotional to share those and feel the incredible love we share for each other.”

Choosing a destination wedding venue in Mexico in the age of Instagram

Would you choose a wedding venue without a site visit? In the Instagram age, this is not such a crazy thing to consider and that is how Kelsey and Diego decided on a Villa la Joya wedding. After months of planning and digital communication, we were delighted to meet the couple and welcome them to their wedding by the beach in the tropical gardens of Playa del Carmen.

What made you decide on Villa La Joya?

We loved how the villa was next to the beach with its elegance and beauty. Fun fact: we actually booked the villa before ever seeing it in person. When we finally got to come see it in person a few months later, it was even more beautiful and stunning than the photos. We were blown away by the natural beauty, warmth, and elegance of Villa La Joya.

Private, personalized, and elegant, a Villa la Joya wedding reception to remember

The wedding celebration of Kelsey and Diego continued with a warm and welcoming wedding reception in the gardens of Villa la Joya. The elegant decor with the nude color palette and pretty centerpieces, fireworks, and signature drinks, just perfect with the ocean breeze and a whole lot of amor. Big thanks to the incredible Playa del Carmen wedding vendors and their creative professionalism in bringing the newlyweds’ vision to life.  

Anything you would have done differently? 

“I don't think so! Overall our day went extremely well and we're so happy with how everything turned out.”

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

“Make sure to enjoy the planning process and most importantly, be present and enjoy the day! Everyone says it, but it truly goes by in the blink of an eye. I'm so thankful we enjoyed all of the planning and were able to soak in every moment of our wedding day.”

Congratulations and muchas gracias Kelsey and Diego

All of us at Villa la Joya wish Kelsey and Diego a lifetime of joy and happiness together. We are so grateful you invited us to share in your wedding day and allowed us to play host to your family and friends.

Are you feeling inspired by this real wedding in Mexico? Reach out to us today and let’s start planning your Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding. Personalized, private (only one wedding per day, it’s just for you!) and we will never charge a vendor fee. Forget the resorts and their repetitive cookie-cutter weddings, let’s make your wedding dreams come true exactly as you envision.

Planner. Yucatan Love Weddings | Photography. Fabrizio Simoneen | Video. One Camera Man | Glam Team. VO Evolution | Dress. Dabny Tabet | Florals. Harmonia Floral | Rentals. Minimal 4.0 | Catering. Gourmet Soberanis | Bar Service. Molokos Bar Experience & Barras Libres Riviera Maya | DJ UNO Audiovisual

Stunning Modern Formal Wedding in Mexico: Felicidades Marina & Luke!

Stunning Modern Formal Wedding in Mexico: Felicidades Marina & Luke!

Destination wedding inspiration ahead, welcome to the nuptials of the gorgeous young couple Marina and Luke. The two met in college in Colorado and after a few months, Luke gathered up his courage to ask Marina out on a date. The date apparently went well as we are delighted to be here celebrating their Villa la Joya wedding in Playa del Carmen.

Everything about this wedding was just right, simple, modern, formal. The color palette of white with black details and touches of greenery created an ideal scene for romance. The ceremony set-up at the entrance to Villa la Joya featured lush floral arrangements that appeared to flow down the stairs like a waterfall. The reception was a dynamic party that had happy guests dancing all night long.

Classic Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding ceremony

Surrounded by soft and pretty flowers against the Italian architecture of the villa, Marina and Luke exchanged vows in an elegant ceremony. Marina glowed in her gown by Galia Lahav with her natural look enhanced by the talented hands of Zoe Elizabeth hair and makeup by Heather B. Luke, rocked a classic formal tuxedo as he took the hands of his lovely bride with the promise of forever.

Why did you choose Mexico for your destination wedding?

Luke and I always knew we wanted a destination wedding, somewhere with beautiful weather and the beach! Mexico made it easy for all of our friends and family to be together! Finding Villa La Joya was an absolute dream which sealed the deal. The Villa is absolutely breathtaking.

What made you decide on Villa La Joya Playa del Carmen for your wedding?

A private venue on the beach is all I’ve ever dreamed of and Villa La Joya just made those dreams come true. With the elegance and luxury I knew I could have my dream formal wedding there.

Playa del Carmen garden wedding reception: Romance, elegance and FUN

Each and every Villa la Joya wedding is unique and we are always thrilled to watch creative ideas become reality. Marina and Luke worked with our talented Playa del Carmen wedding vendors to create an amazing scenario for the cocktail hour and reception. The white and black theme, the lush white florals with greenery, the pretty place settings and oh those chandeliers, it was all simply divine.

