Newbie things to expect when considering a wedding destination – Playa del Carmen Edition by Barefoot Bride Sophia Wilder

Planning a destination wedding is no easy task. It is a choice you make as a couple for a wide variety of reasons. Whether the bride and groom have family across the world and need a middle-ground destination or you’ve dreamed of a specific wedding location ever since you were little, there’s no shortage of reasons to select a destination wedding and there is certainly no shortage of destination locations to choose from.

When selecting your preferred wedding destination, there are so many factors to consider like weather, travel costs, distance, safety, and more. We selected Playa del Carmen, Mexico after considering other locations like Los Cabos and Tulum in Mexico and Fortaleza, Goiania, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Ultimately, Playa del Carmen fit our needs as a couple and rose to the top of our list as our chosen wedding destination.

We had previously visited Playa del Carmen for a wedding a few years ago and loved the vibe. This past year, we visited again in order to tour the city and some venues with the eyes of a newly engaged couple seeking to understand what a wedding week could look like for us here.

If you’re planning a wedding in Playa del Carmen or anywhere really, here are some specific tips about touring the area and some general things to note that might help you decide if the location is a good fit for your wedding.

First, the weather and climate. It is important to note that while Playa del Carmen is a beach city, there are different seasons that might impact the time of year you choose to have your wedding. For example, June to October is considered the rainy season. September and October are the hottest months, and sargassum season is generally April to October. November – February are often the most temperate months, and therefore the busiest. We decided to get married in January because of the New Years holiday and the good weather. However, we decided this by understanding that it will likely be a pretty crowded time to travel.

This leads to my next point. Travel costs. This was a main factor for us when deciding on our destination location. The majority of our friends and family will be flying into the Cancun airport from Atlanta, Georgia. However, we have other family members flying in from around the US and Brazil. When comparing flight prices across a variety of destination options, flights into Cancun appeared to be much more reasonable for us and our guests. Additionally, the Cancun airport is only a little bit over a two hour flight from Atlanta, making it pretty convenient for most guests.

Next, a primary concern for us was wanting us and our guests to feel safe. Playa del Carmen certainly offered this feeling and we are confident our guests will be able to relax and enjoy themselves both on and off-resort. While many of our guests are comfortable speaking Spanish, many aren’t and providing a location and trustworthy accommodation recommendations was a must for those who shared concern about feeling out of place in a foreign country.

Lastly, there are some other things to note when choosing you wedding destination location. I can speak from our experience touring Playa del Carmen but some of these tips can likely translate to a variety of other destinations too. 

When touring resorts in Playa del Carmen, whether you want to tour them specifically to see their wedding venues or even just as an accommodation option for the wedding week, you will need to make an appointment to tour. You can do this by calling the resort number or sending an email to the resort before showing up for a tour because the resorts are very secure and you will not be allowed in without a scheduled appointment and someone to greet you at the front. I’d recommend making these appointments at least a week or two in advance, although some places allow you to schedule a tour day-of.

When you are touring resorts in Playa del Carmen, it is also important to consider the location of the resorts. For example, The Hyatt Vivid, Mahekal, The Grand Hyatt, and the Wyndham Alltra are all in the city center, making them great options for those who want to explore the town and nightlife. There are other resorts like the Hotel Xcaret and The HardRock that offer great guest experiences but are farther away from the city center. And then there are the resorts like the Royal Hideaway Playacar or the Sandos Playacar Beach Resort that are located in Playacar. Playacar is a gated community near the city center but it requires a security clearance to get in and out of. If you are hoping to tour resorts within Playacar, you will definitely need an appointment and special permissions granted by the resort you plan to tour. The resorts in Playacar still require a bit of a taxi drive into town, so that is another thing to consider as well.

Overall, there are so many destinations to choose from and each place has its pros and cons. It is important to consider factors like weather, distance, safety, and others that mean the most to you, your future spouse, and your guests. It is also helpful to do some research beforehand and even tour the area you decide on if possible. This makes the decision feel super secure and exciting when you finally commit to your destination location!