Top 5 Location-Only Wedding Venues in the Riviera Maya
With so many beautiful wedding venues in the Riviera Maya to choose from, picking the right location for your big day can be overwhelming.
There are easy ways to narrow down your selection, and evaluating the types of venues, cost, capacity, and location is an easy way to streamline your process. My Featured Venue series highlights some of my favorite location-only, villa, and boutique hotel wedding venue options in the Riviera Maya.
Location-only wedding venues – unique restaurants, private beach clubs, lush gardens, secret cenotes in the jungle and even villas – allow couples plenty of flexibility without sacrificing style and personality.
Some couples find it advantageous to book a location-only venue, freeing themselves from the commitment of having to book accompanying accommodations to secure their reservation. You and your guests are free to find lodging at nearby hotels or condos, which can allow for more flexibility between families or guests wishing to plan their travel together. Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of booking a venue-only location is their year-round availability (as many villas and boutique hotels won’t book weddings during high travel seasons).
There are several details to keep in mind when considering a location-only wedding venue. You should plan on being away from the wedding site for preparation and anticipatory celebrations (like getting ready day-of and, sometimes, ceremony rehearsals). Additionally, arrangements will need to be made for your bridal party and guests to ensure their timely transportation to the wedding site for the start of the ceremony. With an expert planner, all of the accompanying logistics will be easy to navigate.
Blue Venado, Playa del Carmen
Photography by: Carrie House Photography
This venue is located on a secluded bay, one mile down a winding dirt road through the jungle. If you want a completely private event – then Blue Venado is for you – as the only access to the property is down this road! This location is for couples who embrace the natural elements that the Riviera Maya has to offer. It is perfectly nestled between the lush green jungle and turquoise Caribbean Sea. Blue Venado offers fabulous wedding packages that include catering, furniture, and decor which simplifies the planning process.
- Type: Beach club
- Location: 10 min drive South of Playa del Carmen
- Site fee: no site fee
- Vendor fees: no vendor fees
- Average food and beverage cost/person: from $95.00 per person
- Time limit: 2:00 am
- Restrooms: 6
- Max. capacity: 200 people
Villa La Joya, Playa Paraiso
Photography by: Amor Amor Weddings
Villa La Joya is the ideal location for couples looking for an elegant, romantic, and sophisticated venue. Couples can rent the exterior areas of the villa for their wedding day, including the beautifully manicured gardens and ample tiled spaces around a large pool. It is located in Playa Paraiso, a quiet gated community close to Playa del Carmen and several all-inclusive hotels. The views are stunning with plenty of options for photography and the couple can access the villa’s interior for their newlywed portraits at an additional cost.
Photography by: Moni and Adri Photography
- Type: Luxury Villa
- Location: 15 mins drive North of Playa del Carmen
- Site fee: $4500.00 to $6000.00 USD
- Vendor fees: no vendor fees
- Average food and beverage cost/person: from $75.00 per person
- Time limit: 12:00 am (with the possibility of extending until 2.00 am)
- Restrooms: 2
- Max. capacity: 250 people
Grand Coral Beach Club, Playa del Carmen
Yuli & Luis’s Wedding from Noel Pineda on Vimeo.
Boasting a private beach cove and minimalist, modern vibes, the Grand Coral Beach Club is another fantastic option for location-only wedding venue. It offers a large deck around a swimming pool, with fabulous views of the ocean. It also has a covered restaurant area with a slick waterfall as a backdrop. Grand Coral has been catering to wedding groups for a decade and have some of the best in-house chefs in the area.
- Type: Beach club
- Location: 10 mins north of Playa del Carmen
- Site fee: $800.00 USD to $4500.00
- Vendor fees: no vendor fees
- Average food and beverage cost/person: from $105.00 per person
- Time limit: 12:00 am (with the possibility of extending until 2.00 am)
- Restrooms: 6
- Max. capacity: 200 people
Grand Coral also offers a non-beachfront venue for those who prefer not to tie the knot with their toes in the sand. The Grand Coral golf house club boasts a fabulous air-conditionned space, with floor-to ceiling-windows, overlooking the green.
Photography by: Moni and Adri Photography
Mia Restaurant and Beach Club, Tulum
Photography: White Crown
Mia Restaurant and Beach Club is ideally located in the center of Tulum Beach, close to most of the popular hotels. It offers great spaces: a large sophisticated lounge area on the beach and an ample airy palapa with a tiled floor (yes, ladies can wear those heels!). It also has its own wine cellars with a wide range of wine selections.
- Type: Restaurant and Beach Club
- Location: Tulum Beach (km. 7.5)
- Site fee: no site fee
- Vendor fees: no vendor fees
- Average food and beverage cost/person: from $105.00 per person
- Time limit: 11:00 pm on the beach and 2:00 am in the restaurant
- Max. capacity: 120 people in the restaurant, 150 people on the beach
Photography: Sean Cook Photography
Zama Beach Club, Isla Mujeres
Photography: Naal
Perfect for late-night events, Zama Beach Club is an exclusive private location in Isla Mujeres, just 20 minutes from Cancun. The boat ride to the location sets the tone for guests and the long, picturesque dock stretching into the sea is the perfect location for bridal portraits. With events starting an hour before sunset, you’re sure to have a golden glow over your ceremony. Also featured at Zama is the option for the bride and groom to book their stunning suite for their wedding-night stay.
- Type: private beach club
- Location: 20 min boat ride from Cancun
- Site fee: from $900
- Vendor fees: no vendor fees
- Cost/person: from $115.00 per person.
- Time limit: 5 am
- Restrooms: 4
- Max. capacity: 500 people
Choosing the perfect location sets the tone for your day. These location-only venues provide chic style, gorgeous backdrops, and tons of flexibility.
