Category: Real Weddings

If there isn’t a picture to prove it, did it really happen? It did, but you’ll want a picture anyway. When you arrive at UNICO 20˚87˚, you may be overwhelmed by a number of times you will have to take your phone out to snap a photo. To make it easier for you, we’ve selected the most Instagrammable spots around the hotel.

1. The lobby. It’s your first stop and one of the most beautiful. The hanging lamps and fountain in the lobby can’t be missed and are totally picture-worthy.

Credit: @ellenvlora

2. The outdoor Esencia Wellness Spa hydrotherapy area. The Esencia Wellness Spa has both indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy treatment options. Make sure to try both, but schedule some extra time outdoors so that you have ample time to try out a few poses and soak up the sun.

3. Swinging chairs at 20˚87˚ Restaurant. Instagram is more than just photos, you also need a Boomerang… or two. Swing with new or old friends and have someone take a boomerang of the moment. It might take more than a few swings, but we promise it’s worth it.

Credit: @vitoltravel_julie

4. Double hydro spa tub on your balcony. If you haven’t already noticed their popularity on Instagram, once you see them in person you will quickly realize why you’re going to want to jump in and take a selfie.

Credit: @janicejoostemaa

5. Bridge to the beach. This list would not be complete without our insta-famous bridge. Not only does this bridge take you to the beach but while walking over you’ll realize why it’s on this list. Let’s just say every picture needs beach waves in the background.

Honorable mention. The signature UNICO 20˚87˚ robes. Since it’s not a ‘spot’ it can’t officially make the list. But we couldn’t go without mentioning them. You’ll also want to stay in the robe long after you’ve captured the perfect moment.

While these are just some of the favorites, every corner, pool, and view are photogenic. And we’re not just saying that. See for yourself. Be sure to tag #MyUNICOExperience so they can feature your photos on their page, @UNICO2087.

Just a few days after Fourth of July, Sally and John made their way to Secrets Akumal for an intimate destination wedding of their dreams. They knew they wanted a private ceremony for the two to cherish and found that Secrets Akumal had what exactly what they were looking for. When the couple first began planning their special day, they were immediately drawn to Secrets Akumal and the local inspiration throughout the hotel. The private ceremony took place in the gazebo by the ocean, which made for a picture perfect moment. 

See the special moments this couple had while enjoying their dream destination wedding.

What is your favorite memory from your big day?

Every minute of our big day was memorable, every single minute. We wouldn’t have changed a thing and would get married at Secrets Akumal again if we could!

What was your favorite amenity?

We loved everything about Secrets Akumal from the moment we arrived to the moment we departed. From the welcoming we received at check-in, our host Aldo was fantastic our entire stay, checking on us daily and attending to any requests we had. The Spa was fabulous and the 20% inclusion rate made it possible for us to visit many time during our stay. The food was outstanding at all the restaurants, but Mi Carissa was our favorite. The service and grace of the staff, the Chef who came to our table, creating a menu just for our Wedding Celebration dinner was exceptional. Also, our Estancia Suite was magnificent!

Describe your big day in three sentences.

My day began at 1:00 pm when the Styling Trio entered our suite and transformed me into a beautiful bride by doing my hair and makeup. Our wedding coordinator, Brenda, was there the entire time from the styling in the suite to our Wedding Night Celebration Dinner, and graciously attended to every detail, creating a fairytale wedding for us. Our wedding was personalized and intimate and surpassed every expectation we had.

And so the adventure begins…

Sally and John’s experience at Secrets Akumal continued to exceed expectations even after the big day. The days following their wedding were filled with poolside relaxation, snorkeling with sea turtles just steps from the beach, and romantic candlelit dinners under the stars. The couple mentioned how the tranquil atmosphere and adults-only setting made it feel like they had the entire resort to themselves. From spontaneous beach walks at sunrise to sipping cocktails at the swim-up bar, every moment added to the magic. They even booked a professional photo session through the resort to capture their honeymoon glow—and now have those memories beautifully preserved. Secrets Akumal wasn’t just a wedding venue; it was the beginning of a lifelong love story.

