Jaylene & Gabriel
DESTINATION WEDDING IN PUNTA CANA
Jaylene and Gabriel recently celebrated their breathtaking destination wedding at Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana, joined by their closest family and friends. It was an honor to be part of their wedding journey, and they were an absolute delight to work with throughout the entire planning process.
Wedding date: June 2025
Travel advisor: Andrea Norfolk
Destination: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Resort: Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana
How did you meet?
We met during our senior year at our High School, in fencing class, and quickly became close friends. Even though we went to different colleges in different states, we stayed in touch. During our freshman year, he asked me to be his girlfriend—and the rest is history. Distance had nothing on our love!
Why did you choose to have a destination wedding?
We’re both avid travelers and always knew we’d get married abroad. It felt true to who we are.
Why did you choose Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Cap Cana for your destination wedding?
We actually honeymooned in Hyatt Cap Cana back in 2021 after eloping. While we were relaxing on the beach at the Hyatt Zilara, we saw a wedding taking place and thought, What if we got married here one day? We even stopped by the wedding office to grab some info—just in case. A couple of years later, we said, Yup, this is the place. It also felt right because Jaylene’s family is originally from the Dominican Republic, and we wanted a destination that felt familiar, festive, and fun for our loved ones. Cap Cana gave us that perfect mix.
What was your most memorable moment during your ceremony?
For Jaylene, it was the moment I stepped onto the aisle, looked up, and saw her incredibly handsome husband standing there—framed by the ocean with the most breathtaking beach backdrop. That image is stamped into my memory forever. Similarly, for Gabriel, it’s watching Jaylene walk down the aisle, looking stunning in her beautiful dress!
What was the best part about having a destination wedding?
Having a destination wedding added an adventure aspect to our wedding. Although it wasn’t easy for so many of our loved ones to show up, everyone had a lovely time and loved their stay at the resort, and by the end everyone was saying how they wished they had booked a few more days!
What was your experience using Shoreline Destinations?
Shoreline Destinations made it SO easy and took so much off our plates during the wedding planning process. Our family and friends loved having a direct point of contact with anything travel related, and all mentioned how helpful and responsive Meredith was to all their inquiries! All of our guests had a seamless travel experience!
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.
