Matt & Nikki | Romantic Punta Cana Engagement Session

Sunrise Engagement session on the sandy shores of Punta Cana? Yes, please!

I can’t get over these ones - over a year later and I am still dreaming of the hot Punta Cana sun, the endless food and drinks and hours of floating in the ocean.

There are few places as breathtakingly romantic as Punta Cana — where turquoise water meets soft white sand and every moment feels like a love story. For Matt & Nikki, it became the perfect setting for their destination engagement photos. Their connection, their laughter, and the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic blended into one unforgettable story.

But for me, this wasn’t just another engagement session — it was deeply personal in the best way.

I’ve known Matt and Nikki for a long time, so photographing them always felt more like spending time with friends than clients. Being in Punta Cana together while celebrating Matt’s brother’s wedding made the experience even more meaningful. We were already surrounded by joy, family, and sunshine — the perfect environment to capture something real.

What made it even sweeter was knowing that I’d be photographing their own wedding a year later. This session became the very beginning of their wedding story with me — the first chapter in a series of moments we’d create together. Watching their relationship continue to grow and knowing I’d get to document their next milestones made this session one I’ll always hold close!

Now, their wedding has come and gone and I can not wait to share those with you soon!

xo,
Madaline