Say I Do: Interview With Wedding Guide Punta Cana

Getting married in the Dominican Republic is a dream of many couples, who want to start their lives in the Caribbean. There is something magical about exchanging vows with the ocean as your backdrop or in a tropical garden surrounded by fragrant flowers and happy birds.

There are many reasons why the Dominican Republic is very popular with couples looking to tie the knot or honeymoon in the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic is a tropical paradise that’s gorgeous and picturesque. And it’s an affordable Caribbean destination and it’s easily accessible by plane from almost anywhere in the world.

Wedding Guide Punta Cana is a wedding planner in the Dominican Republic. The company aims to create memorable moments for couples planning weddings in the Dominican Republic. Weddings, even though they are beautiful, can be very stressful. You have to negotiate contracts with vendors, coordinate products and services for the big day and figure out guest lists, wedding events and a million other things. And, if you are planning a Caribbean destination wedding from outside of the Caribbean, you can double the amount of work required for your big day.

EC: Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. I am happy that you can share a bit more about what it’s like being a wedding planner in the Dominican Republic. Please, tell us a bit more about Wedding Guide Punta Cana, the team that makes the magic happen and some of the services that are available to clients.

WGPC: Wedding Guide Punta Cana is designed to be the place where people find all the service providers to make their wedding. The services that you will find are from: Florist; Pastry Shop; Music; Wedding Planners; Makeup Artists; Catering etc. , that is, everything that is needed to create the wedding of your dreams.

EC: And it’s those very same dreams that may lead couples to make spontaneous decisions, when it comes to getting married. Sometimes couples want to elope. And they may want to just fly over to the Dominican Republic and tie the knot. However, this is not advisable given the legal regulations in the DR. What are some of the requirements for visitors getting married in the Dominican Republic?

WGPC: To get married in the Dominican Republic, each person will need to provide:

• Photocopy of the passport and the last entrances to the country.
• Legalized birth certificate or apostille in the country of origin. If it is in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by a judicial interpreter and legalized in the Attorney General’s Office.
• Divorce or death certificate, if you have been previously married or are widowed or widowed, as applicable. Said certificate must be legalized or apostilled in the country of origin. If it is in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by a judicial interpreter and legalized in the Attorney General’s Office.
• Certificate of singleness instrumented by a Notary Public and legalized by the Attorney General of the Republic. If the certificate is brought from the home country it must be apostilled. And, if it’s in another language that is not Spanish, the certificate must be translated by a judicial interpreter and legalized in the Attorney General’s Office.
• Photocopy of the New Identity Card of at least two (2) witnesses. The witnesses can not be family or direct relatives or collaterally up to the third degree inclusive of the contracting parties.
• If they have children in common, copies of their birth certificates (these must be previously recognized).
• Pay for the costs of each process, between RD $ 10,000 to RD $ 15,000 pesos depending on the place of the wedding.

EC: This is very helpful to know that many documents must be certified and apostilled in the country of origin. So many people want to take the big step, but they are not sure about the requirements. After these details have been ironed out, there are still other things to consider. One of them is a decision about where the wedding will be held.

The Dominican Republic has the distinction of being one of the top destination wedding locations in the world. This is partially due to the extensive range of wedding venues available in the country. What are some of your favourite wedding venues in the Dominican Republic?

WGPC: There so are many spectacular places, that it is difficult to decide. But if I had to choose, Punta Cana Resort; Cap Cana; Casa de Campo; and Altos de Chavon would be the preferred ones.

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EC: In addition to all of these wedding venues to choose from, there are probably hundreds of vendors. I know that this is one instance, where couples are very happy to have a wedding planner in the Dominican Republic. How do you help the couple to choose potential vendors and do you have a screening process?

WGPC: The suppliers that we work with will always be the best at what they do and those with proven quality and responsibility. The recommendations we provide to our clients are based on these principles; and, according to the client’s budget, we utilise our discretion in an effort to fulfill their requirements.

EC: I agree. Being attentive to your clients’ needs can make the process a lot easier for both parties. Everyone deserves a beautiful wedding day. I’ve been following you on Instagram for a very long time. My favourite photos are those that portray the wedding venues. Flowers and lighting enhance the decor. I’m also in love with some of the stunning tablescapes that you have featured. Where does the inspiration for these mind blowing designs come from?

WGPC: Thank you! All of these decorations are the inspiration of the wonderful wedding planners, suppliers and other professionals in the industry, which are based on the wishes of their clients (the bride and groom). We aim to make their wedding dreams come true and many times we succeed at exceeding their expectations.

EC: They are absolutely amazing and are great for seeing how colours work together. I’ve seen lots of inspiring color combinations in many of the images featured on your Instagram page. I think that the colour  scheme for my wedding will be navy blue and ivory. What are your favourite colour combinations to work with and what do most brides tend to choose?

WGPC: Beautiful combination you have chosen. I love pastel colors and soft colors like white, beige, gold, peach and pink. Pink, unsurprisingly, is the most popular color with clients.

EC: Pink! I’m a bit surprised that pink is still so popular. I was even more surprised when you mentioned in one of your posts that coral was the colour of the year. It seems to be one of the trends that people are embracing both in the Caribbean and internationally. Many international publications often assess the latest wedding trends which can range from the types of wedding venues to colour schemes to the size of the bridal party to embracing family traditions. What are some of the timeless wedding trends that you’ve seen in the Dominican Republic?

WGPC: There are many timeless wedding traditions, but the ones that stand out in my mind are:

• The flowers, always flowers!
• Table linens will never go out of style.
• Coordinated music according to each moment of the event.
• Children being part of the wedding procession.
• The crazy hour is already a tradition that makes the party return to energy.

EC: Many couples feel very strongly about their traditions and are very passionate about the details for their weddings. I have watched a couple bride themed reality shows – some good and some not so good. I have seen a wide range of personalities that wedding planners have to work with. How do you manage very passionate couples, with different needs and wants, who request your services? Have you had mostly pleasant experiences in terms of planning weddings?

WGPC: You really should love what you do – that’s part of being able to handle those moments with all the patience you have. You need to understand that there are varied tastes, nerves and opinions. There is always a way to carry out the customer’s wishes, so that in the end they get everything they wanted. However, one should always be cognizant of the fact that there are some customers who may be difficult to please.

EC: It’s true, that wherever you go, there will be at least one person who expects only the best. The Dominican Republic and Wedding Guide Punta Cana are the ideal combination for couples researching destination weddings. How do you convince potential clients that the Dominican Republic is the best place to get married in the Caribbean?

WGPC: We are in paradise, here you can do the wedding on the beach or in the mountains. There are many good lodging options, the food is spectacular; and not to mention, we have the best and most experienced wedding planners.

EC: And that’s exactly what couples need. Professionals who can take away the stress, so that they can relax and enjoy the moment. The Dominican Republic sounds like a lovely wedding destination. I’m so grateful that you have shared so much about being a wedding planner in the Dominican Republic. What advice would you give to anyone who is considering becoming a Caribbean destination wedding planner?

WGPC: Being a destination wedding planner with Wedding Guide Punta Cana is a wonderful opportunity that has provided me with amazing opportunities. I’ve learnt that it pays to:

• Always stick to quality and responsibility.
• Offer what is possible and real.
• Listen to the request of the couple at the bottom of the letter.
• Always have different options to offer.

EC: These are excellent guidelines to work by. Thank you again for sharing the Wedding Guide Punta Cana story. We’re grateful for a behind the scenes look into what guides your business.

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