The gorgeous white wedding gown is hanging on the door waiting for the exciting day to arrive. The guests invitations have been mailed out and the last touches on the banquet have been set. It’s time to plan the honeymoon vacation for the happy couple.

With an array of options to choose from, making this one tiny final decision all comes down to choosing the prime location for the perfect romantic getaway.

In our previous post, we presented our Top 5 Riviera Maya attractions. Cozily sitting in the Riviera Maya, Hacienda Tres Ríos offers many options for the perfect honeymoon. If you choose to explore the area, you may be able to discover Tulum’s gorgeous Mayan Ruins, or uncover the magical Cenote Route. But don’t forget to explore the natural wonders offered in Hacienda Tres Ríos.

Top 5 Tres Rios Attractions

1. Nature Park Walks
A refreshing way for couples to start their day is with a guided walk along the resort’s white sand beach and through Tres Ríos Nature Park, awakening to the sights, sounds, and scents of the surrounding tropical plants and exotic animals (by guest request).

2. Cenote Snorkeling Tour
Begin a soothing, guided journey by swimming and snorkeling in the nature park’s freshwater Cenote Aguila, floating down the Rio Selva river into the Caribbean Sea, and discovering the mangroves, fish, and other fascinating wildlife along the way.

3. SenseAdventure Journey
The SenseAdventure is a guided exploration along a nature park path designed to heighten visitors’ sense of smell, sound, taste, and touch. Blindfolded, a small group is led by holistic guides on a mystical journey that creatively reveals natural elements of the region.

4. Ya’ax Ché Spa Honeymoon Ritual
Ya’ax Ché Spa treatments are inspired by the Mayan concept that wellness results from reconnecting the body, mind, and spirit with nature and others.
The Yaa’ Kun Ritual is a romantic, restorative couples’ massage with aromatic essences, fresh fruit and wine.

5. Luna Maya Moonlight Dinner
After a stimulating day of activity together, the finishing touch is unwinding over a private dinner for two. The Luna Maya romantic, moonlight dinner features a white glove, a la carte dinner engagement on the patio overlooking the ocean (by reservation with 24-hour notice).

A honeymoon vacation is a treasured trip that should be no less than sensational.  One of the most sensuous places to take a honeymoon is in the cosmopolitan beach town of Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.  With its warm sunshine, exotic beaches, tropical jungles, and spicy cuisine, this is where things heat up.  It also happens to be one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean with some of the most relaxing and exhilarating experiences two people can share.

A heavenly location for beach weddings and honeymoons, various Playa del Carmen resorts offer wedding packages and honeymoon packages.  While the romantic ambiance of the honeymoon suite and resort are important, the region’s unique attractions influence sensuous experiences inspiring enough to entice couples outdoors.

Top 5 Riviera Maya Attractions

1.  Tulum Mayan Ruins

The Maya Indians’ mystical relationship with nature determined where they built their cities, selecting harmonious places, such as the unique, ancient Mayan city of Tulum.  With beautiful ocean views of the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea and white sand beaches (swimming and sunbathing allowed), it is the only Mayan city by the sea built with surrounding walls.

2. Loma Bonita Ranch

An exhilarating way to explore the tropical rainforests and Caribbean beaches with a companion is on horseback.  At Loma Bonita Ranch, share a horseback riding experience on gentle, well-manicured horses, galloping through the jungle and then culminating in a ride along the beach or possibly a horseback swim in the sea.

3.  Cozumel Island

This Mexican island is a favorite for couples, not only for snorkeling and diving along coral reefs, but also for its Mexican jewelry, art and handicraft shops.  Only a 45-minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen, Cozumel is home to Dolphin Discovery where visitors can enjoy an inspirational swim with friendly, trained, protected dolphins in the Caribbean Sea.

4.  The Cenotes Route

Natural marvels called cenotes* are truly breathtaking.  Nearly 15 exist along The Cenotes Route − La Ruta de los Cenotes − near Puerto Morelos, 30 minutes north of Playa del Carmen, and are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.  Selvatica eco park, which is on the same road, offers zip-lining tours and other adventures by prearranged reservation.

5.  La Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue)

Playa del Carmen’s promenade along the beach, La Quinta Avenida, is a diverse blend of carnival and mall − an entertainment hub by day and night.  Mexican handicraft stores, classy shops, eclectic restaurants, upscale restaurants, trendy cafes, popular bars, and hot nightclubs are accompanied by street performers, such as painted mimes, fire breathers, and musicians.

