playa del carmen Archives - Weddings in Playa

The Cost of it All

February 27, 2023

Wedding budgets and how to save some serious $$$$

Dollars are money spent for budgeting wedding — We have been organizing weddings since 2001 and know some tricks!

Weddings in Mexico! white beach, palm trees and tequilas!! Cheap price right? ehemmm…

All in all organizing these events was extremely cheap 20 years ago when we started the business yet certainly this has changed since all venues have doubled their fees and post- Covid prices have increased. Additionally, flights and hotel rooms have caught up.

plants as wedding decor — Plants instead of flowers

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes and with varying price tags. All things considere, hosting a beautiful wedding doesn’t have to mean to go into debt nor breaking the bank (unless you know how to…). We’ve used our collective experience to put together a list of the best wedding budget tips and hacks. Preparation and research can help save you a lot of your hard-earned money as you plan the big day.

Throw the wedding of your dreams with these wedding budget tips and money-savings secrets

You can have the wedding you’ve always wanted without wiping out your savings.

In this paragraph, moreover, i will suggest how to plan your wedding clearly during a less traditional time of year or time of day to make your rupee/dollar/peso/euro as well as that yin stretch… In addition some hotels give great accomodation deals if you book a large group! (we love https://www.hyatt.com/es-ES/hotel/mexico/grand-hyatt-playa-del-carmen-resort/cunpc)

1. Book in the off-season

Above all, if you’re interested in a destination wedding, choosing a wedding date during slower seasons can save you a lot of money on venue rental, overnight accommodations, flights and more, however that is not always the case. Check online deal and your TA or OTA.

2. Avoid holidays

Another key point is to avoid holidays and other special events that raise local prices. All in all in conclusion it should be noted that to have it at one location, so wedding ceremony, cocktail and reception will be less expensive!

dogs at wedding can be fun — Watch our for uninvited guests! Be clear with your friends if you allow +1…

Booking the venue ( Btw: we love https://bluevenadoweddings.com/)

3. Keep the guest list small

Altogether a small, intimate wedding will save the bride and the groom money on venue rental as well as food and beverage service,but in case of a very large wedding (i am planning one for 300 right now!), ask your guests for no gifts but cash contributions: however couples have everything since they already live together and that will help you both to give the party you dream of!

4. Look for venues that allow outside vendor setup

Also bringing in external vendors is often cheaper than using the in-house version and make sure to ask about additional fees for using outside vendors, set up/tear down fees, gratuity, and any other fees that may unexpectedly arise. Ask to see an example contract and compare various venue policies. We love DJ DIego https://www.instagram.com/evolutionmixaudiovisual/?hl=en

5. Create the ideal menu

Dance carefree because your budget is looking good!

Skip a full-plated dinner service that requires serving staff and includes multiple courses. Family style or buffet are great and everyone can get what they want! In conclusion altogether forget the cake and go for the delightful Mexican pastries like the ones we buy at http://www.chezceline.com.mx/ or at https://ahcacao.com/… We are clients and as a result have been buying for our couples their fab brownies ( for https://ahcacao.com/) and the creme brulee and mini tarts (@http://www.chezceline.com.mx/) since they opened!!

Ah cacao brownies, to die for…

6. Extend your cocktail hour to transition into the reception

As cocktail hour is wrapping up, unveil a slider bar, charcuterie station and break out the entertainment to seamlessly transition into the reception without including dinner service.

Signature drinks make your cocktail more you!

Thrifty decorations yet super cool!!

Spend your money where it matters most. Don’t allow decorations to take over your wedding budget; save money with these great tips. In addition, Pinterest is a super great helper!!!

7. Stick with one theme

Choose one style—one color scheme—and stick to it. Extra flowers, tissue paper, or linen can easily be repurposed to save elsewhere. Please no more gold and violet! seen and re-seen…

8. Paper flowers

Instead of shelling out major money for fresh flowers (be planet savvy since flowers have a high cost) , consider mini plants (like the ones at http://www.jardinfloreria.com) or origami flowers or other crafty DIY alternatives. Furthermore, they are they a bargain, they last a lot longer than “the real thing.” Plus they make a great gift at the end of the night! Arches also can be DIY…

Our clients were creative and got a unique decor for their kissable moment!

The look

We all want to look our best on our wedding day too; that’s a given (that is why our make up artists are the best: we use https://www.sarahgarnier.com/ and https://www.dorannahairstylist.com/ . Furthermore, you can still go glam without gutting your expense budget.

9. Accentuate a simple dress with standout accessories

Simple, classic dresses can easily be taken up a notch with an eye-catching accessory. Lastly, choose jewelry, hair accessories, or shoes that stand out when paired with an affordable gown.

10. Choose a simple hairstyle and add a headband or barrette (or find a good friend…)

Stylists are typically needed for excessive updos. Choose a simple, elegant hairstyle accentuated by a headband or barrette to save on styling costs. If you have good friends, you can ask them for a make up or a touch up…

Financial planning

Financial responsibility is essential to wedding planning with less stress. It’s also a core component of a healthy marriage foundation. Start your marriage off right by setting financial goals, tracking expenses, and working with your partner to stay within a designated budget.

11. Discuss your budget with your partner and agree early on

Set goals and limits that you both agree on. Ensuring that you’re on the same page from the beginning will help avoid unnecessary drama down the line. Set a credit limit, and don’t go over it… Be financially responsible with your wedding planning. If you are comfortable paying off $500 of credit card debt this year, for example, set that limit and stick to it. If you can’t afford it, don’t charge anything at all. Only purchase what you can afford right now.

12. Decide what details are negotiable

Pinpoint “must have” and “can definitely live without” wedding details so that you can allocate money to what you want most. Take advantage of credit rewards and benefits. f you already have a credit card or two, research your reward benefits. See which retailers your creditor partners with to find unadvertised discounts and cash-back opportunities.

13. Look for unexpected expenseTry to anticipate any unforeseen expenses. Will you need to rent restroom trailers for an outdoor wedding? Is there ample parking? Most venues in Riviera Maya are far away from the city. consider that… what is the cost of transportation for the guests? and what if they want to leave earlier? Ask us for everything you need to know, we are always available at Watsapp +529838337771. You can never have too many options. Buy and create the items you really want and set for a budget friendly and amazing wedding day!! ENJOY in the creation…

Thanks for the photos to : https://delsolphotography.com/, https://www.lilibretonphoto.com/ https://www.facebook.com/officialABPhotography, /https://deansandersonweddings.com/ https://naalweddingphotography.com/

Weddings In Playa Laura Joe — Thanks to all the great vendors that make my job easy

Best wedding details for the Season

August 26, 2022

From chair ornaments to table enhancement, wedding details are the nuts and bolt of a well-planned wedding… small decorations that create THE personal touch!

What?

We have seen a lot of great weddings over 21 years, but sometimes the little wedding details really stand out. Sometimes more is less. Create a stunning wedding look narrowing down what style or theme fits your wedding ideal day. A fantastic way to browse into this is Pinterest, where you can literally spy what others do…

It’s certain that all wedding plans are overwhelming. It’s common to forget about the little details that make your day amazing. Ideas that you love. Plants, flags and candles are budget-friendly ornaments that will amp up your wedding’s wow point …

Flowers are important, but for an Instagram WOW view introduce details that capture your values, story and what you cherish most (including furry pets, which we adore!!)…

Ask yourselves: do we intend a more time-honored and traditional wedding, or more fresh and modern? How would we describe our interior design style and/or fashion sense? Are there any hobbies, passions, or unique aspects of our personalities, culture, and relationship we could creatively weave through our design?

Create a wedding that talks about you and you will create a life time memory that will remind your guests about You.

Naal and AB Photography, thank You!

Ten years later… what happens after they say I do?

February 14, 2020

What happens after the princess marries her prince?

A few success stories after we say good bye…. Happy Val DAY!

Today is February 14th, Saint Valentine.

I am in love with love, not for nothing i do this job.

It is so amazing to get to meet our clients before they get married and start their life together, but what happens after it?

I often remind to my brides that if they put the same effort in the marriage as in the wedding… it will go always incredibly well! Something must stick, because on 600 couples only 5 divorced, so we must bring some luck… or they are quite amazing themselves…

The fact that we say good bye at the beginning of the adventure is not a motive to let years go by without any news. We keep in touch with our ex clients, send them love and also see some of them in Playa, like Erica in this photo!!

We often hear from them, some come to Playa and remarry after 5 or 10 years… we meet the children and i cannot wait to see what else they are going to experience.

Not all have kids, some party like rockstars, like Maryann and Cesar, below, that got married with me in Tulum over 10 years ago….

We love all of their choices, because life is made of real people and real adventure. Here 3 of my fav, Jaimie and Denee, married at Grand Coral 11 years ago.

All of our clients are dear to our hearts, yet time goes by and some of them we never see.

Yet we have fond memories of all of them and wish them a life that is amazing, long and full of love .

Kesha & Kevin Wedding at Paamul Beach – Playa del Carmen

November 22, 2018October 10, 2018

Kesha and Kevin Wedding in Paamul Playa del Carmen

This wedding was a family affair: Kesha and Kevin knew Paamul as the parents of Kevin spent a few years living there . The joint families, friends and the kids came to celebrate one week of absolute bliss, crowned by the wedding day, on a warm February afternoon.

We love our clients and we enjoy the happiness on their faces when all is said and done. The work done before it, you do not see….

only the end result. But before that there are hours and hours of precious planning. It is my privilege to share all the tricks i have learned in 18 year of event planning with all of my clients.

