Grand Riviera Princess and Grand Sunset Princess are neighbouring Princess resorts on the beach north of Playa del Carmen; Grand Riviera alone has about 674 suites. Plan the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset; the beach faces Cozumel, so the sun sets behind you.
Grand Riviera Princess and Grand Sunset Princess are neighbouring Princess resorts on the beach north of Playa del Carmen; Grand Riviera alone has about 674 suites. North of town the beaches are quieter and the resorts more spread out. This guide is the photographer's view: venues, light, timeline and vendor rules.
The Resort at a Glance
- ResortGrand Riviera Princess and Grand Sunset Princess are neighbouring Princess resorts on the beach north of Playa del Carmen; Grand Riviera alone has about 674 suites.
- AreaNorth of Playa del Carmen
- Beach facesEast, toward Cozumel
Venue names and capacities come from the resort's wedding listings and change with renovations and packages, so your coordinator's current sheet is the final word.
Where the Ceremony Happens
Grand Sunset Princess's wedding page describes beach ceremonies, a gazebo, pool areas for receptions, à la carte restaurants for semi-private dinners and event rooms.
Parque Fundadores, with the Portal Maya sculpture and the ferry pier to Cozumel, is the classic Playa del Carmen backdrop, busiest in the evening and quiet at sunrise.
Sunset and Light by Month
Times for this beach on the 15th of each month in 2027.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 am | 5:56 pm | 6:28 pm |
| March | 6:57 am | 6:28 pm | 6:58 pm |
| May | 6:11 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:07 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:16 am | 7:01 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:35 am | 6:22 pm | 6:51 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:36 pm | 6:07 pm |
| December | 7:17 am | 5:37 pm | 6:10 pm |
Playa del Carmen faces east toward Cozumel, so the sun rises over the channel and sets behind the town, leaving the beach in soft, even light at the end of the day. A good rule here: start the ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset, and keep the final half hour of daylight for portraits. Mornings have a bonus: from roughly December through January, the sun comes up from behind Cozumel, across the water.
Bringing Your Own Photographer
Like most all-inclusive resorts on this coast, Grand Sunset Princess charges outside wedding photographers for access, either as a vendor fee or as a per-person day pass, and the amount changes by season and package. Ask for the exact figure in writing before you sign, and ask whether it applies per vendor or per person, because a photographer and a second shooter are two people. We send our insurance and identification paperwork to your coordinator ourselves. Our guide to outside photographers at resorts explains how these charges work.
Weddings in the Riviera Maya, Through Our Lens
Real IVAE Studios weddings and portraits along the Riviera Maya, so you can see how this light and water look on camera. They show our work in the area, not necessarily at Grand Sunset Princess.
Coverage and Prices
IVAE Studios wedding coverage starts at 1,800 to 2,800 USD for up to four hours. A full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD, and photography with a wedding film is 5,500 to 8,000 USD. All prices are published on our site, and the full edited gallery is delivered within one to three business days.