With a strong international influence, Playa del Carmen offers all the modern conveniences travelers want while retaining a distinctive cultural imprint that exemplifies Mexico.  The favored white sand beaches, calm blue sea, and all inclusive packages make the Riviera Maya a popular honeymoon destination, but it also has unique attributes, such as ancient Mayan ruins, cenotes, and savory Yucatecan cuisine.

Overflowing with tropical rainforests, nature parks, exotic wildlife, marine life, the sea, and other natural wonders, the Riviera Maya exudes vitality, making it one of the most engaging places to celebrate the union of two lives.

For our top picks of attractions in Tres Rios, check out the second part of this blog post series.

People from far and near have chosen Mexico and especially the Riviera Maya as their wedding destination. The reasons to choose this beautiful location for a special day are endless and the pull it has is only augmented by the traditions of the Mexican people, including rites and rituals at weddings.

Like the many traditions found throughout Mexico, the wedding traditions also vary from city to city, town to town, and even family to family. But there are three things that are unique to the Mexican culture and many families continue to carry on in today’s religious wedding ceremony.

The Thirteen Gold Coins
In some parts of Mexico and some families, the groom gives the bride 13 gold coins called “arras.” It is a Roman tradition of breaking a piece of gold or silver. Half of the piece of gold is kept by the bride and the other half by the groom, as a compromise of the union.

In Mexico, the groom gives the bride the 13 coins as a symbol of trust. He promises that he trusts her with his finances. When the bride accepts the gift, she promises to take this trust with care and prudence. The gift is presented in an ornate box or gift tray which represents good wishes for prosperity. The coins represent Christ and his 12 apostles.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the coins are presented to the priest who blesses the coins. The groom hands the coins to his best man who returns them to the priest near the end of the ceremony. At the end, the groom returns the coins to the bride, endowing his finances over to her.

______

Los Padrinos (Godfathers)
Los Padrinos translates as godparents and are sponsors for different aspects of the wedding such as the flowers, the ceremony, the cake, and even the bride’s dress. These padrinos contribute to the cost of the wedding ceremony.

Included in the padrinos (madrina for the woman), there is a madrina de copas who carries a wine glass for the toast. There is also padrinos for a prayer book, a rosary, a guestbook, and an embroidered kneeling pillow.

The bride can also choose a madrina de velacion to guide her throughout her married life. The last person in the procession is the remembrances-bearer who is in charge of carrying the memorabilia that is handed to guests. In some families, there are also godparents who promise to look after the couple financially and spiritually.

______

El Lazo (Lasso)
To represent the unity part of the ceremony, some couples include the “lazo” or lasso to their ceremony. The lazo is a large loop of rosary beads that is placed around the necks of the couple in the shape of an eight. The loop is a symbol of love that binds the couple as they share the responsibility of marriage.

Some couples choose to be entwined in orange blossoms as this symbolizes fertility and happiness. In some families, a double rosary lasso is also given by one set of the parents.

The padrinos de lazo place the rosary on the couple after the latter have exchanged vows. It is placed on the shoulders of the groom first, and then intertwined with the bride. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. Once it is removed, the lasso is given to the bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom’s heart and home.

The Mexican traditions have evolved with the passing of time, combining ancestral Mayan and Aztec rituals, Spanish customs, and modern wedding trends. The food, music, dresses, and even customs vary from family to family. But one thing is true: Mexicans believe on the solidity and hard foundation of marriage as the pillars of the family. These sentiments combined with beautiful traditions form unforgettable weddings.

Can you add anything to the list? What other wedding traditions are unique to your culture?

Have you decided what to do with your wedding gown once your big day is over?

While the most common answer from most brides may be that they will store their precious wedding gowns, an increasing number are taking a radical stance. Newlyweds are wearing their wedding dress one last time for a dramatic photo shoot, a new tradition known as “trashing the dress”.

The “Trash the Dress” photo shoot is one of the latest trends in wedding photography in which a bride decides to ruin their dress by getting it wet, dirty or torn, normally the day after the wedding. This unique experience is a symbolic declaration that the wedding is over and is an alternative to storing the dress.

