The Couple
Hannah and Ben met on a lake in Texas where her friend’s boat and his had tied up next to each other. They talked all day and exchanged numbers before she returned home to Oklahoma. A month later she moved to Texas and they began texting that first day and even went on their first date that night. They’ve been together ever since. Ben had originally planned an elaborate engagement proposal, but he woke up on the day of too excited, and got out the ring and popped the question while she was still in bed. Hannah said, “I wouldn’t have changed a thing!”
The Planning
The couple chose Dreams Riviera Cancun after googling different wedding venues across the Mexico-Caribbean. They were instantly hooked on photos of the resort’s gorgeous wedding gazebo, a large thatched palapa-like structure. Working with Destify, and their agent Cassandra, proved to be great. Making travel arrangements were simple, and despite having to postpone due to COVID, Cassandra was able to transition everything over in less than a day.
Planning the event portion was extremely stress-free and a huge reason the couple chose to host a destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort. The wedding planner knew exactly what she was doing and used the couples’ Pinterest inspiration pictures to execute their vision. They didn’t have to worry about numerous vendors and the planner coordinated everything from the DJ to hair and makeup.
The Wedding
The wedding weekend was split into 3 big celebratory events. First, they hosted a Welcome Party on Thursday after all of their guests had arrived. It was a cocktail party on the rooftop of a restaurant overlooking the ocean at sunset with an open bar and hors-d’oeuvres. On Friday they held a dinner rehearsal the entire wedding guest list was invited too, which had delicious food amongst a seaside setting.
The wedding was held on Saturday with a ceremony at 5pm at the trademark gazebo. The couple took photos and then met their guests at the cocktail hour afterward, featuring a Mexican Musician Trio playing live instrumentals. A reception followed from 630 – 11pm and was perhaps the couples’ favorite venue of the week for it was private and away from other resort guests, but still right on the beach. The couple said, “They decorated beautifully and transformed the space”. The DJ was great and they had an unforgettable party.
Looking Back
The couples’ advice for future couples is to trust your wedding planner. They’ve been doing this every weekend for a long time and they know what works and what doesn’t. It was also a key reason they were able to enjoy the entire process without stress. Hannah said, “We let them take the wheel and it turned out amazing.”
Venues: 13 
Family Friendly 
20 Minutes 
(800) 792-6898
