Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
The complete guide to planning a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic — legal requirements for civil and symbolic ceremonies, top venues with real pricing, planning timelines, guest logistics, and honest advice from wedding vendors who work in the DR year-round.
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean's most popular destination wedding location, and for good reason: white-sand beaches that look fake in photos (they are real), all-inclusive resorts with dedicated wedding departments, consistently warm weather, direct flights from dozens of US and Canadian cities, and costs that are 30-50% lower than comparable weddings in the continental United States.
But planning a wedding 1,500 miles from home comes with complications that Pinterest boards do not warn you about. Legal paperwork. Vendor reliability. The difference between a symbolic ceremony that means nothing legally and a civil ceremony that requires specific documents apostilled months in advance. Rain contingency plans in a tropical country. And the logistical puzzle of getting 50 guests to an island.
This guide covers all of it — with real prices, honest vendor assessments, and the practical details that determine whether your Dominican wedding is a dream or a logistical nightmare.
The DR offers a compelling combination of advantages that no other Caribbean destination matches:
This is the single most important decision in your Dominican wedding planning, and misunderstanding it has caused real heartbreak for couples.
A symbolic ceremony is essentially a performance — a beautiful, emotional event that looks exactly like a wedding but has zero legal standing. No marriage license is issued. You are not legally married. The "officiant" can be anyone — your best friend, a resort entertainment director, or a hired performer. If you want legal recognition, you must either get legally married before the trip (at a courthouse at home) or file additional paperwork for a civil ceremony in the DR.
Pros: No paperwork, no waiting period, no document requirements, no stress. You can have your ceremony whenever and wherever you want. 90% of resort "wedding packages" are symbolic by default.
Cons: You are not legally married. Period. If this matters to you — for tax, immigration, insurance, or personal reasons — you need a legal ceremony.
A legal Dominican civil ceremony results in an actual marriage certificate recognized internationally. It requires specific documentation, advance planning, and is performed by a Judge of the Oficina Civil (civil registry office) or an authorized officiant. The ceremony can take place anywhere — on the beach, at a resort, in a church — as long as the officiant is legally authorized.
Pros: You are legally married. The Dominican marriage certificate, once apostilled, is recognized worldwide.
Cons: Significant paperwork requirements, documents must be prepared 2-3 months in advance, there are residency-related waiting periods (though they can be waived), and the process involves bureaucratic steps that require either a wedding planner or a lawyer familiar with Dominican family law.
For most international couples, the simplest approach is: get legally married at home before your trip (courthouse ceremony, 15 minutes, US$50-100), then have your dream symbolic ceremony in the DR. This eliminates all paperwork stress and lets you focus on the celebration. If having the legal ceremony in the DR is important to you — and it is for many couples — plan far ahead and hire a wedding planner who handles legal ceremonies regularly.
If you choose a legal civil ceremony, here is exactly what you need:
All documents from outside the Dominican Republic must be apostilled — this is an international certification that authenticates the document for use in another country. In the US, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued (not where you live). Processing takes 1-4 weeks and costs US$5-25 per document depending on the state. Some states offer expedited service for an additional fee.
All documents must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator approved by the Dominican government. Your wedding planner typically handles this (cost: US$50-100 per document). Do not use Google Translate — the translations must be done by a licensed Dominican interpreter.
Start the document preparation process at least 3 months before your wedding date. The sequence: obtain certified documents (2-4 weeks), apostille them (1-4 weeks), send them to your Dominican wedding planner for translation and filing with the Oficina Civil (2-4 weeks). Last-minute legal ceremonies are extremely difficult to arrange and significantly more expensive.
The classic Dominican wedding. Toes in the sand, turquoise water backdrop, sunset timing. The best beaches for weddings include:
Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — offers venues with 500 years of history. The Cathedral Primada de América (the first cathedral in the Americas, built 1512-1541) hosts Catholic wedding ceremonies. Secular options include Casa de las Gárgolas, Hostal Nicolás de Ovando (a converted 16th-century governor's mansion), and the courtyards of restored colonial mansions along Calle Las Damas.
Resort wedding packages are the most common choice for destination weddings because they simplify everything into one booking. Here are real prices from major properties:
Here is where the money actually goes for a typical 50-guest Dominican wedding:
Realistic total for a 50-guest mid-range beach wedding: US$10,000-20,000.
Realistic total for a 50-guest luxury venue wedding: US$25,000-50,000.
A Dominican wedding planner is not a luxury — it is a near-necessity for destination weddings, especially legal ones. The right planner navigates the bureaucracy, speaks Spanish, knows the reliable vendors (and which ones to avoid), and handles the hundred small crises that invariably arise when planning an event in another country.
What to look for: Minimum 5 years of experience with Dominican weddings. Fluent in English and Spanish. A portfolio with full weddings (not just styled shoots). References from real couples (not just testimonials on their website). Clear pricing with no hidden fees. Familiarity with legal ceremony requirements if applicable.
What to ask: How many weddings do you coordinate per month? (More than 4-5 suggests they are stretched thin.) Do you attend the wedding personally or send an assistant? What is your relationship with the venue — are you receiving commissions? How do you handle vendor no-shows or weather cancellations?
Budget US$1,500-5,000 for a full-service planner. Some work on flat fees, others on a percentage of total wedding budget (typically 10-15%). Flat fee is generally better for the couple — percentage-based planners have an incentive to increase spending.
Guest logistics make or break a destination wedding experience. If your guests have a smooth, enjoyable trip, they will talk about your wedding for years. If they have a frustrating travel experience, they will remember that instead.
Do not assume guests can find their own flights. Provide recommended flight numbers and booking windows. Some wedding planners arrange group flight blocks with airlines — discounts of 10-20% for groups of 20+ passengers are possible through JetBlue Meetings, American Airlines Groups, and Air Canada Groups.
At all-inclusive resorts, negotiate a room block with the sales department 8-10 months in advance. Most resorts offer: 15-25% discount on published rates, 1 complimentary room per 10 booked, flexible cancellation deadlines (typically 30-45 days before arrival), and welcome amenities (rum and chocolates in guest rooms, group check-in). Set a firm cutoff date for guests to book within the block — rooms released after the cutoff are sold at full price.
Create a wedding website (The Knot, Zola, or a simple custom page) with all logistics: flight recommendations, hotel booking link, wedding schedule, packing list, dress code, and local tips. Include a FAQ addressing common concerns: "Is the tap water safe?" (No — drink bottled), "Do I need a passport?" (Yes), "What about bugs?" (Bring repellent), "Can I use my cell phone?" (Yes, US carriers work but check roaming fees).
The most popular wedding destination in the DR and for good reason: the highest concentration of resorts, the easiest logistics (direct flights, short transfers), and consistently beautiful beaches. Cap Cana specifically offers the most exclusive venue options — private beach clubs, estate homes, and the stunning Juanillo Beach. Best for: resort weddings, larger guest lists, convenience.
For couples who want luxury, exclusivity, and a venue with character, Casa de Campo is unmatched. Altos de Chavón offers a dramatic setting that no beach ceremony can rival. The Teeth of the Dog golf course hosts groom's day events, and Playa Minitas provides a private beach option. Best for: luxury weddings, smaller guest lists, couples who want a unique venue.
For couples who want history, culture, and something different from the typical beach wedding, the Zona Colonial delivers. Colonial-era churches, cobblestone streets, rooftop receptions with city views, and a vibrant nightlife scene for the after-party. Best for: culturally curious couples, intimate weddings, guests who want to explore a city, not just sit at a resort.
Wild, romantic, and off the beaten path. Samaná offers dramatic coastline, waterfall backdrops (El Limón), and empty beaches. Fewer venue options and harder logistics, but the payoff is an intimate, naturally stunning wedding that feels a world away from resort tourism. If you are getting married during whale watching season (January-March), your guests get a bonus excursion. Best for: intimate weddings (under 30 guests), nature-loving couples, bohemian vibes.
Dominican Republic wedding photography benefits from extraordinary natural light. Golden hour (the last hour before sunset, typically 5:30-6:30 PM) provides the warm, romantic light that makes DR wedding photos so striking. Top photography locations:
Book your photographer for at least 8 hours — allow time for getting-ready shots, couple portraits (schedule these during golden hour, not midday sun), ceremony, cocktails, reception, and first dance. Ask for a second shooter if your guest list exceeds 50 — one photographer cannot capture both the ceremony from the front and guest reactions simultaneously.
One of the greatest advantages of a DR wedding is that you are already in a honeymoon destination. Instead of flying home and then flying out again, extend your stay:
The Dominican wedding industry includes many excellent professionals and some unreliable operators. Protect yourself by watching for these warning signs:
For a symbolic ceremony (no legal standing): just your passport. For a legal civil ceremony: valid passport, certified birth certificate (issued within the past 6 months), single-status affidavit or certificate of no impediment (notarized), divorce decree or death certificate if previously married, and two witnesses with valid ID. All documents must be apostilled by your country's designated authority and translated into Spanish by a certified Dominican translator. Start this process at least 3 months before your wedding date.
The range is enormous. A simple symbolic beach ceremony at a mid-range resort (just the couple, officiant, basic flowers): US$1,500-3,000. A full wedding with 50 guests, reception dinner, photographer, DJ, flowers, and cake at an all-inclusive resort: US$10,000-20,000. A luxury venue wedding at Casa de Campo or Cap Cana with premium vendors: US$25,000-50,000+. These figures do not include guest accommodations (guests typically pay their own room costs) or the couple's flights.
Yes — provided you complete a legal civil ceremony (not just a symbolic ceremony). A Dominican marriage certificate, once apostilled by the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancillería), is legally recognized in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and virtually every other country. Your wedding planner can handle the apostille process after the wedding — it typically takes 2-4 weeks and costs US$100-200. Once you receive the apostilled certificate, no additional legal steps are required in the US.
The dry season (December through April) offers the most reliable weather: sunny skies, low humidity, and minimal rain. February through April is the sweet spot — warm (28-31°C / 82-88°F), low hurricane risk, and slightly lower prices than the December-January holiday peak. May and November are excellent shoulder-season options with lower costs, though afternoon rain showers are more frequent. Avoid September and October — the peak of hurricane season brings the highest rain probability and some resorts may be under renovation.
This guide covers Punta Cana. Explore more about this destination.
View DestinationOur team includes contributors who live in the Dominican Republic year-round and travel the island extensively, from Santo Domingo to remote southwest villages.