An Intimate & Luxurious Mexican Riviera Wedding

Our Galia Lahav brides know how to pick a wedding destination. No really, from villas in the Spanish countryside, lakeside in the Italian Alps, Mediterranean vistas cliffside in Mallorca…somewhere along the lines the heralded bridal fashion house said, “We’re going to design gowns for the bride with impeccable travel taste.”

Today, our Galia Lahav bride Amiee and her groom Joshua generously invite us to their very intimate, practically exclusive, wedding day on the Mexican Riviera. Located on the Caribbean shores between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, their venue Hotel Esencia is a far cry from the typical big resort wedding space. The gorgeous Mexican boutique hotel is a tropical paradise. Hidden amongst the palms, the five-star estate is the perfect space for couples searching for luxury and privacy. No holidaying onlookers for this fabulous affair.

And Amiee and Joshua did their best to take advantage of every second at Hotel Esencia. The destination wedding included three days of events – the best excuse to don an extra sparkling bridal party dress that we’ll be drooling over for years to come.

Our Love Story

On Monday, July 17th, 2017, our lives intersected. It was an unassuming, warm, rainy, summer day. Josh had picked the place, Murphy’s in the Virginia Highlands.

Like all great modern love stories, we had never met before. Technically our lives crossed paths a month earlier thanks to Instagram’s algorithm. Josh was non-committal to a full dinner as he had gotten stuck on one too many Bumble dates. That night, we were to ease into the waters with drinks. As he patiently waited at the bar, I arrived, late, per usual, running quickly to get out of the rain. I vividly remember walking in and seeing him for the first time. Josh has that old Hollywood movie star kind of beauty, full dark hair, bright blue eyes and a welcoming smile. To know him is to love him, and that Monday, was my first day of a lifetime spent loving him. Quite literally sparks flew.

Our quick happy hour plans turned into being the last to leave at closing time. From that point on, it was obvious to us, and everyone in our orbit, that this love was special. We spent 5 years building upon that night. Countless moments were spent together, growing, refining, and cherishing our love. We were so excited to finally excited to commit our lives to one another through marriage.

The Destination

With bi-coastal roots, we knew we wanted a destination wedding to maximize the time spent celebrating with our family and friends. In our relationship, we value the importance of creating and making memories above all else. With an intimate guest list of only 45, we were looking for the perfect destination. With destination wedding search, the world is quite literally your oyster. We not only looked at several countries, and climates, and finally found the most perfect location.

The Venue

Hotel Esencia is a majestic 50- acre estate at the midpoint between Tulum and Playa del Carmen. A luxury boutique hotel, originally the private home built as the private home of an Italian Duchess, the property is pure magic, an aura of European charm meets lush jungle. The 2022 Forbes Travel Guide rated Hotel Esencia as one of the few Five Star Hotels in the world, and the first and only independent Five Star Forbes hotel in all of Mexico.

The property is a true hidden gem, a very special hideaway known for its refined charm. Hosting a three-day event, we wanted our guests to feel connected, at ease and completely relaxed. We chose Esencia because all you have to do is step foot on the property, and all your worries will be subsided. The decor, service, food, and beach are truly unmatched in the region. It is a stunning property down to the smallest detail, and the staff goes above and beyond. This allowed for us and our guests to focus on each other without ever having to leave the property. We chose the venue because our top priority was creating intimate unique moments without the distraction or stress of a large cookie-cutter resort.

The Dress

I must have tried on over 100 dresses, easily. I knew what I was looking for but I just couldn’t find it until I tried on my Galia Lahav dress. The fabric and construction of GL dresses are truly what sets them apart. My seamstress told me “the dress was made for my soul.” The dress was just that, refined, natural, and romantic with feminine beauty. The fitted bodice enhanced my natural curves, while the floral lace pattern with the sheer layers, made the dress dynamic yet perfect for the venue. Many people say “don’t try on too many wedding dresses”, I couldn’t disagree more. Wait, the perfect one is out there.

The Ceremony

We wanted our wedding aesthetic to match the spirit of the property. Timeless, refined, natural and romantic beauty. Pulling inspiration from Devon Windsor’s St. Barths wedding. Our wedding planner Julia Salinas and wedding stylist Daniela Parra worked together to create a masterpiece. Our ceremony was on the steps leading up to the mansion with lush natural greenery lining the aisles, we created a timeless romantic archway full of white flowers with natural greenery. The lace floral pattern of my dress was used as inspiration for a seamless vision.

We both walked down the aisle to our favorite artist John Mayer. We had the bride’s 90-year-old grandfather open the ceremony in prayer. We exchanged our own written vows while holding our newly engraved family bible.

I will never forget standing on the steps, holding hands with my groom, and exchanging vows, in front of all our dearest family and friends. His face, the smell of the flowers, that memory will forever be stamped into my memory.

The Reception

Our guests were greeted into the cocktail hour in the garden lawn with a live saxophone artist. Our reception was one long romantic table with alternating candlelight and mixed-height florals. The reception was kicked up a notch with the groom’s only non-negotiable disco balls and a live saxophone player. Partying under the disco lights in the jungle to mixed versions of rap and EDM music, the party was incredible. We finished the night with a private pool party at the private villa on property Yum-Ha. A hacienda-style villa with Spanish tiles and a large courtyard.