The follow-up to; Riviera Maya Dream Wedding.
Love is in the details. I wholeheartedly believe this to be true. When we got engaged I didn’t have a vision of what I wanted. Some girls know every detail and have it planned out in their mind for years. I didn’t. People quickly started to ask, “what’s your theme?” “What are your colors?” Themes? Colors? For a wedding? As my husband said it best, “isn’t a wedding the theme itself? When did we have to turn this into a themed experience?” I think it has to do with all the bridal shows on TLC, which I was obsessed with before we got engaged. Somewhere around month nine of our engagement, I think I stopped watching them. Now, I totally pass them up. I’ve tried to watch, but I can barely manage a good 2 minutes. Funny how things have changed since actually becoming married as opposed to when I was dreaming about being married.
I thought I figured out a theme. I was going to go with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme wedding. While, I’ve loved the movie and idolized Audrey Hepburn, since childhood, have a cat named Kat, and married a guy named Paul, who gifted me an engagement and wedding rings from Tiffany & Co., I felt it was still not authentic to me. After having a conversation with my wedding planner in Mexico, I realized I wanted something traditional and true to me and Mexico’s beauty and spirit. This felt authentic to me, a bit more traditional in my modern girl ways, but highlighting the essence and beauty of Mexico. The reception took place at Hacienda Corazon in Puerto Aventuras, QR in the Riviera Maya. Which truly was a dream location.
Now that I had an idea for my wedding, traditional Mexican wedding, I needed to figure out decor and style. My wedding planner Andrea Salazar from Puerto Aventuras Weddings understood my vision and helped bring it to life. I also couldn’t have had it all without my dear cousin Julissa, who actually created everything for me as if she took it right out of my brain herself. Oh, and Etsy! I used quite a bit from Etsy. I love the idea of supporting small businesses.
What did Andrea help with? I mean everything, but I’m going to highlight the decor only for now.
1. Papel Picado: Puerto Aventuras Weddings

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
2. Maracas: The Perfect Gift Cancun

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
3. Flowers and Talavera vases: Puerto Aventuras Weddings

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
4. Gold table linen and lace overlay: Puerto Aventuras Weddings
5. Welcome gifts for guests that went into the welcome bags: The Perfect Gift

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding
What did Julissa create? Everything else, pretty much.
1. Welcome letter/ itinerary for all guest bags and stickers that went on the bags: Julissa A.

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
2. Wedding menus and place cards: Julissa A.

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
3. Wedding programs: Julissa A.

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
4. The bar and signature cocktails sign: Julissa A.

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
5. The cake sign: Julissa A.

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
What did I buy off of Etsy? A lot.
1. The flower girl sign: Our Hobby To Your Home

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
2. The cake banner and banner behind our seats: Sweet Mae Designs

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
3. The handkerchiefs for my mom, mother in law, grandmother, and myself: Lacy Monogramming

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo Credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
4. Cufflinks for groomsmen: MJS Gift

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
Cufflinks for my father: It’s All About The Print

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
5. The table cards of places we’ve traveled to together. Jones Street Press
6 The wine labels as gifts for my bridesmaids and wedding planner: Tipsy Designs

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding
7. Our wedding invitations: Forget Me Knot Paperie
8. The sweet bags we gave out at the end of the night that was filled with Mexican wedding cookies: Marry Me Vintage Irish

Riviera Maya Dream Wedding – Photo Credit: Melissa Mercado Photography
So much more goes into a wedding than I ever imagined. Was it all worth it? Of course. I had the wedding of my dreams, after all. I wrote this blog as a follow up to Riviera Maya Dream Wedding because I’ve had other brides contact me asking about this or that from my wedding. I hope someone finds it useful. For all the brides to be, hang in there!