They say for your 10-year anniversary gift you should get your significant other aluminum or tin, but Tony decided to give Jess the gift of a destination vow renewal. Tony is not your average husband, as he went above and beyond for the trip of a lifetime.

Tony and Jess’s vow renewal at Moon Palace Cancun was a moment they will remember forever. Not only was the couple celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary, but they were also celebrating Jess’s birthday. Tony surprised Jess with an intimate vow renewal on the beach, making their vacation a truly memorable moment.

See what Tony had to say about his experience.

What was your favorite thing about your big day?

For me, it was the element of surprise at breakfast when our wedding planner Maribel brought over the invitation on a leaf to my wife’s vow renewal.  Seeing the look on my wife’s face as she just learned she is attending her vow renewal was priceless.  The spa pampering and photography was also great.

What was the best part about the planning process?

How easy it was!  I am not good at making decisions and Maribel had great patience with me.  Kerri also did an amazing job as I am sure this wasn’t easy for both of them!

Which was your favorite amenity?

The spa and dolphin excursion were both awesome!

Another highlight was the private romantic dinner on the beach, which gave us time to reflect and connect in a beautiful, peaceful setting. From start to finish, the staff at Moon Palace made us feel like royalty. The attention to detail, the genuine care, and the seamless coordination made this more than just a vacation—it was a dream come true. I can’t recommend this experience enough for any couple looking to celebrate a milestone in an unforgettable way.

What truly set this experience apart was how personalized everything felt. From the custom vow renewal setup with flowers that matched our wedding colors, to the thoughtful touches like a handwritten note and champagne waiting in our room—it felt like every moment was crafted just for us. The on-site team made us feel like we were the only couple at the resort.

The vow renewal ceremony itself was absolutely magical. The soft sound of waves, the golden hour lighting, and the emotional vows made it all feel surreal. Our photographer captured every smile, tear, and laugh perfectly—we now have photos we’ll treasure for the rest of our lives.

And let’s not forget the food! Every meal felt like a fine dining experience, and the variety was incredible. We loved ending our nights at the sky bar with a cocktail in hand, talking about the day and watching the stars.

Looking back, we’re so grateful for the memories made and the love we felt throughout the entire stay. If you’re even thinking about doing a destination vow renewal, do it—you won’t regret it.

Deciding to have a destination wedding was an easy choice for Samantha and Benjamin. They always envisioned their wedding as a meaningful getaway—one where they could create lasting memories with loved ones over several days instead of a few short hours. Dreams Vista Cancun turned out to be the ideal setting, offering stunning ocean views, modern luxury, and a stress-free planning experience that brought their vision to life.

What was the best part of the planning process?

They made everything feel so effortless! I sent the Dreams team some inspiration photos, and they responded quickly with customized options and clear pricing. Alanna helped ease my nerves and offered creative ideas, while Miriam took care of all the details onsite. Handing everything off to her allowed me to truly enjoy the moment and be fully present with our guests.

What were your favorite amenities?

We absolutely fell in love with the spa! We treated ourselves to several services, including a romantic couple’s massage that helped us unwind before the big day. We also spent many evenings at the rooftop bar, enjoying craft cocktails with incredible views of the Cancun skyline. The food was another standout—we’re big foodies and Dreams Vista exceeded every expectation. From the sushi bar to the gourmet French restaurant, every meal felt like a celebration.

Describe your big day in 3 sentences

The day was everything we dreamed of and more. The bridal party got ready in our spacious suite with music, laughter, and a steady stream of room service, while the groomsmen soaked up the sun poolside before suiting up. We exchanged vows overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, danced all night under the stars, and ended the evening with a high-energy after-party in the rooftop lounge, complete with a live DJ and our closest friends by our side.

