There’s something special that happens when a wedding isn’t squeezed into a single afternoon. When you don’t have to rush from hair and makeup to portraits to ceremony to reception like you’re running a marathon in dress shoes. When you get to slow down. Breathe. Actually see the people you love. That’s what I love most about a multi-day destination wedding — and honestly, Nicole and Karl’s Dominican Republic wedding was the perfect reminder of why this trend is becoming less of a trend and more of a movement.
Because when your wedding becomes a weekend instead of a countdown, the whole experience shifts.
How It All Began: From Atlanta to Punta Cana
I met Nicole and Karl long before the Dominican Republic entered the chat. We did their engagement session in Atlanta — easy, relaxed, full of the kind of warmth that makes you feel like you’ve known someone forever even if you haven’t.
So when they asked me to fly to Punta Cana with them for their destination wedding weekend, I felt genuinely honored. There’s a level of trust that comes with being invited into someone’s story from the very beginning of the journey all the way to the final dance under the stars.
And this one?
It was a story I’m still thinking about.
Nicole & Karl’s Multi-Day Destination Wedding Itinerary
Day One: The Resort that Felt Like Its Own Little World
We all arrived at Dreams Onyx in Punta Cana, a resort that instantly feels like someone pressed “pause” on the rest of the world. Palm trees everywhere. Warm air the second you step outside. And that soft, blue water that makes you want to stand there for a minute and just take it in.
Thursday was our exploration day. I wandered with my camera, scouting the best corners of the resort, finding where the light hit the pathways just right, and getting a feel for how their portraits could naturally unfold throughout the weekend.
This is what I love about multi-day weddings:
You don’t show up on the wedding morning cross-your-fingers and hope everything works.
You get to learn the place first — breathe in the atmosphere, understand how the sun moves, and be present with the couple and their people longggg before the ceremony even starts.
Day Two: The Welcome Dinner That Set the Tone
Friday was their welcome dinner — an all-white beach party where every single guest showed up looking incredible. White dresses, white linens, white button-ups, you name it.
And then there were Nicole and Karl, standing out in the most perfect way in their turquoise and beachy blue outfits. This is a trend I’m seeing more and more: welcome parties that feel intentional, themed, and personal.
A wedding weekend gives you that space — a chance to gather everyone before the big day, ease into celebration mode, and create moments that don’t have to fit into the wedding timeline.
I watched families meet each other for the first time, friends gather with their toes in the sand, and Nicole and Karl glow in the center of it all.
This wasn’t “the night before the wedding.”
It was part of the wedding.
That’s the power of multi-day celebrations.
Day Three: The Wedding Day That Felt Effortless
Saturday was wedding day — but no one was frantic.
People moved with a kind of calm rhythm, the kind you only get when you’ve already spent days laughing together, sharing meals, and settling into the location.
The morning started in the spa, where Nicole and her girls got ready with ocean views drifting in through the windows.
The energy was relaxed, joyful, and full of anticipation in the softest way.
We explored the resort for portraits — palm trees everywhere you looked, quiet corners, stretches of beach where the water met the sky — and everything felt organic. No rushing. No forced smiles. Just genuine moments in a place that already felt familiar.
The ceremony took place right on the sand, waves rolling in behind them as they said their vows.
And the reception?
Still on the beach, just steps away, with string lights and music and a party that didn’t slow down once.
I don’t use the word “vibe” lightly, but this night?
A vibe.
They danced like tomorrow didn’t exist.
Their families danced.
Their friends danced.
And I found myself smiling behind the camera more times than I can count.
Why Multi-Day Destination Weddings Are Becoming the New Normal
Let me say this clearly: A multi-day destination wedding isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing things differently.
It’s about giving yourself time. Real time, to be present, to enjoy the people who came all the way for you, and to experience your wedding instead of rushing through it.
Here’s what I see couples loving the most:
1. You Actually Get To Spend Time With Your People
Instead of trying to greet 120 guests in a 4-hour reception, you have literal days to connect.
2. Your Photos Feel More Natural
More time together = fewer nerves + more candid moments.
3. The Weekend Becomes a Story, Not a Schedule
Welcome dinner → wedding day → day-after brunch.
It all blends into one beautiful experience.
4. You Get To Explore the Location
You chose the Dominican Republic for a reason.
A multi-day itinerary lets you feel the place.
5. It Slows Everything Down
And not in a boring way — in a way that makes your wedding feel intentional, grounded, and truly meaningful.
From a Destination Wedding Photographer’s Perspective
Traveling with Nicole and Karl, staying at the same resort, being welcomed like a guest — it was one of those jobs that didn’t feel like a job. This is what destination photography is supposed to be: connection, presence, and documenting the story from the inside.
If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding weekend and want someone who’s fully invested in the entire experience — not just the timeline, or making the resort more $$, I’d love to be there with you.
Because your wedding deserves space.
It deserves a breath.
It deserves to unfold over days, not hours.
See more of my destination wedding resources here: