party of AIT

I am still working on a full review of our dream wedding at El Dorado Royale Riviera Maya / Generations Riviera Maya. In the meantime, I hope this helps future brides on your BIG DAY! All photos by Paty Lennon Photography!

Advice to future destination brides:

1. If you’re going to hire outside vendors, make sure that your wedding coordinator from your resort and your outside vendors are on the same page and understand what you’ve hired each of them to do. Make sure they can gain access onto the property and that they bring proper identification for a seamless process. Check with your resort for their requirements and fees.
2. Don’t forget to eat and drink plenty of water! Have a hearty breakfast because it may be the only time of the day where you aren’t running around!
3. Print out every single contract and anything you signed. In case any questions arise, you won’t have to go digging through countless emails.
4. Assign one person (BM or MOH) to oversee tips and final vendor payments. (It is custom to pay remaining balances in cash on the day of.) Have separate envelopes labeled with whom they need to go to and with the exact amounts of cash inside.
5. Wear flats or sandals for the reception, if your dress covers your feet no one will be able to tell! I still had blisters on my feet the day after and I changed from my heels to sandals. Must have been all that twerking on the dance floor!
6. Stay on top of it! No one should be more organized than you THE BRIDE! Whatever method you use, Excel sheet, planner, etc. check it twice and then again right before you leave! On the plane it makes for great reading material for the future hubby!
7. Soak it all in. Take a minute to just absorb it all and recognize how loved you are by friends and family. The day flies by so enjoy it!
8. Accept that things will go wrong! We had a couple hiccups but luckily no one noticed! My veil flew off during the ceremony because it was so windy, I didn’t bat an eye and we kept on with the ceremony.
9. Ask for help! My bridesmaids were the best! They helped me fix my garter multiple times, fanned me when I overheated from all that dancing, held my dress when I had to use the bathroom, and helped fix a flyaway lash (all the crying). Be grateful and don’t be a bridezilla!
10. Cell phone reception can be spotty, even with WIFI, so download all the music that you will be using for your ceremony onto a fully charged device, and hand it to someone responsible on the day of your wedding. Make sure you have an adapter!
11. Sleep in the next day! Exhaustion finally hit me the day after the wedding and I slept for a solid 12 hours! Let your body recover and if you are doing an excursion do it in the afternoon! Trust me on this one!
12. Pack liquid IV or no hangover pills. You will likely be celebrating all weekend long, so take care of your body. These were life savers!
13. Tip in cash!! Tip the housekeepers, your servers, wedding coordinators, everyone! Better to be overly generous especially if they went above and beyond for you! A 5-star review is also the least you can do!
14. Make a day of timeline. It will not flow 100% of what you planned, but this ensures that not one detail is missed, even if it’s in a slightly different order.
15. Get a mani and pedi right before you leave! I recommend Shellac on your toes especially since you will be in the sand during your stay!
16. Toss all your must haves into your wedding day purse the night before and assign it to someone. (Lipstick, eyelash glue, tweezers, bobby pins, deodorant, compact mirror, makeup for touch ups, etc.)
17. Order top shelf tequila with all your drinks / shots. If you simply ask for “tequila shots” you will get house tequila every time. Get what you paid for!!
18. Create welcome bags for your guests! They do not have to be elaborate or expensive, but a token of appreciation is a sweet gesture. I would NOT break your budget over this though.
19. Hire a TA, they will help coordinate all travel for you and your guests! Specifically helping with securing a hotel block of rooms and finding special promotions for you.
20. Join a wedding planning support group on social media! The best advice comes from past brides because they know what you’re going through! And we are BRUTALLY HONEST! Happy planning!