A destination wedding has been something that we have wanted to do now for a while and Jess and Tyler gave us an amazing opportunity to shoot their wedding at Dreams Onyx Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It was the tropical beach wedding of our dreams and Jessica, Tyler, and their family were more then accommodating. They made us feel like we were part of their family too!
We started the day at Tyler’s room, where him and his two groomsmen were getting ready. We took photos of him getting ready and the boys relaxing before the ceremony. We then headed over to the spa where Jessica and her girls were getting their hair and makeup done. We gathered up her details and used her dress an a backdrop for the detail photo. It was stunning! The sparkle of her jewelry with hints of green from the invitation and the subtle shadow of a palm leaf really captured the vibe of the day!
Once Jessica was ready we had her put her dress on with the help of her mom and sister. Her dress was beautiful! The lining with a champagne color with an overlay of floral lace. Jessica wanted to do a first look with her father and bridesmaids so we started with her father. We had him stand outside the door and opened it when it was time to see his beautiful daughter. When he saw her he immediately started to tear up. They hugged and Jessica was trying hard to hold her tears back.
Then it was the bridesmaids turn! We had them face away and stood her up on the pedestal in the bridal suite. When they turned to look at her they were in awe. Such a pretty bride! Shortly after we went to get Tyler for their first look. We set them up in the open chapel towards the front of the resort. There were palm trees everywhere with pools on either side. She walked down the aisle to him and tapped him on his shoulder. He looked and smiled and they shared a kiss. It was a cute moment between the couple and you could tell how excited they were that their day was finally here!
The ceremony was held on the beach under an arbor with white cloth draped all around it and flowers in the center. It was a small wedding with about 35 guests. Perfect for a destination wedding! Jessica had her high school friend/bridesmaid officiate and she did a great job! They walked back down the aisle as the guests blew bubbles and Tyler gave Jessica a dip and a kiss half way down the aisle!
The reception was also held on the beach, complete with a light up dance floor and twinkly string lights. Dinner was delicious! They served local cuisine with lots of options to choose from such as seasoned veggies and rice, shrimp, and chicken.
After dinner Jess and Tyler shared their first dance. It was beautiful. The sun had started to go down so the sky was a soft blueish pink and the twinkly lights were twinkling away! They also had set up fire volcanos on the dance floor so half way through the song they went off and created a volcano of sparkles on both sides of the couple! Such an epic moment for the couple and for us to capture!
After the dances it was time to party! The MC and the DJ did a great job and had EVERYONE on the dance floor! The music was so fun and we literally could not stop taking photos! The night kept getting better and better and the dancing was so much fun to photograph! Truly one of the best receptions we’ve had the pleasure of shooting! And if it couldn’t get any better we ended the night with the couple and the bridal party jumping into the ocean!
This was one of the best experiences we’ve been a part of and we are so grateful you chose us to photograph your special day! Jessica and Tyler, you guys are amazing and so are your family and friends! Thank you so much and congratulations!!!
