Laura & Sam’s Secrets Tides Beach Wedding: First Look, Vows and a Dance Floor on the Sand

Some weddings are loud with joy from the first minute. Others begin with a quiet moment, a deep breath and a path lined with palm trees. Laura and Sam’s wedding had both: a private first look, vows beside the sea, and a night that ended with the whole beach on the dance floor.

Laura and Sam were married at Secrets Tides Punta Cana on June 19, 2026, and our photographer Willy was with them from the first look to the last dance. Here is how their day unfolded, and what you can borrow for your own.

Why Laura & Sam Chose a Beach Wedding in Punta Cana

They wanted everything in one place: a garden for portraits, the ocean for the ceremony and an open sand floor for the party. Secrets Tides gave them all three on one property, so their guests never had to leave the setting.

The ceremony faced the water, under a white draped arch dressed in white and green florals. White chairs lined the sand, and a thatched-roof palapa stood just behind the guests. For a couple who wanted a relaxed, barefoot-friendly day, it was exactly the right mix of polished and easy.

The First Look: A Garden Path Before the Ceremony

The day began on a stone path lined with palms and tropical flowers. Sam, in a cream linen suit, stood with his back turned. Laura, in a strapless white gown with a long train and a high side slit, walked up quietly behind him, white bouquet in hand.

Then he turned. They laughed, held each other and rested their foreheads together while the garden stayed quiet around them. Afterward, they walked the path hand in hand, which gave us some of the most relaxed portraits of the day.

Doing the first look first also meant they could take portraits before the ceremony, with the light still soft. If you are deciding, read our guide: should you do a first look? https://wbastudio.com/blog/should-you-do-a-first-look

The Wedding Party: Dusty Blue and Cream Linen

The bridesmaids wore dusty blue and the groomsmen wore white shirts and khaki pants, all set against green lawn and palm trees. We photographed the bridesmaids with Laura, the groomsmen with Sam and then everyone together. The groomsmen portraits had plenty of laughter, including one friend hopping onto another’s back.

The Ceremony: Vows Beside the Sea

Laura walked toward the arch with two loved ones at her side, past a palapa and a line of guests in tropical colors. Along the aisle, a small sign on one of the chairs read “In Loving Memory,” a quiet way to hold a place for the people who could not be there.

At the arch, an officiant with a microphone guided the ceremony. Sam waited with his groomsmen in white, and when Laura arrived, they held hands through the vows and the exchange of rings. Their kiss came under the arch with the sea behind them, and they walked back up the aisle through cheering guests.

After the ceremony, we photographed family groups on the sand, then a group photo of everyone on the beach.

Couple Portraits on the Sand

With the guests heading to cocktail hour, Laura and Sam stepped away for portraits by the water. We photographed them with the arch behind them, then along the shoreline in soft evening light, embracing, laughing and dipping for a kiss.

The Reception: String Lights, White Dance Floor, Open Sand

The reception was set directly on the beach. Guests gathered at white-draped tables for cocktails, some wearing white-framed sunglasses, before the evening moved to a white dance floor on the sand under strands of string lights.

Laura and Sam shared their first dance, and then Laura danced with two family members in turn. At the sweetheart table, a wood backdrop and white florals framed the toasts. Friends and bridesmaids spoke with the microphone, and the couple cut their cake at a small wooden table lit by candles in crystal holders.

Then the party took over. Laura danced in her gown, bridesmaids spun and guests of every age filled the floor. By the end of the night, even the floor itself was part of the dance.

Planning Tips From Laura & Sam’s Wedding

• Consider a first look. It gives you a calm moment together and more time for portraits before the ceremony.

• Make room for the people who are not there. A small memorial sign by the aisle takes little space and means a lot.

• Choose a beach ceremony facing the water. Read our comparison of beach vs gazebo ceremonies: https://wbastudio.com/blog/beach-vs-gazebo-ceremony-punta-cana

• Plan your timeline around the light. Our Punta Cana wedding timeline guide shows how: https://wbastudio.com/blog/punta-cana-wedding-timeline-guide

• Build the reception around string lights. They make the party look warm in every photo.

• Share a shot list with your photographer, especially for family groups. Start here: https://wbastudio.com/blog/wedding-photo-shot-list-destination-wedding