Hard Hat Dreams: A Pre-Opening Peek at Secrets & Dreams Playa Esmeralda by Barefoot Bride Lauren McKevitt

In July 2025, I had the rare opportunity to experience a behind-the-scenes hard hat tour at the brand-new Secrets & Dreams Playa Esmeralda in Miches, Dominican Republic. With the Secrets (adults-only) side having just opened in June and Dreams (family-friendly) set to open later this summer, the resort was still in its pre-opening stages. Though it wasn’t fully operational, our amazing wedding planner from the resort, offered us a personal site visit—and it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our wedding planning journey.

From the moment we arrived, our wedding planner greeted us with the warmest hug. I’d felt such a strong connection to her through emails, and meeting her in person only confirmed my instincts—she’s bubbly, kind, and genuinely invested in making our big day perfect. Her energy immediately put us at ease, and she wasted no time diving into our tour.

Secrets Swim out Room

We began on the Secrets side of the property. The modern design of the resort is nothing short of stunning—fresh architecture, clean lines, and an attention to quality you’d expect from a brand-new build. The guest rooms felt luxurious and modern. As we walked the grounds, Franny showed us each of the wedding venues. Though the number of outdoor, secluded venue options is limited, the indoor spaces (available at an added cost) were equally beautiful and well thought-out.

Secrets Junior Suite

One of the most breathtaking features of Playa Esmeralda is, undoubtedly, the beach. It’s untouched, serene, and stretches out with views of the turquoise sea and distant mountains—a rarity that sets this property apart from more built-up resort areas. It’s important to note that the resort is located in Miches, about 1–2 hours from the Punta Cana airport. While the extra travel time for guests may be something to consider, I personally believe the pristine location is well worth the longer ride.

Next, we explored the Dreams side, which was still unopened at the time. Both Secrets and Dreams offer “Preferred Club” options that include exclusive lounges and restaurants. 

Adults staying on either side have full access to the entire property, while children and teens must remain on the Dreams side. One slight surprise was the pool and beach size—given the scale of the resort, I had expected these spaces to be a bit more expansive. Still, the sheer beauty and layout of the grounds more than made up for it.

Main Infinity Pool

Between the two resorts lies a charming plaza-style area with a collection of restaurants, styled like a walkable downtown. This is where we were treated to an unforgettable surprise: a private wedding menu tasting at the Italian restaurant—organized by our planner in honor of my birthday. As the first couple in resort history to do a wedding tasting, we had the entire restaurant to ourselves, complete with a private chef, mixologist, server, and pastry chef. We sampled eight canapés, three main proteins, multiple drinks, and several dessert and cake options. Everything was delicious, and it gave us great confidence in what our wedding meal will be like.

We ended our tour with a walkthrough of the spa. There’s a stunning private bridal suite available for rent, perfect for pre-wedding prep and those all-important “getting ready” photos. Upstairs, there’s also a terrace suite available for the groomsmen. For those who don’t book one of these private spaces, the alternative is to reserve a resort suite where makeup and hair artists can come directly to you. While there, we met the spa manager who kindly shared detailed pricing and package info.

Bridal Suite 

All in all, I would absolutely recommend visiting Dreams/Secrets Playa Esmeralda if you’re considering it as a destination wedding venue. Seeing it in person helped answer so many lingering questions—especially since the resort is so new and still a bit of a mystery online. While I wish I could have met more of the vendors like the florist or DJ team (all communication so far has been via email), I’m hopeful that future couples may get that opportunity as the resort becomes fully operational. I also didn’t have the chance to stay overnight, so I can’t comment firsthand on the full guest experience, though the amenities and entertainment offerings appear extensive.

From a wedding planning perspective, however, I left feeling reassured and excited. Despite the resort still being in its infancy, the planning process has felt smooth—largely thanks to wedding planner provided by the resort. Her attentiveness, positivity, and preparedness made this visit not only informative, but deeply personal and special. If you’re considering Secrets or Dreams Playa Esmeralda for your big day, don’t be afraid of its “newness”—it’s a hidden gem in the making.