Multicultural Destination Wedding in Cancun, Mexico | Garza Blanca Resort Wedding

Cathy and Abiade — or as their guests know them, "The Shorties" — got married at Garza Blanca Cancun on a warm February evening in front of 116 of their closest family and friends. What followed was one of the most vibrant, emotional, and unforgettable weddings I've had the privilege of documenting. Cathy is Vietnamese-American and Abiade is African-American. Their wedding was a western ceremony officiated by their close friend Pastor Laurence, followed by a beach reception where they changed into traditional Vietnamese attire — Cathy in a red and gold áo dài and Abiade in a navy and gold outfit. It was a celebration that honored both cultures while being completely, unmistakably theirs. As a Garza Blanca Cancun wedding photographer who has shot over five weddings at this property, I can tell you: this venue is built for celebrations like this one.

The Ceremony on the Elite Terrace

The ceremony took place at 5:00 pm on Garza Blanca's Elite Terrace — a stone terrace that sits right near the beach with unobstructed views of the Caribbean. Bamboo chiavari chairs lined both sides of the aisle, each one set with a white cushion and a colorful hand fan (a thoughtful touch for a February afternoon in Cancún). Cherry Blossom designed the ceremony florals — a half-moon ground arch of roses, stock flowers, and greenery in the couple's sunset-inspired color palette: deep reds, oranges, hot pinks, and purples. Fourteen matching arrangements lined both sides of the aisle, and rose petals were scattered by Abiade's daughter Anahi and Cathy's niece Mila before the bride walked in. Cathy entered with her father Tuan to "Dearly Beloved" by TPR. There was no first look — Abiade saw her for the first time at the altar. Pastor Laurence, their friend, led the ceremony with their own personal vows. The recessional song was "Love Nwantiti" by CKay — the entire terrace erupted.

Couple Portraits at Garza Blanca Cancun

One of the things I love most about shooting at Garza Blanca Cancun is the variety of portrait locations available throughout the property — and how the light changes throughout the day. In the early afternoon, the sun in Cancún is direct and harsh. That's why I always start portraits indoors at Garza Blanca. The lobby area has beautiful clean lines and open shade — the stone floors and contemporary architecture create a gallery-like setting that works perfectly for editorial portraits. That's where we captured Cathy's bouquet detail: white phalaenopsis orchids, roses, and trailing white amaranthus, placed in a shaft of natural light on the lobby floor. As the afternoon progressed, we moved to the front of the resort near the carousel. This is one of Garza Blanca's best-kept portrait secrets — especially close to sunset, when the light softens and you're facing the direction where the sun actually sets (inland, not over the ocean). It's a location most couples wouldn't think of, but after five weddings here, it's one of my favorite spots. For golden hour, you can also move to the rooftop. At Garza Blanca Cancun, the sun rises from the sea and sets over the jungle — which means the rooftop gives you an incredible view of the sky and the jungle canopy at sunset.

One more tip for couples planning a Garza Blanca Cancun wedding: the balconies of the rooms have beautiful light, especially in the afternoon. For Cathy, we removed the outdoor sofa and used the hammock on her balcony to create editorial portraits that felt completely different from anything else in the gallery. Small changes to the space you already have can produce some of the most memorable images of the day.

Beach Cocktail Hour

While we were finishing portraits, 116 guests made their way to the beach for cocktail hour from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Garza Blanca set up high-top tables near the shore with Cherry Blossom cocktail centerpieces throughout. The menu was a reflection of both cultures and the destination — chicken satay with tamarind sauce, shrimp wonton, smoked marlin empanadas with chipotle, octopus anticucho with avocado, mushroom vol-au-vents, and Peruvian ceviche tostadas. His and Hers signature cocktails were served at the bar. It was the kind of cocktail hour where nobody wanted it to end.

