Real Wedding: Tianna & Brandon at Hard Rock Punta Cana

Wedding Date: March 13, 2025 ~ Resort: Hard Rock Punta Cana ~ Photographer/Videographer: JJ Studio ~ Bridal Salon: The Altar Bridal Littleton ~ Beauty: Posh ~ Tux Shop: Men's Warehouse

What led you to choose a destination wedding?

We live out of state from most friends and family. We both wanted a beach wedding but lived nowhere near one. And we wanted more than just a wedding, we wanted a vacation too.

How did you select the resort? What were the deciding factors?

We wanted to make sure there was something for everyone, all inclusive, and family friendly. Also with several cost options for affordability.

Did you invite guests in a unique way, like a themed save the date or announcement party?

I made passport style invites with boarding pass! The guest loved them and I provided a timeline to the wedding.

Describe what it was like working with the wedding coordinator at the resort? What went well? Any challenges?

We started with an offsite coordinator who helped introduce the vendors, what was included and what we earned based on room count. She was very informative and was never pushy, we were able to plan and stay within our budget. The onsite coordinator was amazing, she answered final questions prior to our arrival.

Describe the booking process for your guests. Did they find that to be easy to navigate?

Our guests found it very easy to book and contact Shannon with any questions or issues regarding booking.

Tell us about how you chose your bridal party and asked them to stand up with you.

We chose a small bridal party as we didn’t know who would be attending for certain. We chose our best friends and sibling to stand up. We asked them with a groomsmen/bridesmaid box with a small gift. They loved it!

Were your guests wowed by the resort and the all-inclusive concept? What was their reaction upon arrival?

All were so amazed, for many it was a first time experience. The staff at Hard Rock was amazing from the start. They loved that there were so many options for food and drinks.

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?

We put all attire I carry-ons, we were concerned with bag delays and don’t want to risk. We used carry-on bags and as soon as we arrived at the resort steamed and hung everything up. It worked great!

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 were a "less is more" kind of wedding. We used the complimentary ceremony set up on the beach with no additional decor, the setting right on the beach was more than enough for us. Our friend/groomsman was our officiant as the wedding was symbolic. We wrote our own vows. We earned a cocktail hour and 3 hour reception. We added simple centerpieces, a decoration for our sweetheart table, and then brought pictures and signs some signs from home. Reception was buffet style and we had a bar for guests with two signature drinks we chose. We had the best servers and bartender! The best part was being able to walk outside the reception gazebo right to the beach! We did three hours of photography with JJ Studio, a preferred vendor. I got my hair and makeup done at Posh inside the resort, they did such a good job! We rented equipment for music and created our own playlist to play. We had a friend who is also a DJ manage the music and then play us a set for the second half!

What was the best part of having a destination wedding?

That it was a wedding and vacation with some of our closest friends and family.

What is your most favorite memory of your wedding experience?

Being with so many friends and family. We got to meet with people at various restaurants and pools and bars throughout our stay. The best was wedding day of course, it was truly a magical day and more than I could dream of.

In what ways did Romance Travel Group make the planning less stressful for you?

The booking for the group. The scariest part of planning a destination wedding for me is how to work with the resort and get everyone to book through us so we get benefits. The website made it easy and I never had to worry about a thing related to the resort. Our agents handled keeping track of important release dates and sending reminders to our guests!

Would you recommend Romance Travel Group to other couples who are considering a destination wedding?

Absolutely!! Shannon did such a good job taking care of my guest and booking questions. Abby was amazing to chat with get updates, she always reassured me we were on track and relieved so much of my stress. To add, the sweet gifts and cards were an added bonus!

Congratulations, Tianna & Brandon!

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