If you’re searching for an all-inclusive resort for your destination wedding in Punta Cana, look no further than Dreams Macao Beach. This hotel is gorgeous, their weddings are beautiful, and Macao is one of the prettiest beaches in Punta Cana – so you really can’t go wrong staying here!
But don’t just take my word for it…
Karina and Tan got married at Dreams Macao Beach and had an amazing experience! I’ll show you some of their wedding photos below. And then we’ll talk about the resort so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your own wedding day. Then stick around for some insider tips on planning a destination wedding and hiring a photographer in Punta Cana.
Karina & Tan’s Wedding at Dreams Macao Beach
Tan was born in Vietnam and grew up in California, while Karina is from the Dominican Republic but grew up in New York City. They fell in love after meeting at a job interview, and the rest was history.
The bride’s parents live in the DR, so it was an easy decision to get married here – but planning a wedding isn’t always easy.
Thankfully, Karina was a very hands-on bride. She asked lots of questions and made sure she planned out every little detail before the big day arrived. I loved helping with her wedding plans and scheduling different photoshoots to celebrate these big life moments!
We actually ended up shooting their engagement photos a few months prior to the wedding! Then we did an intimate boudoir session. And finally, a honeymoon session after the wedding where they announced their pregnancy. How exciting is that?!
But back to their wedding at Dreams Macao Beach:
They started the day with a traditional Vietnamese tea ceremony in the second ballroom. They lit candles and incense. Served tea. And received blessings from their guests as part of the tradition. Then we did a quick photo session with the family before breaking for lunch.
Next, it was time to get ready for their wedding ceremony. Tan got ready in his room, while Karina got ready in the bridal suite – which I’d highly recommend because it is gorgeous for photos. But truly… they both looked amazing!
Finally, Karina walked down the aisle at the Sky Terrace, overlooking a beautiful turquoise ocean (and some dark gray rain clouds, too). They held their reception in the main ballroom and had a beautifully choreographed first dance. (See if you can spot the outfit changes.) The crazy hour really got the party going. The whole day was a blast!
Check out some of their wedding photos below:
Dreams Macao Beach in Punta Cana
This beautiful resort is located about 40 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport and is the only resort currently on Macao Beach. You can expect gorgeous views throughout your trip because this beach is amazing!
Although it doesn’t have the soft white sand that Punta Cana is known for, the golden sand looks great in photos, and the ocean is (almost) always a bright shade of turquoise blue. The beach was a popular surf spot for years before the hotel was built. And it’s one of the few beaches in Punta Cana where the waves are big enough to surf. This is great for the adventure junkies who want to try surfing – but not so great for families with young kids as the waves can get pretty intense.
That being said, Dreams Macao Beach is a family-friendly resort, and there are plenty of activities aside from playing at the beach. Their water park is small but your kids will have fun on the racing slide, toboggan slides, or at the lazy river. There’s also an arcade on the property – but it comes at an additional cost (which isn’t ideal for an all-inclusive). Probably a better option will be the kids club or teens club where they have tons of indoor activities to offer (like a game room, video games, crafts, and a cinema).
While the kids do their thing, why not check out the spa? They offer massages, hot tubs, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. They even have those little fish that’ll eat off the dead skin from your feet. Spa services aren’t included, but it’s definitely worth it after planning a wedding. You deserve to unwind.
Dreams Macao Beach is a fairly new resort, so they still have a few kinks to work out, but overall it’s a great resort.
Planning a Destination Wedding
Whenever I recommend a resort in Punta Cana, I feel the need to mention that resort wedding planners are very slow to respond to their brides, and wedding planning looks a lot different than it does in the US.
I can almost guarantee that at some point in the wedding planning process, you will feel overwhelmed and decide your wedding planner is not doing enough. You’ll feel like you should have more information by now. You’ll probably have lots of questions. Or you’ll feel like your wedding date is quickly approaching and you don’t have any of the details finalized. Not to mention, the one contact you have at the resort (your coordinator) hasn’t responded to any of your messages.
Trust me – It’s going to happen.
When it does, you’ll need to remember that things are done differently in the Dominican Republic. Most of the wedding details are finalized just a few days before the wedding day at your on-site meeting. Maybe even the day before the wedding. That is all the time they need to put together a beautiful wedding for you.
I know… It sounds crazy, right? But it is completely normal!
Have faith in your wedding planner. Be patient. And trust that everything will come together by the time you’re walking down the aisle.
If you can keep a positive attitude, you’re going to have an amazing experience.
Wedding Photographer in Punta Cana
Now that we’ve made it to the end of this post and you know more about Dreams Macao Beach, you may be wondering about booking a wedding photographer. Did you love the photos you saw? Would you like to learn more about our photography and videography packages?
Feel free to contact us here or send us an email at puntacanaphotographer@gmail.com with your wedding date and venue.
We’d love to help you on your journey and be there to capture the memories of such a special day.
