Playa del Carmen Resort Wedding
Sarah and Anna | A destination wedding in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Sarah and Anna’s Playa del Carmen wedding was a perfect blend of love, creativity, and celebration. Surrounded by turquoise Caribbean waters, lush tropical gardens, and the luxury of the Ocean Riviera Paradise Resort, they gathered their closest friends and family for a vibrant, joy-filled destination wedding. From heartfelt vows to playful surprises, this wedding captured the essence of their relationship and the magic of a Mexican beach celebration.
The vendors involved in the day
This day was made possible by the couple’s incredible organizational skills as well as the amazing team of vendors that joined me. A huge shoutout and thank you goes to the full team:
Photography: Lauren McCormick Photography
Venue: Ocean Riviera Paradise Resort
Tuxedo: Third Son Tailor Shop
AV company: Plugin Audio Visual
The story of how Sarah and Anna met
Sarah and Anna met through Canada’s student movement, advocating for free postsecondary education. In December 2017, while both were back in Ottawa for the holidays, a casual meet-up over a beer sparked their connection. This quickly turned into non-stop texting, virtual dates, and a 10-day visit where their relationship officially began.
Their engagement was as playful and heartfelt as their relationship. They both wanted to propose first, so they bought engagement rings together and let the race begin. Sarah proposed with a pop-up art gallery in Westlock, Alberta, featuring commissioned pieces representing their love story. Anna followed with a surprise “Forever-opoly” board game during a game night, telling their story through custom money, properties, and playing cards. Their relationship has always been full of creativity, thoughtfulness, and a teensy bit of competition.
The Ocean Riviera Paradise Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
For their destination wedding, Sarah and Anna chose the stunning Ocean Riviera Paradise Resort in Playa del Carmen. This all-inclusive resort offered the perfect mix of luxury and comfort. The spaces featured lush tropical surroundings, pristine beaches, and vibrant spaces for celebrations. From the moment they arrived, it was clear this resort was the perfect backdrop for their dream wedding. It provided both intimate moments and breathtaking views for their big day, which my photographs can -hopefully- attest to.
Also very much noteworthy: their outfits! With Sarah in a white tuxedo and Anna donning a black tulle dress, the two brooms looked absolutely spectacular!
2SLGBTQIA+ beach wedding ceremony in Playa del Carmen
On January 4, Sarah and Anna exchanged vows on the pristine beach at Ocean Riviera Paradise. The ceremony highlighted what mattered most to them: sharing heartfelt vows and celebrating their love with their closest family and friends.
One of my favourite details of this destination wedding was the thoughtful welcome package the couple designed. Guests were welcomed with curated goodie bags including branded t-shirts, bracelets, and rainbow pins. Most guests showed up wearing the rainbow pins from their goodie bags, which was incredibly meaningful for the couple to see!
Couples Portraits and Reception Decor
After the ceremony, couples portraits were taken along the beach and resort gardens, capturing the couple’s joy and connection in stunning tropical settings.
The reception was held at Pez Vela, a resort favourite. It was filled with fun and personalized touches. Tables were labelled after queer icons. And the MCs also surprised the couple with a video introduction by their favourite drag queen: a moment that had everyone laughing and cheering. With meaningful details, incredible food (OMG the foooooood!) and non-stop dancing, the evening was a true reflection of Sarah and Anna’s love and personalities.
