An Insider's Look at Royalton Riviera Cancún
Royalton Riviera Cancún has a special place in the Shaadi Destinations portfolio of certified resorts. With an amazing Indian wedding package (Kohinoor Packages) for both Hindu and Sikh Shaadi Destinations couples, great venues, an amazing Indian restaurant and chef on-property, and exclusive Shaadi Destinations event perks, Royalton Riviera Cancún is a very popular choice for newly engaged couples.
Nayeli Ugarte Sanchez has lived and breathed in the destination wedding industry for more than 15 years! With a unique background and story, she came to Royalton years ago to take over as the Weddings Manager on property. She is a special talent and has been incredibly helpful in making sure Shaadi Destinations couples feel welcome and taken care of from the second they step foot on property during their wedding week. Come take an Insider’s Look at Royalton Riviera Cancún with Nayeli Sanchez!
Neepa and Nihaal had a beautiful engagement shoot during their site inspection planning their 2021 wedding!; Courtesy of Federico Salmeron Photography
How and when did you get your start in the wedding industry?
I launched my career in destination weddings in February 2004 - already more than 16 years ago!! For me, weddings are something complicated and easy at the same time. I’m from Mexico City and I studied Gastronomy; I moved to Cancún thinking that I will find a really good job in a kitchen, however I needed money to survive because I moved by myself and just had $200 USD in my pocket. Somebody told me that my English was good and with it, I would be able to find a better job - so I applied to join the Weddings Department. I started as the Administrative Assistant of the Weddings Department at the Aventura Spa Palace (now rebranded as the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya).
Why did you become a wedding planner?
I really loved it; I started because of the money but I just loved it and we all know how hard it is to fall in love with a job! After my first month, I asked my boss to allow me to be a Wedding Coordinator and I tried to learn everything. I started to read about destination weddings and everything related to the romance industry to learn as much as possible as fast as possible!
When was your first Indian wedding and what was it like?
It was in November of 2010; honestly, I didn’t have any idea what made Indian destination weddings so unique or how hard they were to plan at the time. Luckily, the groom explained to me everything he needed and he was very patient with me. Obviously, it was a long time ago and the hotel was not ready for Indian weddings yet because they were so rare in Mexico at that time, but it did have an Indian Restaurant. While it was a totally eye opening experience for me, I have now helped dozens of Indian couples get married in Riviera Maya and feel like an asset each time :-)
Pooja, Savan, and their friends had the time of their life at their Royalton wedding; Courtesy of Lin & Jirsa
Have you been certified as a South Asian wedding planner?
Yes I have been certified and enjoyed learning all about the intricacies of being an Indian wedding planner!
What is your favorite part about being a South Asian wedding planner?
That you become part of the wedding; our cultures (Mexican and South Asian) are a bit similar in the way that we are very close to our families (even our extended families). So during all the planning, you are close to both sets of parents, bride, groom, sisters, brothers, sometimes even aunts and uncles. I value family so much, so to see that same enthusiasm for those my brides and grooms value gives me all the energy I need to lead the charge all weekend long!
The Sky Terrace is just the perfect spot for a Pithi on the rooftop of Royalton; Courtesy of Andre Gouin Photography
Do you have any favorite memories from Indian weddings you’ve planned?
Of course! I had several, especially from the last year with Shaadi Destinations - we have done some amazing, high production weddings together!
Just one that comes to mind is Sumi and Ashu from October 2019! We made a really good connection since their site visit! Shaadi Destinations, the couple, and the parents all came down to meet with me and see the venues in person as well as taste the food! The parents of the bride were soooo nice with us; actually I’m still in contact with them even today. The parents of the bride went on a vacation last year on a cruise and they sent me pictures which warmed my heart. The bride and groom sent me a message last week to ask about my family and how we were doing which I so appreciated!!
How long have you been at Royalton Riviera Cancún?
Almost 3 years (I started in October 2017)! I have worked for many years before that with Palace Resorts planning Indian weddings.
What is your favorite venue on property?
The Sky Terrace on the rooftop of the Royalton buildings. It is peaceful, beautiful, and intimate. We love helping our Indian brides and grooms with their pithis and poojas there as it is very private and has an amazing backdrop!
First look moment in the Ocean View Gazebo for Hiren and Sonam! Courtesy of Cossu Photography
What is the best spot for a photoshoot at Generations Riviera Maya?
For sunset views, the Lobby is the best option - we invested a lot of money in the architecture to make some amazing areas for photography. For ocean views, we recommend near Nautica Beach Bar where we have a small garden area with some palm trees around as well.
Could you tell us a little bit more about your Indian wedding program or packages?
Absolutely. We have 2 Indian Wedding packages that includes the most characteristic events for South Asian wedding celebrations: Welcome Cocktail, Mehndi Party, Sangeet, Ceremony, Post-Ceremony Vegetarian Indian Lunch, and Reception. Each event has decor provided by the Gama Group, florals by Patrick Floral, and Indian meals with Chef Sanjeev. Shaadi Destinations clients love the package and the extra perks!
Sumi and Ashu chose the lobby to grab great pictures before their reception; Courtesy of Button Up Photography
Why should a couple choose your resort over all the rest?
Because of our staff! My team is composed of 5 wedding coordinators, 1 assistant manager, and myself; right now 6 of us are certified in South Asian weddings. It’s something that I’m very proud of; my team is very solid and we are really a team, we help each other and it’s very important for guests; if they phone or come to the office and everybody will be able to help them, it does not matter that their wedding coordinator is not in there. We all love what we do.
The second thing is the food; Indian food is a priority for South Asian weddings and we have a very good restaurant. Chef Sanjeev loves what he does and you can taste it every time you sit in his restaurant or come to a wedding event.
What is your favorite restaurant on site and what's your favorite thing to order?
I have 2, Hunter where my favorite thing is any kind of steak (medium rare) with salad on the side. My 2nd one is Taj (I love indian food); my favorite item for sure is the Butter Chicken!
What is your favorite Indian food item?
Butter Chicken with Jeera Rice and fresh Garlic Naan (yummy!)
What makes the Indian food at events at Generations Riviera Maya the best in Cancun?
Chef Sanjeev is really good, he has a lot of experience; he is a chef and he is Indian so he really understands the culture and the importance of the food for South Asian weddings. He really understands how important elderly family members are for the culture and I can assure you that they love him.
This reception for Pooja and Savan was brought to life by JC Castillo Weddings - a spectacular transformation to this ballroom; Courtesy of Lin & Jirsa
What makes a Shaadi Destinations bride and groom different from others?
Because everything is organized and perfect! Shaadi Destinations knows the locations, knows the rooms, and knows the vendors. If something happens (it is a wedding, afterall), they know exactly where to go to solve it ASAP for their clients. Shaadi Destinations clients are prepared, have amazing deals, and are always excited to be taken care of in paradise.
What are your top 3 tips for couples looking to plan an Indian destination wedding?
1. Site visit: it’s very important that couples come before if they can. They need to be in every location, feel the hotel vibe, and meet the vendors and the coordinator so everybody knows exactly what they want
Seema and Sagar’s ceremony was all the talk! Loved the flooring they installed for their guests on the beach - what a unique touch; Courtesy of Andre Gouin Photography
2. Ceremony: talk to all the people involved in the ceremony; ask them what do they need, there are a lot of things required and sometimes they ask it at the moment of the ceremony rather than ahead of time. We will be glad to assist no matter when they ask, but it’s much better to be prepared ahead of time!
3. Relax: we are prepared, educated on South Asian weddings, and ready to make you feel spectacularly welcomed in paradise. Whatever we can do to help you make your momentous occasion, we will do it and we will do it with style and speed :)
Is there anything else you’d like to share with future brides and grooms?
We are not Indian but we are trained, we are learning, in every wedding we learn something more about their culture, they will be amazed of what we are able to do in Mexico for a South Asian wedding. We love to learn and we love your culture and do not forget to enjoy every single moment during the planning process and of course during all the events, enjoy it!!!
Reception goals! Loved this look for Sonam and Hiren for their festivities at Royalton Riviera Cancun; Courtesy of Cossu Photography
Shaadi Destinations is the premier, award winning, modern-day destination wedding travel agency for South Asian couples seeking a streamlined process, incredible experiences, and a party friends and family will never forget! We save our couples thousands of dollars while throwing them the wedding festivities dreams are made of.
We live and breathe destination weddings - with just one consultation, you will be light years ahead in your destination wedding planning process. In less than one week, Shaadi Destinations will find you the most perfect resort that meets your needs, your budget, and your desires. With our vendor relationships and pre-negotiated exclusive perks at resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, we are confident we can find exactly what you are looking for. You'll find we have the best rates, best incentives, and best booking experience.