What else did you love about Dreams Vista Cancun?
We were blown away by how modern and stylish the entire resort felt—from the sleek design of the lobby to the beautiful oceanfront infinity pools. The rooms were spacious, spotless, and featured stunning floor-to-ceiling windows with unbeatable views of the sea. We also loved the coffee shop for our morning lattes and pastries, and the rooftop Preferred Club area quickly became our favorite escape for quiet moments together. Every staff member went above and beyond to make us feel celebrated—not just on the wedding day, but every single day of our stay. We truly can’t wait to go back for an anniversary trip!

When Chas and Drew began planning their wedding, they knew they wanted one thing: a picture-perfect backdrop for their intimate ceremony. Sharing their love for the ocean, they chose to tie the knot at Hyatt Ziva Cancun surrounded by nothing but the open waters, and twenty-five of their closest friends and families. Chas and Drew’s big day was filled with many special moments and memories they will forever cherish.

We caught up with the newlyweds after their nuptials, and here is what they had to say about some of their favorite moments.

What was your favorite thing about your big day?
My favorite part would have to be the ceremony. The gentlemen leading the service had a great speech set up, and it was constantly hitting home for us. We also wrote our own vows and did not feel rushed at all during the process. Our closest friends and families were there too.

Describe your big day in three sentences.
It was everything more than what we had even imagined. From the ceremony to the end of the reception, every need was met and dealt with. There were really no issues or surprises that arose, as everything was well-thought-out.

What was your favorite thing about the hotel?
We enjoyed the bar lounge most nights! During the day, we loved to play volleyball in the water or sit at the poolside bar enjoying some beverages. We also took advantage of the beachside service!

What else did you love about Hyatt Ziva Cancun?
Honestly, the staff went above and beyond from the moment we arrived. Everyone greeted us with such warmth and made us feel so special—not just on the wedding day, but every day of our stay. We also loved how seamless everything felt; our wedding coordinator handled every detail so we could focus on enjoying our time with guests. The food was another highlight! From gourmet dining to casual bites by the beach, everything was absolutely delicious. We especially loved the taco stand near the pool and the rooftop French restaurant for a romantic evening dinner. And our room? Incredible! Waking up to panoramic ocean views every morning felt like a dream.

Seeking a one-of-a-kind experience in paradise for their special day, Joji and Marcus knew that this celebration of their love needed to take place in the heart of Mexico with a picture perfect backdrop. The couple decided on a destination wedding, and wanted to make sure it could be as special as possible to create memories they can continue to cherish in the years to come. 

We had the chance to catch up with the newlyweds post-nuptials and here is what they had to say about their special day: 

What led you to choose a destination wedding?

We are both from opposite sides of the country and met at school in New York. With family being spread out all over the world and five years of long-distance, we wanted a special place that we could call our own. We wanted to find a spot that was not only one-of-a-kind, but that was also somewhere we would be excited to go back to year after year. We got married during a high-point of the pandemic, so we also looked to select a place that we could bring our family back to in the future!  

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?

Our top factors were experience, uniqueness and quality. We wanted a location that felt like no other while still delivering service and an experience that we could rely on. When we came across Unico, we fell in love with the character of the property. With so many offerings, we knew that there would be everything we could ever need.

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? 

Working with the wedding coordinator was by far one of the best parts of the process. Every question I had was met with a detailed and kind answer. The coordinator that we had truly felt like a best friend that I could rely on and trust.

Why did you choose an elopement vs a traditional wedding with guests?

The distance and the size of our families coupled with the fact that we had a long-distance relationship led us to want an elopement. We were about 2 hours apart for the entire 5 years of our relationship prior to getting married and finally getting that undivided time together was truly what our marriage was celebrating. We also loved the cost efficiency of the option so we could use the money to start our life together (such as getting a new house and adopting two new puppies a few months later).

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?

For us, it is the fact that we now have this little pocket of paradise that will always mean so much in our hearts. It’s not a place we had been before or that is associated with a ton of other memories. Unico will always be symbolic of this first chapter of our lives together. It’s a place we can always plan a getaway to that will be only ours!

