Anastasia and Alexander’s wedding at Secrets Akumal was the kind of celebration that reminds you why destination weddings are so special — relaxed, joyful, and deeply meaningful.

Traveling from Kansas City, Missouri, they brought with them a warm Southern spirit and a love for celebrating life with family and friends. The two first met at a bar back home, and from that moment on their connection grew into a relationship full of laughter, adventure, and genuine love — something you could feel throughout the entire wedding day.

Their vision was a luxury beach wedding that felt elegant yet fun, where everyone could truly enjoy the experience together. With around 50 of their closest loved ones gathered in the Riviera Maya, the atmosphere felt intimate and full of emotion from start to finish.

The ceremony took place right on the beach at Secrets Akumal, with the Caribbean breeze, soft waves, and natural light creating the perfect setting as Anastasia and Alexander exchanged vows. There’s something timeless about beach ceremonies here — the colors of the sea, the open sky, and the peaceful energy make every moment feel cinematic.

After the ceremony, we explored some of the most beautiful spots around the resort for portraits — from the soft sandy shoreline to the lush gardens that offer a completely different backdrop while still feeling tropical and refined. Their connection made photographing them effortless; they were present, joyful, and completely immersed in the moment.

The reception took place on the terrace, glowing with colorful lights that created a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere as the evening unfolded. Guests laughed, toasted, and danced under the warm Riviera Maya night sky. One detail that stood out to me personally was the dinner — truly spectacular and beautifully presented, adding to the overall luxury experience of the celebration.

What I loved most about this wedding was the balance between elegance and genuine fun. Anastasia and Alexander created a space where everyone felt welcome, relaxed, and ready to celebrate — a true reflection of who they are as a couple.

If you’re planning a wedding at Secrets Akumal, this venue offers an incredible combination of natural beauty, excellent service, and versatile locations for both ceremonies and receptions. From beach vows to terrace celebrations, it’s a perfect setting for couples looking for a destination wedding that feels both elevated and unforgettable.

Planning your own Secrets Akumal wedding? I’d love to hear about your vision and help document your day in an authentic and timeless way.

A beautiful Bride and Groom first touch.

First Look with the Father of the Bride

Why Couples Love Getting Married at Secrets Akumal

Secrets Akumal is one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the Riviera Maya for couples planning a destination celebration in Mexico. The resort offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, privacy, and elevated service — from its calm turquoise waters and soft sandy beach to lush tropical gardens and elegant terraces ideal for receptions.

For Anastasia and Alexander, it was the perfect setting to bring their Kansas City friends and family together for a relaxed yet luxurious beach wedding experience. The adults-only atmosphere creates a peaceful environment where guests can fully enjoy the celebration, and the variety of ceremony and reception locations allows each wedding to feel unique.

My Experience Photographing Weddings at Secrets Akumal

As a wedding photographer who frequently documents celebrations in the Riviera Maya, I love working at Secrets Akumal because of the incredible variety of backdrops within walking distance — from the open beach with soft directional light to shaded garden pathways and elegant architectural details around the resort.

The light here is especially beautiful for sunset portraits, and the beach offers enough space to create intimate moments even during larger wedding days. Anastasia and Alexander’s portraits along the shoreline and in the gardens perfectly showcased how versatile this venue can be for couples who want both tropical scenery and refined elegance in their wedding photos.

Tips for Planning a Wedding at Secrets Akumal

• Plan your ceremony about 1–1.5 hours before sunset for the most flattering light and comfortable temperatures.

• Consider scheduling time for portraits in both the gardens and the beach — this gives you a beautiful mix of textures and colors.

• January weddings often bring pleasant weather with soft breezes, making it one of the best times of year for a Riviera Maya destination wedding.

• A terrace reception with lighting, like Anastasia and Alexander chose, creates an energetic atmosphere while still feeling intimate for groups around 50 guests.

• Build in time to enjoy the experience — destination weddings are about celebrating with your favorite people in a relaxed setting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Weddings at Secrets Akumal

Is Secrets Akumal a good venue for a destination wedding?
Yes — it offers beautiful beachfront ceremony locations, excellent service, and a relaxed luxury atmosphere that guests love.

What is the best time of day for wedding photos at Secrets Akumal?
Late afternoon through sunset provides the most flattering light and comfortable conditions.

Can you have both beach and terrace events at the resort?
Absolutely. Many couples choose a beach ceremony followed by a terrace reception, just like Anastasia and Alexander did.