What was your wedding theme or inspiration?

The wedding theme was a modern formal wedding with the pallet being shades of white and touches of black and greenery. I wanted it to feel romantic but also a fun atmosphere for all our guests. In the front of the villa we had our ceremony. We had an electric violinist play during that portion and then switched to a DJ in the back of the house for cocktail hour and reception. The music was a huge hit for all our guests who literally danced ALL NIGHT!

Congratulations Marina and Luke on your Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding!

We would like to extend our huge thanks and a big congratulations to Marina and Luke. We were so honored you chose to host your destination wedding at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen, thank you for turning our seaside garden into a wonderland. All of our best wishes for a lifetime of happiness together surrounded by your beautiful family and friends.

As always, a special thanks to the incredibly talented, professional and creative Playa del Carmen wedding vendors whom we simply adore. We could not make wedding magic without you! And remember, there are never any vendor fees at Villa la Joya, let’s put those pesos to something fun!

Planner: Fresa Weddings | Travel Agent: Playa Bella Weddings & Travel | Photography/videography: Amor Amor Weddings | Makeup: Makeup by Heather B | Hair: Zoe Elizabeth Makeup | Wedding Gown: Galia Lahav | Rentals: Kay & Tee Boutique Rentals | Graphics: Elements Graphics | Florals: Luis Salas Florals | Catering: Gourmet Soberanis | Churros: Los Pockets | Violinist: Tenoch Violinist | DJ: UNO Audiovisual | Content Creators: Follow The Bride

Feeling inspired and want to start planning your destination wedding in Mexico?

Contact Villa la Joya today and tell us all about your vision, let’s get you married in paradise!

Lesly and Nathan’s Romantic Riviera Maya Wedding at Villa la Joya

Lesly and Nathan’s Romantic Riviera Maya Wedding at Villa la Joya

California couple Lesly and Nathan celebrated their love story with a romantic Riviera Maya wedding at Villa la Joya Mexico. Joined by friends and family for an intimate ceremony, the couple exchanged vows by the Mexican Caribbean sea and united forever as husband and wife.

Villa la Joya was transformed by the creativity of Lesly and Nathan's planning, with Villa Planners and the best wedding vendors in Mexico. Circular floral arch for the ceremony and oh those table settings for the reception, the flowers were lush and perfect, the decor was classic, and every detail was in place for pure romance. A little rain didn’t dampen the spirits, the reception was lively, tequila was flowing and everyone hit the dance floor with umbrellas in hand.

We asked Lesly and Nathan to share their thoughts with us about their big day. It is such a pleasure to read the responses we get from our couples, we just know you’ll be inspired:

Why choose a destination wedding in Mexico?

We picked Mexico for a destination wedding because it has always been a fun place to visit, the culture is beautiful, and the service is always amazing. One of the first vacations we took together as a couple was to Mexico!

Why choose a Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen wedding?

Villa La Joya was beautiful so it was very easy to pick as our venue. We wanted a venue that wasn’t the traditional venue, we wanted something unique. We dreamt of our wedding overlooking a beautiful view, relaxed, & non traditional. A lot of the venues we inquired also limited the ideas that I had for my inspired wedding, like with vendors, and had a lot of rules that took away from my ideas.

Villa la Joya was the opposite of all that and allowed us to plan the wedding of our dreams. Being that we live in California, we wanted wedding planners to help us with the process. Who better than Villa Planners themselves! They know the venue and a lot of vendors who work at the venue which made it so easy to plan the wedding.

What was your wedding style?

Our wedding theme was inspired by a timeless romantic theme. We wanted our decor to be very classy, elegant, & timeless. Our color scheme was ivory, gold, and red and it was so beautifully brought to life by Florería la Fiore & Planner 1 Events. The red rose represented romance and the gold represented timeless elegance. Very much our style!

Do you have a favorite memory from your wedding day?

My favorite part of the wedding was our first look. It was such a private & emotional moment between my husband and I, and the view that we had was beyond beautiful. It is something that was so personal to us both, that he and I will always remember this time together.

Any advice for brides planning a destination wedding in Mexico?

I would tell other brides to trust the process. Villa la Joya was easy to work with, it makes the wedding planning so easy. Enjoy the day because it feels like it flies by! Don’t forget to take a step back and look at your beautiful wedding and take in the view.

