Top Five Mexican Destination Wedding Venues in the Yucatan
Photo by James x Schulze at Hotel Esencia
Looking for a dreamy destination to say "I do" that combines tropical allure with cultural richness? Look no further than the enchanting Yucatán Peninsula. Nestled along the sparkling Caribbean Sea, this stunning region in Mexico offers couples an idyllic backdrop for their wedding day. From pristine beaches to ancient Mayan ruins (not to mention our favorite part- the food!), the Yucatán boasts a blend of natural beauty and historical charm that sets the stage for an unforgettable celebration. Join us as we delve into the allure of destination wedding venues in the Yucatán, where azure waters, lush jungles, and vibrant traditions await couples seeking a truly magical setting for their special day.
Hotel esencia
Photo by For The Love of It, images below sourced from Hotel Esencia.
“Hotel Esencia is a majestic 50-acre estate at the midpoint between Tulum and Playa del Carmen in Mexico. It has long enjoyed a storied past in this ancestral cradle of culture, cuisine, and comfort. Originally built as the private hideaway home of an Italian duchess on the most beautiful beach of the Mayan Riviera, it later became a hotel, and, for some time, has been a sought after destination for honeymooners seduced by the serene comforts of this timeless mansion.”
-Accommodation: 51 rooms between 47 suites, 4 private villas and the mansion. Weddings usually require a full property buyout.
-Property: A private and large property with the villa at its center, three restaurants, multiple bars, organic spa, sunrise yoga, gym, complimentary coffee and pastries delivered daily, private secluded beach, tennis, helicopter landing pad, pools, lush lawns and jungle, cenote, and footpaths through it all.
-Event spaces: There is a variety in both architecture and usable spaces, making it easy to design and plan a weekend of fun celebrations and experiences for our clients and their guests. We’ve done a number of events here over the years, and they always feel and look different! As of 2022, there is also the 10,000 square foot Esencia Mansion available for events and it has four suites, three pools, terraces (including a 360 degree view rooftop space), a cinema, fitness suite and speakeasy.
-Food and service: The food and service are consistently amazing. The staff is multilingual, experienced, go out of their way to help, and likely to remember your food preferences from the second day onwards. You’re not likely to get bored with the cuisine, it’s tasteful and worldly (just like their clientele).
Images from Rosewood Mayakoba
“Surrounded by verdant emerald jungle and pristine white sand, Rosewood Mayakoba inhabits a private world of rare luxury and refined beauty. Located in the heart of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the resort lies along a pristine stretch of Caribbean beach and features a myriad of indulgent and recreational opportunities including Sense, A Rosewood Spa®, El Camaleón Championship Golf Course and an array of active and leisurely pursuits. A journey to this serene retreat captivates the soul with stunning natural beauty and seamless elegance.”
-Accommodation: 129 suites and villas in the understated luxurious 5* style that you’d expect from a Rosewood property.
-Property: Guests arrive at this expansive 620 acre sustainability focused development via electric boat and use electric golf carts or bicycles to travel between the property’s numerous facilities and features including: Mayan herbal inspired spa, fitness facilities, tennis courts, golf course, private beach, four pools, eight restaurants and bars, kids club, lush mangroves, gardens, lagoon and kitchen garden.
-Event spaces: There are so many potential event spaces on this impressive property! From the beach, to the terraces (open and covered), lawns, poolside, intimate vaulted limestone room, a private dock, kitchen garden, and even a mini pueblo with a chapel and plaza.
-Food and service: The team and staff are phenomenal, with in room custom butler service and plenty of helpful staff throughout the property. The culinary offerings fuse “traditional Mexican ingredients and techniques with diverse international styles. Sample Mexico’s regional cuisine across eight restaurants and bars, and through varied sensorial experiences and pop-ups.” We were blown away by the food experiences during our stay!
Images from Belmond Maroma
“Perfectly plunked between sea and jungle, Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, in the Riviera Maya is – at first glance – a gleaming whitewashed lesson in the Mexican ideal. But colours saturate the frame as you explore further; this is a joyous celebration of local craftsmanship, with bright and bold beading, weavings, paintings, tiles, and objets, where slick mid-century-style furnishings mingle with wicker and wood statement pieces. And its passion runs deep as a cenote: local creatives have made striking imagery for a Fotografía Maroma series, guests get hands-on with crafting sessions and tortilla-making lessons, and Latin America’s first Guerlain Spa looks to tradition for healing.”- Smith
-Accommodation: 72 rooms and suites, a perfect size for exclusive use.
-Property: This design forward eco friendly hotel features four different food/drink experiences, three pools, a luxury spa featuring Guerlain products, a bee sanctuary, a temazcal (a kind of Mayan sweat lodge), a private sea turtle friendly beach, culinary classes, water sports, visits to the cenotes and Mayan ruins, gym, gardens, bikes, a variety of curated experiences on offer by their 24hr concierge.
-Event spaces: There are some stunning spaces in which to host events on this property, both indoor and outdoor. There is a large air conditioned palapa, poolside terrace, courtyard, lawn surrounded by garden, intimate indoor spaces, another pool and seaside terrace, and beach.
-Food and service: As you’d expect from a Belmond property, the food and service is 5* exceptional. When it comes to cuisine, they “twist tradition to shape the future of flavor. Reinventing local classics through refined culinary rituals, our cuisine is designed to nourish—showcasing an appreciation of Mexican gastronomy in its purest form”.
