MINNEAPOLIS - s4story -- After planning and executing their own destination wedding in Punta Cana for just $12,349 out of pocket—while achieving an estimated market value of nearly $20,000—Minnesota-based filmmaker Jerome Melo has officially launched Caona Weddings, a destination wedding video and photo service designed to help couples achieve high-end weddings without inflated resort pricing.

The launch comes after firsthand experience navigating the challenges of planning a wedding in the Dominican Republic, where many couples face limited vendor options and high markups through resort-preferred providers.

"Once we started getting quotes between $4,000 and $12,000 just for planning, it became clear there was a gap," said Melo. "We realized we could take control of the process, source better vendors, and build something that felt more personal—and more cost-effective."

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The couple's wedding included 60+ guests, a private venue, professional photography, DJ services, and custom décor—while maintaining a significantly lower out-of-pocket cost than typical destination wedding packages.

Breaking the Destination Wedding Cost Myth

According to industry averages, destination weddings in Punta Cana can range from $20,000 to $45,000 for private venues and fully customized experiences. However, Melo's approach focused on strategic vendor sourcing and cost control.

Key strategies included:

• Hiring vendors outside resort-approved lists
• Using "descorche" (corkage fee structure) to reduce bar costs
• Leveraging travel rewards points for flights and accommodations
• Sourcing local talent from outside tourist-heavy areas

These methods allowed the couple to significantly reduce costs while maintaining a premium experience.

From Personal Experience to Business Launch

Caona Weddings was built directly from this experience, offering couples a hybrid service that combines wedding planning insight with professional video and photography.

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Rather than relying solely on traditional resort packages, the company helps clients:

• Navigate vendor sourcing independently
• Avoid unnecessary markups
• Capture high-quality wedding content with a modern, documentary style

"We're not just showing up with cameras," Melo said. "We understand the entire process because we lived it. That changes how we approach every wedding."

About Caona Weddings

Caona Weddings is a minnesota based and destination wedding video and photography company, specializing in Local Minnesota and Punta Cana weddings. The company focuses on helping couples create personalized, high-quality wedding experiences through strategic planning and modern visual storytelling.

Learn more at:
👉 https://www.caonaweddings.com

Read the full wedding breakdown:
👉 https://www.caonaweddings.com/blog/our-punta-cana-wedding-the-real-numbers-behind-our-gold-standard-service