Beach Reception Under the Stars

At 7:00 pm, guests moved to the Cocos Beach area for the reception — and the setup took everyone's breath away. EW Cancun designed the space: 13 round natural wood tables with bamboo chairs on the sand, a 7.2 x 6 meter wooden dance floor in the center, and a massive two-wave fairy light canopy stretching 18 x 12 meters overhead. The sweetheart table sat at the front with a custom "The Shorties" neon sign glowing behind it. The tablescape was one of the most colorful I've ever photographed at a Garza Blanca Cancun wedding. Cherry Blossom created centerpieces overflowing with roses, orchids, and stock flowers in reds, oranges, hot pinks, and deep purples. Each place setting featured golden rim crystal charger plates on macrame mats, gold cutlery, and colored goblets and napkins in pink, orange, yellow, and purple — no two settings exactly alike. The couple made their grand entrance through six cold sparkler machines by Pyrotech while "If Simon Says Baile Funk" played. Cathy held her bouquet high above her head. It was pure energy.

Dinner and Speeches

Dinner was a three-course plated meal: an arugula salad with local fish sashimi, mango, and curry vinaigrette to start, followed by a choice of seasonal local fish "al pastor" with black beans and citrus rice, or chicken breast with tarragon sauce over orzo carbonara. Dessert was a red velvet wedding cake. Speeches came from Cathy's sister Kim and brother Kevin, bridesmaid Alisha, best man Shay, best man Jazz, and groomsman Joseph — followed by a thank you from the couple. The cake cutting was announced to "Cut It" by O.T. Genasis, and the dance floor opened at 8:15 pm to "EoO" by Bad Bunny.

Vietnamese Tradition — The Outfit Change

One of the most meaningful moments of the night came when Cathy and Abiade returned to the sweetheart table in traditional Vietnamese attire. Cathy wore a stunning red and gold áo dài with a matching headpiece. Abiade wore a navy and gold traditional outfit. It was a quiet, powerful statement — honoring Cathy's heritage in the middle of a wild Caribbean beach party. Abiade stood with a microphone and addressed their guests while Cathy sat beside him, the "The Shorties" neon glowing behind them and Cherry Blossom's massive floral installations framing the scene. It's the kind of moment that reminds you why you do this work.

Planning Your Own Garza Blanca Cancun Wedding

If you're considering Garza Blanca Cancun for your wedding, here's what I've learned from photographing over five weddings at this property: One wedding per day. Garza Blanca only hosts one wedding per day, which means your celebration gets the full attention of the resort staff, the beach, and the ceremony spaces. This makes a significant difference compared to resorts that run multiple events simultaneously. Ceremony locations. The Elite Terrace is the most popular option — a stone terrace near the beach with Caribbean views. Beach ceremonies are also available. The resort offers flexibility depending on your guest count and vision. Independent planning is welcome. Cathy and Abiade planned their entire wedding independently with Dream Weddings Riviera Maya as their coordinators, bringing in all their own vendors — flowers, DJ, decor, photographer, videographer. Garza Blanca accommodates outside vendors, though vendor fees do apply. Best time of year. February is ideal — dry season, comfortable evening temperatures, and beautiful light. The ceremony started at 5:00 pm and the light was golden by the time they said their vows. Portrait timing. The sun in Cancún is harsh during midday. I recommend starting portraits indoors in the lobby around 2:00-3:00 pm, then moving to the carousel area in front of the resort around 4:30-5:00 pm as the light softens, and finishing on the rooftop for sunset around 5:30-6:00 pm in winter months. Guest capacity. The beach reception area comfortably held 116 guests with round tables, a large dance floor, a DJ booth, and a full bar setup. Garza Blanca can accommodate weddings of this size and larger. The carousel is a hidden gem. Most couples don't think to use the carousel area for portraits, but it faces the sunset and offers a completely different look from the beach. Ask your photographer to take you there during golden hour.

Vendor Credits

Coordination: Dream Weddings Riviera Maya Flowers: Cherry Blossom DJ & Audio: Plug in Audiovisual Officiant: Pastor Laurence

Hair & Makeup: Crispin Beauty — Photography: Luke FotoliV Videography: Sea Love Wedding Films Decor: EW Cancun Sparklers: Pyrotech 360 Video: Picme

Getting Married at Garza Blanca Cancun?

I've photographed five weddings at Garza Blanca Cancun and I know this property inside out — every ceremony location, every portrait spot, every light change throughout the day. If you're planning a wedding here, I'd love to hear about your vision. → LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING You can also check out my complete guide to the best wedding resorts in Cancún, or download my free Riviera Maya Wedding Playbook for insider planning tips.