Small Riviera Maya Destination Wedding at UNICO 20°87°: Emily & Trisden’s Real Wedding
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June 16, 2026
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“If only we could do a destination wedding.”
Emily and Trisden found themselves thinking it over and over again.
I met Emily in college at Kansas State University, so when she reached out to start planning her wedding, I was already rooting for her before we even had our first call.
She and Trisden knew pretty early on that a big traditional wedding wasn’t for them. They toured local venues back home in Lincoln, compared options, and tried to picture a wedding day that felt right. Yet every single time, something was off.
They kept coming back to the same idea. A small Riviera Maya destination wedding in Mexico with the people who mattered most. Somewhere that felt like an experience, not just an event.
“Our thoughts were that we couldn’t possibly top a wedding in a tropical location.”
So they stopped treating it like a fantasy and started making it happen.
What Makes UNICO 20°87° Perfect for a Small Riviera Maya Wedding
After listening to what Emily and Trisden were looking for, I knew UNICO 20°87° checked all the boxes for their Riviera Maya destination wedding. They wanted a beautiful tropical setting and a relaxed atmosphere where their guests could truly enjoy a vacation. With its adults-only luxury, lush grounds, stunning beachfront locations, and flexible options for smaller celebrations, UNICO makes it easy to create a wedding that feels intimate while still delivering an elevated resort experience.
Here’s something a lot of couples prioritizing a small group don’t realize when they start researching Riviera Maya wedding venues: most resort wedding packages are built around mid to large size groups. Minimum guest counts, private reception minimums, extras that only make sense when you’re hosting 30+ people.
UNICO is one of the few Riviera Maya resorts that works just as well for a 12-person wedding as it does for a 100+ person celebration.
The Classic Experience is UNICO’s complimentary ceremony package and requires a $600 non-refundable deposit. Although it’s non-refundable, the deposit goes towards your wedding balance and can be used towards bridal hair & makeup, upgraded floral, or any items added for a cocktail hour or reception. This free UNICO wedding package is designed for intimate celebrations and includes everything needed for a meaningful wedding ceremony.
UNICO 20.87 Complimentary Wedding Package:
- Ceremony location
- 32 chocolate avant garde chairs
- Rose bouquet and boutonniere (or both for same sex couples)
- Symbolic officiant
- Audio system
- 1 tier wedding cake
- Sparkling wine toast for 32 guests
- An onsite wedding coordinator
- Honeymoon perks for the couple
- Romantic in-room breakfast
- Rose decor set up in room after wedding
One thing I especially appreciate about UNICO for smaller weddings is that it doesn’t force couples into adding things they don’t necessarily want. The resort offers options for cocktail receptions and private events, but you don’t have to build your day around them.
Instead of paying for a large private reception, Emily and Trisden chose to enjoy a cozy cocktail hour followed by dinner all together at one of the resort’s restaurants. It fit the spirit of their wedding perfectly. The ceremony felt intentional. The dinner felt relaxed. The whole day felt like them.
For couples considering a small destination wedding in the Riviera Maya, that’s one of the biggest takeaways from Emily and Trisden’s celebration. You don’t have to build a wedding around a package. You can build it around your priorities.
Riviera Maya Destination Wedding Details
- Resort: UNICO 20.87
- Guest Count: 12
- Ceremony: Beach Gazebo
- Cocktail Hour: Beach Gazebo
- Photographer & Videographer: Mik N Drik Photography
- Travel Agent & Wedding Planner: Making Memories by Morgan
Their Biggest Riviera Maya Destination Wedding Fears
Even when couples are genuinely excited about a destination wedding in Mexico, the pre-trip nerves are real.
For Emily and Trisden, it was the travel logistics: missing a flight, lost luggage, and navigating a foreign country for the first time.
Trisden had never been outside the United States before, which naturally added another layer of uncertainty.
One of the biggest misconceptions about destination weddings is that traveling internationally for a wedding is complicated and stressful. In reality, having someone guide you through the process and prepare you for what to expect removes most of those concerns before they ever become problems.
But those concerns quickly faded once they got started. As Trisden put it, “our experience has been a dream come true since the very first step. We loved the entire process from beginning to end.”
Hearing that is always rewarding because it shows just how much stress and anxiety can be relieved when you have the right guidance and support throughout the destination wedding planning process.
That’s the goal every single time.
Favorite Moments From Their Wedding Week
When I asked about their favorite memories from the week, the answer wasn’t just about the ceremony.
It was about sharing the experience with the people they love most.
“Seeing our guests enjoy their time as we celebrated together. Hearing that our family and friends loved their vacation and time away.”
