Punta Cana Wedding Photography: A Guide to the 10 Resorts We Know Best
Somewhere between choosing a date and choosing a dress, every couple asks the same question: who will actually capture our day, and do they know this place?
For more than 15 years, WBA Studio has photographed and filmed destination weddings in Punta Cana. These are the 10 resorts where we are the exclusive wedding photography and videography team, so this is not a ranking of every resort in Punta Cana. It is what we have learned from photographing weddings at each one, to help you choose the space that fits your day.
Why Choose a Photographer Who Knows Your Resort
A resort photographer is not just a vendor. At a destination wedding, you have a short window, a set schedule and a space you may have seen only online. A team that has photographed that exact gazebo or stretch of beach hundreds of times knows the best ceremony time, the best backdrop for portraits and where the sunset lands. That is what we bring to each resort below.
Not sure how your day should flow? Read our timeline guide first: https://wbastudio.com/blog/punta-cana-wedding-timeline-guide
Which Resort Fits Your Wedding?
Start with the kind of day you want, then read the resort that matches.
If you want a ceremony on the sand with a sunset reception: Secrets Tides, Serenade, Dreams Onyx, Breathless Punta Cana or the Riu hotels on Arena Gorda.
If you want a small, intimate ceremony: the chapel at the Majestic resorts, the Royal Gazebo at either Royal Beach resort, or Stone Beach at Dreams Onyx.
If you are bringing children and grandparents: Dreams Royal Beach, which is built for multi-generational families.
If you want an adults-only celebration: Secrets Royal Beach, which is adults-only.
If you want something unusual: the Mangrove Gazebo at Dreams Royal Beach.
If you need space for a large party: Serenade’s event space, or the Marea Ballroom at Secrets Tides.
Majestic Colonial Punta Cana &Majestic Elegance Punta Cana
These two neighboring Majestic resorts share their wedding spaces, so couples at either one can choose from the same set of venues. The options include a beach gazebo for ceremonies, a garden gazebo, a small chapel, a terrace with views over Playa Bavaro and the Caribbean, and beach and poolside spaces for the reception. We have an office at both resorts, so our team is on site.
Best for: couples who want to choose between a classic gazebo ceremony on the sand, a garden setting or an intimate chapel.
Worth knowing: the chapel is very small, so it suits only intimate ceremonies.
Learn more about the resorts: https://www.majestic-resorts.com/punta-cana/resorts/majestic-colonial-punta-cana and https://www.majestic-resorts.com/punta-cana/resorts/majestic-elegance-punta-cana
Dreams Royal Beach and Secrets Royal Beach are neighboring resorts with very different personalities, and choosing between them often comes down to your guest list and the atmosphere you want.
Dreams Royal Beach is built for multi-generational families, so it suits weddings where children, parents and grandparents are all invited. It also has one of the most unusual ceremony settings in Punta Cana, a protected mangrove area with its own gazebo, as Taelee & Cole’s wedding showed. Other spaces include the rooftop Royal Gazebo, the beachside Seaside Grill, the Preferred Garden and a ballroom.
Secrets Royal Beach is adults-only and leans toward romance and an upscale, contemporary feel. Its spaces include the expansive beach, the fountain in the resort gardens, the Riviera Terrace by the pool, the beachside Olio restaurant, a small secluded garden and an indoor ballroom. The Eclipse Nightclub gives couples an indoor option for the after-party.
Both resorts offer a beach for ceremonies and receptions, a gazebo and a ballroom, so you can picture the day at either one.
Best for: couples choosing between a family-friendly wedding with a unique natural backdrop (Dreams Royal Beach) and an adults-only, romance-focused celebration (Secrets Royal Beach).
Worth knowing: Secrets Royal Beach is adults-only, so children cannot attend. The Royal Gazebo is small and suits an intimate guest list.
Learn more about the resorts: Dreams Royal Beach at https://www.royalbeachpuntacana.com/ and Secrets Royal Beach at https://www.royalbeachpuntacanaresort.com/
Dreams Royal Beach Punta Cana & Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana
Dreams Onyx Resort & Spa and Breathless Punta Cana Resort & Spa
Dreams Onyx and Breathless Punta Cana are neighboring resorts, and their wedding spaces overlap. Couples at either one can use the beach for a ceremony or a reception, and the pool area for a lively evening celebration. Each resort also has spaces of its own.
Shared spaces
The beach is a stretch of crystal-white sand with swaying palms, used for both ceremonies and receptions. The pool area is an open-air space for dinner and dancing, with sunset views.
At Dreams Onyx
The Fountain Gazebo is a garden ceremony space under open sky, with a fountain as the backdrop. Stone Beach is a smaller beach spot with a minimalist arch decorated with natural elements, suited to an intimate group. The open-air Gardens suit a classic ceremony, and the ballroom offers a private, ornate setting for a smaller reception.
At Breathless Punta Cana
The Sky Bar is an open-air, romantic space for an intimate ceremony or reception with close family and friends.
Best for: couples who want a beach ceremony and an easy, lively pool-area party, or a small, intimate celebration.
Worth knowing: Stone Beach and the Sky Bar are small, so they suit only intimate groups. Breathless has a smaller set of dedicated wedding spaces than most of the other resorts here.
Learn more about the resorts: Dreams Onyx at https://www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/dreams/dominican-republic/onyx-resort-spa/ and Breathless Punta Cana at https://www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/breathless/dominican-republic/punta-cana-resort-spa/
Dreams Flora
Dreams Flora offers four outdoor spaces for ceremonies and celebrations. The beach area puts the sand underfoot with the waves behind you. Blue Dorado is a quiet garden surrounded by tropical flowers. The Mix-Upper Deck is an open-air terrace with a cool ocean breeze. The Seaside Grill is an oceanfront restaurant with panoramic coastal views, used for ceremonies and cocktail hours.
