Destination wedding at Barcelo Maya Palace – an Honest Review from Lita and Mario

The Couple

Lita and Mario met as friends in high school, in 2006, and had started dating by 2009. Mario proposed next to a beautiful waterfall alongside a river in the famous Beavers Bend State Park in Oklahoma. The couple knew they wanted a destination wedding because it was such a simple process when it came to coordination.

The Planning

Together with their Destify agent, Chelsea, they chose the Barcelo Maya Palace all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The loved the layout of the resort, from the many pools to the easily walkable beach, and the ocean was beautifully calm and clear. Nearby guests could partake in excursions or cenotes across the street from the resort.

Working with Chelsea was great, she was professional, responsive, and organized. Lita said, “She had no problem getting in contact with the resort if I was unable too”.The wedding planning process was easy, they simply chose the package they liked and selected venues, flowers, food, and more from menus.

The Wedding

The couple made sure to leave plenty of time for their 44 guests to enjoy their vacation in addition to the destination wedding. The ceremony took place on a Saturday and only the bridal party needed time to get ready before the events. They held the vow exchange at the Barcy Beach location, with sand as the aisle and gorgeous views of the ocean and surrounding palm trees. After, the couple took photos as the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with appetizers and drinks.

The couple opted for a less formal reception, hosting a large dinner at the buffet featuring speeches, group photos, and the cake cutting. From there everyone went to the lobby bar for karaoke, which proved to be a huge hit, and more partying afterward at a pool bar near the ocean. For a final celebration the following day the couple hosted a 3-hour catamaran cruise which had opportunities for snorkeling, and plenty of time to enjoy the cruise. The couple agreed this was one of their favorite moments and said, “The catamaran ride, snorkeling off-shore, and just hanging on the beach, we recommend that!”

Looking Back

The couple’s main advice is to make sure to enjoy every moment. Those extra flowers and decor may not even be necessary, as after all you already have the ocean, palm trees, and sand as your background.