One of the hardest things about planning a destination wedding in Punta Cana is choosing a wedding venue – especially when you can’t actually see it in person.
Thankfully, with the power of technology, choosing a wedding venue has never been easier. (Even if you’re planning your wedding during a pandemic.)
With a little help from your wedding vendors, you can literally plan your entire wedding from the comfort of your home!
Here are a few tips to help you choose a wedding venue in Punta Cana, without ever seeing it in person.
Start With the Basics
Before you start looking into wedding venues, you should already have your destination, guest count, and date range in mind. This will make the whole process a lot easier!
If you haven’t decided on a destination yet, check out 15 Tips for Planning an Unforgettable Destination Wedding.
Lay Out Your Budget
I know, I know. This is not the fun part. Choose a wedding venue that fits in your budget. And don’t go into debt to have the wedding of your dreams. Laying out your budget and sticking to it will be key to planning a destination wedding, stress-free.
And it will help you start your marriage out on the right foot.
Decide What Your Main Priorities Are For Your Destination Wedding
Is it the location? Price? Decor? Food and alcohol? Maybe you just want a venue that communicates well and you know you can trust. Whatever it is, that’s what you’ll want to look for when researching wedding venues.
Do You Want a Resort Wedding or an Outside Venue?
Wedding venues in Punta Cana are a dream come true! And with hundreds of resorts and dozens of outside venue options, the possibilities are endless. You just have to decide which is right for you.
I would recommend an outside venue over a resort any day! Kukua Beach Club, Jellyfish Restaurant, and Huracan Cafe are marvelous! They offer more personalized service than most resorts, and their weddings turn out amazing every single time!
Social Media is Your Best Friend
Head to Instagram and check out photos and videos of the wedding venues. Check out their own feed as well as photos they’re tagged in to get up-to-date images of the location.
Check out their Facebook page, comments, and reviews.
And Google online reviews to see what past couples have to say about their wedding experience.
Contact Your Top Choices
If you haven’t done this already, reach out to the venues that make the top of your list. Email them, schedule a phone call, or set up a Face Time session. Ask for recent photos and/or previous wedding setups. You can even see if they’ll do a live virtual tour of the venue!
Ask Lots of Questions
Anything you can possibly think of! Be extra thorough. So don’t feel guilty about asking too many questions. There’s really no such thing. Especially when you have to choose a wedding venue without seeing it in person!
If you’re not sure what to ask, Here Comes the Bride has a great list of 50 Questions to Ask a Wedding Venue.
Get a Second Opinion
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Send your top venue choices to your bridesmaids, parents, cousins, etc. and see what they think. It always helps to have a few extra pairs of eyes. And they may see something that you didn’t notice before. Whether that’s something really good or (hopefully not) really bad.
Trust Your Gut
Sure, the venue meets all your needs, but how does it make you feel? Did they answer all of your questions? And without making you feel guilty… Did you have a connection with the wedding coordinator? Do you feel respected and heard? Most of all, can you see yourself getting married there?
Of course, you want the venue to check all of your boxes, but the most important thing is that you feel good about your selection.
If you have even the slightest feeling that something isn’t right, then keep searching. Trust your gut.
Declare a Winner and Make It Official
Once you’ve compared all your options and made a decision, it’s time to make it official!
Read the fine print, and make sure that everything you discussed is in writing.
Sign the contract and put down the deposit to reserve your date.
Congratulations! You did it! You’ve booked a wedding venue without ever seeing it in person.
Now you can start booking other wedding vendors to make your wedding day absolutely unforgettable!
Good luck!
