Vivian and Kyle's Unico Riviera Maya Wedding Blended Vietnamese Tradition with Beachfront Elegance
- Kimberly Jacoby
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
On May 22, 2026, Vivian Vu and Kyle Thompson said "I do" at Unico 20°87° Riviera Maya, an adults-only retreat known for its modern, nature-connected design along the Riviera Maya coastline. Their day paired a blue-and-white beach palette with Vietnamese wedding traditions, built around one shared priority: taking care of the people who traveled to be there.
What you need to know: Vivian and Kyle planned an adults-only Unico Riviera Maya wedding centered on great food, attentive service, and Vietnamese traditional elements woven into their celebration. Their advice for other couples: hire your day-of coordinator early, and prioritize a resort with genuine hospitality over one with the flashiest photos.
The Vision Behind Their Wedding
Vivian wanted the best of both worlds, and she got it.
"Vivian wanted the best of both worlds, a beachy vibe that matched our destination, mixed with a classy, elegant feel," Kyle said. "We leaned into a palette of blues and whites to bring that elegance through, while still keeping the relaxed, beachy aesthetic of the setting front and center. Simple, classy, and beautiful, exactly what she pictured."
That balance, relaxed but elevated, is exactly what drew them to Unico in the first place. The resort's adults-only setting and modern design gave them a backdrop that already matched the vision, instead of one they had to work around.
Their Most Memorable Moment
Ask Kyle about the day, and one moment comes back immediately.
"The moment Vivian and I locked eyes as she walked down the aisle. Surrounded by our friends and family, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, that moment felt truly incredible. It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
That's the moment every couple hopes for, and it's also the reason so much of the planning work happens months in advance: so that when it finally arrives, nothing pulls you out of it.
Picturing your own aisle moment? Take our destination wedding quiz and let's start figuring out what makes it feel like you.
Advice for Couples Planning a Destination Wedding
Kyle's advice is blunt, and it's the kind of thing you only know after living it.
"Hire experts," he said. "There are so many things you simply won't know or be able to manage from a distance, since you won't be on the ground at your destination the way a local team is."
Romantics Travel connected Vivian and Kyle with a day-of wedding planner, Karen, based in Cancun. Looking back, Kyle's one regret has nothing to do with the wedding itself, it's timing.
"If there's one thing I'd do differently, it's hiring her earlier," he said. "There are so many things that can go wrong on the day itself, especially when you're traveling abroad, and she was able to handle small details that you wouldn't even think of. She was on top of absolutely everything."
If you're still deciding who should be on your team, start with 37 Essential Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Destination Wedding Travel Planner before you commit to anyone.
Choosing to do an Unico Riviera Maya Wedding
Vivian and Kyle didn't pick their resort based on the most Instagrammable beach shot. They picked it based on what actually makes a wedding weekend work.
"We chose our resort based on what mattered most to us," Kyle said. "Vivian and I prioritize good service, food and drink quality, and overall guest experience over things like beach views or room size. That ended up being exactly the right call. The fantastic food, attentive guest service, and great amenities made it the perfect vacation for everyone who came, not just us."
It's an easy thing to overlook when you're scrolling resort photos from home. A beautiful beach makes a great picture. Good service is what your guests actually remember.
Weaving Vietnamese Traditions Into Their Celebration
Vivian and Kyle didn't leave their heritage behind for a beach wedding, they built it into the day itself.
"We incorporated Vietnamese traditional wedding attire, speeches, and ceremonies to kick off our celebration," Kyle said, "blending those traditions alongside several days in paradise with our friends and family."
This is one of the things we love most about destination weddings: they don't ask you to choose between where you're going and where you come from. A great venue and a great planning team make room for both.
Their Experience With Romantics Travel
Vivian and Kyle didn't find Romantics Travel through a search engine. They met Kim and Jeff years earlier as guests at a friend's wedding.
"We actually met them years earlier as guests at my best friend's wedding, where I was best man, and their communication and organization left such an impression that hiring them for our own wedding was an easy call," Kyle said.
That impression held up under the weight of an actual year of planning.
"From day one, Kim took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and went above and beyond to deliver it," Kyle said. "She handled the market research, stayed in constant contact with the resort, and managed our entire room block, and thanks to her deep relationships with resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, she helped us land on the perfect venue for our day. Her advice was always honest, and we genuinely don't know how we would have pulled this off without her."
Guests noticed the difference too.
"Our guests loved how simple it was to book flights and transportation through their app and stay connected with the team throughout the trip," Kyle said. "Everyone felt looked after from start to finish, and the team's fast, attentive responses set a wonderful tone for the whole celebration."
Overwhelmed and not sure where to even start? You don't have to figure out venues, room blocks, and logistics on your own. Schedule a call with Kim and let's start building your day the way we built Vivian and Kyle's.
Kyle summed up the year this way:
"We spent a full year working with Kim and Jeff leading up to the wedding, and that time together made the entire planning process feel easy and genuinely enjoyable. Our wedding simply would not have come together the way it did without them. If you're planning a destination wedding or any kind of group travel abroad, Kim and Jeff are the team to call. We can't recommend Romantics Travel highly enough."
Riviera Maya Destination Wedding Resort & Vendors
Venue: Unico 20°87° Riviera Maya
Photography: Pixan Photography
Destination Wedding Experts: Kim + Jeff, @romanticstravel
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unico 20°87° Riviera Maya adults-only? Yes, Unico 20°87° Riviera Maya is an adults-only resort, which makes it a popular choice for couples wanting a relaxed, guest-focused wedding atmosphere without a full family resort environment.
How far in advance should we hire a day-of wedding coordinator? As early as possible. Vivian and Kyle's own advice, straight from their wedding, is that they wish they'd brought their day-of coordinator on board sooner. A local coordinator catches details a couple planning from another country simply can't manage remotely.
Can we include cultural traditions in a destination wedding? Absolutely. Vivian and Kyle wove Vietnamese traditional attire, speeches, and ceremonies into their celebration alongside a beachfront setting in Mexico. A good planning team builds your traditions into the day rather than asking you to choose between them and the destination.
What should we prioritize when choosing a resort? Food quality, service, and overall guest experience matter more long-term than beach views or room size, according to Vivian and Kyle. A stunning photo backdrop is nice, but what your guests actually remember is how well they were taken care of. If you're traveling internationally for the wedding, also read up on passport requirements for destination wedding couples well before your trip.
Ready to Plan a Destination Wedding That Feels Like You?
Vivian and Kyle's wedding is proof that a destination wedding doesn't have to mean leaving your traditions behind, or leaving the details to chance. The right venue and the right team make room for both.
Ready to talk details? Schedule a call with Kim
And once the wedding's behind you, the next trip worth planning is the one that's just for the two of you. Read Why Honeymoons Are Important for Newlyweds when you're ready to think past the wedding day.
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