Excellence Riviera Cancun Wedding Julia & Cam
Highlight film of Julia & Cam’s beach wedding at Excellence Riviera Cancun.
A Beautiful Destination Wedding at Excellence Riviera Cancun.
We first met Julia & Cam the day before their wedding during their couples session and welcome dinner — the perfect way to break the ice and get comfortable in front of the camera.
We always recommend our couples plan an engagement session or save-the-date shoot before the wedding. It helps us connect, understand their personalities, and be fully in sync on the wedding day. As a Cancun wedding photographer, these pre-wedding sessions also let me observe whether couples are camera-shy, prefer direction, or want a more documentary approach.
We started shooting at sunset, exploring different areas of the resort — the lush gardens, elegant architecture, and beachside pathways. Later, we continued documenting their welcome dinner and heartfelt speeches.
Excellence Riviera Cancun is one of our favorite resorts because of its size and variety of photo opportunities. The gardens are beautifully curated, the outdoor pathways are green and secluded — perfect for a first look or group portraits. We also love photographing couples around the spa area, which features incredible architectural design and soft light ideal for an editorial-style shoot.
Thinking of getting married in the Riviera Maya? Check out my full guide to planning a destination wedding in Mexico here.
Couple Interview: Julia & Cam’s Experience
Why did you choose Excellence Riviera Cancun for your wedding?
We always knew we wanted a destination wedding. Since both of our families are spread out across the States, it made sense that if some people were traveling, everyone might as well make a vacation out of it! We had vacationed at Excellence Riviera a couple of times before and absolutely fell in love with it. The resort’s incredible service and staff, amazing food, beautiful rooms, and overall atmosphere made such an easy choice for us. It felt like the perfect place to celebrate our wedding and share one of our favorite spots with our closest family and friends.
Any tips for couples getting married in the Riviera Maya?
Be direct about what you want, but also trust your resort and wedding coordinator — they truly know what they’re doing. Many of these teams handle multiple weddings a day and have perfected the process, so lean into their expertise and let them guide you. The best part of a beach wedding in this area is that the ocean and sand naturally elevate your décor — minimal is more, so let the landscape speak for itself. We tried to focus on little touches that felt like “us” and let the setting do the rest.
If you’re able to, do a site visit a few months prior! We found it so helpful. It eased all my nerves and made everything feel real. We met with the resort’s wedding coordinator, as well as the DJ, videographer, and décor team. We discussed every detail, walked through all the spaces, and even tasted and confirmed the food. I came into each meeting with a pretty clear vision, which helped guide the conversations and made it easy to finalize everything.
Just remember to slow down, look around, and soak it all in — the Riviera Maya is truly magical, and the day will fly by faster than you think.
Favorite part of your wedding day?
How could I possibly pick just one! The entire day was absolutely perfect — truly the best day of my life. If I had to choose one top moment, it would be walking down the aisle and seeing my husband standing there — smiling so big with tears in his eyes.
But overall, the day was more than perfect. Getting ready that morning with my sisters and mom was also so special — calm, peaceful, and the best way to ease into such an emotional day. Having one of our close friends officiate made the ceremony feel so personal and meaningful, and hearing everyone at cocktail hour talk about how beautiful our vows were meant so much to us. Then came the reception — and it was an absolute party. No one left the dance floor the entire night! Everyone had the best time. Even now, people still talk about how it was the most fun wedding they’ve ever attended.
We were surrounded by our favorite people, celebrating exactly the way we had hoped. Seeing our vision come to life so perfectly — from the setup to the energy — was the most rewarding feeling. Truly, we couldn’t have done it without our incredible vendors. Every single one of them went above and beyond. They executed everything so perfectly that we were able to be fully present and just enjoy every moment. It was everything we dreamed of and more.
How was your experience working with Luke Fotoliv Photography?
We truly can’t say enough amazing things about Luke! From the very beginning, he made everything seamless — quick to respond, easy to talk to, and so intentional about understanding our vision. He made us feel completely comfortable and confident, which took away so much of the stress leading up to the day.
On the wedding weekend, Luke and his partner Walter were beyond incredible. He has this effortless way of knowing exactly what shots to take while making everything feel completely natural and candid. We never felt “posed” or stiff — just genuinely ourselves. We had provided a shot list and timeline, and he followed it perfectly while going even more above and beyond.
