Real Destination Wedding: Julie & Zach at Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres

Photo Credit: CoresFilms

Let’s talk about Julie and Zach, a couple who wanted nothing more than to say “I do” under the sunny skies of Mexico and their toes in the sand with their closest family and friends in tow. But with so many moving parts and planning from a distance, they needed expert guidance so they could plan out the easily overlooked details. We’re so happy we could offer our support to them through the complex process!

We were able to find the perfect location for them, Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres, that embodied their bohemian vision, complete with stunning backdrops and all the laid-back vibes they desired. 

Grab a margarita and join us as we dive into Julie and Zach’s wedding!

Photo Credit: CoresFilms

Real Wedding Q&A with Julie and Zach!

What were your biggest fears when planning a destination wedding?

I was so nervous to plan something from afar. Not seeing the place prior or really knowing what I was getting into when committing was terrifying. Having Ashley with me every step of the way as an expert in the area and helping me narrow down options based on what we wanted for our big day was a huge help!

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

No matter how much you want to plan your wedding early and get things out of the way, be prepared to go through it all again 1-2 weeks prior. Coordinators and planners clearly have this down to a science and can deliver your look and feel on their short timeline. As someone who is usually overprepared, this was very unsettling, but they did a fantastic job.

What is your favorite memory of your destination wedding?

It’s hard to pick just one thing — there were so many high points! The biggest pro we found doing destination was that we had extended time with our friends and family at the resort, so we actually got to enjoy our reception and not spend hours doing a meet and greet with everyone. Also, our friends and family got to know each other more, which made it even more fun.

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

We upgraded our room to an oceanfront and WOW that was awesome. It will be hard to go back. We also flew first class for the first time and same issue. It will be hard to go back to normal.

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

We scaled back on the florals to do more greenery and save money, and I was still blown away by how beautiful the decor was.

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

We didn’t have much of an option to change this, but the DJ wasn’t great. It still ended up being fun, but they hardly played any of the songs we requested. Once our wedding party realized this wasn’t our vibe, they were making requests, but the DJ had to download the songs and said they didn’t have a ton of English songs. I could’ve set up a better playlist on my phone and had a friend MC and kept my $650.

What kind of feedback did you get from your guests?

Our guests were blown away by the wedding and resort! The only common complaint I heard was almost everyone on our room block with a swim-up was put on the side that was facing outside the resort. Some people requested new rooms and got them, and others just lived with it. Other than that, everyone is now telling their friends and family to do destination weddings from here on out.

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

Use the checklist Ashley provides. There’s so much to a wedding that it’s easy to forget something or always feel like you’re forgetting something. That checklist will give you peace of mind. Also, don’t forget the real reason for your event is YOU and YOUR PARTNER. Everyone will have their opinions, but it’s YOUR day!

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

Where do I start? Helping us pick the resort, confirming the room block (that was HUGE), organizing deadlines, managing communication, and making sure guests were booking on time… It’s intimidating to do all of that alone, but her expertise was immensely helpful. I can’t imagine having to do that all ourselves. We had friends of friends do a destination wedding with no travel agent a few months prior to ours, and we heard ours was a much easier process for everyone.

Is there anything we could have done differently or better?

Not at all. I seriously couldn’t have imagined doing this without Alpaca Your Bags. Easiest money we’ve ever spent.

Photo Credit: CoresFilms

Photo Credit: CoresFilms

Travel Advisor: Alpaca Your Bags Travel

Resort: Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres

Photographer: CoresFilms