Best for: couples who want to choose between a classic beach, a garden or an elevated terrace with ocean views.
Worth knowing: all four spaces are outdoors, so plan a weather backup with your coordinator.
Learn more about the resort: https://www.floraresort.com/
Serenade Punta Cana
Serenade is a favorite for couples who want a tropical beach ceremony, with direct beach access and a palm-lined Caribbean backdrop for either a daytime or a sunset ceremony. For larger celebrations, the resort has a modern, modular event space that can be divided into smaller halls for receptions and parties. Around it you will find tropical gardens and the Serene Spa & Wellness center, a nice place for the wedding party to relax before and after the big day.
Best for: couples who want a beach ceremony with plenty of room for a large reception.
Worth knowing: the event space is a modular hall, so it feels more like a conference-style room than a ballroom. Ask your coordinator how it will be styled.
Learn more about the resort: https://www.serenadepuntacana.com/
Secrets Tides
Secrets Tides gives couples a beachfront ceremony with a relaxed, elegant feel. Spaces include Oceana Beach and the Main Beach Area for ceremonies, a pool deck for receptions, and the Marea Ballroom for larger groups. Our real weddings here show how different the same beach can look, from an overcast ceremony under a white draped arch to a sunset reception on the sand.
Best for: couples who want a beach ceremony and a sand reception.
Worth knowing: the beach is open to the sea, so wind and weather can change the look of the day. Overcast skies still photograph beautifully.
Learn more about the resort: https://www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/secrets/dominican-republic/secrets-tides-punta-cana/
Read a real wedding: https://wbastudio.com/blog/secrets-tides-wedding-punta-cana
Riu Hotels in Punta Cana
We photograph weddings at all of the RIU hotels in Punta Cana: Riu Bambu, Riu Palace Macao, Riu Palace Punta Cana, Riu Palace Bavaro and Riu Republica.
Several of them sit on Arena Gorda Beach, one of the most beautiful stretches of the Bavaro coast. Couples can choose a beachfront setting for a ceremony or reception with the sea as the backdrop, resort gardens with palm trees and manicured lawns for a more sheltered ceremony, or an elevated terrace with views over the grounds or the ocean.
Best for: couples who want a classic beachfront ceremony with a garden or terrace as a second look, and the flexibility of choosing between several RIU hotels.
Worth knowing: exact spaces vary by hotel, so your coordinator will confirm what each one offers.
Learn more about the hotels: https://www.riu.com/en/hotels/america/dominican-republic/punta-cana
Other Punta Cana Resorts Publicly Recommended
Not every couple chooses one of our 10 resorts, and that is fine. We welcome weddings at any hotel in Punta Cana. These are some of the other well-known resorts that couples choose:
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, with several beach spaces and a gazebo, and a lively, high-energy feel.
Grand Palladium Palace Resort Spa & Casino, with many ceremony spaces, including an indoor option.
Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana, with an outdoor lawn surrounded by gardens, a rooftop terrace with ocean views, and a Caribbean beachfront reception.
Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa, with Juanillo Beach, a boho-chic gazebo, a garden terrace and a ballroom.
Sanctuary Cap Cana, with a tropical beach, a clifftop ocean lounge and a garden terrace.
Zemi Miches All Inclusive Resort, with ceremonies along the shores of Playa Esmeralda and beach dinners on the sand. It is in Miches, outside the Punta Cana area.
The resort’s vendor fee is paid in addition to your photography package. Send your resort and date to weddings@wbastudio.com and we will build a custom quote.
How to Choose the Right Resort for Your Photos
Think about the light. Beach ceremonies in the late afternoon give you golden hour and a sunset reception.
Match the space to the guest list. Chapels and small gazebos suit intimate groups, and beach and ballroom spaces suit larger ones.
Look at the backdrop, not just the venue. A gazebo, an arch and a mangrove each photograph very differently.
Ask which spaces are shared. Neighboring resorts share venues, so confirm the exact space and time with your coordinator.
Plan the day backward from sunset. See our timeline guide: https://wbastudio.com/blog/punta-cana-wedding-timeline-guide
Use a checklist when you talk to the resort: https://wbastudio.com/blog/punta-cana-wedding-resort-checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. These are the 10 resorts where we are the exclusive photography and videography team, so we know them well. Your best resort depends on your guest list, your budget and the kind of day you want.
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At these 10 resorts, WBA Studio is the wedding photography and videography team, so you work with a team that already knows the spaces and the resort’s schedule.
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Spaces and availability are set by the resort. Your wedding coordinator confirms them, and we plan your photography around the space you choose.
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Yes. We welcome weddings at any hotel in Punta Cana. The resort’s vendor fee is paid in addition to your photography package, and we will include everything in your custom quote.
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As soon as your date is set. See what to expect: https://wbastudio.com/blog/what-to-expect-booking-destination-wedding-photographer
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It is optional. Read: https://wbastudio.com/blog/should-you-do-a-first-look
Let’s Plan Your Punta Cana Wedding Photography
Whichever resort you choose, we will be there with a team that knows the space and the light. Email weddings@wbastudio.com, or browse celebrations on our Real Weddings page: https://wbastudio.com/real-weddings
New to planning? Start here: https://wbastudio.com/blog/how-to-plan-destination-wedding-punta-cana