Olivia & Anastasia: Destination Wedding
How a Destination Wedding at Secrets La Romana Turned Into the Experience They Didn’t Even Know to Ask For
When Olivia and Anastasia first came to me, they didn’t come with a plan.
They came with a feeling.
They knew they wanted a destination wedding. They knew they didn’t want something stiff or overly produced. They wanted it to feel like a shared experience, not a single event squeezed into one day.
What they didn’t know was where to start, what resort would actually support that kind of experience, or how to turn a vision into a real destination wedding plan.
That’s exactly where destination wedding planning begins.
Starting With a Vision, Not a Checklist
Olivia and Anastasia didn’t walk in saying “we want this resort” or “we want this country.”
They talked about how they wanted to feel:
Present, not rushed
Surrounded by their people, not managing them
Celebrated, not on display
Free to enjoy the days leading up to the wedding, not just the ceremony itself
They also shared something else that mattered deeply. As a gay couple, they wanted to feel comfortable and genuinely welcomed wherever they chose to get married. Not just tolerated. Not just accommodated. Truly at ease.
Using their vision and my firsthand experience visiting resorts in the Dominican Republic, I identified a resort that I believed would deliver exactly that.
For a while, it felt like we had found the answer.
When the Original Plan Fell Apart
Then reality stepped in.
Due to a number of factors completely outside of their control, that original resort simply couldn’t work. Not because anyone did anything wrong, but because destination weddings involve moving parts that don’t always reveal themselves at the beginning.
There was real disappointment. The kind that comes when you finally let yourself get excited and then have to let go of the idea you were holding onto.
We paused.
We took a breath.
And then we pivoted.
Not toward something “similar,” but toward something that would actually give them the experience they were hoping for.
Why This Happens More Than Couples Expect
This is one of the most important things couples don’t realize when planning a destination wedding.
A resort can look perfect online and still be wrong in real life.
Photos don’t show how a property flows, where people naturally gather, how private or social it feels day to day, or what the energy is like outside of scheduled events.
That’s why experience matters.
And that’s why the pivot mattered here.
How Firsthand Resort Experience Changed Everything
Because I had personally stayed at and toured Hilton La Romana, now Secrets La Romana and Dreams La Romana, I wasn’t guessing.
I knew:
How weddings actually unfold there
How guests move through the space throughout the day
How the adults-only side and family-friendly side coexist
How inclusive and comfortable the environment feels for same-sex couples
And how the resort feels once you’re living in it, not just looking at it
Once Olivia and Anastasia understood what the experience would feel like, everything shifted.
What initially felt like a compromise turned into confidence.
Why Secrets La Romana Ended Up Being the Right Choice
Secrets La Romana didn’t just meet their expectations. It gave them something even better.
It gave them space.
Space for the celebration to stretch across days.
Space for guests to connect naturally.
Space for moments to happen without a schedule.
It also gave them peace of mind. From the resort environment to the way staff and guests interacted with them, inclusivity wasn’t a concern. It was simply part of the experience.
With Dreams La Romana available for guests who needed a family-friendly option, everyone they loved could be there without splitting the group or changing the energy.
A Wedding Weekend That Felt Like Living Inside the Celebration
The days leading up to the wedding felt nothing like a countdown.
The morning of the wedding, Olivia and Anastasia floated in the lazy river. Not rushing. Not checking the time. Just taking in the fact that the day had arrived.
Later, as they got ready, Olivia’s veil was unveiled in front of Stasia and their bridal party. There were audible gasps. There were tears. It wasn’t staged or performed. It was one of those moments that grounds everyone in what the day is really about.
Throughout the weekend, it became clear that the celebration wasn’t confined to one space.
Guests stopped them at the pool. In passing on the walkways. While grabbing drinks. Offering congratulations, hugs, excitement.
The wedding didn’t feel like an event guests attended.
It felt like something everyone was part of.
When the Ceremony Shifted, But the Meaning Didn’t
When rain moved the ceremony indoors, it didn’t feel like something went wrong.
It felt intimate.
The focus stayed exactly where it belonged. The energy didn’t change. The moment was still theirs.
No scrambling. No stress. Just presence.
The Moments That Made It Unforgettable
This wedding wasn’t defined by one perfect image.
It was defined by:
Floating through the resort with friends before the ceremony
A first look surrounded by people who traveled to be there
A catamaran trip where everyone connected outside of “wedding events”
Guests continuing to celebrate them days later
The feeling that the experience lasted far longer than one day
It felt like a shared memory, not a schedule.
What the Planning Process Felt Like in the End
What started with uncertainty and disappointment ended with ease.
Once the right resort was chosen, everything became simpler. Decisions felt lighter. The pressure disappeared.
Instead of managing logistics during their wedding week, Olivia and Anastasia were fully present in it.
That’s what happens when destination wedding planning is guided by real experience instead of guesswork.
Why This Destination Wedding Worked
This wedding worked because the vision came first.
Not the resort name.
Not the photos.
Not the original idea.
Secrets La Romana delivered the experience Olivia and Anastasia were actually looking for, even when it wasn’t the resort they started with.
If you have a vision but no clear plan, if you’re overwhelmed by options, or if feeling safe, celebrated, and supported matters to you, that’s exactly where I come in.
Sometimes the best destination wedding isn’t the one you imagine first.
It’s the one that feels right once you’re there.
Ready to start with your vision?
If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding and want guidance from someone who has actually been to these resorts, understands how they feel in real life, and knows how to turn a vision into an experience, I’d love to help.