Dominican Republic Elopement

DAGA & KACPER

SAONA ISLAND, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Destination elopements and micro weddings have been steadily on the rise the last few years, a tendency that is expected only to be accelerated after the current pandemic. And even though travel opportunities have been curtailed as we are still navigating our way through uncharted terrain, one thing is certain. The desire to celebrate such an important milestone in our lives in a beautiful destination with our nearest and dearest or our significant other only will never cease.

The Dominican Republic, the Caribbean's most popular country with tourists, is unsurprisingly a prominent wedding destination too. Featuring a diverse landscape, ranging from tropical rainforests, mountainous grounds, a palm-tree-dotted coastline with luxurious resorts, and evocative colonial architecture, it is the definition of the tropical paradise, if we also add the festive spirit and exotic food culture of a nation sharing the island of Hispaniola to the west with Haiti.

Daga and Kacper are a kind and gracious young couple who opted for a surprise Dominican Republic elopement since they decided to keep it secret even from their immediate family.

Everything was perfectly organized to the last detail by the experienced wedding planners Lidia and Bernadetta of 5 Events.

I met the couple the day before the wedding for a short pre-wedding beach session. On the wedding day, we set off on a private catamaran for the island Saona, where the ceremony would take place. Isla Saona, as the locals call it, is a dream tropical escape 1.5 hours away from the Dominican Republic with white, powdery sand, azure, pristine waters, and soaring palm trees providing a natural shelter from the sun.

After an idyllic and intimate ceremony followed by a couple's portrait session, we embarked on the catamaran to get to the Dominican Republic, where the day ended with a romantic private dinner.

On the way back we made a stop at the "piscina natural", where the couple had the chance to swim and take photos with the sea stars, with which they were very careful to always keep them in contact with the water. The following day Daga and Kacper enjoyed a helicopter tour to the La Jalda waterfall and the wild beach Esmeralda, which concluded a wonderful wedding experience.