Dominican Republic Wedding at Hard Rock Hotel

Isabel and John’s dream wedding was a colorful, destination affair at The Hard Rock Hotel and Spa in the beautiful Dominican Republic. Their special day was spent with 95 guests, savoring the sweet sights and sounds of the beach, enjoying an amazing Caribbean sunset, and partying until the stars appeared. The couple first met at work but didn’t realize the romantic connection until five years later. They instantly knew that they were staring at forever – so much so that they booked their wedding before John even proposed! He eventually got down on one knee and surprised Isabel with a New York City proposal that brought her to tears.

Their rustic, romantic, and chic wedding day started with Isabel stepping into a mermaid-style gown complete with a dramatic skirt. She also chose silver heels to walk down the aisle.

To echo the rich natural beauty of the Caribbean, she chose a bouquet teeming with red, orange, purple and blue. Assorted roses and hydrangea made for quite the vibrant collection.

Isabel got ready with her best girls by her side while John and his groomsmen kept cool with rounds of pool.

Before the ceremony, the bride and groom had a first look moment. Isabel looked stunning as she grabbed John’s hands and they walked around the hotel with sunlight shining in from every corner.

Guests found their way to the beachside ceremony location.

They were greeted with a handmade arbor that led them down the aisle – with the inscription “Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.”

Chairs along the back row and aisle were splashed with color thanks to lively purple fabric and colorful nosegays.

While bridesmaids in purple dresses began the procession, flower girls in white dresses with purple sashes made an adorable appearance right before the bride appeared.

Isabel walked down the aisle to John, who was waiting under a floral-adorned arbor. With the gentle lapping of ocean waves behind them and the swaying of palm trees flanking the scene, the two made their promises to one another in front of family and friends.

The reception welcomed everyone with colorful uplighting to fete the bride and groom. Guests found their seats thanks to a beautiful framed seating chart, along with scores of flowers, candles, and lanterns.

Centerpieces featured hydrangeas, roses, succulents and more along with lanterns and gold votives. Small sprigs of greenery and wooden table numbers completed the presentation.

The cake was the perfect centerpiece to the celebration. It featured four clean white tiers touched with the flowers of the day. A scripted “R” served as the cake topper and the delicious dessert was anchored with rustic wooden pieces and floral additions.

On a pristine white dance floor, Isabel and John had their first dance as husband and wife. While the rest of the room was looking at them, they only had eyes for each other.

To cap off the exciting evening, the couple shared a kiss alongside two impressive fire dancers!

Isabel and John didn’t waste the chance to also take a few photos to commemorate the illustrious location they picked for their wedding. They wandered around the property and its outlying areas to soak in the beauty of the Dominican Republic.

They even dressed down and literally soaked in the ocean and all of its splendor.

When Isabel and John chose to have a destination wedding, they dove right in and used every second to embrace the Dominican Republic. From the sunset ceremony to the colorful ambiance, they experienced their dream wedding. A fairytale no more, this was the real deal.

Photographer:  Asia Pimentel Photography// Veils and headpieces: Blanca Veils - Etsy// Cake Designer: Cake Studio Bavaro// Shoes: Cole Haan// Event Venue: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino// Bridesmaid Dresses: Henkaa Convertible Dresses// Shoes: Ivanka Trump// Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Joseph Abboud// Event Planner: Katiusca Arache Rodriguez at Hard Rock// Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero Primrose// Cinema and Video: Mike Stibbard// Other: Sanael Caribbean Boat// Jewelry: TeriHuang - Etsy// Event Planner: Val's weddings