Luxe Blog

Mimmo+Naz

Call it the destination du jour: the Riviera Maya really is a hot spot for weddings. Despite much of the flack Mexico has seen in the past few months (from the H1N1 spread to more), this area has grown in leaps and bounds with a number of luxury brand hotels popping up on this stretch of lovely Caribbean coastline. What started as an offshoot of the popular Cancun strip has turned into a sophisticated locale filled with options for every budget. From high-end boutique villas once owned by royalty to chic eco-shacks on the beach—just sorting through the options can be a time-consuming and confusing task if you’re unfamiliar with the territory.

Playa del Carmen, roughly the centre of the action between Cancun and Tulum, is a thriving city with a not-too-distant past as a small fishing town and artist colony. I’ve had countless conversations with my father about Playa, which was once the place to catch a ferry to Cozumel. Wow—look how far it’s come! It was only a few years ago that I remember walking along 5th Avenue watching a Starbucks being built, and I woke the next morning to see it fully operational.

Punam Bean Photography

When it comes to DW planning, here’s why the Riviera Maya works: first, ease of travel. Flights to the Cancun airport are frequent and direct from most major cities in North America. Why not make it easy for your guests to get to your wedding? And this location is easy. Trust me, guests will sing your praises for picking a simple to get to destination! Secondly, hotel options. From large all-inclusive-style properties with 15 restaurants and mini Mayan architectural replicas on-site to four-bedroom boutique inns that shut off the power when the sun goes down (for all you eco-conscious couples), name your style and budget and there’s a good chance we can find you something you like!  (more…)