Shawn & Rashidah Billups

The proposal

Shawn proposed on Christmas Day 2021, in their living room, in front of their loved ones — both families dressed in matching Christmas pyjamas. It was intentionally intimate, family-first, and exactly the kind of moment that set the tone for the wedding they would eventually plan.

Why a destination wedding

The reasoning was practical and personal at once. A destination wedding offered more for the full experience — not just the ceremony but the week around it. It was also something none of their family and friends had ever done. Rashidah wanted to give them something genuinely new. "Lower cost, offered more for the full experience, and it was something none of our family and friends had ever done."

Choosing the resort

Vacationeeze gave Generations Riviera Maya rave reviews — and the resort earned them immediately. From the first conversation with the property team, the customer service was exceptional. The location, the grounds, and the signature feature that no other resort on the Riviera Maya offers: the Pier Deck, suspended over the Caribbean. That was the venue. That was the wedding.

The ceremony

One hundred guests on the Pier Deck. The Caribbean below. The sound of waves as Rashidah walked down the aisle — that's the moment she returns to. "The view and sound of the waves as I walked down the aisle, and dancing the night away with our family and friends." The cocktail hour followed at Palapa Ganesha. The reception moved to Salones Royale for the full evening.

If she could go back and change one thing: more time allocated for photos, better dessert options, and clearer travel instructions for her makeup artist. Small things. The day itself delivered.

What their guests said

"We loved the entire experience! It was truly the wedding of the year — filled with genuine love, at a beautiful location, with amazing food and the most fun we've ever had at a wedding."

Working with Vacationeeze

"Top tier. The team was transparent, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind throughout the entire process. The recommendations were spot on and the support never wavered." Their advice: start early, stay open to changes, don't let anything or anyone derail the day, and have fun.

Vendors

Resort: @generationsresorts · Save the Date: @debonairvisuals · Wedding website: Zola