Imagine waking up to the sunrise over the ocean, with a cup of coffee in hand as you sit beside your private plunge pool on the balcony of your suite. Feeling the breeze through the palm trees and smelling the sweet scent of the ocean while reminiscing about the night before, when you were welcoming your guests to a beachside cocktail party. This is the reality at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya.
Located in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, this luxury all-inclusive resort has an expert wedding team that creates a personalized experience for each bridal couple, with a bespoke itinerary to bring each vision to life. The personalized services do not stop at wedding planning; guests in each suite are provided with their own personal concierge, available 24 hours a day.
Whether booking a dinner reservation for your wedding party at one of the gourmet restaurants or arranging a pre-wedding spa day, your personal concierge is only a text-message away. During our stay, our concierge also sent us reminders for our dinner reservations along with any activities we had booked. He even went as far as sending us the dinner menu ahead of time—knowing one of us had a food allergy—to ensure no cross-contamination and that the chef and team at the restaurant were aware of the allergy prior to our arrival. This was truly an above-and-beyond effort from our personal concierge, Guillermo.
Six gorgeous outdoor settings are available for your festivities.
A destination wedding can seem intimidating for some couples, with all the pre-planning involved and all of the unknowns. At Grand Velas Riviera Maya, each couple has a personal wedding planner who works closely with them, ensuring they have access to the best wedding suppliers, designers and artisans. Whether it is outstanding floral arrangements by Luis Salas – The Floral Experience or day-of makeup by an experienced makeup artist like Kira Chidan, the resources and expertise are all in place for a seamless experience.
The resort also has a variety of wedding venues, including three elegant indoor spaces with air conditioning for those not used to the heat, plus six remarkable outdoor spaces. Grand Velas can accommodate everything from small intimate ceremonies for couples who are eloping to grand-scale ceremonies and receptions using multiple venues throughout the resort. Whether it be outside at the Zen Garden, beachfront at sunset outside the Grand Class, at an elegant, indoor ballroom or in the spacious convention centre, there is truly no wrong choice.
A bridal room has floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
There are outdoor and indoor venues to match any couple’s aspirations.
On site, a dedicated studio and bridal suite are personalized to accommodate the bride and her wedding party. There is an area for hair stylists, a spa area with massage chairs and an elegant bridal room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors to capture every view of the bride in her wedding dress. Some brides prefer to use the spacious presidential suite in Grand Class, which provides a relaxing atmosphere for a bridal party to get ready for the day.
As the resort is home to six gourmet restaurants, including a Michelin-starred and AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurant, a menu can be seamlessly customized to suit each couple’s tastes. Whether you want French flair, authentic Mexican or a late-night snack menu, the culinary team partners with your personal wedding planner to execute an outstanding culinary experience.
I was lucky to enjoy three decadent meals during my stay. Sen Lin featured an Asian Fusion menu that was to die for. The matcha green tea ice cream that accompanied my dessert, Matcha and Spices Mille-Feuill? I could have snuck home a tub of it in my suitcase.
Michelin-starred Cocina de Autor is the definition of elegance. We experienced a nine-course tasting menu featuring culinary delicacies. I am a sucker for a bread and butter and one of the dishes we tried, It’s Nut Butter—featuring pecans, foie gras and brioche, was just that. The catch of the day, The Sea in Green, was exquisite and my favorite dish.
Dining at Frida was another treat. It offers Mexican cuisine with a modern twist and, upon arrival, you are met with a cart at your table to create your version of a perfect margarita. Shortly after, another cart arrives with custom guacamole made table-side for you and your guests.
Overall, the culinary experience at Grand Velas Riviera Maya is extraordinary. What really sets it apart is the attention to detail, from the service and presentation to the execution. Since I was travelling with someone who has a food allergy, the resort team made sure her meals were kept separate from ones that could cross-contaminate, but at every meal they also ensured she could safely have the same experience as the rest of the group.
The experience for wedding guests is also pretty special. From the lush jungle beauty of the Zen Garden pool and activities such as mini putt to the beachfront pools of the Ambassador suites, it’s spectacular. The resort is also entirely kid-friendly. Whether the bride- and groom-to-be are parents or their guests have children, Grand Velas offers both kids’ and teens’ clubs, plus a baby concierge.
If adult pampering is in your plans, Grand Velas is home to the SE Spa, a sprawling, five-star sanctuary. Guests can indulge in authentic Mexican treatments and the signature water ceremony. I was able to experience the water ceremony, followed by the Wellness SE Spa massage. I suggest every bride and groom spoil themselves and spend an afternoon at this spa, whether for pre-wedding relaxation or post-wedding wind down. It must not be missed.
As a bride getting married later this year, witnessing the Grand Velas Riviera Maya wedding team in action was the definition of “wedding goals.” Whether you are having an elopement ceremony, a microwedding, a traditional wedding or a culturally influenced ceremony, this dream-day team goes above and beyond to personalize and perfect your big day. Not to mention the resort itself will make the whole experience, for you and your guests, unforgettable.
rivieramaya.grandvelas.com
