Wedding Date: March 1, 2025 ~ Resort: Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta ~ Photographer/Videographer: Underground Studios PV ~ Bridal Salon: Raffine Bridal ~ Tux Shop: Milburns
What led you to choose a destination wedding?
I grew up in California and always wanted to get married on the sand. Antonio is from Mexico and always wanted to go back to Mexico to get married, so we satisfied both dreams in Puerto Vallarta. We were able to incorporate his culture in a more authentic way and have a vacation with all of our friends and family.
How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
Romance Travel Group helped a lot with this! I wanted a sandy beach (no pebbles) and good food. Romance Travel Group suggested the Hyatt Ziva and two other resorts that we chose between. Ultimately, we thought the Hyatt looked more family friendly for the kids on our guest list. It was a leap of faith, but ended up being perfect.
What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
There are a lot of fears with a destination wedding. What if everyone bails on the last minute or a natural disaster wipes out your resort? What if politics change the environment? Most of the fears are irrational and you just have to be realistic about your guest list and recognize that your guests are excited too. They get a vacation and everything will work out.
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
Albani at the resort was AMAZING. We planned the whole email over email but she always replied within 24 hours. Then when we got to the resort, we walked through every detail in person. Everything ended up exactly as we planned it, which was wonderful.
Tell us about your wedding attire – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your wedding attire?
I went wedding dress shopping with my mom, Maid of Honor, and two aunts. It was actually so much fun. I ended up finding my dream dress at Raffine Bridal.
Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?
Having all of the guests book was the most stressful part of the wedding planning process, so I was grateful to have the Romance Travel Group to help. No matter how simple the process is, family members will always have questions (especially if they aren't frequent travelers), so it was invaluable to be able to send them to Heather at the Romance Travel Group. Don't underestimate how many questions you will have to juggle without a travel agent.
Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
Our wedding planner had champagne and fruit in our room when we arrived. Then we met her in person and she provided more champagne and walked through every detail of our wedding. She also collected everything we brought for the wedding and did all the setup with her team. I brought my own table numbers, name tags, light sticks, napkins, signage, memorial items, and she took it all and set it up perfectly. It was a professional, organized operation.
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
The guests were blown away. It was so much fun to have everyone together in such a relaxed atmosphere. Everyone's needs were met.
How easy/difficult was it to travel with your wedding attire? Did you carry-it on, where did you store it? Did you get a lot of comments at the airport?
It was easy! We had 4 suitcases and a carry on. I decided to put my dress in the carry-on suitcase but Antonio hung his suit in the wardrobe closet on the plane. Nobody paid any attention to us, it was easy.
Tell us about your wedding – did you have a traditional wedding with a cocktail hour, dinner reception and dance? What was different about a destination wedding compared to a wedding at home?
The wedding was perfect. We had a ceremony on the sand and then a cocktail hour on the sand with a mariachi band. The mariachi was a highlight. Then we went to the rooftop penthouse for the reception. I liked that space for the reception because everyone was together in a smaller space. The DJ and Staff were so much fun.
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
My favorite part of the wedding was how close everyone was by the time the wedding came around. Most of our guests had already spent time together at the resort. We also did our bachelor/bachelorette excursions two days before, so everyone knew each other. There was no pressure to greet anyone on my wedding day, so I was able to relax and party. Now, for the rest of our lives, all of our friends are friends.
What would you do differently? What advice would you give to couples just starting the planning process?
Do exactly what you want and trust the resources you are given. There are people who won't make it and that's okay. It was the most amazing day of my life because it was exactly what we wanted.
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
I really think a travel agent is necessary and Romance Travel Group understood all the nuances that go along with a wedding. They were attentive and helpful for a year and a half. They even sent gifts at milestones. I absolutely would recommend them to anyone!
Congratulations to you, Jessica and Antonio!