A total of 5,170 weddings between foreigners have been celebrated in the Dominican Republic between 2012 and 2014, 73.4% of which have taken place in Punta Cana, according to a report in Diario Libre on 5 June 2014. Data from the Central Electoral Board (JCE) indicates that there were 2,410 weddings in 2012, 2,020 in 2013 and so far in 2014 some 740.
While most of the weddings have taken place in Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, San Rafael del Yuma (Boca de Yuma), Santiago, Samana city, Sosua, La Romana and Las Terrenas, Higuey, Boca Chica, Jarabacoa, Imbert, Nagua, Rio San Juan, and Barahona are other popular wedding destinations.
Arturo Villanueva, executive vice president of the National Hotel & Tourism Association (Asonahores) said that destination weddings provide a major increase in occupation rates for the hotel of choice because the couples attract many more for their wedding party.
Asonahores believes that the government charges non-resident foreigners too much for a legal wedding here. They need to pay RD$10,000 for the wedding, and RD$20,000 if it is held out of the civil registry office.
The Ministry of Tourism reports that popular churches for weddings are in Altos de Chavon, La Romana, the Basilica de Higuey, the cathedrals of Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo and Santiago, and the synagogue in Santo Domingo.