We want to give a shout-out to all of our vendors. To Maria Carmen Arcos Photography for capturing it all. To Gourmet Soberanis for creating our delicious dinner menu and drinks. To Disco Móvil and Kiev Morales Violin for working together and creating the best energy for our guests. And to all of our servers from Villa La Joya, thank you for all your work at serving us, keeping the area so clean, and being so kind to us all. Thank you to all of our vendors!

With much gratitude, a huge thank you to Lesly and Nathan. Gracias!

All our best wishes to Lesly and Nathan for a lifetime of happiness together, we thank you for inviting us to be a part of your love story. It was a pleasure to host your destination wedding in Mexico at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen!

Of course this beautiful wedding was the result of the professionalism and creativity of the best wedding vendors in the Riviera Maya, muchas gracias a todos! You are always welcome at Villa la Joya, with none of those silly vendor fees. Let’s make magic!!!

Send us an email now and tell us all about your destination wedding dreams. It’s time to bring your ideas to life at Villa la Joya!

Stephanie & Evan's Romantic Minimalist Wedding at Villa La Joya Playa del Carmen

Stephanie & Evan's Romantic Minimalist Wedding at Villa La Joya Playa del Carmen

In the magic hour of golden light, Stephanie and Evan became man and wife in the garden of Villa la Joya, Playa del Carmen. The gorgeous couple exchanged vows in a simple and elegant destination wedding ceremony by the sea attended by their friends and family decked out in some fantastic fashions. 

Villa la Joya was excited to welcome Stephanie and Evan from “across the pond” and to see all the dreams and planning come to life in their fall wedding in Mexico. This couple from the UK met in their hometown and lived a wandering life following Evan’s career as a rugby player before settling down in Newcastle where Evan proposed outside Bamburgh Castle. (We adore love stories with castles!)

Why choose a destination wedding in Mexico? 

"We chose Mexico as our destination, as Mexico was our first big holiday together, and we have so many memories here. Having been to Mexico twice before our wedding, and the fact we both love the sun, beach, and holidays we felt it was the perfect choice. When we booked our wedding date, we went back to our first holiday in Mexico and realized the first day we spent in Mexico was the 26th of October, so it felt extra special and as though it was meant to happen," Stephanie shared about their decision.

How did you choose Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen as your wedding venue in Mexico?

"We had been searching up and down for the perfect venue, and we actually came across Villa La Joya on social media (Instagram). We instantly fell in love with the venue, from the views, interior, and external area. We instantly got in touch with the Villa La Joya team, who were incredible and so helpful," Stephanie said about discovering Villa La Joya.

How would you describe your Mexico destination wedding style?

"We are both minimalist people, we don’t really have a favourite colour or flower. We love classic, simple but effective. So we thought black and white for the wedding party would give this look. Filled with pampas which is all over our home decor. When we look back at pictures we absolutely love them, with the white touches of black and gold," Stephanie described the wedding style.

The rectangular arch for the ceremony bedecked in white flowers and pampas, the chandeliers and candles lighting the reception, the divine minimalist cake and a live musician playing saxophone, there were so many details that made this a perfectly elegant affair. And oh what a party too, elegant doesn’t mean “stuffy”, this group rocked it out on the dance floor. 

"Our favourite moment of our wedding was each of our guests enjoying themselves, and also telling us how incredible the whole experience from the holiday to the wedding day was. The surprise of them turning up to Villa La Joya and their faces seeing how incredible the venue is, was the icing on the cake," Stephanie shared her joy.

Advice for brides planning a destination wedding in Mexico?

"I don’t think there is anything different we would have done. We had 2 years of planning and prepping, so we felt fairly organized and just ready to enjoy the day," Stephanie reflected on the wedding planning process.

Stephanie's advice for brides is personal and straightforward. "Trust your gut, do what makes you both happy. It is your day and that’s what matters the most. Soak up every moment, take time after the ceremony to spend time together alone to watch your guests enjoy themselves, and to also have a little toast together. (Let’s be honest, wedding planning isn’t always straightforward). Oh, and don’t forget that Moet for the morning of the wedding... trust me it settled those nerves."

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Stephanie and Evan, wishing them a lifetime filled with love and joy. Stephanie and Evan, thank you for allowing Villa La Joya to play a part in your enchanting love story.

