Vidanta Riviera Maya is a large complex of resorts, including Grand Luxxe and The Grand Bliss, set in jungle on the highway between Cancún and Playa del Carmen, with a private beach. Ask Vidanta's events team for current wedding venues; plan beach ceremonies about 90 minutes before sunset.
Vidanta Riviera Maya is a world of its own: several resorts, jungle, pools and a private beach. Distances are long, so planning matters. Here is how we photograph a wedding there.
The Resort at a Glance
- ResortVidanta complex: Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, Grand Mayan, The Bliss
- LocationHighway 307 at about km 48, between Cancún and Playa del Carmen
- SettingJungle grounds and a private beach
- Beach facesEast, onto the open Caribbean
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
We could not find a published list of Vidanta Riviera Maya's wedding venues, so ask the events team for current options at Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss or the other resorts. For photos, the private beach and the jungle grounds give two very different looks.
Because the complex is large, we keep ceremony, family photos and cocktail hour close together, so the golden light is not lost to transfers.
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 | 6:27 pm |
| March | 6:56 am | 6:28 pm | 6:57 pm |
| May | 6:10 am | 6:47 pm | 7:18 pm |
| June | 6:07 am | 6:58 pm | 7:30 pm |
| July | 6:15 am | 7:00 pm | 7:32 pm |
| September | 6:35 am | 6:21 pm | 6:51 pm |
| November | 6:58 am | 5:35 pm | 6:07 pm |
| December | 7:16 am | 5:37 pm | 6:09 pm |
Punta Maroma's long beach faces east, so the sun rises over the sea and sets behind the resort, leaving the sand 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.
Bringing Your Own Photographer
One budget line couples often miss: Vidanta Riviera Maya, like nearly every all-inclusive resort here, charges outside wedding vendors for access to the property. It may be a fixed vendor fee or a per-person day pass, and it changes with the season and the package tier. Ask for it in writing while your contract is still open, and ask whether a second photographer counts separately. Our comparison of resort and outside photographers helps you weigh it.
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 Vidanta Riviera Maya.
Coverage and Prices
IVAE Studios publishes its prices. Half-day coverage of up to four hours is 1,800 to 2,800 USD, enough for the ceremony, family photos, portraits and the start of the reception. A full day of eight to ten hours with a second photographer is 3,500 to 5,500 USD, and adding a wedding film brings it to 5,500 to 8,000 USD. Every gallery is edited and delivered in a private 4K gallery within one to three business days.