Jellyfish is one of the most popular off resort wedding venues on Bavaro Beach. This stunning, two story beachfront restaurant has hosted more than a thousand destination weddings since it was established in 2003. If you want a wedding with your feet in the sand and turquoise water as your backdrop, but the comfort and food of a real restaurant, this is the venue couples ask us about most.
Why Couples Choose Jellyfish for Their Weddings
Here’s what couples we’ve worked with say made Jellyfish stand out to them amongst the dozens of wedding venues in Punta Cana:
- It’s a true, beachfront venue: even the dance floor is out on the sand.
- One amazing onsite team handles everything: decor, flowers, catering, cake, music and an MC. Couples planning their weddings from abroad really appreciate how easy the Jellyfish team makes the whole process.
- Flexible capacity: the upstairs space comfortably fits up to 60 guests while the main event area can hold up to 130 guests, making for a seamless transition from the ceremony to the reception without changing venues.
- No outside vendor fee for photography: most venues in Punta Cana charge a fee anywhere from $500 to $1,000+, but not Jellyfish. Without an additional fee to pay, you have more room in your budget for the things you really want to include in your day.
Jellyfish Wedding Venue
With two floors, Jellyfish offers plenty of space for everyone on your guest list:
- Ground floor: the larger space, it opens directly onto the beach and has room to comfortably fit up to 130 guests. Dinner is usually served here so your reception stays close to the ocean, maintaining the beachside atmosphere you came for.
- Upper floor: a more intimate space for around 60 guests, this level is also used as the rain backup in case of any tropical showers. The upper floor can also be used as a getting-ready space for the groom while the bride has a separate designated bridal suite in the venue.
The dance floor is usually set up on the beach, just a few steps from the reception space, creating a beautiful transition from dinner inside the venue to dancing under the stars by the ocean.
And the best part? The Jellyfish team handles the venue, catering, cake, decor, flowers, music and an MC in house, so most of the planning happens in one place.
What a Jellyfish Wedding Day Looks Like
Jellyfish weddings usually start in the late afternoon around 4:30pm, which perfectly lines up the ceremony and newlywed photos with the sunset for best beach light. The reception then runs into the night, usually wrapping when the open bar ends around 10pm or 11pm. That late afternoon start is ideal for photography because the harsh midday sun is gone and the golden light makes everything, and everyone, glow. To see how this timeline plays out in real life, take a look at Alicia and Joey’s wedding day at Jellyfish.
The Best Time of Year for a Jellyfish Wedding
Punta Cana is a year round destination but, in our opinion, two particular seasons give the best result at Jellyfish:
- November through April is the most popular time of year for couples to marry in Punta Cana. This period is known as the dry season with reliable blue skies and lower humidity.
- May through July is still warm and beautiful and prices are usually lower, with the trade-off of occasional afternoon rain that the upper floor handles as a backup.
August through October is hurricane season, so we usually recommend couples include travel insurance when choosing those months. Whichever month you pick, a late afternoon ceremony ends the day along with the sunset for the soft golden light you see in our Jellyfish gallery.
Photographing Weddings at Jellyfish
As independent Punta Cana wedding photographers, we cover your day from getting ready to the last dance the way you want it remembered. And Jellyfish does not charge any outside vendor fees, which is a major bonus for your budget. We have photographed dozens of weddings at Jellyfish over the years and we know how the day flows, where the light is best at each hour and how to work the beach, ceremony area, reception space and restaurant interiors making for a smoother experience and more time for you to enjoy everything the venue has to offer. If you want to compare options, our guide to wedding venues in Punta Cana covers the most popular spots in the area, including Royalton Punta Cana and Hard Rock Punta Cana.
Our wedding photography packages are designed to give you maximum coverage from getting ready through the last dance, with no surprise vendor fees on top. If you want to know if your date es open, send us a quick message and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
More From Our Jellyfish Weddings
A selection of moments from real Jellyfish weddings we have photographed, from getting ready in the bridal suite to the sparklers send-off on the sand:
Frequently Asked Questions About Jellyfish Weddings
Does Jellyfish charge an outside vendor fee for the photographer?
No, and this is one de the reasons Jellyfish is popular with couples who value having a professional photographer to capture their day. No outside vendor fee means you can hire the photographer you actually want without having to pay extra to the venue.
How many guests can Jellyfish fit?
The ground floor seats up to 130 guests and opens directly onto the beach, while the upper floor is more intimate and seats around 60. The upper floor is mostly kept as the rain backup, and grooms occasionally use it to get ready since it stays private and quiet.
What time should we start our ceremony at Jellyfish?
Around 4:30pm is the perfect ceremony start time during the majority of the year in Punta Cana. It puts the ceremony and newlywed photos right in the golden hour before sunset while the reception flows into the evening.
What happens if it rains during a Jellyfish wedding?
The upper floor is their rain backup. The Jellyfish team can transition the ceremony or reception to the upstairs space without changing venues, so there’s one less thing to worry about when you are planning a destination wedding from abroad.
Can we get ready at Jellyfish?
Yes, there is a designated bridal suite at the venue and the groom can use the upstairs area to get ready. Some couples staying in nearby resorts also start the morning at their hotel and transition to Jellyfish in the afternoon. Our photographers cover both locations to capture all the getting ready moments.
A Real Jellyfish Wedding: Alicia & Joey
For a full look at how a Jellyfish wedding day unfolds in front of our cameras, see the complete story of Alicia and Joey’s wedding at Jellyfish Restaurant Punta Cana: beach ceremony with feet in the sand, dinner inside the restaurant and dancing under the stars on Bavaro Beach.
See the full Alicia & Joey wedding gallery →
Wedding Film at Jellyfish
Photos tell one side of the day. A short wedding film tells the rest. Here is the wedding trailer we filmed for Stephanie and Francheska at Jellyfish Restaurant Punta Cana, a quick way to feel the pace and the light of a beach ceremony on Bavaro. For the full story behind their day, see the Stephanie and Francheska wedding video post.
Ready to Plan Your Jellyfish Wedding?
If you’re dreaming of your ceremony on the sand at Jellyfish, we would love to be the team that captures it. Tell us your wedding date and we will get back to you within 24 hours to confirm our availability and send you info on our wedding packages.
Planning Your Jellyfish Wedding
Jellyfish is located in the heart of Bavaro, close to resorts and vacation rentals, and only 20 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport, making this venue easily accessible whether your guests are staying on a resort property or off. It’s perfect for both smaller groups and larger celebrations. For more info on the rest of the planning process, from wedding day timelines to legal vs symbolic ceremonies, our free planning guide has you covered.