Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya Destination Wedding: Ian & Jeannie

Photo Credit: Adventure Photos

Say hello to Jeannie and Ian—adorable high school sweethearts turned lifelong travel buddies who decided that their dream wedding deserved a side of ocean breeze, margaritas, and unforgettable memories. Hailing from Savage, Minnesota, these two came to Alpaca Your Bags Travel ready to trade Pinterest overwhelm for paradise vibes. And spoiler alert: they crushed it.

When we first connected, Jeannie and Ian were in that “we know we want a destination wedding but… help?” phase—which, by the way, is totally normal. Dreaming big? Easy. Planning all the things? Not so much. But that’s where we come in.

Their must-haves were simple yet meaningful: an intimate setting, ocean views, and a celebration that reflected their love for adventure, family, and culture. Oh—and a vibe that felt a little bit Big Fat Greek Wedding, but with a Hispanic twist. 

Photo Credit: Adventure Photos

They were open to locations but had their eyes on Mexico—because who doesn’t love tacos by the beach and the sound of waves during a ceremony? 

Oh, and while they were leaning toward adults-only resorts, they had a few kiddos in the fam they wanted to include. No worries—we helped them explore that magical middle ground!

Planning a wedding while juggling careers, family, and life? They proved it can be done—with zero meltdown moments required. From seamless airport transfers to beautiful beach views, nighttime fun at the resort, and desserts that made everyone do a happy dance—this wedding was a win all around.

Real Wedding Q&A with Ian & Jeannie

What were your biggest fears when planning a destination wedding?

That it would be a lot of work and that it would be too complicated and turn out messy!

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

Literally how easy it was. It truly felt like minimal effort on our part for something that turned out so amazing. For people who are in the thick of their careers this was truly the best case scenario for us. 

Photo Credit: Adventure Photos

What is your favorite memory of your destination wedding?

It’s hard to choose one. Being with family and best friends all week while being on vacation was the most special thing to us. We will cherish all of the memories from that week forever. 

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

We splurged on the excursion and it was totally worth it. We are big activities people and Mexico has some of the best snorkeling and cenotes in the world and we never miss an opportunity to check them out. 

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

We saved on our flights by booking Sun Country and it was fine and we saved on wedding decorations and that also turned out very fine.

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

I very much would not change a thing. The whole thing was pretty perfect, truly. 

Photo Credit: Adventure Photos

What kind of feedback did you get from your guests?

Our guests had a blast. They commented on the ease of the transportation to and from the airport, good food, beautiful resort, beautiful beach, fun bar and entertainment in the evenings, and delicious desserts. 

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

Be flexible and know that whatever you decide on will be beautiful. I think resorts and wedding planning teams like the one at the Hyat Zilara are masters at their craft and truly have the whole wedding thing down and if you can go into it being flexible and knowing you are going to have a good time you will indeed have a good time.

Photo Credit: Adventure Photos

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

In every way. We would have never been able to plan and organize something like this ourselves. Ashley and Mandie made everything organized and easy for our guests to book and organize transportation for even our parents who really struggle with things like this. I would recommend and use Alpaca your bags every time. 

Photographer: Adventure Photos

Travel Advisor: Alpaca Your Bags Travel 

Resort: Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya