A Tropical Waterfront Wedding at Casa Alegre in La Romana, Dominican Republic

Samantha McAshan and Michael Derrett decided to skip town for their fall wedding, planning an intimate waterfront fete in the Dominican Republic with their closest family members and friends. Wanting the event to feel like a fun-filled family vacation, the pair rented out an oceanfront villa to house their guests for the week. “It allowed us to spend so much time together,” Samantha says. In addition to serving as the couple’s home away from home, Casa Alegre played host to both the ceremony and reception. Samantha and Michael chose a color palette of ivory, white and gold, and filled the day with lush tropical greenery to enhance the natural beauty of the locale. The “I dos” took place at water’s edge, with Samantha and Michael exchanging vows under a wood arch decorated with a palm leaf garland and long strands of white flowers. After the ceremony, the newlyweds joined their guests poolside for spicy margaritas and dinner. Farm tables set with gold flatware and flickering candlelight were arranged in a U-shape facing the water. Before their DJ began to spin, Samantha and Michael surprised their guests by bringing in fire dancers to perform. “It was so fun to see the surprise on their faces,” Samantha says. “We were having so much fun that we all decided jumping into the pool would be the best way to end the day.”