St Francis Assisi Chapel Xcaret Wedding – Paty and James
“I was very close to my grandmother growing up. She played a huge role in my upbringing. She was originally from Veracruz. I remember visiting her hometown as a child and playing on the beaches in Veracruz.”
“There were so many things about being in Mexico for our wedding that reminded me of my Grandmother. Even though she is no longer with us, I really wanted her to be a part of our big day. The piece of her dress that I carried with me that day had been embroidered by her. I was so happy that I was able to carry a piece of her with me the entire day that day.” – Paty
Different place evoke different feelings for everyone who visits. It’s charming that for Paty, her experience of Mexico brings her back to her childhood memories of her Grandmother. Paty and Jame’s choice of wedding ceremony location: the St Francis Assisi chapel of Xcaret also happens to have a quaint “old Mexico” feel. The simple, rustic wooden structure contrasting delightfully with all the wedding day splendor. The overall effect is the fairytale feeling that Xcaret Park is rightfully famous for.
“I always wanted to have a wedding by the ocean, so the decision to have our wedding in Playa del Carmen was an easy one. We got engaged in Isla Mujeres the summer before our wedding, so it was nice to be able to come back to the area for our big day. We both also agreed that we wanted a smaller more intimate celebration, so a destination wedding was perfect for us!”
“Planning a destination wedding was not easy. Most of our research was initially done online. When we saw photos of St Francis Assisi Chapel online, it just looked like such a beautiful, romantic place. We visited in November, after having booked the church and walking through those huge wooden doors took our breath away. We knew we’d chosen the perfect church for our ceremony.” – Paty
“The most amazing moment of our day was seeing each other as the church doors opened. Also having a blast on the dance floor with all of the most important people in our lives!”
Del Sol: How did you decide on the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen?
“The Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen is such a beautiful hotel, with a beautiful beach, and right in the heart of the city. Everything about it was perfect.” – Paty
“We loved that they had a beach deck, which allowed us to have our wedding right on the ocean. It also gave our guests the option of playing in the sand or walking out to the water during the reception (or not).”
“From a practical standpoint, it was the only resort that we found that did not require our guests to stay at the resort in order to attend the wedding. This flexibility allowed many more of our friends and family to be able to join us in Mexico for our big day.”
“Our wedding planner Nelly was amazing. She made sure that every last detail was taken care of and never lost her cool in the chaotic week leading up to the wedding. She was so warm and welcoming, we couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with on our wedding day. Our experience with the staff and management at the resort was nothing less than wonderful! Everyone was very friendly and quick to offer a helping hand during our stay.”
Del Sol: How was your experience with the del Sol team?
“Our experience with Valeria and team was PERFECT! It is incredibly obvious how passionate they are about their work. They also had so much patience with us when we decided to join the party right when the lighting was perfect for photos.”
Del Sol: What’s your top destination wedding advice?
Everyone told me this leading up to the day, and it couldn’t have been truer. It isn’t going to go perfectly. Something will go wrong, but keep things in perspective. Just let the little hiccups go and enjoy your beautiful day!
Principal Photographer: Valeria
Destination Wedding Location: St Francis Assisi Chapel – Xcaret
Wedding Reception Location: Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen
Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia from Mia Bridal Couture in Houston, TX.
Hair and Makeup: Backstage Hair and Makeup – Alexandra Gracia and team – “They were AMAZING!” – Paty
Flowers – Floreria Riviera Maya
