Frequently Asked Questions

What airport should I fly into?

Cancun Airport is the closest to our wedding destination. It is a ~45 minute drive to Playacar, Playa Del Carmen (where we recommend staying).

If you are coming from the San Diego, there’s an option to fly out of the Tijuana Airport which may be cheaper. For anyone interested in this option, I suggest checking out the following link for more details: How to get to the Tijuana Airport from San Diego

How do I get from the airport to where I am staying?

Once you’ve arrived to the Cancun airport it will be about a 45 minute drive to Playacar. Our first recommendation would be to check if your hotel includes airport transfers. If it does not, the two driving services we recommend booking in at least a week in advance are USA Transfers and Canada Transfers. Through each of these websites you can book tailored round-trip shuttle services to and from your destination at a fixed price. This takes all the stress out of finding something the day of, which puts you at the mercy of highly variable taxi rates.

Where should I stay?

We will be staying at the Riu Palace Rivera Maya in Playacar. This will also be where we are having our meet and greet beach day the Friday before the wedding, as well as where we will be recovering the Sunday after (nothing like the beach and a michelada for the morning after). If you plan to join in on the day before and after activities, we strongly recommend staying at this hotel. When booking, we suggest checking prices over a few days and using incognito mode if possible. We have seen first hand that booking prices at this location can vary significantly depending on the day you book and how often your internet browser has looked up this hotel. If you are not a guest but want to partake in the beach and/or recovery day, the hotel requires you to purchase an all-inclusive day pass for ~$100 USD per person which includes all food and drink and access to the property grounds.

We encourage everyone to stay wherever they feel most comfortable. There are a plethora of options resorts, hotels, airbnbs, etc and we know other venues may suit your needs better. Additionally, we will note that the shuttle service that we have scheduled for the wedding day will be picking up and dropping off at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya.

How do I get to and from the wedding venue?

The wedding ceremony will be held at Blue Venado which is a 25 minute drive south of Playa Del Carmen. We have arranged shuttle service from the Riu Palace Maya Riviera hotel to the wedding venue and back. The shuttle to the venue will be leaving at 3:30 pm Saturday, from the Riu Palace Riviera Maya hotel, and shuttles home will be running from 9 pm until the wedding ends at 1 am.

What kind of “formal” is this?

While this is a beach wedding, the attire is not :)

Think suits and ties, cocktail dresses or nicer pantsuits. Certainly no need for gowns or tuxes. Strongly encouraged to wear color and/or patterns (even a colorful tie will fit the bill, have fun!). Note: this will be a tropical wedding, likely in the low 80’s in the peak of the day and cooling down into low 70s at night, so take caution with heavier fabrics.

When does the wedding start?

The shuttles will be leaving Riu Palace Riviera Maya Resort at 3:30 pm. We are asking guests to arrive at the venue around 4 pm. The ceremony will begin at 4:15 pm.

Are kids allowed?

We prefer the kids stay home on this one. The music will be bumping, the drinks will be flowing, and the booties will be groovin’ until the wee hours of the morning. We want to relish every moment with you all until they pull the plug on us, and let’s be honest, you deserve a night off! Many of the resorts include child care services so check there first for childcare options and reach out to us if you need assistance.

While this is our preference, we understand that this is challenging at a destination wedding and that all parents are comfortable with different things. We would never want any of you to not join in on the fun because you can’t leave the bb behind. If this is the case, we just ask that those with young ones sit somewhere convenient to get up and in/out if needed during the ceremony.

What is the bar situation?

There will be an open bar that includes beer, wine, and liquor from 4 pm to 1 am. We know this will be an absolute shindig amplified with the sun on your skin, sand in your toes, and drink in your hand…just remember, this is a marathon not a sprint! We can’t wait to dance the entire night away with you all :)

Speaking of sand in my toes, can I wear heels in the sand?

We will be on the beach, but the sand at the ceremony location will be packed, so please don’t let the beach stop you from wearing that pair of stunners.

Is the wedding all outdoors?

The ceremony will be outdoors. The ceremony will be facing the east and in the afternoon when the sun is lower, so we don’t anticipate extreme heat or sunshine (i.e. no need for hats, umbrellas or sunglasses).

The cocktail hour will be a mix of outdoor and covered outdoors via the palapa. The reception will be under the palapa.

Can I bring a plus one?

The folks we intend to have at this shindig are the ones who have their names written on the invitation :). Locals only.

What kind of food will there be? What about food allergies?

Hors d'oeuvres will be served during the cocktail hour and dinner will consist of a 3 course menu with fish and vegetarian options. There will also be a coffee cart and midnight meal (meat and veggie options) provided to keep the party going!

If you have any food allergies please let us know and we’ll be sure to coordinate with the venue.

I know you said no gifts, but what if I insist?

If you are overflowing with generosity and wish to get us something we suggest sending your gift to our address. No need to travel with gifts all the way to Mexico! Plus we don’t have a way to transport the gifts with us anyways so sending it to our home address works best.

Okay I get it about the gifts, but what about cards (I know those are Hayley’s favorite anyways)?

You know the bride so well! Cards ARE Hayley’s favorite! Please feel encouraged to bring cards, we will have a place for you to drop them off at the ceremony. We love nothing more than reading what you all have to say and we promise we aren’t exaggerating when we say we will be reading them for years to come.

Do I have to go the other events?

Not at all! Everything is optional. We are planning a casual meet and greet at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya beach the day before the wedding to facilitate getting friendly with one another, but by no means is it required. The beach day will be followed by a casual night out to a local bar to grab drinks (but not too many the night before the big day…) and continue beach day conversations and hangs.

Sunday will be a recover and lounge day, likely filled with french fries, laying horizontal, and a bloody maria or two. Please feel welcome to veg out with us and reminisce on the day and night before. We may all be struggling, but at least we’ll be struggling together.

Beyond Sunday we have some diving plans at nearby Cozumel. These are still in the works but please reach out to us if this is of interest to you. We would love nothin more than to scuba with friends and family!

Are you providing food and drinks at the other events?

The beach day and the recovery day will be taking place at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya hotel where we will be staying. This hotel is all-inclusive and will include food and drinks for those staying here. If you are not planning on staying at this hotel, please note that to attend the other events at the hotel it will require a ~$100 all-inclusive day pass per person.

The beach day will be followed by a casual night out on the town. We haven’t chosen the spot just yet, but we have our eyes on a couple of enticing taco places and fun local bars where everyone can grab a cheap bite and drink. We will update this page as soon as the finer details are confirmed.

Can I take photos at the wedding?

We will be having an unplugged ceremony. We’ve hired the pros to do all the heavily lifting so you all can be present and enjoy every second! We do want you to be able to document the weekend on your own, but please be mindful and respectful of the moment and give the priority shots to the experts.

My question isn’t listed here, who can I ask?

Us! Please reach out if you have questions beyond what’s listed here. We want you to have all you need going into this weekend.