As lovers of nature and beautiful beaches, Kelly and Nick knew that their special day had to be framed by Mexico’s breathtaking tropical scenery. UNICO 20º87º Hotel Riviera Maya proved to be exactly what they were looking for. Despite some unprecedented bumps in the road, Kelly and Nick were able to have the destination wedding of their dreams surrounded by all of their closest friends and family, who also got to enjoy a full week of rest and relaxation in paradise.

 

What led you to choose a destination wedding?

We loved the intimate setting that the beach provides for weddings, limited decorations are needed when you have such a beautiful backdrop. We are both lovers of nature and the outdoors and couldn’t think of a better place. We also have family that lives all over the U.S. so travel was going to be a part of our guest’s plans regardless of where our wedding was held.

 

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?

When looking at resorts we knew we wanted our ceremony on the beach so we searched for a beautiful beach, which is not hard to find in Mexico! Then we knew we wanted an adult-only resort with a unique feel. We looked at several chain style resorts but wanted something one of a kind with wonderful food and expansive pools, this led us to UNICO 20˚87˚!

 

Tell us about your wedding dress – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How do you feel wearing your dress?

Searching for a wedding dress was harder than I expected. I am a very indecisive person and ended up going to 9 different bridal stores before finding my dress at Bridal Aisle Boutique in Osseo, Minnesota! My sister and maid of honor were with me! Once I put the dress on, I knew!

 

Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.

We met with Diana the day after we arrived at the resort. She was organized and walked us through everything we needed to know. We still had some decisions to make about music and she was patient with us through the process. She went through all of our details to ensure her notes were accurate then she took us on a tour and showed us exactly where everything would take place.

 

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?

We loved that it gave our family and closest friends a chance to get to know one another while we spent our week in paradise. It was an overall perfect opportunity for the people we love and care about the most to talk, laugh, and relax together.

Celebrating Pride Month Year-Round at Unico Hotel Riviera Maya

At UNICO 20°87°, Love Always Wins

As we near the end of Pride Month, we would love to share Steven and Adam’s dreamy boho wedding. Accompanied by their closest friends and family, the couple said “I do” on the shores of the Mexican Caribbean.  

Check out what the newlyweds had to say about their magical moment: 

What led you to choose a destination wedding?

We really wanted a location that was special and located along a beautiful beach. A destination wedding also allowed us to spend more time with friends and family. We got to catch up, enjoy dinners and cocktails, and get to know significant others versus a hectic one-day blur of an event and reception. It also created a place that we can always go back to visit on special anniversaries and occasions.

 

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?

Honestly, we fell in love with the property from the website and wedding book. The grounds were perfectly manicured, rooms were spacious and well decorated, and the wedding options were endless! We had a hard time finding venues and rental companies that could perfectly bring our personal styles to life – until we found UNICO. Plus, the convenience of one venue coordinating food, decor, music, entertainment, welcome bags – practically everything! It allowed us to focus on the fun over-the-top items while UNICO’s incredible wedding team handled the rest. 

 

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? 

Since our wedding, we have been recommending both UNICO and our Wedding Coordinator, Maribel, to everyone considering a destination wedding. She was such a pleasure to work with – attentive, organized, and calming. We didn’t once worry about something falling through the cracks. She also provided a few surprises of her own the night of the ceremony and reception. We felt that Maribel and her team truly cared about every detail and every guest.  

What were some of your biggest fears or things you worried about as your wedding date drew near? How did you get through this?

Regardless of the destination and endless support from AIC and UNICO, the “what about…” worries absolutely kicked in leading up to our wedding date. Our dedicated Wedding Coordinator was always available to answer questions and alleviate any concerns. We could not have gotten through the planning process without Maribel!

 

Which collection did you use? 

Soul Green Collection.

Which was your favorite hotel amenity? 

We loved the personal touch of a dedicated concierge. Karla was very thoughtful, attentive, and a pleasure to get to know. She helped us schedule and coordinate everything! We also loved our experience at the Esencia Spa! 

What was your favorite thing about your big day? 

