Secrets Playa Blanca Wedding: The Complete Venue Guide (+ Caitrin & RJ's Real Wedding)
Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres is one of the newest luxury wedding resorts north of Cancún — an adults-only, all-inclusive property that opened in February 2024. If you're planning a modern destination wedding in Mexico and want somewhere that feels refined and unhurried rather than over-produced, this is a venue worth knowing in detail.
This guide covers everything: the ceremony and reception spaces (with real capacities), the wedding packages and their prices, what's included, and how the resort actually works on a wedding day. It's written from firsthand experience — I photographed Caitrin & RJ's wedding here, and their day runs through this guide as a real-world example of what a Secrets Playa Blanca wedding looks like.
If you're comparing options across the region, you may also want our guide to the best wedding resorts in Cancun and our Riviera Maya wedding planning guide.
Why Choose Secrets Playa Blanca for Your Wedding
Secrets Playa Blanca sits on a pristine stretch of white-sand beach in Costa Mujeres, about 12 miles (a 30–40 minute drive) north of Cancún International Airport. It's part of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, and it doesn't feel like a typical large-scale resort. The design is contemporary and minimal — neutral tones, open spaces, clean architectural lines, and soft natural light throughout.
A few things make it stand out for weddings:
Adults-only serenity. The atmosphere is calm and grown-up, which keeps the focus on the celebration and the people you invited. It suits both intimate weddings and larger weekend-long celebrations.
Modern, photogenic design. The lobby's clean lines, the lush gardens, and the natural palette of white, grey, brown, and green give an editorial backdrop in almost every corner. Caitrin & RJ chose it partly because everything was so new and beautiful — every space they toured was gorgeous.
Genuine seclusion. It's more private than many of the busier Cancún resorts, which gives the whole weekend a quieter, more intentional feel.
Flexible spaces. From a beachfront gazebo to a rooftop terrace, you can match the setting to your guest count and vision.
Secrets Playa Blanca Wedding Venues (with Capacities)
There are seven distinct wedding venues on the property. Here's each one with its real capacity and entertainment cut-off, so you can match a space to your guest count and party plans.
| Venue | Style | Ceremony | Cocktail | Reception | Music until |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeachBeachfront, fully customizable | Beachfront, fully customizable | 400 | 400 | 500 | 10:00 pm |
| Wedding GazeboBeachside gazebo, ocean views | Beachside gazebo, ocean views | 300 | 400 | — | 11:00 pm |
| Gardenview RooftopElevated, central between buildings | Elevated, central between buildings | 100 | 200 | 150 | 11:00 pm |
| Courtyard PlazaSpacious terrace (min. 80 guests) | Spacious terrace (min. 80 guests) | 100 | 500 | 350 | 11:00 pm |
| Seaside TerraceBeachfront terrace with firepits | Beachfront terrace with firepits | — | 100 | 100 | 11:00 pm |
| Jungle Pool TerracePoolside, surrounded by nature | Poolside, surrounded by nature | 60 | 100 | 60 | 11:00 pm |
| Preferred GardenLush garden (Preferred Club groups) | Lush garden (Preferred Club groups) | 80 | 80 | 50 | 11:00 pm |
A few notes on choosing:
The Beach is the only space that seats a full 500 for a reception, and it's the go-to for a grand celebration — but note entertainment stops at 10:00 pm there, an hour earlier than everywhere else.
The Gardenview Rooftop and Courtyard Plaza are the strongest mid-to-large options if you want music until 11:00 pm.
The Jungle Pool Terrace, Seaside Terrace, and Preferred Garden are best for intimate dinners and cocktail receptions.
The Preferred Garden requires at least 80% of guests booked in Preferred Club, and the Courtyard Plaza requires a minimum of 80 guests.
Some spaces (Beach, Seaside Terrace, Gardenview Rooftop, Wedding Gazebo) carry a venue fee.
Every one of these settings photographs beautifully, because they all let natural light and the landscape carry the frame.
