Bienvenidos, welcome to this deliciously romantic destination wedding in the Riviera Maya. Villa Planners worked with the best vendors in the Riviera Maya to bring this vision to life at our favorite wedding venue in Mexico, Villa la Joya.

Nat and Zach were a pleasure to work with in planning their big day and we know you are going to feel their love and get inspired by each and every detail. Ready for some real wedding inspiration? You are going to swoon!

Destination wedding theme and inspiration: Colors and fashion for the whole wedding party

Bride Natalie was aglow in her figure-hugging, off the shoulder bridal gown with hair and makeup by Sara Tamargo and Beauty Expert MX. She shared her wedding fashion inspirations with us to pass along to you.

What was your destination wedding theme, colors, and inspiration?

The overall aesthetic was 'timeless and romantic”.
The groomsmen wore black 3-piece suits, black dress shoes, and a white button-up shirt. Zach wore an all black tux and his father's brown leather belt. Zach and the groomsmen all wore gold Jaxxon chains.
The bridesmaids all wore different shades of pinks, mauves, and deep-reds with florals incorporated in their dress, and shoes that matched with their individual dress. They also wore gold bracelets, which was a nod to the jewelry the groomsmen also wore. Seeing all the bridesmaids lined up together in pictures was amazing. I was so excited with how beautiful they all looked and how elegant the look came together.

Ask the newlyweds: Why choose a destination wedding in the Riviera Maya?

Villa Planners has a list of a million reasons to choose to get married in Mexico. Year-round good weather, spectacular views and the professional venues in the Riviera Maya for private and personalized wedding experiences. The destination has been hosting weddings for decades and the vendors and venues are world-class. We work with the best who know how to smoothly plan your wedding to perfection.

When we ask newlyweds why they choose the Riviera Maya, they always give us such personal and meaningful responses. Reasons go beyond the practical and into the magic of Mexico.

Why did we choose to get married in the Riviera Maya, Mexico?

We took our first vacation in Mexico, which was a wonderful time together. My family is from Mexico, so there are family ties to this beautiful country. Zach and I love the beach, ocean, and the water. So we thought what better way to spend one of the most important days of our lives right off of the ocean with our loved ones. The best experience of all was having all of our close family and friends in Mexico with us to share great memories.

Choosing a wedding venue in Mexico is an important decision and you have to do your research. A site visit at Villa la Joya, Riviera Maya had Nat and Zach hooked for their private villa wedding.

Why did you choose wedding venue Villa la Joya to host your big day?
Choosing Villa la Joya was an easy decision. It was such a beautiful and grand experience to see the property. I knew that it would be a great time for us and all of our guests. We knew that it would be a once in a lifetime experience and it absolutely was that and more. You don't really know how beautiful it is until you're there in person. The pictures of VLJ are of course always beautiful. But being there in person is spectacular.

Why choose Villa Planners for your destination wedding in Mexico?

Our team of wedding coordinators at Villa Planners is always delighted to get feedback from our Riviera Maya wedding newlyweds.

Why did you choose Villa Planners for your Riviera Maya wedding at Villa la Joya?

Choosing Villa Planners was a great decision. Who knows the place better than those that work directly with the venue? We were so pleased with their services. Adriana was always just a phone call away and the one who helped with throughout the entire planning process. She was sweet, helpful, and always had a great list of vendors. Anything I wanted, she was able to help facilitate. Nancy, Cristina, and Enrique were also a pleasure and great to have on the team!

Private villa wedding in the Riviera Maya: Moving ceremony and a lively reception full of love

Nat and Zach shared their love story in every aspect of the wedding day. As destination wedding planners we first focus on details like the pinky purple floral altar, the sparkling chandeliers and the warm and welcoming family-style table for the reception. The sweethearts table was dreamy with the lush florals designed by Pentaflor. The “Just Married” cake by La Migaja Playa del Carmen was simply adorable.

After the wedding, the newlyweds told us about their experience and we loved that bride Nat shared with us her favorite, most meaningful moments.

Our vows were emotional and honest. We were able to express our love to one another. It was a sincere moment for us to experience.

Another favorite memory would be finally sitting down to dinner at our sweetheart table. And getting to see our family and friends sitting at their tables to realize we are finally here on the day we've looked forward to for so long. It was so cool to see everyone there with us, soak everything in, and see the entire day come together.

What advice would you give other destination brides?

It's important to note that hindsight is 20/20. You don't really know what you want until it's already happened.
I highly recommend a first look. We didn't do one and I really wish we did. It would have given us more time to spend with our guests and enjoy the cocktail hour.
I would've changed the location where we held the ceremony on the VLJ property. We held the ceremony in the front of the building, which was absolutely beautiful. The architecture of the building and its grandness are absolutely captivating. With that said, we got married in August and it was about 95 degrees F and what felt like 100% humidity. We should've opted to get married in the back and take group pictures in the back where there is plenty of shade and a nice breeze. Everyone would have been more comfortable and it would've been the better choice. So if it is expected to be hot on your big day, definitely consider being in the shade.

Be present, live in the moment and really enjoy the wedding day you’ve planned

Last words of wisdom for couples planning a destination wedding in Mexico?

Things are bound to not go exactly as you planned. While our wedding day was seriously such an amazing experience and an absolute dream, things happen and it's important you accept it. At the end of the day, it will be ok and you should make it a conscious point to go with the flow and ENJOY your special day with your loved ones!

Villa Planners is grateful to Nat and Zach and all the professional Riviera Maya wedding vendors we love to work with.

Big thanks and so much gratitude to the newlyweds for inviting us to be their destination wedding coordinators in the Riviera Maya, huge gracias and best wishes from all of us at Villa Planners.

Feeling inspired? Ready to start destination wedding planning? Contact us at Villa Planners today and let’s have a video meet to talk about your visions.

Of course, as always, we extend our thanks to the best wedding vendors in Mexico. We appreciate all you do as creative professionals in making dreams come true.

Nat and Zach’s Villa la Joya Riviera Maya Destination Wedding

Destination wedding theme and inspiration: Colors and fashion for the whole wedding party

Ask the newlyweds: Why choose a destination wedding in the Riviera Maya?

Why choose Villa Planners for your destination wedding in Mexico?

Private villa wedding in the Riviera Maya: Moving ceremony and a lively reception full of love

Be present, live in the moment and really enjoy the wedding day you’ve planned