That’s one of the things that makes a destination wedding feel different from any other kind of celebration. Your guests aren’t just attending your wedding. They’re on vacation together. And those shared moments, the dinners, the late nights, the mornings by the pool, those become part of the memory too.
Their wedding was the reason everyone gathered. But the memories stretched way beyond the ceremony itself.
What They Would Change Looking Back
When I asked if they would change anything, they didn’t mention the wedding itself. They didn’t wish they had invited more people or added more events.
Instead, they wished they had carved out a little more time for just the two of them.
With a small group, it’s easy to spend your days bouncing between conversations, dinners, and activities with the people you love most. Looking back, they would have intentionally planned a few more moments to simply enjoy being newly married together.
It’s a really valuable piece of advice for anyone planning a destination wedding: build in moments that are just for you. The honeymoon suite dinner. The morning walk before everyone else wakes up. Something that belongs only to the two of you.
Their Advice for Couples Planning an Intimate Wedding in Mexico
When I asked what advice they would give couples just starting the planning process, their answer made me laugh: “Use Making Memories by Morgan. The absolute best decision we have ever made.” (their words, not mine. Although I’m biased and would love to agree hehe).
Their second piece of advice was go into it with an open mind.
There were small things on the wedding day that weren’t exactly what Emily had envisioned. But they were in paradise. They were surrounded by the people they loved. And at the end of the day, they were married.
“It takes away the stress of planning the little things. You’re also getting a vacation.”
That’s it. That’s the whole thing.
How Working With a Destination Wedding Travel Agent Made the Difference
One comment from Trisden perfectly summarizes why guidance matters: “It was my first time out of the country and I felt like an expert.”
As a destination wedding travel advisor, this is the exact travel confidence I aim to empower all of my clients with.
Planning a destination wedding should feel exciting, not overwhelming. From helping couples choose the right resort to coordinating guest travel details and answering questions along the way, my role is to remove as much stress from the process as possible.
One of my favorite comments from Emily was this: “It was amazing to tell others that we were planning our wedding and didn’t have a single thing to stress about.”
That doesn’t happen by accident.
Destination weddings come with moving parts, especially when you’re coordinating travel for family and friends. Having someone in your corner who has been through the process hundreds of times can make all the difference.
The feedback wasn’t just coming from the couple, either.
Emily’s mom shared this review after returning home: “We knew Morgan would be an asset as she had planned a trip for us prior. But WOW! Morgan exceeded all expectations as our wedding trip planner. She took care of every detail. Her communications prior to our trip covered everything we needed to know, even down to the tiny details of ‘don’t miss a sunrise.'”
Guests repeatedly shared how much they appreciated the preparation, recommendations, travel tips, and communication leading up to the trip. More than once, Emily and Trisden heard some version of “thank goodness for Morgan.”
The best compliment I can receive is hearing that couples and their guests never had to worry about the details.
You’re Allowed to Do Your Wedding Differently
One of my favorite things about working with couples like Emily and Trisden is the permission they give themselves to do things their own way.
They didn’t invite more people than they wanted. Nor did they follow traditions that didn’t fit. They didn’t spend their wedding day managing everyone else’s experience.
Emily and Trisden got to experience their wedding instead of managing it.
For them, that looked like twelve guests, a ceremony in Riviera Maya, a cozy cocktail hour, dinner at a resort restaurant, and a week of making memories with the people they love most.
For you, it might look completely different. And that’s exactly the point. The best weddings aren’t the ones that check every box. They’re the ones that feel like you.
If you’re starting to think about a small wedding in Mexico and want someone who’s already been to the resorts, knows which properties are actually set up for intimate celebrations, and can walk you through the process without the overwhelm, I’d love to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Riviera Maya Destination Weddings
There isn’t a minimum guest count for most destination weddings. Some couples invite 50+ guests while others, like Emily and Trisden, celebrate with fewer than 15. The right number is simply the number that feels right for you.
Absolutely. One of the biggest advantages of a small wedding in Mexico is that you get more quality time with the people who attend. Instead of spending your wedding day greeting hundreds of guests, you can actually enjoy meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and time together throughout the week.
Generally speaking, a micro wedding includes 20 guests or fewer. Small weddings can range anywhere from 20 to 50 guests. Emily and Trisden’s celebration with 12 guests would be considered a micro wedding.
Many couples planning a Riviera Maya destination wedding choose a micro wedding because it allows them to focus on quality time with guests rather than managing a large event.
Yes, and many couples choose exactly that. Some of the most meaningful destination weddings I’ve planned have included only immediate family or a small group of close friends and relatives.
Every couple is different, but many couples choose destination weddings because they want a more intimate experience, less stress, more time with guests, and the opportunity to combine their wedding and vacation into one unforgettable celebration.
