DESTINATION WEDDING IN PUNTA CANA
Nicole and Kelsey recently celebrated their love with a wedding at the picturesque Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana in Punta Cana. It was a joy to be part of bringing their dream destination wedding to life. Curious about why they selected this incredible resort for their special day? Read their full review to find out what made their wedding experience so extraordinary!
Wedding date: October 2026
Travel advisor: Andrea Norfolk
Destination: Punta Cana
Resort: Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
How did you meet?
Sometimes the best love stories start when you least expect them… and ours started at a music festival!
Although we’re both originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, our paths crossed while Nicole was living in Savannah, Georgia, finishing graduate school and dreaming of starting a new chapter down south. During a trip back to the Midwest, she reunited with friends for a weekend at Lost Lands Music Festival. Through a mutual friend who happened to be camping with Kelsey and his crew, our friend groups came together for the weekend.
Funny enough, despite spending the entire weekend in the same group, we barely exchanged more than a few words. Little did we know, that brief introduction would turn into something so much bigger.
After the festival, Nicole headed back to Georgia, but we connected on social media and quickly started talking. What began as a casual connection turned into conversations that lasted throughout her time away. When Nicole eventually moved back to Fort Wayne, we picked up right where we left off, and this time, there was no looking back.
Who would have thought a weekend of music, dancing, and a few mutual friends would lead us here? Our shared love for music and EDM may have brought us together, but it was everything that followed that made us realize we had found something special.
Why did you choose to have a destination wedding?
Nicole has always loved weddings — the romance, the little details, and all the special moments and memories that come with them. Kelsey, on the other hand, is a little more introverted and probably would have been perfectly happy skipping straight to the married part without all the fuss and attention that comes with a traditional wedding!
But there was one thing we both knew we wanted: quality, meaningful time with the people closest to us, along with our shared love for traveling, beautiful weather, and experiencing new places.
As we started planning, we asked other couples what they loved most about their wedding days. Surprisingly, we heard a lot about the things they wished had been different — feeling stressed, spending too much time worrying about their guests, or feeling like the entire day flew by before they had a chance to enjoy it. We knew we wanted something different.
We didn’t want a wedding that felt like a production or a day spent rushing from one moment to the next. We wanted to slow down, be present, celebrate our love, and truly enjoy every second with the people who mean the most to us.
The more we thought about what mattered to us, the more a destination wedding made perfect sense. We wanted more than just one day of celebration. We wanted an entire experience filled with sunshine, laughter, adventures, unforgettable moments, and time together that we could look back on for the rest of our lives.
A destination wedding gave us the opportunity to bring together everything we love into one incredible experience. And little did we know, it would turn out to be even more beautiful and meaningful than we ever could have dreamed.
It wasn’t just about having our dream wedding. It was about creating memories with our favorite people that would last a lifetime.
Why did you choose to have your wedding at Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana?
When we first decided on a destination wedding, we didn’t have a particular place in mind. We knew we wanted beautiful beaches, sunshine, and a resort that could give us the experience we envisioned, but narrowing down the possibilities was easier said than done! There were so many incredible destinations and resorts to choose from, and we wanted to make sure we found the perfect fit for both us and our guests.
Thankfully, a friend who had previously worked with Shoreline Destinations couldn’t say enough wonderful things about their experience, so we decided to reach out. From our very first consultation, their team made the entire process feel so much less overwhelming. They took the time to understand what we envisioned, helped us navigate all the options, and ultimately guided us toward a resort that checked every box.
We were looking for something that felt elegant and elevated while still being welcoming, fun, and full of opportunities for our guests to relax and enjoy themselves. With their help, we found exactly what we were looking for in Punta Cana!
Looking back, we couldn’t imagine having chosen a better destination for our wedding.
What was your most memorable moment during your ceremony?
From the moment we arrived until the time we headed home, the entire trip felt like a dream. Everything we had hoped for, and so much more, came to life. Our wedding day itself was nothing short of perfect. Between the incredible staff, our amazing wedding coordinator, and all the little details coming together exactly as we had envisioned, everything felt effortless. We were able to truly be present and soak in every moment without worrying about a thing.
Throughout the day, I found myself taking little mental snapshots — pausing to take it all in and make sure I never forgot how each moment felt. Even now, I can close my eyes and picture so many of those memories like they happened yesterday.
The most unforgettable moment for us was finally walking back down the aisle as a married couple, sharing that first kiss as newly weds as we celebrated the beginning of our next chapter together. It was one of those moments I wish I could bottle up and relive a thousand times.
And, of course, the celebration that followed was just as special! We had the best time letting loose at the reception, surrounded by our favorite people, enjoying great music, dancing, and celebrating together.
More than anything, we’ll remember the feeling of it all — being surrounded by so much love, making memories with our favorite people, and getting to experience the start of our marriage in such a beautiful place. It truly was everything we dreamed of and more.
What was the best part about having a destination wedding?
Without a doubt, one of the best parts of having a destination wedding was how intimate the entire experience felt. Instead of trying to squeeze all of our time with loved ones into a single day, we had the opportunity to spend several days together, really connecting and making memories with each of our guests. We loved being able to slow down, share meals, laugh, enjoy the sunshine, and celebrate beyond just the wedding day itself. It gave us the chance to be fully present with the people who traveled so far to celebrate with us, and that time together is something we’ll cherish forever.
One of the most rewarding parts was hearing how much our guests enjoyed the experience, too. So many shared how beautiful, fun, and memorable the wedding and entire trip were, and knowing that our favorite people walked away with special memories of their own made it even more meaningful.
It felt less like hosting a wedding and more like bringing all of our favorite people together for one unforgettable vacation!
What was your experience using Shoreline Destinations?
We cannot say enough wonderful things about Shoreline Destinations! From our very first consultation to the day we returned home, their team made the entire destination wedding planning process feel seamless and stress-free. They took the time to understand our vision, helped us find the perfect resort, and guided us through every step along the way. Their communication, attention to detail, and willingness to help with everything from travel arrangements and room blocks to individual guest questions made such a difference. Planning a wedding from a distance can feel overwhelming, but they made us feel supported every step of the way. Our wedding and the entire experience exceeded our expectations, and we truly couldn’t imagine having done it without them. We would recommend Shoreline Destinations to anyone considering a destination wedding!
WORK WITH SHORELINE DESTINATIONS!
✔ Customized destination wedding proposal
✔ Contract review & room block recommendations
✔ Custom wedding website
✔ Guest reservation management
✔ Discounted resort site visits prior to your wedding
✔ Transportation & excursion recommendations
✔ Access to “The Vault” filled with wedding planning tips
✔On-site representation*
*Based on room block size. Contact us for details.
HI, I'M ANDREA!
Your Destination Wedding Resort Matchmaker
I look at resorts a little differently.
I’ve been planning destination weddings since 2013, and I’ve learned that the prettiest resort isn’t always the right resort. I help couples look beyond the photos to find the resort that actually fits their wedding, their guests, and their budget.
DESTINATION
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From choosing a resort to room blocks, guest travel, and everything in between, Andrea answers some of the questions we hear most from destination wedding couples.
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