Resort: Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
Wedding Date: April 19, 2024
Photography: @smmgphotography
Savanna and Layton originally planned to tie the knot in Minnesota, but the stress of planning and the logistics of their large families traveling made them rethink their decision. They wanted a fun, stress-free week celebrating with loved ones, and a destination wedding was the perfect answer.
Savanna had a clear vision for an elegant wedding with customizable decor that fit her style. She also wanted to ensure it was affordable for her guests. The Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta turned out to be the perfect choice. Read on for all the beautiful details of Savanna and Layton’s unforgettable wedding!
“Kate was absolutely amazing! She was so attentive during our initial call and asked all the right questions to understand exactly what we wanted for our dream destination wedding. She took the guesswork out of travel and really made it such an enjoyable experience.” – Savanna
Wedding Q & A with Savanna & Layton:
Why did you decide to have a destination wedding?
We decided on a destination wedding because our family lives all over the states (with the majority living in MN). We currently live in NC, and we figured that if we are traveling for our wedding, why not have it in a beautiful, tropical location? Doing a wedding at an all-inclusive resort reduces the stress of planning for meals/drinks and it is a very streamlined process. We knew that our guests were well taken care of and could easily interact with them.
Why did you choose Kate’s Travel?
We chose Kate’s Travel through a referral from a friend of mine. We knew we wanted to do a destination wedding, but we were lost on where to start. I reached out to see if my friend had any tips regarding destination wedding planning and she highly recommended Kate’s Travel to get the process started. Kate was fabulous to work with and did a great job showcasing different resorts based on our interests and vision.
Tell us about your wedding dress.
I found my dress through A and Be Bridal in Minneapolis. It is an Alena Leena dress and absolutely stunning. I felt like I was wearing the dress, not that the dress was wearing me! My best friend, Mom, and grandma came shopping with me. To me, it was the perfect mix of sophistication and boho beachy.
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort.
Wedding planning through Hyatt Ziva went well. Kate was CC’d in every email and would reply to emails if needed. Because the resort has so many weddings, the entire wedding day was a breeze. However, this also makes it a challenge because wedding planners at the resort are slow to reply. I have heard this from multiple brides at multiple resorts in Mexico – don’t sweat it. It will all work out.
Describe the meeting you had with the onsite wedding team when you arrived at the resort.
We met with Valentina (our wedding planner) right away when we checked in at the resort as a brief hello. She assured us that everything was absolutely perfect for our big day. We had another meeting a day later to go over logistics and rehearse the ceremony. She was a wealth of knowledge and any concerns or requests that I had last minute, she made it happen. She was there the entire time during our wedding for same day coordinating too.
Tell us about your wedding! What was different about a destination wedding?
We had a traditional wedding with a ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. After the ceremony, guests were greeted by a mariachi band to bring them to the cocktail hour area. Our reception and dance were right on the beach – everyone loved dancing barefoot on the dancefloor. This was definitely different than having a wedding back home in MN!
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
Our absolute favorite part about having a destination wedding is that we were able to spend quality time with all of our guests throughout the few days that we were at the resort (rather than just a few hours at a local reception). My biggest stressor was ensuring that everyone felt included and loved during our wedding because I come from a blended family. Allowing multiple days to catch up with those I love most was so worth the planning and travel for a destination wedding! We had about 100 guests in total, and we were able to spend quality time with almost everyone. Although guests do need to spend more money to be able to attend the wedding in another country, it is so worth it. It was actually much cheaper for us to do a destination wedding rather than a local wedding because most expenses are covered in the wedding package at a cheaper price.
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How did Kate’s Travel make the planning less stressful for you?
Kate helped navigate any and all questions that guests had regarding travel plans. All shuttles to/from the airport were covered and planned, and allowing a room block at the resort helped ensure each guest was able to book a room that they wanted to book. This helped steer questions away from me so I could thoroughly enjoy my planning process as a bride.
Would you recommend Kate’s Travel to other couples considering a destination wedding?
I would highly recommend Kate’s Travel to any couple who is considering a destination wedding. Kate is so knowledgeable when it comes to locations/resorts that are high quality for a wedding and she really helped start the planning process and keep the ball rolling during the planning process.
