A Beach Wedding in the Dominican Republic for 320 Guests

Kastyn Reid actually met Nicholas Pérez at her own birthday party in March of 2015. “My roommates had invited him, but it was so hectic that we didn’t really get to connect,” she recalls. “Thankfully, they also invited him to our Cinco de Mayo party a few months later!" Flash forward to June of 2017, when Nick and Kastyn were making their way to Florence, Italy for a friend’s wedding. “The first night we were there, Nick told me to get dressed up because we would be eating at the Michelin-star restaurant on the roof of the Four Seasons hotel,” says Kastyn. “I had no idea the restaurant didn’t exist!” When they arrived on the roof, there was only a single table set. “I realized what was happening, and Nick got down on one knee," she recalls."

Kastyn says she has always dreamed of a beach wedding, and Nick’s only request was that their venue had a great golf course. The challenge? Their 320-person guest list! “Nick grew up visiting Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic with his family, and thankfully they were able to accommodate our crowd and still let us have a ceremony on the beach,” explains the bride. There, the couple and their 320 guests spent the entire weekend celebrating, from a Thursday night welcome party to a Friday golf tournament, followed by a ceremony in the sand and a killer reception (more on that later!). Keep reading to see how Kastyn and Nick enhanced the property’s historic charm for their June 2, 2018, wedding, as photographed by Asia Pimentel Photography and planned by Claire Duran Weddings and Events.

The model bride wasn’t sure she’d have a "big moment" when she found her dress, especially because she’s worn so many over the course of her modeling career. “I’ve already been a ‘bride’ for work, and was surprised when I knew this was The One when I put it on!” she says. The beaded lace gown had a sheer bodice, delicate layers, and an organic floral pattern. “I added an extra skirt for the ceremony to make it a little less sheer, then took it off for the party,” says the bride. She wore a simple veil and carried a bouquet of white and blush roses.

The ceremony took place overlooking the ocean, with a boardwalk aisle that would allow the bride to wear her Jimmy Choos. “We had a shoe check for our guests, but Nick is 6’6” so I really wanted to still wear heels!” Kastyn says with a laugh.

Kastyn’s father escorted her to the towering wooden arch, decked out in roses and hydrangeas. “We asked my brother to marry us, and wrote the ceremony ourselves to keep it short and heartfelt,” says the bride.

Guests headed to the cobblestone courtyard of Altos de Chavon, a part of the Casa de Campo property, for the reception.

There, a clear tent (decorated with strings of twinkling lights!) protected guests from rain while also making it feel like they were dining under the stars. All-white tables were topped with rose and hydrangea centerpieces to create an aura of "old world elegance" just steps from the sand.

On tables, gold-brushed chargers and gilded accents enhanced the romantic table design. “With such a large guest list and no kitchen nearby, we opted to serve a buffet instead of a plated dinner,” says Kastyn. “We had chicken, fish, steak three ways, and lots of salads and sides. We also had a full dessert bar with nine different choices, plus late-night empanadas on the dance floor!”

The evening begin with a Miami-based band called Entourage, followed by DJ Irie from the Miami Heat and an Hora Loca performance. The surprise, though, was when guest Marc Anthony took to the stage. “It was so special for him to entertain our loved ones like he did,” says Kastyn. “We’ll never forget it!”