How far in advance should couples book their photographer?
Ideally 9–18 months in advance, especially for popular dates during high season.

Planning your wedding at Secrets Akumal or anywhere in the Riviera Maya? I’d love to document your day with a natural, timeless approach — feel free to get in touch to start the conversation.

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Tulum Pepem Wedding Photography. I met this nice couple in pandemic time back in 2020. They were searching for wedding photographer, they chose me. Since them we have been in touch for the wedding day. Daija and Markese met over a decade ago as young teens, at an outing at the mall. They had their first date at the movies, and spent a lot of time travelling all around the DC metropolitan area to see each other, as they lived in different cities. 10 years after they began dating, Markese proposed by sending Daija on a scavenger hunt around the area to prominent areas from throughout their relationship. They settled on a Tulum wedding, as they hoped to have their closest friends and family attend the special day, and Tulum was the destination of their first solo trip as a couple. Tulum Pepem Wedding Photographer Elvis Aceff.

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Bahia Principe Tulum Wedding Photography by Elvis Aceff Riviera Maya and Tulum Wedding Photographer. So glad to be the wedding photographer of my new friends from Canada. Marie-Michelle and Yannick have been together for almost 12 years. Marie met him when she was just 19 years old since them they have been together.- Yannick’s first passion is to travel and it was one of the first things he told to Marie-Michelle when they first met. Since them they have been traveling around the globe, they have visited 60 countries together. In 2015, they planned a 7 months trip around the world. They quit jobs, sold belongings and left with their backpacks. This couple visited a lot of Central America, Asia and Europe.  When they came back to Canada, they were already talking about the next trip. So they worked really hard towards the goal of leaving for 10 months this time. In 2017, this young lovers once again quit their jobs, sold all their belongings and left with the backpacks. They loved to visit a lot of South America, Asia, Europe and they also embarked on transatlantic cruises. As Marie-Michelle say, “traveling with your partner can sometimes be challenging, but it is also extraordinary. These intensive experiences really tested our limits as a couple, but also, confirmed us that we were made for each other. From visiting Albania to Georgia, Slovakia, UAE, Turkey, Chile, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Japan, we went all around the world together. We also visited almost all the Disney Parks too!” One day without surprise, Yannick proposed to Marie-Michelle on a trip. They were on the Amalfi Coast in Italy in 2019 and it was just a perfect moment of joy. Marie- Michelle told me that she remember themself getting gelato and dipping in their toes in the cold sea at sunset on that day. They were planning to get married in 2020 at Grand Bahia Principe Riviera Maya, a resort complex they visited in the early years of their relationship. At the time, they were dreaming of one day getting married there. No stress, no fuss and with the toes in the sand. Getting married abroad is totally representative of them. Also to live and let live. They loved the idea of having 4 different hotels in the same complex that would cater to everyone’s preferences and needs. The pandemic hit worldwide in 2020. So they had to postpone the wedding… twice. Their guest list got shorter, but they decided to go forward with it anyways on February 21, 2022. Marie- Michelle told me that It was the best decision ever. They spent an amazing week with families and loved ones and they created lifetime memories. Marie-Michelles and Yannick Bahia Principe Tulum Wedding Photos.

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Tankah Wedding photos. Karla and Darin are cool couple that love the beach and the Mexican culture. So glad to meet new friends from Washington State. They came to Tulum with good loved friends and relatives. To spend some days off by the beautiful pristine water of the Mexican Caribbean. They are successful people in the States, they have private business and work in the American Government. They always are looking for the best. The venue was Villa Escapar at Tankah Tulum. Elvis Aceff Tulum Wedding Photographer.

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Secrets Akumal Wedding Wedding Photography by Elvis Aceff Riviera Maya based Wedding Photographer. So glad to make new friends from Minnesota U.S. This friendly couple met 3 years ago. Shelby and Deja met through an app. A few days later they began to go out together since then they have lived a dream full of love. They came first time to Mexico 2 years ago since then they wanted to get married in Akumal. They chose Secrets Akumal because they fell in love with the crystal clear turquoise waters of Akumal Beach. The hotel also provides excellent world-class service for their destination wedding. I have to tell this resort has beautiful greenery amazing for photos. Elvis Aceff Akumal Secrets Akumal Wedding Photographer based.

