If you are planning a Riviera Maya wedding and think you’ve got it all covered, then you can’t afford to skip this. We chatted with the superb Natalia Schweitzer, wedding coordinator for Weddings On The Beach, and asked her what brides always seem to overlook or forget to consider when planning their destination wedding in Mexico. Here are her top five tips….
Appropriate Attire
Newsflash: It gets very, very hot in Mexico! Making decisions about your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, or what the boys will wear without keeping this top of mind will end in a sweaty day of misery for all! Natural, breathable fabrics, in light colors for everyone in your bridal party are a must. Also avoid fabrics that will pick up sand and debris from the beach. (For more on choosing the perfect beach wedding dresses, read this)
Heat, Humidity & Your Hair
What does your hair do when presented with a hot, sticky environment? Does it fall flat and limp, or double in size from frizz (like mine)? When you are making a decision about your wedding day hairstyle, Natalia says to keep in mind that you are coming to the tropics. An up do is always the smartest choice, but if natural and flowing locks are in your beach wedding vision, then make sure you are armed with some seriously magical hair products!
Flat Floral
Natalia tells us that not every flower holds well with the heat, wind and rain of the beach. Avoid a sad looking wedding bouquet, or wilted wedding décor by doing your research ahead of time and working with a local professional who can recommend flowers that can withstand the heat.
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Lights!
If you read our blog on 4 questions every bride should ask when planning her beach wedding, then you have seen this tip before, making it an often overlooked but obviously very important detail in your wedding budget. Natalia confirms that “Beach lighting is expensive and most brides do not budget for this. They then go over budget when I mention the need of good lighting for photos etc…” So add a line in that wedding budget for lights to avoid any unpleasant last minute budget smashers!
Shotgun Speeches
I found this final tip of Natalia’s the most interesting of all. “It has happened to me a few times that the couple forgets to tell their people to do speeches…they send me the list of speakers but those people did not even know they had to speak!” Ugh! Can you imagine? Awkward! Giving a wedding speech that doesn’t suck is hard enough as it is, let alone done on the fly! So make sure everyone is on the same page, and hopeful, y you will have some well prepared, thoughtful comments presented at the wedding reception.
If any of Natalia’s tips were news to you, it might be time to consider hiring a qualified local wedding planner who knows the Mayan Riviera, and all the little details that go into making a spectacular and seamless beach wedding. You can get in touch with Natalia at Weddings On The Beach for more help and advice in planning your perfect day!
…And of course if you happen to be looking for the best wedding photographers in the Riviera Maya of Mexico, then contact us today! We are Fun In The Sun Weddings, your best wedding photography in Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancun.
Download our FREE Ultimate Guide To Getting Married In The Riviera Maya
My sister love’s the beach and she has been considering doing a beach wedding. I liked that you pointed out that a beach wedding will be very hot. So, it seems like it would be smart for her to find a beach venue that has some type of shade. It does seem like a good thing for her to keep in mind if she does decide to do a beach wedding.
We are happy to hear that you found this valuable Ivy! Palapas and palm trees are a must in tropical beach weddings. Both pretty and practical.