Wedding Date: September 20, 2025 ~ Resort: Majestic Mirage Punta Cana ~ Photographer: Coresfilms ~ Bridal Salon: The Crystal Bride ~ Groom Attire: Indochino
What led you to choose a destination wedding?
We chose to do a destination wedding for a few reasons. Mason and I have family from two totally opposite sides of the country so we knew one side would have to travel regardless if we had our wedding here in Chicago. So it felt only fair to have it somewhere totally different so everyone would have to travel who wanted to come! We had also always wanted a smaller guest list and thought this would be the perfect excuse for that! We had been to Dominican Republic together before and absolutely loved it. When we left that vacation a couple years ago something in me knew we’d be back for our wedding.
How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?
We had a friend who had gotten married at a Majestic brand resort in Mexico and it was absolutely perfect! We also knew we wanted Dominican so with those factors in mind it made the most sense for us!
What were some of your biggest fears about having a destination wedding?
I think we felt guilty asking family and friends to spend money on travel and the resort but those who did come said it was 100% worth it. I was also nervous that we never actually saw the resort before the trip but it was better than we could have imagined!
Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?
The wedding coordinator was good! Sometimes she took a few days to get back to us but overall she was very attentive and always answered all our questions! There was even a time that I was feeling extra overwhelmed and had a list of questions for her so she did a zoom call with us and eased my mind.
Tell us about your wedding attire – How did you find it? Who went shopping with you? How did you feel wearing your wedding attire?
I went shopping at the Crystal Bride in Geneva, Illinois. It was the first time I had ever tried on a wedding dress and my dress was the 3rd one I ever tried on!! I went with 3 of my bridesmaids and my mom and mother-in -aw! We all cried the second time I tried on my dress and just knew it was perfect.
Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.
I ended up with 8 bridesmaids and Mason had 6 groomsmen! I asked them with cute “bridesmaid proposal” gifts including personalized tequila shots with their names on them! My gifts were beach themed to match the wedding vibe. Mason asked his groomsmen with handmade leather passport holders he designed! He is a very talented leather maker on the side :)
Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?
The guests were raving constantly about how nice the resort was and how attentive the staff is! It’s definitely the nicest all-inclusive resort I’ve stayed at and I’ve been to many! The beaches were pristine and everyone was assigned a butler at check in who would text you daily to see what you may need for the day. It was luxurious!
How easy/difficult was it to travel with your wedding attire? Did you carry-it on, where did you store it? Did you get a lot of comments at the airport?
It was fairly easy to travel with the wedding dress! We did have 4 checked bags and 2 carry-ons as well so it was pretty difficult getting through the airports! Every flight we had they let me hang my dress up front which was very nice. They did make me check my carry-on for the first flight since the garment bag counted as my carry on.
Tell us about your wedding – did you have a traditional wedding with a cocktail hour, dinner reception and dance? What was different about a destination wedding compared to a wedding at home?
We had a ceremony on the beach followed by a cocktail hour and reception! It was absolutely perfect! It was nice to just be able to walk in between the three locations as opposed to driving to the reception like so many have to at weddings back home. It was also nice to just be able to walk back to your hotel room if you needed to at any point! One fun thing we added was a cigar roller at the reception - the guys were loving it! The full bar was definitely used to its fullest through the night! Everyone had an amazing time.
What was the best part of having a destination wedding?
There were so many amazing parts about having a destination wedding. One thing we loved was seeing so many familiar faces everyday when you walked through the resort! it was nice to have multiple days with guests and everyone truly got to know each other so well. It was amazing to see friends and family meeting and making lifelong memories together.
What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?
I think just seeing everyone relaxed and on vacation mode was so fun. The dance floor was the highlight of the trip and a memory we’ll never forget.
Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?
Yes!!!! Romance Travel made our wedding experience so amazing and they seamlessly coordinated everything better than I could have ever dreamed.
They are so prompt with responding to emails and always had time for a question. I’ll recommend them to anyone looking to do a destination wedding!
A big congratulations to you, Sara & Mason!