Jacob & Mariah Get Married in Mexico | “Can You Believe This is OUR wedding?”
Real Riviera Maya Wedding at a glance
Couple: Jacob & Mariah
Location: Villa La Joya, Playa del Carmen
Planner: Cristina Formica
Vibe: Spring-inspired, colorful, formal
Planning a destination wedding: “We had never even been to Mexico”
Jacob and Mariah’s love story started long before the wedding.
Both from Amarillo, Texas, they grew up wrestling, which eventually took them to Oklahoma for college. They met in May 2018 through mutual friends, and years later, in December 2023, Jacob proposed during a Christmas photo session.
From there, they spent 25 months planning their wedding.
But there was one detail that made everything feel a little crazy at first.
“We had never even been to Mexico.”
Choosing Villa La Joya (and trusting the process)
Mariah found Villa La Joya online and couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“I came across Villa La Joya, and I could not stop thinking about it. After showing it to Jacob, we decided this is where we would get married.”
Simple as that.
But planning a destination wedding from another country meant one thing was non-negotiable
A planner.
“Not having ever even been to Mexico we decided to use Villa Planners because they had all the knowledge of which vendors they’ve worked with and which to steer clear of.”
And that decision changed everything.
Villa Planners Makes Planning from Afar a Breeze
Planning from afar can feel overwhelming fast. But with Cristina, it didn’t.
“Honestly, Cristina was a Godsend, and I don’t think we could’ve done it without her.”
From vendor selection to timeline planning, every step of the process was guided, supported, and refined.
“If we wanted something certain, she figured it out or gave us alternatives that were close to what we wanted.”
They went through the timeline “probably 100x,” making sure there would be no surprises on the wedding day.
And there weren’t.
The Smallest Moments May Actually Be the Biggest Memories
For Mariah, the most emotional moment wasn’t walking down the aisle.
It was just before.
“As I went to put my shoes on for the ceremony, Jacob had written, ‘Your last walk as a Lomas and forever as a Rubio. I love you’ on the bottom of my shoe.”
“And then the waterworks began.”
Jacob and Mariah’s Big Day: It All Comes Together Like Magic
After 25 months of planning, the day finally arrived.
But it still didn’t feel real.
“The whole day, Jacob and I kept telling each other, ‘Can you believe this is OUR wedding?’”
Seeing everything come together after so much time, energy, and intention felt surreal.
“Seeing it all come to fruition was like nothing else.”
Jacob’s Favorite Moment: Reflections of the Groom
For Jacob, THE moment was right after their first kiss.
“We turned around to face everyone, our families, our best friends, all the people who’ve been there through everything… and I grabbed her hand, my favorite person in the whole world.”
“In that second, it just hit different. We did it. We’re actually married.”
All the stress, the planning, the sleepless nights… gone.
“Standing there hand in hand with her, knowing she was mine forever, I almost couldn’t breathe. It was everything.”
A Clear Vision: Spring Colors and Formal Wedding Fashions
Mariah had a clear vision from the beginning.
“Our theme was spring-inspired and colorful but formal. I wanted the flowers to be the main event… and they definitely were.”
They built everything around that.
Neutral champagne dresses for the bridesmaids. Black suits for the groomsmen. Color everywhere else.
It was bold, joyful, and completely intentional.
Mariah Says “No Regrets”: Reflections of the Bride
When asked if they would change anything, her answer was immediate.
“I can honestly say I do not wish we had done anything differently.”
Not one thing to add. Not one thing to take away.
Everything felt complete.
The Advice Every Bride Needs to Hear
Mariah doesn’t hesitate here either.
“Hire the wedding planner. Put someone in charge. Just do it.”
Because the difference is not small.
“Having someone help you and know exactly how everything is supposed to be, and that is going to advocate for your vision, is life-changing.”
And beyond the logistics, it changes the experience itself.
“I genuinely enjoyed planning our wedding and watching it all come together.”
This is what good planning looks like
A wedding that feels effortless doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when the right people are in place, the right decisions are made, and the couple is free to actually live the day instead of trying to manage it.
That is what Jacob and Mariah experienced.
And it shows in every moment.
Planning your destination wedding
If you are planning a destination wedding in Mexico, the right planner makes all the difference.
Villa Planners brings experience, clarity, and support to every step of the process, so your wedding day feels exactly the way it should. 100% yours.
Big thanks to these Riviera Maya Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Villa La Joya | Planner: Cristina Formica at Villa Planners | Photographer: Maricarmen Arcos | Content Creator: Robin at Love Notes Content | Stationary: all DIY by me | Hair & Makeup: Prep Tulum | Dress from Ivory House Bride, Ceremony Dress: Archie by Made with Love, Reception Dress: Poppy by Made with Love, Ceremony shoes: Steve Madden Teacup Blue Satin, Reception Tennis shoe: Steve Madden | Florals: Cherry Blossom Mexico | Rentals: EW Cancun | Catering: Gourmet Soberanis | Cake: Lali Pasteles | Cigar Bar: Enrique Lopez | Mariachis: Mariachi Oro del Caribe Mexicano | DJ: UNO Audiovisual