There were so many special moments during the big day. One that I will never forget was walking down the aisle to a live acoustic duet. UNICO had helped me coordinate a surprise for Adam with ChocoVanilla, the incredible singer and guitar player duo. They went above and beyond to learn a new song that was special to us. In addition to the many fun and special surprises Maribel, our Wedding Coordinator, layered into the special day, ending the night with a choreographed firework show was a once in a lifetime experience. It was such an incredible moment of celebration for us. 

Describe your day in three sentences.

Perfectly styled beach destination wedding with incredible moments throughout – live music, fireworks, friends, family, dancing. We will forever cherish the memories that our friends, family, and UNICO helped us create.

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?

A destination wedding allowed friends and family to spend time getting to know each other before and after the event. It created such a special atmosphere of shared love and celebration. Plus, partnering with an all-inclusive, hands-on resort like UNICO allowed us grooms to spend our time enjoying moments with each other, friends, and family.

Above and Beyond Wedding Travel Support!

We had an amazing experience working with Stephanie Tindall as our wedding travel agent and cannot recommend her enough!

From start to finish, she went above and beyond to make our wedding travel smooth and unforgettable.

She was incredibly friendly and attentive to our wedding party, even adding personal touches like wishing our best man’s wife a happy birthday, which was such a thoughtful gesture.

Communication with Stephanie was always clear and concise, making the entire process easy to navigate. She expertly managed travel bookings for our family members across multiple countries, which was no small feat! Stephanie also upgraded the bride and groom’s travel to make our experience even more special, including a delightful surprise of champagne on our deluxe transporation to the resort, which we truly appreciated! What really stood out was her dedication to going the extra mile. She helped us book rooms outside of the initial wedding block and assisted guests with booking excursions, ensuring everyone had a fantastic time.

Her timeliness and responsiveness made everything stress-free, and when there were communication challenges with the resort planning staff, Stephanie was actively involved to ensure things stayed on track. Additionally, she offered great advice on changing resorts to better meet our needs and worked tirelessly to ensure the changes were made.

We’re so grateful for her support and expertise throughout the entire journey, and we couldn’t have asked for a better travel agent for our wedding!

-Julia & Kyle Grumbeck

Read this exciting review for our destination wedding travel agent, Heather Huber. This is from a bride married at Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa in Dominican Republic.

I worked with Heather for about 7 months. …We got engaged in February and married in August so it was a quick turnaround.

I loved working with Heather, she was so responsive, gave me so many options, but not too many I had paralysis by analysis.

I think she sent me 5 to start with and I refined what I was looking for in a destination and she would give me three more options in that vein, I tweak something again and she’d give me a few more toppings. She was also able to share if she had personally been to the locations, knew people who had been there through her work, or had personal friends go there. Some she was even traveling to in the coming weeks. I felt very safe with Heather because didn’t get a sales vibe, she seemed like an authentic human just trying to help me out and I super appreciated that.

She handled all the bookings for our guests. It ended up being a smaller party, just the nature of an adults only resort and a destination, so I think we invited around 100-80 and we had like 40 book or something around that. Heather created a website so we can send people to that link ( we made a QR code for our invitations and also had it to text folks). She priced out different room options, made sure transportation to and from hotel was covered for everyone, and handled all the engagement with the hotel…so we didn’t lose any money if we didn’t have a certain amount of rooms booked in time.

She handled literally everything to include we had a friend that was a new mom and was going to stay at a near by property and she handled all of that coordination from day passes, access to our resort, pricing with the other place…all the communication with the friend…she was great!

Heather followed up while we were there to check in to see how things were going but it wasn’t overbearing in the slightest. She some how balanced being caring and available if we needed anything but didn’t hit me up every day so I actually got to enjoy the time at the resort and with our guests.

Overall, I would recommend Heather. She got me in contact with the people I needed to at the resort, she handled all the bookings with the guests and we didn’t have a single issue, she was knowledgeable about the various options when it came to resorts, and she was just an awesome person…super easy to talk to, very communicative and responsive. She made the whole thing so easy for us and I loved it!

Cara Buzard
Destination Wedding Bride at Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa in Dominican Republic