Ceremony Spaces: What Each One Feels Like
Beachfront Gazebo — A structure right on the sand, with the ocean and sky as your backdrop. Ideal for sunset ceremonies and works for larger groups too.
Central Beach — More open and flexible than the gazebo. Customize seating, florals, and décor to suit your style; scales up for bigger ceremonies.
Gardenview Rooftop — An elevated setting with views over the property. Slightly more structured, without losing the open-air feel.
Jungle Pool Terrace — A lush, tropical, greenery-framed spot for a more intimate ceremony.
Caitrin & RJ chose the Portofino Roof (Gardenview Rooftop) for their ceremony — a wood-deck terrace framed by two greenery columns of monstera leaves, elevated over the property. Fresh, minimal, and perfectly in tune with the surroundings. We timed it for roughly an hour before sunset, which gave soft, golden light throughout.
Reception Areas: Where the Party Happens
Central Beach Reception — Right on the sand, ideal for larger dinners and dancing with the ocean just beyond. (Music until 10:00 pm.)
Courtyard Plaza — A spacious outdoor terrace framed by tropical landscaping — great for dinner and speeches before dancing.
Seaside Terrace — A smaller beachfront terrace with firepits, closer to the water, for intimate dinners or cocktail receptions.
Jungle Pool Terrace — Poolside and garden-adjacent, a solid choice for cocktail hours or more casual gatherings.
The spaces are designed to flow with the evening: start at sunset on the beach, move to a terrace for dinner, and end with music and dancing.
Caitrin & RJ held their reception at the Courtyard Plaza, under a canopy of string lights and flowers. For their first dance they added sparklers that lit up the night. The best man and maid of honor gave heartfelt speeches before the floor opened — and from there the party never stopped.
Secrets Playa Blanca Wedding Packages & Prices
The resort offers five wedding packages, from a two-person elopement to a full large-scale celebration. Base prices below are a starting point — additional-guest fees apply, and packages vary with guest count and inclusions.
| Package | Best for | Base price | Base guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding in ParadiseEffortless dream wedding | Effortless dream wedding | $1,599 | 10 |
| Elope in LuxuryTwo-person elopement | Two-person elopement | $1,799 | 2 |
| Eternal LoveRefined mid-size celebration | Refined mid-size celebration | $5,349 | 20 |
| Dulha & DulhanTradition + romance (larger) | Tradition + romance (larger) | $11,199 | 79 |
| Beyond MemorablePremium, large-scale, full experience | Premium, large-scale, full experience | $12,649 | 79 (~$120/extra) |
Packages typically include: ceremony setup, on-site wedding coordination, bouquets and/or boutonnieres, wedding cake and a sparkling wine toast, a newlywed package, spa treatment discounts, reception elements scaled to guest count, and free anniversary nights. Higher tiers add enhanced décor, entertainment, and spa perks.
As with most all-inclusive resorts, the value is in how much is bundled — from ceremony setup through coordination and reception elements.
Note: Prices listed are accurate as of publication and are a starting reference only. Confirm current pricing, inclusions, and guest fees directly with the resort or your wedding planner, as resort pricing changes.
What's Included at the Resort
Beyond the wedding package itself, the all-inclusive experience covers: all meals and snacks, unlimited top-shelf beverages, 24-hour room service, a stocked in-room minibar, daily organized activities, non-motorized water sports, nightly entertainment, fitness center access, and WiFi.
Dining & drinks — Eight restaurants and nine bars/lounges. Highlights include Bordeaux (French) for an intimate dinner and Himitsu (Teppanyaki) for a group dinner with a show. Bars range from a poolside sports bar to a live-DJ music lounge to a beach bar on the sand — great for rehearsal dinners and post-ceremony events.
Accommodations — From the 581 sq ft Junior Suite (private balcony, spa-like bathroom, stocked minibar) up to the 1,227 sq ft Preferred Club Master Suite Ocean Front (living room, king bedroom, oversized terrace with an outdoor tub and Caribbean views).