The idea of destroying a wedding dress originated in Hollywood in 1998 when Meg Cummings of the TV show Sunset Beach ran into the ocean in her gown after her wedding was interrupted. In 2001, Las Vegas wedding photographer John Michael Cooper pioneered a creative artistic movement in the world of wedding photography by asking newlyweds to pose in unusual settings.

Trashing your dress in the Riviera Maya will certainly be one of the most daring, dramatic and romantic memories of your life.  Add an unexpected touch to your wedding video and photo album by capturing the elegance of your wedding ceremony and then later revealing your daring and creative side.

The concept is to unwind and let your creativity flow as you enjoy wearing your dress one last time in a new and liberating way. You can take a creative approach to your photo session by walking through tropical rainforests, dipping into a pool or heading into magical cenotes and fantastic underground caves only found in the Riviera Maya.

Marissa and Louis got married at our luxurious resort on October 2010 and had a “trash the dress” photo shoot by the beach and a spectacular cenote. Photos courtesy of Del Sol Photography.

Brides who have embraced the trend state that the “Trash the Dress” experience and photo shoot bestows their gowns with new life, instead of simply sitting in the closet.

So trash the dress, brides! It will be one of the few times you will truly enjoy getting dirty.

Take a look at our forecast of 2010 wedding trends! If you wonder how we can make predictions this early in the year, it’s because the couples getting married next year have already started planning, and we see a fascinating shift in preferences.

1 – Green Weddings

Here’s an interesting fact: A recent survey by “The Knot,” a wedding planning magazine and website, suggests that 60% of brides are interested in eco friendly weddings.

With the recent increase in environmental consciousness, why not have a green wedding? You can implement eco friendly wedding options and still have a luxurious, fabulous wedding.

While initial choices such as using recycled paper for wedding invitations or selecting locally grown flowers can have a positive influence, those with the most significant impact are choosing an eco resort or eco friendly location for your wedding and then implementing environmentally conscious wedding preparations.

Consider an eco friendly resort for your special day—a venue surrounded by beautiful tropical plants and the Caribbean Sea—so you don’t have to invest more on embellishing the event with decorations. A place with white sand beaches and nature parks is our first choice for a green wedding. Accentuate the existing natural environment without adding unnecessarily to it, and you can dramatically reduce your ecological footprint.

2 – Beach Weddings

Beach weddings are always in style. The romantic, sensuous beach setting is generally a top consideration for wedding planners. No matter how formal or informal your wedding will be, you can never go wrong with white sand beaches, a tranquil Caribbean sea, and lush tropical rainforests. The only thing you have to decide is whether to have a casual, barefoot event or a formal ceremony.

Many luxurious, all inclusive resorts in the Mexico Caribbean are capable of planning a stress free wedding for you. If you decide on a beach wedding, combining the wedding and honeymoon in one convenient location can also reduce stressful planning. Why go somewhere else on your honeymoon when you’re already in paradise?

3 – Wedding Photography & Videography

Many couples are now investing more in capturing wedding and honeymoon memories than on the ceremony and reception. The best wedding photography is the type that not only reflects your personality and style, but also captures candid, spontaneous moments. It’s also recommended to schedule a photo session with the photographer, before or after the wedding day, to take photos of both of you when you’re more relaxed and comfortable.

When it comes to wedding videos, an increasing number of couples are asking their videographers to film in new, creative ways. Couples don’t just want standard footage of the ceremony and reception, but they want images that convey an impression of the event beyond the norm. They prefer videos that portray the personalities, conversations, unexpected moments, reactions, and emotions of both the wedding party and their guests. The payoff is worth it: a wedding video even your friends will want to see again and again.

4 – Cultural Wedding Traditions

Many Americans and Canadians getting married in Mexico are incorporating some wonderful Mexican wedding traditions in their ceremony. Not only is it culturally enriching, but it can give your guests a pleasant surprise.

Two customary wedding traditions in Mexico are (1) the wedding lasso, a long rosary or band of flowers placed around the neck of both the bride and groom to symbolize their eternal unity and (2) a gift of Arras coins, 13 gold coins which are given to the bride by the groom as a symbol of his promise to provide for her.

Another cultural wedding tradition in the Yucatan Peninsula that travelers love is the Mayan ceremony, performed outdoors in the Maya language. Since guests participate in the ceremony by interacting with the couple and the shaman (a spiritual leader conducting the ceremony), it is generally recommended for smaller, intimate weddings.