Unlikely Times and Flawless Weddings: Is Celebrating Love Possible in a Socially Distanced World?

By Alex Ruelas

What makes a perfect wedding? There are probably as many answers to that question as there are couples on the planet, all with their ideas of what the ultimate celebration of love should be. However, there are a few places where all those ingredients, no matter how diverse, can come together in a setting with its own kind of magic.

“People from all over the world come to the Riviera Maya to celebrate their wedding,” say Xanath and Ale Banuelos, founders of XB, one of the top event planners in the region. “It’s just so diverse. The jungle, the spectacular beaches, the ballrooms, the villas… You can easily have a multi-day event and surprise your guests with a stunning location every time.”

The Mexican Caribbean has also become a place for cultural encounters. With one of the most important international airports in the country and direct flights from the world’s top travel hubs, getting there is remarkably easy no matter where on the planet you are located. This connectivity makes it an unbeatable place to bring together families and friends from around the globe. “We get people from every country and culture coming here to tie the knot,” relates Xanath. “This means we also get to work with an extraordinary variety of identities and traditions.”

Xanath, who has more than a decade’s experience putting together extraordinary weddings for her clients, has learned to cater to different cultures and maintain the authenticity they look for in the event. And one of their most valuable assets is the diversity of the local community.

“That is one of the wonderful things of the Riviera Maya. It’s so eclectic that couples, no matter where they come from, can always find authentic traits of their culture and people who literally speak their language, which is hard to come by in other destinations,” says Banuelos. “When you combine that openness with the extraordinary service that is the trademark of the Caribbean, you get the ideal setting for that special day, regardless of where in the world you come from.”

Of craft, closeness, and memories

“This is the start of one of life’s most exciting adventures.” For Ale, a wedding not only represents a watershed in the life of a couple but in that of their entire families. “We have seen completely different cultures become kin. It’s incredibly beautiful to witness, and a great responsibility to create that moment of shared joy.”

And so the planning must begin. But where to start? Well, often, from an unlikely collection of ideas. “People come to us with concepts that synthesize what they envision. For instance, they will give us a bundle of words like romantic, Latin, elegant, and modern. And then we take it from there.”

Abstract concepts become designer furniture, handmade decor, and sophisticated color palettes. The XB team puts together mood boards, menus, and renders to craft a journey, sometimes with multiple locations and different atmospheres that culminate on the wedding day. Every detail has to be perfect and created alongside the bride and groom. That was until covid changed the game.

“The pandemic has definitely altered the way we work. Before, we used to plan several encounters with the couple. They would come to see the venues, then again for tastings and finally for the big day. Now, most of our interactions before the date occur online. They trust us almost blindly and leave everything in our hands.”

Ceremonies have also changed. Travel restrictions and safety measures have made it increasingly difficult for families to gather in celebration. Large parties and grand receptions are all but impossible, at least for the time being. But there is a silver lining.

“We have learned the real value of intimacy,” remarks Ale. “With only a handful of guests, there’s more time to enjoy. Couples can dance, sing, and laugh with those closest to their hearts. Moments become more personal, more real. Ironically, the pandemic that demands social distancing has brought us closer.”

So, what makes a perfect wedding? If you had asked that same question a year ago, you would have probably gotten very different responses. However, even in these strange circumstances, the core elements remain the same. Sometimes it takes a beautiful destination to remind us that what counts is sharing that magical moment with the ones we love the most and living that unrepeatable moment in a place that we’ll never forget.