Special thanks are due to the incredible Playa del Carmen wedding vendors whose professionalism, creativity, and talent contributed to making this affair truly elegant:

Planner: Lucy Gallagher | Photo: Martin Wilk | Video: About Time Wedding Films | Hair & Makeup: Zoe Elizabeth | Florals: Cherry Blossom | Rentals: Kay & Tee | Catering: Gourmet Soberanis | Cake: Lali Pasteles | Sax: Ariel | DJ: Disco Movil

Evan and Stephanie's wedding was a celebration of love, simplicity, and the beauty of a carefully chosen destination. If you're inspired by their story, contact Villa La Joya and let us help bring your dream destination wedding to life. Our team, along with the best wedding vendors in Playa del Carmen, is ready to make your ideas a reality. Send us a message today at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen!

Tania and Steve's Magical Mexico Wedding at Villa La Joya

Tania and Steve's Magical Mexico Wedding at Villa La Joya

A Stolen Kiss, A Romantic Beginning

Tania and Steve's love story started with a bold stolen kiss on a San Diego yacht during a sizzling 4th of July celebration in 2017. Their connection deepened during a birthday bash in Jamaica, where the tropical vibes sealed their fate. Originally set to part ways due to Steve's planned move, the magic of the moment convinced him to stay in San Diego and the rest is history.

Why choose Mexico: A Destination Wedding Love Affair

United by their love for adventure, Tania and Steve dreamt of a destination wedding. Italy was the initial idea, but the allure of Mexico, with its vibrant culture, delectable food, and, of course, tequila, proved irresistible. Villa La Joya Playa del Carmen, our picturesque wedding venue in Mexico reminiscent of Tania's Italian dreams, became the perfect canvas for their love story.

The ceremony at the grand entrance of Villa La Joya was nothing short of enchanting. An absolutely amazing floral arch adorned the steps, framing Tania and Steve's vows in a setting that seamlessly blended elegance with an abundance of white roses. Villa la Joya bloomed with the fashionable energy of the bridal party. Bride and groom radiated style and amor, Tania’s lacy bridal gown and veil were nothing short of perfect and Steve’s look in a light suit and a black shirt was super chic. 

Too hot for a wedding in Mexico? No way! Breezy, splashy, refreshing fun at Villa la Joya

Their wedding day in Playa Del Carmen turned out to be a scorcher, making even Steve's knees break a sweat during the ceremony! The sweet detail of providing guests with fans was definitely welcomed. The breezy garden provided relief during the cocktail hour, and the ocean brought unexpected splashes along the villa's beachside. Initial concerns about the weather turned into unexpected joy as guests embraced the refreshing mist, turning an unforeseen twist into a memorable part of their day.

The Night Sky Lit Up: Fireworks, Churros and Dancing To the Beat of Love

As the day turned to night, Villa La Joya set the stage for a spectacular celebration. Fireworks illuminated the sky, casting a magical glow on Tania and Steve's first dance. The dance floor transformed into a huge party with everyone getting down to the funky beats. 


Tania changed into her reception attire, a gown that accentuated every curve, exuding elegance and grace. The night unfolded into a fabulous fiesta full of big hugs and lots of laughs, a testament to the love and joy that surrounded the couple and their guests.

Reflections and Advice for Destination Wedding Brides

Looking back, Tania wishes they had chosen Villa La Joya right from the start of the wedding planning process. The festivities ended too soon, and she told us she would extend the celebration until 1 am to keep the dance floor rocking. Her advice to brides: trust the process, enjoy moments with your partner, and don't sweat the small stuff. Your day will be a masterpiece, especially if you choose professionals who understand your vision.

We are delighted and grateful that Tania and Steve chose Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen. We send you big congratulations and wishes for a lifetime of happiness together.

Feeling inspired to get married in Mexico? Join us at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen

Each and every love story is an inspiration, are you ready to start planning your destination wedding in Mexico? Start with us at Villa la Joya Playa del Carmen, we can’t wait to bring your visions to life! Contact us today!

Big thanks, muchas gracias: Our fabulous Mexico wedding vendors in Playa del Carmen make magic every time

As always, we send our gratitude to the incredible group of creative professionals who are always welcome at Villa la Joya, you are the best wedding vendors in Mexico! And remember, never any vendor fees, let’s put those pesos to the gorgeousness of the day! 

Mexico Wedding Vendors Playa del Carmen: 

Planner Fer Gallegos | Photos Andre Gouin | Video Sea Love Wedding Films | Florals Mandarinna Studio | Rentals Planner 1 Events | Zoë Elizabeth Makeup | Dress Grace Loves Lace | Catering Icaza Creativos | Cake Lluvia de Azucar | Dance floor Hercon Entertainment | Fireworks Pyrocaribe | PicMe Photo Booth and Video 360 | DJ Audio Cancun