UNICO 20°87° Destination Wedding: Caroline & Tucker

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

When Caroline and Tucker started planning their Spring 2025 destination wedding, they had one big goal in mind: create an unforgettable experience where they could celebrate love and connection with the people who matter most. But like many couples planning a wedding abroad, they had some very real concerns—would their loved ones be able to make the trip? Would travel logistics affect the experience for their guests?

Fortunately, they didn’t have to figure it out alone.

One of the most surprising parts of the process, they shared, was how smooth everything felt once they partnered with Alpaca Your Bags Travel. With expert guidance, they kicked off the planning process about a year in advance—a timeline that ended up being just right. Not only did it ease the stress, it gave them plenty of time to make thoughtful decisions and enjoy the journey.

Caroline and Tucker’s wedding wasn’t just a ceremony—it was a multi-day celebration. From a welcome gathering that set the tone, to afternoons by the pool, to an unforgettable private yacht party to cap off the weekend, every moment was designed with connection in mind. Guests had the flexibility to relax or join the fun, and by the end of the week, even friends who hadn’t met before felt like family.

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

Their guests had an absolute blast. From the vibrant dance floor and stellar DJ to the chance to explore and unwind, the feedback was all positive. Guests appreciated the balance of planned events and free time, and many said it was one of the most fun weddings they’d ever attended.

The couple chose to invest in things that would elevate the atmosphere and preserve the memories—like beautiful floral touches, custom decor, and bringing their favorite photographer and videographer from home. It was worth every penny.

They also found smart ways to save. From DIY signage and place cards to custom welcome bags, they kept their budget in check without compromising style.

Their number one piece of advice? Hire a great travel agent. Caroline and Tucker can’t imagine planning their wedding without Alpaca Your Bags Travel. From resort recommendations to managing dietary needs (including strict gluten-free requirements), from guest support to airport transfers, every detail was handled with care. Their guests were met at the airport with personalized signage and had clear, customized itineraries—making the entire trip stress-free. 

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

Real Wedding Q&A with Caroline & Tucker

What were your biggest fears when planning a destination wedding?

Our biggest fears when planning a destination wedding were that important people would not be able to attend and that there could be travel/transportation issues impeding the guest experience. 

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

The ease of planning (thanks to the Alpaca team!) and the timing. We initially thought it could be a quicker planning process than one year – but thanks to Ashley’s expertise – starting the process one year in advance was perfect!

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

What is your favorite memory of your destination wedding?

Our favorite memory of our destination wedding is getting to spend quality time with all of our favorite people for multiple days and events in such a beautiful place. The welcome gathering was a great way to kick off the weekend, relaxing with everyone by the pool was a fun way to spend the day before the wedding, our actual wedding day was absolutely amazing in every way, and we ended the weekend with a private yacht party with all of our friends! It was so fun to see our friends bond with one another as some had not met before – we truly felt like we were all family by the end of the week! 

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

We splurged a bit on florals and decor. We still kept it pretty simple, but we went back and forth on whether or not to do floral centerpieces, the floral arrangement on the gazebo, and the disco balls above the dance floor. We also splurged on photography and videography – we brought a photographer and videographer from home in Minnesota (S/O Gretchen Hunt Photo and The Coalition Wedding Films – they were both amazing and captured our day perfectly!!!!) We are so glad we ended up splurging on all of these things – they turned out amazing and really elevated the experience. 

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

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

We attempted to save on decor – we created our own welcome signs and had them printed/delivered to the resort through a vendor recommended by Ashley. We did not rent charger plates – we had our wedding coordinator set napkins at each seat at the table instead and it ended up looking beautiful. We created our own signature drink sign for the bar, brought photos from home for the welcome table, and created our own name place tags for each seat at the table. We brought disco ball straws and drink stirrers from home as well. We created our own welcome bags and did not pay to have the resort deliver them to each room. All of the things we did to save were worth it, but the one thing we would change would be to have the resort deliver the welcome bags to each room. We initially did not want this because the guests wouldn’t receive them until the day after arrival, but depending on when the guests arrived, some did not end up receiving them until day 2 anyways. 

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

This is a hard one – we loved absolutely everything about our wedding day/weekend, location, and resort and we truly would not want to change a thing! The one thing might be to do it a bit earlier in the year – it was very hot and humid (a little bit tough for a bride with naturally curly hair!) and it is Sargassum season in Riviera Maya which affects the beach experience. These were all things that we were aware of going into it and we were fine with, but something other people may want to consider! 

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

What kind of feedback did you get from your guests?

Everyone had the BEST time! We did not hear a single complaint. Everyone had so much fun and loved that they got to be on vacation and celebrate our wedding. People loved that we had planned events, but they also had the option to do what they wanted to at the resort. We basically had a set spot at the pool so our guests would know where to find us if they wanted to hang out, but also had the option to spend their time doing other things if they chose. Our guests said our dance floor was one of the best and most fun they have ever seen – our DJ was amazing!!! Our guests LOVED the boat day as well – it was the perfect way to end an unforgettable week! 

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

Make sure to have a great travel agent (Alpaca Your Bags!!!!!!!). They were truly the best team ever and we cannot imagine planning our wedding without them! 

Photo Credit: Gretchen Hunt Photo

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

They helped us with every step of the planning process – there are so many resorts to choose from and they helped us narrow them down to find the perfect place for our wedding. As someone with Celiac Disease and other food sensitivities, they helped us find a resort that I could eat at confidently without getting sick. They even advocated to make sure that there would be Tito’s Vodka available. They were transparent every step of the way. They were so responsive and always answered our emails promptly and thoroughly. They helped our guests and answered their questions so that we didn’t have to. They sent out so many helpful tips and individualized itineraries to us and our guests to help the travel process go smoothly. They set up reliable transportation for us and all of our guests – the drivers met all guests right outside the airport with a sign with our picture on it making it extremely easy to find. They provided great advice for any questions we could think of. Overall, 10000000/10 experience – we are forever grateful!

Photographer: Gretchen Hunt Photo

Travel Advisor: Alpaca Your Bags Travel 

Resort: UNICO 20°87 Riviera Maya