A Dream Wedding
With its contemporary vibe sprinkled with touches of Mayan-inspired textures and materials, the 314-room and -suite Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen sets the scene for a “wow” wedding day where no detail will be overlooked. Stretching along Mamitas Beach on the Caribbean Sea, the resort books only one wedding per day, and couples can have a wedding just the way they want it—from an intimate affair in the Citrus Patio to a lavish event under the Ocean View Gazebo. We’re also loving the Under the Bridge option, which allows couples to get married out in the open without being directly on the sandy beach. The wedding day is customized to the couples’ specific wishes, which means no pre-set wedding packages. So couples can add regional touches or keep it traditional; and for those who opt for kosher dining preferences, or typical Hindu traditions, the resort is able to accommodate. Additionally, there’s a bridal suite for brides and bridesmaids to relax and get pampered before the big moment.
While onsite, guests can explore the cenote-shaped spa, featuring eight treatment rooms and customized treatments, lounge by one of the three infinity pools, or get a bite to eat at one of three dining venues. And for wedding parties with kids in tow, the resort offers the Tortuguita Camp Hyatt. Venturing offsite, there’s plenty to do as the hotel is located within walking distance of the city’s famed Quinta Avenida, where guests can go shopping, get a bite to eat or hang till the wee hours. A couple of days should be added so there’s plenty of time to take excursions to the Tulum archaeological site or Xel-Ha archaeological park; both are ideal for all age groups within the wedding party. The resort has onsite bikes so guests can do some solo-exploring, too. Keep in mind the resort’s concierge team can help coordinate a group visit to a number of area attractions.
For the bride and groom, recommend the 615-sq.-ft. Playa del Carmen suites with oceanfront views and access to a heated private plunge-pool. These accommodations come with one king bed, floor-to-ceiling windows and a furnished balcony overlooking the Caribbean.
Weddings that Rock
At the three Hard Rock Hotels All-Inclusive Resorts throughout Mexico—with two more set to open in 2018, the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos and the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Cancun—there are three new customizable Colin Cowie Wedding Collections and three locally crafted Inspirations created by Colin Cowie with regional vendors. The new wedding collections vary from the nature-inspired Driftwood Romance ceremony, with its natural earth tones and wooden tree-shaped ceremony structure with chiffon draping and garland, to the ultra-glam Golden Radiance—the name says it all—with a sprinkle of red roses for just the right dazzling effect. But when one’s by the ocean, why not embrace the surroundings, and that’s exactly where the sparkly Seaside Shimmer ceremony comes in.
Cost for these three collections is $4,000, for 2017/2018, but they each come with a long list of goodies, including a ground fireworks display apres ceremony (Cancun and Riviera Maya), and dove release at Vallarta. The other ceremonies you’ve been booking are still part of the collection, and, of course, the Complimentary option is still available. Keep in mind, too, that the resorts offer a 2-night anniversary stay that couples can take advantage of if they decide to visit the resort within 24 months of their Hard Rock wedding. And if you’re working with LGBT clients wishing to get married in Mexico, let them know they’ll be able to choose from any of the three resorts as marriages can be performed legally in Vallarta, Cancun and Riviera Maya. Lure all couples, too, with the $1,800 Limitless Resort Credit, valid for booking and travel now through Dec. 23, 2018.
An “Oasis” in Cancun
As Paloma Flores, director of weddings at Oasis Hotels & Resorts, says, O Weddings “cater to several different markets.” There are grand affairs, such as the O Eternity package, for up to 50 guests, and more subdued nuptials like the O Ceremony for up to six guests. But it’s not just the size of the wedding party that Oasis is catering to; they also accommodate couples seeking out creative nuptials—take its uniquely Mexican O Mayan package, where a Mayan priest blesses the love of the couple while the scent of copal and the sound of seashells drift through the ceremonial site. Or, the lavish South Asian experience, the O Saptapadi, featuring a Sangheet Welcome Night; a Mendhi Henna Party; and a Gharoli ceremony, as well as the wedding ceremony itself and the private reception (starts at $10,000).
“O Weddings,” says Flores, “is continuously evolving and broadening; for example, we’ve recently become specialized in South Asian, LGBT and Iranian weddings and we’re currently constructing chapels at The Pyramid at Grand Oasis and Grand Oasis Tulum to host Catholic ceremonies.”
With packages ranging from $720 (O Ceremony) to $5,590 (O Eternity), as well as the complimentary O Remember (with 65 room nights booked), it’s all about recommending the right package to suit your bride and groom, and the property that will most match not only the bride and groom, but the wedding party, as well.
The Grand Oasis Cancun Resort complex is home to several resorts, including the deluxe 232-room The Pyramid at Grand Oasis and the adults-only, 353-room Grand Oasis Sens, so you have several options for accommodating the various requests of a wedding party. There’s an endless list of dining venues, entertainment, and outdoor activities, so your clients—no matter their taste—won’t leave yearning for more.
A Villa Wedding
For couples looking to tie the knot surrounded by family and friends only, recommend The Villa Experience by Travel Impressions and Villas of Distinction. In Mexico there are 46 villas (as of press time) ideally suited for a private—large or small—affair. Couples with a large wedding party can opt for the beachfront, 16,0000-sq.-ft., 15-bedroom Hacienda del Mar in Riviera Maya (sleeps 30), with a spacious living room; a family/game room; complimentary Mexican snacks and drinks upon arrival; gourmet kitchen; four sit-on-top kayaks for guest use (two singles and two doubles); stand-up paddleboards; a 37-ft., private heated swimming pool with numerous sun loungers, beach umbrellas, and large deck area; butler services (six hours per day): and gourmet chef services offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner, among a host of other amenities. Rates start at $2,143 per night. For smaller parties, there’s the beachfront 6,103-sq.-ft., 5-bedroom Serena in Los Cabos. It sleeps 11 and among its amenities, your clients will find Bvglari toiletries; a heated, infinity-edge pool; private beach access; daily housekeeping; and a cook, family-style. Rates start at $1,950 per night.
Villas of Distinction provides referrals for the wedding planning process through the help of professional destination-specific wedding planners.
Contact Information
Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen: playadelcarmen.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html
Hard Rock Hotels All Inclusive Resorts: allinclusivehotelweddings.com
Oasis Hotels & Resorts: o-weddings.com
The Villa Experience by Travel Impressions
and Villas of Distinction: travimp.villasofdistinction.com
