Traditional Mayan Destination Wedding

When photos of this real destination wedding landed in my inbox, I was stoked!  Raleigh and Tom had a traditional Mayan ceremony at the Royal by Real Resorts in the Riviera Maya.  Their ceremony was so unique and I’m honored to share it with you today.   I hope you enjoy the photos by Jhankarlo Photography and some destination wedding advice from the beautiful bride.

The bride on her reason for having a traditional Mayan destination wedding: “We wanted something unique that no one else had ever done. The Mayan ceremony was definitely one-of-a-kind!”

I asked Raleigh about her source of inspiration. “We simply wanted bright, lively accents and delicious food for our guests.”

Real Destination Wedding Advice

Why did you choose to have a destination wedding in The Riviera Maya?

Beautiful location by the beach that our friends and family could enjoy as both a vacation and our wedding.

Was there something unique or special that you incorporated into your wedding décor/theme?

My grandparents were unable to attend due to distance. To include them in pictures my cousins created mini-versions of them on pipe-cleaners. It may sound bizarre but I ended up with some very cute pictures with my grandparents on my wedding day.

What was your favorite part of having a destination wedding?

Being able to celebrate for an entire week with our guests instead of just one day.

If you could give one (or two) pieces of advice to brides planning a destination wedding, what would it be?

Visit your intended location in advance and try all the food you plan to serve. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for something not on a resort’s list of services.

Did anything crazy, special, unique, quirky, emotional or unusual happen on your wedding day?

One of my best friends’ father brought a squirrel mask with him to Mexico as a surprise. He showed up, drinks in hand, as we were getting our hair and make-up done. He was a huge, hilarious hit!