Dreams Flora Wedding in the Dominican Republic: Heather & Max

Dominican Republic Destination Wedding Details

Wedding Date: February 8th, 2025

All-Inclusive Wedding Resort: Dreams Flora

Wedding Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Wedding Venues: Garden Gazebo & Blue Dorado

Wedding Photographer: WBA Studio Photography

Destination Wedding Travel Agent: EverAfter Travel

Dreams Flora Wedding Resort Highlights

• Family-friendly, all-inclusive resort with an adults-only restaurant for all guests and an exclusive adults-only pool for Preferred Club guests

• Beachfront property located on a long stretch of white-sand beach

• Only 20 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)

• Lush, tropical grounds—this property was originally an eco resort

• 8 dining options with cuisines like Italian, Asian, French, and Mexican plus a coffee cafe

• 13 bars/lounges, including multiple swim-up bars, a beach bar, and a sports bar

• 5 pools with a beachfront infinity pool, a relaxing pool, a kids' pool, and two Preferred Club pools (one is adults-only and one is family-friendly)

• Small onsite waterpark with three toboggan slides and four racer slides

• Daily activities and entertainment, including live shows and theme nights

• Non-motorized water sports like kayaking are included with your stay

Want a deeper dive into this resort? Read my full blog post about Dreams Flora here.

Dreams Flora Wedding Review: Heather & Max

Why did you decide to have a destination wedding?

There are several reasons we chose to have a destination wedding. We've travelled a lot together as a couple and it has become a part of our story. We thought it would be fitting to check off another destination for our big day.

We've also done several trips with friends and family and have enjoyed making those memories together. By travelling for our wedding we could create travel memories with our closest people and not rush the time spent together.

Lastly, we have a HUGE circle. It was a bit daunting to think about planning a wedding close to home and figuring out how to have 250-300 people attend. By travelling abroad we could narrow our list to those closest to us and not have to perform in front of too many people.

What were your biggest concerns about planning a destination wedding? What were you struggling with the most before reaching out to EverAfter Travel?

We already knew most items on our wish list but how do you even go about finding a resort without an agent's help? There is also a TON to manage when it comes to travelling for a wedding - transportation, booking hotel stay, signing contracts, etc. We knew an agent would be essential in helping us start the journey.

What were your "must haves" for your destination wedding? What were the deciding factors for choosing your resort?

We knew we were going to have a pretty large group of people so it was important for us to have a spacious resort but with plenty of spots for groups to comingle or find quiet space.

We also knew our nieces and nephews would be attending and kid-friendly activities were a must!

I wanted green space and plants with a quiet beach to help create more of that island feel.

Tell me about your wedding e.g. events, venues, special touches, etc. How many guests did you invite to your destination wedding and how many people ended up attending? If you're comfortable sharing, how much was the total cost of your destination wedding celebration (not including things like travel expenses, your dress, etc.)? 

Our entire wedding package was $12,000: $10,000 was the wedding package (events/special touches) and $2,000 for photography.

We had 62 total guests. The package included a rehearsal dinner, ceremony, cocktail hour, and 3 hour reception.

The rehearsal dinner was a 2 hour dinner - buffet style. The food was much better than I anticipated. We had music playing, fathers' speeches, and it was great to have our whole group together for the first time.

Our wedding day was as follows: 5 hours of photography starting at 3pm and ending at 8pm.

5pm ceremony at the Garden Gazebo venue - I did not want to be on the beach and this was a great choice for us. The wind was not as strong but we still had a breeze to keep everyone cool. Bouquet and boutonniere, drapery on gazebo and chairs were included in our package.

6-7pm was the cocktail hour - we added on a Caribbean trio to play some live music. It was a fun touch!

7-10pm was the reception at the Blue Dorado restaurant. Our wedding coordinator was fantastic and ensured all items were set on tables.

For our reception, the wedding package included a buffet-style dinner, cake, table and chairs with tablecloths, sound system which we just plugged in a tablet and could control our own playlist (amazing and worked out so well). The bartenders and staff were all having a blast - it was fun to see them join in on the party.

