Hyatt Ziva Cancun Destination Wedding: Mallory & James

Photo Credit: Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

Planning a beach destination wedding can feel like a whirlwind of emotions—exciting, but also a little overwhelming. If you’ve ever dreamed of saying “I do” on the sand in a tropical paradise, you probably know the fears and questions that come along with it.

That’s exactly how Mallory and James felt when they started planning their wedding at a dreamy beach venue. But after working with us—and seeing tons of photos and videos of what was possible—they felt much more at ease and ready to tie the knot by the ocean.

What makes this couple truly unforgettable? Their playful, non-traditional style. Mallory and James love the outdoors, adore their pups, and wanted their wedding to reflect their fun-loving personalities.

No garter toss? Check.
A choreographed first dance inspired by Silver Linings Playbook? Absolutely!This is exactly why we love helping couples plan their beach destination wedding—there’s no “one right way” to do it. Your big day should be all about what makes you happy!

Photo Credit: Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

With a big group of family and friends expected, Mallory and James knew their beach destination wedding would be more than just a ceremony—it was going to be an unforgettable experience.

That’s the beauty of a destination wedding: it’s not just about the vows. From beach bonfires to catamaran excursions, guests enjoyed a full weekend of fun, with plenty of downtime to relax and soak it all in.

There’s truly nothing like watching your favorite people sip margaritas with their toes in the sand!

Mallory and James were all about fun, laughter, and making memories in paradise. They dreamed of a beach ceremony surrounded by loved ones, followed by an epic party near a golf course they both loved. From their emotional vows to their unforgettable first dance and the joy of being together in such a beautiful place, every detail reflected their personalities perfectly. A destination wedding isn’t just about saying “I do”—it’s about creating memories that last a lifetime.

Here’s a firsthand look at the biggest celebrations, surprises, and favorite moments from a real destination wedding experience.

Real Wedding Q&A with Mallory & James

What were your biggest fears when planning a destination wedding?

• It is totally nerve racking to plan a wedding in another country! I was worried about the space we chose (beach venue) and if it was what I imagined it to be.  Through talking with Ashley and the wedding planner and after seeing videos and photos, I felt a lot better. I would not have planned a destination wedding without a travel advisor/agency. 

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

• Nothing surprised me, but I felt that the service and attention to detail from our resort (Hyatt Ziva) was exceptional. They spoiled us and made us feel special. They had champagne, strawberries and snacks with a letter from the hotel and our wedding planner when we arrived. On the day of our wedding they had rose petals and champagne for us post reception, and then for our spa experience they decorated our seats and had champagne and note and decor around our pool chairs!

Photo Credit: Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

What is your favorite memory of your destination wedding?

• It is very hard to have one favorite, because they were all so wonderful. I think my favorite memory is looking down the aisle at our dream reception/venue (on the beach) and seeing our favorite people/family/friends in attendance there to support us in our love and celebration.

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

• Yes! 2 things we splurged on:

The day before the wedding we treated the wedding party and both bride and groom’s family to a catamaran experience on a private yacht to Isla Mujueres. This was SO fun, and allowed our families to hang out and be together for the day while we also got some quality time with them.

We also reserved 3 cabanas the day after the wedding, and it was SO worth it. We did not do a post wedding brunch or anything but think that having the cabanas at the pool the day after was a great place for people to gather as a home base and hang out with the bride/groom/wedding party.

Photo Credit: Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

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

• No we did not attempt to save on anything. We wanted to splurge and make sure we were comfortable during our wedding.

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

• No changes! Since I am in the wedding industry (I own my own mobile bartending business), I knew I had to be extra thorough while planning internationally. I felt I covered everything but if I were another bride I would have advised to hiring an external wedding planner to help with everything.

Photo Credit: Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

What kind of feedback did you get from your guests?

• They loved having the travel advisor, Ashley and her team with Alpaca My Bags. It helped them stay on track during the months leading up to the wedding.

My guests also were saying how amazing Hyatt Ziva Cancun was. A lot of these guests are world travelers and have experience with different resorts but were BLOWN AWAY with how amazing the resort was from the food to the service and location. I feel super grateful Ashley guided me when we were trying to decide what hotel/resort since we hadn’t stayed at any of these resorts before.

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

• Try to accomplish one thing at a time. Give yourself plenty of time to plan out and make sure to find at least 3 vendors for each service. A lot of the vendors you will find that are not a “preferred” vendor within the resort are actually usually more affordable and offer more than the preferred vendors.

Photo Credit: Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

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

• Since I hired Alpaca Your Bags Travel, it took off the stress of having my guests call me and ask me questions about logistics, hotel info, etc. It was so nice I did not have to worry about the guests stay while I was trying to plan everything else. AYBT had everything covered, created my own website with photos of us, and answers to literally all the questions you could have. Ashley and her team were also super quick to communicate and respond to questions/inquiries. 

Photographer:Dream Bella Photography-Amanda Chopiany

Travel Advisor: Alpaca Your Bags Travel 

Resort: Hyatt Ziva Cancun