Vows Beneath the Cancun Sun: Marielle & Kieran’s Joyful Wedding at TRS Yucatan

Love Story

Their journey began in the summer of 2017 at their University Recreation Centre,where Marielle worked at the front desk and Kieran as floor staff within the gym. What started as a casual conversation during shared shifts quickly evolved into something deeper. "We immediately hit it off and found we were much more alike than we previously thought," Kieran recalled.

The proposal, fittingly, happened right in their bedroom while both were wearing pajamas. Kieran, an avid Dungeons and Dragons player, created a special game that took Marielle through key moments of their relationship, from their university days to memorable adventures together. When the quest ended, Kieran got down on one knee. "We both appreciated being comfy in our PJs when the proposal happened. It was such an intimate and personal proposal, we both teared up as he was proposing," Marielle shared.

About Your Wedding

Unlike many couples who spend years envisioning their perfect day, Marielle and Kieran approached their wedding with refreshing practicality. "Honestly, we didn’t really have a grand vision for our wedding, we just wanted to have a fun, memorable time with our family and friends," Kieran admitted. "We actually were prioritizing a low-stress and reasonably easy to plan wedding which is why we ultimately went with a destination resort package."

That decision led them to the stunning shores of Cancun, Mexico,where they could realize their desire for "a light and airy tropical wedding with lots of lush greenery, deep ocean blues, and sandy beaches."

Throughout the planning process, their guiding inspiration was simple but meaningful. "We were constantly thinking about what our friends and family would enjoy and find fun," Marielle shared. "For us, the best part of weddings is the people, and in our case, the guests. We’d like to think we know our guests pretty well, so we were often picking details that we think they would appreciate or find joy from."

The planning process began in early 2023 with preliminary resort research, but the couple was advised to return closer to their desired date. They officially kicked off planning in November 2023, working with the resort's wedding planner, Elia. "From there things progressed reasonably quickly and I would guess we spent between 100 to 120 hours in total to plan everything," Kieran noted.

Morning Details

The wedding day dawned bright at TRS Yucatan, with careful attention to the small details that make celebrations personal. The couple opted for digital invitations, designed by Kieran himself. "We wanted to keep everything digital and avoid print invitations," the bride explained. "Initially, our travel agent designed something, but it wasn’t quite to our taste, so Kieran redesigned it and made it… marginally better," she added with a laugh.

Their wedding rings told another story entirely. Custom-made by a local Vancouver jeweler, David at Grimson & Sons, each piece reflected their unique personalities. "Kieran wanted a more unique ring than just a band, he wanted something with a gemstone and with interesting texturing," Marielle revealed. "He went with a salt and pepper diamond and 14k gold with cracks meant to resemble the Japanese art of kintsugi."

For her part, Marielle chose an eye-catching three-piece stack. "She wanted something colourful, but durable, so ultimately landed on a green sapphire that shines a blue tinge in the sun," Kieran explained on her behalf. "She wanted it to look a bit more out there, and David helped her with her vision she gave him to make it into something that looked timeless, yet a show stopper when shown off as a stack."

The morning also brought special touches through meaningful jewelry. Kieran wore a watch from Kuoe Kyoto, engraved with their wedding date and the phrase "It's a Monday!"—a reference to their cherished tradition.
"It's a tradition we have where we tell each other one new thing we love about each other every Monday," Kieran explained. "It’s a really nice tradition that Marielle started since we started dating. We find it allows us to appreciate each other more, and is a constant reminder knowing that effort is required for a loving, long-term relationship."

Marielle wore two family heirlooms: a necklace her mother had given her sister for her 2022 wedding and an Omega watch passed down from her grandmother.

Wedding stationery came courtesy of their close friend Angela, whose card/print shop Angel + Hare saved the day when they realized they'd forgotten name placards just two days before the wedding. "She really saved our butts," Kieran laughed. "That definitely was a nice mini panic attack."

Bride Getting Ready

Finding the perfect dress proved surprisingly easy for Marielle. "I actually bought the first wedding dress I ever tried and laid eyes on," she said with a smile. "It was a pretty funny story."

While accompanying her bridesmaid Angela to a wedding dress sample sale at Everly Bridal in Vancouver for Angela's own wedding, Marielle decided to try on a few dresses herself. "I loved the first one I tried on," she recalled. "I loved the first one I tried on, phoned my mom, and she said that I needed to try on more and that one wasn’t enough. I tried on two more wedding dresses, but loved the first one so I went with that one."

The getting-ready process unfolded in their spacious rooms at the TRS Yucatan resort. "We thought they already were very nice, had great lighting, and were spacious enough to fit everyone comfortably so we didn’t bother looking for other places to get ready," Marielle explained. "Sometimes the easiest is best!"

Groom Getting Ready

First Look

Photoshoot Before The Ceremony

Ceremony

The ceremony took place at the Garden gazebo of TRS Yucatan, with a grand structure serving as a breathtaking backdrop. Against the natural beauty of Mexico's landscape, Marielle and Kieran exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by their dear friend Rafa.

Photoshoot After The Ceremony

Wedding Venue & Decor

Marielle and Kieran kept their wedding aesthetic clean and natural, with a color palette that echoed their surroundings: white, natural shades of green, wood tones, sand, and blues from the water. "The concept of the wedding was to keep things simple and timeless," Kieran explained. "We tried to choose colours that will remain classic through the decades," he added.

Their approach to decorations matched their overall philosophy. "The wedding package came with the absolute basics in terms of decorations, so we added some things like a runner and bouquets, but we tried to keep the additions light," Marielle said. This choice was partly practical but also reflected their personal taste.

Reception

The reception unfolded directly on the beach,where nature provided the most spectacular décor element—a breathtaking cotton candy sunset that cast a magical glow over their celebration. "Every detail felt intentional and beautifully curated," their photographer observed. "One thing I truly appreciated as a photographer was how the sand had been carefully raked around the reception site, creating a pristine, natural canvas that made the décor and surrounding beauty stand out even more,"

But the evening wasn't without unexpected drama. Just as the couple was concluding their thank-you speeches before dancing, the skies opened. "A downpour of rain started right as we were wrapping up our final thank you speech before dancing," Kieran remembered. "The cake was being served during speeches and just as quickly as it came, it was soon soaking in rainwater. Us and all of our guests scrambled for some sort of cover and found ourselves huddled under thatch sun shades hoping the rain would pass."

What could have been a disaster became one of the day's most memorable moments. "Thankfully within 30 minutes, the resort staff were able to move all the important bits to a larger covered gazebo where we kicked off our dancing. The rain made for some very cinematic photos and a lasting fun memory for everyone," Marielle said.

As the night progressed, guests enjoyed the inclusive food and drinks provided by the resort, dancing beneath the stars in their relocated celebration space—a perfect metaphor for Marielle and Kieran's relationship: adaptable, joyful, and beautiful even when things don't go exactly as planned.