Looking through our gallery, we were in awe of how beautifully he captured not just the big moments, but all the little, emotional in-between ones that made the day so special.
When the resort’s outside vendor rules suddenly changed, Luke was adamant about making sure he could still be there — taking care of every requirement and document. It was so reassuring knowing he truly wanted to capture our wedding. That meant the world to us.
He’s professional, kind, insanely talented, and just such a joy to be around. If you’re lucky enough to have Luke photograph your day, you won’t be disappointed!
Getting Ready at the Resort
I started the day in Julia’s suite with her bridesmaids. The energy was electric — music playing, dancing, laughter, and a few TikToks in the making. I began with flat lays of her wedding details, then photographed her dress on the rooftop terrace before capturing intimate moments between Julia and her mom as she helped her into the gown.
The room’s neutral palette of cream, white, and soft brown matched the elegant tone of the day. Its large floor-to-ceiling window filled the space with natural light — perfect for timeless, true-to-color getting-ready portraits.
The First Look in the Resort Gardens
For the first look, we moved to the external garden pathways — lush, private, and cinematic. Julia first shared emotional moments with her three siblings and her dad before seeing Cam for the first time.
First looks are some of my favorite parts of any wedding day. The raw anticipation, the genuine reactions — it’s where emotion meets story. This location is one of our favorite corners at Excellence Riviera for first looks because it offers both privacy and a beautiful, natural backdrop.
We always recommend our couples consider doing a first look. It gives us time to capture couple and wedding-party portraits before the ceremony, allowing the newlyweds to fully enjoy cocktail hour afterward — eating, drinking, and being with their guests instead of rushing through photos.
After Julia & Cam’s first look, we continued their portraits around the spa. The modern design and textures there are perfect for creating an editorial vibe. We then photographed family and wedding-party portraits, giving the couple freedom to enjoy the rest of their day without a tight photo schedule.
The Beach Ceremony
They chose the perfect timing for their beach ceremony — one hour before sunset, when the light turns golden and soft. The floral setup complemented the natural tones of the sand and ocean perfectly.
Excellence Riviera sits on a stunning stretch of white beach in Puerto Morelos, surrounded by palm trees and a warm ocean breeze. One of my favorite touches was having a close friend officiate the ceremony — something we always encourage in our Riviera Maya Wedding Guide (insert link). Most destination weddings here are symbolic ceremonies, which means couples can invite someone meaningful to lead the moment. It always adds a personal and emotional layer to the story.
After the ceremony, we captured group photos before everyone moved to cocktail hour — the start of a perfect evening.
Sunset Portraits by the Ocean
Once the ceremony ended, Julia & Cam were completely relaxed — the nerves gone, the excitement still high. We explored the pier and shoreline under the golden light of sunset.
This is one of my favorite parts of the day — when the couple finally breathes, laughs, and soaks it all in. The day’s tension fades, and their connection takes over. It’s real, unscripted, and always beautiful to document.
Cocktail Hour
Julia & Cam made sure to enjoy cocktail hour with their guests, listening to a live Mexican trio band and sampling local food and drinks.
Our approach is always to build timelines that prioritize both light and experience — making sure our couples can be fully present, share drinks, mingle, and celebrate without feeling rushed. Photos are important, but so is living the day.
A Night to Remember – The Reception Party
By blue hour, the beach transformed into a glowing dance floor under string lights and disco balls. The setup was stunning — dinner tables set under palm trees, candles flickering, ocean breeze flowing.
Speeches from siblings, parents, and the best man and maid of honor filled the night with laughter and emotion. Julia & Cam’s first dance was followed by one of the most energetic parties we’ve seen — this group knew how to celebrate! It was the perfect ending to a beautiful day at Excellence Riviera Cancun.
Tips for Planning a Wedding at Excellence Riviera Cancun
When planning your wedding here, consider the season. We always recommend the dry season (November–May) — past hurricane season and filled with ideal weather. You can read more in our full article on the best time to get married in Cancun.
Another important note: Excellence Riviera Cancun has vendor fees for external wedding vendors. You can learn more about this in our article here. Understanding these details early helps couples plan realistic budgets and smooth timelines.
Ready to Plan Your Own Excellence Riviera Cancun Wedding?
If you’re dreaming of your own Excellence Riviera Cancun wedding, we’d love to hear your story.
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