Tropical Cancún Destination Wedding at Villa La Joya
Even months and months later, I can’t help but daydream about Julie + Erick’s gorgeous Cancun destination wedding at Villa la Joya. Beyond grateful for clients that bring me along on their travels like this—it’s so refreshing to get a little change of scenery and the energy of this day was just so so great. You could tell that everyone had been enjoying their vacation so much, and this celebration was just the cherry on top of a perfect week!
Julie + Erick’s Cancún Destination Wedding at Villa La Joya
A gorgeous tropical celebration in Playa del Carmen
I photographed Julie and Erick’s engagement a while back on Alki Beach in Seattle, so we’d been in the process of dreaming up their Cancun wedding for a while. Traveling out to Cancun to capture the day when it had finally arrived was so exciting, and seeing the way all of their visions, ideas, and dreams came together was incredible. They fully embraced the vibrant, tropical spirit of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, adding a bit of their own luxurious touch through a minimalist color palette of green & white. Villa La Joya was such a breathtaking venue that it was really able to speak for itself, and was only elevated through Julie and Erick’s selection of striking floral arrangements, decor inspired by the ocean and traditional Mexican design, and personalized details. Some of my personal favorite pieces from the day included the gorgeous shot glasses customized with Julie + Erick’s last name, the glistening, gold-accented tablescape by the ocean, and the disco balls dangling from the palm trees—iconic!
Elegant portraits around the beachfront villa
I LOVE a good beachfront villa (I mean come on, who doesn’t?), especially when it’s one I get to wander around with an absolutely stunning couple on their wedding day. Julie and Erick got ready with their closest friends by their sides, Julie in a breathtaking strapless gown + chunky white heels, and Erick embracing the luxury theme with a clean white suit and black bowtie. These two looked like a celeb couple as they shared a private first look beneath the dreamy chandeliers of the villa, strolling hand in hand through the marble hallways and down grand staircases. We truly could have spent hours on couples portraits if we had the time before their ceremony, simply exploring this magical property and all the romantic spots in the villa + down by the bright blue waters of the ocean.
A heartfelt ceremony overlooking the ocean
The wind decided to pick up just in time for Julie and Erick’s oceanfront ceremony, but luckily they were great sports about it and embraced the coastal weather. Julie’s veil kept threatening to fly off into the ocean, so eventually she just took it off; I have to say, the breeze blowing through her dress and hair added some gorgeous movement to the photos! And can we talk about that floral arch for a moment? Because my goodness, if that isn’t the most stunning arbor I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is—the way the white blossoms, the sprawling baby’s breath, and the abundance of greenery stood out against the blues of the ocean + sky was simply STUNNING.
A fabulous reception under the setting Mexico sun
Julie and Erick hosted a dreamy reception outside of the villa as the golden sun began to set over the beach, the area decorated with sparkling disco balls, glowing string lights, and lime-topped shot glasses filled with tequila. It was an absolute party from start to finish, everybody taking shots, cheersing to the newlyweds, and having fun at the photobooth. The poolside setting was breathtaking, set against the magnificent architecture of Villa La Joya and the palm trees blowing in the ocean breeze. The speeches and conversations shared among the couple & their guests were so sweet to listen to, filled with endless love and support all around! Julie and Erick even changed outfits twice throughout the night, first into traditional cultural outfits and finally into more casual attire for the rest of the celebration. It was such an honor to travel out to Mexico to capture this unbelievably stunning day, and SO fun to watch everyone live it up all night on the dance floor!
Cancun wedding vendors
Big thank you to this amazing vendor team for welcoming this Seattle-based photographer!
Venue: Villa La Joya | @villalajoya
Catering: Icaza Creativos Catering
Planner: Villa Planners | @villaplanners
Dress: Bellevue Bridal by Essense of Australia | @bellevuebridal, @essenseofaustralia
Florist: Pentaflor | @pentaflor_
DJ: Disco Movil Cancun
HMUA: Sara Tamargo | @saratamargo.makeupandhair
About Villa La Joya, a Stunning Cancun Wedding Venue
Villa La Joya has got to be one of the single most beautiful wedding venues I’ve gotten the chance to visit, providing the perfect setting for a luxurious tropical celebration just like Julie and Erick’s. The private beach views, open-air tents, easy access to Cancun, and striking architecture only begin to scratch the surface of everything this venue has to offer to couples looking to plan a destination wedding in Mexico. I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for a secluded, personalized place to tie the knot in Cancun—you can learn more about Villa La Joya here if you feel like it may be a seamless fit for your day.
Cancun Destination Wedding Photographer
I would love NOTHING more than to pack my bags and head back to Cancun for another wedding at Villa La Joya, surrounded by the beauty of Mexico as I capture a couple’s one-of-a-kind wedding day. Fill out my contact form here if Julie and Erick’s celebration feels like your kinda vibe, and let’s create some magic!
Searching for more destination wedding inspiration? Here are a few gorgeous celebrations that I think you’ll adore:
