Karina and Mehran
Cayo Levantado island
![The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/YaO6jC_q_TVRkqtlOA3301y9RygvO9ew/C-ZxJY8e9Wm55s1zU19qD_ISvu_-PJ36/vqyzSGhO2mn9hofF72_sb0j1L4k5cV1S/KdxOb6kKGcAYS9Dcf9Gh_MFaBVBLg3JH/CeDenK-PcW4BRab7XyZzSg.jpg)
I want to share a beautiful story about my journey to Cayo Levantado island to capture the wedding of Karina and Mehran. I call it a “journey” because it is a very unusual venue and it took me and my team 6 hours to get to Samana peninsula by car and then an hour by ship. The Grand Bahia Principe is a luxurious place, the exclusive hotel on Cayo Levantado, which has it all. The views remind the best Caribbean postcards, heaven on earth.
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjT5VpIqDdTKdqQQvk1lMtsD/ZOzXaPssaKZD3eathoJT-A.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRPiSoYIGBmv6uhGjB35LEp/AbP2MgSPtzExe3Mksi-zNA.jpg)
![wedding photographer in Punta Cana](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRUl0OhLtmyjSDyRvzegz3v/eNXX9tueNR0qDDaYY4M_fg.jpg)
A couple chose Dominican Republic for a wedding because they traveled here before. Also, it was the most convenient location to get to because they had guests from all over the world.
![punta cana brides](https://i.wfolio.com/x/wagHM5s0w_Vi7tpMBUg59yHF3tPM7Zj-/Ov4cwcre9IcMH-GMqaUZmkaGHIopH54r/F8RpGdoQskzMcLm06KVJYM95qOPtgXvG/CRXiJpEGCudSA3fPRqd2O06Ex8ZC8a3U/hf3OfK93G5ivbjj1zp3eEw.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/WW8VhrnfAbfZoEvq-2nuityF_RmnxlKN/-blVZPf0-PM2zbqG1J4sprtEErQZd53Z/VtR2czJXWxi-b0e7t2_uIYKQr0bnkP9Y/RkD1vQPePYHchYclw844TZwnEkN5DcCO/0X2rxTTEnL0irIDGPpi0oQ.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjTv_kI8dOVVK6OiPhfB2aO8/hTREEYcNFSSbGTQPOXkbeg.jpg)
Karina, a bride with Ukranian roots, and Mehran, groom from Turkey, met each other in Canada while studying at the same university. Since that moment they were never apart.
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQoM0vysCHDVXIgo_yM6gQ-/BEUec2A0WKH-jbszE3dEgw.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRcbmDRuDb-eDYi_UyukPuG/RrmWSIARWW4-D0dg8C__0w.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjSmjNNdER9HICJCUidJUUKg/h5bsHH98rLs6OJZSDpEp0w.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjScUAHKBEFstVQroLN1zpXC/vwZjrLhI9BMO32T1gPnSOQ.jpg)
![wedding in Dominican republic](https://i.wfolio.com/x/wagHM5s0w_Vi7tpMBUg59yHF3tPM7Zj-/Ov4cwcre9IcMH-GMqaUZmkaGHIopH54r/F8RpGdoQskzMcLm06KVJYM95qOPtgXvG/CRXiJpEGCucXAg-JJOmP9cziF87pBSek/6gos1oQwSoICkx28iyoFlg.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado island wedding](https://i.wfolio.com/x/YaO6jC_q_TVRkqtlOA3301y9RygvO9ew/C-ZxJY8e9Wm55s1zU19qD_ISvu_-PJ36/vqyzSGhO2mn9hofF72_sb0j1L4k5cV1S/KdxOb6kKGcCNeAgZSpVztVDkggN8AiDL/B25NpeQmdU-gWnwQdQy8XQ.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjTKQFvrXaZQgmBNJqhp7HNT/GRBN0GfQfjiieP2dy_s2zQ.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRE6KU5KwTTP3uhVwiOZx9o/a8LssVExF14jRoFYFyWwTQ.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQWEre75U3UNL5L40AKQ_if/qNXCa4Ylztk_o8semSEZ2g.jpg)
![wedding in Dominican republic](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRkVgkQrHzLm9jJAX3wEVHU/5BKHypH2y6yi2SYkjtsaIA.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjSdQlEza4wOgkD_-5w_J5sC/z6n_HMVqpJMt4XeyNMEzhA.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQuAf2TNGbusaEQlO7YfxWg/pVnoTLrcnBSZwDAiGL8Yxw.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjS9BJX1zjqCT16D1KyVOPWC/2A7dlNXCBCvY5drSpN8xXw.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRkB_V3KOceIHeJTR76TrsH/Sminf-Sql4ehk4aCpIPE5A.jpg)
![wedding in Dominican republic](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQDpub68isd1H6e1w2C2sd5/IwbbFS0CqZAwlmAC2FyEOw.jpg)
Karina was a very organized bride, she had a clear idea of what she wants. Funny fact: we were having dozens of emails in English for almost a year when on the day of the wedding I realized she spoke my native language: Russian. Karina had an off the shoulder satin mermaid dress with pearl buttons and Mehran wore a light blue suit — perfect choice for a beach love story shooting. This wedding is in my personal favorite Top-10. As I mentioned, the wedding was international and what I liked the most is the mix of the cultures: Ukranian songs and traditional Turkish dance meets hot Dominican music!
![wedding photo shoot at Samana](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQsaRuijlphbUTLcfCLzFmZ/r0PTc6-9J14u_uIRLdrn1g.jpg)
![Samana](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQz7281bhlYUDvbTU7kl2MQ/sH9zBGBEKf9tCH1KbbSumA.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado island](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQ4ZPxOjaYEMds5GRlLH4kR/IM7aIaE1dHbrjnoQ0TvVHQ.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjTmU2JIDqS778zQ82SEu31V/l6SbuYiOM6CUn7YmJRzHqw.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado island](https://i.wfolio.com/x/WW8VhrnfAbfZoEvq-2nuityF_RmnxlKN/-blVZPf0-PM2zbqG1J4sprtEErQZd53Z/VtR2czJXWxi-b0e7t2_uIYKQr0bnkP9Y/RkD1vQPePYFvLum-IpziTCE1tP0P3uD-/wYv6w8WcIi2sPAB4LxMfHQ.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/WW8VhrnfAbfZoEvq-2nuityF_RmnxlKN/-blVZPf0-PM2zbqG1J4sprtEErQZd53Z/VtR2czJXWxi-b0e7t2_uIYKQr0bnkP9Y/RkD1vQPePYHVsMSrAxX_YkfLDUBAcgaN/aEepL9XhrNWmrvNrTATXZg.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/WW8VhrnfAbfZoEvq-2nuityF_RmnxlKN/-blVZPf0-PM2zbqG1J4sprtEErQZd53Z/VtR2czJXWxi-b0e7t2_uIYKQr0bnkP9Y/RkD1vQPePYFzJbST5RJ8zZg59XAXopaM/GboInBEv3H1RZMibMKmmCw.jpg)
![The Grand Bahia Principe is a luxurious place](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjThaX1NxNUbkrnuajJwF7DB/X_drLTgD4GkaT8urGt490Q.jpg)
![punta cana photographer](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQp_dGj51FH_dnupbMuCX9E/zBFVvwmB78C97AP4-eJ10Q.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjRWi1cFPiJ_jXTBCRziHi6A/SpPhqrS4PyilT2IE8ZGaaA.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjQ1yAns_01x4Ch464whp4xT/qZStltBD7EvbqhNK1wrtNg.jpg)
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](https://i.wfolio.com/x/ssd_1pUNtaWh3-C7gkiINqnN_eBxG23C/y8oehFszcqA67ulQYo7cjG_hRRCZ6rXk/ev5iijeBpmudb4010sRy-DX2p2_AzDOt/KGNEpQNwTjSG_ln_bo969RsWlEhM4Pc6/9iY47FqAaU1pIYzv_9o0Kw.jpg)
Full wedding story you can see here
Blog
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/Fgt0zs9JCMvKD4Gu7pKebJ7YzIOPkmJ7/o8JLcdNYqXORRI5rs_7ncm3QTzQeJ4AL/25Jrom4B6bbhWHim6L3D7TBnJZ9M0mUW/Ue3sBtUoF_W5G4O5aF7rgFnFMCbPLGr5.jpg)
PUNTA CANA WEDDING DURING A COVID-19 PANDEMIC
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/Fgt0zs9JCMvKD4Gu7pKebJ7YzIOPkmJ7/o8JLcdNYqXORRI5rs_7ncm3QTzQeJ4AL/25Jrom4B6bbhWHim6L3D7Ug5NfQthUep/pOcVTld9-iZ2jT5GUxTv8KkZmpzMwZ5b.jpg)
WPE awards. Top 100 Wedding Photojournalism photographers
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQRN1YAbB_s3q/p3Ymy8l7-4Jtsm0Md924VXOMPpXAGhrp.jpg)
Majestic Colonial Wedding in the Dominican Republic
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/Fgt0zs9JCMvKD4Gu7pKebJ7YzIOPkmJ7/o8JLcdNYqXORRI5rs_7ncm3QTzQeJ4AL/25Jrom4B6bbhWHim6L3D7YwtKXoDUROQ/jLo5qbTAhTXX_TL_0dxq4OiCnBKAlxOE.jpg)
Cusco Peru — The Local Experience
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQee5022Ds9Cv/PbjL7J6cz-V0ysx0_BWY7iWEbxsvmOJv.jpg)
Macao Photoshoot for the honeymooners
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQYKuWgg7Nu9C/B_Bk6u4VpNEyt9x4ynfo7erN17AVMbAt.jpg)
Trash the Dress at Sunrise. Dreams Macao Beach
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQaHStecmPvc1/og-2c7M_Ukyp7R7yq5OlY11pm7VvakIi.jpg)
Trash The Dress Session at Macao Beach Punta Cana
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQcm7YCBD4oMb/Eh66-BXCDCM0P35b-__95BiKSn7Qx7tI.jpg)
Sunset photoshoot at the Macao
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/Fgt0zs9JCMvKD4Gu7pKebJ7YzIOPkmJ7/o8JLcdNYqXORRI5rs_7ncm3QTzQeJ4AL/25Jrom4B6bbhWHim6L3D7ZUCJdFwPkGv/32wgh2GCBw_VKTv-PZKlGQZb1nidBINl.jpg)
Wedding for two in Punta Cana, Cabesa de Toro
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQe8zt1ATG2oQ/3uduVDBstbBDuyJ0nEAowrGWjATQHtub.jpg)
Kris and Alex. Sunset Engagement Photography in Punta Cana
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQXQQeLKsZIl7/9t5mkIbA0TXe3sWAnibLLBoUagApCJR_.jpg)
Chelsea and Zack. Macao Beach engagement photoshoot
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQRxw1xoU0mTh/vvvQrQ1_kRUKRu182Va0ZxiCRm9CJ9t-.png)
Destination Wedding at the Jellyfish Restaurant Punta Cana
![Cayo Levantado wedding. The Grand Bahia Principe](http://i.wfolio.com/x/CDOCLDXuysP0wovfulxzQFGEC34BdVHe/Hzzi8Sx815wONKT6-rcHMhPfKIoHRLCr/7odifnqGkuy97eIELMzaQZo6_YIqWAuc/MjnhEGwF0FOxrNrQ4bsXl2L2apQCLSqG.jpg)