Skip to main content
Limited Time Offer: Up to $2,500 off your destination wedding
START PLANNING
Guide to Planning a Punta Cana Destination Wedding

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Punta Cana Destination Wedding

Punta Cana, a stunning region in the Dominican Republic, is celebrated for its breathtaking beauty and vibrant atmosphere. It ranks among the most visited destinations in the country, attracting millions of travelers each year who come seeking romance, adventure, or a blend of both. Spanning over 30 miles of pristine coastline on the Dominican Republic's eastern shores, Punta Cana is also known as the Coconut Coast. With its endless stretches of white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, it's no wonder that Punta Cana is a premier choice for destination weddings.

Why Get Married in Punta Cana?

Punta Cana is a coastal community that is tailor-made for visitors looking to relax and unwind in tropical paradise - but that is just the start of its many attractions. Couples are often smitten with Punta Cana's luxurious all-inclusive resorts, warm weather, and picturesque ocean views. It's no wonder why Lonely Planet described the Coconut Coast as "a sort of sea and sun Disneyland."

Below are some of the many reasons to have (and to hold) a destination wedding in Punta Cana.

  • Ultimate Guide to Punta Cana Weddings

    Warm Weather

    Visitors of Punta Cana enjoy average temperatures ranging from the low 70s to high 80s, no matter the time of year.

  • Ultimate Guide Punta Cana Weddings TRS Cap Cana

    Built-In Honeymoon

    U.S. News ranks Punta Cana among its top 20 Caribbean honeymoon locations.

  • Ultimate Guide Punta Cana Weddings

    Star Power

    Actresses like Olivia Munn, Gabrielle Union, Jourdan Dunn and Coco Austin have been spotted soaking up the sunshine in Punta Cana.

  • Ultimate Guide Punta Cana Weddings Hard Rock Punta Cana

    Amenities Galore

    Punta Cana is well-known for its world-class resorts, which range from intimate and romantic, to fun and family-friendly. These resorts (many of which are all-inclusive) are surrounded by lively villages, golf courses, watersports, stunning beaches, and spirited nightlife.

  • Ultimate Guide to Punta Cana Weddings

    Easy Flights

    Travelers coming from the U.S. and Canada can enjoy a relatively short and, oftentimes, direct flight to Punta Cana.

  • Ultimate Guide to Punta Cana Weddings Riu Palace Macao

    Affordability

    Thanks, in part, to the close proximity and shorter flights, the Dominican Republic ranks among the most affordable locations for destination weddings.

Average Punta Cana Wedding Cost

Ultimate Guide Punta Cana Weddings Hyatt Zilara Punta Cana

Getting married in Punta Cana can mean major cost savings for brides and grooms. In fact, you are likely to spend a mere fraction of what couples pay for a traditional, hometown wedding, which now averages close to $35,000 in total. Destination wedding couples, on the other hand, spent an average of $9,591 on their entire wedding experience (including their honeymoon stay) in 2022. However, costs can be even less. Depending on your departure city, you can usually score round-trip flights to Punta Cana for under $500.

Punta Cana is also an affordable travel destination for guests. While many destination weddings can cost travelers thousands of dollars, the average cost to attend a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic is only about $9,542.

Of course, prices can vary depending on many factors, such as the size of your guest list, as well as the wedding resort and package you choose. A Destination Wedding Specialist will work with your resort's wedding department to help customize a wedding package that meets your needs, if and when you are ready.

alt text

Punta Cana Wedding Venues

Punta Cana offers nearly any kind of destination wedding venue imaginable, and can accommodate many budgets. A good place to start is by envisioning the kind of wedding you and your partner would like to have. Do you want an intimate ceremony on the beach, or inside an old, historic cathedral? Would your ideal ceremony involve overlooking the ocean, atop a sky terrace? Punta Cana wedding venues will typically fall into two categories: either on the resort grounds or off-site. There are certainly benefits for either type, but an off-site wedding is typically more expensive after factoring in decorations and transportation.