Images from Wakax Hacienda
“Wakax Hacienda offers a tranquil escape for travelers aiming to disconnect from today’s fast-paced, and for those yearning for an authentic connection with nature and their inner selves. This amazing property is a classic architectural gem, built as a modern homage to the traditional 18th century colonial style of the Yucatan Haciendas. A perfect balance between luxury, comfort, pristine nature and Mayan traditions makes our 160 hectares estate a unique paradise where exceptional service, outstanding amenities, exquisite gastronomy and remarkable activities fascinate our guests and visitors.”
-Accommodation: The total capacity of the property is 20, a perfect size to take over for a long weekend of events. There are six different types of accommodation on the property from suites to 1 and 2 bedroom villas to casitas. All rooms have air conditioning, jungle views, luxury linens, a terrace, coffee machine, organic honey toiletries, complimentary soft drink minibars, and robes. You may even find a full grown tree growing in your room.
-Property: This unique architectural jewel, hidden in the middle of an immense expanse of jungle surrounded by lakes and cenotes invites guests to immerse themselves in nature, tradition and simplicity. The property features a main house with a restaurant, a palapa, chapel, lakes + cenotes, a central plaza, docks for sunbathing or setting off to enjoy paddle boarding or kayaking, yoga hut, temazcal (Mayan sweat lodge), BBQ area next to a cenote, gardens, and paths for bikes through the jungle connecting all the suites to the heart of the property. There isn’t a spa per se, but they do have treatment rooms for massages.
-Event spaces: There are plazas, gardens, consecrated chapel for a ceremony, and the main house with its portico and two large interior rooms and bar.
-Food and service: This boutique property is perfect for adventurers who are looking for a more quiet and simple guest experience in the heart of the jungle, yet conveniently located close to Tulum. The care and service is quality, with quiet simple luxuries served up for guests to enjoy. The hacienda has one restaurant with a curated menu that serves up traditional Yucatecan cooking techniques, tastes and aromas with international cuisine standards that are sure to satisfy the palette. You can find bars strategically located throughout the grounds, so you can enjoy your favorite marg after your afternoon swim.
Photos from St Regis Kanai and The Riviera Maya EDITIOIN at Kanai
The St Regis Kanai is located in the gated community of Kanai, a 1,235-acre property about 45 minutes from the Cancun airport, covering 2 square miles with over a mile of private beach. Less than 10% of that acreage has been developed (in addition to St. Regis there is also the Etéreo, an Aurberge hotel and a new sister property called Edition that’s featured below). The hotel is built over what seems like a vast mangrove marsh, so greenery abounds, as the development is adjacent to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
-Accommodation: All 124 rooms, suites and residences feature dramatic views of the sea, thoughtful design inspired by the locality, bespoke furniture, a private terrace or a plunge pool and all the in room features one would expect for a 5* property of its ilk.
-Property: This 620 acre beachfront property sits next to the region’s largest preserved coral reef and has numerous pools, bars, restaurants, a beach club, kids club, a gym (with chlorophyll water on tap!) and an incredible spa with multiple thermal pool selections and a serene design.
-Event spaces: The resort boasts a number of indoor and outdoor spaces for events including a number of lawns, ballrooms, terraces, a circular plaza with trees and a moat like water feature, and of course the expansive private beach. Combine the possibility of these spaces with the neighboring property Edition for even more event potential without leaving the gated community.
-Food and service: As you’d expect for a luxury resort of its type, the service and food are quality. The hotel uses a personal butler service for guests to ensure that each guests needs are met and wishes realized. The eight restaurant and bars offer guests variety in tastes and ambiance, catering to every need.
Edition
Sited on a 620-acre nature reserve with two miles of pristine white-sand beaches, The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai rises up from a forest of mangroves to introduce a completely new concept of sustainable luxury to the Caribbean coastline. The hotel was completed at the end of 2023 and features clean modern design with art, installations and architecture inspired by the landscape and local elements
-Accommodation: The property features 182 guest rooms, including 30 suites that have private terraces or plunge pools with either ocean or mangrove views. The room design is ultra minimalistic chic (befitting the brand), with ample white, clean lines, light wood details and all the usual 5* features and products (helllooo Le Labo products!). Also worth noting, the penthouse suite is the largest in North America.
-Property: Five restaurants and bars, beach club, pools, pristine private beach, private pier with 10 cabins, yoga deck, gym, spin studio, and a luxury spa featuring a sauna, steam, hammam, water therapy, hair salon and nail salon.
-Event spaces: Meeting and event spaces include ballrooms, terraces, a light filled foyer, and a deck ideal for cocktails.
-Food and service: This Edition property, like its counterparts around the world, has exceptional food and service. Two top rated Mexican chef-restauranteurs were enlisted to run two of the cuisine options on site, ensuring a top notch food experience. The multilingual staff offer quality service, 24 hour room service, twice daily housekeeping services, and luxury lifestyle concierge service.
With so many wonderful options for hosting a destination wedding in the balmy Yucatan, Mexico (whether on a pristine beach or a luxury spot in the selva), choosing your favorite property is the hard part! We hope this curated list helps you get inspired. If you’re considering a destination wedding in Mexico, we can help you on your planning journey with our on the ground team in Mexico, USA and Europe.
XO- The GATHER Girls