Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen Destination Wedding: Kathy & Kayvon

When Kathy and Kayvon first reached out to us, they had already done some research and had a few top contenders for the location. But they felt they needed some expert help with the finer details.

Their dream wedding was clear — they wanted a celebration that felt like a mini vacation, just like the all-inclusive trips they’d enjoyed with their closest family and friends before. For them, happiness meant being at the beach, enjoying the sun, and spending quality time with their loved ones.

Kathy and Kayvon have always loved the beach and outdoors, even before they became a couple. Now, as they plan their wedding, they’re following their hearts and chasing their dreams. Their connection is real – they’ve shared interests and values from way back, long before officially becoming  a couple. Now, as they start this new chapter together, their bond grows stronger as they build a future doing what they love.

Real Wedding Q&A with Kathy and Kayvon!

What were your biggest fears when planning a destination wedding?

Our biggest fears were the unknown and getting in over our heads. We struggled significantly initially, trying to contact hotels on our own and inquire about wedding pricing, room blocks, and the process. The time zones and language barrier were challenging, and hard to find the right person to speak to. 

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

We felt the resort was absolutely stunning, beyond our expectations. We went with all the preferred vendors, and they were fabulous. Since the resort was new, we didn’t know what to expect. Most of the planning of the wedding happens in the last month. As many people stated, it is a very casual process. 

What is your favorite memory of your destination wedding?

It’s hard to select just one memory to be our favorite because there are so many. Since we did not visit the resort prior to our wedding week, one of our favorite memories was waking up early the first morning, watching the sunrise, and going on a walk to explore the resort. It was so beautiful, and seeing everything in real life for the first time, the different locations of where each event was happening was so exciting! Once the guests arrived, having all our closest friends and family in one place to celebrate us was so surreal. I wish we could do it again!

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

We did a room upgrade to the Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean Front. That was by far my favorite room, view, size, and location, Especially the location for being a bride and groom for several reasons, including being right under the Wedding Sky Deck very easy to get up. Additionally, it overlooks the mystic area, which was great for heading down for the rehearsal dinner. 

Other areas we spent money on that were worth the value included the white drape for the sky deck arch, the bridal suite, hair and makeup highest photography/ videographer package, extra lights and private shuttle. 

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

Yes, initially, our budget was way over what we had estimated. We cut back on furniture, decor, and florals. We knew the resort and environment were so beautiful that cutting back in those areas would go unnoticed. 

Also, cut back on graphics/ signage. We saved $1200 by not having a welcome sign, as people should know where you need to be. Additionally, we chose not to do formal invitations and had a website. Also cut welcome bags room drops – the hotel welcomes you better than a bag can. 

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

Everything was amazing, but we have a couple of things we would have adjusted:

We wish we had done photos with the family after our bridal party pictures. 

We also wish we stayed on the sky deck longer to take group photos with friends.

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

It would be similar to the advice we received. To trust the process and that all the planning will happen very last min and it will exceed your expectations. 

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

Alpaca Your Bags Travel made things less stressful by handling the room blocks, payment deadlines, guest questions, flights, and changes. You made everything clear to us. Also, being there to answer all of the guests’ questions, making sure their travel was correct and booked and paid for at the appropriate times. It gave us a solid guest list going into the planning phase. Google docs allowed us to track and see everything in real time. Thank you for that. It allowed us to not have to deal with 100 guests and their detailed questions.    

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Photographer: Adventure Photos

Travel Advisor: Alpaca Your Bags Travel 

Resort: Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen