Dreams Riviera Cancun Destination Wedding: Karla & James

Is there true love on dating apps? For Karla and James, the answer is a big yes! They met on Hinge three years ago in Nashville and have been inseparable ever since. They’re foodies who love to cook and try new cuisines, and they share a passion for travel. 

When they first reached out to us, Karla and James knew they wanted a destination wedding but were feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options. Their families are spread across the globe, and a destination wedding seemed like the perfect way to bring everyone together. They loved the idea of an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, even though they hadn’t been there before and felt unsure about making such a big decision from afar. That’s where we come in to help couples like them navigate through the planning process.

Karla and James wanted a laid-back, tropical vibe that truly reflected their personalities and tastes. And we were thrilled to help bring their dream wedding to life.

Real Wedding Q&A with Karla and James!

What were your biggest fears when planning a destination wedding?

Definitely picking a place without seeing it at first. Also, being unable to meet with vendors in person, like the DJ, to review small details. At the same time, this is exactly what I wanted because I did not want to stress about the small things. I wanted it to be simple and not overdone so that I could enjoy time with family and friends to celebrate my wedding. 

Is there anything about the actual destination wedding experience that surprised you?

How excited friends and family were to travel! Also, how much bang for your buck you get for the whole weekend.

What is your favorite memory of your destination wedding?

We really enjoyed getting there early and spending time with all our guests before the big day. This was a big weight lifted off our shoulders because we were able to enjoy all the events, like our welcome party, cocktail hour, and the wedding, of course. We also liked that the following day, we had more time to relax and enjoy time with our guests.

Did you splurge on anything travel or wedding related? If so, what was it and was it worth it?

Yes! We upgraded our welcome party to be a Mexican Fiesta. While it wasn’t necessary, we really liked the decor and the tequila station. The food was also delicious! Another MUST is Hora Loca! This is a tradition in Hispanic culture that I wanted to incorporate into our wedding, and I was BLOWN AWAY! We had samba dancers, drum players, a woman on stilts, and water drums.  It was the highlight of the party and definitely changed the mood. I loved seeing our guest’s reactions, and I was even surprised! Definitely worth getting.

Did you attempt to *save* on anything travel or wedding related? If so, what was it and was it worth it?

Yes, I really wanted a specific aesthetic with some details like the chairs, flowers, napkins, etc. In all honesty, no one is going to remember that. The location spoke for itself.

If you could change anything with your wedding (planning, the day itself, the location, resort, ANYTHING) – what would you change?

The only thing would be to get married earlier haha. It was hard to find a good date so our engagement was really long!

What kind of feedback did you get from your guests?

Our guests were sooo happy and loved everything from the little details we worked on to forcing them to take a vacation. I worked on a playbill program where I included everyone’s picture. Our guests used it like a scavenger hunt to make sure they met other people. I would like to say that new friendships were formed!

Now that you’ve been through it, what is your #1 best piece of advice for wedding couples entering the planning process?

Just do it, and don’t stress about the small details! These people know what they’re doing and do it about three times a day (shoutout to our coordinator, Emmanuel at Dreams Riviera Cancun). Definitely be realistic about communication expectations – they’re slow to respond but they do take care of you! So when you talk to them, be ready with all your details. 

In what ways did Alpaca Your Bags Travel make this less stressful for you?

Being the middleman with my guests and answering the same questions over and over again. (THANK YOU FOR THAT) AYBT took care of the stressful part of this – the travel and contacting the resorts. They were so quick to answer any questions our guests had.

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Photographer: William Carnahan

Travel Advisor: Alpaca Your Bags Travel 

Resort: Dreams Riviera Cancun