Anna & Joe’s Destination Wedding at Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe
- Kimberly Jacoby
- Jul 7
- 6 min read
For Anna and Joe, every detail of their wedding at Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe was a reflection of who they are as a couple. Inspired by Joe’s favorite color—and his green eyes—they chose a sage and gold color palette that blended beautifully with the golden sand and lush greenery of the Riviera Maya. But their celebration wasn’t just about style; it was filled with heartfelt moments that made their day truly unforgettable.
Their destination wedding at Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe wasn’t just beautiful—it was meaningful, intentional, and full of love in every detail.
What Inspired Our Wedding Theme and Style:
Our wedding theme and style were inspired by Joe, whose favorite color is green(like his eyes). So we had sage green and some gold to accent it. Sometimes I think people forget that it's the groom's wedding day too, and I wanted Joe to look back and love it. We also thought that those colors would perfectly match the beach as part of our decorations with the gold sand and green palm trees.
Favorite Part of Planning the Wedding:
My favorite part of the wedding planning process was definitely dress shopping and picking the resort. When we went through the resort presentation with Kim, that's when we really started to get excited and see our vision for the wedding come to fruition. It was so fun(and hard to choose because all the options were great) to compare and see all the perks and details of each resort.
The Most Memorable Moment on Our Wedding Day:
The most memorable moment during the wedding was seeing Joe, my now husband, cry as I walked down the aisle. I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life. Everything we had been planning, and rehearsing, and stressing over dissolved in that moment… and my makeup was dissolving too!
Advice We Would Give Couples Planning Their Destination Wedding:
First, I would advise other couples to absolutely do it if you're on the fence! Destination weddings are so much fun, and cheaper if you do it right! We are so happy we chose to go this route! Highly recommend it! I would also advise other couples to spend the money on a GOOD travel agency to help you plan and choose a resort and everything that goes along with a destination wedding. It's worth every single penny. I firmly believe we never could have pulled off a destination wedding without Kim and Jeff and her team. Kim and Jeff's expertise, professionalism, communication, and kindness made the wedding planning process FUN and way less stressful!
The most challenging aspect of planning a destination wedding:
The most challenging aspect of planning a destination wedding was probably the floundering and having no idea where to even start. We knew we wanted to do a destination wedding, but we did not know anything else. What resort, what country, how many people, can we afford it? We had no clue. Initially, we used a free travel agent from another company, and they were very unresponsive and misleading. We were actually leaning towards not doing a destination wedding because of all the unknowns, until Joe found Romantics Travel as a last-ditch effort to find our footing. We met with Kim and she explained their whole process and how they could help us choose a resort, help us and our guests travel, set up transportation, and so much more. We were so impressed and relieved that we could actually pull off our dream wedding!
Meaningful Customs Included in the Celebration:
We did a sand ceremony that we incorporated with a Christian value of “two become one”. So we both got a color of sand to join together into one jar that we will keep forever. It was very powerful and such a beautiful visual for the Bible verse.
Personal Touches That Made the Day Unique:
One thing we did a bit differently than most weddings was a bouquet dedication instead of a bouquet toss. Our wedding was on the same weekend as Mother’s Day so we honored our mothers and dedicated the bouquet to my mom and Joe's late mother, who passed away a couple of years ago. It was such a beautiful way to recognize and honor the women who raised us. Especially because Mothers of the bride don't get to be honored as much as they should in weddings.
Choosing the Perfect Wedding Attire and Accessories:
My wedding attire and accessories was a hodge-podge of old and new and borrowed and blue. I got sapphire earrings from Joe for my bridal shower, and a sapphire ring that my father gave to my mother when they were dating(its over 30 years old now and I LOVE it!). I got my dress from a bridal dress expo that was a frenzy, and I never even had to alter it. It felt like it was made for me! The shoes were the hardest part. I found a pair that I loved a little too late and they were the wrong size. So I wore a different pair for pictures, the ceremony, and the reception.
Favorite Details from the Wedding Decor:
We kept our wedding decorations really simple. We did hand write letters to each of our guests thanking them for being there and traveling so far and making a point to tell them how much we appreciate their friendship and support as we got married. Those served as the place carts for the seating chart.
What Made the Resort Perfect for the Wedding:
We were looking for a resort with a really big pool so that it wasn't too crowded with a swim up bar, of course! We also wanted a nice beach for the wedding reception as well. What really sold us was the incredible gazebo that was romantic and real, and the ocean was in the background, the photos were INCREDIBLE. It was also affordable!
Choosing the Right Wedding Vendors:
We LOVED our photographers. They went above and beyond and our photos turned out fantastic. We had all our vendors through the resort and we were impressed by all of them!
Our Review About Kim + Jeff at Romantics Travel:
Do yourself a favor, use Romantics Travel for your destination wedding and/or honeymoon! If you are planning a destination wedding or an out-of-country trip, Romantics Travel should be your first call! My husband and I got married on May 9th, 2025 in Mexico, and let me tell you, it never would have happened without Kimberly and Jeff. Their whole team is so awesome and made the insanity of planning a destination wedding into a fun and exciting process without the stress. We really enjoyed picking out the resort, scrolling through their options, deciding what we wanted in a resort and all that jazz. They do the legwork, so you can do the fun parts! I HIGHLY recommend Romantics Travel for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of a destination wedding! The team helped us and all our guests safely travel to Mexico and helped out tremendously with inevitable travel hiccups. Everyone at Romantics Travel was so helpful and so much fun to work with. Just schedule a phone call to get to know them and their process if you're unsure.
If you are on the fence about whether or not to do a destination wedding, do it! With a destination wedding, you get a weekend with family and friends on the beach rather than just a day (really, it's just a few hours with a typical wedding), and that is something my husband and I will cherish forever. Another reason to take the plunge and have a destination wedding is that you will likely save money on your wedding. I truly believe my husband and I saved over $10k on our wedding (credit to Romantics Travel again!). They also helped us plan(and save money) for our honeymoon.
Thank you, Kim, Jeff, and the whole team, for making our wedding weekend and our honeymoon what I've dreamed about since I was little. We can't wait to plan our next trip with y'all!
Mexico Destination Wedding Resort & Vendors
Venue: @barcelohotelsresorts
Photo + video: @noviamiaphotography
Destination Wedding Experts: Kim + Jeff @romanticstravel
Ready to Make Your Dream Destination Wedding a Reality?
Hey there, future newlyweds!
If a breathtaking destination wedding is your dream, and you’re looking for expert guidance to make it truly unforgettable, we’d love to bring that vision to life! Our team is here to turn your wedding wish into an extraordinary celebration.
Visit our website at www.romanticstravel.com/destination-weddings to start planning, or schedule a chat at www.romanticstravel.com/appointments to talk over all the details.
Don’t wait—let’s create the wedding of your dreams together!
Overwhelmed with Planning a Destination Wedding and Don't Know Where to Start?
Visit us at www.romanticstravel.com/destination-weddings
Comments