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Soliman Bay Wedding Photography | Intimate beach wedding at 10am when the lighting is brighter like the love of Paige and Sunveer from Houston Texas. Beautiful beach wedding venue at Villa Moloch Soliman Bay Tulum. This couple, have been always friends, their families have been closer, they met since they were born. Sunveer proposed to Paige in Austin Texas a year ago and then a year later the Paige brother married them on Saliman bay at the beaches of the Riviera Maya. Next year we they will be having a big wedding with all of their family and friends together after covid is over. Thanks to this guys for letting cover their three hours wedding coverage one beautiful sunny morning. I wish the best to them. Elvis Aceff Soliman Bay Wedding Photographer.

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Elopement Mayan Ceremony Tulum Wedding Photography by Elvis Aceff Photographer. This is my first event post quarantine. After being a long time on my house due the Covid 19 quarantine. Closing many tourist places at the Riviera Maya, everybody in their houses, paradisiac beaches also closed. But however, I got some inquiries during this time. I got an email from Jackie asking my services for the next two weeks for her elopement at Hotelito Azul at Tulum Riviera Maya. Such a great news!! “I’m going to do my passion, wedding photography”. I told myself. In others words my job is my hobby passionate. Jackie and Justin are from San Antonio, Texas. They love traveling to tropical destinations also doing some sports together. This nice couple decided to elope to Tulum in Mayan traditional wedding ceremony. They love the Tulum rustic style. The selected venue Hotelito Azul. It is a beautiful newly opening boutique hotel located on a pristine stretch of that famous Tulum sand and the turquoise ocean of the Mayan Riviera. Elopement Mayan Ceremony Tulum Photo by Elvis Aceff Photographer.

Jackie came with her dog a friendly chihuahua.

As one wedding photographer based at the Riviera Mayan, I can feel that this year I will have more elopements than traditional weddings. Due the Covid -19 issues, many events are now for less people. Also at this time is very importan make a commitment with you couple, with your other half. So, do it in exotic destination. If you come to Tulum and want cool photos, please feel free to contact me. Email: elvis@elvisaceffphotographer.com or whatsApp me to 9841402365 Mex. very exited to hearing from you.

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Soliman Bay Tulum Wedding Photography. I have the pleasure to work with some of the best wedding planners at Tulum and Riviera Maya. The assignment came from Destination Weddings Tulum. I really appreciate being recommended by weddings planners who like my picture style. They know me that I will do my best to catch all the moments and details in every wedding. The event was in the magnificent of Soliman Bay in the beautiful natural paradise of Tulum. The hotel selected to host was in Sombras del Viento Beach House Hotel. I must emphasize that the color of the sea is really beautiful in this location. Cindy and Todd enjoyed this nice evening with family and closer friends. The breeze was refreshing while they were saying theirs vows. Videography by Alfredo Vazquez. Soliman Bay Tulum Wedding Photos. Elvis Aceff Tulum Based.

Stunning place for weddings at Soliman bay.

When love exist everything is possible.

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Elopement Ziggy’s Tulum. Kerry and Peter, Intimate Beach Destination Wedding. They are so friendly couple, I had the pleasure to talk to them while I was shooting, Peter loves to travel around the world and Kerry is an art director she is always reading books while Peter is climbing a mountain. They were staying at the beautiful The Beach Tulum, hotel with the Tulum style, front of the one most beautiful beaches at the Riviera Maya. This couple love to spend their winters skiing and snowboarding in Sun Valley, Idaho and their summers running businesses at the base of Mt. Rainier in Washington state.  They were married in Tulum on the 8 year anniversary of their first date.  Between them, they have 5 kids, 3 grandkids, 6 businesses, 2 cats and a dog.  Escaping to Tulum to elope was the perfect way to plan a wedding ceremony and honeymoon that was all about each other. Elopement Ziggy’s Tulum Photos by Elvis Aceff Photographer. I am so glad to have friends like them.

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Tulum Mayan Wedding Ceremony at The Cenote Taak Bi Ha. Jon and Rhiannon are nice couple from Los Angeles California, they love to travel around the world. Jon is very clever guy that works designing aeronautical technology. Rhiannon is very friendly she works in a kindergarten also she has some projects to help childhood in Africa. They have together since four yers ago. When they left the city of Los Angeles. Rhiannon didn’t know they were going to get married at a Mayan Wedding in the middle of the jungle and inside a cave with a cenote. Jon already had everything ready for when they came to Tulum at the Riviera Maya. She accepted, they married with many mysticism with a real Mayan Shaman. I wish this couple of lovers the best in the world. Tulum Mayan Wedding Ceremony by Elvis Aceff Tulum Wedding Photographer.

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