Here, on this pages, i will let Kesha and Kevin talk and tell their story …. so you can see what happens before, during and after:

She said:

i would love to get married in Playa del Carmen and … I got married in Playa!

This is Kesha :

When we decided that we were having our wedding in the Playa del Carmen area, I was determined to do all of the work myself.

But I quickly found out that i was very overwhelmed and lost. It didn’t even occur to me to hire a wedding planner. I happened to be talking to a girl at work that I knew and found that her brother and sister-in-law had used Maria for their PDC wedding. I immediately emailed her and set up a Skype appointment with her almost 2 years prior to our wedding date.

When we spoke with her, she was so warm and friendly and calming. What really sold me was after describing to her what we were looking for, the first place she suggested was the one of the places that we were thinking about. My husbands parents had lived in Paamul(12 miles S of PDC) for several years and we had always said that if we did get married it would be there.

Since they had sold their place and moved back to the states, we weren’t 100% positive that we would still do it there. But it seemed like fate when she suggested Paamul, it just was meant to be that we were to get married there and Maria was the person that was supposed to make that happen. I was elated! and we worked at it for 22 months…..

Maria made my every wish come true!

Kevin: I wanted to make Kesha happiest: Maria respected all of our wishes and could see our exact vision in her head. She has amazing contacts and was able to facilitate any relationship with the vendors. We got the best flowers decoration and the DJ was incredible!

Kesha and Kevin Wedding dancing in Paamul Playa del Carmen

Kesha dancing in Paamul Playa del Carmen

dancing in Weeding at Paamul Playa del Carmen

There is not one single thing that I would change about our day except to make it last longer. I not only had the wedding of my dreams to share with the people most special to me, I gained an amazing friend out of it. Much love Maria!!!

…. simply… happy ever after!

Kesha and Kevin

Photo credits Alessandro Bacchelli AB Photography

Paamul restaurant Kalu’

DJ Diego Alvarado

Krystal and Toni Wedding at Indigo Beach – Playa del Carmen

November 22, 2018August 16, 2018

Krystal and Toni are adventure-seekers. They really are!

When i first met Krystal via Skype, i thought….what a beautiful vibrant woman!! i am so happy to organise her wedding: it’ll be FUN!

well that has been true.
From day 1 Toni and Krystal have been amazing fun. Planning their wedding from Queensland, Australia, they wanted to make sure that relaxed elegance and great party were going to be the Thing.

The couple first met in a bar near Kangaroo Point, Australia, and just six months later, they hopped in a car, drove 3,000 miles, and made a trip of a life time. Avid travellers and dedicated friends, they have invited their awesome families and friends to Playa del Carmen , some 14,300 Km away, for a party of their lifetime . It was evident that they are loved, as all the invited guests arrived, after 22 hrs of a long flight.

From their new base in Queensland, Krystal says they continued on new adventures, driving up the coast whenever they could escape work for a long weekend. But perhaps their greatest adventure took place in October, when they had the fabulous idea of getting a little fun in their wedding day.
For their wedding, the adventurous couple selected a destination like Playa because they wanted that everyone visited Mexico together, as the country holds a special place in their hearts.

The location chosen was the beach club Indigo Beach, on calle 16th and the beach. The amazing Haidee was there helping during the months before and on wedding day, as usual

There, Krystal, Toni and their 35 guests enjoyed a long weekend of festivities planned by the bride and us at Weddingsinplaya. We enlisted an all-star team of vendors, including Alessandro Bacchelli from AB photography who was on hand to capture every special moment and gorgeous detail, so keep reading to see all the creativity come to life. Seriously, get your Pinterest boards ready!

The couple decided to take a few pictures in the romantic garden of Lunata and she chose, on my advice, to get there on triciclo, a typical Mexican transportation which I decorated with all care!

There Toni was waiting for her with eyes closed and they enjoyed their first look.

After the return where both came back to Indigo on the Triciclo, the wedding took place with a friend officiant

The party was long and fun , thanks to Dj Diego Alvarado and the many feisty dancers that stayed until 1am!
What a party: Aussies know best….

(Foto delle danze)

Pontea and David Persian Wedding At Gran Coral Beach Club

November 22, 2018May 1, 2018

Facing the beautiful Caribbean ocean on a Saturday a beautiful Princess called Pontea finally got married to her beloved David in a spectacular Persian wedding

The typical 23 details of the altar, Sofreh Aghd, were full of traditions and meaning. Though the most interesting part of the whole was that amazing mirror as the couple is supposed to look at each other through it.

The closest family took part in the celebration and in the ritual

While love was in the air in every moment and sparkled in the couple’s eyes.

Romanticism was at its full. The sunset just gave the perfect colours to evoke a timeless and magical atmosphere. That magic mirror captured a glimpse of that feeling.