Amenities & wellness — Four outdoor pools including a beachfront infinity pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center with daily yoga and aerobics, and Spa by Pevonia in a jungle setting with couples' treatments.
Activities — Mixology and cooking classes, tequila tastings, Bali beds on the beach, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and Spanish and dance lessons — plenty to keep guests busy across a wedding weekend.
Ceremony types offered: Civil/Legal, Symbolic/Vow renewal, Hindu, Same-Sex Civil, and Same-Sex Symbolic.
Getting There & Planning Basics
Secrets Playa Blanca is roughly 12 miles north of Cancún International Airport — about a 30–40 minute transfer. That closeness to the airport is a real advantage for guests flying in from the US and Canada.
A quick planning note from experience: whether your ceremony is legally binding or symbolic matters. Many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the resort to avoid Mexican legal paperwork and blood-test/residency timing — it's simpler and gives you full freedom over the ceremony. The resort offers both civil/legal and symbolic options, so confirm which route you want early with your coordinator.
And the single best piece of advice from Caitrin & RJ themselves: if it's within budget,hire a wedding planneror day-of coordinator.
It makes an enormous difference at a destination wedding.
If you are wondering what is the best to get married in Cancún, wrote a guide to help you out.
Caitrin & RJ's Wedding at Secrets Playa Blanca
Caitrin & RJ got married at Secrets Playa Blanca on January 18th, 2025. Both are pilots — they met in aviation school — and both are from Seattle. That mix of precision and adventure is exactly how they moved through their wedding day: relaxed, easy, genuinely fun to be around. Very intentional with their choices. They're the kind of couple who make a photographer's job feel like spending a day with friends.
They'd traveled through Mexico before but never stayed here, the resort is new enough that this was their first time on the property, same as us. When their first email came in, we were thrilled at the chance to shoot a wedding at a brand-new Costa Mujeres resort. We'd already worked at other Secrets properties across Mexico and knew the quality the brand delivers. Secrets Playa Blanca lived up to every expectation — and then some.
The welcome dinner. The celebration started the night before with a welcome dinner at the Jungle Pool Terrace — a relaxed, greenery-framed poolside setting that let everyone settle in before the main day.
Getting ready. Caitrin got ready in the bridal suite at the spa — bright, spacious, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, soft natural light from large windows. We photographed all the details she'd carefully brought: the invitation suite, jewelry, shoes, and the gown.
Here is a little guide to help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
RJ got ready in his room, where Walter, my second shooter, captured his details — suit, watch, shoes, fragrance — and the candid moments as the groomsmen helped with final touches.
The first look. This was the moment of the day. We set it in the shaded, private area in front of the spa, framed by the resort's striking modern architecture. Caitrin & RJ read their vows to each other privately — and the emotion was real. Then, almost immediately, the tears turned into laughing and dancing together, just the two of them. That's the shot you can't plan. We always recommend first looks because they let couples slow down and release the nerves; for Caitrin & RJ, it was the favorite part of their whole day, and you could see why.
The ceremony. Their ceremony was on the Portofino Roof (Gardenview Rooftop) — a wood-deck terrace framed by two greenery columns of monstera leaves, elevated over the property with the sky as the backdrop. Fresh, minimal, and perfectly in tune with the surroundings. We timed it for roughly an hour before sunset, and the light held beautifully the entire way through.
Sunset & portraits. The weather was perfect all day, and right after the first dance we got an incredible sunset. The resort's gardens are meticulously curated — genuinely some of the best I've photographed in — and being a new property, I was excited to explore every corner. We came away with a huge set: clean, editorial frames in the lobby, lush texture in the gardens, and soft cinematic light on the couple. It was one of those shoots where everything kept working.
