Getting Married In Dominican Republic - Dominican Republic Wedding Guide

Tropical weather, white sand beaches, breathtaking views. If these are some of the things you want to make your destination wedding a dream come true, then the Dominican Republic may just be the spot for you.

Have you always dreamed of having an intimate wedding with your closest friends on the beach? Or perhaps a wedding in a beautiful garden overlooking the ocean? Whether small and intimate or big and lavish, the Dominican Republic has plenty to offer. From its beautiful beaches to the breathtaking waterfalls, having your wedding on this island will prove to be a day you'll never forget.

Fact File

• Size: 48,442 km²
• Population: Approximately 11.1 million (2022)
• Capital City: Santo Domingo
• Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP)
• Languages Spoken: Spanish
• Main Religion: Roman Catholic
• Major Holidays and Festivals:
  • New Years Day - 1 January
  • Atira's birthday - 6 January
  • Our Lady of Altagracia - 21 January
  • Duarte's Birthday - 26 January
  • Independence Day - 27 February
  • Good Friday - varies between March and April
  • Easter Sunday - varies between March and April
  • Labor Day - 1 May
  • Corpus Christi - 30 May
  • Restoration Day - 16 August
  • Our Lady of las Mercedes - 24 September
  • Constitution Day - 6 November
  • Christmas Day - 25 December

Highlights

Can’t get enough of the beach? A few of the many destination wedding hot spots in the Dominican Republic include the stunning beach locations of La Romana, Dominicus, Bayahibe, and Puerto Plata. Snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, or just soaking in the rays is an option on any of the Dominican Republic’s many beautiful beaches.

That’s not all the Dominican Republic offers though, there is an array of things to do while you're there. So if the sun and sand don’t excite you, you and your guests can enjoy relaxing at one of the country’s amazing spas, canyoning, hiking, shopping, playing golf, as well as many others things to do and see.

If you're an adventurous couple, then without doubt you'll enjoy white water rafting in Puerto Plata or hiking through the lush rainforest Samana has to offer.

Weather and Climate

The Dominican Republic is a tropical island, with the Atlantic Ocean to the North and the Caribbean Sea to the South. Due to its location, the weather is typically the same year-round.

If you are debating when would be best to have your wedding on this popular island, here are a few things to keep in mind:

May generally has the most rainfall, so if you are planning a beach wedding, it’s best to avoid this time of year.

December through April typically provides picture-perfect weather but is considered the island's busy season. Therefore it’s wise to book flights and hotels and make any needed wedding arrangements as early as possible to ensure your day goes off without a hitch.

If you want to avoid the crowds, consider having your wedding in the months of June-October. The weather may be a bit hotter, but with fewer crowds, you can achieve that intimate feel you’ve been looking for.

Tip: June-November is hurricane season, so always keep this in the back of your mind when planning an outdoor ceremony.

Culture and Etiquette

Dominicans are very hospitable people. You’ll find when invited to someone’s home, they’ll go out of their way to give you a warm welcome. In return, it’s expected to greet everyone with a handshake and a greeting, as well as bring a gift for the host such as chocolate or pastries.

Food and Drink

When it comes to food and drink, the Dominican Republic has much influence from many different cultures including the Spanish, African, and Taíno. For example, a traditional lunch would consist of white rice, stewed beans, and beef.

One of the more traditional meals on this exotic island is Sancocho. Depending on the part of the country you’re in, this dish consists of up to 7 different kinds of meat, as well as vegetables, which are then combined to make a traditional stew.

Mangú is another very traditional dish that is usually served at breakfast but occasionally shows up on the dinner table as well. Mangú is made from mashed plantains, fried cheese, fried salami, and scrambled eggs.

It’s customary to leave a 10% tip if you’re satisfied with your meal. Some restaurants will automatically add a 10%-12% service charge to your bill, so be aware of this before adding the gratuity.  On the other hand, cheaper restaurants may not include tax or a service charge at all. If you would like to tip the waiter, do so directly since money left on the table can easily be swiped.

Money and Wedding Costs

The currency for the Dominican Republic is the Peso. Some places may accept the US dollar, but in order to get the most out of your money, it’s always best to use the local currency. As with most foreign countries, cash is king. It’s always beneficial to carry cash rather than credit cards and traveler’s checks. There are many ATMs where you can get cash conveniently and also get competitive exchange rates.

Take Me to Dominican Republic Wedding Directory Providers

One of the top reasons to consider the Dominican Republic for your destination wedding is because of the many venues available to you. With so many options, you can easily accommodate all types of interests including those of your guests and yourselves. In fact, there are so many budget-friendly choices, the amount of money you spend on your wedding in the Dominican Republic really will depend on you.

If you’ve always wanted to get married at an all-inclusive resort, you may pay a bit more, but you will certainly have many options to choose from. On the other hand, if you're looking to have a destination wedding on a budget, you’ll also be able to make your dream wedding a reality. In most cases, the average cost will be significantly lower than saying “I Do” in the US or Canada.

Legal Requirements for Marrying in the Dominican Republic

The following notes are not comprehensive and are intended as a guide only. Before planning your wedding in the Dominican Republic we strongly advise you to contact the Dominican embassy in your home country or your country's embassy in the Dominican Republic to obtain up-to-date legal requirements.

The great news about marrying in the Dominican Republic is that there’s no residency period required.  Here’s a list of the other requirements:

• Present original passport as well as copies.
• Copies of last entry stamp into the country.
• A sworn declaration before a notary proving you are eligible to be married.
• The sworn declaration then needs to be legalized either at the Dominican Consulate in your home country or Offices of Procuraduría General de La República in the Dominican.
• Copy of Birth Certificate as well as the certificate of Apostille.
• If you are divorced, you’ll need a copy of the divorce certificate as well as a legal Spanish translation of it.
• Two witnesses of the newly married couple that are not related to the Bride or Groom.

Laws and requirements do change, so please visit the Dominican Embassy website for your country before you begin to plan your wedding. You can find out more via the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic website. 

Provinces

The Dominican Republic is divided into 31 beautiful provinces, while the national capital, Santo Domingo, is known as Distrito Nacional.

Find out more about the Provinces of the Dominican Republic or browse our Dominican Republic Wedding Directory to start planning your dream wedding.