Iberostar Paraíso Maya Wedding – Jenna and Steven
“Our wedding day was beyond anything we could have imagined– it was like a dream.”
When it is all over, all we have are photos…priceless and timeless memories. But what about the feeling of being in those moments? For this reason, we always like to ask why our brides and grooms connect, what do they remember and we are always inspired to hear their inspirational words of motivation? We asked Jenna and Steve to recall one of their most amazing moments…
Jenna: How can you even choose the most amazing moment? The ceremony was so personal, intimate, and emotional, and we were surrounded by the most incredible group of our closest family and friends. The reception was an absolute blast– we danced the night away right on the beach. It was everything we imagined and more.”
For information about planning your travel and room blocks at Iberostar – contact us! Del Sol Photography’s sister company Del Sol Travels is a full-service travel agency.
It was very important for Steve and Jenna to try something different and the norm seemed to be the traditional wedding back in Pittsburgh PA with all their friends. Traveling for love unites people in a very intimate way. For them and their 40+ guests, a destination wedding in Mexico was a way to do something special and unique to unite everyone and they gave some pretty solid advice on how some research and planning helped it all come together!
Jenna: “Do your research and seek personal recommendations from friends as soon as possible. We booked rooms at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya and Iberostar Grand Paraiso because some close friends of ours had a wonderful experience at the Grand. Since we value and respect their opinion so much, we knew that the resort would be fantastic.”
” Since your guests are spending a lot of money and traveling a long way for your day, be very accommodating and go out of your way to give them important information and make them feel appreciated. We sent save the dates almost a year in advance, created a wedding website with all of the travel information they would need to know, and sent out email updates. We booked rooms at both the Maya and Grand to give our guests two different price options. Also, the Maya is family-friendly, so guests could bring children if they wished. The Grand was more upscale and adults-only, which many of our guests (and we) truly appreciated. And finally, I spent a lot of time putting together really nice, personalized welcome bags that the guests truly appreciated– all the little details matter.”
“The traditional vows felt very sacred in the moment. We will never forget this special moment during the ceremony. There was so much love that we felt in the little church!”
One of the connections we love to observe and often is the result of an interaction between fathers and their children on the wedding day. Dear old dad, you touch our hearts and your words represent a family legacy and we owe everything to you. We specifically loved the participation of Steve and Jenna’s fathers. We asked them to reflect on some of the moments that stood out and their fathers took center stage.
Jenna: “Both of our dads gave very emotional speeches during the rehearsal dinner. Steve’s dad, Jimmy, referred to Steve as his best friend and recalled transitioning from his “harshest coach” (Steve played baseball all his life) to his “biggest fan.” Jimmy also said to Steve, “You taught me how to be a better person and a better father.” Jenna’s dad, Butch, said that he “wasn’t the richest man, or the smartest, or the strongest, but he has been blessed with the two most wonderful daughters a man could ask for.” He recalled the day Jenna was born and remembered promising her that she would “be a good person and have a good life.”
“The very personal and emotional messages continued through our wedding day. During the ceremony, three of our closest friends read the first and second readings and the Prayers of the Faithful. Jackie and Lauren read Ruth:1 and 1 Corinthians: 13, two of the couple’s favorite passages. Since one of Jenna’s closest friends, Ashlee, couldn’t be there, Ashlee’s mom, Dotty, read the beautiful prayer she wrote for the couple. Also, even though we had never met Father Reiner until the day of the wedding, he was so kind and personable, and his message to us was beautiful.”
How awesome is Father Reiner for taking the chance to make a photo of the first kiss and a selfie. YEAY !!! You are a friend of ours and it makes our heart warm to know you love to chase the love stories as much as we do.
We would like to you both for these awesome words of testimonial about del Sol Photography…
Our Photographers were absolutely wonderful– we felt so comfortable with them, and they made us feel like rock stars. Weeks before the wedding, our photographers were already reaching out to us about our preferences and needs. During the big day, we were a bit pressed for time, and they could not have been more efficient.
Photographer: Sol
Catholic Wedding Venue: Iberostar Paraiso Maya – Our Lady of Paradise Chapel
We added the “Iberostar Paraiso Maya- Our Lady of Paradise Chapel” as one of the TOP chapels in the Riviera Maya for destination weddings.
Wedding Coordinator: Pamela Gonzalez