The reception. Dinner and dancing at the Courtyard Plaza, under a canopy of string lights and flowers. Caitrin & RJ added sparklers to their first dance that lit up the night. The best man and maid of honor gave a few beautiful speeches before the floor opened — and from there the party never stopped. The whole wedding was meticulously planned by Megan Clemens of Perfectly Yours Travel, a true professional — super organized and careful with every detail, which is exactly what makes a destination wedding run this smoothly.
In Caitrin & RJ's Words
Why Secrets Playa Blanca?"We loved that it was a bit more secluded than some of the other Cancún resorts, which gave it a calm, quiet atmosphere that really resonated with us. We also loved how new and beautiful everything was — every ceremony and reception space we toured was absolutely gorgeous."
Tips for couples marrying in Cancún?"If it's within your budget, hire a wedding planner or day-of coordinator. It makes a huge difference at a destination wedding — we would have struggled to coordinate everything without ours."
Favorite part of the day?"The first look. After all the buildup and nerves, seeing each other for the first time that day was incredibly emotional. Having a private moment together — followed by some wonderful photos — really helped settle our nerves and let us be present for the rest of the day."
Working with Luke Fotoliv?"Incredible. We spoke with Luke several times before the wedding, so by the time we arrived it felt like we already knew him. He was receptive to what we wanted while still bringing his own artistic vision. You can tell he's genuinely inspired by his work — and it shows in every photo. We absolutely love our images."
This venue offers endless creative opportunities. The gardens are lush and full of texture, the architecture gives clean lines and symmetry for editorial portraits, and the beach light is soft and cinematic — the perfect combination for a luxury destination wedding in Mexico. If you're still figuring out what matters most in a venue, we wrote about choosing a venue that matches your vision based on what we learned planning our own wedding.
Caitrin & Rj choose Perfectly yours travel as their wedding planner.
Planning Your Cancun Destination Wedding?
If you're dreaming of a luxury wedding in Cancún or beyond, we’d love to hear your story and capture it in the most meaningful way possible. Contact us to start planning your wedding adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Secrets Playa Blanca located? Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres is on a white-sand beach in Costa Mujeres, about 12 miles (a 30–40 minute drive) north of Cancún International Airport, Mexico.
When did Secrets Playa Blanca open? The resort opened in February 2024. It's a 5-star, adults-only, all-inclusive property in Hyatt's Inclusive Collection.
How much does it cost to get married at Secrets Playa Blanca? Wedding packages start at $1,599 (Wedding in Paradise, base 10 guests) and $1,799 for a two-person elopement (Elope in Luxury). Larger packages range from about $5,349 (Eternal Love) up to $12,649 (Beyond Memorable). Additional-guest fees apply; confirm current pricing with the resort.
How many wedding venues does Secrets Playa Blanca have? Seven distinct wedding venues: the Beach, Wedding Gazebo, Gardenview Rooftop, Courtyard Plaza, Seaside Terrace, Jungle Pool Terrace, and Preferred Garden — with ceremony capacities from 60 up to 400.
What's the largest wedding Secrets Playa Blanca can host? The Beach venue holds up to 400 for a ceremony and 500 for a reception, making it the largest space on the property.
Is Secrets Playa Blanca adults-only? Yes. It's an adults-only resort, which gives weddings a calm, refined atmosphere focused on the celebration.
Can you have a legal wedding at Secrets Playa Blanca? Yes. The resort offers civil/legal ceremonies as well as symbolic, vow renewal, Hindu, and same-sex ceremonies. Many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the resort.
Is Secrets Playa Blanca good for wedding photography? Yes — open natural light, clean modern architecture, lush gardens, and soft cinematic beach light make it excellent for photography. Many couples bring a dedicated wedding photographer who knows the property and works with natural light.
Not sure about which venue to pick? Have a look at our top Cancún venues.
Ready to Plan Your Secrets Playa Blanca Wedding?
If you're dreaming of a timeless beach celebration at Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, I'd love to tell your story.
Contact us to start planning.