Take some time to explore your options for wedding venues. Some resorts offer couples several different types of venues, depending on their vision. At the Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, for example, you can choose to tie the knot on a white-sand beach, in a gazebo, or even inside an on-site chapel with a priest conducting the ceremony.

Planning a Punta Cana Destination Wedding: Other Considerations

Your Wedding Date

Before booking your big day, it is important to consider the right time of year to visit Punta Cana. Usually, the best time to go is considered to be between March and May, after the holiday rush has cleared out and before hurricane season begins (but be weary of spring break vacation spots). The Dominican Republic enjoys warm temperatures year-round, but Hurricane Season - between June and November - may be worth avoiding for ease of travel for you and your guests.

Your Wedding (and Honeymoon) Stay

There are many Punta Cana wedding resorts to choose from that offer a variety of fun and romance for couples looking to tie the knot. If young children - either yours, your partner's, or your guests' - will be in attendance, then you should consider a family-friendly wedding resort. Coco Austin has been spotted vacationing with her daughter at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, while Jourdan Dunn has taken her son to Nickelodeon Punta Cana. Fun water parks and pool parties can be found at various Riu Hotels & Resorts throughout the country.

Punta Cana is considered one of the world's top honeymoon destinations. So if you and your partner are looking for a peaceful paradise to enjoy your first few days of marital bliss, you may instead consider an adults-only resort. One of the top adults-only wedding resorts in Punta Cana, Iberostar Grand Bávaro, offers a swim-up bar, a whirlpool in-room, golf, and gaming fun. There are also options where you can get the best of both worlds; hold your ceremony at a family-friendly resort and then jet off to a sister property that offers a more romantic, adults-only vibe.

Marriage Requirements in Punta Cana

No matter where you wed in the world, there are always certain steps you must take to make your marriage legal. Punta Cana weddings are no exception. If you are a U.S. citizen and getting married in Punta Cana, for example, you and your spouse must present legal documentation such as:

  • Birth certificates
  • Passports and tourist cards
  • A sworn declaration before a notary public
  • A divorce certificate (if applicable)

Most destination wedding couples, however, will choose to legalize their marriage in the United States and host a symbolic ceremony in Punta Cana, to simplify the process. Your Destination Wedding Specialist - a specialized destination wedding travel agent with foreign wedding expertise - can help you learn about your options and determine what is needed to make your marriage official. To learn more about the marriage requirements in the Dominican Republic, read our guide to getting married in the Dominican Republic

The top reason couples choose to have a destination wedding is for the unique and memorable experiences it offers. So why not take advantage of the opportunity? With all of the different wedding venues available in Punta Cana, the kind of wedding you have is only limited by your imagination. For ideas and inspiration, simply chat with a Destination Wedding Specialist. He or she will be able to help you find a resort that can best accommodate (and personalize) your dream Punta Cana destination wedding. Or, check out real couples who have tied the knot in Punta Cana below!

Cynthia & Chris

Cynthia & Chris

By Nikolay Chernichenko
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Amy & Anthony

Amy & Anthony

By WBA Studio
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Chelsea & Jeff

Chelsea & Jeff

By HDC Photo
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Go to Previous Slide - - Go to Next Slide - -

    Start Planning Your Punta Cana Destination Wedding With Us

    While destination weddings have been growing in popularity over the past few years, getaways to Punta Cana have always had a certain romantic appeal. This tropical paradise is full of natural beauty, vibrant nightlife, and endless adventure to sweep couples off their feet. And unlike traditional weddings, a destination wedding isn't just one day. It's several days surrounded by love, romance, and adventure. It's an experience that you and your guests will remember for a lifetime.

    As you plan your big day, consider the incredible possibilities that weddings in Punta Cana offer. This stunning region of the Dominican Republic provides a picturesque backdrop with its pristine beaches, luxurious resorts, and vibrant atmosphere, making it a top choice for a memorable and enchanting wedding celebration. Contact a destination wedding specialist today to get started.

    Wedding Planning FAQs

    Over 30,000 personalized celebrations planned.

    Let us help plan yours!