Are you considering getting married in Punta Cana? Or do you just want to see some photos from a same-sex wedding at Hard Rock Punta Cana? Either way, you’ve come to the right place!
I’ll tell you everything you need to know about getting married in Punta Cana as a same-sex couple, starting with some LGBTQ+ friendly resorts, and then moving on to discuss Hard Rock Punta Cana weddings.
In a rush?
Scroll down to see photos from Angel & Raquel’s same-sex wedding at Hard Rock Punta Cana! You won’t want to miss them!
Is Punta Cana LGBTQ+ Friendly?
Yes! Punta Cana is a welcoming place to all in the LGBTQ+ community. You and your partner can relax together by the pool, walk on the beach, hold hands, and genuinely enjoy your vacation in Punta Cana without being discriminated against.
All of the resort employees will be friendly and welcoming to you! Even if you leave the resort (whether that’s on a planned excursion or just to explore the town) you’ll still be greeted with a warm welcome by everyone you meet.
Punta Cana is a safe place, so you don’t need to worry!
If you plan to explore the island, be aware that smaller communities are not as open or diverse as Punta Cana. The Dominican Republic as a whole is still a pretty conservative country. While everyone should still be friendly towards you, you may expect to get more looks or stares from the locals.
LGBTQ+ Friendly Resorts in Punta Cana
It’s normal to feel worried when traveling to a new destination. You want to make sure that you’re comfortable at your resort and that you’ll be treated with respect throughout your stay. Well, thankfully Punta Cana offers several LGBTQ+ friendly resorts. Actually, most resorts in the area are happy to welcome LGBTQ couples, and would even love to host your wedding!
Here’s a list of some LGBTQ+ friendly resorts:
- Hard Rock Punta Cana
- Breathless Punta Cana
- Westin Puntacana Resort & Club
- PortBlue Le Sivory Punta Cana
- Eden Roc at Cap Cana
You can see Hard Rock Punta Cana is at the top of the list! It’s one of my favorite resorts in Punta Cana because one: it’s absolutely gorgeous! And two: because their policies reflect inclusivity and acceptance.
The company strives not to discriminate against anyone. And I’m not just talking about the guests…
Their staff members actually reflect the diverse population of Punta Cana. That means gay and straight. Dominican and international. Old and young. They even allow piercings, funky hair colors, and beards – which most other resorts in the area do not accept on their employees.
Did I mention:
Hard Rock Punta Cana performs more same-sex weddings than any other resort in the Dominican Republic! You’ll have an amazing time here for a destination wedding, and you’ll feel right at home here. (Or maybe even better than that!)
Is Same-Sex Marriage Legal in the Dominican Republic?
Unfortunately not. Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized by the Dominican Republic. Not yet anyway. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have your wedding here. There are dozens of same-sex weddings in Punta Cana every year!
All you need to do is get legally married in your home country first and then have a symbolic wedding ceremony in Punta Cana. (This is what 90% of our couples do anyway.) It will save you a lot of time, money, and energy… and you can still have the destination wedding of your dreams!
Weddings at Hard Rock Punta Cana
The wedding planners at Hard Rock Punta Cana are complete rockstars when it comes to planning unforgettable destination weddings. And let me tell you… They’ve had a lot of practice!
This resort can have upwards of 8-10 weddings per day. So they really know what they’re doing! They know what works well, and what doesn’t. And they’ll take care of every detail for you so you can relax and enjoy your wedding week.
Now, I’m not saying they’re perfect. They do have some things to improve on. So let me tell you some quick pros and cons.
Pros of having a wedding at Hard Rock Punta Cana
- It’s a beautiful location! Whether you get married on the beach, at one of the gazebos, or one of the pools, you can rest assured that it’s going to be spectacular!
- You’ll have lots of options! Between all the different ceremony, cocktail, and reception locations, then your elements of decor and setup, as well as flowers, food, music, etc. you can literally create the wedding of your dreams.
- They’re LGBTQ+ friendly.
Cons of a Hard Rock Punta Cana wedding
- The vendor fee. Hard Rock Punta Cana charges a hefty fee for any outside vendors (like your photographer, videographer, makeup artist, wedding officiant, etc.) to be allowed onto the property.
- Communication is slow. Since they have so many weddings, it takes a while for them to reply to emails. Be patient, and don’t stress about this too much. You’re in good hands! When you’re wedding day finally comes, it will be better than you could have even imagined.
Now that you’ve seen the pros and cons, you can better decide if this is the place for you.
If you still want more info about this resort, take a look at our Hard Rock Punta Cana Wedding Guide.
Same-Sex Wedding at Hard Rock Punta Cana
Angel and Raquel are a fun, lively couple from Chicago. They love to joke around and make each other laugh. Throughout their wedding day, you could feel how much they truly enjoy each other’s company and how happy they were to be getting married.
It was not an easy road to their destination wedding in Punta Cana considering covid and all the struggles that come with traveling right now, but they made it work! And it was a beautiful day! They had an intimate wedding ceremony on the beach surrounded by their closest family and friends.
Although they both love to laugh, tears were flowing as they each read their vows to one another. All of their guests were crying too. It was hard not to as Raquel promised Angel’s kids “a second pair of arms to hug, a second pair of ears to listen, and a second heart to love them unconditionally.” It was such a heartfelt moment!!
Scroll down to see a snapshot of their wedding day from the getting ready to the beginning of the reception.
Resort: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
Hair & Makeup: POSH Salon Hard Rock Punta Cana
Wedding Officiant: Marcos Parucker
Photographer: Punta Cana Photographer
Videographer: Punta Cana Photographer
Ceremony Time: 3 pm
Ready to start planning your same-sex wedding at Hard Rock Punta Cana? Get in contact with us today!