Was there anything you splurged on for your destination wedding and if so, did you feel like it was worth it?

I didn't really splurge on anything and I'm glad about that. I made my own decor (small bud vase centerpieces and acrylic coasters as table numbers).

We did go a little extra on gifts for family and guests as a "thank you' for traveling to be with us.

I don't feel like it is necessary to really splurge on decor when you're in an already beautiful location.

Was there anything you tried to save on for your destination wedding and if so, did you feel like it was worth it?

DJ. We did not want to spend money on a DJ as I love curating playlists and figured I could do a good enough job on making my own. I am SO HAPPY we did not spend the money. I definitely do not feel like we missed out - we had guests singing during dinner and on the dance floor all night long.

What were the most helpful online websites/social media groups/content creators/YouTube links that helped you during the planning process?

There was a Facebook group for the resort "brides". It was really helpful to see reviews and made me feel more at ease seeing how happy they all were.

Shout out to any wedding vendors you loved e.g. photography, DJ, makeup, etc.

Ryan Cordova was our photographer through WBA studios. He was INCREDIBLE and so much fun to work with. He made us feel so at ease.

I had my wedding makeup/hair done at the resort salon - amazing. They did a great job.

What kind of feedback did you hear from your guests? This could be about the resort, the wedding, and/or EverAfter Travel.

It was all very positive feedback. I was told by several guests that it was by far the nicest resort they've ever been to. Dreams Flora is a beautiful location - the resort never felt crowded to us and because it is located far from other resorts the beach is quiet.

What advice do you have for other couples planning a destination wedding?

Don't overspend. A little added touch here and there will make enough of a difference. You as the couple are the most beautiful thing in the room and that is all anyone will notice.

What were your favorite parts about your destination wedding?

The whole day was incredible. I think the best part of doing a destination wedding was having all of our guests come a few days early to build the excitement.

It was so much fun walking around the resort and hanging out together in the pool or on the beach. I don't think you'll find happier wedding guests than destination wedding guests.

Is there anything you would change about your destination wedding?

NOT A THING. Maybe not stressing so much because it all worked out in the end.

Why did you choose to work with EverAfter Travel for your destination wedding?

I found EverAfter Travel via The Knot - Jodi's ratings were fantastic and it was also a plus that she was local to us and we could support a fellow Minnesotan!

How did working with EverAfter Travel make planning your Dreams Flora wedding easier/better/less stressful?  Would you recommend EverAfter Travel to other couples planning a destination wedding?

100% would recommend EverAfter Travel!! It was so simple finding the resort, guest booking, and booking a group excursion - it almost felt like we weren't working hard enough!

Communication was always fast (if not immediate), Jodi was always so kind and excited for us - she was a huge part of our team for this trip and it would not be what it was without her.

Review posted by Heather & Max about their experience:

I fully recommend EverAfter travel if you are planning a destination wedding. Jodi made the entire process so simple and easy.

I didn't fully understand how necessary a travel agent was until we went through the planning process.

From the first connection with Jodi, I knew we made the right choice. She listened to our wedding wish list and quickly provided us with the perfect resort right off the bat. She worked directly with the resort to help us pick our wedding locations and prepare the contract.

All of our questions were heard and responded to with efficiency and care.

We had a large group of guests and Jodi worked with us to ensure our room block agreement was set up appropriately. She gave us suggestions and made the whole process simple and smooth.

Our guests had nothing but positive feedback for Jodi - she helped them book their rooms and kept us up to date. She also ensured they had transport booked to and from the resort.

We reached out to Jodi to ask for guidance on booking a group excursion - she went above and beyond to work with the travel groups department and communicated with our guests.

Jodi was amazing throughout the entire planning process. She anticipated questions before we even had them on planning/packing/tipping/photography and much more. If I did have questions she also responded quickly (if not immediately).

She is professional, kind, and seemed genuinely excited for us and our wedding journey. I could not imagine doing this all without her help - and can't give her enough praise for all the work she put in.

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