Planning My Dream Destination Wedding – and How I Help My Clients Do the Same
Hi! I’m Shelly, a travel expert with Guide Me Away, and I’m sharing a very personal story — my own destination wedding!
As a travel expert who helps couples plan unforgettable getaways every day, it was pretty clear that a destination wedding made the most sense for my husband and I. We knew we wanted somewhere beautiful, all-inclusive, budget-conscious , and as stress-free as possible. After exploring several options, we chose Barceló Maya Palace in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It checked all those boxes and turned out the perfect place to say “I do”.
I’m excited to walk you through our experience and share some insights— from the highlights to the challenges, and how it all came together — for anyone considering a destination wedding.
Why We Chose Barcelo Maya Palace Resort
As a travel expert, I’ve seen a lot of resorts — but Barceló Maya Palace stood out from the start as the ideal location for our wedding. With white-sand beaches, turquoise water, and lush tropical grounds, the resort offers breathtaking backdrops for both ceremonies and photos.
We were looking for an all-inclusive resort that offered the perfect mix of beauty, convenience, and value for all our guests. That’s where Barceló really delivered.
One of the standout features of Barceló Maya Palace — and something that made a huge difference for our wedding — is that it’s part of the Barceló Maya Grand Resort complex, which includes five interconnected resorts.
Here’s why this mattered so much:
- Budget Flexibility: Not every guest has the same travel budget. Having different price points allowed everyone to attend comfortably, without financial pressure.
- Room for Every Type of Traveler: From families with young children, older relatives who needed comfort and accessibility, and friends on tighter budgets, everyone found accommodations that suited them.
- No FOMO: Even if guests stayed at one of the other Barceló properties, they could still access the shared restaurants, pools, beaches, and entertainment across the complex.
- Easy Access: Because the properties are interconnected, everyone could easily meet up for meals, excursions, or just to hang out by the pool — no shuttles or taxis needed.
- Centralized Celebration: Despite the size of the complex, the resort layout kept everything close-knit, making it feel like a private celebration within a larger paradise.
As both a bride and a travel planner, I can confidently say that this multi-resort setup made our guests feel relaxed, accommodated, and part of something special — no matter where they stayed.
Choosing the Right Wedding Package
Once we had the resort locked in, the next big decision was selecting the right wedding package — and Barceló made this part surprisingly easy.
Barcelo offer a wide variety of wedding packages to suit every style, budget, and guest count — from intimate beach ceremonies to more lavish receptions. Each package came with different inclusions and pricing tiers, which made it easy to compare and choose based on your guest count and priorities.
After reviewing all the options, we chose the Mint Breeze Package included everything we needed to create the elegant, relaxed atmosphere we envisioned:
- Indoor and Outdoor venue options: We chose to hold the ceremony at the gazebo, the cocktail reception on the beach, and an indoor reception – a perfect blend of tropical elements and the comfort of air conditioning!
- Number of Guests: Service for up to 30 guests (with fees for extra guests)
- On-Site Support: A personal wedding coordinator who helped bring all the details together.
- Decor and Details: A beautifully decorated wedding cake, bouquets, centerpieces and more were all included.
- Perks for the Bride and Groom: Included a room upgrade!
Choosing the right package gave us peace of mind — we knew what was included, how to budget for the extras, and what to expect on the big day. It made the process much more manageable and allowed us to focus on the fun parts of wedding planning!
Planning the Wedding
Even with a beautiful resort and a great package selected, destination wedding planning still comes with its fair share of logistics — especially when coordinating across countries and time zones.
Even as a travel expert, being the bride brought a whole new level of emotion and pressure — and I quickly realized that I couldn’t (and shouldn’t) do it all alone. I was so grateful to be able to lean on my colleagues at Guide Me Away (yes, I trusted my own agency!). They were truly instrumental from start to finish — helping us navigate all the various resort options, organizing flights and airport transfers for guests from Canada and England, and assisting us whenever challenges arose.
And as someone who’s usually the planner, I can honestly say being on the other side: having a professional team supporting you is invaluable.
While Barceló delivered an incredible final experience, I want to be transparent — the planning process did take some patience. Direct communication with the resort vendors wasn’t always seamless. Responses were slow, and we found ourselves going back and forth over small details like the menu, décor, and logistics. Negotiations were often needed, even for small requests. If you’re someone who prefers things finalized quickly and easily, just be prepared to stay flexible and patient throughout the planning process. In the end, everything came together beautifully.
Arrival and First Impressions
Once at the resort, the wedding team at Barceló worked hard to make us feel truly special. We arrived at the resort several days before most of our guests which was helpful for last minute planning like dietary adjustments, reworking the seating plan, or coordinating last-minute timeline changes, all which was handled with professionalism and care.
Our guests also felt truly cared for. They raved about the service, food, and the beauty of the resort. Many told us it was the best vacation they’d had in years — feedback that isn’t given lightly!
The Wedding Day
When the big day finally arrived, it was everything we hoped it would be — and more. With the support of the coordinator, I was able to just be present and enjoy. Seeing it all came together was an emotional moment. The flowers, décor, and layout reflected exactly what we had envisioned.
And personally? Getting to share this place — one I truly believe in — with the people we love most was unforgettable.
Post-Wedding Reflections: From Travel Expert to Bride
As someone who plans travel professionally, I thought I knew what to expect from a destination wedding — but living it firsthand was something else entirely.
If you’re considering a destination wedding, I can’t recommend Barceló Maya Palace enough. It truly was the wedding of our dreams! Even with moments of stress along the way, I look back and all I feel is deep gratitude and joy.
What made the experience truly seamless was having the support of my team at Guide Me Away. Even though I work in the industry, I can say with complete confidence that having a travel advisor — one who advocates for you, handles the logistics, and helps calm the chaos — is absolutely essential.
It’s what allowed me to shift from “planner” to “bride” and fully enjoy every part of the celebration.
And if you want someone in your corner every step of the way? Reach out to us at Guide Me Away. We’ll help you design a celebration that’s as meaningful and magical as ours was.
Because you deserve more than just a wedding — you deserve a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
